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
Source:
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http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/342494/living-large-obama-white-house-charles-c-w-cooke
Living Large in the Obama White House
The hoi polloi aren’t welcome, but Marie Antoinette would be at home.
Darrell, so you are saying that his behavior was actually controlled by the terrorists? and if it were not for them he could not have thoroughly enjoyed the fist bumps? ok I get it…
@wow
Actually I think the character of a person is of utmost importance.
Annie, I know for some character of a person is not that important.
I think these BS criticisms of Obama actually helps him. It takes away the focus on things he may have actually done in that were seriously in error.
Steven Sotlof and James Foley are worried about their heads and the half-African, half-president is worried about the optics.
Trayvon Martin would have been his son. What are these guys, chopped liver?
Blatant racism, brutal sociopathology and cavalier, arrogant narcissism.
But wait. There’s more.
After the election His Excellency, the King, will decree an amnesty.
The inmates have taken over the asylum.
LOL Same comment.
You don’t have a clue, it’s a perfect example here of the reason terrorists do these savage-cannibalistic-level atrocities. It’s because you all go into a hand wringing weep and wail a thon and will do anything to glamorize the victims value and then, publicize the horrible criminals barbaric, criminal enterprises for free that makes it all pay off for them. So blame our president for not being manipulated into acting like all you weak-sisters and ignoring their attention getting tactics while sending even more severe bombing strikes onto their cesspools of sub-human serpent’s.
There’s not an ounce of humility among the lot.
No Olly, no regret, they actually find this discussion as “BS”
I agree it is very unlikely for someone who can so thoroughly enjoy golf right after such a sad event, to have empathy, and then regret only the “optics” of his true self. I am just giving him benefit of doubt , since in Quantum physics even a solid wall can allow a body to pass right through it, though the chance is extremely remote!
wow WHAT sad event? It is not as though he was at the execution or a funeral, or a memorial meeting. All he did was make an announcement about his death which had been shown on the web, so it is hardly like it was new news to the USA. He also swore to get the killers, and given his track record with Bin Laden, I doubt the killer will be sleeping well and/or is anticipating all those virgins he will be getting sooner rather than later. Once again, get real and tell us what he should have done when he was on vacation. He could have gone swimming, gone back to his house, and he would still be blasted for doing it. THAT is why it is BS!
wow, You can teach respect, you can’t teach empathy.
So no regrets by Obama or his followers. ..got it.
Nixon put in the bowling alley, I believe.
Paulette, how about volunteering for a cat shelter, that may also help to develop some empathy if one is otherwise incapable of experiencing it?
Let’s not forget this:
Book Alleges Obama Told Aides About Drone Strikes: I’m ‘Really Good At Killing People’
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/11/03/book-alleges-obama-told-aides-about-drone-strikes-im-really-good-at-killing-people/
“Mark Halperin and John Heilemann’s book “Double Down: Game Change 2012” notes President Obama commenting on drone strikes, reportedly telling his aides that he’s “really good at killing people.””
I think this President and all succeeding President’s should take up bowling, since there is an alley located in the White House.
Randy, point is not what he should have done, point is how thoroughly he enjoyed the fist bumps after a very sad news. If you think it is always about what one should have done then I am sorry you are missing the whole point. Do you always think that it is BS if you see something that you may FEEL differently about?
I have never seen such BS on this site. What do you think Obama should have done? Gone over to the victims house after the funeral, or retreated to a church or shrine, or go to contemplation somewhere? Get Real! Hell W Bush was a whole lot more cynical when he was playing golf after making some statements about some serious matters.
As for his supposed lying on health insurance, all he did was to say that if you liked your health insurance, the ACA would not interfere with your current plan as long as it met certain guidelines. Since I have personally experienced every insurance scam before my wife could get health insurance, I am damned glad that the measures were instituted to reign in these so called insurance plans. The President didn’t get the power to mandate that ALL insurers had to continue their coverage no matter what. I wish that it had, then he could not have been accused of lying. But then the GOP and his critics would have blasted him for doing so. So the accusation is he is damned if he does, and damned if he does not. That translates into BS.
Remember the drone “hit list” his operatives leaked to the NYT during the 2012 election? What a tough guy. LOL!