President Obama Surpises Press Aboard Air Force One
EmailABC's Jon Garcia and David Kerley report: Though members of the press fly on Air Force One on every trip of the president, they sit in the rear of the plane, sequestered in a separate cabin and rarely see the Commander in Chief.
But about half an hour into today’s 4-hour flight from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Santiago, Chile, Obama made a surprise drop by in the press cabin. And, in a ‘turn-the-tables’ moment, the surprised press corps found themselves answering Obama’s questions.
"What are you guys doing?” he asked as he appeared solo in the doorway — no aides or handlers with him. Taken a little off guard, the press told him they were watching the Naomi Watts/Sean Penn movie ‘Fair Game’ (the movie about the Valerie Plame incident).
"Is it any good?" Obama asked. “Ask us in an hour,” was the reply from one of the press corps.
“You guys having fun?” Obama quizzed, adding that he heard some press folks had stayed out “late late” last night and “ate too much beef” at the local Brazilian churrascaria.
But before the press could turn the tables back on Obama, he ducked right back out of the cabin, saying “see ya” as he moved out of sight.
It was so fast, you might have missed it. The entire encounter was less than one minute.
Haley Barbour: GOP Candidates Haven't Made the Case 
White House Loves Aggressive Journalism ... Abroad
Horrifying.
Obama’s behavior is horrifying.
Not usually a pessimist, but it may be time to start preparing for doomsday scenarios.
Posted by: Mike, CO | March 21, 2011, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Ooh! Ooh! And you guys consider this news? Report when you get to ask a question, and it is answered. REPORT, and quit just SUPporting this man.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | March 21, 2011, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
Surpises?
Posted by: Bo, PWD | March 21, 2011, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Wow, this is of utmost importance! Forget wars, economic issues, disasters…This is vital stuff.
Posted by: Luzer | March 21, 2011, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
This is a critically important moment in Obama/media love affair. Now they know that he still cares for them. And how appropriate that they are watching “Fair Game”. A movie about a liar shown to a bunch of hacks who regularly lie to us for our liar-in-chief.
Posted by: Crazy Water | March 21, 2011, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Who chose the movie?
Posted by: MayBee | March 21, 2011, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
“You guys having fun?” Obama quizzed, adding that he heard some press folks had stayed out “late late” last night and “ate too much beef” at the local Brazilian churrascaria.
Someone please tell me this is just a bad dream. His own country is spinning out of control, and he just involved us in a civil war conflict on behalf of ‘rebels’ we know NOTHING about. For God’s sake, show some respect and get back to your JOB. “You guys having fun”? Hell no, Obama, we are not. We are tired of being jerked around by a community organizer who spends more time on ‘working vacations’ than getting to the business at hand. This isn’t just a Republican complaint…it’s across the board. EVERYONE is getting fed up.
Posted by: Shoe | March 21, 2011, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Obama is a smooth talker who knows how to stroke and schmooze the press and make them feel special without actually having to answer many (or any) questions from them.
The journalists HOPE this will CHANGE.
It won’t.
But Obama sold them on HOPE and CHANGE, so he’s happy.
Posted by: Joe White | March 21, 2011, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Wow, so many silly negative comments. Is it really inappropriate for the President to stop and say hello, how are you doing? Bush did it all the time.
Are we really expecting any President to act like a robot, to not spend time with family or to unwind or to even say ‘how are you’ to folks he is on the same plane with?
Yes, our leader has a lot of problems on his plate, but no one should think they are too important to relax and be human for a few minutes. No one.
Posted by: Lydia | March 21, 2011, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
“But before the press could turn the tables back on Obama, he ducked right back out of the cabin, saying “see ya” as he moved out of sight.”
Sort of the way he handles a crisis or tough decision, says “see ya” and then ducks back behind closed doors. How much worse can he possibly be?
Posted by: J.R. | March 21, 2011, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
One more thought for those criticizing Obama speaking casually to the press on Air Force One. If he had stuck around for an impromptu question/answer session with them, wouldn’t that have been egotistical, seeing as they were enjoying a movie? I’m glad we have a President who can recognize the need for downtime to stay healthy mentally and physically, as well as the need to treat others with respect.
Posted by: Lydia | March 21, 2011, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
“I’m glad we have a President who can recognize the need for downtime to stay healthy mentally and physically, as well as the need to treat others with respect.”
I’m using that excuse when I go to Rio and Chile. Gotta go on vacation so I can be relaxed when I start wars!
Posted by: Bush III | March 21, 2011, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Dem Congressman: ‘We’re In Libya Because Of Oil’…
Doubts Mount on Libya War…
DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
OBAMA__________VS__________AMERICA
Posted by: Yep I said that | March 21, 2011, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Obama……..The Spectator in Chief
Obama vs America
Posted by: Yep I said that | March 21, 2011, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
PAPER: ‘Kill team’ in Afghanistan posed for photos with murdered civilians…
German newspaper has 4,000 more…
Commanders brace for backlash…
WH works quietly to squelch…
WHERE WAS OBAMA??????????????????
OBAMA____________VS_____________AMERICA
Posted by: Yep I said that | March 21, 2011, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Dear naysayers…(all of this whining and complaining!!!)… who is your alternative? Please note “anyone” is NOT an unacceptable answer. Please specifically name the man or woman who will “right” all of wrongs of the Obama Administration. Thanks!
Posted by: Myatakeonthis61 | March 21, 2011, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
This blog has become a pitifully bad joke!
ABC News now has 2 reporters to “report” that President Obama said “nothing” to the reporters on Air Force One.
Posted by: Dave in colorado | March 21, 2011, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
“If he had stuck around for an impromptu question/answer session with them, wouldn’t that have been egotistical, seeing as they were enjoying a movie?”
lydia, are you serious? This has to be one of the more inane observations you’ve ever made. Disrupt a movie? On Air Force One? I can’t even begin to fathom the level to which you will excuse this President. It would be one thing if this man was actually anthing near as transparent as he thinks he is or if he answered actual questions from the press on a regular basis.
“I’m glad we have a President who can recognize the need for downtime to stay healthy mentally and physically, as well as the need to treat others with respect.”
First of all, this has nothing to do with respect. Well with all his downtime he must be the most physically and mentally healthy president we’ve ever had. Too bad we need a healthy leader right now.
Posted by: J.R. | March 21, 2011, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Now hold on just a minute, haters. It takes true leadership to know you can not merely pause an in-flight movie. Would you want anyone coming between you and Naomi Watts? I didn’t think so.
Posted by: Trash Baby | March 21, 2011, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
sad, our President makes an impromptu comment and others with nothing better to do make a mountain out of a molehill, should be a game show on you can debate to your hearts content!
Posted by: dumbrepublicans | March 21, 2011, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
News organizations spend a lot of money sending their reporters on AF1 to be close to the President, and cover what he does. Hopefully, they’ll get a chance to question him.
I’m sure they don’t spend that money so their reporters can watch an in-flight movie without being interrupted by the person they are covering.
Posted by: MayBee | March 21, 2011, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Hey guys………….whatcha doin?Wanna play some hoops guys? Oh, the war I just started…no comment. Japan? no comment. The deficit? no comment. Can’t a guy just eat his waffle and enjoy RIO?
Posted by: mjishernameo | March 21, 2011, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
Everyone knows that if you want to get a real story, you don’t talk to the politicians, you talk to the insiders.
This is simply entertainment reporters pretending to be real newsmen.
Posted by: Flash Override | March 21, 2011, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Get over yourselves, right wing. You guys complain about everything Obama does. GWB and Raygun could do no wrong. What hypocrites!!
Posted by: martin | March 22, 2011, 12:45 am 12:45 am
Of course he stuck his head in -he hadn’t gotten any adolation for five minutes and had to recharge.
Posted by: Larry | March 22, 2011, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm