March 20th, 2011
01:18 PM ET
Obama scores with Brazilian youthRIO de JANEIRO, Brazil (CNN) - He may not be ready for World Cup 2014 in Brazil but President Obama showed kids in Rio de Janeiro he can do more than just dribble a basketball. The president and his family watched kids playing soccer, known to the world as football or futebol in Portuguese, on a cement playground while visiting the "City of God" (Cidade de Deus) Favela. A group of pre-teen boys formed a half circle around Obama and took turns passing the ball with him. First lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha, who are on Easter break from school, managed to kick the ball around a few times in their ballet flats. "Go Malia!" Obama cheered watching soccer player Malia, who appeared to be the best dribbler of the family. President Obama made one last contact with the ball, and he apparently wanted to make it count because he kicked it up into the air and it almost hit a little boy in the face. Luckily for Obama this was not the kid's first rodeo; he was able to avoid a collision with the ball. World Cup contender or not, the kids appeared to enjoy the minor scrimmage. Their coach led them in a cheer in the president's honor, "...Obama! ...Obama!" |
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Countdown to some Republican claiming the President isn't doing his job in 5...4...3...2...
The name of the game is football.... come on people.
It's spelled futebol in Portuguese.
Obama doing what he does best, playing around. The US really needs a president
pointless remark
Amen to that.
A Republican's address to anything.
Bitch, whine, cry.
Obama derangement syndrome in all it's teabaggary.
Would you ratter a president that dances with kids? that is what bush did!
Not even 10 minutes. That has to be a record.
Unlike CNN, I am following Palin in India. She makes your god king Barry look like the intellectual that he has proven to be.
Follow Sarah Palin in India? Why? Are you saying that every time an unemployed media whore goes to India, we should make a big deal out of it?
Typical Liberal calling a woman a whore.
Reading must not be your strong suit. CNN is reporting on Palin's trup.
Oops! "trip"
Im sorry root and branch...what? http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/19/if-palin-were-president/
I want to believe that while the world seems to be in crisis, Obama is vacationing in Brazil for a reason (to benefit America). I want to believe that while the world seems to be in crisis, Obama is playing futebol with these kids for a reason (to benefit America). I so want to believe. . . . . . .
He is just proving that one can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Phoenix, Take your pill and shut up. Obama, unlike most of the Republican leadershi0p is capable of multitasking – managing a conflict in Libya while simultaneously building relationships with other countries in the world. speaking with world leaders and reaching out to the man on the street. He's a great President.
Seriously, CNN? It's Cidade de Deus. Try adding a Portuguese dictionary to the spell checker.
Palin is unfit to lead from day one. Conservatives and the gop have soured on her. She has become a joke to America. She values the bottom dollar even more than God.
Obama seeks Arab league support before taking action and gets criticized. Obama kicks a soccer ball and gets criticized. Obama breathes and get criticized. Republican political rhetoric: infantile.
It's Brazilians, not Brazilian's.
You need to connect the dots between what's going on in the Middle East with our President's visits to Brazil as well as other countries before you sprew ignorance and hate towards our President. If you don't know how to play ball, shut up.
The official brazilian idiom is portuguese and not spanish. The correct name is Favela Cidade de Deus instead Ciuadad de Dues Favela.
Hey, I thought Palin was supposed to be in Israel today, India yesterday. I'm not following her, but I read that somewhere. Hope she keeps her mouth shut. President Obama is neither a god or a king, but he does excel in intelligence. And, yes, he has definitely proven that he is an intellectual giant.
Reading this "article" and looking at the pictures I feel had that I was sucked into another CNN Obama commercial.
Soccer "football " , and sports has done more to bring peace than all the bombs and bullets ever have !
Could you see Newt G , Sarah P or Mitt R showing a good move on the court or filed ?
To Phoenix86 and all the rest of the reactionary Dinosaurs , BE COOL and if you don't know how , ask for help !
It's so 'republican' to say that Obama went to Brazil to quick a soccer ball. Unlike Bush, who embarrassed himself and the nation with all sorts of gaffes, Obama is a statesman doing his job. Brazil is a major player on commodity prices, international diplomacy and security, specially on middle east affairs.
I just love the guy, but I wish he would end the wars and not get us into another mess. We have enough problems with the two illegal wars bush took us into!
If it was illegal why would Barry continue the wars? Is he waiting for the UN to tell him what to do?
Last I checked we were pulling out of Iraq and starting to draw down in Afghanistan in the near future.
O'Biden said we would be in Afghanistan as long as the wanted us.
I know from personal experience that individual contact with the leaders of other countries accomplishes more in a short amount of time than any number of communiques passed through subordinates and flunkies, or via email or the telephone. It is important that the President conduct such person-to-person meetings with the leaders of other countries. Furthermore, perceptions by others can indeed be changed by something as simple as seeing the formerly distant president of another country doing something as simple, homely, and human as passing around a soccer ball with a bunch of local kids. These are not benefits easily quantifiable through statistics, but they are very real nonetheless.
Well said.
When I choose a world leader I always check with Brazilian youth first. They know what is best for the USA. Oh, and also the UN, yes the UN first then Brazilian youth.
Maybe while Obama is in Brazil he could visit Ford's
Brazil's Camaçari plant and see what an auto manufacturing plant could be like in the United States if it
wasn't for the unions!!!!!!!!!!!
Some republican voters really just need to grow up.
They are just realizing that in Wisconsin
I have to say...in my lifetime I have never seen a President hit with so many crises, so early on in his Presidency. Not to mention the ones he inherited. A little down time is surely deserved (which is actually laughable since no President is really on 'down time'). Since none of us have been the President, we can never really know what it's like. The American public doesn't know every minutia of the things the Presidents have to deal with 24/7/365. Plus everyone wants a quick fix...they want things yesterday. Not happening soon enough...people whine. Didn't mention 'my group'? Well then he's 'insensitive to my groups needs'. Blah, blah, blah. I tell you...it's got to be a tough job. I wouldn't want it.
The ones he inherited? The man asked for the job. This would be like a heart surgeon telling the patient "I can do a better job than that other doctor" then enter the operating room and say "Oh, no! Look what I inherited!! Oh what will I do!!!" Barry needs to grow up and do the job or get out.
Not the same Jay. Its more like the surgeon signed on to insert a stint and once he got full view of the heart he discovered multiple valves collapsing. That is a more accurate analogy of what President Obama encountered coming into office.
President Obama does not complain about the job or his workload, he needs to remind his opponents that he did not create the mess that existed when he took office.
What crisis has Obama been hit with? Hurricane in New Orleans, planes attacking New York City, repeal of the Glass Steagall Act and housing reform from Clinton, Dodd and Frank that led to financial meltdown of this country??????
If the crises are so great why is he kicking a ball in Brazil with children?
It's just unreal how so many people keep badmouthing Obama, regardless of what he does/says. It just makes me sick. The guy can't do anything anymore without getting criticized. If he plays basketball he gets slammed for doing that (nevermind the fact he's human so he needs a break every now and then considering being the US President is a highly-stressful job- an it's not humanly possible working 24/7), if he spends some time with his daughters he gets criticized for that (didn't know there was something wrong in spending some time with your family, even if you're the President..what is he supposed to do? Ignore them for 4 or 8 years and pretend they don't exist?!?!). If he spends time working, he gets slammed on principle because you don't like him so you need to criticize his ideas to feel better about yourself. What a farse you Republicans are.
To the geniuses who keep saying he's vacationing in Brazil, he's there for work, not for his own pleasure. He's meeting the President of Brazil and local politicians, he's been doing many meetings so you can't say this is a vacation, you fools.
Repubs are simply upset that Pres Obama didn't get two shoes launched at his head. Thats How they measure the greatness of a President.
As I said before........The Republicans need to use this to create a great attack ad. Instead of "Where's Waldo", it can be called "Where's Obama".--They can show pictures of the Middle East, Japan, gas prices, food prices, debt/deficit, etc.--and each slide can also include a picture of Obama shooting hoops, playing golf, partying at the White House, yucking it up.--On each slide, they can say...."Where's Obama?"
The campaign motto for 2012 is going to be "ANYONE BUT OBAMA". And, speaking of Obama and butts--he should just draw a face on his butt-then he will have an excuse for talking out of his a*s
How mature of you! NOT!!
No offense, Sue, but that's one of the dumbest, most juvenile comments I've ever heard. It will not be "Anyone but Obama" in 2012, as there are no Republican contenders who have any meaningful chance of winning. The Republican party is in complete disarray with a huge number of factions and differing beliefs that will ultimately result in another losing election. I'm a registered Republican and have been for many years, but I cannot stand where the party has gone. I cannot support a party that claims to be fiscally responsible and fiscally conservative, but then continues to engage in massive spending sprees, as Bush did for eight solid years. Moreover, I can't accept a party that spends all of its time dwelling on ridiculous and antiquated social issues that have nothing to do with anything. The religious right is, in my opinion, the downfall of America and the sooner we get them the hell out of politics, the better.
I think people are still misinformed about Brazil. They still have a vision of a country 60 years ago. An exotic, backward and poor, with nothing to offer, not to be fun!
Therefore, I think I can not understand the importance of this trip!
Well, this all changed! The Brazil of the twenty-first century is already an economic powerhouse! Today is the seventh largest economy in the world and one of the fastest growing. By 2025 will be one of three or four richest countries in the world!
While the world was plunged into crisis, Brazil was growing. While American citizens suffered unemployment, the Brazilians saw leftover jobs. While the Americans tightened their belts, leaving the shop, Brazilians bought more!
The products that Brazil imports from the United States is responsible for the employment of 250 thousand people on American soil.Moreover, the Brazilian companies employ millions of people in the United States.
It turns out that Brazil has always had the U.S. as its largest trading partner, but in the last two years, this role was occupied by China!
This alone is reason enough that the couple wanted to visit Obama's good friend from the south!
What is your president wants to strengthen ties of friendship with a rich country with a huge consumer market and promising. He came to try to recover the ground lost by the Chinese against American products. Besides, is watching the two events that Brazil will host the (World Cup 2014 and Olympics 2016) He wants to close partnership that American companies can participate in infrastructure construction! This will mean more jobs in America!
And it seems he has already achieved great results: 10 CONTRACTS ARE CLOSED ON THE VALUE OF 50 COMPANIES AMERICAN BILLIARDS DÓLARESPARA ... You know what this means? Just the beginning, each 1 billion investment represents 5,000 jobs in the United States. This means that this trip to Brazil for Barack Obama, at worst, made a profit of 250 000 new jobs for American citizens.
This was not enough, Brazil as a country of continental dimensions (higher than the United States, if we take half the territory of Alaska) Eco sitema of Brazil is considered the richest in the world. It has huge tracts of land, enough to produce food that can feed the entire population of planet Earth. Subsoil riches is so abundant, that they're unbelievable. Just to give you an idea, only one of the aquifers in territory Brazilian is able to quench the thirst of all mankind for more than A THOUSAND YEARS! And speaking of water, Brazil has 16% of all drinking water on the planet!
Outside this, Brazil has just discovered oil reserves four times larger than North America. And this is one of the main reasons for Obama's visit. He has said that the U.S. wants to be the first to buy this oil.Obama wants to liberate the American people from dependence on Middle East and Venezuela!
Brazil is a country highly disputed. That is, much safer to buy oil!
I can say one thing that Obama visit to Brazil: WAS WONDERFUL!
The Brazilians were delighted with the friendliness of its Chairman and Michele. He served a little break from the pair who dislike George W Bush alarm signal when it HERE!
Therefore, to criticize Obama's visit to Brazil is at least being misinformed. If he was a poor community and hit a ball, just as was the policy of good neighborliness. This gave a more personal, less formal to visit! And if he went to Corcovado, was to meet the request of his daughters and Michele .... Now, answer me one thing: Would you go to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower, New York, without going to the Statue of Liberty ? So why condemn those who go to visit Rio and Christ the Redeemer? ... I know and I can assure you that there is no place in the world that has a beautiful view on the Corcovado (Cristo Redentor)
Congratulations on your president, a great home, who loves his people!
PS: HOW THE CRISIS, SINCERELY, VC THINK IN TIMES OF INTERNET, THE PRESIDENT OF YOU NEED TO BE IN THE U.S. TO GIVE ANY ORDER? HE CAN DO THIS FOR QUALQEUR PLACE WHERE IS THE WORLD!
THANKS
You're quite right, buddy! I'm proud to be Brazilian! Brazil is not a poor country anymore! You can see prosperity everywhere, for instance, in the total of automobiles sold everyday, in the crowded airports (a lot of people can afford air travels now), in the ever crowded malls. I dare say Brazil will soon be one of the next superpowers in the world if our politicians permit (there's much corruption, though). (Desde a capital dos gaúchos, GILBERTO SAUGEN.)
I'm so happy that our President can take time out from his busy schedule to play soccer in Brazil. "Lets see....I have a bombing at 2, a shout out at 2:30 and.. AHH here we are, soccer with the kids at 3:30. Oh. And before I forget, will someone PLEASE remind Hillary to get that coolant off to the Japanese toDAY!!!"
I'm so happy that our President can take time out from his busy schedule to play soccer in Brazil. "Lets see....I have destruction in Libya at 2, a shout out at 2:30 and.. AHH here we are, soccer with the kids at 3:30. Oh. And before I forget, will someone PLEASE remind Hillary to get that coolant off to the Japanese toDAY!!!"
Another hard hitting piece CNN?
Down the middle I suppose?
How about reporting the riots and protests and CANCELLED speeches and meeting that Oblunder is occuring while in Brazil?
My bad, the whole media is all about protecting Oblunder, all leg tingly.
Selected, elected and totally protected.
Hey, let's go bomb somone that didn't attack us, the UN says it's OK.
Congress, what's a Congress?
At least he was ELECTED PRESIDENT rather than SELECTED PRESIDENT!
I for one am pleased the President stayed focused on creating jobs by going on this trip. This is what we need out leaders doing, not hidding in bunkers and undisclosed locations planning more wars.
Of course he scores. He's distantly RELATED. Stop playing around, get back to work and do something.
@all the news that's fit too omit, L O L! That's funny, but the bombing thing, that's what BUSH did in BAGHDAD! @sbast 18, the only reason you may know his schedule at all is because of his desire and promise to be MORE transparent! You didn't have a clue of what ANY other president had going on minute by minute, hour by hour! Oh, have you read HILLARYS' job description? It's the same one CONDEE RICE had under BUSH. Since she was SO intelligent, he sent her often to do his bidding! DID YOU FORGET? I didn't!
@CH 1108; YOU GO! I've been reminding them of that for 2 years; they just turn their heads, look over that 'fact' and keep talking smack! They don't want to own up to the truth about themselves, because that would knock away at their credibility to continue on their 'mission impossible' to tear down BARACK OBAMA! ACORN was around then; they have the gall to clown the elections board, when all of AL GORES' votes were floating in the ATLANTIC OCEAN down in FLORIDA! Yes, BUSH was SELECTED, never ELECTED!!!
You're totally right on this blog post.