Comforter-in-Chief in NY

[bigtree]

_________________



President Barack Obama talks with residents on Cedar Grove Avenue during a walking tour of Hurricane Sandy storm damage in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)




President Barack Obama meets privately with Damien and Glenda Moore at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center tent in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2012. The Moore’s two small children, Brandon and Connor, died after being swept away during Hurricane Sandy. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

"I had the opportunity to give some hugs and communicate thoughts and prayers to the Moore family," Obama said of Damien and Glenda Moore. "They lost two young sons during the course of this tragedy. And obviously, I expressed to them, as a father, as a parent, my heartbreak over what they went through. And they're still obviously a little shell-shocked."

Obama said the resiliency and generosity of the Moores, who had lavished praise on New York police lieutenant Kevin Gallagher "for staying with them and doing everything he could so that ultimately, they knew what had happened with the boys, and were able to recover their bodies, and has been with them as a source of support ever since.

"That's not in the job description of Lieutenant Gallagher. He did that because that's what so many of our first responders do," he added.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/obama-meets-parents-lost-sons-sandy/story?id=17728256#.UKYqxWes_n4

President Barack Obama talks with residents in a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center tent in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)


























New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg points out areas on a map of the region during an aerial tour of Hurricane Sandy storm damage, aboard Marine One in New York, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2012. Joining the President, from left, are: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan; Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)




Sheila Traina, whose home was completely demolished by flooding from Hurricane Sandy in New Dorp Beach, holds a letter written by her 11 year-old granddaughter Maggie Traina to President Obama who visited victims of the storm in Staten Island, November 15

[Jeroen]

1. "P.S. at school we had to vote and I voted for you". Sweet! n/t

[malaise]

4. Very cool!

President Obama 624
Romney 216

[VWolf]

8. Impressive, considering

Staten Island leans R. It's the only red borough in NYC. The others are overwhelmingly blue.

on edit: She might not go to school in Staten Island

on edit again: Gaahhhh! She wrote that she's from Scotch Plains. My bad.

[malaise]

21. Who knows

On the other hand everyone heard ReTHUGs attacking and dissing police, fire fighters and teachers so they do wake up eventually.

[madokie]

2. Yes comforter in chief

When I see a picture of President Obama it puts me at rest, makes me proud to be an American who sees through the darkness of the politics of hate that is driving the republiCONs of today.

[Surya Gayatri]

5. +1,000! He's such a soothing and comforting presence--whether in

an international crisis or during the aftermath of a natural disaster. Love this man...we are so fortunate to have him at the helm in these perilous times.

[rainlillie]

3. Thank you..

For posting the pics. The letter is so sweet. I hope and pray that everyone impacted by the storm will get back on their feet soon. I live in New York and we escaped the worst part of the storm.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

6. Gteat pics...

Thank you for posting. K&R

[Bonobo]

7. It is bizarre that that is a quality that Americans look for in a political leader.

...from an anthropological viewpoint. Sorry, but it is.

But I guess it's not surprising. A country that has grown up on Oprah Winfrey and other touch-feely TV personalities would search for those qualities I suppose.

[VWolf]

10. I doubt it's specific to Americans

I'm sure citizens of any country would look to their leaders for compassion in the wake of a tragedy.

[Bonobo]

12. I agree with that...

Maybe it's that I have been in Japan so long and hugging seems strange from a President. Sympathy, yes. But the lavk of division between formality and personal touch-feely takes me off guard culturally.

[Tigress DEM]

20. He's a different kind of President.

He started in community activism working with people who were at the bottom of the food chain. He even worked in food shelves handing out food to people who needed it.

It is shocking, but it also seems like the way it SHOULD be. A President SHOULD be someone who truly knows what it is to be compassionate. Presidents have been "pretending" to connect with everyday folk for hundreds of years, but Obama has never been all that removed from the common person.

When Obama was elected he said, "I am now the President of ALL Americans, not just those who voted for me." He meant it. These people and their problems MATTER to him because he doesn't see them as just a bunch of numbers. He sees them as neighbors who suffer and hopefully work together to overcome their suffering.

He's doing all he can personally to heal the division in this country and the way the rich and those elected to high positions put them selves "above" the average person is a BIG part of what is wrong with the system.

[loyalsister]

26. The only people I think he might consider himself "above"

Are the contemptuous Romney\Ryan types. After hearing what he said to his staffers, I really think he sees himself as our equal.

[treestar]

23. I don't know about Japan, but American culture has gotten touchy-feely

Clinton and Gore hugged when they won the election and that was 20 years ago. People hug you now when they would not have in the 70s or 80s. I think it has occurred since baby boomers became parents.

When it comes to the President, he is a public figure, so people sort of "know" him - it's probably just part of the culture to hug him like anyone else you know well.

[DebJ]

18. Post-Romney on the airwaves, we need to know that our leaders are human. n/t

[bigtree]

11. that 'quality' doesn't just manifest itself in any enduring way with a mere hug

We've seen concrete examples of swift and responsive action from the federal government in response to this natural emergency. This community is actively benefiting, where they're able, from the president's focus and efforts. Let's not pretend this president's appeal is just about some cult of personality or something ephemeral and lacking substance. I shouldn't have to run a full report on those efforts on a picture essay thread, tho. How about just reflecting on the images without such a cynical perspective of the motivations and concerns of the folks pictured?

[Bonobo]

13. I think the motivations are sincere, no mistake about that.

I am just expressing some personal culture shock I guess.

[bigtree]

15. there is a great depth of feeling among Americans about their country

. . . of which our government is our conduit to our connectedness; socially, politically, and functionally.

It's not surprising to me that representatives of that union evoke such a personal and emotional bond and identification among some folks. The converse, I guess, would be those who assume more libertarian or even anarchical attitudes towards government. Most of us fall somewhere in between, I think; driven to either extreme, perhaps, by the ways we are affected by government in its responsiveness, neglect, abuse, or whatever.

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Very well said, bigtree, and thanks for compiling the thread.

Obviously, there are profound cultural differences between Western and Oriental societies, especially in terms of public displays of affection or grief.

Just why that "anthropological" fact should be used to cast aspersions on Americans and their relationship with their President is not clear to me.

How fortunate we are that this compassionate man is able to display his emotions with such sincerity, and then to act on them for the betterment of all.

Oprah Winfrey, indeed! How about "Survivor"?

[datasuspect]

25. i would prefer a lion hearted warlord

who rides the mightiest steed into battle,

hell i'd even settle for a defender of the faith even

[Roland99]

9. Thanks for that. BTW....

CBS reporting that some people won't be hearing from their insurance company adjuster for up to another *TWO MONTHS*!


Man, I sure wish Romney had won and eliminated that worthless FEMA!

[Grins]

14. And no one had to first spend $5,000 at Wal-Mart!

I'm glad he did this. Staten Island and Long Islanders are really suffering. If he had not gone it would have looked like the things he did immediately after the storm were merely for show. The Mayor of NY and the Governor are going to hear about this again.

[Stellar]

17. Thank you for sharing!

very touching!

[Tigress DEM]

19. I can see a cartoon Romney fake hugging these folk in order to pick their pockets....

and being surprised when he finds nothing there.


Obama actually cares about the PEOPLE.

Parents have to grow you up as a loving soul for that to happen. Thank God for Obama's Mama and his Grandparents for giving him a solid foundation to prepare him to be a good person to turn to when the storms take everything away including those most precious to you.

[Little Star]

22. Beautiful pictures. Warms my heart. Thanks for posting them. n/t

[bigtree]

24. kick

[bigtree]

27. .