Obama spreads a little Christmas cheer
President Obama made a surprise visit beyond the White House gates this afternoon, motorcading to a local Boys and Girls Club for a little Christmas cheer.
The president went to the Richard England Clubhouse and Community Center bearing a basket of cookies, some in the shape of First Dog Bo.
He also read The Polar Express -- the children's classic and the source of the recent Tom Hanks movie -- to an audience of 27 children, ages 6 to 11.
Here's some color from our faithful pooler, Margaret Talev of McClatchy Newspapers (POTUS, by the way, stands for President of the United States):
Upon arrival, President Obama playfully asks kids, "Have you guys been good?" YES! they answer in unison, sing-songy. "Do you think you deserve cookies?" YES! "You sure, now?" YES!
Several of the kids already knew "Polar Express" in book or movie format. POTUS' inflection and ad-libbing suggested that of an experienced bedtime-story-reading parent. (He even got into character during one passage where Santa says, "Ho, ho, ho" though POTUS' imitation sounded more like "Huh, huh, huh.")
He asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas but seemed surprised by their expensive and high-tech tastes, including iPods, cell phones and video games.
"Whatever happened to, like, asking for a bike?" POTUS asked. "Everbody has a bike," one informed him and others agreed.
In another exchange, he asked a kid who wants a cell phone, "Who you gonna call?" Kid: "Everyone." POTUS: "Like who?"
Later, one kid says Christmas celebrates "the birth of Baby Jesus" and POTUS said it also represents "the possibility of peace" and people treating one another respectfully. "It's not just about getting a gift."
They talked about the Three Wise Men, and how despite their status they came to a manger to pay respects to a baby.
POTUS tells kids to be kind to others and that "what's important is the kind of spirit you have."
Your pooler would note for those of you who haven't seen the video yet that the children were all over POTUS, tugging on his arms, making small talk, trying to get him to stay. "I gotta leave now, I gotta go do some work," he apologized to one girl.
At the end, Niko Letterbough, 7, gave him T-shirts for his daughters on behalf of the group, and asked if he'd come back and if he'd play him at Foosball.
"You know, I hate getting beat," POTUS told him."
"I'll let ya win," Niko said, and they fist-bumped. POTUS: "That's what I'm talking about." |
