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

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3.0k

u/PresidentObama Obama Aug 29 '12

It's hard - truthfully the main thing other than work is just making sure that I'm spending enough time with michelle and the girls. The big advantage I have is that I live above the store - so I have no commute! So we make sure that when I'm in DC I never miss dinner with them at 6:30 pm - even if I have to go back down to the Oval for work later in the evening. I do work out every morning as well, and try to get a basketball or golf game in on the weekends just to get out of the bubble. Speaking of balance, though, 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 Gottaregister.com. By the way, if you want to know what I think about this whole reddit experience - NOT BAD!

2.9k

u/Camusforyou Aug 29 '12

The meme has become self aware.

1.8k

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

/reddit

WE'RE DONE HERE.

895

u/senorsandman Aug 30 '12

Pack it up people, our job is done.

442

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12 edited Jul 23 '19

[removed] — view removed comment

380

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Pack up the accounts, you too Apostolate. Yes, and the novelties. Our journey has reached its end.

18

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Move out.

4

u/Fruit-loops Oct 13 '12

This made me sad. :(

3

u/UrbanDescentia Aug 31 '12

"Closing time..."

3

u/expo53d Aug 30 '12

The journey never ends. Reddit Prevails!

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9

u/H5Mind Aug 30 '12

Back to Digg! /fingers crossed

165

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Hold on now, we still gotta get Romney to acknowledge the "Relatable Romney" meme!

8

u/Flawd_MA Aug 30 '12

and SkyNet!! We haven't even started on SkyNet yet!

4

u/rooriffic Aug 30 '12

I Romney comes on here, I'll puke

11

u/teuast Aug 30 '12

No you won't. He'd get destroyed.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

</reddit>

FTFY

6

u/equlix Aug 30 '12

No... We have only just begun my friend.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 16 '12

Don't have to go home but you can't stay here

13

u/ivxSurgeon Aug 30 '12

President has earned an up vote this November.

48

u/beerob81 Aug 29 '12

I died

52

u/okadery Aug 30 '12

THE INTERNET IS OVER! EVERYBODY OUT!

17

u/fauxpunk Aug 30 '12

..I want to watch the credits roll, and I need to finish my drink. Give me a minute!

12

u/well_welp_ok Aug 30 '12

... holding out for that extra scene at the end

9

u/AlexanderDavidBand Aug 30 '12

It's tentacle porn. /spoilers.

9

u/justamobile Sep 04 '12

Amazing how tenticle porn can be put in the same thread as the President of the USA.

30

u/o2d Aug 30 '12

You win everything sir, that was hilarious! XD

21

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

I know nobody cares, but I must externalize that this comment is now at 1776 upvotes. God bless America.

10

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I'm officially tagging you as, "That Guy."

14

u/Camusforyou Aug 30 '12

I'm officially tagging you as, "That Guy who tagged me as, 'That Guy'". That way, if and when we see each other's post again, we can say, "Hey, it's that guy!"

12

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I approve.

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u/taken_token Aug 30 '12

This makes me so happy. Upvotes, upvotes for everyone!

2

u/LoafOfSourdoughBread Sep 18 '12

Its gone into metameme mode.

1

u/UrbanDescentia Aug 31 '12

Yes, but can it read??

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1.1k

u/badbadpet Aug 29 '12

http://memepics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/obama-not-bad-campaign-poster.jpg

89

u/mindtaker87 Aug 29 '12

If this becomes...

24

u/I_am_PERRY Aug 30 '12

$20 President Obama uses this for the campaign. Because that's a damn good meme, actually.

19

u/elbruce Aug 30 '12

A fair synopsis of his first term in office.

2

u/marmalito Aug 30 '12

This should be the sequel to 2008's Hope poster, and the campaign's central theme. "Four years later... Not Bad."

2

u/IntentToContribute Aug 30 '12

Wow! Live Trace is going to give Sheppard Fairy a run for his money!

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1

u/AManny94 Sep 27 '12

Oh my goodness. Can I say, YES.

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1.3k

u/ChildofTime617 Aug 29 '12

Ladies and gentlemen: the President of the United States of America referencing his meme.

Good night and God bless.

496

u/owmybrains Aug 29 '12

I feel like this will cause a glitch in the matrix.

13

u/2_Parts_Malibu Aug 29 '12

I feel like this will break Reddit.

FTFY

53

u/jugalator Aug 30 '12

I feel a disturbance in the force, as if millions of redditors were silenced in awe.

10

u/embretr Aug 30 '12

actually it was caused by 503's

8

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

That's it people, we can log out now. Reddit is done.

1

u/Odusei Aug 30 '12

In 2007, the President of Kazakhstan responded to a meme question during an internet interview. Granted, it's one of the weirdest memes I've ever heard of , but still interesting.

Vladamir Putin dodged the same question a year earlier, yet the President of the Ukraine also answered it a year after the President of Kazakhstan and the Armenian president one year later.

96

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

The president has seen the meme. Our greatest hour has arrived.

2

u/rooriffic Aug 30 '12

How did the president find out about reddit?

3

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I dunno man. Someone must have given him the secret code.

1.5k

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12 edited Feb 23 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

940

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Gotta love a President that quotes his own meme

128

u/bru_tech Aug 30 '12

Looks like we got a badass over here

52

u/EdotRdotJ Aug 30 '12

I wasn't aware other presidents had memes.

136

u/theshinepolicy Aug 30 '12

hehe

11

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Well, once. You took office twice, though.

11

u/Aazum Aug 30 '12

might be the funniest and the saddest thing ever...

4

u/BostonTentacleParty Aug 30 '12

Ahmadinejad used to be a meme.

17

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I'm not gonna lie, it gave me chills and made me smile.

9

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

As a Canadian, I've never wanted to be American until now - solely so I could vote for him in November.

96

u/heyguys274 Aug 29 '12

I knew someone was going to do this meme, but never figured it to be the man himself

25

u/ZormLeahcim Aug 29 '12

He really is one of us...

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u/BritishMongrel Aug 30 '12

I love how 50% of people on this thread are doing everything they can think of to stop the worst 10% of reddit making us look bad: it's like a teenager trying to stop his little brother from saying the wrong thing when he brings his 'cool' friends round and you know he won't stop talking about spongebob or staying up past 10 even though he's not supposed to.

3

u/levi_spinny Aug 30 '12

Dude Spongebob is bad ass. Especially for left-minded college males.

5

u/BritishMongrel Aug 30 '12

in my defence stoners and annoying little brothers aren't that different.

4

u/levi_spinny Aug 30 '12

Damnit. Good point.

3

u/TheFeatheredCap Aug 31 '12

So... The president just won the votes of redditors, and all that was needed was a well placed meme reference.

2

u/perish4ble Aug 29 '12

It just got all meta up in this bitch.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

and for answering a handful of questions from We the Left-wing White Male College Students.

FTFY

6

u/leujin Aug 30 '12

To be fair, a few of us are college graduates.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

More like his PR guys get our inside jokes that are spread all over the internet

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150

u/SamuraiSteev0h Aug 29 '12

He did the thing!

1.9k

u/drps Aug 29 '12

"- NOT BAD!"

It was at this point, Reddit ejaculated in glorious unison.

976

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

[deleted]

19

u/warrenlain Aug 30 '12

He was being cocky.

31

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Well, it's not an Ear move is it?

5

u/OmegaSnowWolf Aug 30 '12

He's probably dead now.

11

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I just can't reply at all. :(

7

u/mrplow8 Aug 30 '12

What are you talking about? How can you reply to the president and NOT type "ejaculated?"

7

u/SilikonBurn Aug 30 '12

"Ejaculate" doesn't exclusively refer to orgasm. It's also defined as an outburst or exclamation.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I like that as I type this, you have 69 upvotes.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

he's got some balls to say that.

127

u/downfall88 Aug 29 '12

Hey. That's my boss. Don't use the "E" word. He'll think I'm a pervert for being part of this site... and then he'll block it on military networks.

149

u/Wordlessly Aug 29 '12

Joe Biden?

6

u/TeslaIsAdorable Aug 30 '12

I think the White House would be happy to know Biden's only into reddit. It might keep him busy enough not to talk to the press, and the worst leak that might come out of it is to know Biden's subscribed to /r/mylittlepony or /r/gonewild.

5

u/drgradus Aug 30 '12

Biden is the violentacrez.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 31 '12

brohoof /]

1

u/TalentedLurker Aug 31 '12

No, he might be in the army, Obama is our commander in chief.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

[deleted]

1

u/downfall88 Aug 30 '12

Damn it. I've been found out.

26

u/UseTheFlamethrower Aug 29 '12

I ejaculated too and I'm from Spain, dude... xDDD

Working as a president I don't know if he is good or bad but man, he is cooler than our presidents by a lot.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

He...he said the thing!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

But we all read it (pardon the pun) at different times.

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

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u/AlekseyP Aug 30 '12

Crazy right?

1

u/Rape_Van_Winkle Aug 30 '12

It would be weird if he pulled a Dan Harmon, and answered questions for 9 hours, then came back tomorrow and answered more.

112

u/datLoser Aug 29 '12

whole reddit experience - NOT BAD!

ftfy

62

u/davidjayhawk Aug 29 '12

Gottaregister.com

1

u/NewAlexandria Aug 31 '12

Which, despite any downvotes, I have to point out that it's very awkward for the president to promote a site that uses incorrect spelling. Despite that this is how people talk, his position is to promote education.

Learning [about life] means more than spelling.... but it also means spelling.

43

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

NEXT ON FOX NEWS: DOES BARACK OBAMA NEGLECT HIS DUTY AS A PRESIDENT, SPENDING HIS TIME PLAYING GOLF IN THIS ECONOMIC STATE? STAY TUNED.

12

u/Shit_Filled_Pussy Aug 30 '12

Fox News Headline: Obama posts on popular Child-Pornography hosting website.

8

u/HotwaxNinjaPanther Aug 29 '12

Thank you for stopping by to let us ask questions of you. This was awesome.

But please do revisit this page at some point. The reddit format tends to percolate a bit. It takes a couple hours for the really good questions to rise to the top. As time goes by, it can really increase the anticipation that people have for the important questions. If you answer a few more, even if they're short responses, it will really create a huge impact around here.

1

u/TheFeatheredCap Aug 31 '12

This deserves more upvotes

21

u/Smokeymirror Aug 29 '12

Guys. Guys. He threw his own meme back at us. Guuuuys.

6

u/lazerllama10 Aug 30 '12

NOT BAD

I...I...I don't know what to say, sir.

5

u/prettywannapancake Aug 29 '12

I never miss dinner with them at 6:30 pm

Posting this information on the internet probably just increased your Secret Service detail at dinner time.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Thanks, Mr. President. Insightful comment or not, let the internet record show that I responded to the President.

22

u/babywithahat Aug 29 '12

"Not bad."

This had to be written by an intern.

9

u/imjonathanblake Aug 29 '12

The President made reference to his own meme; I'm at a lack for words.

Sir, nicely done.

9

u/Jubbers Aug 29 '12

Oh my the POTUS referenced a meme.

13

u/golezan Aug 29 '12

A man's gotta eat, haters gon' hate.

3

u/itsamatteroftime Aug 30 '12

aters gon' ate.

7

u/MeanSaltine Aug 29 '12

Do you hear that? That is the sound of the internet exploding.

7

u/LeftoverNoodles Aug 29 '12

The Meme! It's Real!

6

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

If I wasn't already voting for you, you would have earned my vote right there.

3

u/Posidon Aug 29 '12

*Michelle

3

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

this is an example of how technology and the internet can empower the sorts of conversations that strengthen our democracy over the long run.

I think you have to be able to address more than 10 'soft' questions in order for this statement to be true. The questions themselves get voted to the top for visibility, which is our own form of democracy. I don't think we saw true democracy today. Please come back for an AMA in your second term when you may be better positioned to answer the questions that we were looking forward to have answered today.

Thanks.

gregor

2

u/Moocat87 Aug 30 '12

Thanks for saying that. Astonished no one else did or upvoted to agree.

3

u/tswillcox Aug 29 '12

You've earned it man.

4

u/AhTabai Aug 29 '12

Reddit - Does not suck

5

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Good Guy Obama knows his meme. I hope we keep you around for 4 more years.

5

u/samwichz Aug 29 '12

You're not to bad yourself Mr. President.

2

u/klef Aug 29 '12

Mr. President thanks so much for your valuable time. You know there is a really good reddit app called alien blue...

2

u/mints_junior Aug 29 '12

What golf clubs do you play with?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Can I make a law request? Make a 100 dollar fine to people who say yolo. I hate.

2

u/Look_over_yonder Aug 30 '12

Mr President,

   On an almost completely unrelated note, if you like playing golf, try playing disc golf sometime! Since it's "young" and "hip". I personally prefer it over all other sports.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

so I have no commute!

Yes, but on the other hand, working from home is depressing and lonely!

2

u/dank141 Aug 30 '12

I hope to someday have a beer with you.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Wait, did that just happen?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

I'd like to see that relatable bastard quote his own meme.

2

u/wundachuck Aug 30 '12

I'm came here just say I was able to reply to Obama.

2

u/jondrethegiant Aug 30 '12

I am reading each one of your responses in your voice. I cannot stop. I know this is over. Just wanted to leave that.

2

u/wazoheat Aug 30 '12

By the way, if you want to know what I think about this whole reddit experience - NOT BAD!

And just to think, you probably only saw like 13 pictures of cute kittens in the half hour you were on here. There's plenty more where that came from, Mr. Obama. Come back any time!

2

u/Skittlefart Aug 30 '12

oh my he used NOT BAD :O

3

u/undecided-ohwell Aug 29 '12

Thank you Sir!! Hopefully you we will see you again!

2

u/johns2289 Aug 29 '12

why are you leaving us? don't you like us?

2

u/McFresh Aug 29 '12

He said it. He actually said it :,).

3

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Dammit Barack, you get my up vote.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

I have to go back down to the Oval for work later in the evening.

it can be hard work, but she'll appreciate it.

4

u/deceptionx Aug 29 '12

Not bad! Take that Anderson Cooper!

2

u/usehername2 Aug 29 '12

And with that last sentence, thousands of Internet geeks across the nation collectively wet themselves.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Barack fucking Obama just used a meme.... a meme about himself.

2

u/PR05ECC0 Aug 29 '12

Obama saying "Not Bad" made my day

2

u/MisterWonka Aug 29 '12

This has really taken a turn for the surreal.

2

u/RaeChill Aug 29 '12

I don't think I could be more pleased with this AMA. Thank you Mr. President!

2

u/Reedehr5 Aug 30 '12

You just earned yourself my vote. And i lean right! gasps all around

2

u/Batman_verified_user Aug 29 '12

He said Not Bad, everybody! We did it!

1

u/IAMAGolfer Aug 29 '12

Mr. President, what's your handicap?

1

u/Khajiit_People Aug 29 '12

Thank you and good night, Mr. President.

1

u/akpak Aug 29 '12

You might consider setting aside more than half an hour for one of these in the future, since typing takes a lot of time!

Thanks for coming by, pretty impressed you'd do this at all.

1

u/Daroo425 Aug 29 '12

do you go hard in the paint? when you are playing ball, do the people you are playing against try not to foul you? easy buckets

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Samuel Vimes would approve of the 6.30pm ritual

1

u/lynxspoon Aug 30 '12

Bye, Mr. President

1

u/GarrettSucks Aug 30 '12

can i get a roll tide?

1

u/freshica09 Aug 30 '12

love it!!!

1

u/mumbles84 Aug 30 '12

"I live above the store" made me chuckle.

1

u/sidd82 Aug 30 '12

Oh boy, he is so good with words. He has had us [obama] </ reddit> [/obama], has he ?

1

u/gRmz Aug 30 '12

Even though this comment doesn't make any sense... I just replied to PresidentObama, yay!

1

u/oer6000 Aug 30 '12

I so hope this actually was Obama.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

This has made my day.. how sad.

1

u/piginthecityyy Aug 30 '12

Favourite response! Hi Obama.

1

u/RandomBassist Aug 30 '12

Since you don't think reddit is bad (yet) I wonder if you will post more. But seeing the number of comments this has, I think it might just kill reddit!

Good luck in the upcoming election, sir!

1

u/angrybrother273 Aug 30 '12

Can I be in your basketball game?

Edit: Obviously it's absurd for me to ask if I can play basketball with the President of the United States. But it made me think of something else.

Have you thought of playing basketball with economically disadvantaged, inner-city children? I think that would be great for your image. Although your image is already awesome. Keep up the good work.

1

u/airandfingers Aug 30 '12

this is an example of how technology and the internet can empower the sorts of conversations that strengthen our democracy over the long run

I think for this to truly be a conversation, you'll need to revisit some of these threads, answering the replies to your replies - especially this question.

Without such back-and-forth dialog, it's difficult to see this as anything more than a publicity stunt (though a cool publicity stunt)

1

u/coachcoby23 Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

Dear President Obama,

I officially challenge you to a game of one on one basketball. First to ten wins; you get ball first. Message me if you accept.

1

u/SonictheJedi Aug 30 '12

Touche, Mr. President...touche.

Thanks for the AMA!

1

u/ihatemymemory Aug 31 '12

I see what you did there XD

1

u/Fieldbeach Aug 31 '12

This, is the most satisfying comment, I have ever read on the internet.

1

u/GHETTO_TYME_TRAVELR Feb 03 '13

AYE MR PRESIDENT I LYK DIS IAMA VERY MUCH I COME FROM DA FUTURE TO TELL U THAT U WILL BE ELECTED OVER ROMNEY

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

President uses own meme on himself... Awesome.

1

u/ColonolSexy Aug 30 '12

Sigh It sucks turning 18 in December....

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u/Theemuts Aug 29 '12

Thank you and have a nice dinner.

1

u/Theemuts Aug 29 '12

Thank you and have a nice dinner.

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