Is Obama Stupid or Smart?

In over his head or too smart for his own good?

By Paul Bedard

August 10, 2011 RSS Feed Print
New York Times OP-ED Columnist Maureen Dowd

New York Times OP-ED Columnist Maureen Dowd

President Obama doesn't need to read the right-wing press to catch up on what his critics are saying anymore. Now the anger is coming from the New York Times, MSNBC, and the Washington Post in columns and rants that accuse the president of being stupid, clueless, cold, and an empty suit. [See a slide show of 10 issues driving Obama's re-election campaign.]

On the Today Show this morning, MSNBC host Chris Matthews said the president was out of touch with blue collar workers and ordered Obama to get a heart. In the New York Times, columnist Maureen Dowd called the president inept. In the Washington Post, columnist Richard Cohen called the president cold.

Of course, the president is extremely bright, having a Harvard law degree and himself being a former teacher. But his liberal critics seem to be wondering if he has the political smarts to pull himself out of his current crisis. Bill Clinton was book smart too, but had the political chops to stage multiple comebacks.

It is the not-so-friendly Wall Street Journal that sets up our poll today when columnist Bret Stephens bluntly wrote: "The president isn't very bright." [See a slide show of 10 things Obama can learn from Clinton.]

Is President Obama stupid or smart?

View Results
Tags:
Wall Street Journal,
Chris Matthews,
New York Times,
Maureen Dowd,
MSNBC,
Bill Clinton

Reader Comments Read all comments (21)

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Unfortunately the "president" has proven again and again since he was elected that he's not just stupid, he's unimaginably politically brain-dead. he is a coward, arrogant, and passive--this is NOT a description of the needed, absoloutely required, qualities that a president must, MUST have. Barack Obama in fact was, and is, a [politiocal fool. He has no idea at all how to lead, persuade, or when to get out of the way: he has no damned business sitting in The White House. He's misplayed every single issue he's touched since he was elected. His genius obviously lies in BEING elected--he most certainly has proven to the American public and to the world that he has no ability to, not even an idea of, how to govern. Instead he sits there in The White House, convinced in his overweaning arrogance that he's a genius, secure in his judgment he's always right--and watches his political world crumble around him. Then he blames it on everyone else. Mr President: The Buck Stops There.

Stanley White of MA 12:05AM September 08, 2011

Unfortunately the "president" has proven again and again since he was elected that he's not just stupid, he's unimaginably politically brain-dead. he is a coward, arrogant, and passive--this is NOT a description of the needed, absoloutely required, qualities that a president must, MUST have. Barack Obama in fact was, and is, a [politiocal fool. He has no idea at all how to lead, persuade, or when to get out of the way: he has no damned business sitting in The White House. He's misplayed every single issue he's touched since he was elected. His genius obviously lies in BEING elected--he most certainly has proven to the American public and to the world that he has no ability to, not even an idea of, how to govern. Instead he sits there in The White House, convinced in his overweaning arrogance that he's a genius, secure in his judgment he's always right--and watches his political world crumble around him. Then he blames it on everyone else. Mr President: The Buck Stops There.

Stanley White of MA 12:04AM September 08, 2011

This is one scary man. All records regarding his identity from birth through today are sealed. This poses a major concern for every American. His health care bill excludes those of the Sharia Muslim faith which denigrates and abuses women to the point of killing their own if they do not obey. The terrorist bomber Bill Ayers and his equally dangerous terrorist wife Bernadine Dorn(both spoiled rich brats, by the way) which was so typical of these weirdos who seem to hate their parents and take it out on society and trying to create their own little power space which unfortunately is given to them as Professors to spend a life time teaching hate and Marxism while they have both lived very well off the capitalistic system. And this vain shallow Obama who hates the United States lives extremely "high on the hog" with he and his wife spending taxpayer's money for their royalty trips and vacations. Heaven help America if he is elected again but just finished some more of Hitler's sordid life and he and Barack Obama have much in common. John Kennedy's motto for the American citizen was not to ask what government could do for them but what they could do for America as responsible citizens. Am sure Kennedy is spinning in his grave.

phyllis murphy of IN 11:09AM August 27, 2011

Photo Galleries

Before and After the Joplin Tornado

A look at Joplin one year after the deadly tornado.

advertisement

Latest Video