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Obama's 'March Madness' Prescience: President Lights It Up With His Picks
Alas, that's down a notch from his standing after the second round ended Friday: He was in the 100th percentile then, tied for 492nd out of 5,923,829 submitted brackets to ESPN.
According to the Hill, Obama also leads a tournament pool featuring members of Congress. Based on a point-tallying system designed by Yahoo.com, the president's score of 49 (out of a possible 64) puts him ahead of Sens. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
Though politicians on both sides of the aisle have joined in the fun, Obama has been singled out by Republicans for criticism. Last week, after ESPN broadcast a special feature on the president filling out his bracket, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted: "How can @BarackObama say he is leading when [he] puts his NCAA bracket over the budget & other pressing issues?"
And former House speaker (and possible 2012 presidential candidate) New Gingrich took aim at Obama's "fixation" on the basketball tournament, complaining that he "spent time on ESPN giving us his version of what really mattered to him, which was the Final Four."
White House spokesman Jay Carney defended his boss last week, saying he is capable of juggling the many demands of the job and is hardly distracted by the tournament.
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I'm surprised the President could find time off from vacationing in the Southern Hemisphere, ignoring the budget crisis, and initiating a third concurrent war in a Muslim land to calculate and publish his bball picks. It speaks to the caliber of the man we have in office.
March 21 2011 at 5:57 PM Report abuse Permalink -7 rate up rate down ReplyIs this really news? We have attcked Libya, we only have two weeks before the stop gap expires, gas prices are $4 a gallon and obama is pulling a hide out in South America (like the Wisconsin democrats) to avoid the REAL ISSUES. Did obama really "light up his picks" ; he just picked the number 1 seeds, now that was bold?
March 21 2011 at 4:02 PM Report abuse Permalink -12 rate up rate down ReplyEnd the wars in Irag & Afghanistan and I am voting for President Obama to a second term as President of the USA. Terminate the US military presense from 150+ countries to 76 and I am voting President Obama to a second term as President of the USA. Lower the unemployment rate to 7% by the next election and I am voting for President Obama for a second term as President of the USA. Convince Congress to tax the wealthy in order to lower our national debt and I am voting for President Obama for a second term as President of the USA. Terminate health coverage for all federally electied officials if they do not give access to all the citizens of the USA health care equal to our elected officials and I am voting for President Obama for a second term. Are my standards to high? Enjoy your NCAA B-Ball politics.
March 21 2011 at 3:45 PM Report abuse Permalink -21 rate up rate down ReplyFor everyone of you who will be voting for him in 2012 there will 100 more voting against him , This country can ill afford another 4 years of his non leadership .
March 21 2011 at 6:45 PM Report abuse Permalink -8 rate up rate down ReplyIf he didn't care about basketball or know anything about it the naysayers would be calling him unamerican. This non-issue is just another red herring for his detractors to carp about. Everyone needs a diversion once in a while
March 21 2011 at 2:10 PM Report abuse Permalink +20 rate up rate down ReplyIt's too bad he wasn't as accurate at predicting the "summer of recovery" and unemployment not going over 8%.
March 21 2011 at 2:05 PM Report abuse Permalink -12 rate up rate down Replyand how about all those "shovel ready jobs?!"
March 21 2011 at 2:07 PM Report abuse Permalink -13 rate up rate down ReplyThere should be lots of shovel ready jobs because Obama is getting famous for digging holes. Real deep holes.
March 21 2011 at 5:26 PM Report abuse Permalink -9 rate up rate downObama has set the stage to see his mission accomplished. With the country headed for bankruptcy and our credibility as a world power seriously diminished, there should be plenty of free time available for Obama to turn his attention to hoops brackets.
March 21 2011 at 12:12 PM Report abuse Permalink -9 rate up rate down ReplyPresident OBAMA is my pick = OBAMA 2012
March 21 2011 at 11:58 AM Report abuse Permalink +9 rate up rate down ReplyPresident Obama is my worst nightmare and I can't wait for 2012 to get here.
March 21 2011 at 5:14 PM Report abuse Permalink -13 rate up rate down ReplyI don't think President Obama gives a hoot.
March 21 2011 at 11:07 AM Report abuse Permalink -9 rate up rate down ReplyEvery right to critcize. Instead of having a few seconds of of lighthearted fun, the president should be spending his time sitting in the Oval Office with the drapes drawn wearing a frowny face. That'd sure solve the world's problems, wouldn't it, Republicans?
March 21 2011 at 11:01 AM Report abuse Permalink +10 rate up rate down ReplyNo it would not, but to golf (61) times and enjoy more dinner parties than any other President..To take more vacations than any other President inbetween golf and parties shows the world that he really could care less. He is still voting present!!
March 21 2011 at 12:36 PM Report abuse Permalink -6 rate up rate down Reply
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