(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Obama made an unannounced visit to the White House press room Thursday, engaging in some friendly banter that centered more on basketball and Blackberrys than Guantanamo and the global economic collapse.
Some highlights:
Asked if he had played basketball yet on the White House ground, he said, “I have not tried the basketball court. It's been too cold.” He mentioned, though, that “we installed a new backboard on the tennis court … so we’ll be able to play full court.”
Mr. Obama walked through the briefing room and into the back where various news agencies have their booths, desks or cubbyholes. “Right now I want to say hello and introduce myself. to you,” he said and proceeded to walk around shaking hands and introducing himself reporters who had not covered his campaign. “We’ll try to have a relationship that’s respectful,” he said.
He walked through the break room and saw the contents of the vending machines – lots of potato chips and chocolate bars and commented, “We’re thinking that maybe you might have some healthier snacks though guys.”
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
He added that he’s very proud of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs for the way he handled his first White House press briefing today, saying ”I'm very proud of him today – gave him a fist bump.”
He said of the press room, "It’s nice – but it’s confining,” and asked reporters about the history of the press room: when it was renovated, and how it's determined which news organizations get which work space. A reporter joked about whether Mr. Obama had seen the hot tub yet. He played along, saying he hadn't.
Asked about his Blackberry – Mr. Obama has fought to keep the device for limited use during his presidency despite security and disclosure concerns – he said, “I won the fight but I don't think it’s actually up and running yet."
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
He promised to come back and answer substantive questions.
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 38 CommentsHe continues to tread water in the Obama tank!
Now, they don''t even try to report, they just gush.
Posted by LapWalk at 02:17 AM : Jan 23, 2009
There is a time and place for EVERYTHING! That was the point and it was well made. The days of the REICH are gone...isn''t it time you accepted it?
The thing is, with a person smiling so much any drop in that smile looks like more then it is. I think you should watch for that twitch up his jawbone, that''s when your''re in trouble.
Funny is why you are commenting on an article without bothering to read it. That was reported. Right there in the print. It was an inappropriate question, and the President handled it with grace and appropriate response.
Obama Becomes Irritated, ''Stares Down'' Reporter During Press Corps Visit
When a reporter tried to quiz Obama on Thursday about a lobbyist chosen for a top Defense Department job, the president quickly became agitated.
President Obama paid a surprise visit to members of the White House press corps on Thursday evening when he walked through their working area of the West Wing, but when he was confronted with a question by one of the journalists he quickly became agitated.
According to reports, when Politico''s Jonathan Martin asked the president about his nominee for deputy Defense Secretary, William Lynn, Obama refused to answer, saying he was not there to take questions and became quickly agitated.
"I came down here to visit. I didn''t come down here -- this is what happens. I can''t end up visiting you guys and shaking hands if I am going to grilled every time I come down here," the president said.
Posted by sandycat2 at 10:30 PM : Jan 22, 2009
****************************
Do you really think that anyone is buying that lame excuse for evil behavior??? I am sure those Viet Kong that tortured John McCain and his buddies for years would tell you that is why they did it, for information. So what??
If we are going to act exactly like the bad guys, then what makes us any different than the bad guys??
He was very slow on the civil rights issue, taking 22 months to begin. Sending Peace Corps to other poor countries when the South was still poorer than many of those very same countries?
I don''t know...
How the the Bay of Pigs or Vietnam turn out?
Anyway, I suggest for your viewing pleasure a very good website:
http://www.trivia-library.com/u.s.a.-the-american-presidents.htm
enjoy. good one to bookmark.
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 38 Comments