Deaf Student 'Speechless' After President Obama Responds To Him In Sign Language

[bigtree]

Last edited Wed Mar 21, 2012, 08:20 AM - Edit history (2)

from HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/deaf-student-obama-sign-language_n_1369118.html


As first reported on Distriction, Stephon, a student at Prince George Community College, was standing in line after an event on energy policy with President Obama and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, waiting for a chance to shake hands with the president. As the president was shaking hands and making his way through the crowd, he met up with Stephon, who was born deaf.

"I am proud of you," Stephon signed to the president.

Not missing a beat, President Obama signed back: "Thank you . . ." (more)

When I got in, I took many videos. What amazed me is that it took two hours to make it just right before Obama started. I did not realize how great of seats there were for us deaf people. Right front of Obama. I sat in VIP with the Governor Martin O’Malley and many other important people. So, it started at about 11. Obama was right front of me. I was ready to jump up and walk toward him and shake his hand. Could you imagine how the Secret Service would’ve responded? When I watched Obama give his speech on the stage I thought to myself, “No way, Obama is not standing right in front of me! Wow!”

If you want to know more about what Obama’s speech was about, you can find out online. I was close enough to touch Martin O’Malley on his shoulder but I didn’t want to bother him. I regret I could have done better holding my camera while talking to Obama. The moment I will never forget was when he looked at me. He gave me a chance to talk to him. It was like he was waiting for me to say something. I took the moment and signed “I am proud of you,” and his response was “Thank u” in sign language back! Oh my gosh! I was like wow! He understood me after I said I was proud of him. It was so amazing…I was just speechless. Right after he thanked me, he smiled at another deaf lady who signed “I love you.” When I shook his hand it did not feel like he was superior to me. He was just a humble man. I am just impressed by him and know that he will have my vote and he will win second term without a doubt. Yeah, I feel safe to have him for another term.

(more)

article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/deaf-student-obama-sign-language_n_1369118.html

Barack Obama
@BarackObama

"I am proud of you," Stephon signed. "Thank you," the President signed back. OFA.BO/r49Cce

[MarianJack]

1. WOW!

What a great Moment! K&R!

PEACE!

[BlueJazz]

2. Very cool and a wonderful story.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

3. WOW!! That is so cool! This will make its way around

the Deaf community, for sure! The Deaf grapevine is FAST!

I'm impressed that the President understood Stephon without hesitation. You can see Stephon is amazed by that, too.

This is just reallllllllllllllllly cool

I'd love to meet that kid, Stephon. Loved watching him tell his story. He keeps going off the point to describe things and then going..."well, ANYWAY..(back to the point)" made me smile .....and I loved seeing him go back in his mind, after telling how the Pres looked him in the eye, shook hands, listened, and signed, "Thank You"......the look on Stephon's face....you can see he was moved SO deeply......

WOW, I really loved this!!!!!!
Thank you for posting!!!!!!!!

[Botany]

12. Nice post

It made me go back to post #7 to learn some basics ..... I will now carry
a pencil and paper when i walk my dog in a near by park because I often
run into a deaf man and his dog and he likes that I let the dogs play. I
sense he wants to talk about dogs and that is a good thing.

You know it is really simple to be kind to others and it makes our
journey from birth to death so much better. President Obama learning
the basics of sign is kind of like that he took the time to learn to salute
properly when he started as President .... he did that to show respect
to the servicemen and women that are around him.

[grantcart]

43. Another example of "Yes We Can" going down as well as up the leadership ladder.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

148. yes, respect.....consideration for other people....

"be kind to others, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle"....I don't know where that saying comes from, but it's a good reminder.

I'm a Sign Language Interpreter, have been for 28 years, so.....this vid was marvelous for me!

[madokie]

4. I feel safe with him at the helm too

What is not to like about this man is beyond me.
ETA: We are blessed to have this man as our President, no doubt. Two word, he understands

[zipplewrath]

21. So you don't expect to be targeted I presume

I presume you don't expect to be targeted by him for indefinite detention or extrajudicial killing.

Hey, I think it was cool too. I wonder if he really understood or if he was just smart enough to say "thank you" in sign language (it's not a particularly difficult sign and actually makes sense. I use it often with wait staff in noisy bars. They tend to understand).

But let's hold off on sainthood here. He exercising power in extreme ways and it doesn't exactly make me feel "safe".

[olegramps]

26. Good grief. You certainly have stumbled into the wrong forum. Only a Repub could be so hateful.

[xtraxritical]

56. I for one trust President Obama to exercise these powers with

thoughtful restraint. I'm glad I no longer have to fear the exercise of these powers by Bush/Cheney, whom initiated most of what the poster refers to. If we did not have a completely obstructionist rethuglican congress the President could work with congress to resolve these issues. The Pres. tried to close Gitmo early on but the rethuglicans would not allow any prisoners to be transferred to supermax facilities on the mainland. Vote a straight Democratic ballot, give the Pres. a Congress he can work with, and I'm sure these issues will be quickly resolved.

[zipplewrath]

88. Actually, he didn't

The Pres. tried to close Gitmo early on but the rethuglicans would not allow any prisoners to be transferred to supermax facilities on the mainland.

He tried to move it, not close it, to the facility you mention. He had no intention of closing the institution. In fact he asserts the right to maintain indefinite detentions.

[ProSense]

95. Not only

He tried to move it, not close it, to the facility you mention. He had no intention of closing the institution. In fact he asserts the right to maintain indefinite detentions.

...have you hijacked the thread, but you're spewing utter nonsense. Moving the prisoners was the process for closing Guantanamo and transfering them to a U.S. facility so that civilian trials could begin.

[zipplewrath]

131. Bit of semantics

When he was campaigning on this issue, neither him, nor McCain (who both advocated the closing of Gitmo) mentioned it in the context of either merely moving the prisoners, nor of maintaining indefinite detentions. The problem with Gitmo, that both of them were attempting to address, was the complaint (amongst others) that holding these prisoners, in this fashion was a problem for our military and our foreign policy especially in the middle east and in Afghanistan. "Closing" Gitmo, only to move the problem to Illinois wasn't going to change that. It wasn't Cuba that was the problem, it was who we were holding and why.

I do suspect his position on indefinite detentions was in part to try to fix the problem one step at a time. He may have been trying to avoid the arguement about a general policy, so he could get the facility moved, and trials moving forward. Once they got down to the last of them, THEN he could take up the issue of indefinite detentions on a specific basis, not a general policy one. Since none of his plans have really gone anywhere, we can't really know at this point. At the pace things are going, he won't have this "fixed" by the time he leaves office.

[Walk away]

107. +1

[Number23]

116. I rec'd this thread in honor of that delightful poster. Up to 158 now.

He must be furious that his threadjack didn't get quite the results he wanted. And that makes me just a little bit happy.

[zipplewrath]

145. Wrong image

I think you misunderstand me greatly. Of course, I have to take at least half that responsibility since commincation is a two way street. And now we can say 159. Hope that makes you even happier.

[madokie]

32. Hey this is totally uncalled for

I have my opinions and you have yours, I don't berate you for yours but yet you do me for mine go away please. Have a good day irregardless.

Why don't you email the President and ask him if he knows sign language, seems to me he would have to have some grasp of it in order to know to reply thank you.

[zipplewrath]

34. You do realize it is a discussion forum right?

Never understand why people post things in a discussion forum, and then complain that people discuss them. They do have a whole group though just for that kind of thing if you want.

It did occur to me that he might take a bit of a risk replying thank you, if he didn't believe he understood the underlying expression. Although with sign language, there's a certain amount of "body language" to the whole thing anyway. Plus, the guy may have also spoken or mouthed what he was signing. It's not uncommon when signing to the hearing.

[nobodyspecial]

37. And what makes you such an expert?

[zipplewrath]

41. Exactly where did I represent myself as an expert?

And exactly where is it stated that only experts are to participate in discussion?

[nobodyspecial]

55. This statement sure seems like you want us to think you know something about sign language.

"I wonder if he really understood or if he was just smart enough to say "thank you" in sign language (it's not a particularly difficult sign and actually makes sense."

You are making a judgement based on your knowledge of sign language. Thank you for admitting that you have no basis for your assessment.

[zipplewrath]

57. False dichotomy

I have a basis. That doesn't make me an expert. I spent a couple of years socializing with the deaf community. I wouldn't consider that an "expert" by any stretch. Far from "clueless" however.

[dionysus]

90. maybe people are sick of you using every single post talk shit about a guy.

you could make a thread about breakfast cereal into an anti obama thread. people are bored of it by now.

[zipplewrath]

92. Hyperbole?

A review of my postings will reveal some supportive, and some not, along with some that have nothing to do with Obama.

But something tells me that you have no problem, when someone posts something critical of the president, with all the responses pointing to the lists of "promises kept" or all the reasons they like Obama, when it has nothing to do with the OP.

It's a discussion forum. If you don't want a discussion, go to the appropriate groups the restrict responses to only those that will agree with you. They exist for that very reason.

[dionysus]

97. first, don't fucking try to chase me off of a forum, thank you very much. it will only make me laugh

which is what i'm doing now.

second, trying to hijack threads isn't very endearing, i see you haven't grasped that...

[zipplewrath]

132. I haven't done either

Maybe take a step back? I didn't hijack anything. I responded to a specific post. And I'm not trying to run anyone off of anywhere. I'm actually engaging everyone. Pointing out that the structure some peope want exists in another group isn't "running" anyone off. I'm explaining the structure of a discussion forum versus a group like BOG whose purpose is to avoid discussion with differing points of view.

[SemperEadem]

39. yes, we realize it's a discussion forum

but we weren't discussing that issue.

[zipplewrath]

44. Um....

What is not to like about this man is beyond me."

Exactly what was being discussed?

[SemperEadem]

47. Him responding to a deaf man using sign language

dont' be disruptive.

[zipplewrath]

49. I'll note you ignored the quote

And the subject of the post as well.

[stevenleser]

70. That's OK, you ignored the subject of the OP to discuss whatever you felt was important.

You cant exactly expect people to discuss what you want them to discuss after that, can you?

[nobodyspecial]

81. LOL

[zipplewrath]

126. No I did not

Since you didn't appear to read the original post, here it is again.

I presume you don't expect to be targeted by him for indefinite detention or extrajudicial killing.

Hey, I think it was cool too. I wonder if he really understood or if he was just smart enough to say "thank you" in sign language (it's not a particularly difficult sign and actually makes sense. I use it often with wait staff in noisy bars. They tend to understand).

But let's hold off on sainthood here. He exercising power in extreme ways and it doesn't exactly make me feel "safe".

Lets do some simple math. 17 words answering HIS question about not understanding people who were critical of this President. 21 words about the president using sign language, which was the subject of the post I WASN'T responding to.

How that qualifies as "ignore" is beyond me. It's called context. It doesn't even qualify as "pivoting" . He asked a question, and I responded, PREDOMINATELY about the original post in the CONTEXT of his question.

[NBachers]

121. OK- since you're the one bringing up ignore . . . you've earned a place on MY ignore list

People come here to share joy and feel good about a wonderous experience and you cram shit down their throats.

[zipplewrath]

127. He asked a question

he asked a question in essesence about people who don't agree with him. This is a discussion group where those people are expected to respond. If he wanted a fan group experience, we have a whole group set aside specifically for that purpose. They seem to actually need the content considering that they apparently only got about 10 postings yesterday. If he doesn't want a discussion on his point of view, despite explictly asking the question, he can go there. The groups hosts specifically refer to it as a "safe haven".

[Number23]

149. I absolutely LOVE all of the attention the BOG gets

They seem to actually need the content considering that they apparently only got about 10 postings yesterday.

And the fact that your comment is not even the slightest bit true in ANY way is irrelevant, huh? Just love the haters who hate the President so much they just can't stay away from any positive post about the man or from The BOG which is widely known for being staunchly pro-Obama. Most people avoid things they despise but then again, most people are probably reasonable at least in some way.

It cracks me up. You've gotten your behind handed to you by about a dozen posters in this thread and yet you feel the urge to try and crap on The BOG. Hint: When people with no credibility malign something, it doesn't hurt the thing that they are trying to malign. Just a heads up.

[grantcart]

40. its not that people are complaining about discussion its just that people who bring in unrelated

tangential issues into a thread where it has no relevent connection are engaging in a kind of thread jacking to an extent that they undermine both the level of discussion and the posters standing in the community.

Think of it as a community service message.

[SemperEadem]

48. well said.

[zipplewrath]

51. Aksed and answered

What is not to like about this man is beyond me."

The question was asked, and I answered it, along with a comment about the OP subject. That's called "discussing the content of the post".

[grantcart]

75. The narrowness of which you understand what is being said is rather astounding.

To further engage you would only further your aim of hijacking this thread with a completely unrelated policy issue.

I will leave you aline with your exercise in self gratification.

[zipplewrath]

133. Avoid discussion

So you came to a general discussion forum to avoid discussion?

[grantcart]

139. Two Points

a) I don't engage with people, even when I agree with them, when they are attempting to hijack a thread to pull it over to their personal self gratifying self-indulgent self-absorbed manner by always insisting on controlling the discussion by means of hijacking a thread.

b) Do you actually engage everone who wants to discuss things with you? Certainly there are some bars that you have set so that you don't waste your time. For example do you sit and engage every nonsensical Republican that you come into contact with who wants to tell you the wonderous achievements of Ronald Reagan? Sometimes the ability to have a reasonable discussion is so diminished that it is better to cut one's losses and focus on people who are more amenable to following basic rules of civility (like not hijacking a thread) or logic (like hijacking a thread is the least likely method of getting someone to become sympathetic to your point of view).

I have a very low bar for such people and after several years only have 4 DUers that did not meet that very very low bar.

In a minute it will be 5.

[zipplewrath]

143. Once I have engaged, yes.

Do you actually engage everone who wants to discuss things with you?

Absolutes are hard to answer. I make it a point/policy/rule/philosophy, however you want to call it, of engaging people who respond to me in these kinds of forums. It does become difficult when ALOT of people all respond in the same way, to the same post. One ends up being repetetive. But there is a bit of courtesy involved as well, especially when one has chosen to engage in the first place.

There is an issue when to "end" participation. There is the "last word" concept, allowing someone else to be the "last post" can be an act of respect, kindness, or alternately a form of dismissal (functional equivalent of "walking away&quot . I also tend to employ the "been to long" rule, basically if I don't get back to the discussion in some period of time, they get the last word. I may try to write a "concluding post" of some sort, summarizing my position. The intent can often be to offer them an opportunity to do the same. Basically a part of the "last word" approach.

I don't really subscribe to the "take my key board and go home" approach. I don't make dismissive posts declaring that I am finished discussing the topic and won't listen any more. It's a discussion forum and it seems a tad counter intuitive to declare that one won't discuss something in a discussion form. If I'm done, or if I feel it is no longer valuable to me, or the larger community (or any combination thereof) I just employ one of these finishing stategies.

If I engage someone, even on a topic like the wonderous achievements of Ronald Reagan, then I have chosen to do so and I will engage them, not just throw "message bombs" and leave. I will end it in a manner as I have suggested above (well, at least I endeavor to, I'm sure my record isn't perfect).

[ScreamingMeemie]

53. There's a nicer, kinder thread that was posted earlier on this subject.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002449255

[nolabear]

45. Even if he did just respond with what he thought would be safe

the point the kid was making was bigger than that. He felt a sense of humanity from President Obama, a real effort. If you feel the need to bring up your complaints when someone says something positive so be it. But it starts to look like hijacking after a while. I was warmed by the story. I can also have my complaints and hang onto them for when they create a real discussion, not a facepalm.

[zipplewrath]

50. He asked

He asked, specifically:

What is not to like about this man is beyond me. "

I "feel the need" to respond to specific questions.

I agree, there was an expression of humanity in the gesture. If nothing else, the wisdom to stop for a second and pay attention and not just shake and endless line of faceless hands.

[stevenleser]

80. The OP did not ask. nt

[zipplewrath]

93. Yes, he did

I've posted this before:

What is not to like about this man is beyond me.

In a discussion forum. You know what happens when you post questions like this in discussion forums? People discuss them!

If you don't want discussion, you post them in the forums that don't allow general discussion. The General Discussion forum isn't one of those.

[1StrongBlackMan]

91. Let it go ...

We get it: PRESIDENT OBAMA=BAD!!!!

[zipplewrath]

94. No

President Obama = imperfect, just like the rest of us. Which is why when someone asks:

What is not to like about this man is beyond me.

one might expect a response in a general discussion forum.

[ProSense]

96. And what does

President Obama = imperfect, just like the rest of us. Which is why when someone asks:

What is not to like about this man is beyond me.

one might expect a response in a general discussion forum.

....any of that have to do with your first ridiculous comment in the thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=449777

[zipplewrath]

128. Yes

Obviously. There are things not to like about "this man" and I listed a couple. Then I discussed the topic of the orignal post. In fact, it was the majority of the post.

[Zanzoobar]

109. Jackass. If you're gonna get picky...

It's not an interrogative. It's a statement.

"What is laughable about an assuming halfwit is self-evident."

That is a statement, not a question.

[zipplewrath]

129. Yes, it is

However, that isn't what he asked. I think what you meant to suggest is that it was rhetorical. In a discussion forum, in essence there are no rhetorical questions. It may be meant that way, but one must be prepared to have their preconcieve notions challenged in an general discussion forum. There is a group specifically set aside to avoid this kind of discussion however. They specifically call it a "safe haven".

[stevenleser]

68. You are hijacking the thread which is disruptive and meets the definition of internet troll.

You arent discussing anything remotely related to the OP.

[zipplewrath]

82. No, to the post to which I am responding

If I was responding to the original post, I would have responded to it. I was responding to the question asked in the post to which I was responding. Althought the bulk of my response was connected to the topic of the original post.

[dionysus]

104. lol

[Number23]

117. What? You don't see the obvious (OBVIOUS!) connection between

signing "thank you" to a deaf person who says they're proud of you and indefinite detention, drones and the non-closure of Guantanamo?

You're just not trying hard enough. C'mon. Remove all ability to process information properly and replace it with a mindless compulsion to constantly spout nonsensical talking points and you'll get there in no time.

[zipplewrath]

134. Or to the question asked

I think you missed the connection to the specific question asked.

[grantcart]

141. It is a discussion forum. It is also interesting to note that in the last 90 days you have found

only 4 threads worthy of your recommendations.

Some members really miss that unrec button.

[zipplewrath]

144. Not sure your point

I'm a bit "lazy"? is that the right word? with the "rec" button. To a great extent my "recommendation" tends to be in the form of participation. I occasionally remember to recommend a thread, but not very often. There are times when there are very popular threads and it seems sorta pointless, even though I like them.

Is that what you are talking about?

By the by, I'm actually one who misses the unrec button too, although I was fairly lazy on that one too. Strangely, the unrec button tended to get me to "rec" more often.

[TheWraith]

60. Your daily dose of threadcrapping and insults is always appreciated. nt

[stevenleser]

69. Makes one wish for a special ignore list that prevents certain folk from participating in your OPs.

This instance of thread hijacking is particularly mean spirited.

[zipplewrath]

84. BOG

They have whole groups just for that. If you want to avoid anyone answering to your posts with a different point of view, you can utilize a variety of groups. In this case the BOG would have been appropriate. If you don't want "general discussion" of what you post, that'd be most appropriate.

[dionysus]

106. the reason they even have the BOG is that so called democrats like to shit on them 24/7.

DU wasn't always that way.

[zipplewrath]

147. Sort of

They call it a safe haven. It is really for posts like the OP. Alot of people come to sites like this for discussion. But easily an equal amount come for the mere sense of camaraderie. The intersection of the two can be messy. They've created a wide variety of groups around here. Several of them are for the specific purpose of separating these two crowds.

[WonderGrunion]

62. I don't expect to wage war on the United States or train people to kill Americans

So, no, I do not expect to be targeted for indefinite detention or extrajudicial killing.

If you want to make sure we never have a president that would go beyond those criteria, you should work very hard to prevent any Republicans from becoming president.

[snooper2]

65. Watch out, I saw your name on one of the first camp lists

LOL

[zipplewrath]

83. What's a "camp" list?

Is that some sort of MIRT thing or something?

[dionysus]

87. it's where the imaginary black helicopters take you..

[zipplewrath]

89. I'm not really following

How did we end up in conspiracy theories?

[Botany]

100. i hope you get the help you need because your actions are a "tell" about you.

Please don't come in here and spread bullshit on toast and tell us
to eat it up because it is just "country style apple butter." The O.P. and
the point of this thread was about an act of kindness and class by
the POTUS and some sub threads about simple A.S.L. signs, how Obama
differs from W, and how happy two people who are deaf were made by
Barack's actions.

[dionysus]

103. +100000

[zipplewrath]

135. Which was the majority of my post

That was the point of the original post, NOT the one to which I responded. The post to which I responded, expanded the context. I responded to that, although it was only PART of my response. The majority of my response was to the topic of the original post, a topic continued in the post to which I responded.

[Botany]

138. No you came to this thread to try to denigrate Barack Obama's act of kindness ....

...... by writing about things that had nothing to do w/ the topics of this thread.

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

[zipplewrath]

140. I think you need to read my OP again

It is a technical fact that the majority of my post was about the OP. I responded to a specific post and my response was in the context of THAT post.

[dionysus]

86. .

[Renew Deal]

142. If you "expect" to be targeted you might be in the wrong place.

I suggest contacting your local chapter of the FBI for a visit.

[zipplewrath]

146. Ha!

No, I'm not concerned. It was more an expression of empathy, as a way of providing context to the posters question.

[Loudmxr]

5. I know how to say nice things in 24 different languages.

OK maybe 23 because I can never remember Korean.

But I do know how to say "I love you" in ASL

It is so simple and, in my case, so heartfelt.

Sign language is so meaningful and so precious.

[Diclotican]

6. bigtree

bigtree

Wow, that was great - that he withouth a beat answered in sign language.. I doubt any republican president would to the same - at least not the republican lineup of today

Diclotican

[FailureToCommunicate]

7. So nice to have a real person as President!

[SemperEadem]

42. thank you!

I love expanding my ability to communicate effectively.

[Mr Dixon]

8. WOW

obama is the man, great POTUS

[Botany]

9. I loves me some Obama!

The man is a class act!

And what a difference between W and Barack.

George Bush Insults Blind Reporter

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/06/15/bushglasses_wideweb__470x380,2.jpg

[malaise]

10. Great post

GObama!

[GiveMeFreedom]

61. President Obama is a class act!!

Chimpy is the worst president in my life time.



What a fucking moron!!

[lunatica]

11. That impressed the shit out of me

Wow.

[RoccoR5955]

13. I can be proud of my President!

He's such an educated guy. Just what this country needs.
I KNOW that he will win in a landslide, and make those RepubliCONs look like the dummies they are.

[a2liberal]

14. fluent in multiple language >>> fluent in none

(like the previous president)

[randome]

15. This man is awesome!

For those of you who want to whittle him down to size and try to convince us he can't be trusted...bugger off, already!

[zipplewrath]

22. So you want to annoint him saint?

Hardly consider the act of maintaining some objectivity and keeping him human to be "whittling him down to size". More along the line of "not sticking him on a pedestal". They tend to fall off of those if you aren't careful.

[randome]

31. I agree. A pedestal is where no one belongs.

But this is a perfect example of how this President pays attention and is on the mark. I get tired of hearing from the naysayers who think Obama has sold us out or hasn't been as Utopian a President as we might have wished for.

The man is okay in my book.

[zipplewrath]

35. He's fine

I agree, he's "okay". Hardly think discussing where he has failed qualifies as "whittling him down".

[SemperEadem]

46. he's great in my book

and I'd rather have him than the alternative.

If I want to discuss what I hate about him, then I'd start my own thread instead of squatting over one that isn't discussing that issue. That's called being disruptive, which is a TOS violation here.

[zipplewrath]

52. He asked

What is not to like about this man is beyond me.

I answered. That's how a discussion forum works.

By the way, they have a whole group just for these kinds of posts if you don't want discussions of them.

[sunnystarr]

99. After seeing you repost that sentence over and over again..

It wasn't a question to be answered which is why it ended in a period and not a question mark. It was a statement of the OP's opinion and wasn't the topic under discussion. You're really making a nuisance out of yourself - which would be true on any forum when you stray from the topic being discussed.

[zipplewrath]

136. A general discussion forum

In a discussion forum, really anything one posts is open for a discussion. The majority of what I wrote was about the original post, whose context was continued in the post to which I responded. I ALSO responded to the post to which I my post was a response.

[Tarheel_Dem]

63. "They tend to fall off of those if you aren't careful."

Is that what happened to you?

[zipplewrath]

85. Ha!

No. No one ever put me on a pedestal over anything. I've watched alot of folks knocked off of them. I've been at the bottom trying to catch them when they landed. They can get hurt from the sudden stop at the end.

[snooper2]

66. Ohh..........I'm so slow today, you're still Bitter!

[dionysus]

105. keep digging, i can grab you a bigger shovel, if you wish.

[siligut]

16. President Obama is such a wonderful guy

Thank you for sharing this, I wonder if it should be cross-posted in the BOG?

[Chorophyll]

17. Sweet!

[Motown_Johnny]

18. for years now I have wanted to learn American Sign Language...

This may push me over the top to actually do something serious about it.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

67. I used to know the alphabet

but I was just trying to show the grandson the other day, and I got stuck on 'H'. I just remembered though! (now I'm stuck on 'P') ugh!

[JNelson6563]

19. Wow.

What an awesome story, what an awesome President!

Julie

[NNN0LHI]

20. Remember when a drunk Bush tried waving to Stevie Wonder from across the room?

[babylonsister]

25. gawd, yes! Such a dumbass he is/was... nt

[arthritisR_US]

23. Always classy and compassionate :) n/t

[onethatcares]

24. remember when * did that too?

nah, neither do I

[Greybnk48]

29. I just remember when * would trot out his "menu Spanish"

[freshwest]

27. This is beautiful.

[Greybnk48]

28. Posted on Facebook for all to see. n/t

[Jester Messiah]

30. Classy as fuck.

Still my favorite president. GOBAMA!

[frogmarch]

33. Thanks for posting the

"thank you" video. It gave me another reason to be proud of President Obama!

[Doctor_J]

36. It's nice having a smart person in the WH

* was a deep embarrassment

[SidDithers]

38. K&R...nt

Sid

[hamsterjill]

54. It's just so terribly simple!

There's "class"...and then there are the Republicans who make it so evident that they just don't give a damn about ordinary men and women.

Thank you, Mr. President, for having class. It makes me proud to be an American.

[libmom74]

58. Can you imagine Romney or Santorum

doing the same thing? Me neither.

[uponit7771]

73. no, no GOP president after Ford.

[momsrule]

59. Recognize the sheer goodness

It's plain to see the goodness in our President. He gives respect and gets respects from those who deem hard work and intelligence, combined with social grace, an asset. His wife and children and also MIL, Mrs Robinson, are lovely role models for the White House families of the future. Noone wants sainthood [hyperbole], the people want recognition of all the goodness presented by a wonderful president and his lovely family. We call it core values, and reject racist slime.

[bayareaboy]

64. here is a man who don't really need to use a ... ...

tele-promter to operate!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

71. It's nice to be able to have a feel good moment about the President.

Such an improvement from his predecessor.

[FrenchieCat]

72. Stephon is such a cutie, he makes me proud......

Just like our President makes me proud!

Neither is perfect, I'm sure...but then, neither am I! Far from it, in fact.

[Bladian]

74. Huh. Wonder where he learned sign language. nt

[Doctor_J]

79. Probably either at the Madrassa or terrorist camp

or maybe in Kenya as a child

[jberryhill]

111. It's a mandatory requirement in Indonesian Marxist schools

[Arugula Latte]

76. He sings, he signs ... *sigh*

[penndragon69]

77. GW Dumbass bush

Would have picked his nose and flicked it at this person.

Go-BAMA
Yes we WILL!

[Scurrilous]

78. K & R

[Tomay]

98. An awesome moment...

I am very proud that Barack Obama is my president.

[4 t 4]

101. Too cool for school !

He can sign ? Love him still

[bigtree]

102. I gotta say

Last edited Wed Mar 21, 2012, 08:51 PM - Edit history (1)

. . .the response to this young man's story is almost as gratifying and touching as the President's actions. I'm proud to be a DUer when we demonstrate such compassionate understanding and empathy.

[Rob H.]

108. How long does it take to learn the basics of ASL?

Part of me has always wanted to learn it just to learn it. Even though I can't understand much of it, watching it is entrancing in a way, it's such expressive, fluid motion.

[JBoy]

110. Gotta be one of the coolest things I've ever seen a politician do.

[SunSeeker]

112. Beautiful. Just Beautiful. (sniffle)

[gateley]

113. That means so much. I'm proud of him, too! nt

[Bonobo]

114. He genuinely seems like a nice guy, but...

I don't see how raising his personality to the level of importance that you think it has is any different than saying that Bush would be a good guy to have a beer with.

A President should not be picked for their personal style, for their loving relationship, their height, smile or hair.

Enjoy it, but deal with the criticisms that will come your way for such a seemingly superficial attraction the their style.

[Tarheel_Dem]

120. With the possible exception of one other person in this thread, I don't think....

anyone really cares what you think about this act. You could've moved on, but you too chose to dump a load in the punchbowl.

[Bonobo]

122. Oh, believe me, I know many in this thread don't care what I think.

And I, in turn, don't care if your are or not.

But I will still raise my voice and send out my opinion.

[Tarheel_Dem]

123. As will I, but this thread wasn't about you & your grievances. It was about a deaf young....

man who was thrilled to meet the president, and that the president cared enough to sign a thank you. The fact that you & the other poster felt the need to drop by and disparage this young man's reaction, and those of us who thought it was a kind gesture speaks volumes, not about any of us, but way more than we cared to know about you, and your character.

The good news, however, is that this thread has received much love in spite of you.

[SidDithers]

137. Well said...nt

Sid

[SunsetDreams]

115. K&R that is so awesome!!!

[Zoeisright]

118. Now THAT is a cool guy.

Bush would have probably yelled at the guy, thinking if he bellowed loudly enough he could be heard.

[Tx4obama]

119. Also, Michelle Obama knows a bit of sign language too, VIDEO below

[Swagman]

124. brought a tear to my eyes

[RFKHumphreyObama]

125. Wow! This President never ceases to amaze me and inspire me

And totally blow me away!

That was awesome!

[great white snark]

130. I'm proud of him too Stephon.

Proud and grateful.