Eating Organic Lamb and Lobster During Haitian Tragedy?

[Anonymous]

Does it rub anyone else the wrong way that Obama threw his wife a birthday party at a pricey restaurant, eating lobster and lamb, in the midst of the Haitian tragedy? Or that instead of going to Haiti, he goes to Massachusetts to campaign?

[jsteele]

Is there anything that Obama does that doesn't bother someone? It is ridiculous how he is repeatedly attacked for the most trivial issues. For the record, I also ate steak at a fancy restaurant this weekend. So, hate me too if you wish. For that matter, Royal Caribbean cruise ships were still stopping at Haiti and letting their guests use the beaches. Those people were eating steak and lobster in Haiti itself.

There is nothing Obama can do in Haiti. I'm actually bothered by the visits of the two Clintons. All they do is divert resources. The airport is already a choke point and doesn't need them getting in the way.

Besides, if Obama did the exact opposite, you would be posting about how that rubbed you the wrong way.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Is there anything that Obama does that doesn't bother someone? It is ridiculous how he is repeatedly attacked for the most trivial issues.

Actually, I don't think it's about Obama, but about how people think those in power should behave. Remember how in the year or so after 9/11, Bush occasionally got berated if he was seen doing a workout or going to Camp David? The message from those who were outraged seemed to be that he needed to be in the Oval Office 24/7 otherwise he wasn't taking things seriously. Presuming that the person in question has done everything possible at that moment in time, is it wrong to begrudge them an hour or two of "me time" to insure they maintain the sanity and balance needed to do their job?

On a less important scale, I'm in the last part of my pregnancy and activity-restricted due to rising blood pressure. Doesn't mean my husband can't get out of the house and play tennis with friends for an hour or two. He isn't being a "bad husband" by not sitting right next to me every single second. After all, he'd already done the laundry and was stopping at the grocery store on his way home. Taking time for his mental and physical health didn't bother me in the slightest, and in fact, I consider it very important.

[Anonymous]

Our family has a lot of personal connections in Haiti and we are in great sorrow this week over the events there; some friends miraculously rescued, but many old friends from whom we still have no word.

That said, NOT eating lobster/steak does nothing to help the Haitian people. Obama going to Haiti right now also does nothing to help the Haitian people. They don't need politicians to visit (Clinton's visit was helpful though - taking a plan full of NGO workers, some of whom we know and couldn't otherwise get in to the country, and relief supplies was exactly the right thing).

With TPS for Haitians in the U.S., expediting visas for already-adopted orphans, rapid movement of FAA and military resources into Haiti and regular, heartfelt statements of support, Obama has done a lot for the Haitian people this week. (And I didn't vote for him, so I have plenty that I can and do criticize on other issues.) Give him a break. Criticism also does very little for the Haitians. Stay focused on the news and on ways to constructively help which, for now, really just means sending money. And then sending more again in a few months when this will have passed from too many Americans' minds.

[Anonymous]

I'm with the OP. The Obamas should only eat Spam and stale bread until there are no tragedies going on in the world that the US can help with. He should give up the lavish entourage of secret service agents and that super expensive house he lives in and only shop at Old Navy. It would all go a long way towards helping the Haitians. But I doubt he would ever do any of it as he's too busy acting selfishly like the President of the US.

[Anonymous]

Life goes on despite what happened in Haiti. Obama has already been on tv three times on the Haitian crisis. He's delegated most of what needs to be done. He can have dinner with his wife on her birthday.

I am more irritated with Sanjay Gupta, who is a surgeon, but spends his first two days in Haiti (having taken a seat on a plane to get there) reporting, not treating desperate people who need medical care. The first person he treats is a 15 day old baby with a superficial head wound that looked like it was totally staged, probably because people like me were writing CNN to complain that he was walking past people he as a doctor could help. He finally stepped in when UN doctors were pulled out of field hospital for safety. Again, it was a great photo op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it rub anyone else the wrong way that Obama threw his wife a birthday party at a pricey restaurant, eating lobster and lamb, in the midst of the Haitian tragedy? Or that instead of going to Haiti, he goes to Massachusetts to campaign?

Not at all. I am no fan of team Obama. I think you are really stretching and looking for something to complain about. Restaurants for birthday dinners are a non-issue. What could he possibly do at this stage to improve ANYTHING in Haiti - all the resources to keep him safe and prepare/execute his visit are better directed to immediate relief efforts. There are plenty of real things to complain about, pick one of them.

[Anonymous]

Totally think OP is stretching. And totally agree with PP about Sanjay Gupta. I got the feeling from watching him work on the 15 day old that it was completely staged. I'm actually a little annoyed as well that half of the Today show was there. I appreciate good reporting, but by the likes of Al Roker? No. I understand he is trying to be a real reporter, but choking up the airport with reporters and not aid workers pissed me off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it rub anyone else the wrong way that Obama threw his wife a birthday party at a pricey restaurant, eating lobster and lamb, in the midst of the Haitian tragedy? Or that instead of going to Haiti, he goes to Massachusetts to campaign?

"He votes with the Liberals, dines with the Tories..."
--The Picture of Dorian Gray

[Anonymous]

OP here. I agree that not eating organic lamb, etc. cannot help the poor people of Haiti. Nonetheless, for such an "image-savvy " President, it just bugs me.

I am, however, not surprised by the number of Obama apologists posting here. If it had been Bush, you would have been all over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I agree that not eating organic lamb, etc. cannot help the poor people of Haiti. Nonetheless, for such an "image-savvy " President, it just bugs me.

I am, however, not surprised by the number of Obama apologists posting here. If it had been Bush, you would have been all over it.

Perhaps some would have been, but only the crazy ones. If you want to be the right-wing equivalent, have at it. Most of us would like to keep our eye on the ball and encourage our leaders and fellow citizens to take practical measures to solve this country's problems.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I agree that not eating organic lamb, etc. cannot help the poor people of Haiti. Nonetheless, for such an "image-savvy " President, it just bugs me.

I am, however, not surprised by the number of Obama apologists posting here. If it had been Bush, you would have been all over it.

Basically everyone who has posted has the opposite viewpoint as you. So, is everyone, including the obvious conservatives above, an Obama apologist? Or, are only the liberals apologists? Would it be possible for a liberal to disagree with you and not be considered an apologist? Also, should Obama's relationship with his wife be predicated upon what "bugs" you?

[Anonymous]

Did you see where the Navy grabbed Gupta and has him doing surgery on the Vinson on a 12 y.o. Haitian girl. Good for the Navy!

[Anonymous]

I believe Dr. Nancy (Schniderman?) went to Haiti thinking she was going to report, but ended up putting on her physician hat as soon as she got there. Good for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I agree that not eating organic lamb, etc. cannot help the poor people of Haiti. Nonetheless, for such an "image-savvy " President, it just bugs me.

I am, however, not surprised by the number of Obama apologists posting here. If it had been Bush, you would have been all over it.

Whine, whine, whine.