Some Human Moments at the President’s Presser
Email"Excuse me," President Obama said after twice sneezing during his post-G-20 press conference. "I’ve been fighting this all week."
The president seemed a little tired — understandably so — during his press conference. He stood before 2,500 members of the international and US press corps, creating quite a scene to get in and fight for a seat in the room.
The President , per usual, read the names of US reporters off a list on his podium. But he plucked people out of the often boisterous crowd jockeying for questions at random among the international press.
"I’m going to call one foreigner — actually, I’m the foreigner," he said, smiling. "That’s why I smiled," the President said awkwardly, "One correspondent not from America."
He ended up calling on four international journalists (out of 9 total questioners) from the UK, Australia, China, and India.
One last question gave the President a little room to tease a young woman reporter from the Times of India.
"Your prime minister is a wonderful man," Obama said, having just met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"Thank you," she said.
"Did you have something to do with that?" the president teased her. "You seem to kind of take –take credit for it a little bit there," he said laughing.
A more sober moment came when he called on the last U.S. correspondent, CBS’s Chip Reid, whose beloved father died this week.
"Chip, my heart goes out to you," the president said.
"Thank you," Reid said. "Thank you very much, Mr. President. I appreciate that."
"I just heard about that," the president said.
- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
awwwwwwwwww,
this is just riveting news.
Posted by: al | April 2, 2009, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Jake T:
How about PBO’s deep bowing down with a scrape and all to the King of Saudi Arabia (while doing a soft neck bow to the Queen)?
Posted by: Rod | April 2, 2009, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
you know its funny to see the coverage of obama.it just shows were abc stands.to bad the coverage wouldn’t have been the same for bush!everyone understands no matter what happens with obama only the good will be shown as i see every day.
Posted by: jared | April 2, 2009, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm
Mr. Obama’s long honeymoon will overdue for a large fall. I will stop criticizing Mr. Obama if Mr. Obama stop criticizing America. It’s a fair deal I think
Posted by: young_voter | April 2, 2009, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
Yes, that bowing and scraping is exactly what half the country expected of him, along with his spending us into oblivion.
Posted by: tanarg | April 2, 2009, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
yawn..Ok,so a guy with a teleprompter goes into a bar…
Posted by: mjishernameo | April 2, 2009, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
I have a crush on Obama!
Posted by: amoreena | April 2, 2009, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
This is off the subject however I think back to the election and how our First Lady was attacked by the conservatives throughout the process. Without a doubt it shows how little they really know. Having the Obama’s as the First Family makes me very proud to be an American, and I might add it makes me very proud for the first time in a long time.
Posted by: jim | April 2, 2009, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Jake – nice job today – your smart question drew a thoughtful newsworthy response from Obama.
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: R Mutt | April 2, 2009, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
Hard not to give Obama glowing reviews for his performance at G-20. The swings in storyline from the way in to going out of London are nothing short of remarkable.
Anyone talking about shots from Merkel or Sarkozy now?
Posted by: matt | April 2, 2009, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
Concerned in OH & mjishernameo: Keep talking your Birth Certificate and Teleprompter talk – people REALLY REALLY care about that! It helps the Republican Party look REALLY REALLY sane and mature! You’ll win for sure in 2012! Don’t stop!
Posted by: R Mutt | April 2, 2009, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
Why is Obama always “tired”, granted he’s middle aged but what is the true story on his health?
Barack and Michelle embarrassed themselves in Europe this week. You do not paw the Queen of England and break protocol. The Queen had enough class to be gracious in spite of the outrageous behavior of the Obamas.
It was entirely inappropriate for the arrogant Obama to give the Queen and Ipod loaded with his own speeches no less!
Both the President and First Lady are in desperate need of consultants for fashion, etiquette and protocol so they can rise to the roles they are now required to fulfill. It’s not just about them, it’s about representing our country.
Obama’s trip was a failure, he will leave without getting what he wanted. No amount of media spin will change that fact. The 24/7 ever adoring Obama media lovefest will continue no matter what he does because they have invested so heavily in him for the last two years.
Condolences to the family of Chip Reid.
Posted by: R | April 2, 2009, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
I am so proud of our President and First Lady. They represented our country with intelligence and class.
Posted by: Susan | April 2, 2009, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
R,
Even a young person in good health gets tired. You obviously do not have anything interesting to write about. I guess you need glasses it was the queen that put her hands around Mrs. Obama’s waist. If she doesn’t want to be touched then she shouldn’t touch. She is not God why should she be worshiped? Also, you do not know that the summit was a failure. I bet you will feel a wee bit silly when the US economy picks up and the world’s economy follows suit. It doesn’t matter what the President does, someone, especially you R, will have something negative to say. It’s funny that everyone is so patriotic but still wants America to fail. Does that really make sense? Sometimes it would be nice if people just sat down and actually think about things.
Posted by: Pauline | April 2, 2009, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm
“You do not paw the Queen of England and break protocol.”
FYI: The United States of America is no longer an English colony.
BTW: Michelle’s warm gesture reciprocated the Queen’s warm gesture toward her. Even the stodgy old Queen loves Michelle!
Posted by: R Mutt | April 2, 2009, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
jared!
Are you comparing Bush to Obama! No comparison! You must be blind,dumb or deaf. Bush was the laughing stock of the world…the world respects and loves Obama! No comparison! Everytime Bush opened his mouth to speak especially on foreign soil I use to crinch because you know he would say something that did not make sense..with Obama I fell proud because the man is bright and articulate. The president and his wife have represented us well! God bless president Barack Hussein Obama and God bless America!
Posted by: Stanley | April 2, 2009, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
Jake, there’s a typo with the sentence about Chip Reid’s father. (“his beloved father did”). I quess Obama’s not the only one who is tired, must be exhausting for you all.
I thought Chip Reid choked up when the president offered his sympathy but kept his professional composure. That could not have been easy. Please convey my condolences to him.
On a lighter note, I thought that the line about brandy diplomacy between Churchill and Roosevelt was funny, too. Obama was suprisingly sharp for someone who is so obviously fatigued.
Posted by: edwina | April 2, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
Mr. Tapper, thanks for passing along the little human interest tidbits.
Stanley, why can’t you celebrate a president you admire without denigrating another president who has nothing to do with the subject at hand. I get it– you despise George Bush. Strangely, I have been noticing a similarity between Bush and Obama lately– off-the-cuff they both make lame jokes and sometimes misspeak. Difference is, Bush was ridiculed for it constantly and Obama is celebrated for having a relaxed style. I won’t begin to pretend that makes any sense.
It was very gracious of the president to mention Mr. Reid’s father’s passing. I assume it was a few days ago, since Chip is back at work already. The loss of a parent is extremely hard, as the president knows all too well.
Posted by: moderate | April 2, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
RMutt:
We’ve already started to take back the country. check the NY election. HAR!
Posted by: mjishernameo | April 2, 2009, 10:27 pm 10:27 pm
“We’ve already started to take back the country”
Good luck with that. Meanwhile, we’ll be taking it forward.
Posted by: R Mutt | April 2, 2009, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
Very sorry about Chip’s dad. It can’t be easy to be away from his family and still working during his time of sadness. My condolences to him.
Posted by: Question | April 2, 2009, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
Thank goodness mechelle got the jacket off to reveal THE ARMS again. Love the ipod obama gave the queen, with his own speeches on it.
Posted by: al | April 2, 2009, 11:46 pm 11:46 pm
My goodness. The man takes 6 doctors with him at our expense and no one gives him a little Zicam to get rid of his cold.
Posted by: Plumber | April 2, 2009, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
it just sounds so nice and chummy, press and president
awwwwwwwwwwwwww
just darling!
Posted by: al | April 3, 2009, 1:22 am 1:22 am
It is embarrassing.
Posted by: anonymous | April 3, 2009, 5:42 am 5:42 am
I think the cold/flu is just a ploy to try and prove to the proletariat that He is human.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 3, 2009, 7:32 am 7:32 am
He gets 6 doctors to go with him but he wants to regulate the rest of the unwashed to 1 MD per 25000?
Do as I say, not as I do!!
Way to go PBO, lead by example!!
Geezus….
Posted by: American Infidel | April 3, 2009, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
Are those of you who are criticizing this trip and our President so hateful and so denigrating for a good reason? Please elaborate…
Posted by: Sue | April 3, 2009, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm