Obama Asked "Why Do People Hate You?" By Fourth Grader (VIDEO)

At a town hall meeting in New Orleans Thursday, fourth-grader Terrence Scott earnestly asked the question that has probably been on many people's minds as they witnessed the rage that has been directed at Obama these last few months: "why do people hate you?" The young man seemed genuinely concerned as he asked the question, and he went on to tell Obama that "They supposed to love you." Obama responded by giving the young man a hug while saying, "That's what I'm talking about." Then came the hard part of actually answering his question.

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Comments

[wordbluesunlimited]

Public figures will easily attract detractors and captivate supporters. Some people will love you for who you are; while others will hate you for what you are. But, a leader in high caliber has to be tactful in dealings with people in general. Even when you know your hatemongers you still treat them like supporters, you may pull some to your positive post and win them over totally.

It's funny to see these two four-letter emotions creep into human hearts; and, create war against each other daily. Would we mess with anything if we eliminate the spirit of hate and preserve the spirit of LOVE? Taking the initiative to solve the problem begins with every human being.

[go23]

Except for the un-born humans

[knixphan]

eep?

[wordbluesunlimited]

Public figures will easily attract detractors and captivate supporters. Some people will love you for who you are; while others will hate you for what you are. But, a leader in high caliber has to be tactful in dealings with people in general. Even when you know your hatemongers you still treat them like supporters, you may pull some to your positive post and win them over totally.

It's funny to see these two four-letter emotions creep into human hearts; and, create war against each other daily. Would we mess with anything if we eliminate the spirit of hate and preserve the spirit of LOVE? Taking the initiative to solve the problem begins with every human being.

[wilki203]

I honestly was waiting for Glenn Beck to say that this kid was a plant or that he was the product of the children being brainwashed... maybe even this is too cute for the loonies to make it scary

[Chloe33]

Very good - and right on cue, kid.

It couldn't really be that some mean citizens actually dislike this prez and his inane policies.....

[the weave]

I'm all for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream, judging folks by the content of their character, and not by the color of their skin.

It's been said you can tell a lot about a man's character by those he surrounds himself with.

Let's judge the President, Congress, and all people by their character.

[Swampstomper]

President Obama could have said "Timmy, do not confuse people who disagree with me for people who hate me. Many people respect me but do not support my plans for the country. Think about it like this; you want to play football but your friend wants to play basketball. Does that mean your friend hates you? Of course not. You just disagree. The adults in your life should help you have a better understanding of the difference between hate and disagreement. It would help you as you grow up to be the great person you are meant to be."

[Jmz4gtu]

That would be fine. Except its hard to say that someone comparing you to Hitler simply disagrees with you.

[skialethia]

So when they put a threatening poll on the internet and when they bring weap0ns to rallies they do this because they simply "disagree" with him?

I think not! You can try and sugar-coat the truth, but the truth is there is a lot of hate in some parts of Americana and it ain't pretty and this child sees things as they really are...unfo­rtunately.

These haters should be shamed in a public square.

[t iessa]

Good post.

Of course, you're counting on the adults in Timmy's life knowing the difference between hate and disagreement. If you haven't noticed, many on this site don't know the difference. Maybe adult is the operative word there, eh?

[Sarahmay57]

The question just breaks my heart.

[katharinewheel]

Mine too. I was so proud of our country when we elected him, and I never imagined how ashamed I could be of so many people in this country now.

[TheCaring1]

Mine too, but it was a great question for a young mind. I'm so proud of both the President's responses and the childs question.

[CATNIP1]

Same hear, It brought tears to my eyes and my heart went out to the President. He's done nothing but try to lift up our country after such a bad past 8years. A world wide poll , shows America as being the most admired country, this in such a short time in office for the president.

[go23]

He is remaking the country in his image. Excuse the rest of us if we do not care for it. He is not looking to lift up this country, he is looking to left up himself.

[powder chowder]

spoken like a father and a president.

[Rapier]

People can't really hate someone so willing to compromise except for the irredeemable few who still carry the burdens of prejudice. The important question is the opportunity missed by this administration as the following commentary discusses eloquently:

http://ofthisandthat.org/Commentary.html

[Luke Moriarty]

Nicely done. Anyone care to imagine Bush or Cheney responding to such a question?

[FORLOMC]

Easy to guess the Cheney response: "So"

[BillyShears]

And then the kid would disappear...

[Dham4201]

HAHA 'they just hate our freedoms'

[treadway123]

Because Timmy, they are jelouse,scared, anti-chang­e,anti-bla­ck an plain ignorant.He said it right,really!

[go23]

The change he promised and the change he is bringing is more radical than the change most people were looking for. That is the main reason he is not as popular as he once was.

[Jmz4gtu]

What's he doing that's so radical? And, what's he doing that wasn't part of his campaign platform?

I think the main reason Obama is losing support is that
1) He didn't fix the economy overnight.
2) People wanted a radical liberal and got a more pragmatic one.
3) People wanted not-Bush and got a liberal.

[ReportThis]

WHAT are you talkin' about?!?!?!?!

[Dham4201]

Obama isn't as popular as he once was because most Americans are impatient, ill informed and stupid.

[PoliticiansRspineless]

Well Timmy, because I have promised so much and delivered so little!

[JMBrodie]

Case in point.

[arod72]

And that's a reason to hate him? How do you explain the haters who hated him from day 1?

[beerent]

If you've been following his approval rating, things have really changed since his election. Those people who "hated" him from day one are not going to change. But, there is a lot of criticism coming from the left these days. Did they morph into haters? Or are they just taking issue with the president's performance?

[jim7283]

Well Politician­sRspineles­s, He's less than 25% through term... did the Jets win the Super Bowl after Week 3? No, you got to play the whole season...

If your goal is to save $500K over 30 years and you're only at $50K after 5 have you failed? No. Just your comment failed, that's all...

[Dham4201]

Yes, because some people have this imaginary idea that "change" was promised to be delievered on day two.

[CATNIP1]

Actually ,Timmy, the President has been in office in less than a year, There has been a lot of change, and the biggest change is in the way some people view people of color. You that say Obama has done nothing, haven't been reading or watching the news.

[MikeOptv2]

Fantastic answer given by the President and a very appropriate question, I think, from that Fourth Grader.

Just go and get it out there. It's something that needs to be asked, because whether many realize it or not, or whether they are willing to admit it or not, a lot of people hate this man for the wrong reasons.

I hope the media actually covers this question asked by that Fourth Grader, and showcase Obama's response to it.

[45Caliber]

MikeOptv2,

I believe that as parents we should encourage our children to ask questions that concern them. How else can we expect our children to learn if they do not have inquisitive minds and ask questions.

I always taught my son to ask questions over and over again until he gets the correct answer or the answer that satisfies him.

45Caliber

[treadway123]

Send him to fox noise, for all his answers. I'm sure they will be truethful ha ha.

[headboard]

betcha that kid was coached.

[JustBNice]

Maybe. So what.

What a shame it's relevant.

What a shame you don't get it.

[wbarley]

The President should talk to more 4th graders, they aren't afraid to ask the tough questions without embarassment.

[45Caliber]

Headboard why do you feel he was coached?
Why can't this fourth grader just be an intelligent young boy who wants to try and comprehend some of America's ill feelings towards our President?

45Caliber

[arod72]

Because he's Joe the Plumber.

[CATNIP1]

He was about 10 years old. Most still believe in Santa Clause and Superman. He showed respect for the President as he should have.

[45Caliber]

Give Barack until the middle of next year possibly around May or June and readdress his successes or failures. Nothing can be determined prior to that amount of time.
I also do not remember us as Americans being so critical of Bush in his 8thn month of his Presidency in the same manner that we are treating Obama.

Obama has brought a new method of politics to Washington and many of the old coots cannot conform with the way he is going about bringing in a change. He is trying to change a group of Politicians who don't like change let alone how he he preaches about to the country. Our government, our laws, our country as a whole has been built upon tradition and now people who follow and support this tradition are expected to change? One can only pray that we as Americans and our Politicians will stop trying to resist the change that he is trying to implement. If we resist, we will be stuck in a process of thinking from that of the 19th and or 20th Century! We should as a Nation open up and embrace it

[ppace60657]

True. By this point in Bush's presidency he had already ignored warnings and let the greatest terrorist attack in our history occur, and no one criticized him at all.

[Polichick66]

If anyone so much as QUESTIONED the Bush admin, they were immediately labelled "unpatriotic". How American is that?