There's an Update on Security for Biden's Gaza Port and a New 'Peacekeeping...
Biden Blows Off Respects for Murdered New York City Police Officer
New York City Councilwoman Gets Ratioed Into Oblivion Over One Question
Federal Court Makes Major Ruling on Ballot Verification in Pennsylvania
Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced in Massive Crypto Fraud Case
‘No Tampons, No Peace!’: Panic at Vanderbilt University Sit-In As Protestors Realize It...
Charlotte Radio Host Speaks Out About His Interview With KJP That Made Headlines
Trump, Biden Will Both Be in New York on Thursday...but for Very Different...
Democrat Flips Republican District in Alabama Special Election. Here's What She Campaigned...
Flashback: Two Cycles After Running on Gore's Ticket, Lieberman Endorses McCain at GOP...
Here's When Impeachment Articles Against Mayorkas Will Be Presented to the Senate
Tennessee Music Venue to Host ‘Trans Day Of Vengeance’ Event One Year After...
There Was Very Little Pete Buttigieg Was Able to Tell Us About Bridge...
An Illegal Alien Encouraged Others to Invade American Homes. Here's What Happened Next.
Time for Another Bizarre, Easily-Disprovable Lie From Joe Biden
Tipsheet

Obama on Meet The Press: The Optics of Golfing After an American Beheading Looked Pretty Bad

While trying to pretend he isn't very good at handling optics or political theater during an appearance on Meet the Press Sunday with new host Chuck Todd, President Obama admitted the optics of going golfing after making a statement about the beheading of American journalist James Foley three weeks ago didn't look so good. 

Advertisement

"There’s no doubt that after having talked to the families, where it was hard for me to hold back tears listening to the pain that they were going through, after the statement that I made, that you know, I should’ve anticipated the optics,” Obama said. "It’s [political theater] not something that always comes naturally to me. But it matters. And I’m mindful of that." 

Even NBC isn't buying Obama's "I'm not good at theater" claim: 

President Barack Obama, once mocked by his political opponents as “the biggest celebrity in the world,” told NBC’s Chuck Todd that the theater of the presidency is “not something that always comes naturally to me.”

Pressed by Todd about his decision to play golf shortly after a Martha’s Vineyard press conference addressing the beheading of journalist James Foley, Obama said he “should have anticipated the optics” of hitting the links.

“Part of this job is also the theater of it,” he said in the exclusive interview for NBC’s Meet the Press. “Well, it's not something that always comes naturally to me. But it matters. And I'm mindful of that.”

The remark offers a stark contrast to common perceptions of candidate Obama, whose 2008 and 2012 victories were memorialized in historic images of inspired crowds, impeccably produced speeches and viral social media pitches.
Advertisement

I would hope President Obama regrets not only the bad "optics" of going golfing after making a statement about Foley (a statement which was made without a tie and in an unbuttoned shirt to send a message that his vacation was being interrupted), but that he understands his behavior was inappropriate considering the circumstances and sent the wrong message to the world about how seriously he was taking the horrifying murder. His actions went beyond "optics" and showed a gross lack of leadership. 

When asked by Todd about his overall strategy toward ISIS, something the administration admitted it didn't have just over a week ago, Obama said, "We’re going to shrink the territory that they control. And ultimately, we’re going to defeat them."

You can watch part of the interview below.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement