Posted on 02/02/2013 1:52:56 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Barack Obama recently told the New Republic that he understands the concerns of gun owners, because “in fact, up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time.” As critics chortled over both the notion that skeet shooting is what concerns gun owners and the idea that Obama shoots clay pigeons “all the time,” the White House has finally released a photo to back up its claim … and only one photo, dated August 12, 2012:
That led to a barrage of questions from journalists about whether the White House could offer proof that the president had gone shooting. It also led a Republican congresswoman to issue a challenge for a shoot-off. The White House has not responded to the challenge, but it has now uploaded this image[.]
And here it is:
Fox News reported earlier this week that there’s not likely to be more photos:
News of President Obama’s apparently long-secret fondness for skeet shooting came as a surprise to those who say they have witnessed the president’s “awkward” attempts at pinging the (clay) pigeons.
This has only happened with the president at Camp David, at most, a couple of times, according to a source who says he has been to the retreat on a half-dozen visits with Obama.
“The only time he shot skeet was for President’s Cup,” said the source, referring to a shooting competition tradition involving the presidential Marine guards. “I was there. He stayed for about five minutes, and couldn’t leave fast enough.”
Skeet shooting “is very hard,” said the source. “Especially for someone not used to guns … He couldn’t have been more uncomfortable.”
The source said a friend of his recalled Obama skeet shooting one other time at Camp David — very early on in his first term.
That didn’t stop Obama’s advisers from bragging about the photo this morning, though, and sneering at “skeeters” (via Twitchy and Weekly Standard):
For all the “skeeters”: POTUS shoots clay targets on the range at Camp David on Aug. 4, 2012. bit.ly/WlDMYG
— Dan Pfeiffer (@pfeiffer44) February 2, 2013
Attn skeet birthers. Make our day – let the photoshop conspiracies begin! m.flickr.com/photos/whiteho…
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) February 2, 2013
I’ve done plenty of target shooting, but I’ve never gone skeet shooting. Nor is that the reason why most gun owners want their rights respected. The publication of the photo, and especially the defensive attitude of Obama’s advisers, speaks volumes about their insecurity on the gun-rights issue.
But this certainly makes for a great weekend Caption Contest. Have at it in the comments!
So, he’s left-handed and doesn’t know how to shoulder a shotgun.
I was mostly going by the gold writing on the lower receiver and the gold line outlining the upper part which is a give-away for an XS. However you are correct, the fore piece is missing the finger grooves common on the XS. Hmmmmm.
We’re probably confused because it’s the “Citori Birth Certificate Special” which has never actually been seen before.
“That damn bird has been crapping on the basketball backboards. Where’s that shotgun?”
BLAM!
“That’s one that won’t be pooping anymore.”
“Uh, Mr. President, that was a Spotted Owl.”
“Damn right I spotted him. I blasted him, too.”
As others have mentioned, the angle of the barrel seems low. I don’t see how he could hit skeet from either house while standing at stations 2-6 or station 8. Stations 1 or 7 - maybe but it would be a long, long shot at that angle. If he is on station 1 (back to high house) the photographer is in position to be covered by the arch of the president’s muzzle. Can’t image the president - who “does skeet all the time” - letting that happen. Or the secret service. He could be on station 7 (back to low house). However, that means anyone traveling on the paved road or bike path behind the president will be in the line of fire - not just from station 7 but stations 1-7. I have never seen a skeet range with a paved road bisecting the hot zone - not even an informal cracker range. Would someone that knows something about skeet explain how this could be a picture of the president actually shooting on a skeet range?
Michelle’s Mom has a good ‘ol southern recipe for those skeets.
It appears nobody instructed our CIC on how to tuck that stock into his shoulder. Can you say bone bruise?
ROTFLMAO!!!
Or South Koreans.
First thing I noticed about this photo....
The gun elevation.
The clay pigeon can’t be more than 12 feet off the ground.
What’s he doing?
Aiming at the launcher and squeezing the trigger when he hears the warning buzz?
Ok. We finally have a topic I know something about:
We (immediate family) own a private skeet and trap range (low/high and trap) on 850 acres. We also farm it exclusively for dove and quail hunting and manage the land as well for deer, turkey, and duck hunting. Its all for our personal, private enjoyment.
A person could say that I’ve been around a shotgun and that I’ve shot some skeet...
I have. I’ve also been around experienced hunters and I’ve been around a man who has never touched a firearm.
Some thoughts:
1. Even the most spoiled skeet shooter (with your own loader) tends to wear a vest or belt bags. I sure as hell have never seen a grown man wear his wife’s jeans to shoot skeet...
2. Those cans on his head make it hard to get your head in the stock.
3. It’s possible he’s looking “under” the barrel on that shot. I’ve seen people look over a barrel in a sort of free-form style, but I’ve never seen someone go under on purpose.
4. LOP looks short.That’s hard to say though.
5. He’s wearing sunglasses because he blinks at the retort and they wanted to hide that on film.
6. Where is the low choke, or why is it flush when the other is not? I’ve just never seen that.
7. ANGLE. He shooting rabbits, or skeet? That’s silly looking to try to pass that off as a skeet shot.
8. His stance doesn’t look like he has room to follow through?
That looks more like he’s patterning his gun at a target.
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