obama vs. bush, pt II

[toasty]

Here's another example of how things are different under the Obama administration. Did anyone see this from yesterday's town hall in Fort Myers?

Obama moved by homeless woman's story at town hall FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A woman's hard-luck tale at a town hall meeting in Florida moved President Barack Obama to leave the stage.


When Henrietta Hughes complained she'd been down on her luck and was living in her car with her son, Obama walked to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Hughes said she was out of work and homeless, with "a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in."


A White House press secretary said administration officials asked the local housing authority to contact her after the exchange in Fort Myers.


Meanwhile, the wife of Florida state Rep. Nick Thompson offered to let the woman stay in a house she owns that's vacant about 30 miles away. Chene Thompson isn't sure if Hughes will take her up on the offer.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itziObNeltFCR9LYQB52l_bKoRKwD9695IGG0

Remember the highly scripted and screened love-ins that Bush used to have, where "questions" were things like, "I'd really just like the opportunity to salute you?" Try to imagine for a moment that Bush did a town hall, and THEY ACTUALLY ALLOWED A HOMELESS PERSON TO ENTER THE BUILDING. It's laughable. Take a step further and try to envision a homeless person actually being given the mic and allowed to ask a question, and you'll probably fall out of your chair.

Now in fairness, both this woman and another guy gushed about how happy they were to have the opportunity to see Obama, so it did still have some of that love-in feel to it, but you can tell from Obama's reaction that this was all very organic. Nice change from the Bush-era propaganda.

[toasty]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

tangentially, it turns out that this homeless woman is homeless no more:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/11/henrietta-hughes-given-ho_n_166028.html

[MJDub]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

As much as I hated Bush when he was in office, my opinion of him goes down even further when I compare him to Obama.

[superdave]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

I saw this too while watching on lunch break and it was emotional. The woman was clearly upset and it was nice to see Obama come over and comfort her.

[floridaorange]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

As much as I hated Bush when he was in office, my opinion of him goes down even further when I compare him to Obama.

That a good way to say that...I feel the same way.

[chloe harris]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

this is a very touching story.

[Shpira]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

The main thing that's different is that Obama doesn't have the money to behave like Bush...I hope I am wrong but we will only be able to tell if things have really changed after a period of time has passed.

[chloe harris]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

i think time has passed and things have changed.

[ddr]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

sad thing is that there are thousands of people that are in her exact same shoes and they wont get the time of day because they arent lucky enough to be in the right time at the right place like she was.

only reason she was given a home was because Obama came to her and made a big deal about it... and seriously, what is a President to do when that story is told to you?

i wish i could get a free home.

[Shpira]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

i think time has passed and things have changed.

You can think what you will (no offense intended) but I will ask you and all others in in 4 years time if we are still here...anyone who follows politics will tell you (as can I if you are really interested) a hundred reasons why all that Obama is doing is simply what needs to be done for the US at this time...when the US needs change so will his policies.
The US has very few allies left in the world and is running out of cash or credit to run around doing what it sees as its best interest.
Chinese economy is booming as Clinton comes to ask for more Chinese money and the psycho in the Kremlin is waving to all the troops in Afghanistan as he fucks them over by closing down bases they get supplies from one by one...

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against the US or Russia or any nation (on a personal level at least) its just that all this bullshit about change etc is really starting to get on my nerves.
People talking about Obama like he's a messiah thats gonna deliver everyone out all their problems...again don't get me wrong I have nothing against Obama either but I just haven't seen very much change that doesn't directly benefit the US i.e. change in foreign policy which doesn't have alterior motives...

So as I say all we can do is wait and see...

[Localizer]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

^ I'm so with you about 'change.' I'm about to go postal if I hear about 'change' again.

In any case, about the subject, ya, politicians lack empathy and a soul. He's doing it for nothing more than the press and it's there to further insinuate that more money needs to be redistributed. Rather than giver her a house, he should have given her a job.

[runningman]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

it is a great story. But what can he do about the other 24,999,999 mil people out there?

[chloe harris]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

well he has inspired a whole nation. i think that's working for the rest of us.

i doubt obama is doing what he's doing just for good press. how dare he actually care about the people and want to make a difference in their lives. one step at a time.

have you not noticed the other things he done... ? new climate policies, leaving iraq date, stimulus, ceo bonuses, and so on..

[Mariner1]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

well he has inspired a whole nation. i think that's working for the rest of us.

i doubt obama is doing what he's doing just for good press. how dare he actually care about the people and want to make a difference in their lives. one step at a time.

have you not noticed the other things he done... ? new climate policies, leaving iraq date, stimulus, ceo bonuses, and so on..

leaving iraq date

yeah tell me more about that...

one of the few reasons to support Obama and our early exist does not look promising at all
//sending more troops to afghanistan?

[Shpira]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

how dare he actually care about the people and want to make a difference in their lives. one step at a time.

I can't believe that anyone actually thinks this about any career politician.

Realistically the best that you can hope for is that he will erase what Bush has done...we will see if I am right with the Health care reforms...actually we don't have to wait at all, in his election promise he said health care reforms so that every American can afford to go to hospital... now go to cnn.com and read what the actual reforms will be. The only way that health care reforms can be introduced is with some permanent changes...all he has done and plans on doing are temporary measures to help during the recession. Its all bullshit, same old same old...even if he wanted change he is one man against a system that is inherently inefficient and undemocratic. Too much money has been invested to make the US system the way it is for any single man to change it.