Comments on: What would you say to Barak Obama if you had the chance...?

Question: What would you say to Barak Obama if you had the chance...?

allthewhile — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:31:09 -0800

So I'm likely going to be in a situation that may allow me to ask at least one question to Barack Obama. What should I say? I'm looking for interesting comment/question not necessarily having anything to do with politics.

My political leanings aren't totally in line with his (I'm pretty darned libertarian) and because of the nature of the visit am not in any way going to be able to ask tough "hard biting" type questions. I guess what I'm really asking is, "what would you ask a possible future president that might elicit a memorable response?"

By: hammerthyme

hammerthyme — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:33:55 -0800

I was thinking about this today. I want to ask Barak Obama "Why should I vote for you over Hilary Clinton?"

By: dunderhead

dunderhead — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:34:37 -0800

How about "what's the most important thing you will teach your children?"

By: plaidrabbit

plaidrabbit — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:38:16 -0800

You could do the whole "Boxers or Briefs?" thing.

On a less glib note, I'd maybe try asking him why the country needs him as a president - should ilicit a good mix of what he thinks is wrong and what he plans to do about them. That's really what I take elections to be about - fixing the issues that exist, not the pie in the sky stuff that we all want fixed like taxes and the like.

I still think that something really crap and glib is the way to go, though - these things are set up as platforming stumps, and your not likely to get anything really "honest" from him. He might actually believe some of the stuff coming out of his mouth, but its crazy to think that he's actually going to use some non-coached words now that he's officially running.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:43:52 -0800

Amazingly, this question has been asked before, almost.

By: allthewhile

allthewhile — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:47:21 -0800

This isn't a fundraiser event. I'm not even sure of the level of press (any?). It's "coffee" for an hour with students from my school on our trip to DC. Not quite sure what to expect, actually.

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:49:22 -0800

Relatedly.
How about: What were your favorite stories as a kid?

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:51:27 -0800

Did you ever make any dumb mistakes when you were younger that you regret/that you learned an important lesson from? (you could tailor this to the age of kids at your school)

By: scalefree

scalefree — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:53:11 -0800

Ask him what measures he'll take to undo the politicization of every aspect of government enacted by Bush.

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:53:44 -0800

When you were [age of your students], what did you think you would grow up to do?

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:58:15 -0800

Go for the jugular: "If you are elected, and go to the White House and try to push all kinds of sweeping reforms that upset various entrenched powers, do you think it is possible that there will be an assassination attempt on you?"

By: notjustfoxybrown

notjustfoxybrown — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:03:43 -0800

Ask him to respond to criticism that, as a result of his biracial heritage and bohemian upbringing, he won't be able to relate to, or deemed a part of the tribe of, African-American voters, the core constituency of the Democratic party.

By: Canard de Vasco

Canard de Vasco — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:12:44 -0800

Why does he support subsidies for coal-to-liquids technology. Does he not fully understand how coal -> CO₂ -> global warming? Most of the rest of the world is subsidising ways to cut CO₂ emmisions.
I'm not an American, so I don't much care about the details of American politics, but if the next president of the USA doesn't get this then it's curtains for a large percentage of the species on my planet.

By: HighTechUnderpants

HighTechUnderpants — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:31:48 -0800

I agree with Canard. I was going to suggest you ask him how he plans to reduce greenhouse emissions, with as much specificity as possible.

By: allen.spaulding

allen.spaulding — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:43:15 -0800

I was at a small Obama event where someone asked such a poweful question that I was amazed. It was: "when you are elected president, what will you to stop the genocide in Darfur." He gave an ok answer (I think he lost the support of some people for not giving a better one) but that's one he better know. Be direct, aggressive, and don't mince words.

By: davidinmanhattan

davidinmanhattan — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:55:49 -0800

(1) Ask him why his wife (Michelle) just got a new hairstyle. It looks VERY Jackie O. Are they both trying for the Kennedy/Camelot thing?

(2) OK. Kidding about Q # 1. (But it is true. And she does look great!)

(3) Most kids used to be told they could become president when they grew up, and that that was one of the greatest things about our country. I heard a while back that most kids (a) don't believe that anymore, and, (b) don't want to. What will he do to get the next generation excited about participating in government?

(4) For the first time in our nation's history, we have a black candidate, and a woman candidate. (Oh, and a Mormon candidate.) Does he truly believe the country is ready for them, and when will the country be ready for a gay candidate? And, will he work to allow gays in the military?

By: stovenator

stovenator — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:56:46 -0800

Ask him what brand of cigarettes he smokes, and how his quitting is going.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:14:48 -0800

Why did he vote to renew the so-called "Patriot Act"? Everything else is in the category of luxory, only allowed legitimate government, of which ours is not, so long as that piece of trash is held as law.

By: DU

DU — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:58:40 -0800

"What do you think of libertarians?"

By: Malor

Malor — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:02:30 -0800

Ooh, the Patriot Act one is very good. *votes in favor*

By: jwells

jwells — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:19:01 -0800

From an outsider's perspective, the one thing most politicians seem to lack is an understanding of the scale of the country's problems, domestic and foreign. We're constantly low-balling it and hoping we'll get by. Do you see this problem as well, and what will you do to permanently address it?

By: Flakypastry

Flakypastry — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:43:51 -0800

Ask him how he feels about No Child Left Behind and what his specific goals are for education.

Or what his vision is for the US' relationship to the rest of the world.

By: junkbox

junkbox — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:08:07 -0800

Ask him how he feels about the White Sox's chances this year -- he's a fan. I knew I could never vote for Hillary Clinton the night she appeared on the David Letterman show and refused to choose between the Yankees and the Mets.

By: box

box — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:19:43 -0800

Ask him about reproductive rights.

By: Robert Angelo

Robert Angelo — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:25:27 -0800

"what would you ask a possible future president that might elicit a memorable response?"

Assuming that you are elected President, what will historians say about you fifty years from now?

By: scottreynen

scottreynen — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:07:59 -0800

I was recently thinking about a question I'd like to ask all candidates:

What is the appropriate response of a citizen to an unjust law?

I think it's unexpected enough that they wouldn't have a prepared response, and a genuine response to this is likely to give us some insight into their views on some fundamental issues.

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:19:01 -0800

Ask him what he plans to do to protect citizens' right to privacy, especially in regards to online communications an electronic data.

Hilary (suprisingly) has a very progressive and forward-thinking approach on this issue, and I'd like to hear what Obama has to say about it.

By: CiaoMela

CiaoMela — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:44:06 -0800

Whatever you ask, please report back and let us know what your question was, how he answered, and how the event went overall!

By: cashman

cashman — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:17:21 -0800

Ask him what he's most worried about (in terms of what challenges he faces in becoming the next president).

By: sauris

sauris — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:40:13 -0800

umm... yea I like the "...response to an unjust law"

By: damn dirty ape

damn dirty ape — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:42:25 -0800

Ask him this because no one in politics discusses it:

"What could you do to stop the epidemic of violence, rape, and AIDS transmission in our state and federal prisons?"

This is an important and very avoided issue in politics and he's probably never heard ANYONE ask him this. It may pique the curiousity of others.

As a libertarian I would assume you would have an ideological bias towards getting the government to at least run their prisons in a safe and humane manner. There's many a lib who find themselves doing time because of a weapons charge (usually conceal and carry) and they dont deserve to come back from prison as rape victims and with the possibility of contracting the AIDS virus.

Up to you of course, but thats my 2 cents.

By: inoculatedcities

inoculatedcities — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:13:03 -0800

Agree with the Patriot Act suggestion -- I almost never hear real questions being asked of candidates. Something like "Why did you support a piece of legislation that cuts at the heart of every one of the ideas embodied in our constitution?" would do nicely. I'd also be interested in hearing his response.

By: Megafly

Megafly — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:37:25 -0800

I would ask, "What, honestly, is the thing that voters least want to hear and politicians are most afraid to say?"

By: donknotts

donknotts — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:05:12 -0800

Ask him about the Drug War and if he plans to continue to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on locking up non-violent offenders.