Is it Politically correct for an American Citizen to critizise the US President?

Well considering the distrust the founders had in government, I would think it would be more patriotic to criticize the President. It's not like there hasn't been a reason to distrust the men in power.

Patriotism is something that is directed toward the country, not its political leaders. The dictionaty defines patriotism as: devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty. If someone loves and supports their country they will defend her against anything that can harm her. It is not America's politicians that make her great but rather the principles and freedom that she was founded on. America, as well as any other country, can encounter threats from abroad as well as from within her own borders. It is the right and responsibility of all American citizens, who love their country, to stand firm against all dangers, foreign and domestic. Some people do go too far when they criticize President Obama and I believe there are those who do it because of racial hatred. I don't hate Obama and I don't have a problem with an African-American being President. But, I also don't agree with him on most things. As far as his citizenship goes I truly don't know if he was born a U.S. citizen or not. But if he wasn't, then he should not be President. As far as the bailouts go, people who have no faith in them have every right to feel that way, and with good reason. THEY WON'T WORK. I have no faith in them either. Experienced economists have tried telling the politicians the bailouts won't work. History supports that assessment as well. The idea of trying to spend our way out of this crisis won't work because it was spending that got us into this mess; spending like there is no tomorrow. As I mentioned before, many people criticize Obama because they are racist or prejudiced. But there are also many who criticize him because they believe that his policies, if successfully passed into law, will harm this nation and her people and eventually destroy the principles and the foundation she was built upon. That can be just as devastating, if not more so, as an attack by a foreign enemy. So, if someone is criticizing him because they feel his policies endanger the nation, then, YES, it is proper conduct for a patriotic American. It would be unpatriotic to not do so.

WE live in a wonderful country that it is our right to criticize the President and any of the other politicians openly. I don't like the people that he has chosen for his cabinet because some of them have over looked paying some of their taxes. Now how well can a man that forgot take care of his own taxes be expected to look after the countries finances? I want to know why it is OK to bash bush but not Obama. WE are like sheep that is led by the media and don't do our own home work. Because the media reports what they want to and report it biased. I would consider my self less patriotic if I din't speak out when I thought the president was wrong no matter who he is.

Americans believe in freedom of speech and thus they have the right to criticize their president if he does wrong or if he passes laws or rubber stamps laws that are wrong for the general welfare of the country. If not the president may feel that he is above the law and that everything he rubber stamps is for the best interest of America when it is not. You may think that Obama is wonderful and whosoever criticizes him is a bad American. But then if you think that, someone has to think that when Bush was president, whosoever criticized him as a bad American. So you cannot say it is all right to criticize Bush's policies and not all right to bad mouth Obama's. That since Obama threw a big party on his inauguration and they spent millions of dollars it was wonderful, but not when Bush and the other presidents had some money spent and what they spent even though less then Obama's inauguration was extravagant. As for some of the laws and policies, I will not get into that. But I do believe that if people decide to be more frugal now that Obama is president and did not do it while Bush was president, they are hypocrites.

It is far more unpatriotic to NOT question your government. It is not only our right but it is our DUTY to do so. Being new here, you should do one thing first and realize one EXTREMELY important thing. As an american citizen, you do not swear your loyalty to a government or to a political office, you swear it to the constitution. If you have not already done so, or even if you have done so, go and read it end to end. Here, it's right on line: http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html This document is the foundation and essence of this country and it is of paramount importance that you learn it. Our president and indeed the entire federal government is SUBSERVIANT to our states and are delegated very limited authority. That is one thing among many that you, as a new american citizen have an obligation to learn and a principal you have the obligation to uphold. You must also understand that it is US, We, The people that have the ultimate reponsability to safeguard our freddoms and that constitution, we are charged by our founders with it's protection and preservation. That is your first and most important duty as a patriot. THAT is what being patriotic is. [b] To blindly follow or worship and never question a political figure at the expense of that constitution isn't patriotism, it is the very essence of treason

It is not unpartriotic to disagree with the president. It is our right. We are not a country of sheep that have to follow whatever our president says without thinking or voicing our concerns.This is not a cult....this is a free country. We discuss politics. We agree with our elected officials sometimes, we disagree right now. The big issue you are seeing is that conservatives strongly believe in small government and liberals strongly believe in big government. They want the country ran in different ways. It was the same with Bush. You should have seen the posts people put up about him. It is that way with every president....those that agree with his policies are happy with the way the country is run....those that do not agree with his policies are upset about the way the country is run.

are these the same people that voted for him? have they fallen out of love that quickly? seriously, i am a canadian (living in canada, but only an hour away from the border) and hear all sorts of stuff about obama. i think that many americans just expected too much too soon and are now disappointed.

Most people believe that when something run by a minority is always in the interest of that minority. When the majority stops caring, all forms of government are equally bad. But we must always bear in mind, a great person never forgets that he is an instrument for the service of humanity. So it is only fair that the true patriotic American give their president a chance to prove his merit and not criticise him long before he could even warm his seat in the white house. A kind and compassionate leader never gives up on anyone, but helps them to restore their self-belief.

Barehugs, have you been conscious for the last eight years?? Or are you just messing with us?

All I can say is.. you can not please all people. Even if whoever is the president, some people will still criticize. Do you remember during the time of Bush? Clinton and others? many people are saying bad things against them. Much more if they see things that they don't like. So, it is not uncommon when people make negative remarks to the president. Not all people voted for him so it is obvious that there are some critics around.

Those of us who are *rational* and who have concerns and questions, have every right to express them. That is what America is. There are some who are so against Obama because they supported another candidate for president that they will grasp at any straw in order to complain. You have to learn the difference between the true American's (I know I'll catch he11 for that one) who have real concerns and those who hate the fact that Obama won so nothing he doses is good.

Yes it's ok to criticize Obama, In fact that is how he will learn what the people want. We have free speech here and can speak our own minds. As you saw with the cartoon in the NY Post, people do have some power and can speak up when the press or government steps over the line. It seem to be a system of checks and balances. This is one reason we were so fed up with Bush, we didn't know what was going on and were lied to so when the truth came out he and his political party got a terrible back lash. I'm not saying this is fair or even the best way to govern, but right now that's what we have.

I'm not sure how it's politically incorrect. In a democratic society, citizens have the right to criticize their leaders.

I say that he is just as much fair game to critisize as Gearge Bush was. No one let up on him, and they most likely never will, so I guess it is not unpatriotic to give you honest opinion anymore. Patriotim means nothing anymore. On the whole birth records deal ,I think it is increadibly SHADY on the new President's part that he will not provide the information required, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels that way. This country was so desperate to get rid of George Bush that they put someone in office with no experience, and not even a flipping birht sertificate to prove that he is legally allowed to do the job. This country is going to he**!

The way i see, it rather we approve or disapprove of our President, he is what he is, and he has been elected into office so actually we have no choice, so with that said........I think we should stand behind him & support him rather than talking down about him....He did not create this mess we are in, he inherited it, so i just hope he can do a good job...I think we should try & help him , and talking about him & putting him down is not a help.I think we should pray fir him to make the right choices....

My thought is he is our president now and we have o give him a chance to prove himself, and I don't think people should down him right off the bat. Let him at least have a chance, hell he can't do any worse than anyone else that has been in office, he may even surprise everyone. I for one think he will be a good president, and right now he has a lot on his plate, and plenty of messes to clean up.

Criticism leveled against an elected officials is not something new or unpatriotic as you claimed in the view of many Americans. Freedom of speech is freely practice in USA as one of the many rights of Americans in the constitution. You should know that many Americans know the difference between lie or truth, good or bad, freedom or oppression that very much explained why president Obama was elected in the first place. Unpatriotic cover much more than the mere exercised of free speech in unfounded criticism over an elected official over his policy matter, just like patriotism does not measure merely based on the wearing of a lapel pin on the politician suit or placing of palm on the heart during the national anthem.

One of the basic tenets of our freedom as Americans is freedom of speech. That does give us the right to criticize not only our President but all of our elected leaders. I believe that testing the policies of our political leaders is not only our right but is very healthy. The best ideas come out of dialogue. I would take exception to your statement that people are saying things to drag down the President in the eyes of the world. They are saying these things in regard to the bailout because our leaders are creating a financial burden through the bailout that will last for generations to come. It is our duty as Americans to test our leaders and not to blindly follow whatever policy is put in front of us whether or not we agree with it.

Hi barehugs, Being from Canada, and new to the US, I guess you haven't learned that freedom of speech is a right in this country. That in no way means there is no patriotism, but rather a way of life here. We are an outspoken opinionated people, and when we don't like something, we have a tendency to talk about it. And, not only do we talk about it, but we also have the gumption to openly say these things to our leaders of this country. However, I do think that you are giving our discussions here on mylot way too much power, and credit when you say that we are reaching the entire world with our comments. For as many people that are on this site, there are far more that don't even know of it's existence. In any event, our spoken thoughts of how things are being done in this country is not as you put it unpatriot, but rather our way of doing things. I hope there are many, many responses to this discussion all sharing their opinion in the vast context of the spectrum of our lives, and how the decisions of the leaders of our country impact our everyday lives.

I believe that as an American citizen it is our right to criticize whoever is in office. It doesnt really solve anything. If it bothers you when someone criticizes any political office then ask them what they would do if they were in his situation or what they think the President or whomever should do. Most people have no idea what they are talking about and just criticize just to criticize.