Famecrawler
Obama’s Ass-Kicking Comment Bad Example for Kids
President Obama has been noted for his eloquence and communication skills, but his choosing to use the term “whose ass to kick” in a recent interview regarding the BP oil spill has many scratching their heads and cringing — and me wondering if others think his choice of words are a poor example to our nation’s children. His supporters point out that Obama’s interviewer asked him whether this wasn’t a time to “kick some butt” and Obama replied:
“I’m gonna push back hard on this. Because I think that this is just an idea that got in folks’ heads and the media’s run with it. I was down there a month ago, before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the Gulf.
“A month ago, I was meeting with fishermen down there, standing in the rain talking about what a potential crisis this could be. And I don’t sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar. We talk to these folks because they potentially had the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick. Right? So, you know, this is not theater.”
Not the most presidential of answers. I know it’s a figure of speech — and he’s not going to literally kick someone’s ass, but surely the leader of the free world and Harvard-educated best-selling author has a vast vocabulary from which to choose — and “whose ass to kick” is best left to those whose words are not setting examples for the kids of the world.
Granted, there are bigger things to worry about right now than a poor choice of words. But I think we should teach our kids that when problems arise, we solve them, not look for “whose ass to kick.”
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12 Comments
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Natural Resource Leadership Development Programs – Some Important Facts | Practice Safe Leadership Information commented on Jun 10 10 at 3:50 amJoe Mondora commented on Jun 08 10 at 11:51 pmHe should. We should. All BP platforms should be PULLED OUT OF THE GULF! Every british person I have EVER met online HATE Americans anyway. If Obama wants to shove his foot up there ass? So be it! They’d be speaking German, and eating Bratwursts if not for us anyway! “Spot of tea, bad food, worse weather, Mary freak’n Poppins.” Invest in shrimp from China!
B_S commented on Jun 08 10 at 11:57 pmI am prrretty sure President Obama is not going to literally up and knock the snot out of someone. I think he (successfully, I might include) used a coarser figure of speech to add emphasis and “real”-ness to his statement. Remember that the media had lately been calling him out for being too soft on his response to the oil spill.
Bekka commented on Jun 09 10 at 5:47 amI agree – the guy’s been being pounded in the media, even liberal outlets, for not getting angry enough about this whole situation. The freaking Daily Show did a whole section on how calm he’s been, like that’s a terrible thing. And then this morning, he’s getting criticized for THIS. Seriously? He can’t win. At least this president IS an adult, and not a cowboy man-child who’d probably already have launched a pre-emptive war on Britain.
Stephanie commented on Jun 09 10 at 11:20 amAgreed– who cares?
Harry Reid commented on Jun 09 10 at 2:15 pmBush can kick Obama’s Skinny ass.
Beth commented on Jun 09 10 at 2:29 pmSeriously?? Do you have nothing else to worry about? You are a very fortunate person. If a child saw this then that means they were watching television (oh the horror!) which means that they have been exposed to much worse than “ass-kicking”. Stop over-analyzing everything. Emotions are running high about this oil spill and I am happy to see the President talking tough about it.
LHorne commented on Jun 10 10 at 12:46 amI am not offended by Obama’s ass-kicking comment and think he is still a fine role model. At least he isn’t talking nonsense like Bush, who often made up words. If Obama thinks an ass-kicking would be some good ‘strategery’ thinking, I’m all for it.
Melissa commented on Jun 10 10 at 10:10 amAre your kids really watching the news? When I watch it, my kids are bored and don’t pay attention. I think Obama’s comment is not a big deal – it is the media that is making it a big deal. Let’s focus on something else already! Like the oil spill, maybe?
alexander jones commented on Jun 12 10 at 12:08 pmUmm yeah saying Ass is a bad example for kids but when you do an article about it, you arent helping that front. Want to know another bad example for kids? Creating a natural disaster and ruining there future with a stupid mistake.
Nugraha Pratama commented on Jun 15 10 at 9:38 pmI don’t think the words are bad for the kids. Let the children make up their own mind in their growth, that does not mean to be careless. Just let children make their own choices, but teach them to respect others. Gotta trust them y dig
Gupure commented on Nov 16 10 at 7:43 pmThis is too trivial an issue to attract such negative comments. we all know and understand the implications of his words. An ass is an ass after all and its the popular American language whether he says it or not children know about it in more serious realistic and truthful ways than this. Lets be mature and factual not to be critical for the sake of it
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