‘I Am With You,’ Obama Promises the People of the Gulf
EmailFrom Sunlen Miller and Karen Travers
Briefly mentioning his upcoming Oval Office address to the nation tonight, the president promised the people of the Gulf Coast today that he is with them as they clean up from the damage of the oil spill.
“I am with you,” Obama promised from a hanger in Pensacola's Naval Air Station, “my administration is with you for the long haul to make sure BP pays for the damage that it has done and to make sure that you are getting the help you need, to protect this beautiful coast and to rehabilitate the damaged areas, to revitalize this region, and to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. That is a commitment I am making to the people of Florida and people all across this Gulf.”
Mr. Obama referred to the oil spill – as he has in recent days – as an “assault on our shores,” which he promised to fight back with “everything that we’ve got.” He said that this is not just an environmental disaster but also an “economic disaster” for the people in the affected communities.
“Here in Pensacola and the panhandle, tourism is everything. And when the tourists stay home, it ripples out and hits folks across these communities: the charter boats, the hotels, the restaurants, the roadside stores, the shops, the suppliers, the dive shops. And if your inland waters are contaminated, if the bays and bayous are contaminated, it could be devastating, changing the way of life down here for years to come”
The president again plugged the local beaches of Pensacola, and said that people need to know that they are open for business, with sand still white and oceans still blue.
“But that doesn't mean that people aren't angry,” he admitted, “That doesn't mean that people aren't scared. That doesn't mean that people have concerns about the future. We all have those concerns. And people have every right to be angry. Those plumes of oil are off the coast. The fishing waters are closed. Tar balls have been coming ashore. And everybody's bracing for more. “
The Naval Air Station has been one of the staging areas for the response efforts in the area, and the president thanked the sailors and the Marines offering their help – along with ships, skimmers, helicopters and boom – to the relief efforts.
-Sunlen Miller and Karen Travers
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And our ceremonial Queen appoints a czar, another individual subject to minimal oversights with possibly dubious qualifications…a fall guy.
Good golfing weather in DC? Or is it time for some beer pong?
Posted by: CLN | June 15, 2010, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
just words..again
Posted by: CLN | June 15, 2010, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Sarah Palin would have been in her hip-boots out scooping up oil in the gulf probably the first week of the spill.
Obama squats on the beach in his pretty clothes poking at tarballs with a stick, afraid to soil his hands.
She wouldn’t have hesitated to get in the face of BP’s CEO, whereas Obama still hasn’t met him.
Obama looks pretty happy eating snow cones and posing for pictures.
Probably thinking of golf.
Posted by: millie | June 15, 2010, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
“‘I Am With You,’ Obama Promises the People of the Gulf” – ABC News
What else is he going to say, You’re on your own?
Posted by: Noz | June 15, 2010, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
“Those plumes of oil are off the coast. The fishing waters are closed. Tar balls have been coming ashore. And everybody’s bracing for more”
“So, let me be clear: Seafood from the Gulf today is safe to eat. But we need to make sure that it stays that way.”
Let’s hope a giant oil spill doesn’t happen to make the seafood unsafe.
Posted by: Sigmonde | June 15, 2010, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Who’s at he other end of Obama’s Blackberry? Is it George Soros who declared “We Bought the Democratic Party”, or more likely his puppet, John Podesta?According to the WSJ ,emails disclose the White House response to the oil spill has been directed by Soro’s liberal think tank, Center for American Progress. From creating a point man to demanding an escrow fund, W H actions or inaction’s have followed “suggestions” from Soros via Podesta. Tonight’s speech will be more about a wealth redistribution plan known as Cap and Trade, while not specifically mentioning it, Obama use the oil spill as a “crisis” to push through a tax on Carbon,aka all human activity. For those in the Gulf region, don’t worry about the drilling moratorium; your income will be dependent on the government, at least after B.P.s funds run out. After all, Obamas/Soro’s goal is to create a permanent dependency class above 50% of the electorate. Fortunately, for LA, real leadership is left to Gov., Jindal, who like Arizona Gov Jan Brewer is filling the leadership void of Obama. Mr Podesta, did you write the wildly “successful” health care and stimulus Bills also? Well, at least everyone knows who is behind the curtain and Obama wears no clothes. He never did. Empty and void, but, he does have a nice smile; Joe Biden thinks he’s clean and articulate. And Harry Reid knows he speaks well, with no “Negro” dialect. Now we know why he was “selected”.
Posted by: pauldia | June 15, 2010, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
I wouldn’t waste much time worrying about him being led by whoever is on the other end of the blackberry. Whe he was the ceremonial editor of Law Review at Harvard, he delegated everthing. It’s just force of habit, he’s all for show and ceremony.
Now he mill manipulate this crisis to limit our access to energy and foul up everyone’s life. Except for the ideologically pure, like the MSM, they will be compensated in such a way to prevent any damage to their lifestyles. When Obama “saves” the media (at our expense) you will see that the operatives at the traditional outlets are rewarded.
Look for more lies tonight, glittery lies like “if you like your insurance plan, you can keep it”. Then the MSM will give him another tongue bath.
Posted by: CLN | June 15, 2010, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
Tonight another pity party and blame game. Woe is me I have it tougher than any other president in history, and none of it is my fault.
But do not fear people. The difference is you have me, the most charming and brilliant president ever.
Posted by: hank | June 15, 2010, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
And let’s not forget, it’s taken him nearly two months to spout these tiresome platitudes and appoint this “czar”. “Never let a good crisis go to waste”, I wonder if it’s cricket to allow the crisis to escalate in order for it to be big enough to reall punish those oil companies and greedy American consumers?
Posted by: CLN | June 15, 2010, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
For Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the Gulf.
Posted by: philagumbo | June 15, 2010, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Obama told the businesses on the gulf he is their “fierce advocate”.
Maybe they should ask the gay community how Obama’s fierce advocacy is working out for them.
He’s such a fierce advocate that he won’t even support gay marriage.
Obama will always look out for himself first.
Posted by: callie | June 15, 2010, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
It’s pretty sad that this dog and pony show is necessary. The 1000+ boats, millions of feet of boom, active legal investigations, regulatory shakeup, and other concrete actions that have been taken since the platform even sank should have been enough (go ahead and pull the papers from the April 22nd and 23rd period – the feds, and everyone, had the magnitude of the problem wrong but were actively starting oil containment and clean up).
But the President is forced to play upset daddy on TV to make the masses happy. And the dumbing down of America continues (oops sorry, did that hurt someone’s self esteem?).
Posted by: jhw539 | June 15, 2010, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Maybe they should ask the gay community how Obama’s fierce advocacy is working out for them.
He’s such a fierce advocate that he won’t even support gay marriage.
callie | Jun 15, 2010 1:46:49 PM
Don’t ask, don’t tell is being ended. Taking a while, but there is still concern in the military about it so it is only reasonable that it be done as respectfully as possible.
Obama publicly and clearly went on record during the campaign as opposing gay marriage. He’s been entirely up front about the extent of his support for the GBLT community.
“Obama believes we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure we accomplish our national defense goals.” Obama campaign white paper, 2008
Posted by: jhw539 | June 15, 2010, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
And let’s not forget, it’s taken him nearly two months to spout these tiresome platitudes and appoint this “czar”.
CLN | Jun 15, 2010 1:45:48 PM
Yeah, heaven forbid he gots a fleet of over 1000 ships to work, millions of feet of boom placed, a well-seasoned professional in charge – you know actually TOOK ACTION for a couple months before giving in to the whining for ‘I feel your pain’ soundbites.
Posted by: jhw539 | June 15, 2010, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
….these sermons from the mount are gatting damned boring, is are all his so-called “advisers” simply concerned that they will lose their paychecks if they simply tell him the truth??? … but, I suppose, if he keeps beating his point over and over and over again, someONE will buy it…………this guy has NO EXPERIENCE to do the job for which some of us elected him to do…..next time, ask for a resume.
Posted by: justj joey | June 15, 2010, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
A Harvard University student who grew up in Texas , won a full scholarship to the Ivy League school and is studying molecular biology faces the possibility of being deported before he can start his sophomore year.
Yet, our Greatest Smartest Clueless Leader’s aunt entered and stayed in the US illegally, took the valuable resources on welfare, and after PBO was elected, granted legal status to remain in the country.
He promises to be with you; yet, he keeps those non-productive relatives who only take from you in this country, while he would enforce the Law to deport a freeking smart scientist who probably will one day develop a drug to cure cancer.
Posted by: duh | June 15, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Sure, it only took PBO 57 days to understand it’s an assault on our shores.
Did not this cat, on Tapper’s blog record, three days after the fall of the rig, that PBO needs to send the Navy to cap the hole and stop the oil flow right away?????
Had he had any idea, any clue, you would have not been hearing “assault”, but would he need to make an OO speech?
Guess its another crisis, another speech, and everyone is happy. Problem solved!!
Posted by: fat cat | June 15, 2010, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
Are you sure he didn’t say “I am with you guys?”
I’m so tired of the greatest presidential orator in history continually utilizing “you guys” like a gum-chewing waitress.
Of course, that not all I’m tired of.
Posted by: Bob | June 15, 2010, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
But the President is forced to play upset daddy on TV to make the masses happy. And the dumbing down of America continues (oops sorry, did that hurt someone’s self esteem?).
—
No kidding. Look at the Obama supportets on Youtube.
Posted by: Stu Pidd | June 15, 2010, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
Barry has plenty of oil experience.
He’s been selling snakeoil his whole life.
Sadly about 45% of voters are still buying it.
He’ll read another pretty speech tonight and the suckers will swoon.
Posted by: kyle | June 15, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Yeah, right. Deeds are more important than words.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | June 15, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
“go ahead and pull the papers from the April 22nd and 23rd period – the feds, and everyone, had the magnitude of the problem wrong but were actively starting oil containment and clean up”
Perhaps you should read today’s papers, specifically the new york times which states:
“From the beginning, the effort has been bedeviled by a lack of preparation, organization, urgency and clear lines of authority among federal, state and local officials, as well as BP. As a result, officials and experts say, the damage to the coastline and wildlife has been worse than it might have been if the response had been faster and orchestrated more effectively.”
It’s more like Obama is doing damage control than playing upset daddy my friend.
Posted by: J.R. | June 15, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
“For Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the Gulf.
Posted by: philagumbo | Jun 15, 2010 1:45:51 PM”
This is what I thought of too. The media trying to make the Obamassiah look Godly. Sorry, can’t do that while you’re still taking cheap shots at your predecessor and playing golf. He still comes across as Nero.
Posted by: CLN | June 15, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
“He’ll read another pretty speech tonight and the (suckers) media “reporters” will swoon.
Posted by: kyle | Jun 15, 2010 2:17:32 PM”
Fixed it for you. They might even get weepy-eyed
Posted by: CLN | June 15, 2010, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Obama has another villain to take the heat off of him.
Forget about the 16 months his administration had to inspect BP.
His administration, his MMS director missed forseeable problems.
They gave that well the OK to keep drilling.
Even gave them a safety award.
But the MSM will ignore that and so will Obama.
Obama may hate the media, but they are the only thing saving him.
Posted by: greg c | June 15, 2010, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
Obama’s two days on the coast looked like a campaign event or a mini-vacation for him.
He’s laughing it up eating sno cones, eating seafood, posing for pictures, shaking hands with a line of fans.
What the heck?
Why were fans allowed there?
Where were the angry residents?
If I lived there I would not line up to shake his hand, I would be peacefully protesting his incompetence.
I guess that’s what the Obama Media wants people to see.
Posted by: ollie | June 15, 2010, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
LMAO..its doesn’t get any better, Obama down the tubes, and now we learn that the whinebag Albert Gore has been laying Larry Davids ex wife for the past 2 years LMAO.. Look for ABC to go into FULL SURPRESS mode like they did with the Edwards affairs
Posted by: This IS Obamas Katrina | June 15, 2010, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Funny that my comment on the president’s choice of beverage at Tacky Jack’s has apparently gotten lost on the cutting-room floor here, since it was HIS choice of beverage.
It must be a kick-XXX drink, another phrase immortalized by the greatest presidential orator of all time, you guys.
Posted by: Bob | June 15, 2010, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
At least he isnt on TV saying everything is fine while hundreds of people are dying… Regardless of what he does , so many of you will still hate and criticize his every move… He obviously cant fix this problem immediately….. Who really has the technology to do it? Its gonna unfortunately gonna be trial and error til they get it right. Last I knew it wasnt the federal government that specializes in drilling… Some of you people are just sad. Regardless if you like him, his policies or not, he is still our president. we should pray that the right formula is found to combat this crisis and that REGULATION, the correct technology and equipment is finally put in place to prevent this from ever happening again
Posted by: TV | June 15, 2010, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
“that REGULATION, the correct technology and equipment is finally put in place to prevent this from ever happening again”
There are plenty of regulations directed at the oil industry. If they are not enforced or followed, it doesn’t matter how many regulations there are in force. In addition, accidents can happen in spite of regulation.
Posted by: Sigmonde | June 15, 2010, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
What happened to everybody who were whining that Obama is unfairly demonizing BP? Apparently now that polling has come out showing a large majority of Americans think Obama hasn’t been hard enough on them another dumb little right-wing criticism has been quickly discarded. Opportunism belies propaganda.
Posted by: Skip | June 15, 2010, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
“What happened to everybody who were whining that Obama is unfairly demonizing BP?”
Americans are angry that Obama has not been more forceful in holding BP accountable as well as their disappointment that Obama has failed to lead.. There is a big difference in taking action to demonize and taking action to lead. He failed to lead by not meeting immediately with BP execs and working out a plan to end this mess, instead demonizing them by sending criminal attorneys out to hunt. Very unseemly of a president.
Posted by: Sigmonde | June 15, 2010, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Posted by: Skip | Jun 15, 2010 4:46:26 PM
Dearest Skippy, it is quite possible to be hard on someone without demonizing them.
Posted by: Noz | June 15, 2010, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
Too bad crude oil can’t be replaced with snake oil because Obama sure knows how to peddle it. Unfortunatly, that seems to be all he knows.
Posted by: Rasputin3.14 | June 15, 2010, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
Skip,do you really think that Obama has managed this well? How can you explain the totally screwed up spill rate estimates?It IS his responsibility to know such a basic fact.Even if BP submitted inaccurate estimates,shouldn’t the government know the true picture?
Posted by: Nephron | June 15, 2010, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm
He’s on tv, and reading off of a teleprompter… with armed men surrounding him… The only people he’s with, is his bankster, multinational corporate, big oil buddies!
Posted by: CBA | June 15, 2010, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
“That is why just after the rig sank, I assembled a team of our nation’s best scientists and engineers to tackle this challenge – a team led by Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and our nation’s Secretary of Energy. Scientists at our national labs and experts from academia and other oil companies have also provided ideas and advice.
As a result of these efforts, we have directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology. In the coming days and weeks, these efforts should capture up to 90% of the oil leaking out of the well. This is until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that is expected to stop the leak completely….
We now have nearly 30,000 personnel who are working across four states to contain and cleanup the oil. Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf. And I have authorized the deployment of over 17,000 National Guard members along the coast. These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil from coming ashore, clean beaches, train response workers, or even help with processing claims – and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible.
…Over five and a half million feet of boom has been laid across the water to block and absorb the approaching oil. We have approved the construction of new barrier islands in Louisiana to try and stop the oil before it reaches the shore, and we are working with Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida to implement creative approaches to their unique coastlines. ”
President Barack Obama
Its good he laid out what has been done. Hopefully more details and facts will be shared in coming days, weeks… because the GOP and their comrades love to fill vaccuums with B.S.
Posted by: progressive mama | June 15, 2010, 8:54 pm 8:54 pm
because the GOP and their comrades love to fill vaccuums with B.S.
Amen to that!
Posted by: Skip | June 15, 2010, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
“How can you explain the totally screwed up spill rate estimates?”
How do you know an estimate is screwed up until a precise value is determined, besides consensus? Estimates are wonderfully malleable with easy opportunities for controversy.
Posted by: Skip | June 15, 2010, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Snake Oil.
Posted by: Rasputin3.14 | June 16, 2010, 6:54 am 6:54 am
Its good he laid out what has been done.
—
And someone forgot to make 1 mention of those dispersants? Be careful about the BS and the vacuums.
Brilliant move, Prez!
Posted by: smartlillena | June 16, 2010, 7:21 am 7:21 am
“Hopefully more details and facts will be shared in coming days, weeks..”
Yeah, maybe more info on George Soros and how he will reap a fortune with his major interest in Petrobas.
Posted by: Sigmonde | June 16, 2010, 7:36 am 7:36 am
I’m glad that the President is giving more details about the tremendous effort that is ongoing to contain the spill. I watch a lot of media and was surprised by the lack of information that they have aquired. Where are all the journalists? It seems that sensationalism and a sprinkle of human interest stories are all that constitute the news on too many channels. I think the sensationalism and the lack of real reporting has hurt the tourist business tremendously in the Gulf area.
Posted by: Lydia | June 16, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
” It seems that sensationalism and a sprinkle of human interest stories are all that constitute the news on too many channels.” – Lydia
Ha ha ha
Hey Lydia, while reading the first half of your statement above I couldn’t help but think you were talking about Obama’s speech last night.
sensationalism and a sprinkle of human interest stories, yep that’s our Prez.
Posted by: Noz | June 16, 2010, 10:12 am 10:12 am