Obama mocks Washington's winter panic
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/28/art.snow.gi.jpg caption="Congress is surrounded."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Despite ambitious post-9/11 security measures, Washington does remain alarmingly vulnerable to one recurring airborne threat: the humble snowflake.
DC residents are used to derision from chillier quarters of the country over their city’s occasional paralysis in the face of winter weather. After a few inches of snow and some early morning sleet in the first half of the week resulted in a wave of Washington-area shutdowns, the city’s most famous Midwestern transplant couldn’t resist a dig or two at his new hometown’s expense.
"My children's school was canceled today, because of what? Some ice," President Obama told a group of business leaders visiting the White House Wednesday.
"As my children pointed out, in Chicago school is never canceled," he said, adding that his daughter Sasha observed that schoolchildren there would even have recess outdoors.
The president joked that he would have to instill some “flinty Chicago toughness” into his neighbors. "When it comes to the weather, folks in Washington don't seem to be able to handle things.”
That lesson may have to wait for the next winter storm: after a late-day wave of precipitation, DC's forecast for tomorrow is sunny, with highs in the upper 30s.
DC is waiting for global warming to solve their icy road problems.
I say the same sort of things to people in Tampa, FL whenever it gets to be in the 30's as the low temperature, with highs in the 50's and 60's. It only lasts a few days each year, but you couldn't tell from people's reaction.
He even mocks his own ancestors, or our founding-fathers, and their traditional Christian values.
Speaking for those of us who live in the "Great White North" ... we quite often chuckle at the responses to weather that we see on the US weather forecasts. If you think its tough when you get a few flakes, try -35 celsius with a windchill factor on top of that! BTW ... -35 celsius = -31 fahrenheit.
I grew up in Iowa and the school superintendent's theory was "If the bars are open, the schools are open." 30s would be light coat weather and at 45 degrees we would running around in shorts and bikinis talking about the heat wave – and meaning it. One of the worst days weather-wise I had was in DC and that was with less than four inches of snow. The city was brought to a stand-still and even the Metro was out.
I just recently moved to the area from Chicago myself and was telling my colleagues the same thing.
This is laughable!
In winter weather, everyone must be cautious.....it really depends on the roads. Sorry Mr. President, there are way too many people being killed due to snow and ice on the roads each year. However, I still love ya!
The President is correct. When it comes to winter weather, the people of DC are wimps. They have 2 inches of snow and the whole city shuts down. Try living in Chicago, or even the northeast.
Then you might not complain so much
I used to live in Minneapolis,MN and there were times DC would look positively balmy and comfy compared what we experienced.
I grew up in Canada. This is entirely amusing. People freak out so much about a little snow down here. I live in New Orleans and you should have seen my husband and his family running around the house and taking pictures. And then the people that I work with thinking the roof was going to cave in for less than an inch of snow that melted in an hour.
I'm with Obama on this one.
The reason school is cancelled is due to the conditions of the roads when ice is on them. They are treacherous and can lead to terrible accidents. Cancelling school takes many people off the road eliminating increased chances for accidents. Shut up Obama.
You said it Mr. President! You southern folk are so soft! You make fun of us northerners when it's cold up here and you can go to the beach, but when you get a few flakes you totally freak out!
Come on....where is your strength? Southerners are so SOFT!
LOL
I notice he still does not answer straight questions from the press that are not pre-arranged. I also notice the democrats can not seem to explain Milton Friedman's economic truths that won a Nobel prize. I guess that is why our history books lie about Roosevelt's New Deal. The democrats are now attacking Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others. This does not shock me. The democrats still don't want to explain LBJ and the death of JFK and RFK. Don't take your freedom of speech for granted.
I grew up in Chicago. I can relate! I now live in Phoenix and when it rains hard out here people panic and drive crazy!! Chicago weather can "toughen" the bravest of souls!!! I just don't want to shovel anymore snow, ever!!!
For once Mr. President, I agree you with you. Although I still had to come to work in Arlington, VA today.....
As usual, President Obama is right on target. I lived in DC for 4 years and people start stocking up on supplies and abandoning their cars on the side of the road every time there is a dusting of snow. It is hilarious. We had more than a foot one year and the whole city was shut down for nearly a week. Maybe the stimulus package could include a few snowplows for the district.
He talks tough now, but just wait until Obama turns the big 50. He'll wish the White House was in Miami.
Living in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, which people in other areas of the country think gets snow all year round, I too have to laugh at how everything south of PA stops dead in their tracks when a little snow falls. By the way folks, Chicago, Syracuse, New York, Rochester, Albany, they all get more snow than we do! Hang in there Washington DC.
You also have to remember that Chicago and the mid west have the equipment to remove snow such as this because they have it all the time. The problem is, these are just fleeting occurrences in DC and they don't have snow removal equipment to suck up the drifts and drop them in the Potomac.
I agree with Obama. I am from New York and the snow and ice we had here yesterday and last night would have been off the streets by now in New York. The way they handle snow in the Wash D.C. area is ridiculous! Why don't they take a cue from the Northern states?
Wow Really President Obama you want kids and buses to drive on ice??? What a caring man you've shown yourself to not be. Further proof of the type of man we elected. Enjoy your 4 years I hope it goes by fast.
God Bless the common sense of the people who did cancel school to make sure children and teachers were safe today.
I didn't vote for Obama, and I still don't agree with a lot of his ideas...but I have to be honest...the guy is likeable.
Guess its the global warming.....oh I forgot we have to call it climate change so it covers every possible situation.
I felt the same way when I moved to WA from UT. It snows an inch up here and everything comes to a standstill!
It was – 44 below zero where I am and i still had to go to school and work...BUCK UP PEOPLE