Posted on 06/19/2009 3:43:43 PM PDT by Steelfish
Obama for Father's Day: Stay Home, US Dads
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS June 19, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Growing up without a father left a painful hole in his heart, President Barack Obama told a lawnful of boys at the White House Friday in a remarkably personal Father's Day weekend message. He implored fathers everywhere -- and the kids when they're a bit older -- to stay home and stay involved in the lives of their own children.
''This isn't an obligation,'' said the father of two in a message to millions of wayward dads. ''This is a privilege to be a father.''
Obama spent hours on Friday with teenagers, young men, community mentors and everyday dads in hopes of launching what he called a national conversation on responsible fatherhood. Each story was personal. But one of them commanded the most attention: his.
He spoke at length about how his father, Barack Obama Sr., left home early. The future president was just 2 at the time and saw his dad only once more, at age 10, a short visit that still left a lasting imprint.
''I had a heroic mom and wonderful grandparents who helped raise me and my sister, and it's because of them that I'm able to stand here today,'' he told a throng of youngsters. ''But despite all their extraordinary love and attention, that doesn't' mean that I didn't' feel my father's absence. That's something that leaves a hole in a child's heart that a government can't fill.''
''Just because your own father wasn't there for you, that's not an excuse for you to be absent also. It's all the more reason for you to be present,'' Obama said at the White House. He gave the same message earlier at an education center for young, at-risk adults.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Personally I think I’d rather let my daughter and wife drag me around wherever they want to. If that makes them feel good, then I’m happy. Sure, there are lots of things I’d like to get done, but they’re not as important as my family’s happiness - not by a long shot.
My tools may rust and wither and perhaps be unsorted, but there are more available and I can always sort tools sometime...
BTW, no offense to anyone, just my 2 pennies here.
WOW you have seriously low expectations regarding today’s youth.... LOL....
You really do understand the Failure of the Public School system.
Everything this man says is always accompanied with veiled bitterness.
You mean like Oboma's Mama?
Even if she did get married, then divorced, then married, then divorced, etc.
He’s the BEST father...EVER....he even went GOLFING with his son, Joe Biden!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.