‘Top Line’: Pews, Pirates, and Puppies — a President’s Big Weekend
Email ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: After a weekend that saw President Obama play action hero — resolving a stand-off with pirates, delivering a puppy to his daughters, and making time for Easter services — we chatted with ABC’s Ann Compton and political comedian Baratunde Thurston about the optics of the presidency today on ABCNews.com’s “Top Line.” Compton — who regularly attends St. John’s Episcopal in Washington and was there Sunday when the president and his family made their surprise appearance — talked with us about how the White House spread the word about the president’s delicate role in the hostage situation. Click HERE to see that interview. And Baratunde Thurston, a comedian and blogger for Jack & Jill Politics, shared his thoughts on the the emerging debate over gay marriage — and what makes (or doesn’t make) Obama funny. Plus, there’s plenty of discussion about that all-consuming story of the First Puppy, Bo, who makes his public debut Tuesday. Click HERE to see our interview with Thurston.
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Action hero? Obama? You must be drinking the kool-aid! This guy is so chicken that he won’t even speak publically without a teleprompter!
Posted by: tina | April 13, 2009, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Please….please….PUH….LEASE!
The O is NO action hero, and he did NOT RESOLVE the standoff with the pirates! The Navy seals followed protocol, the dept of defense presented the protocol to him, and he signed off on it. THAT’S IT. What possible tactical and logistical expertise would this man have in his few years as STATE senator, where he spent most of that time campaigning for a better job?
Any robot with a pen in the oval office could have done that. His only credit was that he did not get in the way.
My blood boils when I hear the O take credit for this, or anyone who gives him credit. It is an insult to the brave men and women who risked their lives, not to mention the Captain himself.
Plus, why hasn’t the O done anything about the blatant and epidemic piracy before this happenned?
The heroes are the Navy Seals, and the Captain. God bless them.
Posted by: decentAmerican | April 13, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
It’s true that Obama handled the pirate situation pretty well, but he can be a hero to much more people if he works to increase the foreign aid budget. The Borgen Project has good info on the estimated cost of ending global poverty:
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget.
Posted by: David Waters | April 13, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
You’re kidding, the dog was a gift, church takes a hour and he gave a command!
Posted by: jane | April 13, 2009, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
I’m shocked I tell you! Shocked! That once again the haters are not giving the president any credit for handling this situation. And btw, decentAmerican -He also gave all credit to the Captain and the Seals. why didn’t w do something about this piracy during the last 8 yrs? This president hasn’t even been in office for 3 months yet. And there’s tina back with the old “teleprompter” comment – haven’t you got any new ideas, or are you going to bring up the birth certificate next?
Posted by: Mary E | April 13, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Mary E
What are we suppose to give him credit for? He did not have to make a snap decision and the only decision he could make would be to try to save a life.
Anyone would have made the same one. Our service members make these decisions every day in a war.
Posted by: jane | April 13, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
Newt Gingrich would have attacked the pirates with lasers and F-22s.
Bush would have invaded Ecuador.
Posted by: Jet City Atheist | April 13, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
mary e: I actually get a kick from these Limbaugh-Lovers and their little “teleprompter tizzies.” It makes for amusement to try to predict which of the right-wing whack-jobs will be the first to throw a tizzy! They have nothing intelligent to say, so they focus on, of all things, teleprompters!
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | April 13, 2009, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
I am puzzled about the focus on the telepromper. What is the BFD? In actual fact, it was a Republican president, IKE, who first used one. EVERY president since then has used the teleprompter. Every modern president makes many prepared remarks. Some have used a mix of teleprompters and typed notes, depending on when and where they are speaking. Obama, arguably our most techy president, simply prefers a teleprompter. And this is an issue? Why?
Posted by: EdDoc80 | April 13, 2009, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
tina and decentAmerican:
Maybe you should sit out of some of these discusions and let the adults talk.
Posted by: unshrub | April 13, 2009, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
I ask you again, Mary E, and the O-delusionists…..tell me what….WHAT….has the O done in his ridiculously short senate career to prepare him in any way to handle such a pirate crisis? What expertise did he have in tactical warfare in handling terrorists? Do you honestly think that the Dept of defense and the Navy seals got any useful advice at all from O???????
This is why it’s very clear you think he is the messiah. That he can do no wrong. That anything he says or does is gospel, and amazing. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry that there are people so enthralled and delusional to think in this way, about any human being.
Yes, they may have needed his consent to proceed with the action, as per protocol. But do you honestly think that the Navy seals would not have been able to act, had the O not been around?
What exactly DID HE DO that gives him even an inkling of merit for deserving the “hero” designation? Being briefed and updated on the situation is not being heroic!!!
Posted by: decentAmerican | April 13, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Hats off to our Navy Seals and the President of the United States. These men are terrorist taking our citizens hostage, it was our right and duty to take them out, so I say “Thank you Obama for having the guts to say bring this man home safe” and the well trained Seals to do the job. Thank you.
Posted by: insight | April 13, 2009, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
decentamerican: are you lost in all of this… Obama is our Commander In Chief… he gives the orders to fire… I hope this is not to confusing to you.
Posted by: insight | April 13, 2009, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
to all you repuks, and you know who you are; Here’s what you give the guy credit for, not much, but here goes. He didn’t put on a flight suit, he didn’t order the graphic signs, “Mission Accomplished” And he gave credit where credit was due. That’s it dummies!
Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 13, 2009, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
OUR President, ALL of OUR President stood up, analyzed the situation, consulted WITH the professionals and instructed them to efficiently do there job. The job they have trained for, as professionals.
OUR President, did what the situation called for, and the real heroes are the captain and the seals, period.
OUR President should be congratulated for having the balls to make the correct call, for all of the right reasons. If this rescue would have went bad, and it very easily could have, then he would be held responsible. The sign of a true leader, give the credit to those that are deserving and be ready to stand in front of all when it goes bad.
Congratulations to a group of unnamed seals, the captain AND OUR President!
Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | April 13, 2009, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
I am sure the GOP haters would have nailed him to the wall and given him credit if something had gone terribly wrong. He did the right thing by issuing the order. Well done President Obama. I am glad everything turned out the way it did. To the Captain and the Navy Seals your Heroism is to be commended.
Posted by: Jwench | April 13, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
I am sure the GOP haters would have nailed him to the wall and given him credit if something had gone terribly wrong. He did the right thing by issuing the order. Well done President Obama. I am glad everything turned out the way it did. To the Captain and the Navy Seals your Heroism is to be commended.
Posted by: Jwench | April 13, 2009, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
Plus, why hasn’t the O done anything about the blatant and epidemic piracy before this happenned?
Posted by: decentAmerican | Apr 13, 2009 2:31:07 PM
He has been in office how long? How about the previous President. These pirates didn’t just pop up 3 mos ago.
Posted by: Jwench | April 13, 2009, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm
decentamerican..why hasn’t the president fixed my water pipes???What the H#ll has he been doing??? Why doesn’t he invade my water pipes..they are terrorising me…you repubs are soooo funny..
Posted by: cowgirl | April 13, 2009, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
The repuks said, ” what did he do’. Fools he led. You know LED. It takes a strong President to led an awesome Army. He is equipped.
Posted by: sngeorgia | April 13, 2009, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
Well I guess the sour-faced repukes are drowning in their hate. Too much haterade? It is amazing that “these” aliens would wish and hope something went wrong, and the Capt. may have lost his life for their own political reasons. The repukes are anti-americans and Haters.
Posted by: sngeorgia | April 13, 2009, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm
Close your partisan piehole jwench.
You know full and well that if it was Bush that authorized the snipers to act, you would be screaming through a megaphone.
Posted by: Angie | April 13, 2009, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
sngeorgia
Rest assured that I am a hater of all things anti-American.
So you got that right.
Posted by: Angie | April 13, 2009, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm
Angie,
W would never have been smart enough to give an order for a legal course of action. He and Vice President Evil, Puddingface Rove, and Rummy where in fact the anti-Americans.
Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 13, 2009, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
Where is the birth certificate?
Also, what are you trying to do?…….get all our soldiers killed????!!!!! We ought to bring them all home and let them fight it out themselves. Giving the terrorists the miranda rights????!!!! Have you lost it???!!! I thought I’d never hear such a thing in my life…..you are a lawyer, not a leader!
Who is advising you or this all your ideas?
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