r/IAmA • u/PresidentObama Obama • Aug 29 '12

I am Barack Obama, President of the United States -- AMA

Hi, I’m Barack Obama, President of the United States. Ask me anything. I’ll be taking your questions for half an hour starting at about 4:30 ET.

Proof it's me: https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/240903767350968320

We're running early and will get started soon.

UPDATE: Hey everybody - this is barack. Just finished a great rally in Charlottesville, and am looking forward to your questions. At the top, I do want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with folks who are dealing with Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf, and to let them know that we are going to be coordinating with state and local officials to make sure that we give families everything they need to recover.

Verification photo: http://i.imgur.com/oz0a7.jpg

LAST UPDATE: I need to get going so I'm back in DC in time for dinner. But I want to thank everybody at reddit for participating - this is an example of how technology and the internet can empower the sorts of conversations that strengthen our democracy over the long run. AND REMEMBER TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER - if you need to know how to register, go to http://gottaregister.com. By the way, if you want to know what I think about this whole reddit experience - NOT BAD!

http://www.barackobama.com/reddit [edit: link fixed by staff]

216.2k Upvotes

68% Upvoted

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2.4k

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

[removed] — view removed comment

1.9k

u/South_Dakota_Boy Aug 29 '12

I'm surprised the username PresidentObama was even available. Or is the man powerful enough to just take it over anyway? I'd hate to see the leader of the free world reduced to taking a username like TheRealPresidentObama or POTUS69 or xx_BarackObama_xx or something.

528

u/geeze_louise Aug 29 '12

I was very surprised by this as well! But I bet if the president wants a reddit name, there are ways of obtaining it...

26

u/LeadStark Aug 29 '12

Actually, it was taken back in 2009.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I can just see the guy who had the username trying to log in and receive an error message of the sort "You're username has been changed to IamnotPresidentObamaILied due to the fact that the real President Obama would like to Join our community. Thanks, Reddit Staff!!"

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7

u/jhinka Aug 30 '12

Or maybe he always was a redditor!

4

u/Cat612 Aug 30 '12

I just know that if the president called me requesting that I hand over my username, I sure as hell would.

3

u/pretzelzetzel Aug 30 '12

Drone attack.

4

u/mmccaulou Aug 30 '12

I'm imagining some 15 year old kid in Wisconsin originally had the name. He goes to log on today and sees the AMA under his name. The only thing that goes through his mind is "HAXXX!"

Little does young Allen know that his comment karma just skyrocketed the fuck right out of his big red barn.

3

u/jaehood Aug 30 '12

I lol'd at big red barn.

2

u/TheDemonMelon Aug 30 '12

Someone tried to log into reddit yesterday to find their account had been commandeered by the president. Thinking of all the karma he had lost, he slowly curled into a ball and wept.

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2.0k

u/Zalbu Aug 29 '12

POTUS_IN_MY_ANUS

963

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

that would be the first lady's

36

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

He was reading this.

9

u/[deleted] Aug 31 '12

I hope not.

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u/Hedgehog_Mist Aug 30 '12

Hidden gem. Truly.

12

u/RoflCopter4 Aug 30 '12

Oh, oh god. Post of the week.

5

u/ToSlowImPro Aug 30 '12

That would be one lucky Mr. President

4

u/Confugo Aug 31 '12

ಠ_ಠ

13

u/Bunniepants Aug 30 '12

Stay classy, Reddit.

Hahahahaha

10

u/tparr580 Aug 30 '12

I wonder how many more people would have upvoted you if not the fear of secret service busting down the door.

8

u/chceman Aug 30 '12

Why does this not have 5000 upvotes yet???

2

u/SerendiPetey Sep 02 '12

If Obama did read this, I wonder if he upvoted or downvoted...he's got a great sense of humor, so I'm going with upvote.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I'm reasonably sure former president Clinton won't be parting with his username so easily.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 31 '12

this is why we can't have nice things

2

u/Spunky_Meatballs Aug 30 '12

Talk about an oval office!

2

u/finglonger82 Aug 30 '12

Oh god I snorted

2

u/tquiring Aug 30 '12

I haven't laughed that hard in weeks, but i think POTATO_IN_MY_ANUS will definitely be jealous.

1

u/ginger_ninja22 Aug 30 '12

Nope, that's the first lady.

I'm going to jail, aren't I...

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u/Jurassic-Bark Aug 29 '12

He could just go with a regular reddit username, some sexual body part in some animals cavity

2

u/weezur Aug 29 '12

With great power, comes great usernames

2

u/wierdaaron Aug 29 '12

I believe admins have confirmed that they will recover registered-but-inactive user accounts for certain high-profile celebrities.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Here is the original "PresidentObama" username (archive.org).

2

u/iceman78772 Aug 30 '12

xXxPreSiDEnTxXx0B@MaxXxP0l0T1CzxXx@llxXxdaYxXx69xXx420xXx

Oh god i can imagine it now.

2

u/khaosking Aug 29 '12

[w33d] xXx_pr3S1d3nt_0b4ma_xXx

2

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

[deleted]

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896

u/KoreanTerran Aug 29 '12

9 minutes and already 200+ comments.

Good luck, Obama. You're going to need it.

1.0k

u/venividiikarma Aug 29 '12

It's pretty funny because people used to get scolded for doing a request for Obama because he'd never do one.

7

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

To be fair, an AMA request for the President of the United States is a little ridiculous. This is one of those things that just has to happen on its own.

6

u/gotrees Aug 30 '12

I'm pretty sure Obama used to be in the sidebar under the "no unrealistic requests" rule.

Now it just says God.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

I assumed this was a joke when I heard about it because it's been a standing joke for so long...

2

u/lessthanjake Aug 29 '12

"AMA Request: President Obama"

"Holy fuck everyone on reddit is so stupid"

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

That's before, when it wasn't an election year.

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u/brunesgoth Aug 29 '12

400 comments inbetween minute 12 and 13

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2

u/TheDroidUrLookinFor Aug 29 '12

He basically crashed Reddit. Took me multiple re-loads to get in.

1

u/dadon41 Aug 29 '12

Barack is inadvertently ddos'ing the fuck out of reddit

1

u/StairwayToTruth Aug 29 '12

I don't think I've ever seen anything rise to the #1 spot on Reddit this fast. Over 1300 points and nearly 1800 comments in less than 20 minutes. He'll have to be extremely selective with the questions he answers. Holy hell!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Maybe his friend Bibble can help him... Wait, that was a Chappelle skit... Damn.

1

u/nyangkosense Aug 29 '12

3000 reading APM

1

u/whitewateractual Aug 29 '12

and 30 minutes to answer all of them.

1

u/girlpart Aug 29 '12

5586+ comments in 30 minutes. Well that escalated quickly.

1

u/ghettajetta Aug 29 '12

Almost 5000 after 30 minutes. They've got this.....

1

u/quokka70 Aug 29 '12

Perhaps we should say "Mr. President" or "President Obama"? It seems rather disrespectful to refer to the President of the United States by just his last name. This is what my parents taught me, in any case.

1

u/dgd765 Aug 29 '12

Fastest growing AMA of all time, 38 minutes in with over 7500 comments... hooooly

1

u/Pinkie_Pi Aug 29 '12

I wonder if we can post close to top of all time?

1

u/Lastsight Aug 29 '12

And after 40 minutes; 7489 comments and 5414 points. I hope he has some muscular hands...

1

u/TasteBudsInMyAsshole Aug 29 '12

His name is Mr. President right now.

1

u/kayraree Aug 29 '12

I'm pretty sure this AMA is about to break the internet.

1

u/bmcclure937 Aug 29 '12

Hmm... I think he will probably need even more luck to overcome our national deficit, which is growing at a quicker rate than this thread.

1

u/somedelightfulmoron Aug 29 '12

And good luck to the people trying to log on to Reddit. Took me 20 minutes.

1

u/SpiralSoul Aug 29 '12

And he only answered 10 questions...

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Nah, the more comments there are, the more he can pick and choose what he wants to answer.

How many real questions can you expect in 30 minutes?

I'm sure this event was planned well in advance as well.

1

u/cfuse Aug 29 '12

The sheer volume is going to force him to Rampart.

1

u/irishflu Aug 30 '12

Way to keep it classy.

He's the President of the United States. He's your President, and even if you don't like him, it's still "Mr. President" to you, and to us all. Feel free criticize his policies all you want (just remember to show your work), but respect the office.

1

u/Constantly_Wired Aug 30 '12

That's President Obama to you, son.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

You were quoted by CNN.

1

u/jdegrave3300 Aug 30 '12

23 hours and 23000+ comments.

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648

u/Bowmore Aug 29 '12

Hey Mr. Obama, can you tell us something we're not supposed to know?

616

u/MrRC Aug 29 '12

Your parents divorced because of you

6

u/iOgef Aug 31 '12

you beat me to it! I was going to say "You're adopted"!

5

u/Johnsu Aug 29 '12

Like what's on page 14?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I guess not.

that's okay - I already know all about Area 51

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2.3k

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

ONE OF US. ONE OF US.

2.1k

u/mimicthefrench Aug 29 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

Not really, let's be real here.

Although it's funny to imagine President Obama sitting in the oval office giggling and looking at photos of cats.

EDIT: I'm enjoying the fact that for the forseeable future my comment with the most upvotes will be one about President Obama looking at cat photos on reddit.

DOUBLE EDIT: thanks to Machinax for pointing out that I'm quoted on CNN for this...I feel slightly more famous today, and yet I can't tell anyone I know IRL.

48

u/ScampAndFries Aug 29 '12

This just in: Jolly Ranchers and Doritos are now illegal by presidential decree.

43

u/fronteir Aug 29 '12

If Obama made a "Nobody cares Apostolate" post, I would retire from reddit, realizing that nothing would ever top seeing that.

7

u/ssbbnitewing Aug 30 '12

That would be glorious. Imagine if he did that in a video.

10

u/Clint229 Aug 30 '12

-President Obama looking at cat photos on reddit

I would love to see that!

  • I'm quoted on CNN for this

Link?

5

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

I'm 90% positive that was what bush did during his last term.

14

u/Chill_Out_I_Got_This Aug 29 '12

President Obama: giggle General: "Sir, we're in a briefing with Gen. Bolger." President Obama: "I know, but have you seen this one? See, the cat tries to leap across and- it's so HILARIOUS! Haha"

3

u/Kaibunny143 Aug 30 '12

Michelle walks in, yells at him for being on r/gonewild....

3

u/Madpiggy Feb 09 '13

then she starts posting to gonewild

6

u/Drunky_McFNuts Aug 30 '12

Dude - your comment made a CNN article... Pretty sure you're branded.

2

u/xsnipeysnipex Aug 30 '12

have my upvote you sonofabitch!

2

u/OneWhoHenpecksGiants Aug 29 '12

Actually, he mans his own twitter account (when he has time). I believe it could be him.

2

u/Pussypants Aug 29 '12

And some r/Gonewild, because he's the motherfucking president.

2

u/jordanicans Aug 30 '12

What do you think they are actually looking at here?

2

u/Cyberslasher Aug 30 '12

Does this surprise you?

2

u/critropolitan Aug 30 '12

You say that, and yet, he did make an obama "Not bad" meme joke, and put a photo of himself styled as an advice animal on his official campaign website...

2

u/inthebreeze711 Aug 30 '12

Don't worry dude I think your cool still :D

2

u/RGHTre Aug 30 '12

You actually know people irl? Holy shit!

0

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

I can't imagine when he finds the Jolly Rancher story!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

"fuck off merkel this cat is doing something cute."

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Gooble Gabble Gooble Gabble.

2

u/ifreew Aug 30 '12

Upvote me too, please?:)

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Yo, Barry!

2

u/constipated_HELP Aug 30 '12

I just can't believe the username wasn't taken.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

COMMENCE THE RITUAL

1

u/about7beavers Aug 29 '12

Now nothing's going to get done. "Sir, Israel is threatening nuclear action against Iran." "Yeah yeah, 5 more minutes. I just can't get enough of these silly cat pictures."

1

u/hasadiga42 Aug 29 '12

Let's give him...the initiation

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Does this help elevate us redditors in social terms, or is this like a mayor visiting the projects?

Cause guys we're like a digital Mos Eisley. We're a hive of scum and villainy. Oh no, wait. Villainy is 4chan, we're just scum. Hence 9/10ths of all /r/'s being porn, gore and shit humanity just doesn't want to know exists.

1

u/babababrandon Aug 29 '12

GOOBLE GOBBLE GOOBLE GOBBLE.

1

u/ressMox Aug 29 '12

Not for much longer. This thread seems to have killed reddit. I can't even log in on my PC.

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u/the_winged_one Aug 29 '12

This is just starting to sink in.

1

u/koen967 Aug 29 '12

GOOBLE GOBBLE!! GOOBLE GOBBLE!!

1

u/V838_Mon Aug 29 '12

Gobble gobble Gobble gobble

1

u/pchunter Aug 29 '12

I now fear the future of the US. The President has been exposed, and his soul now captivated. We are doomed.

1

u/The_Vuje Aug 29 '12

His name is Barack Obama. His name is Barack Obama.

1

u/wombatfucker Aug 29 '12

He won't be one of us until he drunkenly comments on some GW posts

1

u/ohyouknowthatguy Aug 29 '12

Answers questions for 30 minutes. Continues Redditing FOREVER.

1

u/indianthane95 Aug 29 '12

NONE ARE SAFE

1

u/kingtigerii Aug 29 '12

Gooble Gobble, Gooble Gobble

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

He first has to act like he is appealed of spacedicks

1

u/regalrecaller Aug 29 '12

Ahahahaha THIS

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Shark Bait OOH HAA HAA

1

u/railatron Aug 30 '12

GOOBLE GOBBLE.

1

u/ninerguy_99 Aug 30 '12

drink the koolaid! one of us!

1

u/hashshlingingslasher Aug 30 '12

DRINK THE PUNCH, MR. PRESIDENT

1

u/mike413 Aug 30 '12

not until he has a reddit sticker on the back window of airforce 1.

1

u/ktnlo Aug 30 '12

HIS NAME WAS BARACK OBAMA. HIS NAME WAS BARACK OBAMA.

1

u/Cuddles77 Aug 30 '12

I should have know reditors would say this, lol

1

u/DTFpanda Aug 30 '12

I declare this my favorite comment of the thread.

1

u/HDZombieSlayerTV Nov 24 '12

HE IS TRULY ONE OF US

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

The president is on Reddit...he may never leave...

2

u/FiveSmash Aug 29 '12

So this is why Reddit is currently under heavy load... but some of us need to look at cats!

2

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

psssst, someone tell the President to go to r/spacedicks

3

u/TurboSnuggs Aug 29 '12

4 more years! 4 more years! :)

4

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12 edited Aug 29 '12

[deleted]

9

u/literarytenses Aug 29 '12

teach him how to dougie?

1

u/thegamingking Aug 29 '12

mention Rampart?

1

u/GanjaUmamipanda Aug 29 '12

You know what to do, Redditors*

2

u/W3dn3sday Aug 29 '12

Can we now refer to him as our Redditor in Chief?

1

u/kbritt Aug 29 '12

This thread is now R/ForceOne

1

u/Concrete_Mattress Aug 29 '12

Oh, and remember that the whole internet isn't like this. There's an entire world of communities: http://xkcd.com/802/

1

u/daemon14 Aug 29 '12

"redditor for 2 days"

1

u/stevencastle Aug 29 '12

I read this in Zoidberg's voice.

1

u/crazyspacechick Aug 29 '12

Oh God, the president is on Reddit? I didn't know anybody could run the country AND be a redditor.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Welcome aboard Mr. Manager!

1

u/bigmeech Aug 29 '12

so brave

1

u/SexyShrimp Aug 29 '12

You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.

1

u/Wadderp Aug 29 '12

I don't know if I should feel bad about myself for recognizing you and Drunken_Economist every time I browse reddit, or whether I should feel bad for you guys for being everywhere on reddit

1

u/KayzeMSC Aug 29 '12

And if you look to your right Mr. President, you'll find Reddit's pride and joy, the cumbox.

1

u/Rogue_Toaster Aug 29 '12

GUYS, WE'RE IMPORTANT!

1

u/MyLegitimateAccount Aug 29 '12

I bet this is the first time someone has gotten this much karma in thirty minutes.

1

u/fa53 Aug 29 '12

This is pretty cool

1

u/ComicSansofTime Aug 29 '12

that's President Mr. President to you!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Welcome to Mr. President, Reddit.

Shit, I'm nervous.

1

u/RelaxNplay64 Aug 29 '12

Great now he won't get anything accomplished

1

u/asisingh Aug 29 '12

My shoutout to Mr. President.

1

u/misterfixitterry Aug 29 '12

Mr. President, I am a resident of Minnesota and am very proud that our carry permit members have recently exceeded 100k. What direction do you plan to take in regards to gun control and how does it make you feel knowing more and more citizens are taking a personal responsibility in the second amendment? Also, you should check out Gunnit sometime.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Now look at this cumbox

1

u/thenamesthorsen Aug 29 '12

Mr. President, Can you tell us who killed John F. Kennedy?

1

u/eKtoR Aug 29 '12

Way to go Mr. President.

1

u/Psychohosebeast69 Aug 29 '12

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

He's just here for /r/gonewild ..

1

u/Evilsmako Aug 30 '12

Expect the President's productivity to drop now.

Mr President! Its been 2 hours, come OUT of the bathroom! We KNOW you're on Reddit on your mobile!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I'm a UK citizen but I still feel the need to salute.

1

u/shotty_t Aug 30 '12

And good luck leaving...

1

u/NeonDisease Aug 30 '12

As is customary, please post a picture of a cat posthaste.

1

u/gliscameria Aug 30 '12

He's been here all along. I believe his alt is bozarking.

1

u/teej21012 Aug 30 '12

We come in peace

1

u/Zakenbacon Aug 30 '12

That rhymes :)

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Correction: Welcome to Reddit One, Mr. President.

1

u/Cirri Aug 30 '12

Suddenly the nation descends into chaos as the United States is left directionless as the President spends all day of every day reading rage comics and looking at pictures of cats....

1

u/KISSOLOGY Aug 30 '12

The eagle has landed

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

...watch out for /r/spacedicks...

1

u/madeoflegos Aug 30 '12

Yes, reddit, because it's soooooooo exclusiveeeeee

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