Joke's on who?

Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:17 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Barack Obama

From NBC's Tom Sherwood and Domenico Montanaro

This morning, President Obama pointed out that his daughters' D.C. school was closed today due to the early morning ice storm that blanketed the region. He joked that, in Chicago, schools never close, and, perhaps, Washingtonians needed a little toughening up.

Well, the president's children go to a private school, Sidwell Friends, which was closed today.

But D.C. public schools were open.

Apparently Sidwell's campuses based their decision on suburban closings. D.C. schools opened two hours late.

Mayor Adrian Fenty put out a statement about the city's determination to open schools.

"(Our) first priority is to open schools to fulfill our obligation to educate our students whenever possible," Fenty said. "The decision to delay (2 hours) was made … after careful consideration of weather conditions and forecasts of warming temperatures. We remain sensitive to the needs of families who are not able to arrange child care when schools must unexpectedly close and to the children who depend on a healthy meal (at school.)"

Tom Sherwood is a reporter for WRC, the local Washington, D.C., NBC affiliate.

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Comments

Decisions and news that shakes the world to the core. Good grief! Is news slow again? Are you trying to find something to justify your existance in your job?

eagle1776 (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:29 PM)

This morning, President Obama pointed out that his daughters' D.C. school was closed today due to the early morning ice storm that blanketed the region. He joked that, in Chicago, schools never close, and, perhaps, Washingtonians needed a little toughening up.

He did say his "daughters" school.

Mayor Adrian Fenty put out a statement about the city's determination to open schools.

"(Our) first priority is to open schools to fulfill our obligation to educate our students whenever possible," Fenty said. "The decision to delay (2 hours) was made … after careful consideration of weather conditions and forecasts of warming temperatures. We remain sensitive to the needs of families who are not able to arrange child care when schools must unexpectedly close and to the children who depend on a healthy meal (at school.)"

Hissssss Mayor!

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:38 PM)

Perhaps Obama could bring some of that fine efficient Chicago city government to DC too...

Rick, NC (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:39 PM)

In a Republican administration this would be classified as a "gaffe".

It was funny, though. The V-P is having more of a role than I would have predicted.

Tongue-in-cheek meter for this post reads: 95%.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:41 PM)

Another example of the out-of-touch elitist Chosen One.

Jimmy Dean loves Pork (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:42 PM)

Chicago schools do close for weather, but it takes a lot more snow in the Mid West to close a school, than in other parts of the country. My kids had 1.5 days of school the week on January 12th. On the 12th they were dismissed early due to an incoming blizzard, on the 13th they had a 2 hour delay because the roads weren't cleared yet from the blizzard that started on the 12th. Late in the evening on the 13th and into mid morning on 14th we got another blizzard, so school was closed on the 14th. There was no school on the the 15th or 16th because of severe cold (20-30 below zero without the wind chill added in).

The kids enjoy the break, but they won't come June when they have to make up lost days.

No school blues (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:43 PM)

a worthless topic

ace (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:48 PM)

How dare you say the great leader made a mistake! To the Gulag with you!

bob smith, corruptalot, obamanation (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:55 PM)

FUN FACT for the day:

'...between 1998 and 2005 "about two-thirds of corporations...' Did not pay taxes !!

Talk about 'Business Friendly'
TWO THIRDS ???

From WashingtonMonthly.com:

'...Two-Thirds Of Corporations Did Not Pay Taxes:

According to last month's Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, between 1998 and 2005 "about two-thirds of corporations operating in the United States did not pay taxes" because of a variety of corporate tax loopholes...'

I don’t know if that counts corporations that moved their headquarters ‘off shore’ to COMPLETELY AVOID corporate income taxes
(What’s the famoud tool manufacture with a yellow logo that moved to the Carribean?)

How can you cut taxes ANY MORE for corporations ?
(less than zero?)

And, yes you can blame Clinton, Gore, the DLC crowd and their Republican allies for this

Can anyone explain why Al Gore is held in any esteem by Democrats ??

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:04 PM)

NOT LIKE BUSH IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM WAS KNOWN FOR ANYTHING GOOD AT ALL JIMMY, SO DROP YOUR REPUBLICAN CRITICISM OF EVERYTHING.

GREG REMINGTON (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:06 PM)

All my babies had to go to school today. Luckily, their baby daddies were able to drive them because the snow was bad, and we don't like the snow. Obama's girls shouldn't have to be in snow if they don't want to.

Carrie Bradshaw, NYC (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:07 PM)

no biggie for a while DC used to not close school's see they don't have the kids that are as tough as we had to be walking in rain,ice and snow and years ago no-day care and parents had to work although still we have some tough kids around here.

watching (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:07 PM)

President Barack Hussein Obama made a major gaffe, looking stupid big time. How wrong can you be? Yeah, Washington schools need to toughen up. Sounds like he's got his kids in some real prissy little private school, one that can't brave nature's elements while the public schools stayed open, learning being the priority there.

Palomino (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:08 PM)

There shall be no negative comments against our Great Leader and his Children. So Sayeth the Queen Bee!

TheQueenBee! (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:10 PM)

'...bob smith, corruptalot, obamanation....'

Hey bob !!
Let's go to Bushville in GOPCrooks !!

You'll meet:

Eric Cantor, whose wife profitted from the first TARP loan (the family that PREYS together, soaks the American tax payers)
Tom DeLay indictment and resignation
Mark Foley and his Congressional pages
Bob Ney and his corruption
Curt Weldon and his daughter's government contracts
Rick Renzi'e land deals (and fist fight with John McCain)
Don Sherwood's strangling his mistress
Rep John Sweeney, wife beater, but ‘Family Values’ advocate
Jon Porter's illegal fund raising
Crooked Richard Pombo and John Doolittle's friendship with Jumpin' Jack Abramoff
Jail bird 'Duke' Cunningham (top gun?)
Rep. Vito Fossella, drunken playboy
And don't forget 'Wide Stance' Larry Craig
and Senator 'Crooked Ted' Stevens
Sen. David Vitter, ‘Family Values’ playboy with a hooker girl-friend

to say nothing of the Bush White House....
Alberto Gonzalez , politicizing the DOJ
Monica Goodling, politicizing DOJ hiring
Paul Wolfowitz , draft dodging ‘chickenhawk’
Karl Rove, firing Federal Attorneys for political purposes
Scooter Libby , outing a CIA agents
Fake WMDs
Fake yellow cake
Abu Ghraib
Guantanamo
torture
Habeas corpus
global warming
intelligent design
ad nauseum...

See ya there !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:15 PM)

Petty is the word that comes to mind.

Exceedingly petty.

I saw the President's comments live, and he was laughing and smiling because he was JOKING . . . but of course you already knew that before this was posted . . . too bad so many of the commenters didn't.

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:20 PM)

And then again, a joke is a joke. All you need is a sense of humor.

New Indi (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:27 PM)

wow palimino and queenbee-------that all ya got? I'll take a misquote over educational attendance from our current President over a botched war, 7+ % unemployment, and general world ignorance from the last President any time of day

ya'llsmall (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:30 PM)

WHO CARES --- YOU SHOULD BE REPORTING ON THE "DETAILS" ON WHAT'S IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGE!

REPORT ON WHAT'S IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGE! (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:36 PM)

It was a joke. Lighten up!

Sarah D, Springfield, VA (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:38 PM)

Palomino:

Your comments are so telling just how biased you are against Obama regardless of what he may do or not do. Let's break down the adjectives used in your last post which take up the majority of your comment:

major "gaffe"
"stupid" big time
"wrong"
"prissy"
"little" school
can't brave

You may as well just post comments that state "I think Obama sucks bigtime" with no further comment or explanation regardless of the issue or topic. That's all you have to post in order to express your total dislike for Obama. It requires nothing else.

Can you even once criticize or disagree with Obama on an issue using some legitimate sense and substantive comments without the telling adjectives that clearly show you just hate the guy?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:45 PM)

If a basketball story gets the bigots so fired up, what'll happen when the Bush war crimes trials begin?

Come on everyone, there are plenty of non-GOP parties, you don't have to be a bigot.

Mark Foley(R) (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:45 PM)

From NBC's Tom Sherwood and Domenico Montanaro

you are the reason why nobody pays attention to the ACTUAL news. when you print stuff like this which is NOT news, it takes time and space to things that are news. you disgust me---*flounces over to the bbc*

TheCrib (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:49 PM)

Palomino - do you hate your mother like this?

Such a bitter person - and one other thing. I wonder if you understand that although President Obama is much more of a man and an intellect than George Bush would ever become - he is still a man.

Get over your silliness.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:53 PM)

Just when you thought Biden would continually make the gaffes, Barack comes along with a zinger!

Next Biden will be wearing an
"I'm with stupid" shirt.

Moon Dawg (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:02 PM)

Slow news day?

Pam, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:08 PM)

It was a joke, people! My heavens, you all are "slobbering" over his every word and gesture. Could you stand this much scrutiny? Get a life! Leave him alone!

JJ Young, Cary, NC (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:20 PM)

DOH!,

stupid elitist quaker schools!!

who cares about people so disinterested in thier children's well being as to send them to public schools in DC anyway? Can't we charge those parents with criminal neglect for allowing thier kids to be in a DC public school? seriously, have you been to one of those places? Palestinians would be nervous just walking by!

quaker education, DC (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:20 PM)

Schools close all the time, because of weather. Here in South Texas, there was delayed arrival for several schools in the Hill Country....and I'm sure schools further North in Texas were also closed because of the predicted "cold front/ice"!

No ice here! Sunshine all over the place!

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:23 PM)

I moved to DC from Boston back in 1978, so I understand the President's attitude. When you move there from some place that knows how to handle snow, you're blown away that the city shuts down with a little flurry. It's not unique to DC, though. I ended up moving from DC to Seattle and, even though Washington State is definitely not South of the Mason-Dixon line like DC is, they haven't got a clue how to deal with wintery weather either. It's okay, Mr. President. You'll get used to it. Just be glad that you're one of the few in town who isn't overwhelmed by the weather.

Susan L., Redmond WA (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:24 PM)

All right you farrrrrr right wingers, go listen to your fearless leader RUSHHHH.

We are talking about real issues here. Please read, or can you!

All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:33 PM)

I lived in Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan and Pittsburgh (go Steelers), although the President ment it as a jest, "his daughters school", do get so bent out of shape some of you right wingers.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:37 PM)

WOW!! Truly a microcosm of our national and political dysfunction. We want to argue about a comment made on the sly by some average guy who happened to become president of "The Greatest Nation on Earth"?! We need to do two things if we're ever going to move forward as a people, folks.

1. TOUGHEN UP!! I walked five miles through the countyside, to and from school, for a week, in a Wisconsin winter, because I got kicked off the bus for fighting while defending my little brother. My mother had no problem enforcing my punishment because she was friends with the principal. Lesson learned - Tough didn't mean punching some kid's lights out. It meant being strong enough to protect without agression and leave the situation with my head held high! I have NOT been scarred for life by this event!

2. LIGHTEN UP!! The comment was a joke! It was no worse than banter around the water cooler among three colleagues from different regions of our country each proclaiming the superiority of their home town. Lesson to be learned - We need to stop taking ourselves and our PERCIEVED national and/or political superiority so freaking seriously. Maybe we can use this wasted energy by taking EACH OTHER more seriously, geting down to work and solving some of this nation's and this world's very serious issues.

By the way, I didn't vote for Obama, but God bless him for trying to be "a real guy trying to fix some situations we've got going on" before trying to be "Commander and Chief of the worlds largest military and President of The Greatest Nation on Earth"!!

Mark, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:40 PM)

Good grief, is the President not allowed to joke even a little? Why do we find criticism at every turn?? My goodness, get over yourselves, people. And MSNBC, find some real news stories....

Condoweezza (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:41 PM)

Dem's hate seeing DA MAN look dumb and uninformed. Makes them feel a little cringe in their stomachs. Imagine if a republican president had said this the jokes that would be flying. It's hillarious.

Insanity reigns!

Kathy, Charlotte (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:42 PM)

grow up already. It was a joke, for cripes sake.

And yeah, the schools here close far too often, as well. Oh well, they can bitch about it in July when they're making up the days.

dk (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:46 PM)

Please focus on more important issues like the economy than the snow keeping the kids home from school. They will have to make the time up at the end of the year anyway. Just watching the news stories that interest me. JR

JAN ROCHON (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:50 PM)

HOW DARE HE MAKE A MISTAKE ABOUT DC SCHOOLS BEING CLOSED! THE RIGHT-WING IS RIGHT, HE'S NOT FIT TO BE PRESIDENT! IMPEACH HIM NOW!

Keep grabbing those shiny objects, righties.

BTW Philly schools WERE closed today.

Day 8 of 100
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 5:02 PM)

Obama says "Washingtonians needed a little toughening up." That's interesting considering the Public Schools in DC where open, unlike the prissy school that his daughters attend.

Someone needs to inform Mr. Obama that it's Sidwell Friends that needs toughening up, not Washingtonians.

Someone also needs to inform Mr. Obama that he should think before he speaks (or not speak at all).

This remark is very reminiscent of another brilliant remark Obama made, you know the one about people clinging to their guns and religion.

Word to the wise (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 5:07 PM)

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