Obama Invites Rep. Shimkus To Play Basketball

WASHINGTON — You could call it the Obama All-Stars vs. the Capitol Hills.

President Barack Obama and a few members of his Cabinet played basketball Thursday night at the White House with a handful of House members, two of them Republicans.

"We ran into a president with some serious game," said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.

Obama had "a sweet crossover move" and appeared to be in great shape, Inslee said. "He put a real nice move on me and beat me along the base line."

On the president's team were Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. Also playing with Obama was his personal assistant, Reggie Love, once a forward for the Duke Blue Devils.

The game was closed to the press. Expected on the House side were Democrats Mike Arcuri of New York, John Boccieri of Ohio, Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill of Indiana, Inslee and Rick Larsen of Washington state, Frank Kratovil of Maryland, Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania and Heath Shuler of North Carolina. Republicans invited to play were Jeff Flake of Arizona and John Shimkus of Illinois.

After playing with Obama, Inslee said, "I'm glad we could take his mind off the turmoil in the world for an hour and a half."

Earlier in the day, reporters asked White House press secretary Robert Gibbs why no women were invited to play, a point Gibbs called "well taken."

"The president, obviously, is someone who, as the father of two young daughters, has an avid interest in their competing against anybody on the playing field" Gibbs said. "The president's certainly played basketball and other sports with women in the past, and I anticipate he'll do so in the future."

Comments

[elle famous]

Obama with Basketball ?
shoes basketball­/Basketbal­l game

[MissingHands2]

Conservative males are cowards lead around on a leash either held by the religious-right or Grover Norquist.

Shrinkage come to mind.

[sarah2010]

I think it's great that our prez belives in the concept of forgiveness and doesn't hold grudges but at the same time you can't allow people to make a fool of you. Or feel as if they can get away with treating you any kind of way.
If you get up and turn your back on and walk out on the prez while he's speaking and the response from the White House is a an invite to play b-ball with him what kind of message does that send?
To me it says I can completely disrespect the president and get away with it.

[Passenger57]

Of course , no one will speak of the "hard fouls" Obama dished out....I hope!

[nurseattorney]

I'm pretty sure Reggie Love is the President's enforcer on the BB court. He did a lot of that at Duke.

[sski74]

There is a difference between having a difference of opinion and just wanting to see someone fail. He is confident in himself and his ideas that at the end of the day, he respects opinions even if he doesn't agree, reaches across the aisle to his opponents and has a pick up game. It's called diplomacy. Right on, Mr. Pres.

[Pansey]

Another example of how he earned the Nobel Peace prize - he plays fair, doesn't hold grudges.

[Giordano Bruno]

I hope he slam dunks him. I am never sure if when the President does something like this, whether it is Machiavellian or not. But even if it wasn't intended to be manipulative, this was a classy move. GB

[chensamabindicka]

Next time, hockey.

[Rog49Thomas]

If only Ernst Thalmann had invited Franz von Paper over for a friendly soccer match, the world would be quite different today - I suppose.

[biabouman41]

About women being invited: it is now a legitimate question, now that Title 9 has had effect. Of course another Democratic (Kennedy) piece of social legislation.

[THISTLE]

NO, STOP - stop being so weak and desperate for people to like you, and use you.
When someone is throwing mud in your face, don't hand that person more mud.
STOP trying to be better than the guy who is treating you like dirt - you are better than he
is. Expose the SOB - don't invite him to dinner, ignore or expose him for his LIES.

[StormWarrior]

"be kind to your enemies, it will be like pouring hot coals upon their heads"

bible.

[nnears]

Exactly, kill them with kindness. It will have a much better effect than silence or anger.

[JustSteve]

In other news -- the President wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

This is how the President works. He is unwilling to fight these battles the old-fashioned way of brow beating each other. It has never worked in the long run and has made us a weaker nation.

The tone in Washington will never change as long as people talk at each other instead of with each other.

[Passenger57]

Keep your friends close...and your enemies closer.

[sasidechick]

I wish it had been on pay-per-view. I would have bought it. I would love to see that Wilson arse play hoops.

Are you kidding me??

[JanPoore]

not Wilson. Go back and read it.

[nurseattorney]

I think Joe Wilson is about 5'5". I doubt he plays a lot of BBall.

[lazercat2008]

Gee, I can't beat him politacally, let me try to beat him in sports. Who voted for this guy?

[THISTLE]

More than 53 people intelligent people.

[Cookie100]

Thistle
You;re wrong, over 65 millon voted for Obama

http://www.chacha.com/question/how-many-people-voted-for-obama

[Leiber1223]

who voted for "this guy" ??? (who you might be reminded is OUR president), is 64,385,746 approx... or do you know how to read numbers? You are exactly why Obama "tries" to reach across the table and let you know that things CAN be done together. You wonder who voted for "this guy" well, you my friend, might try the same thing... you might have more friends if you did.

[iiirockstar16iii]

Who gave birth to you loser?

[discouragerofhesitancy]

Obama in no manner whatsoever "lost" to Shimkus. It's the other way round.

[studioh!]

Inviting a man who rudely walked out on a speech by a sitting president to play basketball - that's only ONE reason he was awarded the Peace Prize. The man's got game.

[C65]

YOU GOT IT!,BUT WHAT I AM STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS THESE PEOPLE,
WANT TO POTRAY THEMSELVES AS;"CHRISTIANS".DO THEY OR HAVE THEY
EVER READ THE WORDS IN THE BIBLE,THEY ARE CLAIMING TO BE A PART OF?
FOR INSTANCE:MATTHEWS 5:5,6,7,8,9 BUT MOST OF ALL 5:10/11.

BOY AM I GLAD GOD HAS THE LAST WORD!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!11

[RightWingMarine]

your caps lock is on.

[Passenger57]

Because all they have to do is go to church and seek forgiveness.
See how religion lets them "off the hook" for the things they do?

[Matrsnot]

Then that is the oNLY accomplishment thus far for this guy. He certainly didn't earn the prize for accomplishments, but his ability to use the teleprompter.

[MsAnn]

Um... Bush Jr. used a teleprompter and couldn't even read them. They've all used them. Our president doesn't have a magic wand, at least he's trying and has good intentions. Going into war on lies to enrich the already rich is gross and should be punishable. Jr. and Cheney should be in prison.

[DaBluAce]

whine whine whine no matter the subject just more whine.....you are drunk and disorderly!

[RSKaz]

Fabulous! Then Obama can recreate the Robert Duvall/Michael O'Keefe father/son hoops scene from The Great Santini. And he does have home court advantage.

[sl26]

Let's hope he doesn't invite any women....can you imagine what the wingnuts will be saying about that!

[DaBluAce]

especially when they throw "bows"!! They ( wingnuts)would have a hissy fit!!