Obama gets testy as media cover his Halloween walk with his daughter

[DogPoundPup]

CHICAGO - Democrat Barack Obama got annoyed with the media Friday as he tried to walk down a Chicago street with his 7-year-old daughter, Sasha, who was dressed up in a shiny costume for Halloween.

A pool of national photographers, reporters and a video crew traveling with Obama quickly covered the spontaneous moment.

"All right guys, that's enough," said Obama, wearing a casual outfit and sunglasses in the early evening.

He and his daughter were walking right toward the media on a public street.

"You got a shot," he told the photographers. "Leave us alone. Come on, guys."

He told the media to get back on the bus, referring to the vehicle where the traveling press pool often waits for him.

Obama then crossed the street with Sasha. At least one video cameraman who was not part of Obama's traveling press corps followed him for a while. Obama grew visibly irritated.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/33666194.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7PaP3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU

[Ian David]

1. That was the best Barack Obama costume I've ever seen! n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I think that he and his daughter are entitled to some private time together..

It is sad that he had to request it, and the photographers were not smart enough to leave on their own.

[Glimmer of Hope]

3. Poor Sasha.

[glowing]

6. She did look cute in her outfit... If I was them, I would have planned a party.

How do you tell people not to photograph you doing that. Shoot, I take hundreds of pics of my own child and every child in the neighborhood on halloween. Its a time for pics and showing off your costume and candy.. I understand he doesn't want intrusion into her little life.. but prof. pics of your child on halloween.. who could beat that... They should know though, by now, snap a couple and then leave them alone.

[EFerrari]

4. Now there's a good dad. n/t

[JI7]

5. this is probably the last time he will be able to do this

take kids trick or treating.

[rvablue]

11. AND, the girls, too, for that matter......n/t

[JI7]

12. true, though in future years perhaps he will set up something at the white house

for his own girls and invite other kids over also.

[VWolf]

16. Unless they still wanna do it

in 2016!

[galaxy21]

7. Is he going to start beating up paparazzi Sean Penn style?

That would be cool.

[Bucky]

8. The mistake was that he kept talking. As a teacher I've learned to control the unruly

You don't keep talking at fidgety kids. Deep down they know how to act right. What you do is tell them once to back off, then just stare at them till they comply. If it's going too slow, you find the one who's first starting to comply--say, backing away from the camera--and tell him or her, "Thank you for respecting my daughter's Halloween; I'll remember this."

A president needs to learn how to stare down the jackels. Maybe a veteran teacher like Jill Biden can teach him these tricks.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Ummm Obama taught Law School classes for 12 years.

[Bucky]

23. Obviously there's a world of difference in controlling unruly people and paying college students

I've taught at the college level, too. A college prof, by virtue of the customers he gets, simply has no experience in dealing with pesky, rebellious teenagers. Dealing with a small mob of photogs is going to be much like controlling a mobby class of kids. A professor, much less a professor of law, will never deal with any problems even remotely similar to that.

[applexcore]

22. In Psychology thats extinction and positive reinforcement

My old/favorite psychology professor, who never planned on being a teacher but found himself in that position, taught a special ed class at an elementary school. The specific class was notorious for being completely out of control and unmanageable. They had already went through like 4 different teachers and none of them could do anything with the kids. Using extinction and positive reinforcement, he was able to get over half of them back into a normal classroom before the year was over. Even the ones that had to stay in his class were behaving like normal students though.

[riverwalker]

9. where the hell was the secret service?

for gawd sakes! They have people protecting nasty assed Barbara Bush, yet OUR next president is RUNNING from stalking paparazzi?

[bushisanidiot]

13. Fuckin A!!

the secret service should be going with him wherever he goes out in public. it kinda sucks for trick or treating, but they should be by his side and keeping the fuckin' paparazzi away.

[galaxy21]

15. The secret service are almost definetly with him

Although, they can only take care of threats. Annoying photographers are just annoying.

[bushisanidiot]

10. Barack is setting a good example to fathers everywhere.

Most of the trick or treaters who came to my house had their mothers with them. I'm glad Barack is a hands on kind of dad and participates in trick or treating, birthday parties, etc.

good job, Barack!!

[ailsagirl]

14. I don't blame him-- unfortunately these simple pleasures will elude

him once he steps into the role of President. But I think he'll always do his best to take fime for his family.

[JimWis]

17. Barack always said - My family is off limits.

[Canuckistanian]

18. On the other hand......

Obama is a presidential candidate for the most powerful nation in the world. And it's 4 days away from the election.

Any press person who doesn't TRY to get a shot of the candidate in an unscripted moment is going to be seriously grilled back at the office.

But good for Obama to insist on a modicum of privacy.

[BlooInBloo]

19. Ruh roh. Angry Black Man. We're doomed.

[JuniperLea]

20. Good for him!

He needs to set the boundaries now, and stick to them. I have no problem at all with him making his family his #1 priority. This is what makes him a good man, a man worthy of the office of President of the United States of America.

:patriot: