Just One More Obama Story
In Douglas Brinkley’s fine story and interview of President Obama in the current issue of Rolling Stone, Brinkley tells this story:
Over the summer, I brought my wife and kids to an Obama rally in the Ohio town of Maumee, not far from where I grew up. The president delivered a speech about how bailing out GM and Chrysler saved thousands of jobs in Ohio. When he started working the rope line, two young African-American girls began squealing with joy. Playing the good Samaritan, I escorted them to the front of the line so they would be sure to meet the president. The younger girl asked Obama to sign her T-shirt with a Sharpie.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Eleven.”
He gladly obliged.
The older girl had the same request. Obama, however, eyed her with warm parental disapproval. “How old are you?” he asked.
“Fourteen,” she replied. The same age as Malia Obama.
“Oh, no,” the president said with a broad smile, crouching down to make eye contact. “You’re too old to have someone writing on your clothes. Do you understand? That’s a nice shirt you have. Take care of it. I’ll give you a fist-bump instead.”
It was a wonderful moment to witness. This wasn’t a president who merely kissed babies for votes. Even though the commotion all around him was louder than a Sousa band, Obama was able to differentiate the ages of the two girls, and then offer the older one a lesson about being a young woman and having self respect.
Now, as a mental exercise, try to imagine The Mitt doing something like that.
I shall not even try to imagine what Mitt might have said to any one of the girls. I get a headache thinking about it.
raygotaway
October 29, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Mitt would not have even spoken to the girls – wrong color and too young to vote.
99ts
October 29, 2012 at 6:07 pm
Sorry, I have too much trouble even imagining kids (including white kids) thrilled at meeting Mitt, although I suppose it’s possible. Your bon mot is stuck in my mind — he’s a corporation masquerading as a human being. (Forgive me if I missed the exact wording.)
freshwatersnark
October 30, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Freshwatersnark -
Credit for calling Romney a corporation masquerading as a human being goes to Andrew Sullivan. It’s a wonderful line, though.
/WC
Wickersham's Conscience
October 30, 2012 at 8:26 pm