WASHINGTON (CNN) – It's unlikely President Obama will get his Father's Day present wish by Sunday – but that didn't stop him from asking.
The president hosted his yearly Fatherhood event Friday at the White House followed by a backyard barbecue on the South Lawn of the White House.
During the barbecue portion of Friday's events, Obama was asked what he wanted for Father's Day. His response? "A health care bill."
President Obama then greeted a group of high school students, donned a white chef's apron with the presidential seal and assisted celebrity Chef Bobby Flay in grilling the food that would be served.
At Friday's events, President Obama discussed the impact of running for office on his family and said that he may not have run had his two daughters not been so young.
"It was still a very difficult decision, frankly I don't think we would have made the same decision if our kids were a little older," he said. He said that he and his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, decided that because their children were still young they could still thrive during their father's absence.
High school student Larry Holmes asked President Obama what he enjoyed more: "Traveling from state to state, country to country, being the president, which one is funner: being a father or being a president?"
"Nothing is more fun than being father, now my kids aren't teenagers yet, so I don't know whether that will maintain itself," Obama told the young man.
"...Probably the most fun that I have had since I have been president was actually at a parent/teacher conference where the teachers were bragging on my children. I just sat there and I just basked in the glory."
Also in attendance were several athletes and celebrities including NBA stars Dwayne Wade and Etan Thomas, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cower, professional skate boarder Tony Hawk, and Darryl McDaniels, the "DMC" of Run DMC.
President Obama has held events around Father's Day since his days as an Illinois state senator - delivering a message on fathers last year that drew criticism from Jesse Jackson.
From CNN Politics
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it is unfortunate that politics and lobbyists continue to rule the scene on so many issues, but none more so that healthcare reform. When will the USA come to grips with a true social conscientiousness and let go of total self interest. Yes, there are well meaning people with differing points of view on how to get the job done. Let's finally work honestly thru the view not the selfish propaganda. Time for chane is NOW!!!
And by "health care bill", of course, he means he wants personal control of the health care industry just like GM, etc.
I hope he gets nothing after what he is doing to this country. Bush was real bad Obama is a disaster in the making. This health care bill is just another way for the gov. to take more controll of our lives. Wake up people while there is still time to save our country.
yeah well,
wish in one hand and poop in the other and see what happens
Well, if you listen to the media, the story changes on healthcare from one hour to the next. Nothing matters except the outcome.
1993 Democrat. (white). 2009 Democrat I(Black). What is the difference Race... And Bias. Love Obama sicko's.
Agree with an email comment I heard yesterday :
" If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it's FREE. "
Obamofsky wants to insure 40 million people--With the number of doctors fixed or declining, how will you ever get an appointment?
The answer: You won't-–in Canada it takes 6 months to see a specialist (in which time you could be dead) and about 2 years to get a hip replacement.
Good luck.
Awwww....! How can it be possible to not love our president? The first Mom and Dad love their kids so much, and it's so obvious that they love children. They exude goodness.
Uh, well, not to flies, but hey, nobody's perfect!
I do love the Obama family though. They are super!
Don't count on it Mr. President, the Republicans will dig their heels in good concerning health care. Afterall, most of the Republican funding comes from insurance and drug lobbyists. They have kept the Republican pockets lined for years!
I think he will get the bill eventually, but not by Father's Day.
My Father's Day wish is for my President to grow up.
B.O. has a better chance of getting Glenn Beck's new Common Sense book, than he has in getting a Healthcare bill. He will be sadly disappointed this Father's Day. Although Glenn writes one heck of a book. Maybe if B.O. read Beck's Common Sense, he would understand why he didn't get the present that he wanted.
Not happening Obama, even with the help of ABC...sorry!
Everything is an emergency with this President. That's why the Dems are signing bills without reading them. WAKE UP AMERICA
Happy Father's Day everyone! Thanks Fathers everywhere.
A backyard BBQ on the south lawn of the White House. How neat, now, how many people will it take and how many hours to clean up all the chicken necks and backs thrown around in the grass.
Who gives a crap what this waste of space wants for Fathers Day
How sad that the President of the United States would put himself and his children in the unfortunate position to request such a National Policy issue as a Father's Day present. How selfish. He is setting his children up for automatic failure to ask for something that they could never fulfill for their father. What has happened to our society and it's family values? I am disiliussioned at best.
I dont care what Obama wants for Fathers Day. What has happened to this country? Hes an elected official paid by the American people. Hes not a deity.
I don't care what HE wants. Who is does he think he is? He's a SERVANT of the people, NOT their supreme ruler (not yet - and not EVER)!
This healthcare issue is MUCH more important than a "Father's Day" gift for "the one" who now clearly believes that he can "part the seas."
My god, what an egotist!
I'd like a President with a brain, a Congress that is honorable. and a country with real leaders.
What I want for Father's Day is for the Spendthrift-in-Chief to keep his sticky fingers out of my wallet!
Can we give a tie instead?
Bankrupting the country sounds like and extreme gift to satisfy Obama's wish request.
"You can keep your doctor and your plan".....just don't expect the same services.
CNN YOU SUCK as journalist's, why don't you just change to OLN, Obama's Love Network. I must have missed these kind of hard hitting stories about Bush the last 8 years, maybe you could point me to 1?