By Lindsey Ellerson

Apr 9, 2009 6:07pm

Obama and Clinton Hold Private Meeting at White House Swing Set

ABC News’ Jon Garcia reports: Every once in a while the carefully choreographed movements at the White House don’t go quite as planned.  Witness today’s "oops" moment. Members of the press corps returning from an event on the South grounds of the White House unexpectedly surprised President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a "private" walk.  They emerged from the Oval Office and strolled down the path to the Obama’s swing set and picnic table on the lawn just outside.

Obama and Clinton were chatting alone, trailed only by the White House photographer, when the president spotted approximately 20 journalists who had stopped in their tracks about 30 yards away. The president smiled and waved. But the smile went away when the journalists took out cameras and started shooting. As the president waved off them off, nervous press staff tried to round up the media as quickly as possible.  However, the press stayed long enough to witness what looked like a "picnic table" strategy session of sorts between Obama and Clinton.

It took about ten minutes for the Secret Service and press office staff to figure out how to get the journalists off the grounds without again interrupting the president.  Obama and Clinton were still sitting at the picnic table, deep in conversation, when the reporters finally left the scene.

User Comments

I remember a year ago when Hillary was saying “shame on you Barack Obama” and Barack and Hillary were battleling it out with each other.
Fast forward a year later and Hillary and Barack are canoodling at a picnic table by a swing set.
Who would have thought…

Posted by: Sara | April 9, 2009, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm

Ah, reporters…
How many press handlers and secret service agents does it take to get 20 journalists to appreciate that not every moment is a press moment?

Posted by: kevin | April 9, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm

It’s nice of Hillary to take little ‘Bama for a walk. The swing set is her strategy for keeping focused.

Posted by: Manu | April 9, 2009, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm

Obama and Clinton were chatting alone, trailed only by the White House photographer,
==========
Why does that amuse me so?

Posted by: MayBee | April 9, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm

Transparency.

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm

It’s 3:00 PM and Obama has to ask Hillary Clinton how to do his job because he’s in way over his head.

Posted by: OxyCon | April 9, 2009, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm

Is he telling Hillary how to properly bow to the muslim king???

Posted by: Angie | April 9, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm

Its amazing how dumb some sections of the press can play.Is it that difficult to figure out when the president wants a private moment with his staff? When will supposedly well-educated adults stop pretending to be robots or maybe zombies?

Posted by: EyesWideOpen | April 9, 2009, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm

Hillary (the one who should be our President) is the one Obama needs the most. He’s in completely over his head.
Damn the DNC.

Posted by: T | April 9, 2009, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm

Jake I agree this is earth shattering news.
I do love that picnic table a symbol of Families, Spring and Summer.
Thanks for keeping on top of this.

Posted by: Spring is here folks | April 9, 2009, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm

For those who keep claiming Obama is in way over his head: If you had the intelligency to determine what that really means you have would realized Obama has learned the position as quickly as anyone, and faster then most.

Posted by: unshrub | April 9, 2009, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm

Aw come on folks, give the man a break. He has been in office for only 2½ months. Do you expect perfection immediately? Don’t forget Hillary is his Secretary of State. She is learning too. After all they were both Senators before this.

Posted by: Fran | April 9, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm

Jake it would be fun to have the whole White House Press corps in a group shot around that swing set it would become one of the most famous pictures of our media at the White House.

Posted by: Steven | April 9, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm

“Now Hillary, I told you I bought these for the kids…”

Posted by: matt | April 9, 2009, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm

I don’t think this is much of an issue. It’s not where they speak, it’s what they say that is important…
On the other hand, isn’t high time our secretive president releases a copy of his original birth certificate on file in Hawaii (not the computer generated abstract on the internet, but the real deal, the “long-form” birth certificate)? The real birth certificate contains a lot more information, so does this mean Mr. Obama has something to hide? What could it be?

Posted by: Terry | April 9, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm

I’m confident they were debating the best methods of taking out pirates while getting our Capt. out, and deterring any future attacks on U.S. ships.
We’ve got another Capt. Sully here, and this is Obama’s watch. Let’s see how he handles it.

Posted by: jordan | April 9, 2009, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm

Perhaps Clinton is tutoring him on an appropriate response when the media ask him about our response to the hostage situation off the coast of Somalia.
For the second day, Obama brushed off questions about this crisis. Today, he told reporters he wanted to focus solely on housing.
This law professor can’t handle the demands of leading our country.

Posted by: s. valenti | April 9, 2009, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm

As a Democrat it warms my heart to see Obama and Hillary as friends.
Jake lets get a picture of you and Gibbs at that panic table and CNN reporter Dan Lothian on the swing that would be a even more famous image for the history books :-D

Posted by: Gibbs Fan | April 9, 2009, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm

In one abandoned playground in Afghanistan, Al Quaeda used to use the abandoned swing set for serious torture. At other times, they used the swing set for strength and endurance training.

Posted by: young_voter | April 9, 2009, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm

I would like to know who paid for that swing set. The taxpayers I am sure.

Posted by: Bev | April 9, 2009, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm

They are not friends = don’t let anyone fool you. He needs her, she is so much smarter than he is and he knows it. Obama doesn’t have a clue, but Hillary, with all of her hostitality, is still the smarter of the two.

Posted by: Jane | April 9, 2009, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm

Poor Gibbs -
I can hear CNN reporter Dan Lothian asking Gibbs “This is something a lot of people are talking about today Obama and Hillary at that picnic table on the lawn .” :-D

Posted by: Walter | April 9, 2009, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm

“Is he telling Hillary how to properly bow to the muslim king???”
Maybe He’s asking her why his Seder for goyim has made Him the laughingstock of the world … or how best to videotape it for maximum commercial use.

Posted by: Pants on Fire | April 9, 2009, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm

Yes, Sara; what a difference a year makes – amazing – but in a good way.

Posted by: T | April 9, 2009, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm

Obama was never a “professor”. He was simply a lecturer on staff while he plotted his run for political office.

Posted by: T | April 9, 2009, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm

Perfect place for such a childish man.
The playground.
Hillary needs to dump him and get ready for 2012.

Posted by: reese | April 9, 2009, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm

I don’t fault him for not talking about the piracy issue while the captain is still held hostage, and I don’t fault him for anything about the response thus far. I think we need to see how this plays out.
I’m certain of one thing (and I’m sure he is too): the problem of Somali pirates in general cannot be solved by patrolling and board-and-search operations at sea. The problem will continue, and large ransoms will be paid, until someone (guess who?) acts aggressively against their known bases ashore.

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm

Hillary should ask Obama why he would bow to a tyrant that treats women like cattle.
For someone that is supposed to be so brilliant–he does some really dumb things.

Posted by: bailey | April 9, 2009, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm

Is the White House bugged? Why not have a private meeting in an office and close the door?

Posted by: mad | April 9, 2009, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm

“Maybe the grownups will come home soon.”
When they do, will the billion-dollar bonus baby wind up impeached for trillions in gifts of public funds to the corporations?
That’s a “change” to “hope” for …

Posted by: Pants on Fire | April 9, 2009, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm

It kinda looks like my back yard. I’m grilling the hamburgers tomorrow for the family. This is what this article made me think of.

Posted by: Chuck | April 9, 2009, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm

republican commentary = doh!

Posted by: Bart S. | April 9, 2009, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm

December, 2008 UN press release re Security Council Resolution 1851:
“The Security Council today decided that, for the next year, States and regional organizations cooperating in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off Somalia’s coast — for which prior notification had been provided by Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government to the Secretary-General — could undertake all necessary measures ‘appropriate in Somalia’, to interdict those using Somali territory to plan, facilitate or undertake such acts.”
This is good news for those who harbor the belief that the US is powerless to act militarily in its own interest without UN authorization.

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm

Haters, The President and his Secretary of State was talking and throwing out suggestions about the many affairs that is now in play. He picked a good secretary of state, she accepted, friends enough to work together for a common cause……the welfare of the American people. To the idiot that asked whether taxpayers paid for his children swingset….no, he paid for it. But I do know that the taxpayers are paying out big money for the pension of another president that lied to Americans to go to war, a 80,000 dollar Oval Office rug, one half million dollar china set, a man that ran the economy in the ground and “cooked the books” to hide the true cost of his budgets. This is what the taxpayers is paying for.

Posted by: sngeorgia | April 9, 2009, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm

Bev, The Obamas paid for the swingset themselves.
As an aside, the Obamas also turned down the money normally given to incoming Presidents for WH renovation and decorating the private quarters. They will pay for that with their own money as well. Now you may well say “so what? They’re millionaires. They can afford it” and I heartily agree. Yet the Bushes were multimillionaires, much richer than the Obamas, yet they took the taxpayer money for WH decorating with no qualms, though they could easily have afforded to use their own money as the Obamas are.
I don’t know what that says about the two families but I find it interesting.

Posted by: Lisa | April 9, 2009, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm

The pirates problem is the World’s problem….these ships are private ships from all countries that are being hijacked……did England go to war? No, because there is diplomacy in a democracy. But let it be known that this problem has to stop and the world will have to come to some agreement to solve this problem. The ransom, well that part belongs to the company that owns the ships. Oh, he’ll do just fine.

Posted by: sngeorgia | April 9, 2009, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm

How DARE he sit at a picnic table!?!
Does he think the Presidency is a PICNIC?!?!
Teleprompter Birth Certificate Queen of England!!!
Obama BAD MAN!!!!
WAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Posted by: R Mutt | April 9, 2009, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm

snGeorgia- you also forgot to mention that each President is given tax payer money to redecorate the White House according to their taste. Obama declined and paid out of his own pocket. Good post.

Posted by: Diver | April 9, 2009, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm

Don’t worry people, she is just schooling the kid on how it should be done. LOL It was 3:00 p.m. the call was made to the one who knows how to do the job.

Posted by: Kim | April 9, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm

“The Obamas paid for the swingset themselves.”
Yes, but many people objected to the Obamas sending the White House butler to South Dakota at government expense to pick out a swing set when the company could have sent a representative to them instead.

Posted by: Sigmond | April 9, 2009, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm

“President Barack Obama asked the U.S. Congress for an additional $83.4 billion to fund the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan on Thursday, saying the security situation along the Afghan-Pakistan frontier was urgent.
Obama said 95 percent of the $83.4 billion in supplemental funds he was requesting would go to support U.S. military operations in Iraq and the U.S. effort to disrupt and defeat al Qaeda.”
=======================================
Sen. Obama used to criticize President Bush for that sort of thing but I’m glad he is continuing the Bush/Cheney policies.

Posted by: mad | April 9, 2009, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm

Lisa saiid: [[Bev, The Obamas paid for the swingset themselves.
As an aside, the Obamas also turned down the money normally given to incoming Presidents for WH renovation and decorating the private quarters. They will pay for that with their own money as well. Now you may well say "so what? They're millionaires. They can afford it" and I heartily agree. Yet the Bushes were multimillionaires, much richer than the Obamas, yet they took the taxpayer money for WH decorating with no qualms, though they could easily have afforded to use their own money as the Obamas are.
I don't know what that says about the two families but I find it interesting.]]
And what I think it says is that the Obamas want to spend WAY more than the $100,000 allotted, and if they do it themselves — and they can afford to — they don’t have to submit the bills.
That’s what it says — entitlement, entitlement, entitlement.

Posted by: liz | April 9, 2009, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm

“…did England go to war? No, because there is diplomacy in a democracy.”
England has absolutely no capacity to launch military operations on the ground in Somalia. All of NATO outside the US has shown itself to be militarily inept, because it’s been freeloading on the US for sixty years. If the US doesn’t launch (or at the very least lead) the operation it won’t occur. Until it does, the piracy will continue.
Somalia is not a democracy, and it has no diplomats.

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm

Does anyone really care who paid for a swingset at the White House? All presidents for 200 years have lived pretty well at taxpayer expense, but so what? It cost the taxpayers infinitely more to send an entourage of 500 to Europe with the president, but if he felt he was not up to the job without all that help he’s entitled to have it.

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm

Isn’t anyone upset about an American being held hostage?

Posted by: TEX | April 9, 2009, 8:57 pm 8:57 pm

“If you had the intelligency”
~~~~
Oh the sweet sweet irony…

Posted by: Plumber | April 9, 2009, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm

“President Barack Obama asked the U.S. Congress for an additional $83.4 billion to fund the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan on Thursday, saying the security situation along the Afghan-Pakistan frontier was urgent.”
Oh … “urgent”. Riiight.
He lost Democratic Rep. Lynn Woolsey on THAT one. Many defections in the Obamas’ future …

Posted by: Pants on Fire | April 9, 2009, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm

This is really weak, Tapper… Seriously… you are really reaching now… perhaps, you can try something different… like a positive story about the president… I know.. I know… when pigs fly…

Posted by: Mike | April 9, 2009, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm

I see there is still a lot of haters out there. You might as well calm down and try to find a pub candidate that can compete with the pres in 2012. By 2012, the economy is going to be back to pre-Bush standards and America will be loved again by other countries. Good luck pubs on finding someone (i hope its Palin) to get stomped in 2012…

Posted by: johnnylee | April 9, 2009, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm

The paparazzi should stay off the play ground even if it is on the White House grounds. Don’t know what I’d do to a media hound hounding “kid space”. This is NOT Europe where Princess Diana could be manslaughtered by car just so the “press” could pursue a story. Peace! Study the word “peace” because it means something and it is a human right.

Posted by: Common Sense | April 9, 2009, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm

You really are reaching Tapper. Good grief. President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton talking at the swing set. My gosh! This is big big big news.

Posted by: Vicki | April 9, 2009, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm

Hummmm..I thought the White House was the “peoples’ house.”

Posted by: Parallax View | April 9, 2009, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm

Why are you reprimanding Tapper?
The first words in this story:
“ABC News’ Jon Garcia reports”

Posted by: MayBee | April 9, 2009, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm

Economy recover by 2012 to Bush’s first term levels…probably not..just a matter of time before the crats are replaced but it won’t be by Palin…most Republicans would not vote for her and the majority of Independents, me, not a chance…

Posted by: Parallax View | April 9, 2009, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm

I always sense a snarky or ironic tone in this guy whenever he’s reporting in this blog. I’m trying if there’s any jealousy involved or if it’s just the old mentality of “this guy doesn’t belong in this position”. Obviously, you have the right to your opinion although it would’ve been fair to not pretend to be a journalist.

Posted by: D. | April 9, 2009, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm

Any word YET on who cashed in on the trillion dollar corporate welfare checks? Back soon with more breaking news.

Posted by: new cronkite | April 9, 2009, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm

“By 2012, the economy is going to be back to pre-Bush standards and America will be loved again by other countries.”
How many million Americans have lost their jobs since Obama was elected?
How much do Germany, France and Russia love us? Well, let’s see: how much of what Obama asked last week in Europe did they give him?

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm

How many Americans have lost their jobs under Obama, you ask?
“NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) –
Employers trimmed 663,000 jobs from their payrolls last month, roughly in line with forecasts of a loss of 658,000 jobs, according to economists surveyed by Briefing.com.
“For the first three months of the year, 2 million jobs have been lost.”

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm

Wow, I wouldn’t have thought it was possible for someone to try to spin the fact that the Obamas are spending their OWN money instead of taxpayer money as a negative but Liz sure gave it the ol’ college try.
Astonishing.

Posted by: Lisa | April 9, 2009, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm

“Two months into 2009, U.S. deaths spike in Afghanistan.
“KABUL — U.S. deaths in Afghanistan increased threefold during the first two months of 2009 compared with the same period last year.”
Where is Cindy Sheehan? Where is the outrage? Is this war legal or illegal?

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm

From the Electronic Frontier Foundation:
“The [Obama] DOJ claims that the U.S. Government is completely immune from litigation for illegal spying — that the Government can never be sued for surveillance that violates federal privacy statutes.
“This is a radical assertion that is utterly unprecedented. No one — not the White House, not the Justice Department, not any member of Congress, and not the Bush Administration — has ever interpreted the law this way.”
Did we elect this man so he could shred the Constitution? How can you people tolerate these unprecedented assaults on our freedom?

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 9, 2009, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm

OHNOES Hillary is infecting the chosen one with more Clinton ideas! No wonder we don’t have change! It’s all Hillary’s fault!

Posted by: Obamabot | April 9, 2009, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm

Fascist Hyena asked, “Did we elect this man so he could shred the Constitution? How can you people tolerate these unprecedented assaults on our freedom?”
========
I am ready to march on Washington and call for his resignation. Name the time. I’ll be there.

Posted by: tanarg | April 10, 2009, 3:28 am 3:28 am

They did what? Have a private meeting at the White House swing set? Hillary is the worse Secretary of State in this history. Obama is the worse President in this history. Just saw the video on Hillary and she was laughing about what happened to our 20 Americans and the cargo ship were hijacked by Somali pirates yesterday. The video is not funny. It is unprofessional. It show Obama’s foreign policy is so weak. He and Hillary both have a lack of inexperience and leadership.

Posted by: anonymous | April 10, 2009, 4:23 am 4:23 am

Isn’t Love Grand?

Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 10, 2009, 7:24 am 7:24 am

Obama is more on the level of a high school kid.
Seems more worried about being popular
than preserving the reputation and tradition of America.
Watching him showing off his body in Hawaii and his tacky appearance on Leno–he wants the world to look at him.

Posted by: riley | April 10, 2009, 8:02 am 8:02 am

Who paid for this?
“When you’re the president of the United States, only the best pizza will do – even if that means flying a chef 860 miles. Chris Sommers, 33, jetted into Washington from St Louis, Missouri, on Thursday with a suitcase of dough, cheese and pans to to prepare food for the Obamas and their staff. He had apparently been handpicked after the President had tasted his pizzas on the campaign trail.”

Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 10, 2009, 9:23 am 9:23 am

Jake, where is the “”oops” moment” in this story? What did they have to say “oops” about?

Posted by: Question | April 10, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am

That video confirms that the children are now in the White House and in charge.

Posted by: R. Grimes | April 10, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm

Republican version – The President and Secretary of State wanted a place that was completely free of recording devices and gawking reporters to have their very private meeting…Wonder what their secret plans include?
OR
Democrat version – It was a photo shoot to show their detractors that running the free world is “like child’s play” to them. They are so competent.
Most likely reality – Planning for 2012, “Hillary I want you to be my running mate. Joe’s killing me here.”

Posted by: NPage | April 10, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Sounds like the Republicans can’t handle the fact that a Democratic president is intelligent, well spoken, and humble. Oh, why could not W have been just one?

Posted by: n | April 10, 2009, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm

Now, with the wave of a hand, he can deny access to the public. A wave of a hand. We are subjects to our own government that we pay for.

Posted by: darryl | April 10, 2009, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm

ANYTHING that The One does is newsworthy…don’t ya get it?

Posted by: RR GOP | April 10, 2009, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm

A lot of the problem in this country is that people think they need to know everything that is going on. So what they were holding a private meeting. Reporters can be so annoying. I don’t blame them for finding a spot like that out of the building.

Posted by: Jwench | April 11, 2009, 7:52 am 7:52 am

Who paid for this?
“When you’re the president of the United States, only the best pizza will do – even if that means flying a chef 860 miles. Chris Sommers, 33, jetted into Washington from St Louis, Missouri, on Thursday with a suitcase of dough, cheese and pans to to prepare food for the Obamas and their staff. He had apparently been handpicked after the President had tasted his pizzas on the campaign trail.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Apr 10, 2009 9:23:51 AM
If you knew anything about anything you would know that President’s pay for their own food. There’s your answer. Guess that wasn’t one of the the GOP talking points from Hannitty or Limblob.

Posted by: Jwench | April 11, 2009, 8:16 am 8:16 am

Obama: “Hey Hillary, what do I do about the pirate thing”
Hill: “Give them food, water a satelite phone and gas”
Obama: “Uh….ok. Should I authorize the Navy to take action if the situation arises where they could free the hostage?”
Hill: “No!”
Obama: “Uh…errr….what should I say?”

Posted by: Thomas | April 11, 2009, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm

Of Course the Intelligent, Experienced,Highly Educated & Knowledgeable Hillary Would Be So Gracious to Advise Obama On What He Should Do As president.( He needs ALL the Help he can get) What would you expect? This Country Is So Blessed To Have Hillary Still Care After The DNC Cheated Her!!!! And it hasn’t even been 100 days and Obama is Bowing Down to The Muslim King!!!!

Posted by: from Ohio | April 12, 2009, 2:28 am 2:28 am

first of all it is illegal for government to hold private meetings

Posted by: RODNEY | June 23, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am

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