Obama Loves Steelers, Hates Children?
22 May 2009
Thursday afternoon was supposed to be the highlight of the year for more than 100 Virginia kindergartners. For months, these kids sweated their tiny little germ filled asses off to bake and sell enough cookies to reach the $20 fee for their one and only White House tour with President Obama. But when the time came, they left Washington DC with nothing but tears and a newfound right winged political agenda. The reason they weren’t allowed in? So the Obama could meet and greet the 2009 Super Bowl champion Steelers.
According to parents of the 5-year olds, the bus they chartered was caught in significant traffic which resulted in the group’s 10 minute tardiness. But we have several stories flying around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this morning:
A spokesperson said the group was actually supposed to be there at 9:30, but they held the gates for the group until 10:30, 15 minutes longer than they told the group, but when they still hadn’t arrived, they had to draw the line.
Paty Stine said the White House staff should have made an exception. She feels the kindergarteners were snubbed for the Steelers.
“Here we have President Obama and his administration saying, ‘Here we are for the common, middle class people,’ and here he is not letting 150 5- and 6-year-olds into the White House because he’s throwing a lunch for a bunch of grown millionaires,” Stine said.
Thursday night the White House released this statement: “The President and First Lady are dedicated to opening the doors of the White House to the public, and it is unfortunate to see young people miss a tour. The visitor’s office is already working to reschedule the group.”
So it’s the word of the parents (who failed to account for the possibility that traffic might be a problem) vs the staff of the White House. I’m just so glad this didn’t happen during the Tar Heel’s meet and greet. State fans would have gone shit rage.
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Kindergarteners-Snubbed-for-Steelers.html