While George Bush toured Europe and had tea with the Queen (“W” choose not to return to the States early), Obama visited the flooded Midwest, helping volunteers in Quincy, Illinois, fill sandbags that are being trucked to reinforce levees on both sides of the Mississippi River, less than a mile away. Authorities expected the river at Quincy to reach a near-record level of 32 feet by Wednesday. Severe flooding already has hit Cedar Rapids, Iowa, northwest of Quincy.
Obama had planned to campaign in Cedar Falls last Wednesday, but the flooding forced him to cancel; he plans to visit as soon as they are allowed in.
On the “Obama for America” website there is a link to Red Cross and you can also register to volunteer to help in Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Senator Obama says his thoughts are with the people of Iowa, where flooding has chased thousands from their homes.
Obama said since he’s been in public office he has not seen “this kind of devastation.”
Obama pledged to push the federal and state governments to provide aid to the stricken areas.
There are no reports of John McCain visiting the area.
Talking tough on Father’s Day, Senator Obama challenged African-American men on Sunday to play more of a role in raising their children and warned them that “responsibility doesn’t just end at conception.”
“Too many fathers are MIA. Too many fathers are AWOL,” he told a huge African-American congregation in Chicago. “There’s a hole in your heart if you don’t have a male figure in the home that can guide you and lead you and set a good example for you.”
“What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child — any fool can have a child,” he said, to applause. “That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.”
Obama drew laughs when he talked about gyrating portrayals of him in the media: “That was when I wasn’t black enough. Now I’m too black.” Responding to cheers and applause, he added ruefully, “Y’all remember.”
Obama said parents can’t use lack of government resources as an “excuse” for not doing anything for their children: “As fathers and as parents, we’ve got to spend more time with them, and help them with their homework, and turn off the TV set once in a while, turn off the video game and the remote control and read a book to your child.”
Jimmy Kimmel interviews Obama via satellite. The program will air tonight after the NBA finals (approximately 11:30pm EST). The interview was basketball themed and most of the questions were about, yes, basketball.
Questions are paraphrased unless they are in quotes.
Kimmel: Happy Fathers Day. What’s a typical Father’s Day at the Obama house?
Obama: We usually have some experiment with waffles or pancakes and there’s a lot of cleanup afterwards…They come with stuff we wouldn’t normally put on pancakes like whipped cream…. Then we go to church.
Kimmel: Are you required to report gifts as a public servant?
Obama: Only of it’s over $50 but my children are pretty stingy…
Kimmel asked Obama how often he plays basketball. He said about once a week and told the story of how he played in Iowa and won and didn’t play in New Hampshire and lost and now plays before every contest.
When asked if he would put a basketball court in the White House, Obama said “I hear there’s a bowling alley and obviously that didn’t go to well so we’re going to put in a basketball court.”
They talked about Obama’s brother-in-law who is a basketball coach at Oregon State. Obama said he always plays with Reggie Love and talked about his background at Duke and in the NFL.
Kimmel asked if he and Reggie shower together or separately after the games. “Jimmy, we’re not going to discuss this now,” Obama laughed.
Obama said he has been watching the NBA finals. He’s a Bulls fan so isn’t behind one particular team but he said he “did not anticipate Boston manhandling the Lakers like they have.”
“You’re big on hope, senator. Do you think the Lakers have hope?” Kimmel asked.
“Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world and is basically unstoppable when he is at the top of his game,” Obama said.
“Are you worried that if the Lakers do come back it might inspire Hillary Clinton to get back in the race?” Kimmel asked.
Obama was quick to reply: “Sen. Clinton and I are on the same team.”
Kimmel said he is interested in being Obama’s running mate and would like to get on his short list of potential candidates.
Obama said he’s sure the talk-show host would bring in a lot of new voters but added “I just don’t think you vet. That whole thing with [Ben] Affleck. That’s just not going to work.”
See Kimmel/Affleck video below.
Happy Father’s Day Daddy and ALL Dads!
Reporter: Amy Chozick/The Wall Street Journal.
If you are easily offended, please do not view video:
