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Obama Site Linked to 'Bush Shoe Toss' Event
January 09, 2009 5:26 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis reports:
|
| Click here to see the reference to the Jan. 19 'Bush Shoe Toss' which was recently deleted from USAService.org. |
Colin Powell held a press conference in Washington, D.C., Friday, touting the launch of Barack Obama's new Web site, USAService.org, which allows Americans to find -- and to promote -- local service opportunities that are searchable by zip code.
President Bush's former secretary of state said he was on the site this morning and vouched for its usefulness.
But here's betting that Powell didn't have time to go through all of the events on it.
Wanting to see how the Web site works, I typed in my hometown zip code in Los Angeles to find events within a 10-mile radius.
It pointed me to several events, including a blood drive, a graffiti cleanup, and an "Obama Celebration and Bush Shoe Toss."
The event, which was listed as a "Day of Service -- January 19," is taking place at the soon-to-open Carnivale Café on the corner of Vermont and Normal.
"Come celebrate with us," wrote Gilbert Gazan, 46, in the event's description. "Say goodbye to old Georgie ... Throw a shoe at a poster of Bush and win a free drink."
Click here to see the LA Weekly cover the restaurant plans to use as the shoe-throwing target.
 |
| Colin Powell held a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, touting the launch of USAService.org. Ferdous Al-Faruque/ ABC News |
Other than doing an occasional "very cursory" review of the site to make sure there are no "glaringly inappropriate" events on it, the Presidential Inaugural Committee is "not vetting the groups that are offering service opportunities or the individuals that are offering service opportunities or the people who want to participate," according to Linda Douglass, the committee's chief spokesperson.
"This is a hub," said Douglass. "It is very much like CraigsList, matching up individuals and groups who want to participate with opportunities to serve."
Asked about the "Bush Shoe Toss" advertised on Obama's site, Douglass said, "That obviously does not sound like any description of public service that we have in mind. But again, we are not in the business of regulating this. We're just in the business of giving people opportunities."
A few minutes later, after talking with her colleagues, Douglass called back to say that the committee has removed the "Bush Shoe Toss" from the site because "it does not appear those activities are connected to community service."
Gazan, who was inspired by the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Bush, is undeterred.
Asked if he plans to go forward with the "Bush Shoe Toss" contest now that it has been deleted from USAService.org, Gazan said, "Oh, yeah, we have 22,000 students across the street at Los Angeles Community College."
"The whole world is breathing a sigh of relief," he added, referring to Bush's looming departure.
ABC News' Ferdous Al-Faruque contributed to this report.
January 9, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (635)
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Hilarius to say the least. Wonder how P bush taking it. This Iraqi shoe thrower has become a celebrity of sorts. Hey Kimmel, Leno, Letterman-put him on your show. Let the Iraqis see we have fun with it to! Might ironically help with politics-
Posted by: t42 | Jan 9, 2009 6:38:06 PM
Posted by: Pistol Pete | Jan 9, 2009 6:42:40 PM
I feel sorry for people who have nothing but hate in their lives. Please remember the old saying - "What goes around comes around."
Posted by: SC Girl | Jan 9, 2009 6:43:57 PM
Long live George W. Bush. The best president since Harry Truman. May you live a long and happy life Mr. President and thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping us safe all of your time in office. I shall miss you very much and dread the upcoming 4 years.
Posted by: Patricia G | Jan 9, 2009 6:44:05 PM
Check out this site which gives the diagnosis of the Colin Powells of the world. www.libertymind.com
Posted by: RightStuff | Jan 9, 2009 6:45:47 PM
I'm sure you'll see the humor when rednecks hold a "Obama watermellon eating contest" too eh?
Dont stand aloof to disrespect for the president today...then decry it tommorrow...
(but I bet you will)
Posted by: Zeitgeist | Jan 9, 2009 6:45:58 PM
Yeah, absolutely fricking hilarious. We have morons in this country that are totally entertained by the funny shoe thrower. Meanwhile, we have a new comic in president-select Osama trying his best to take the fast path toward socialism, and proceeding to swiftly bankrupt us in the process. And bozo geniuses like t42 are completely oblivious to it all.
Yeah, I find it completely fricking hilarious. I'm assuming that the US IQ is now a whopping "42"....
Posted by: TxBoB | Jan 9, 2009 6:47:25 PM
I'm sure you'll see the humor when rednecks hold a "Obama watermellon eating contest" too eh?
Dont stand aloof to disrespect for the president today...then decry it tommorrow...
(but I bet you will)
Posted by: Zeitgeist | Jan 9, 2009 6:47:37 PM
Come on - is anyone really surprised anymore by the antics of the hate filled left?
Disgusting little people with pinched little minds.
Posted by: Leah J. | Jan 9, 2009 6:47:53 PM
bah double post...pardon me...
Posted by: Zeitgeist | Jan 9, 2009 6:48:38 PM
Patricia G, hows your 401K doing ....? want to thank Mr Bush for that as well while you are at it...? he virtually bankrupted this country, lets hope it can be salvaged and fast...
Posted by: indithinker | Jan 9, 2009 6:51:24 PM
Looks like old generals don't have the sense to vet a site they are launching. I guess you do miss a step when you retire.....he's in his 70's isn't he....same age as McCain, and we all know Obama thought he was practically senile. Maybe he is setting Powell up to run the new in Country security force...can't wait.
Posted by: joanne | Jan 9, 2009 6:53:46 PM
Whoppee!!! A Bush shoe toss event.
Are we going to have on in Los Angeles? I want to be first in line.
Posted by: Bill | Jan 9, 2009 6:57:08 PM
I just thought of a great idea. Charge money to throw a shoe at a Bush poster, or one those blow up dummies. (I realize the real dummy is not available.) We can then donate the money to a worthy charity. What a great form of community service.
Posted by: Bill | Jan 9, 2009 6:59:14 PM
Zeitgeist, what bankrupted the country was the Democrat policy of forcing banks to give home loans to people who couldn't afford them. BS/BO was part of that.
Posted by: anonymous | Jan 9, 2009 6:59:19 PM
Indithinker, your comments "Patricia G, hows your 401K doing". How about some thanks to Barney (I luv my franks)Frank, Chris (special mortage man) Dodd and and host of other members of this disgusting group of our Congress who were asleep (or maybe just lining their pockets) while our economy crumbled?
Posted by: newsman | Jan 9, 2009 6:59:40 PM
Obama had better be SUCH a good President that America is a heaven on earth in the next four years. If something screws up, the far left lunatics on this thread will have nobody to blame but their OWN party.
Four years from now we might have a shoe throwing contest aimed at Obama. Let's see how many far left geniuses laugh then.
Posted by: marco | Jan 9, 2009 7:03:08 PM
There's so much hate on the left. I'd like to say I'm surprised by this "event", but sadly the sentiment is rampant on the left.
Posted by: Nomoreleft | Jan 9, 2009 7:04:11 PM
Nice!
Bush deserves no less than feces to be thrown on him. If there is any justice in this world he will rot in prison.
Posted by: Dean | Jan 9, 2009 7:04:29 PM
Hey indithinker...I didn't realize any president could single-handedly affect the economy so dramatically...Bush must be God-like.
Posted by: jb | Jan 9, 2009 7:05:59 PM
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