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Comment by gasull | Hacker News Reader

I was an Obama supporter during his first presidential campaign. I remember some people warning that Obama would be a disaster. I tried to listen to what they said, but I couldn't find any criticism at that time that made sense, just some wingnuts saying that he was the AntiChrist, or that he wasn't born in the US (me neither, I don't care) or that he was a fascist without explaining why.

I wonder if it's just that the media was really good at mocking these people, or if they were really wingnuts and they have just been lucky in being somewhat right in the long run.

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I think Obama believed most of what he campaigned for. But I believe the Office of the President changes people, and I'm sure there is a lot going on that we don't see. Something changed his mind. Not that I agree with his change in stance, but I suspect that's what happened.

> But I believe the Office of the President changes people

Looking at what some former presidents (Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton come to mind) say after they left, it seems that this change is not permanent. It's almost like moving into the White House makes folks automatons void of any previously held principles. And moving out makes them decent people again.

I think a big part of it is that presidents don't really think for themselves. They are essentially at the behest of their advisors and the heads of these various organizations. If the head of the NSA tells you that the program is constitutional and we have X, Y, Z safeguards in place to protect Americans, why would he not believe it? It's not like he can evaluate the implementation himself. I doubt he would even have time to if he wanted to dig into the gritty details.

The fact is, there is a machine that exists beyond any sitting president, and that machine is adept at getting its way. Convincing one person, who does not have any former experience in these matters, that your way is the right way, is probably the easiest part of their job.

It could be due to some kind of garbage in garbage out. After all all the information he receives comes from the government stablishment. He doesn't have direct access to sourcess any more.

I think Obama believed most of what he campaigned for.

Why do you believe this? Is it entirely due to the "secret information" theory, where the President is sat down his first day and told all the skary sekrit stuff?

I don't think it's necessarily all the stuff he's told but all the people he chose to surround himself with when he formed his cabinet.

If you're implying he's got a gun to his head, he should just step down and say "I can't do my job any longer".

It was the media, although of course there were the usual "wingnuts" and "moonbats", there always are.

Just look at Jim Geraghty of the National Review and his "All Barack Obama Statements Come With an Expiration Date. All Of Them." meme. In fact, you can find just mention of just about everything there was known before the 2008 election at that one mainstream establishment conservative publication.

Obama is not a disaster. He is a great product of a system called democracy, where people are taught to believe they are free and can make a difference by voting.

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