Obama for Father's Day: Stay Home, US Dads

AP Report ^

[Steelfish]

Obama for Father's Day: Stay Home, US Dads

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS June 19, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Growing up without a father left a painful hole in his heart, President Barack Obama told a lawnful of boys at the White House Friday in a remarkably personal Father's Day weekend message. He implored fathers everywhere -- and the kids when they're a bit older -- to stay home and stay involved in the lives of their own children.

''This isn't an obligation,'' said the father of two in a message to millions of wayward dads. ''This is a privilege to be a father.''

Obama spent hours on Friday with teenagers, young men, community mentors and everyday dads in hopes of launching what he called a national conversation on responsible fatherhood. Each story was personal. But one of them commanded the most attention: his.

He spoke at length about how his father, Barack Obama Sr., left home early. The future president was just 2 at the time and saw his dad only once more, at age 10, a short visit that still left a lasting imprint.

''I had a heroic mom and wonderful grandparents who helped raise me and my sister, and it's because of them that I'm able to stand here today,'' he told a throng of youngsters. ''But despite all their extraordinary love and attention, that doesn't' mean that I didn't' feel my father's absence. That's something that leaves a hole in a child's heart that a government can't fill.''

''Just because your own father wasn't there for you, that's not an excuse for you to be absent also. It's all the more reason for you to be present,'' Obama said at the White House. He gave the same message earlier at an education center for young, at-risk adults.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

That's something that leaves a hole in a child's heart that a government can't fill.

But, we can try, right Bambi?

[Steelfish]

The problem we have here are single-(unwed) mothers raising children often from more than one man. It is of epidemic proportions in the black community. Why doesn’t 0 address this issue boldly and frankly? Scared of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Rev. Wright?

[2ndDivisionVet]

I DON'T TAKE ORDERS FROM A NON-CERTIFIED, UNVERIFIED WHITE HOUSE RESIDENT!! Don't ever tell me how to be a father, you swell-headed showboat!! Mind your own business and keep your ACORN nuts as far away from me as you can!!

[HiTech RedNeck]

blind pig, acorn, chance.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Yes, it seems like the Zero is afraid to more than obliquely hint at it.

[Rodebrecht]

"Growing up without a father left a painful hole in his heart, President Barack Obama told a lawnful of boys"
Pity party time! If you disagree with him, you're an insensitive jerk!

[dragnet2]

The entire implication here is that, Fathers suck.

What clown this guy is.

[taxtruth]

I wish nobama would stay at home in Kenya with his family and buzz off/get lost.

[W.Lee]

The day I take advice on anything from this bs artist is the day I suck on the front sight.

[trisham]

Thank you.

[No Surrender No Retreat]

OdummyOne gets real confused on Fathers Day.

Words,
NSNR

[Charles Martel]

The problem we have here are single-(unwed) mothers raising children often from more than one man. It is of epidemic proportions in the black community. Why doesn’t 0 address this issue boldly and frankly?

Why should Obama view that as a *problem*? Those civilian security forces aren't going to just materialize out of thin air, you know.

[Jeff Chandler]

You can keep your advice to yourself, punk.

[taxtruth]

We need that birth certificate barry and why are you spending millions on lawyers to hide your identity?

[VeniVidiVici]

That's something that leaves a hole in a child's heart that a government can't fill.''

Did that dumbass really say that?

The typical Hussein hubris.

[what's up]

''I had a heroic mom and wonderful grandparents

But they were just typical white people.

[freekitty]

Yeah, I thought he had father figures like his grandfather and Frank Davis.

[freekitty]

Me either.

[utahagen]

I am critical of President Obama when he talks about world events as if his personal experiences mattered. However, I laud him for talking about himself and his family when discussing Father's Day.