President Obama meets with Capt. Richard Phillips in the Oval Office on Saturday. Phillips is the cargo-ship captain whose capture by pirates triggered a dramatic U.S. Navy rescue off the coast of Africa last month. Phillips was joined by his wife, Andrea. Photo credit: Pete Souza/White House
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Very brave honorable American- he deserves the attention!
President Obama and the military did an excellent job rescuing Cpt. Phillips. Good job Mr. President, our navy men and women, and Cpt. Phillips is a hero.
This is a symbolic act that the president has poased.
Capt. Richard Phillips has shown what a real hero is. The very fact he put his crew's safety first and preserving his ship & cargo and being the hostage is the finest kind of heroism.
A very selfless act of great courage. He could very easily have been killed by those pirates, and I think he knew it, but still never gave up.
The SEAL team is to be commended as well as all the Naval personnel involved in his rescue for their great work in this incident, and the pirates got exactly what they deserved...dead
Gosh, whatever became of the tradition of dressing a bit nicely for the White House? Did Andrea Phillips not get the memo? Democrat or Republican, fan of Obama's or foe, how about a little respect for the office itself? She looks like she stopped by the Oval Office on her way home from Walmart! (Nothing against Walmart, mind you...)
Way to go Mr. President.
Maybe Obama will learn something about bravery...
She don't look happy... must be a republican.
Two brave, intelligent American men that many in America would be wise to emulate.
Hey cares about regular folk!
Kill all the Pirates Barack!
This guy is "everybody's President".
I like him more and more every day, and I increasingly hate my own Republican Party for being so "nobody's anything".
Help! Where can a moderate Republican find a new party? Come on Republican moderates ... let's get it together ... We could be the Moderate Party. Or we could be the Life's-not-so-bad party. ... WE can be anything but what we are now. The ultra-right-no-way-won't-play-go-away-make-you-pay-hate-the yeas-gotta-have-our-way party.
Yuck !
Let's just all leave. Someone please lead the moderates out of the wilderness
This guy is "everybody's President".
I like him more and more every day, and I increasingly hate my own Republican Party for being so "nobody's anything".
Help! Where can a moderate Republican find a new party? Come on Republican moderates ... let's get it together ... We could be the Moderate Party. Or we could be the Life's-not-so-bad party. ... WE can be anything but what we are now. The ultra-right-no-way-won't-play-go-away-make-you-pay-hate-the yeas-gotta-have-our-way party.
Yuck !
Let's just all leave. Someone please lead the moderates out of the wilderness
Good for the President but from what I have read this guy is a real dork.
Why isn't Mr. Obama (not my president) meeting with the Seals that saved him from doom?
I trust this inspired indigestion for Dick Cheney.
this captain did the right thing, he fought back. advising ships that running is the rest option in defending against pirates will only do one thing, force pirates to get faster boats. The thing to do is ARM merchant ships. Its what people did in the old days to beat piracy and its what we should do now. there is no way I would get on ship that was unarmed and go out to sea. then again I am former Navy
I wonder if Captian "Sully" Sullenberger and Captain Richard Phillips will get together before or after they are both at the Washington press dinner tonight?
I would sure like to be privy to that conversation as they are America's most recent heros and I'm sure their thought on each others actions would be fascinating.
Love the photo. It's like the Phillips were just over visiting a neighbor and not the stuffy posed photos in White House of past years. Does anyone beyond me get it that this is the President of The People?
You and your wife get to meet the president and your wife wears that? He could have at least worn some nicer shoes:-P
looks like a lovely visit...real people ..nothing pretentious..real american hero and looks like the president made them feel very welcome..tie off and all....fabulous
Looked like they enjoyed the meeting. Always nice to meet the person whose life you saved.
you are meeting the president of the United States and your wife shows up in jeans and a hospital shirt???
@Anonymous -
Obviously, you're not a republican...so, good, honest, hardworking Americans who are conservatives would prefer shallow rinos like you to crawl on the coat tails of the annointed one....
Obama's doing this for the press coverage; he loathes the military, white Americans, and anyone that can show true logic against his socialist agenda...you kool aid sucking fools will see for yourself when you taxed at a 45% rate to keep the freebies flowing for the inner city mommas who keep spitting out babies as fast as the illegals scurrying across the boarder...Obama's got liberals so fooled, it's incredible. He'll go down as the worst president yet; making GW look like a Gold Star...and I didn't like him. Oh, guess I'm being a hater for not wanting to kiss Obama's ass like you libs...oops, sorry for the patriotism and morals spewing.
As for the seals meeting the president. It was probably done in privacy. The identity is like top secret and classified. Alot of the people who in the military don't know who they are unless they are identified by their trident on there uniform or they tell you. Most rarely tell you what they are. That don't even abide the same grooming standards.
Nice of the President to take off his tie since his guests were a bit more casual.
One of the great things about President Obama is that you know he does not judge them – or anyone else – for how they dress or look or how much money or education they have. He has such a wonderful heart!
I don't understand why everyone is dissing Mrs. Phillips attire. These are common folk. Real Americans. The president has said time after time that he will be a President of the people and that the White House is the Peoples' House. They can visit the president wearing whatever they want to.
Seanwhit. I know what you're saying about the captain's wife, wearing jeans and a hospital t-shirt. But, they're from Vermont. They add cream to their cup of coffee straight from the cow's udder!
Gosh, I can't believe how some of you want to pick on the Captain's wife for her attire. These are people of modest means, not celebrity jet setters. Have you looked around in your churches, restaurants and other places lately?? This was an informal get together on a Saturday and I'm sure President Obama could have cared less what they were wearing. Notice how he is on the edge of his seat and leaning forward. That body language demonstrates that he is actively engaged in conversation and listening. That is what strikes me the most about our President..he listens!!!
MY PRESIDENT and the CAPTAIN look handsome, dont kno bout the wife
Hey Jason, Joel and Seanwhit: You three don't need a very deep subject to tee off on, that's for sure. Three of the shallowest comments I've ever read. Who cares how people dress? Come on. Get some substance to your being.
Stop hating! Obama is doing his thing!!!! And he will continue to prove many people wrong, he's doing it now!!! And I just love it!
People are actually complaining about the way the woman is dressed? Incredible. This is an informal meeting, not a black-tie event.
seanwit...what a nasty thing to say. This man was held hostage and almost killed. His wife is very shy and all you can do is say something nasty. Shame on you.
Jason... you are another one with a comment about how they are dressed. Why?
elethia...Why isn't Mr. Obama (not my president) meeting with the Seals that saved him from doom?
If he is not your president than why do you care who he meets with. What an un-American thing to say. Shame on you.
az voter May 9th, 2009 2:51 pm ET
This guy is "everybody's President".
I like him more and more every day, and I increasingly hate my own Republican Party for being so "nobody's anything".
Help! Where can a moderate Republican find a new party? Come on Republican moderates … let's get it together … We could be the Moderate Party. Or we could be the Life's-not-so-bad party. … WE can be anything but what we are now. The ultra-right-no-way-won't-play-go-away-make-you-pay-hate-the yeas-gotta-have-our-way party.
Yuck !
Let's just all leave. Someone please lead the moderates out of the wilderness
---------------
Nice try loser but you were NEVER a Republican!
richard, NV May 9th, 2009 2:24 pm ET
She don't look happy… must be a republican.
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Maybe the room smells!
elliott May 9th, 2009 2:18 pm ET
Maybe Obama will learn something about bravery…
Don't you worry about the President, he will do what is right for the American people. Even nasty haters like you.
Joel...You are the winner. The third comment on how they are dressed. How shallow of you
The captain was just doing his job, it is what he signed on for. It is so obvious he and his wife are republicans by the amount of disrespect they have shown the president from the very beginning of this ordeal. The captain went out of his way not to thank the president in any way.
Just goes to show you republicans are so hateful, that even saving their life will not allow the words thank you to come out of their mouth.
The Phillip's desire to disrespect the president by going to the white house dressed like they were going to farmers market only makes them look silly in a one time photo opt.
The President was just doing his job in giving the order to save the captains life because that' what he signed on for to be the president to all Americans without regard for manners or political party.
Cool. this was a great story and what happened a few weeks ago showed the pirates they are not in charge. Amazingly enough, what the US navy did certainly jumpstarted other nations in helping to thwart the pirates. We heard about the South Korean navy helping a North Korean vessel.
This was an excellent hero performance by Captain Phillips to put himself before his crew and is very much worthy of a visit with the president. (those of you talking about what his wife and he are wearing PLEASE give it a break!) And President Obama made what turned out the be the right decision to have him freed. Yet GOP leader Rush Limbaugh of all things tried to make a racial incident of it by asking his ditto heads.."what if it had been a white president that ordred the shootings of 3 black teenagers!" That right there should let you know where that idiot stands yet the GOP chooses to follow him anyway.
Good Lord.. some of you people! Does the President look like HE cares what they are wearing? This is a real man who is wanting to know what is going on in the world... and especially to his own populace. He is the President of all of us.... a man of the people for the people!
Get over it Republicans... 80% of us cannot ALL be wrong!
He may not be elathia's President, but he is mines. It may be a waste of time and effort, but I will defend MY President any and every chance I get. Yes I voted for him, and I do not have one regret. Considering the mess which G.W. lefted him, I think the President is doing a darn good job. It's hard, and I don't think anyone with any common sense will expect the President to have things turn around overnight, we can expect him to continue to work hard to put things back on the right road. You see I can't forget that G.W. left this country in a mess, I can't forget the things this President has to try to repair, everything that G.W., Cheney, broke. G.W. had eight years to put us in this hole, and what a hole. As for the picture goes, I fine no fault with it. Maybe Mrs. Phillips wore what she had to wear.
Hey, lay off what Mrs. Phillips is wearing! She was probably told it wouldn't be a formal meeting, so she came in business casual. Why would you require your guests to dress formally (and possibly have to spend money on finding the "right" outfit), when the whole point of the visit is to accept the thanks of your President for so honorably representing your country?
President Obama is a real person, much more concerned with expressing his gratitude than engaging in superficiality when meeting with a true hero.
I don't belong anymore to a polarized anti-people party like the republican party. Until they move out this wilderness they are now, I remain independent with a gradual shift to becoming if this preseident continue to do what he does now. You cannot resist him for too long.
Yeah, he got captured, and then rescued. Good, brave, heroic job... for the rescuers!
elathia: How do you know that President Obama hasn't met with the SEALS involved? My understanding is that revealing the identity of the SEALS forces would compromise their ability to perform their operations (and possibly put their and their families lives in danger by parties wanting to harm them).
hey flyby shoeing, you're a plan idiot. Call me unamerican? I have a birth certificate to prove it. Do you know anyone can't come up with an original. You're an Obama bootlicker.
Why this woman dress like she is hitting the bed time instead of oval office and meeting with the most powerful president of world. She must be one of them right wing red neck from the dirty south huh.
True hero captain and my belove............this pic is the nest excepet this red neck woman ruined it with her dressing code.
Um, was the Captain's wife aware that she would be visiting the White House and meeting the President of the United States? She looks as though she just got back from Walmart.
TCM: Obama hates the military and whites? Based on what – your desire to hate Obama?
I bet if you took off your hood, your head would be pointy, too.
Too funny I hadn't even read anybody else's comments and everybody else thinks she works at Walmart too.
Poor woman. I am sure she will be embarrassed later bless her heart.
Obama was forced in a corner. He had nothing to do with the rescue. Seals would of ended it without this coward. Hey, maybe he could get a sit down with the pirates and tell them what idiots the American people are, ask for forgiveness? I'm sure they would be happy to give up their evil ways if Obama would apologize for the American people one more time. Obama's anti American.
It is just a shame that the GOP will not recognize what Obama does. All they want to say is NO. Well let me tell you as someone who performrd for three Presidents, I would be proud to sit with President Obama in the Oval Office.
He is so self assured that, even in the Oval Office, he can be REAL. I am sure"RUSH" will have something to say about this in a bad way but the truth is that I really would be thrilled to sit with him.
Phillips is a hero, but so is Obama and the military he commands. Those Seals did a great job but they would not have had it not for the President having the testicles to order the shoot. Come on McCain, you were in the Navy. Did you ever shoot or bomb something that wasn't ordered by your suoeriors?
I would love to hear McCain say,"GOOD JOB MR. PRESIDENT". That will never happen. The GOP says that the DEMS never said that the surge was a good thing but I have never heard any Republican say that saving Phillips life was a brave thing to do.
Now you know that, although I am an Independant, I will never vote Republican. Not until you get the old farts out of there.
Hey TCM,
Try turning off FAUX news, Beck, Savage and Rush before you post – your right wing putrescent talking points are getting all jumbled together and we are having a tough time discerning which of those methane dispensers you are trying to emulate?
She doesn't look happy at all!! If she did not want to go, she should have stayed home. Both her and her husband's body language shows that they don't like the President too much!!
Hey TCM – You must have been in a psychiatric hospital for the last few weeks. Haven't seen your hate-filled, ignorant, error-ridden posts lately. Can't say I missed them. Go back – they forgot to perform the lobotomy.
what did you expect Mrs Phillips to wear? These people are normal people from Vermont. Ever been to Vermont? Great place not tied up about formality and baloney. People who are down to earth and will help a neighbor. People who go to WalMart and go for hikes in the Green Mountains. Just normal, working folk. Salt of the earth and good solid trustworth people.
Geesh, dress up when you are in the oval office. What is the captain's wife wearing? Obama wear a tie!
@ elathia May 9th, 2009 2:54 pm ET
Why isn't Mr. Obama (not my president) meeting with the Seals that saved him from doom?
The President is not meeting with the SEALS because they did the job for which they were trained to do and to protect them in future work. I am sure they have gotten their due recognition for a "mission well done".
Military people do not do their job for recognition. Military service is ones way of giving to our country for what it gives to us.
@ elathia
Why isn't Mr. Obama(not my president) meeting with the SEALS that saved him from his doom?
Hey great idea,,,,
Why not have the SEALS meet the president..have their pictures all in the media so everyone INCLUDING THE TERRORIST will know who they are? I'm sure these proud Navy SEALS would just love that idea!
I swear that some of you Obama-haters are so quick to try to say something negative about him that you don't even think before saying it.
in case you didn't know it, terrorist and pirates DO follow the media!
HAHA, the right never cease to amaze me. Obama, UNLIKE bush, looked at the situation, spoke with the Navy and CIA, took the most careful and educated path, instructed the Navy to kill when they had the chance, and the captain was rescued. Obama deserves credit for giving the order and for thinking it through instead shoot first and ask questions later, that would have got the captain killed. You loons on the right need to STOP watching hannity, hes a high school DROP OUT with NO political OR journilist training. The Navy has commended the president in his handleing of the situation, but handjob, I mean hannity didnt so you loons take his side, typical uneducated morons.
People need to lay off the attire worn to meet with the President and the fact that they may or may not be Republicans. They are regular Americans and he is the President of all Americans. Ye, he is even the President of Americans that do not like him or did not vote for him. He is an American President. I know it is hard for many to adjust to because it has been so long since we have had a President in the White House that cares about Americans but give it a try.
OK, I dont want to jump on look whats shes wearing band wagon, but come on this IS the president of the United States, and this IS the White house, she looks like she was cleaning the house and forgot to change...I agree, if the President is in a suit, she should have shown more respect and not worn what looks to be a scrubs shirt and pants...SORRY, bash away, but again, this was a little bit too dumpy for the White House, ANY bargain basement store sells dresses or nice outfits for 40.00 or so...no excuse for this outfit...
I don't give a rip what anybody was wearing . One can only imagine the interesting conversation that was going on. I would loved to have heard it.
@ Texas Teacher...
Where do you get this 80% BS you keep spewing?
Have your meds worn off again?
Aww this is such a sweet photo. I would be so nervous to be in the white house. I would be shaking. I am so glad Prez Obama is so wonderful and so down to earth. It would be an honor to meet him and to be able to visit the white house!
Some people do not go out of their way to spend money on clothes like Gov. Palin. Perhaps the Phiips' are plain and simple or don't know protocal. What does it matter? Our President is a President of all the people – wealthy, homeless, Harvard educated or no education – he can relate and converse wth all and that's why I love the Obama's. They came up working class and look at them now HATERS!
To Elliot; Obama needs no lesson on bravery. He defied many cynics and their silly antics like yours by winning honourably the task to lead your nation. Accord him the respect he deserves and work with him, if not, grow up!
Does it also occur to you that he bravely took that decision to scramble the US Navy to Captain Richard Phillips’ rescue? Ever since he did it, he has not been arrogant about the event. Read excerpts from Ed Rollins and be grateful for what he did.
For those worried about their clothing preference, I agree the Captain and wife's mood may give away signals; he rarely mentioned the President’s name or influence in saving him when he arrived in the States to be reunited with his family. So, why should anyone be surprised he or his wife did not dress for the occasion?
Obama is truly the "Peoples" president.
@TCM, is your voice the voice of Republican party..?? Annointed One.. hum.. you like sound bites.. that are put out.. Do you ever Think rather than repeat what ignorant people say?
I agree, she probably is a nice lady, but still, she should have worn something dressy. It looks like scrubs. A nice pair of slacks and collared shirt even. You know the Captain of a large vessel likes that can well afford to dress up his wife for a meeting with the President of the United States. At least he made some effort.
On another note, he is a hero, just as much if not more than the Seals that rescued him. They are trained for it and expect it, he is not. He showed great courage. They all did a great job.
As someone who is not American, but is inspired by America, I am so disappointed when I read these hateful blogs. We all have our own opinions, but wouldn't it serve the American people to unite, work hard to get things moving and be an inspirtation to the rest of the world instead of spewing insults on to your President. How does this help?
yeah May 9th, 2009 3:14 pm ET
this captain did the right thing, he fought back. advising ships that running is the rest option in defending against pirates will only do one thing, force pirates to get faster boats. The thing to do is ARM merchant ships. Its what people did in the old days to beat piracy and its what we should do now. there is no way I would get on ship that was unarmed and go out to sea. then again I am former Navy
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You are right about having armed personnel on board.
An Italian cruise ship did just that. They shot back at the pirates..Most likely scaring the hell out of them and sailed away ot safety and home.
I love how Obama is taking all the credit when he tried to place obstacles in the way of the snipers. It is being reported that Obama did not want to give the shot to kill order and actually had delayed the order for over 24 hours till Navy personal persuaded Mr. Obama to give the order. I will take Bush over this empty suit any day of the week. Bush was a real Commander and Chief.
I hope this threesome had a great visit! It is special to be invited to the White House.
Who cares what she's wearing, I personally would like to be sitting right where she is. Great Job to the President and Captain.
I know this was a casual meeting, but the wife looks like she has been running errands with the kids (or grandkids) all day, and she didn't change before meeting The President of the United States. I can't believe she is dressed like this. I work with 10 year olds all day and I dress better than that to teach reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as art and drama.
I know they are regular people, but you would think even regular people know how to dress in casual style that is at least a bit dressed up. I bet she has birkenstocks or flip-flops on
Back up, what the hell is going on? I voted for this guy but I now am wondering what he is doing. This is not Late Night or SNL, he has a job to do and he is acting like a celeb. No Jokes, No Fun, we voted for you to do a job and represent us. Did you forget about that?!
elathia,
As far as I know, 'Seals' on that type mission don't normally reveal their identities....Don't be so mean...Life is too short....That goes for you other sour lemons as well...
The look on his wife's face suggests that she may not be happy that the President rescued her husband. Cheer up, Lady – you're married to a great man. And as a republican, I give Obama well deserved respect on this one for his command, careful directive and the flawless execution by our Seals.
you fashion police get off this page. go to entertainment tonight for your worthless comments. I bet you were bullys in school too!! this meeting is for the folks involved.
Big "O" you are my Chief, Capt Phillip "You are a Man, and a Leader"! Thank U!