Obama played golf with oil giants during climate rally

[limpyhobbler]

The optics were already pretty bad: As an estimated 40,000 plus climate activists descended on D.C. last Sunday to pressure the president to make good on his promise to address climate change, Obama was in Florida golfing privately with Tiger Woods. It appears that it gets worse: The president was not only teeing off with the famed golfer and philanderer, he was also, according to HuffPo, joined by a “pair of Texans who are key oil, gas and pipeline players.”

The “Climate Forward” rally, bottom-lined by environmental group 350.org, focused on protesting the Keystone XL pipeline extension, which would carry crude oil from Alberta’s tar sands to the Gulf Coast, while — according to opponents — producing lethal levels of carbon emissions, uprooting communities and lining the pockets of oil magnates the Koch brothers. Meanwhile, the president, who will decide on whether to permit the controversial pipeline in the coming months, spent his President’s Day weekend with men set to richly benefit from the pipeline. Via HuffPo:

On his first “guys weekend” away since he was reelected, the president chose to spend his free time with Jim Crane and Milton Carroll, leading figures in the Texas oil and gas industry, along with other men who run companies that deal in the same kinds of carbon-based services that Keystone would enlarge. They hit the links at the Floridian Yacht and Golf Club, which is owned by Crane and located on the Treasure Coast in Palm City, Fla.

However, as Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s Energy Program, noted, “A golf outing does not policy make, but it’s clear that folks in the oil industry have access to the president … The president has made very clear his firm commitment to not just the oil and gas sector, but to expanding the oil and gas sector by increasing production, by, as he said, cutting red tape, and expanding offshore drilling.”
...

from: http://www.salon.com/2013/02/20/during_huge_climate_rally_obama_golfed_with_oil_giants/

[lunatica]

1. I don't see anything wrong with doing business while golfing

It was closed to the press so I imagine there was some candid conversations going on and as far as anyone knows it may have been all about Climate change.

[joeybee12]

12. Ha-ha-ha!

That's very funny...you're a card!

[lunatica]

99. I know you're trying to insult me, but you missed your mark

Golfing, if you bother to educate yourself has traditionally been the neutral ground for many discussions. See comment #16 and enlighten yourself.

[joeybee12]

104. Sweetie, you keep digging your hole deeper...much business is done

over golf...a lot...pathetic that you make shit up to justify your stupid comment.

[JaneyVee]

114. Um, you have no idea what they talked about do you? So YOU are actually making shit up.

[lunatica]

116. You're obviously projecting.

[Trajan]

130. Just plain old mean ...

People wonder why DU has become such a mean and ugly place ...

This post is a perfect example of how that happens ..

Personally, I already understand why this meanness exists here; It's because DU is full of the same mean and ugly personalities that populate the general population ...

Same as it ever was .... It's the same as it ever was ...

[Hotler]

131. STOP PICKING ON PRESIDENT OBAMA.

I love him. He is the best president ever and does no wrong.
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He could have told those guys thanks but, no thanks and did something else. Maybe invite one of us common folks to come play golf with him at a public golf course.

[cbayer]

16. I agree. You can have very frank and private conversations on a golf course.

It's one of the reasons I learned to play golf. The men would spend the afternoon golfing and come back with political deals which I had totally missed out on.

[pangaia]

57. HA HA!! I love it. !!

[Egalitarian Thug]

64. Of course you don't.

[lunatica]

100. Do you know me?

Because I don't recognize you at all.

[bluestate10]

2. I have business dealings everyday with people who I don't agree with on much. So what? nt

[Avalux]

4. Obama has to talk to them. What good does it do to be adversarial?

He has to at least try to get them on board with changing the way they do business. Don't automatically think he's their buddy. Easier to do playing golf than sitting around a table.

[limpyhobbler]

58. What's an example of something you think he might have said to them during the golf?

I can't think of anything that makes him look good.

[joeybee12]

107. BP

Yeah, he stood up to them.

[Jersey Devil]

5. so what?

The media is still pissed they didn't have access to him over the weekend so they decided to teach him a lesson. According to them he has to ask their permission to take a dump by himself. The guy was on a short, well earned vacation. I don't care if he was having a conversation with vampires, there is still some privacy he is entitled to.

[limpyhobbler]

59. This isn't about his privacy issue. It's about his palling around with oil men while

the biggest climate rally was going on at his house. It's completely insulting.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Look. If you want to fuck somebody up, you have to actually meet them.

The golf date was with Tiger.

Go ahead and let the assholes in.

You can't kick an ass unless you get close to it.

AND. Huffpost?

[limpyhobbler]

60. You can't kiss an ass unless you get close to it.

(There I fixed it.)

[NYC_SKP]

89. You did, you fixed it!

Tou-shay!

[monmouth3]

7. He is the President of all the people and all points of view. No big deal..n/t

[GeorgeGist]

23. I did notice Michael Moore and ...

Naomi Klein in the background.

[progressoid]

43. +1

[limpyhobbler]

63. It is a big deal. It's offensive. Dance with who brung ya.

Most of those people at the rally voted for Obama. Some of them traveled all night on buses. And then all day in the cold. Some older people may have been risking their lives to make the trip. People who voted for the President. But I guess he likes hanging around with oil execs instead for some reason.

[KoKo]

78. I agree...Obama who is usually so "careful" really F'd up on this one...

I can understand a need to get away for a short vacation after election.

So Michelle and the Girls go off to Ski and he get's his DREAM of playing Golf with Tiger....

But...it sort of doesn't look good for those of us who voted for him Against McCain/Palin because of screeching of "Drill Baby Drill" from Caribou Barbi...

We thought we were voting for a different approach.

[TheKentuckian]

110. When is he going to be the President of those protesters then?

[magellan]

8. The responses here would be MUCH different if a Repub Prez had done this. n/t

[Sekhmets Daughter]

15. When a republican president does it, it's not even news. n/t

[Zoeisright]

51. Since repukes deny climate change even exists,

you're comparing apples and oranges.

[magellan]

102. Since Repubs deny climate change exists

...this behavior falls right in line with what we'd expect of them. Making it even more outrageous that President Obama, who doesn't deny climate change, would do it.

Apples and oranges do share some commonality.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

62. Ya think?

This thread would be ripping him a new one instead of posting ridiculous apologist propaganda.

[Laelth]

101. I fear you are absolutely right about that. n/t

-Laelth

[SammyWinstonJack]

108. The NEVER ENDING apologist propaganda. Getting real tiresome at this point. I wonder...

do/does the one-percent (Obama and family included) think they are immune to climate change?

They know something we don't?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

109. My favorite is that he invited them so he could discuss climate change with them.

That's on a par with "creation science" for willful ignorance of reality.

[EastKYLiberal]

9. The other side already attacks the President for golfing...

People on the left sure as hell don't need to.

[Comrade Grumpy]

25. He's not being attacked for golfing...

...but for his choice of golfing partners--the Texas oilmen--especially as tens of thousands of people demanding he do something about climate change get ignored.

Bad optics indeed.

[grntuscarora]

10. The President was also playing golf

the last time there was a huge XL Pipeline protest in DC, the one that surrounded the White House, in November of 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57319383/thousands-in-d.c-protest-pipeline/
I suppose a movement might start to feel a bit snubbed, but it's all just a coincidence, I'm sure.

[Enrique]

21. interesting

i imagine the protests would have to be planned well in advance, and so the golf trips were planned knowing about the protests.

[babylonsister]

30. No, the golf trip was planned around Presidents' Day/weekend.

[grntuscarora]

49. If I knew 40,000 of the people that voted for me

were planning on paying me a call, I'd reschedule the golf game.

But whatever. ForwardOnClimate will go on, regardless.

Hope he had a nice Sunday. Mine was awesome.

[limpyhobbler]

65. +1

[progressoid]

11. He's probably breaking the bad news that Keystone XL will be delayed a couple more months.

[Autumn]

31. He could have been giving them good news.

I think that pipeline is a done deal, and they got it.

[joeybee12]

13. Wow...the apologist comments here are amazing...

Phucking scary, too.

[babylonsister]

32. Because they don't agree with you? nt

[joeybee12]

34. And when Dick CHeney had that energy meeting we know

he was just talking about alternate, sustainable fuels, right? You're known by the company you keep...a serial adulterer and dirty oil men...not a good foursome.

[babylonsister]

36. Oh please; he played golf with them. Why are you

yapping about the company he keeps? And yes, a golf course is known traditionally for men to talk things out and over casually. Who knows what went on? But please don't cast aspersions on those of us who don't see anything particularly nefarious about a day on the links.

[joeybee12]

105. Stop making shit up! Honestly...that's why women are so angry about exclusive golf

clubs...and rightfully so...it's a sport where a lot of business is conducted, when people in power play golf it's not o relax...honestly...blinding yourself to facts is scary...we don't know what happened, but please don't try and make shit up to justfify your belief that nothing happened...it might well have and it might not have been great.

[Zoeisright]

52. LOL!

I see. Just because he meets with oil execs that means he's a climate change denier?

You're really reaching. People were upset about Cheney's meeting because we knew he was in Big Oil's pocket. Grow up.

[joeybee12]

103. Amazing, you know exactly what happened and you tell me to grow up...

Pathetic worthless post...go learn some logic skills.

[Mojorabbit]

48. I agree with you

Despite the snarky comebacks you are getting. I was pissed when Cheney met in private with the oil sector and I am not fond of this either.

[Demo_Chris]

14. President Obama has a track record of standing up to the...

....do I REALLY need to finish that sentence?

[hay rick]

50. ...fucking retarded?

(Rahm Emanuel reference)

[Autumn]

17. Of course, he's their President too.

[Demo_Chris]

19. Correction: he's their president

[lbrtbell]

22. So be their president the day AFTER the rally.

Meet with the protesters first, then play golf with these people. Hearing both sides is better than just hearing one.

[Autumn]

24. I can't argue with that.

Did he meet with the protesters? For some reason I doubt he did.

[Fire Walk With Me]

38. Protesters can't get anywhere near him now thanks to HR347

which makes it a federal offense to protest where secret service are working. Up to 10 years in prison if the government wishes to press charges.

No more Mic Checks. And it's not Democracy if they don't listen.

[DevonRex]

54. Funny, that's what Fox News' Judge Andrew Napolitano says in this video:

&feature=youtube_gdata_player

You wouldn't be spreading garbage would you?

http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/how-big-deal-hr-347-criminalizing-protest-bill

"It's important to note — contrary to some reports — that H.R. 347 doesn't create any new crimes, or directly apply to the Occupy protests. The bill slightly rewrites a short trespass law, originally passed in 1971 and amended a couple of times since, that covers areas subject to heightened Secret Service security measures.

These restricted areas include locations where individuals under Secret Service protection are temporarily located, and certain large special events like a presidential inauguration. They can also include large public events like the Super Bowl and the presidential nominating conventions (troublingly, the Department of Homeland Security has significant discretion in designating what qualifies as one of these special events).

The original statute, unchanged by H.R. 347,made certain conduct with respect to these restricted areas a crime, including simple trespass, actions in or near the restricted area that would "disrupt the orderly conduct of Government," and blocking the entrance or exit to the restricted area.

H.R. 347 did make one noteworthy change, which may make it easier for the Secret Service to overuse or misuse the statute to arrest lawful protesters."

Read the whole thing. The ACLU explains it quite well. It's not at all what you're saying. But then I'm not surprised.

[Autumn]

81. Just a tweak here and there. And before you know it

Democracy is fading away.

[Fire Walk With Me]

20. Corporate Profits Have Grown By 171 Percent Under Obama -- Highest Rate Since 1900

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/corporate-profits-have-grown-171-percent-under-obama-highest-rate-1900

Business executives like to portray the Obama administration as the “ most anti-business” in history, creating an “ increasingly hostile environment for investment and job creation.” However, the data tells a far different story. According to a Bloomberg News analysis, corporate profits have grown by 171 percent under Obama, the most in the post-war era:

Profits are more than twice as high as their peak during President Ronald Reagan’s administration and more than 50 percent greater than during the late-1990s Internet boom, measured by the size of the economy.

Average annual corporate profit growth under Obama is the highest since 1900, whereas profit growth declined during both Bush presidencies. As a share of the economy, corporate profits have never been higher.

Unfortunately, this profit deluge has not been shared by workers, whose wages as a percentage of the economy have fallen to all-time lows. Workers also got dinged by the recent increase in the payroll tax, which was large enough to wipe out a minimum wage increase in some states.

[limpyhobbler]

69. The 1% is loving it

Incomes Flat in Recovery, but Not for the 1%

WASHINGTON — Incomes rose more than 11 percent for the top 1 percent of earners during the economic recovery, but not at all for everybody else, according to new data.

The numbers, produced by Emmanuel Saez, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, show overall income growing by just 1.7 percent over the period. But there was a wide gap between the top 1 percent, whose earnings rose by 11.2 percent, and the other 99 percent, whose earnings declined by 0.4 percent.

Mr. Saez, a winner of the John Bates Clark Medal, an economic laurel considered second only to the Nobel, concluded that “the Great Recession has only depressed top income shares temporarily and will not undo any of the dramatic increase in top income shares that has taken place since the 1970s.”

The disparity between top earners and everybody else can be attributed, in part, to differences in how the two groups make their money. The wealthy have benefited from a four-year boom in the stock market, while high rates of unemployment have continued to hold down the income of wage earners.
...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/business/economy/income-gains-after-recession-went-mostly-to-top-1.html?_r=0

[Egalitarian Thug]

72. Pure coincidence, you left-wing loony Obama h8r!

Unreasonable demands! Unreasonable demands!

[Selatius]

26. This is an example of money talking.

This Republic is warped by money; it's absolutely dominated by its power.

[limpyhobbler]

70. It sure looks that way.

[blue neen]

28. Then how did we get the above picture of Obama golfing with the oil giants?

Weird, huh?

[DearHeart]

37. How clever you are to point that out

Number one, there is no date or time stamp on the picture above
Number two, there are no "oil giants" in the picture, it's just President Obama
Number three, it might be possible that this picture was taken on another outing...if you have proof of what the President was wearing on Sunday, then I will make my apologies to you.
and
Number four, reporters were all over the television yesterday, IIRC, bitching about how they were kept away from the President, and his group.

I pulled my response because I read on a blog from Medea Benjamin that a man named Jim Crane was the "oil man", so I didn't want post incorrect information in my response.

Have a nice night!

[blue neen]

42. I have no proof of what the President was wearing on Sunday,

or on the day that the posted picture was actually taken.

You're quite correct. There aren't any oil giants in the OP's picture. It makes one wonder why that particular photo was used with that particular headline.

Hey, you have a nice night, too!

[babylonsister]

46. fwiw, it's an old picture. nt

[blue neen]

47. Yep.

[Enrique]

29. instead of protesting, the environmentalists should be working on their golf game

Obama's host, Mr. Crane, was rated the #1 golfer among CEOs. No wonder Obama wants to golf with him.

Bragging rights on Wall Street now belong to Jim Crane of Houston-based Eagle Global Logistics (EGL). Sporting an almost-professional handicap index of 0.8, Crane, who is making his debut on the list at No. 1, narrowly took the top spot from No.2-ranked Jerry Jurgensen of Nationwide (0.9 index). Curt S. Culver of mortgage insurance giant MGIC Investment, who was No. 1 in 2004, dropped to No. 3 in the ranking (2.6 index). Crane grew up caddying at a suburban St. Louis country club and recalls being able to play for free on caddie day. Nowadays, most of his golf is business-related. "If you can't close in four hours, you can't sell," Crane says of the opportunity provided by the game.
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1dlKI)

[joeybee12]

35. "Most of his golf is business related"

Says it all.

[glinda]

41. Common practice many places to do deals at the golf courses.

[limpyhobbler]

71. Putt putt?

If so I'm in.

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. President Obama is a politician first and foremost.

Funny when people realize he's not really "one of us".

[sulphurdunn]

39. Golly gee and schazam!

The President was golfing with dirty oil boys while 40,000 people, most of whom voted for him, were demonstrating against dirty oil outside his house. It looks bad. Fortunately, there were also green golfers in the group. They were, however, disqualified on the first tee for objecting to being told to tee off with putter shafts while the dirty oil boys were allowed bionic drivers due to the number of handicap strokes given by the President.

[DevonRex]

40. Yeah. Obama was on vacation. Deal with it.

When he's on vacation he can play golf wherever, whenever, and with whomever he pleases. So there was a rally somewhere about something. There often is. He only gets a few days off, totally off, unlike past presidents, and Christmas was fucked up royally by Boehner. And you think you know exactly how conversation might have gone during that round of golf? Why don't you enlighten us? Word for word. Don't leave anything out.

Lame. Totally lame.

P.S. You gave Dorner a hell of a lot of the benefit of the doubt during his killing spree. You assumed the LAPD intentionally executed him by burning him to death. Now you assume the worst of President Obama. Interesting who is always guilty until proven innocent in your world.

[limpyhobbler]

73. I alerted on this. I don't really want an ongoing personal dialog with you.

[Scurrilous]

79. "I alerted on this."

How did that work out?

[limpyhobbler]

119. They voted to leave it.

Seems like I had the wrong idea about what means rude here.

[snooper2]

92. could you post the alert results in Meta?

was it 5-1 or 6-0?

[SidDithers]

122. Curious pattern there, eh?...nt

Sid

[DevonRex]

129. One

could say that. Oh, I finally had to out someone on ignore after all these years. Not this poster, though. Somebody else down thread.

[MotherPetrie]

44. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas

[OldDem2012]

45. Yet another Obama-hater thread on DU. Shocker. No, really! nt.

[Fuddnik]

53. It's not like he's making it hard.

[Summer Hathaway]

56. It was just a matter of time ...

before those who have complained about every Obama policy, every appointment, every Cabinet choice, every speech, every statement, etc., would eventually get around to whining about who he plays golf with, and when.

My personal favorite of the Obama complaints was the one that was posted here a few years ago about Obama wearing sandals while boating with his family. As the poster said at the time, he was "sending the wrong message to other countries" by doing so.

Such are the times in which we live - or at least the times in which some DUers choose to live.

[limpyhobbler]

74. I'm sorry that you perceive it that way. I don't hate Obama, but I am offended by his choice of golf

buddies.

[Pisces]

55. Tiger Woods is ranked the 2nd best golfer in the world ( we know he is the best) why add known

philanderer? So what? Obama would talk to no one in Washington if he based who he talks to on fidelity. So sick of the non
stop attack machine on both sides towards the President. Questioning his policies,(immigration, drones, jobs etc is
par for the course) now criticizing his down time???

[DevonRex]

61. OMG, he played golf with a known philanderer????? The article says that, too? ROFL!!!!!!!

Now we know the purpose of it all. Just smear.

[limpyhobbler]

75. Whatever.

I'm sick of the non-stop people defending Obama no matter what he does.

[CheapShotArtist]

95. +1

You've just won this thread.

[spanone]

66. some folks like to project the worse on the President

[Egalitarian Thug]

67. Apparently the call went out on the BOG PMWire.

Circle the wagons! The agenda is showing again!

[DevonRex]

77. Apparently you don't like it when people disagree with you. Neither does the OP.

Luckily this is Democratic Underground and we can have our say, too. If you want an echo chamber...

[DevonRex]

84. Funny, but you're the one complaining about people having their say. Implying nefarious things.

Poor you. You had to listen to another opinion. I know it's just terrible.

[Egalitarian Thug]

85. I'm not complaining about anything, your group are the ones getting their panties all twisted over

this latest demonstration of the President, and the Party's, real agenda. Trillions for Wall Street, nothing for Main Street.

And just as I was sure you wouldn't address the issue, I'm still laughing your feigned indignation.

[DevonRex]

86. What group? I am an individual. You are seriously mistaken if you think there are more of me. nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

87. LOL! You are aware that your profile is readily available, aren't you?

And somehow it has slipped your mind to address the issue, yet again.

[DevonRex]

88. Why, yes. And? Is it bad? nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

90. Bad? That's a matter of opinion. It does clearly show where you, and the rest,

are coming from in your unwavering defense of the undefendable, and avid participation in a cult of personality.

And how about that issue?

[DevonRex]

93. Oh dear. You seem upset. It's not good for you, you know. nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

96. I know history, so I'm not upset at all. You will inevitably experience the consequences of your

worship, and will just as undoubtedly find someone else to blame for them. I'm merely pointing it out while laughing at you.

So what about that round with criminals while people are dying from their actions? Any response?
(We definitely need more laughing smilies)

[Egalitarian Thug]

113. Yeah, didn't think you'd have one. n/t

[Egalitarian Thug]

118. What? We're all still waiting for some explanation of this strange coincidence... n/t

[SidDithers]

125. Apparently the call went out to the "Rec the cheap shot Anti-Obama thread" crew too...

always the same list of names on that rec list.

Ain't transparency wonderful.

Sid

[Egalitarian Thug]

126. Still waiting for one of you to actually address the issue. n/t

[SidDithers]

127. Post #67 was addressing the issue?...

You fire that out there, then expect someone to respond to you about the issue?



Sid

[Egalitarian Thug]

128. Not at all, I have absolutely no expectations from any of the faithful beyond mild amusement

at watching the contortions and ad hominem distraction as you try to defend the indefensible and portray this President as anything other than a willing servant to the ruling class.

Sid, you're really late to this one, please try to keep up.

[forestpath]

68. That figures, since those are the only kind of people he pays attention to.

[Scurrilous]

80. Golfers are the only people Obama pays attention to?

[forestpath]

83. I'm sure those oil giants appreciate your defense.

[egduj]

76. I like that picture. Appears to be a real moment.

And to stay on topic, golf courses are the all time greatest meeting rooms.

[NYC_SKP]

91. He also wears pants. JUST LIKE CHENEY!!!

(forgive me)

[ecstatic]

94. This is really petty, IMO

Is this about suppressing voter turnout in 2014? Get democrats worked up about superficial things so that repubs can swoop back in?

[alarimer]

98. No, it's not petty.

It's about the corporate pieces of shit he's hanging out with. We were outraged when Cheney held secret meetings with these same people. But when Obama does the same (except on the golf course because Cheney was a walking corpse), it's okay?

So many Obama apologists.

When the pipeline is approved, what excuses will you make for your hero then?

[joeybee12]

106. +1...

[ecstatic]

115. Is there no middle ground in your world?

He's either a hero or villain? But to answer your question, I don't get worked up over speculation and assumptions. I get worked up by actual results. Cheney's results were 2 illegal wars, which then meant that everything he did prior was viewed in an entirely new light.

Here's my stance on the pipeline: I'm neutral. I see hypocrisy in car driving protesters who imply that only third world countries should be exposed to the dangers and pollution involved in oil extraction. Nobody seems to give a damn about the huge oil spills off the coast of Africa and/or S. America. Just don't let it happen in the US. I have a problem with that type of thinking. That being said, we should be moving away from oil and not digging in deeper... but in the meantime, millions of cars still need oil to run... So that's why my overall stance is neutral on the whole thing.

[Hekate]

97. OH NOES.

I can never trust him again.

[Romulox]

111. The apologists are incoherent: "So what? He's their president too!"

I mean

[SidDithers]

120. Keep trying...nt

Sid

[limpyhobbler]

121. Keep trying what?

[SidDithers]

123. So transparent...

Sid

[limpyhobbler]

124. What's transparent?

What are you trying to say?