I love and admire Prez Obama. I really don't care to see him with a gun . I just don't. I know...

[agracie]

Don't look.

But Prez Obama and a gun, at this point, just seems out of kilter. Anyone else feel a bit uncomfortable? I'm just so weary of the gun thing in general.

[darkangel218]

1. Uncomfortable? not at all.

Target practice is fun, you should try it.

[agracie]

4. I have tried it, and I am pretty good at it. n/t

[darkangel218]

13. Then why are you "weary of the gun thing in general"?

Are guns making you uncomfortable?

[agracie]

21. I tried target shooting many many years ago. Just not my thing...

Uncomfortable ? Yes.

Weary? Yes. Yes. Yes.

[darkangel218]

29. Guns are not everyone's thing.

Just like football does nothing for me. Or boating. In fact I'm scared of being on a boat even though I lived near water for most of my life. That being said, I'm not lobbying to ban boating. Or any other activity which may pose some sort of danger.

To each their own. And that I believe is valid for POTUS as well

BTW, I LOVE the photo! Cheers!

[Mister Ed]

49. Should a photo of your target practice be published, I would not think less of you.

I've seen photos of the Prez doing lots of things. Golfing, for example. I feel no more uncomfortable seeing him try to hit a clay Frisbee with lead pellets than I feel seeing him try to hit a recessed cup with a ball.

[homerunner]

23. I don't know why he responded to the gun nutz in general

They are unworthy of a response. You know who the "photo of the President shooting a gun" is good for? The NRA.

[nick of time]

30. 80 million+ gun owners are unworthy of a response?

I thought that he was president to ALL Americans. Guess I was wrong.

[homerunner]

32. Why the hell should ANYBODY have to prove that they've shot a gun?

It's stupid.

[nick of time]

34. He's showing that he enjoys shooting skeet,

so what? Millions of Americans do the same thing.

[arely staircase]

90. because he was aked in an interview if he had ever shot a gun

he said yes that he liked to shoot skeet at camp david. the right wingers called him a liar so the wh released the photo.

that is why you would prove you shot a gun.

when saying yes, after being asked if you ever have and then being called a liar for it by your political enemies.

[Katashi_itto]

96. +100 By showing the photo...it disarmed the Pro Gun Nuts :)

[darkangel218]

35. Lmao!!!

+10000

[okieinpain]

94. +1. I know a lot of dems that are

strong gun supporters.

[Warpy]

2. I have no problem seeing him shooting clay pigeons.

I was never any good at it because of my wretched eyesight.

I would have problems seeing him posing like a swaggering wingnut with the gun before or after a round of skeet shooting.

[agracie]

7. I know, and I understand what you are saying. n/t

[HockeyMom]

3. I am uncomfortable

because I feel he is doing and saying this ONLY to appease gun owners. You cannot appease them.

[darkangel218]

8. lol! nt

[agracie]

10. I don't want to think it is a photo just to appease gun owners. He just doesn't seem like the

sort of guy who would enjoy guns. But what do I know, eh ?

[aikoaiko]

14. What kind of guy enjoys shooting a gun?

Some do and some don't.

But I'd like to hear you describe that kind of guy.

[darkangel218]

16. But he does enjoy shooting guns. He said it before. :) nt

[peace13]

112. I hear you!

Where does it stop? It seems absurd . 'Mr. president the pink panty wearers called and they don't think you support them'.

[Tikki]

5. All kinds of people have guns...I choose not to..

I would never think of trying skeet shooting but I might have tried parasailing.



Tikki

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. No. More comfortable. n/t

[krispos42]

9. But it has no protruding pistol grip...

...folding or telescoping buttstock, barrel shroud, or threaded barrel muzzle. It's even got a wooden stock instead of a black plastic one! Yay!

[oldhippie]

15. But it does have a threaded barrel muzzle, look at ....

.... the screw in choke in the upper barrel! From that single choke, muzzle elevation and stance, I think he is shooting trap, not skeet. I wonder if he knows the difference?

[Control-Z]

36. What is the difference?

I've done one of them - not sure which it was at this point. I guess I thought they were the same.

[oldhippie]

52. Wiki or some other source can probably explain ....

.... it better than I can, but basically in trap you shoot one bird at a time, always going away from you at contrained angles. In skeet you shoot both singles and doubles, with two targets crossing at varying angles and speeds. You have to shoot both very quickly. Different games and slightly different skills.

skeet vs trap

[JaneyVee]

11. I'm just sick of him always having to "prove" himself to these RWNJs. Birth certificates, college

transcripts, bipartisanship, skeet shooting. I would love if he just sent a photo of him giving the middle finger.

[agracie]

17. <snort> Yep. Hail this ! n/t

[JaneyVee]

19. I'm glad he keeps making them look like fools, but they'll never be satisfied. Racism is the reason

they keep asking him to "prove" himself. It's petty.

[Zorra]

122. I agree. They hate his guts and he should just look them all in the eyes and tell them to

STFU and go **** their greedy, selfish, egotistical little selves, because they are wasting our precious time with useless, ridiculous childish bullshit, and they really need to grow up and help the adults get some productive necessary things done.

Check it - Prez Obama and elected Democrats, instead of frequently kissing conservative ass, might want to consider adopting some of the approaches and policies of the most effective and *constructive* transformational Democratic POTUS in US history...Franklin D. Roosevelt:

For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away . . . Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent . . .

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace — business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred. FDR 1936

Oh, yeah, yeah, that's it, uh-huh.

[JoePhilly]

12. He already said he shot skeet at camp David ...

And now there is a picture of him doing so.

The reality is the reality. The deranged GOP was SURE it never happened. Now they are shown to be wrong. Good.

There is nothing wrong with hunting, nothing wrong with skeet shooting.

But Obama Derangement Syndrome should be identified and mocked when it occurs.

[Recursion]

18. No. Then again I've shot recreationally before

I just think of it as something you do on a Saturday.

[wva moonshiner]

20. I love and admire Prez Obama. I really don't care to see him with a gun . I just don't. I know...

dont feel uncomfortable, it is only a political stunt, to make the pro-gun peaple think he his not after there shoguns

[arcane1]

22. That's because he's not after their shotguns

Never was, never will be. The "gun grab" nonsense is a hoax to trick gullible people.

[agracie]

24. Most likely you are right. He has nothing to prove. But, you know, politics... go figure. n/t

[JaneyVee]

25. No one is taking away shotguns. And the photo was taken last year August 4th 2012, before

any gun control proposals.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

26. FWIW -- Teddy Roosevelt was an avid hunter and he gave us Yellowstone National Park

Presidents who handle guns can do good things.

[nick of time]

31. Yep.

And Eleanor Roosevelt was an avid pistol shooter and had a CCW permit.

[bluestateguy]

27. Blame the people who forced the WH to release the picture

Same with the birth certificate.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

28. I agree. It was nice HAVING a president that didn't stoop to this level.

It continues a disturbing trend of politicians posing with firearms. I don't know how firing a gun makes anyone more qualified for a job in elected office. It's no more complex than operating a light switch.

Shit, a chimp could do it.

[darkangel218]

33. To WHAT level did he stoop??

Millions of Americans enjoy target shooting!! He likes skeet shooting, he said it before!

Omg this is too funny!!!

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

38. By trying to prove something, anything to the backwater morons in this country

he does nothing but degrade himself. If he stated that he enjoys playing tennis, nobody would demand to see pictures of him serving a ball. As mentioned above, this is just another instance where he feels compelled to prove something to people who will never support him anyway.

He's the President, he doesn't need to dance on command.

Millions of Americans also like to choke themselves while they masturbate....

[darkangel218]

39. Lol!! Releasing this photo is actually good for the bipartisan negotiations on strict gun control!

It shows POTUS doesn't have anything personal against firearms. This photo does more good then you can ever realize

[homerunner]

41. Not really

This conversation began with school children being violently gunned down. To release a photo like that cheapens the conversation in my opinion. And like I said, the people this is good for is the NRA.

[darkangel218]

45. Its a.photo of POTUS performing a recreational activity

Which he enjoys! There is absolutely nothing wrong with this pic! Or WH releasing it!

Omg lmao!!!

[homerunner]

53. You know how many people are out buying that very model of shotgun?

Right now simply because he used it.

[darkangel218]

58. What model is he using?

I can't make out from the photo.

[NYC_SKP]

111. They better be rich people.

That's a $3000 shotgun.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

42. No it doesn't.

It shows he's nothing more than a pander-bear. Think Dukakis in the tank...

[darkangel218]

46. Youre calling POTUS a "pander bear" now?

Because he likes shooting skeet for fun?

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

54. I call him that because he chose to release this photo at this time. n/t

[darkangel218]

56. When would have been a good time for him to release this pic in your opinion?

It's okay, I know what you would say.

Never

BTW, I'm sorry I find this exchange funny, I just don't see why so many are bothered by a pic of POTUS skeet shooting. A LOT of people skeet shoot for fun! There are even clubs and competitions on skeet shooting! It's nothing bad or malicious ffs.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

61. Like I said, a lot of people strangle themselves while masturbating... for fun!

Would you want to see those photos?

[darkangel218]

69. No thanks!!!

Comparing shooting skeet with the act mentioned above is a lil silly don't you think?

[morningfog]

105. What does that have to do with the President?

Did the President claim to enjoy that and are their people out there denying that he actually does? And, is that discussion taking place in the shadow of masturbating strangulation legislation?

[cali]

66. bzzzzt. the photo was taken last August. It wasn't a photo op, genius.

Dukakis in the tank was.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

79. Who fucking cares? It's still incredibly lame.

I guess people who worship this guy will never find fault in anything he does.

[morningfog]

107. Why is this photo bothered you so much?

How can you say that people who don't see a problem with this photo worship the guy?

[datasuspect]

87. when i first saw this

i immediately thought of phil gramm's television campaign ads where he was filmed shooting a gun and the many instances of saddam hussein shooting long rifles captured on film, photographs, sculpture, and public art.

i'm not comparing the president to those people, but his gun porn now stands in relation to other "leaders" or "politicians" who have stooped to this level in the past.

i don't understand why he would agree with the advice from handlers in this instance.

[Recursion]

114. Have you considered the possibility that he enjoys trap shooting?

It is actually fun, you know.

[datasuspect]

118. i do

but i'm not the president.

this is marketing.

the picture was taken and distributed for a reason.

[justanidea]

88. "It's no more complex than operating a light switch"

I'd love to see you try shooting. Something tells me after doing so you would walk away realizing good marksmanship is a little more complex than flipping a light switch.

[Recursion]

113. Is trap shooting stooping to a level? (nt)

[malaise]

37. +1,000

Really stupid. Fugg the PR BS.

[Skittles]

40. it smacks of pandering

especially after he said we must listen to the "other side", as if listening to them for decades hasn't been the fucking problem

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

43. +1, glad someone gets it. n/t

[agracie]

51. Prez Obama was the voice of reason when we were all trying to process the horror of Sandy Hook...

He was the voice of reason and compassion. To me it doesn't matter WHEN or WHY the photo was taken. I just don't think I needed to see it . It's hard to explain...

[NutmegYankee]

57. You do realize the picture shows green trees right? (I.E. Summer)

This photo was taken well before Sandy Hook and the present debate.

[Skittles]

60. so why release it now?

[NutmegYankee]

67. Same reason he released his birth certificate after Trump's statements

To make his detractors look like complete idiots. Not that Blackburn needs help in that matter. I'd say she's dumber than a jar of mayonnaise, but that's unfair to mayonnaise.

"If he is a skeet shooter, why have we not heard of this? Why have we not seen photos? Why hasn't he referenced this at any point in time?" Blackburn said"

[Skittles]

71. those are actually good questions

[NutmegYankee]

75. You're taking Marsha Blackburn's side?

[Skittles]

76. I'm not taking a SIDE

I'm simply opining I think this skeet shooting picture is OUT OF CHARACTER

[NutmegYankee]

78. And yet it was taken long before the current debate.

Sure, he could have staged the photo last summer for use in a situation like this, with training on stance and such to make it look correct and then made up skeet shooting with friends, many of whom could blow the thing wide open if they stated otherwise, thereby creating yet another fake scandal that will tie up the House for months,

or

Like many politicians including a lot of prominent Democrats, he got into skeet shooting with them

I'll take the Occam's Razor approach.

[Skittles]

81. and this is the first we've heard of it

got it

[Mojorabbit]

116. We can't know if it is out of character or not for sure

It is an old picture and given that he seems to like a myriad of sports it feels to me like it is in character.

[MadHound]

44. Then I suppose you'll be uncomfortable with the following

[darkangel218]

48. +1000 :)

[X_Digger]

95. Or..

JFK, Gore Vidal, and Tennessee Williams.. what a group!














Teddy rocking the fringe!

[Ian Iam]

97. Or this:

"

But, of course, nothing compares to

[DeschutesRiver]

98. Seeing all these Delicate Flower gun nuts, stroking their "precious" must be uncomfortable

for those who steadfastly maintain that anyone who even touches a gun, more less owns some, or fires any weapon is without exception a man with a small penis who is overcompensating for his insecurities and cowardliness, is dangerous to the rest of us and must automatically - by virtue of being said gun nut - be removed from society.

Eleanor is not a Delicate Flower, because women don't have the requisite small penis that must be compensated for by using a weapon to make one all manly, instead of girly. So she wasn't a gun nut and seeing her use a weapon probably doesn't make anyone uncomfortable.

[apocalypsehow]

115. Serial dishonesty just flows from our "pro gun progressives"* keyboards like water over the Niagra.

Picture #1:

That is a sporting shotgun, like the type used to bird hunt or trap and skeet shoot. No one is talking about banning such firearms. Nor should they be banned.

Picture #2:

Your entire OP is an exercise in dishonesty, but this is probably the most egregious example of it: Clinton was holding that rifle not to promote it's sale or use by the public-at-large, but just the opposite.

Picture #3:

Again, break-over shotguns being used on some kind of bird hunting trip. See #1 above.

Picture #4:

Really?

A soldier showing his Commander-in-chief his combat rifle in the middle of frickin' WWII (or on the eve of it) is some kind of "pro-gun" statement by FDR? Like I said: this reply is dishonest from stem-to-stern.


*( )

[MadHound]

120. Wow, the point of my post just went right over your head, doing a double back flip along the way.

The OP stated that they were uncomfortable with a picture of the current president handling a shotgun. I provided pictures of other presidents, and one presidential candidate, handling firearms in order to make the point that such pictures are pretty much standard fare for most presidents. Just a couple of posts above, number 95, are more pictures in a similar vein.

The fact is, pictures of presidents with guns has become an unspoken tradition. That is the point I was making.

I don't know what point you thought I was making, but apparently it is not the same one I had in mind. Next time, before going off half cocked, ask some questions, do a modicum of thinking, then perhaps you can get the actual point of a post.

[Paladin]

123. DU Gun Enthusiasts Trashed Kerry For The Goose Hunt.

And DU Gun Enthusiasts are now criticizing Obama for his shooting stance, the timing of releasing the photo, etc. There is no pleasing these people, and very little little effort should be made to do so.....

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. Here's the thing, he's not just "your' president. He is this country's president

To answer to those who would love us to believe that every gun in this country is going to be taken away is important. And so, he did. I rarely look at or like the posed photographs of the President. This one, I did. And I like it.

(for the record, I would have no problem if every gun in this country was taken away)

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

50. Those who believe that every gun in this country is going to be taken away

are far beyond any rational persuasion. They believe what they want to believe, and no photo op will change their deeply held false beliefs.

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. So?

I'm not going to get upset over it.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

70. So, by continuously listening to the "concerns" of people who refuse to operate in the real world

the President only legitimizes their beliefs. You can only go so far in accommodating the RW crazies in our society. Ignoring them will work to further marginalize them.

[Skittles]

55. so he is pandering to the paranoid

got it

[ScreamingMeemie]

62. I don't really care what he is doing.

We are guilty of the same paranoia when a pub is in office.

[Skittles]

63. I....er.....what?

[ScreamingMeemie]

65. Have a great weekend Skittles.

[Skittles]

72. my weekends are Thursday and Friday

[Nye Bevan]

59. Just "punching his mancard" (nt)

[MadHound]

73. Is that what you would say to this person?

Kimberly Rhode, first woman to take an individual shooting gold medal in the Olympics.

Is she just "punching her mancard"

[obamanut2012]

99. Gold medals in FIVE Olympics

[agracie]

74. Seems like being POTUS should take care of the man card thing. Man card thoroughly and permanently

PUNCHED ! Just sayin'...

[Crepuscular]

86. Mancard?!?

I guess that's what Gov. Richards was doing here, just punching her ...em,... er..mancard?

[IMG][/IMG]

(and using one of those scary semi-automatic assault shotguns too!)

[obamanut2012]

100. I miss Ann Richards

[Whisp]

68. not at all. I used to do a bit of skeet and it is actually quite fun.

but not with an ooooozie or anything like that.

[trishtrash]

77. I think releasing the photo was brilliant

Obama is separating himself from the assault rifle paranoid gang with the cold dead fingers and letting the sports, hunting gun owners know he is with them. Once again he has trumped the right wingers. May help some of the repubs come on board.

[freshwest]

82. +1

[MotherPetrie]

106. He's not going to change a single mind.

[kestrel91316]

80. No. Thank you for your concern.

I'd be a bit more concerned that there is so much pressure from the gun nutters that he feels he has to do this. But it IS his right as an American.

[freshwest]

83. Doesn't bother me. I've shot rifles before, although only for a purpose. Not playing around.

There is something to it, the way it feels. But I knew immediately, just as when I intentionally tried to start smoking, that the feeling it's not a thing to give into.

When I reached for a cigarette without really thinking, my mind said 'this is how addictions begin - this is mindlessness.' I 'quit' on my third cigarette.

I feel that commercialization of guns is partly to blame, as if they are any other consumer purchase, the way that cars were once presented. All the glamor, the beauty of the gleaming metal, the idea that having such a thing means one has 'made it' or is a success in society.

That's how many things are treated. But guns shouldn't be in that class. The sort of person who hunts for food, or uses them to protect livestock in extreme situations, not because they hate wildlife, is not the ones I'm talking about.

When you see wacky photos like we had here on the site a while back, of people getting pictures made with Santa, or the whole family grinning ear to ear while brandishing their hardware, there is something wrong about that, IMHO.

Obama was not doing that.

[randome]

84. He seems to have the aim down.

But I'm not always sure about his choice of weapon.

[arely staircase]

85. no. generally because skeet shooting is a perfect example of the reasonable, legal use of a firearm

and the gun he was using a perfect example of a non-military, low capacity (holds only two shots) firearm it is reasonable for private (non-mentally ill, non-felon, etc) citizens to own. so there is nothing "out of kilter" about skeet shooting or owning a bird gun.

specifically, the president was asked in an interview if he had ever fired a gun. he said yes and expanded to say he enjoyed skeet shooting at camp david from time to time. so there is nothing "out of kilter" with this president shooting a bird gun. so right on que the right wingers went bug fuck and accused him of lying.

so the photo was released.

[bluestate10]

89. Skeet shooting has a long and honorable history. The activity has nothing to do with

hate driven people mass killing innocents in movie theaters, shopping malls or schools.

[Cha]

91. I've never had a gun nor do I see me ever

having one. But, President Obama is a responsible person and I don't mind him shooting skeet and making a point that he's not going to take away guns from other responsible people. Just the freaking Assault Weapons.

Like Stallone says..

“I know people get (upset) and go, ‘They’re going to take away the assault weapon.’ Who … needs an assault weapon? Like really, unless you’re carrying out an assault. … You can’t hunt with it. … Who’s going to attack your house, a (expletive) army?”

“It’s unbelievably horrible, what’s happened. I think the biggest problem, seriously, is not so much guns. It’s that every one of these people that have done these things in the past 30 years are friggin’ crazy. Really crazy! And that’s where we’ve dropped the ball: mental health,” he said. “That to me is our biggest problem in the future, is insanity coupled with isolation.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172107901

[nolabear]

92. Yes. 1) I'm admittedly gun phobic and 2) it's weirdly out of my expectation.

I don't think of him as a gun person. Just don't. As you said, it has an out of kilter feel. And it does seem like an uncomfortable ploy to look "regular" to the gun enthusiasts. But as I said. I hate the damned things.

[obamanut2012]

103. They really is no such thing as a "gun person"

I know the reddest of redneck who don;t own gins and never would, although many people (including DUers) seem to think every good ole boy and good ole girl have gun racks in their pickups, and a .38 strapped around their waist.

Conversely, lots of over-educated lefties are gun owners. *raises hand*

[nolabear]

109. Yep. It takes all kinds. I had a terrifying cop grandparent who made an awful impression.

But even without that charming element in my childhood I have a completely irrational spot in my brain that doesn't even like fake ones.

[obamanut2012]

93. No

And, there's nothing wrong with skeet or target shooting -- both are fun and challenging.

There's a reason why Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley were so popular, in both NES and arcade.

[bama_blue_dot]

101. I think this photo

will enrage the right even more.. They probably can't stand the sight of POTUS holding one of their "beloved guns", so I honestly think he released it just to mess with them..

[union_maid]

102. But this could engender some amusing theories

The Skeet truthers should be expending some energy soon trying to declare the photo a fake. Just because. Gives them something to do and us something to laugh about. I see this as a win/win.

[MotherPetrie]

104. I feel the exact same way.

[Autumn]

108. I feel that way when I see him play golf

go figure.

[gateley]

110. I'm about the most "un-gun" person I know (for me personally) but I'd love to

try skeet shooting. I think it would be fun, and I sure don't begrudge Obama engaging in the sport. At least he's not aiming at a target with the silhouette of a man on it!

[markpkessinger]

117. I am uncomfortable becuase it strikes me as inauthentic. . .

. . . and a rather craven political ploy. He's better than that.

[agracie]

121. That's it in a nutshell. Well said. n/t

[Seeking Serenity]

124. (Gasp!) A politician, engaging in a political ploy!

I'm shocked!

[Jennicut]

119. Skeet shooting? My 78 year old grandmother used to do it for fun

It was a hobby for her. It is not like worshiping guns and keeping a giant stockpile and being a gun nut. It's a simple shotgun.