Could former president Obama be hypocritical about wealth?

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  1. Readmikenow profile image96
    Readmikenowposted 5 years ago

    Is former president Obama a hypocrite when it comes to wealth?  He and his wife Michelle have earned their many millions fairly using the capitalistic system.  I do wonder why does he no longer speak the same way about the wealthy?  There was a time when former president Obama had some strong words for those he considered rich.

    Barack Obama says the rich owe the world a huge debt
    https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/07/ … huge-debt/

    Former United States President Barack Obama believes that ballooning wealth inequality is a threat to society, and that those who have the means should help those who are less fortunate.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/18/barack- … n-eat.html


    THEN HE BECAME WEALTHY

    According to the New York Post, Barack and Michelle Obama are "on their way to becoming a billionaire brand."

    https://www.investors.com/politics/edit … subsidies/

    NOW, he does not worry about purchasing a $15 million home.  Is this hypocritical considering the previous advice he had for the wealthy when he was in office?  Is he being a hypocrite?  I am glad former president Obama has become wealthy.  I just think he has “talked the talk,” but isn't “walking the walk.”

    I believe below sums the situation up perfectly.

    “Too many in Democratic leadership peddle the politics of envy and victimhood to grab power, wealth and success for themselves. They indulge their followers in the lie that someone getting wealthy comes at someone else’s expense. While this is offensive, it is made worse by the fact that they do it specifically for their own gain, making the political class more powerful and the government more bloated all while damaging the concept of the American Dream.

    https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/carol-r … lion-house

    1. tsadjatko profile image75
      tsadjatkoposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      That 15 million dollar home is acres and acres of beachfront property!

      I suppose the Obama’s don’t really believe in AGW or else they feel happy to invest in property that according to the Democrat party leadership will be under water in 10-12 years! Has Obama become a climate change denier or does he really believe what he said when he ran for office, that his time as president would mark the beginning of the ocean levels receding? Remember that speech?

      1. wba108@yahoo.com profile image78
        wba108@yahoo.composted 5 years agoin reply to this

        This is hilarious hypocrisy at it's best, of course he doesn't believe it! To be fair, he should be prosecuted as a climate change denier, or maybe he could claim that he forgot like "crooked Hillary" forgot about her 30 thousand unsecured E-mails   smile

        1. Readmikenow profile image96
          Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          "prosecuted as a climate change denier"

          I don't think not believing in a scientific theory is a criminal act.

          1. aware profile image64
            awareposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            When I voted Obama. I caught slack.when I vote Trump I catch greif. We are tired

          2. wba108@yahoo.com profile image78
            wba108@yahoo.composted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Not yet anyway, but their are some that see it as a criminal act. In 2016 Obama's Attorney General Loretta Lynch discussed taking civil action against so called climate change deniers to the senate judiciary committee and referred the motion to the FBI.

            According to the Daily signal in 2016 or before, "California Attorney General Kamala Harris and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, both of whom have opened up investigations of ExxonMobil for allegedly lying to the public and their shareholders about climate change."

            https://www.dailysignal.com/2016/03/10/ … e-deniers/

            1. wilderness profile image89
              wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

              There are some that see anything they don't like as criminal behavior, regardless of whether the law even addresses the issue.

              The desire to control others is overwhelming in some.

    2. Credence2 profile image80
      Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, and Oprah has an army of servants waiting on her hand and foot. Her wealth does not change who she advocates for, now does it?
      What conservatives so often ignore if that if I took your view I would condemn the Roosevelts, Kennedy's etc. It is not having the wealth but the idea that while in positions of leadership your focus should be on the best economic interest of common citizen person, of average means not the plutocrat class. I did not see Obama working contrary to any of those principles while he was in office.

      1. Readmikenow profile image96
        Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

        The point is Obama had many harsh criticisms of the wealthy, until he became wealthy.  Where is the criticism now?  I suppose Obama looks at the wealthy quite differently since he became one of them.  He is now is a position to be an example of wealth equality.  So, why isn't he doing it?

        1. Credence2 profile image80
          Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Those criticisms of the  wealthy are warranted, how they take advantage and skew things to their advantage. It is funny though, Mr. Obama has a doctorate degree in Law and his wife has a Master's degree. He certainly is a position to do well in his own right, could the cause of all this brouhaha be resentment (hint)?

          Has any President in modern times left office as a pauper? Can I guess why Obama is held to a different standard? Were we all expecting Obama to return to the ghetto? He expressed nothing different than most Democrat politicians having problems with wealth and the wealthy "running off with the store" relative to the rest of us. There is no basis for your assumption that because he is successful he becomes a greedy and selfish A$$, like one that comes to mind...

          1. Readmikenow profile image96
            Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Where is his belief of income equality? Where is his belief now about the redistribution of wealth?  He's not talking about it now....for some reason.

            From 2013..."President Barack Obama on Wednesday night called for more redistribution of wealth to America's working poor, as part of an unapologetic plan to use government activism to revive the US economy in his second term."

            https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldn … -poor.html

            It is obvious money has changed the one-time self acclaimed champion of the working poor. Just like Clinton and the others.

            President Donald Trump has been a very wealthy person his entire life.  He can now welcome former president Obama into the league of the greedy and selfish.

            1. tsadjatko profile image75
              tsadjatkoposted 5 years agoin reply to this

              Why do you think wealth has changed him? This is who he is, was who he was when he wasn’t wealthy - All of his bloviating against the rich was a facade. Just like every liberal position is a ruse to get votes or to achieve some objective other than what they pretend to be saying or doing.just like AGW, Obama never believed in AGW or he wouldn’t be spending a fortune for beachfront property. Anyone who believes otherwise has been duped.

              I know you know this Mike. So this thread is rhetorical, the truth is he never was who he wanted you to believe he was. He didn’t change, wealth was always his end game!

            2. Credence2 profile image80
              Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

              From 2013..."President Barack Obama on Wednesday night called for more redistribution of wealth to America's working poor, as part of an unapologetic plan to use government activism to revive the US economy in his second term."

              As you conservatives remind me, that is SOP for Democrats. He was in office in 2013 and was supporting idea of making the wealthy pay their fair share and not hide within loopholes.

              1. profile image0
                promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                Agreed. The U.S. now has the highest level of income inequality since right before the Great Depression. It also is the highest in the entire world.

                "More redistribution of wealth" is not the same as giving everyone the same amount of money.

                And billionaires with lower tax rates than average Americans is hardly their fair share.

                1. Readmikenow profile image96
                  Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  So, why doesn't former president Obma redistribute HIS wealth?  Real leaders lead by example.

                  1. Live to Learn profile image59
                    Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    LOL. Does anyone in government with ideas for free stuff ever offer to pay for it?

                    Does anyone advocating social justice ever walk the walk in their personal life?

                    That's the problem on the left. It's like religion. You feel really good telling others what's wrong, what they should do, how they are failing. And, since they know best, they get to do everything they complain about. Because, they should have extra privilege in order to push others into doing what they think is right.

                    You see it with money. It's always everyone else's money that needs to be shared. You see it with racism. They aren't racist (even though their words and actions are) because they say they want equality. You see it with sexism. It's ok for them to be sexist, if they spout liberal ideology.

                    It's a religion.

                  2. profile image0
                    promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    I'm not sure what that has to do with my point, but anyway:

                    Do you know for a fact that he does or does not give some of his newfound money to charity?

                    EDIT: I wonder if he donates to his own charitable foundation....

                    https://www.obama.org/mission/

                  3. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    I'm sure he still believes the rich should be taxed at a higher rate.  But, as is the historical case, most presidents sit back and try not to criticize the president who follows them. 

                    What you are fabricating is belief of some new position based on the fact that he chose to spend some of his wealth.  Again, one of the countless times you fail to understand a Democrat and just make up falsehoods.

                    And there is a huge difference between Obama making money from book deals about his time in office and Trump, who makes money from the government spending money at his properties.

          2. Live to Learn profile image59
            Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Your racist thoughts are peeking out here.  You see a black man, everyone else sees an ex president.

            1. Credence2 profile image80
              Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

              No, I said they were picking on Obama in a way they do not pick on the Kennedy's, Clinton's. These people support and vote for Democrats regardless of the fact that they are/were wealthy because they know that their wealth is that much more secure when there is less exploitation of those who are not. It a dumb idea to assume that you have to be poor in order to put your money where your mouth is regarding growing income inequity in this society.

              I also see an ex-president no different from others who have held the office and as a Democrat he is going to root for the middle and working class, whether he becomes relatively wealthy or otherwise.

              So why are these rich hypocritical Democrats continuing to vote the progressive line even though they certainly know that will affect their pocket book?  Perhaps, they believe in the principle inspite of how it may affect them....

      2. wilderness profile image89
        wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

        "Her wealth does not change who she advocates for, now does it?"

        Of course not.  It does however, point out the immense hypocrisy of "advocating" for the poor, at the expense of others, while refusing to take any effective action herself.  She has the means to help far more than she does...but refuses to do so, advocating instead that the resources be taken from someone other than herself.  Just as the Obama's do.

        1. Credence2 profile image80
          Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Do you think that the Clinton's, Obamas or Oprah are going to vote GOP?

          Why would they vote for a Democrat or its philosophy when they are at risk of having to pay more?

          How do you figure dem apples?

          1. wilderness profile image89
            wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Not sure what their voting preferences have to do with anything, but perhaps they will simply cut back on their voluntary charity giving if their taxes go up.

            In any case it surely has zero to do with the fact that the rich, even those celebrated for "helping" the poor, give only a small fraction of what they could give while maintaining a VERY nice lifestyle.

  2. Live to Learn profile image59
    Live to Learnposted 5 years ago

    You could fill a book with examples of rich Democrat politicians ranting about something or other, while not living by the standards they want forced on the rest of us.

    So, sure. On the subject of the OP Obama's statements are hypocritical.

  3. profile image0
    RTalloniposted 5 years ago

    His (their) goal all along was to become quite wealthy, as well as powerful (or at least to feel powerful), and he used politics to do it. He (they) have always been hypocritical about it but those who voted for him did not want to believe it.

    Deception was the only way to meet the goal and they knew it. The very people they posited themselves to help only became more indebted to the slavish assistance system they are entrenched in.

    Denying the truth about themselves and their goals he (they) purposefully worked to divide the country while quietly working to amass for themselves. Spouting restraint for others, they live extravagantly, spouting peace they work with those who desire destruction.

    It seems endless, but an old proverb has been proven many times over: the stone rolled rolls back. It is frustrating to see people like this seemingly succeed, but in truth, they will never have what they seek for their thirst is insatiable.

  4. DoubleScorpion profile image77
    DoubleScorpionposted 5 years ago

    A more accurate title would be...Former President Obama hypocritical about wealth!

    1. DoubleScorpion profile image77
      DoubleScorpionposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Although to be fair...This is true of pretty much all politicians...

      1. Readmikenow profile image96
        Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

        I would say President Donald Trump would be an exception.  He came to office as a very wealthy man.  He donates his salary.  I think this makes him a bit different. President Donald Trump doesn't need the money.

        1. wilderness profile image89
          wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          None of the modern presidents "need" the money they have/had.  Can't speak for those of a hundred years ago, though - perhaps some of them were virtual paupers.

        2. DoubleScorpion profile image77
          DoubleScorpionposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Trump isn't a politician though...

          1. profile image0
            promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            He is Pesident of the United States, which makes him a politician.

            1. DoubleScorpion profile image77
              DoubleScorpionposted 5 years agoin reply to this

              Well...Everyone says he doesn't act like one...so...

              I am going to stick with he isn't a politician...

              1. profile image0
                promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                I respect your right to believe that way. I simply follow the standard definition of a politician:

                : a person experienced in the art or science of government
                especially : one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government

                As POTUS, he is "actively engaged" in government.

                1. DoubleScorpion profile image77
                  DoubleScorpionposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  So you think he is experienced in the art and science of government?
                  Or that he is actively engaged?

                  Both seem to say that you are in support of his job performance..?

                  He is actively engaged and experienced in the art and science of government...

                  1. profile image0
                    promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    How can the President of the United States NOT be actively engaged in government?

        3. profile image0
          promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Trump came to office with inherited money from daddy. We have no idea if he is a wealthy man because he lies about his wealth and hides his tax returns.

          He obviously needs money because he is begging other nations to come to Mar-a-Largo to keep it from going bankrupt.

          In addition, there is no evidence how much if anything that Trump donates, again because he doesn't release his tax returns.

          1. Readmikenow profile image96
            Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            How about a 2019 article from Forbes Magazine outlining the wealth of President Donald Trump?  It estimates his wealth as of February of this year as $3.1 Billion. 

            https://www.forbes.com/donald-trump/#2066aff82899

            When people talk about his tax returns is makes me laugh.  He is "high-end" tax earner.  He doesn't provide a W-2 at the end of the year.  You would have to be able to comprehend the complex taxes paid by his corporations.  I doubt many people who are not a CPA would understand it.  So, the "tax return" claim just makes me laugh. 

            I don't care how much he donates, he provide thousands of jobs and that is much more important.  He's not like Obama, he believes in wealth and has never changed his views on it.

            1. profile image0
              promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

              How does Forbes know what he is worth other than guessing and believing what Trump says?

              "I don't care how much he donates." But you do care about what Obama donates.

              Talk about a double standard.

              1. Readmikenow profile image96
                Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                Ah, I suppose you don't know much about Forbes Magazine.  So, I will enlighten you.  They have a staff paid to review the public filings of public companies.  You see, public companies and those that are traded on a stock exchange MUST make their profits and losses as well as tax filings part of public record.  There is a wealth of information in the public record to determine the wealth of any large business or businessman. 

                See, you learned something today.

                I never said I care about what Obama donates.

                I do admire your ability to state things in threads that aren't there.  You are very skilled at doing this.

                1. profile image0
                  promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Nice try. I read Forbes all of the time.

                  You can enlighten me even more. Please provide the ticker symbols of Trump's "public companies".

                  "I never said I cared about what Obama donates."

                  Isn't the title of this thread: Could former president Obama be hypocritical about wealth?

                  That sounds like you care quite a bit about what he donates.

                  1. Readmikenow profile image96
                    Readmikenowposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts raised $140 million in its initial public offering in 1995. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under Trump's initials, DJT.

                    Anything more, you will have to do your own research.  I could teach you, but it would take up too much of my time.

                    "That sounds like you care quite a bit about what he donates."

                    NOW, I'm questioning your ability to comprehend English.

                    You see being hypocritical about wealth really has nothing to do with what someone donates.

  5. profile image0
    PrettyPantherposted 5 years ago

    I haven't read through this whole thread, but generally speaking, I find this argument to be silly. One can be wealthy and still support progressive taxation.  True hypocrisy would be supporting progressive taxation then cheating on your taxes to avoid paying any.

    1. profile image0
      promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Warren Buffet is a good example of your point. He favors raising taxes on people like himself.

      He also is donating billions to charity.

  6. wba108@yahoo.com profile image78
    wba108@yahoo.composted 5 years ago

    The same article I referenced, says that they want to target not only corporations but individuals who hold different opinions about the unproven theory of climate change.

    I agree with u, they seem to have an unhealthy need to control others!

 
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