President Obama swats a fly, gets a free flytrap
When President Obama granted an interview to CNBC's John Harwood, who could have guessed that the result would be a slap heard 'round the world and a gift from PETA?
Obama planned to tackle tough issues like the economy and healthcare, but a nagging fly made the interview difficult. Eventually the president managed a well-aimed swat, and the insect was history. As the camera panned to the dead bug on the floor, the president seemed pleased with his work. "That was pretty impressive, wasn't it? I got the sucker," he said. (His response was hardly Oscar Wilde-worthy; the Guardian's Adam Rutherford wrote: "My one criticism is that the prez failed to seize the opportunity to make a Schwarzeneggeresque pithy one-liner. Something like, 'This is a no-fly zone, sucker,' would have done quite adequately.")
Now, you know and we know that PETA loves a controversy, which is why we were a bit surprised at the animal rights group's subdued response. Although TMZ tried to stir up trouble, we were impressed by PETA blogger Alisa Mullins' post on the subject. "In a nutshell, our position is this," Mullins wrote. "He isn't the Buddha, he's a human being, and human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act."
Of course, PETA didn't miss an opportunity to lobby for ethical bug treatment: They promptly sent Obama a Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher, a rather ingenious insect-transporting device with a trapdoor and a nice long handle so you don't have to get too close to your uninvited guest.
-- Lindsay Barnett
That is awesome...the look on the Presidents face is genius
Posted by: Robin Hatcher | June 18, 2009 at 07:27 AM
The other day a friend of mind said “Kassandra, You have too much time on your hands.” He said that because I am publishing 2 books, maintain 3 blogs, teach fulltime, sing on the weekends, go to the gym everyday and to church on sundays. Um…I actually think that the time that I do have is filled quite nicely. Too much time on my hands would be caring whether or not the President killed a fly on national TV. “[It] indicates he’s not perfect?” Isn’t that the first productive thing he’s done since he took office? How about the $12 a week stimulus package? That was definitely perfect! McDonalds happy meals for everyone! …Come on people! I could see if a small puppy landed on his hand and he smacked it dead. Of course if that happened while I was trying to speak on national TV, the puppy would’ve had it comin’. These poor PETA people likely just lost all of their funding and lowered their cause to below the UWBWS (Under water basket weaving society). Good! We’ll use the money for health care for everyone! (wink wink) Now I actually have less time on my hands because I had to read this article! That’s how they getcha!
Posted by: Kassandra Rozek | June 18, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Since when are flies not a filthy disease spreading pest?
GET REAL! Groups like PETA are do-gooders. I define do-gooders as people thinking they are doing some kind of wonderful when they haven't looked into the facts, not even closely and their actions usually have much farther reaching consequences than the petty act they are trying to 'ethically' but ignorantly pounce upon. Go do your homework and find out why China offered a bounty for killing flies 2 years ago...they are disease spreaders you silly people!
Posted by: Natasha Blackley | June 18, 2009 at 09:37 PM
my only problem with this is of all of the people standing around watching this-no one offered our President a wipe to clean his hands after he swatted that filthy, disease carrying "varmint"
Posted by: PAT | June 19, 2009 at 06:36 AM
"He isn't the Buddha, he's a human being"
The Buddha was a human being too, fool -- a human being who warned against deifying him. And if the Buddha believed it wrong and unthinking to kill a fly, then the Buddha was a rather dimwitted human being -- but I doubt that he believed that. Those PETAheads who think that the lives of flies should be revered ought to learn a bit about a) biology b) metaphysics.
Posted by: Marcel Kincaid | June 19, 2009 at 12:47 PM
"Isn’t that the first productive thing he’s done since he took office? "
No. Don't believe everything they teach you in church on Sunday -- better, don't believe anything they teach you there.
Posted by: Marcel Kincaid | June 19, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I like the back and forth about Mr. Obama "being a human". And that should settle the issue. That makes him, like all humans, a creature of nature, and part of the natural balance. We have to admit this, whether we think we're going about it the right way or not. Some may think swatting a fly will spell our doom (eventually and if we swat enough of them), and others believe that eliminating them will stop the spread of a disease. Either course will result in a natural progression of the species, and we have to live with it.
Posted by: Craig King | June 19, 2009 at 09:20 PM
To Marcel Kincaid- I'm sure it was an oversight that you only got to the word church and didn't read the rest of my joking article. Yeah..I go to church- the artlicle wasn't about church. Liberals aren't happy with obama right now either. Even gay people are unhappy that he campaigned as though he was going to help and hasn't. I'm sorry your people haven't gotten their way yet but I'm sure eventually Obama will come around. Just as of now...the only thing he's been able to do is drive up the deficit and kill a fly. I apologize if the earlier article offended you. No church indication meant! Have a very happy day!
Posted by: Kassandra Rozek | June 20, 2009 at 06:42 AM