Why I Don't Call Obama "Smart"

[Dreamer]

Actually, 125 or even 130 is not that "dazzling" an IQ score. I bet most of the posters on this site have that beat.

Actually, 120-140 is considered "very superior intelligence" and 140+ is generally thought of as genius.

[Susanna]

Actually, 120-140 is considered "very superior intelligence" and 140+ is generally thought of as genius.

I'm comparing to myself & people I know. The "dumbest" of my siblings has an IQ of 120, and to me, she's really a dim bulb some times.

[Susanna]

I was at an advantage, because I was in college before the liberals took over completely, and only a tiny bit of it was seen in the pscycholoy, sociology & philosophy departments, where I had very few classes. Probably the most liberal of them would have pooh-poohed the very idea of "women's studies."

[Dreamer]

I'm comparing to myself & people I know. The "dumbest" of my siblings has an IQ of 120, and to me, she's really a dim bulb some times.

Ah. Gotcha.

[jefftec]

I suppose I'll respond, as no one else is defending Obama from this obviously absurd slander.

Obama is most certainly, by any standard, "smart". Indeed, he is unquestionably highly intelligent. While I'm aware that most people on this board are disdainful of academics and intellectual achievement, I can tell you from experience—as a serious aspiring academic—that Obama's accomplishments are extremely impressive. First, he graduated magna cum laude from the most prestigious law school in the world (Harvard). Step back from your bias for a moment to consider this. Just getting into Harvard Law is a huge accomplishment, but to graduate at the top of his class, and with honors, takes incredible concentration, work ethic, and intelligence. You must start with an IQ of at least 130 to even have a chance of graduating Harvard Law, let alone finishing magna cum laude. Belittling this accomplishment will, quite frankly, only expose your own ignorance of the skill, mental discipline, and raw intelligence required to pull off such a feat.

Second, even Obama's reasonable opponents (Krauthammer) admit that he has "a fine analytic mind". This was on display in his (frankly, masterful) debate versus the collected GOP leadership recently. The confidence, poise, and quick-thinking skills necessary to engage (successfully) with a room full of one's most bitter political opponents (on live TV...without a teleprompter, I might add) exhibits a verbal IQ and mental coherence which the vast majority of human beings could never hope to approach.

There are reasonable criticisms one can level at Obama as a man, as a politician, and as a President. Attacking his intelligence is merely a sign of one's lack of perspective, which leads to ironic results.

Obama: "But as we work to create jobs, it is critical that we rein in the budget deficits we've been accumulating for far too long." jan 2010

He might have graduated at the top of his class......but, he has a severe memory problem.......

[smichellem]

but but Uhm he is smart for "one of those" people.

It's so funny when people say that. Typically when I have heard people talk like that about someone based on them being black it's a dem moonbat. They feel so guilty for being white and thinking that they are smarter than anyone else they feel the need to pat a black guy on the back for being known as a smart great speaker....even if they aren't really.
Same way our education system is being run. Bring the bar down low enough anyone can jump over it with flying colors.

[Conservative Libertarian]

You ignore everyones argumets with condescending arrogance. Everything you just posted is a feeble attempt at dodging the obvious. Pretending to not know what a common sence post means, only shows futher how corrupted the liberal mind is.

That's why that idiot is on my iggy list.

[Fantasy Chaser]

That's why that idiot is on my iggy list.

It's why he's on most active members' iggy lists. If I were doing NHB, I'd start a thread poll there to see how many people have him on their iggy list...

[Tazeeyore]

The man is an enigma. Too many equate intelligence with the ability to speak well. This is the most ignorant human being to ever occupy an office of any kind. I doubt very seriously that he could pass a grade school SAT. But he can read a teleprompter. He is morally and ethically bankrupt, and that, along with being nescient, is a dangerous combination for our National Security and economic viability. The proof of that is in the pudding.

[RET423]

The man is an enigma. Too many equate intelligence with the ability to speak well. This is the most ignorant human being to ever occupy an office of any kind. I doubt very seriously that he could pass a grade school SAT. But he can read a teleprompter. He is morally and ethically bankrupt, and that, along with being nescient, is a dangerous combination for our National Security and economic viability. The proof of that is in the pudding.

Very well said, when his intelligence is called into question the only "evidence" to the contrary that his fans can point to is the academic approval he received from other Liberals in Liberal institutions.

Articulate does not equate with intelligence, if it did Ron Burgundy would have been a joke that nobody got.

"I am kind of a big deal, people know me. I am very important...... I have many leather bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany"