Why do so many Americans want stupid presidents?

[sdbest]

The American electorate is unique in that a large percentage--perhaps a majority--of it is suspicious of well-educated, intelligent people. The Democratic primary campaign is indicative. Better educated people vote Obama. Poorly educated people vote Clinton. In other words, smart people vote Barack, stupid people vote Clinton.

The 'elitist' brouhaha that engulfed the Democratic campaign over Obama's "bitter" observation was seized upon not only by Clinton, but also by pundits across the U.S. The exception was Bill Maher, "Hell, yes I want someone smarter than me as President."

Please explain, why do so many Americans--perhaps a majority--think that having a President (like Bush or Reagan) who has the intellect of a salamander is a good thing? Apart from Dick Cheney, why would anyone want a dumb, uneducated President?

[Winter wind]

Because they don't like feeling inferior

[Captain Cardio]

Jon Stewart also poked fun at the whole calling Obama "elitist" thing. I highly recommend watching it, I thought it was hilarous.

Hope this video works for those who are interested, I couldn't get it to work for my computer.

Jon Stewart Mocks Obama "Bitter" Controversy - Media on The Huffington Post

[Chaossaber314]

I'm curious when elitist became synonymous with intelligent because it's not the same thing to me. In fact, the comment in question reeks of stupidity and ignorance.

[grandpa]

Nothing to it -- if you think your rulers are just plain folks, they can probably get away with more.
It is in fact the best propaganda technique out there.

Look at it the other way:
If you have power and people think ignorance and incompetence are good character traits, then you're well off.

Grandpa h.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: sdbest Why do so many Americans want stupid presidents ? Please explain, why do so many Americans--perhaps a majority--think that having a President (like Bush or Reagan) who has the intellect of a salamander is a good thing? Apart from Dick Cheney, why would anyone want a dumb, uneducated President ?

To feel comfortable with :-)))

[grandpa]

Quote by: Rainbow To feel comfortable with :-)))

True, but I always feel uncomfortable around those who seem stupid. I'm not saying I'm a genius, but there certainly are many stupid ones.

Grandpa h.

[Derach]

The election of GWBII ... twice ... preceded by Bill Clinton ... twice ... and GWBI before that raise SERIOUS questions about the value both intelligence and common sense are to the American electorate ...

however ...

there have been some stellar examples of politicians being educated far beyond their intellectual capacity (let alone social grace or moral restraint). The American electorate has chosen from a narrow pool of homogeneous options.


BTW - I believe Ronald Reagan would be a democrat if he were entering politics today.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Derach The election of GWBII ... twice ... preceded by Bill Clinton ... twice ... and GWBI before that raise SERIOUS questions about the value both intelligence and common sense are to the American electorate

Actaully, for me, it raises more concerns about the election process.

[butterbut]

Obama wrote a book entitled "The Audacity of Hope". I will never vote for him becuase I have know idea what the word audacity means. We may be idots, but its our country. He's supposed to represent us. If he can't relate to us he has no right to run the country.

[JaneDoe321]

Because America (in general) is proof that "Idiocracy" was not fiction, but prophecy.

[gela]

Why do so many Americans want stupid presidents?

I've been asking the same question for years...

Apparently intelligence isn't high on the priority list.

[lsbskins1]

Quote by: butterbut Obama wrote a book entitled "The Audacity of Hope". I will never vote for him becuase I have know idea what the word audacity means. We may be idots, but its our country. He's supposed to represent us. If he can't relate to us he has no right to run the country.

The problem is not that he can't relate to you, the problem is that you won't relate to him. If I take your post at face value, I know one thing about you. You are too lazy to pick up a dictionary and learn what audacity means. I don't hold it against you that you don't know the word, but I do hold your willful ignorance against you. Ignorance, by the way, means lack of knowledge, not inability to learn. And as willfully ignorant as GWB is, he probably knows what audacity means, and trust me when I tell you, he may not use the word on the stump, but he is less able to relate to your lazy ass than Obama is.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: sdbest The American electorate is unique in that a large percentage--perhaps a majority--of it is suspicious of well-educated, intelligent people. The Democratic primary campaign is indicative. Better educated people vote Obama. Poorly educated people vote Clinton. In other words, smart people vote Barack, stupid people vote Clinton. The 'elitist' brouhaha that engulfed the Democratic campaign over Obama's "bitter" observation was seized upon not only by Clinton, but also by pundits across the U.S. The exception was Bill Maher, "Hell, yes I want someone smarter than me as President." Please explain, why do so many Americans--perhaps a majority--think that having a President (like Bush or Reagan) who has the intellect of a salamander is a good thing? Apart from Dick Cheney, why would anyone want a dumb, uneducated President?

I guess I will leave that question to the Republicans because both of our Democratic canidates are well educated. I do not think that the majority of the African Americans are better educated then the Hillary supporters, nor do I think that the majority of housewives who voted for Hillary are on an average better educated then the Obama supporters. Those kind of stats are invented by the news media or talk show hosts so they can sound "informed" and so they got something to report.

[LadiesMan217]

Quote by: sdbest The American electorate is unique in that a large percentage--perhaps a majority--of it is suspicious of well-educated, intelligent people. The Democratic primary campaign is indicative. Better educated people vote Obama. Poorly educated people vote Clinton. In other words, smart people vote Barack, stupid people vote Clinton. The 'elitist' brouhaha that engulfed the Democratic campaign over Obama's "bitter" observation was seized upon not only by Clinton, but also by pundits across the U.S. The exception was Bill Maher, "Hell, yes I want someone smarter than me as President." Please explain, why do so many Americans--perhaps a majority--think that having a President (like Bush or Reagan) who has the intellect of a salamander is a good thing? Apart from Dick Cheney, why would anyone want a dumb, uneducated President?

Sdbest, I truly do get tired of your trolling. Practically every thread I have ever seen started by you poses no point or fact for debate, you simply post these titles to grab attention and start mouthing off about how much America sucks when you have no sources or anything to back your claims, I want to have intellectual debate with you but you make consistently difficult.

[JaneDoe321]

I do wonder if maybe the voting public has decided it's worthless to give a d*mn since their votes don't actually mean anything anyway...

[Winter wind]

Quote by: Capitan Cardio Jon Stewart also poked fun at the whole calling Obama "elitist" thing. I highly recommend watching it, I thought it was hilarous.

I saw that and died laughing.

Quote by: chaossaber I'm curious when elitist became synonymous with intelligent because it's not the same thing to me. In fact, the comment in question reeks of stupidity and ignorance.

Ha, people tend to mix the two. Calling some people elitist, though, is a way to make smart people unelectable.

Quote by: butterbutt Obama wrote a book entitled "The Audacity of Hope". I will never vote for him becuase I have know idea what the word audacity means. We may be idots, but its our country. He's supposed to represent us. If he can't relate to us he has no right to run the country.

See this is where we differ in opinion. I think the president's job isn't to appeal to the lowest common denominator. The president's job is to raise it.

Plus, president is the hardest job in the country. I want someone embarrassingly superior to me to have the job.

[Trotsky]

George Bush snr was a very very intelligent man, I'm not so keen on him as a person but he was far from stupid. Which leads me to believe that his missus is a thick as ditch water, Jeb, Dubya...must be. Clinton was also no fool, again I might not like the kind of person he is but I wouldn't call him stupid. Neither Hillary or Obama are stupid, far from it, they are however what you get when you scrape the bottom of the mainstream political barrel.
But the US does not have the monopoly on bottom of the barrel politicians/HoS's, Berlusconi, Ahern, Mitterand, Haughey, Harold Wilson, Blair etc etc.

[butterbut]

Quote by: Winter wind I See this is where we differ in opinion. I think the president's job isn't to appeal to the lowest common denominator. The president's job is to raise it. Plus, president is the hardest job in the country. I want someone embarrassingly superior to me to have the job.

Yes, but big words don't = intelligence. A truly intelligent person should be able to us simple words to get his point across. It works just a effectively. If he can't relate to his own people, how is he going to relate to other world leaders and understand global conflicts?

[Winter wind]

Quote by: butterbutt Yes, but big words don't = intelligence. A truly intelligent person should be able to us simple words to get his point across. It works just a effectively. If he can't relate to his own people, how is he going to relate to other world leaders and understand global conflicts?

A truely intelligent person wields the language he is given to it's fullest potential. Tell me, what word should he have replaced "Audacity" with?

Also, I don't think he cares. Polls show that the less educated you are, the less likely your going to vote in the first place.