Submitted by Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
“I should have anticipated the optics.”
–President Barack Obama
President Obama claimed in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press that he regretted playing a round of golf immediately following a press conference in which he spoke of the murder of captured Journalist James Foley by ISIS terrorists. This comes after weeks in some media circles of condemnation for showing lack of sincerity and being aloof to what had taken place.
The president stated that he “had to hold back tears” when speaking to the family of Mr. Foley but added that there was the possibility of a “jarring contrast” between world events and his desire to carve out a semblance of a normal life involving recreation.
The president also admitted that sometimes his own performance in some of the more public rituals of the presidency was lacking.
“Part of this job, is also the theater of it.
“It’s not something that always comes naturally to me. But it matters. And I’m mindful of that,” Obama said.
President Obama’s statements are surely not going to temper anger in the minds of those who were affronted by his remarks. It could be asked if his regret was whether he might have upset the family and those who knew and loved Mr. Foley or if his own image might have been tarnished.
One has to wonder how much else is theater with proffered claims of sincerity.
By Darren Smith
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@Nick, and he also jokes about drones while talking about boys dating his daughters….
doglover, He also golfs and smiles after killing US citizens via drones.
Is it OK for President Obama to play golf after Israel uses US financed bombs to decapitate Palestinian children? Is it OK to play golf after droning a wedding party or funeral killing defenseless people? Is it OK as long as the victims aren’t US citizens? It must be, otherwise he would never get to play golf.
Not only is Big Brother watching, he’s using Doublespeak. Certain words have reverse meaning, guess which. Orwell is fist-pumping in his grave.
Olly, Last year Todd gave Obama about 8 attempts in an interview to apologize for the lie “If you like your health insurance you can keep it.” Todd didn’t call it a lie, of course. Todd threw him batting practice pitches. But the man just can’t say he is sorry. Hell, Americans will give you love if you just say you’re sorry. It’s pathological.
I’m still trying to find where he said he regretted it. Here’s the transcript:
“CHUCK TODD:
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I’ve got to ask, so during that vacation, you made the statement on Foley, you went and golfed. Do you want that back?
PRES. OBAMA:
It is always a challenge when you’re supposed to be on vacation because you’re followed everywhere. And part of what I’d love is a vacation from the press.
CHUCK TODD:
Yeah, you want us to stop following you. I promise you, in two and a half years I think that’ll happen.
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PRES. OBAMA:
Because the possibility of a jarring contrast given the world’s news, there’s always going to be some tough news somewhere, it’s going to be there. But there’s no doubt that after having talked to the families, where it was hard for me to hold back tears listening to the pain that they were going through after the statement that I made, that I should’ve anticipated the optics.
That’s part of the job. And I think everybody who knows me, including, I suspect, the press, understands that you take this stuff in and it’s serious business. And you care about it deeply. But part of this job is also the theater of it. Part of it is how are you–
CHUCK TODD:
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You hate that you–
PRES. OBAMA:
Well, it’s not something that always comes naturally to me. But it matters. And I’m mindful of that. So the important thing is in addition to that, is am I getting the policies right? Am I protecting the American people? Am I doing what’s necessary?”
Michael, Obama surrounded himself w/ sycophants. They tell him he’s hitting them out of the park on a daily basis. And those pesky poll numbers, RACISM!
@Michael, have you seen his IQ report?
I don’t blame this President for his apparently low emotional IQ. I blame his for all kinds of things because of his high IQ. He must know better.
I’ll be here all week, make sure you tip your waitresses generously before leaving.
What do you call a Chicago Bear w/ a Super Bowl Ring?
A thief.
What do Chicago Bears and Chick Fil A managers have in common?
Neither show up for work on Sunday
What can’t Jay Cutler use telephones?
He can’t find the receivers.
Speaking of jokes. Want to hear an NFL Joke? Chicago Bears
raff, That has to be a joke??
And Darren, you are a rock star here, intellectually honest, hard working, and perceptive. Too bad you’re a racist for being so mean to Obama.
Darren,
To me the problem is not the optics, problem is the character that can enjoy a fist bump and a full laughter after a fellow american is brutally slaughtered. I regret to say, there is no hope that someone with this character can see the real problem. As far as I am concerned, I am just pinching my nose until 2016 and hoping that finally we will have a president that I do not have to pinch my nose to avoid the stink of such a character for another 4 years.
I think everyone is picking on Obama. He is trying to get his golf scores down below 94. “Bad optics.” It was heartless and completely void of empathy. The Bergdahl parents in the Rose Garden was bad optics. This was cold as ice.
I don’t know if he was sincere or not, but it was bad optics and a poor decision on his part. I do understand the need for some normalcy in the lives of our Presidents, however. Bush made the same mistake on the golf course, possibly even sounding more insensitive.
Darren,
I guess we just can’t appreciate a President being open about feelings.