• May 27, 2012

Obama Moves Jobs Speech Ahead of NFL Kickoff, Fans Worry About Pre-Game

by Kirsten Boyd Johnson  4:57 pm September 1, 2011

Barack Obama’s fickle mistress the American teevee viewing public sure has a lot of demands. FINE, he’ll move the jobs speech one day later so she can watch the Republican presidential candidate horde tear each other’s throats open. FINE, he’ll move the jobs speech to an early hour on Thursday so she can watch the pro-footballer hordes tear each other’s throats open. Happy? OH, WHAT NOW? America is worried it won’t get to see all the pre-game singing and dancing and flashy lights that come before the gladiator mosh pile starts. Sorry, Obama, you’ll just have to cancel all the jobs or whatever, America is busy.

As the NFL and NBC try to figure out the plans for the season-opening game between the Saints and Packers in light of President Obama’s plan to address a joint session of Congress on the same night, the good news is that Obama apparently plans to steer clear of the start of the football game.

Though an official announcement has not yet been made by the White House, Obama’s speech apparently will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on September 8, one hour before kickoff of the kickoff to the season.

And so, assuming the absence of any filibustering (a big assumption, given the precise location of the address), the speech should be over before it’s time to play the game.

But plenty of football fans will still find that outcome unacceptable.  The speech is still encroaching on turf that had been reserved for the game, potentially interrupting the pregame coverage on NBC, including the musical acts and the other stuff aimed at getting folks properly lathered up for the official start of the football season — and at permitting Packers fans to properly savor the celebration of their most recent Lombardi Trophy.

[Pro Football Talk]

{ 112 comments }

nounverb911 September 1, 2011 at 4:58 pm

Wouldn't halftime be better? Barry can do it live from the 50 yard line.

Lionel[redacted]Esq September 1, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Yes, but what if he has a wardrobe malfunction?

imissopus September 1, 2011 at 5:34 pm

I will give you one thousand dollars to yell "Tits or GTFO!!" at him from the Lambeau bleachers.

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 3:50 am

Like an exploding crotch?

Grief_Lessons September 1, 2011 at 10:11 pm

I though we were moving crucifixions to half time.

HelmutNewton September 1, 2011 at 5:03 pm

You know who ELSE had to move their speech to accomodate a bunch of barbarians?

nounverb911 September 1, 2011 at 5:07 pm

Attila the Pun?

SexySmurf September 1, 2011 at 5:23 pm

John Galt? And he didn't have much of a jobs plan, either.

Lionel[redacted]Esq September 1, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Marcus Bachmann?

SexySmurf September 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm

Thulsa Doom?

BarackMyWorld September 1, 2011 at 5:44 pm

George McGovern?

Geminisunmars September 1, 2011 at 6:11 pm

Obama to Invesco Field from the Convention center?

OzoneTom September 1, 2011 at 6:57 pm

Pope Leo I?

tcaalaw September 2, 2011 at 11:25 am

Romulus Augustus?

horsedreamer_1 September 2, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Tesco Vee the Dutch Hercules?

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:25 am

The Roman Senate?

SorosBot September 1, 2011 at 5:05 pm

Um, I don't think anybody actually gives a shit about the pregame show.

weejee September 1, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Yeah, the robotie transformer thingies are over on Faux.

BarackMyWorld September 1, 2011 at 6:08 pm

People do, however, give a shit about their right to claim righteous indignation over trivial things.

V572 T-Blow September 1, 2011 at 6:41 pm

Particularly if Hank Williams "Jr" is going to "sing." Yuck.

Lascauxcaveman September 2, 2011 at 12:27 pm

Much as I love to watch football, I never did get the whole pregame show. Sure, maybe five minutes of who's-who and who's-injured and who's-on-a-hot-streak and then on to the game.

But hours of dancing and music acts and blah-blah-blah by overexcited talking heads? I don't get it.

SorosBot September 1, 2011 at 5:08 pm

I think the problem isn't interrupting the show, but that Obama will be speaking earnestly and intelligently about jobs in a suit instead of getting pumped full of steroids and smacking into people for viewers' entertainment, which is the only way a lot of football fans want to see a black guy on TV.

KenLayIsAlive September 1, 2011 at 8:09 pm

I would love it if Obama would juice up and smack Boehner around live on teevee.

Arken September 2, 2011 at 12:17 am

He should end his speech with, "Thank you, God bless you and God Bless the United States of America… NOW ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBAAAAAALL?!"

Re-election by a landslide. i guarantee it.

littlebigdaddy September 2, 2011 at 5:34 pm

I'd like to see Barry with some roid rage.

ManchuCandidate September 1, 2011 at 5:11 pm

Are you ready for some Obama?

edgydrifter September 1, 2011 at 5:17 pm

NOBAMA IS TALKING OVER TEH NATIONAL ANTHEM!1! AND HANK WILLIAMS JR!!!!! ITS DISREPECTUFULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:27 am

The more bangs per uppercased scream, the higher the chances it's a teabagger.

Also teh spelling.

CrunchyKnee September 1, 2011 at 5:18 pm

Can't we just cancel everything and start over?

Barb September 1, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Oh trust me, the tea part is looking for the ginormous bottle of Wite-Out so that they can start over.

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 3:53 am

From 1776 or 1789? Somehow, I think the baggers want to go back to the former. Well, at least they think they want to go back to then, because they'd probably find some of the actual ideas of the Framers and Founders a bit to enlightened.

Pragmatist2 September 1, 2011 at 5:20 pm

I can't beat the headline, but I couldn't find the "thumbs up" icon for it.

DoktorThompson September 1, 2011 at 5:21 pm

Ha. Whatever. The only people who watch the pregame show are the ones who are too stoned to reach the remote.

SayItWithWookies September 1, 2011 at 5:23 pm

The Bachmanns, however, approve of the timing. Usually they're both full-throating corndogs pregame, and this will sort of — um — add to the ambience of the tailgating experience.

mrblifil September 1, 2011 at 5:32 pm

Pretty sure Marcus is used to full throating and tailgating, simultaneously and repeatedly, in rapid succession.

Lionel[redacted]Esq September 1, 2011 at 5:30 pm

Great. But now he is right against Ellen on the West Coast!

mrblifil September 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm

Early speeches bother pro football fans. Severed spinal cords and debilitating head injuries? Not so much.

ManchuCandidate September 1, 2011 at 5:53 pm

Of course not… judging by the commercials, small penis, non functioning penis and four wheel penis extensions are also more important than brain damaged players.

mumbly_joe September 1, 2011 at 6:03 pm

ExtenZe, Cialis, and, umm, Lexusjeepfordmercedescrystler?

Barb September 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

Dr Porkenheimer's Boner Juice?

V572 T-Blow September 1, 2011 at 6:46 pm

Didja see that hit? You could hear it up here in the booth! Man, that's football! Steroid-fueled pituitary mutants banging into each other until they get enough concussions!

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 3:56 am

I watched the Lions-Bills preseason game, last night, and the commentators were going on about how big the Lions' tight ends were. I mean practically drooling. It was hilarious. The guy was giving a stat (6'6" and 260 lbs) for one of them, and you could almost hear the boner popping. lol

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:29 am

Rollerball Murder.

gullywompr September 1, 2011 at 5:32 pm

Chess makes for lousy TV, but I still prefer it.

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:30 am

But chess is HA-A-AA-A-RD!

Buzz Feedback September 1, 2011 at 5:35 pm

Apple Dumpling Gang @WH

Jerri September 1, 2011 at 5:37 pm

As long as I can still drink a shit-ton of beer while he's talking I don't care.

Also, if he cuts into the Packer game he can just go ahead and put Wisconsin in the red state column right away.

savethispatient September 1, 2011 at 5:43 pm

Why is this a problem, I just cancelled my cable subscription, but I still get 20 free channels on my teevee, of which I'm sure half will be showing the President's speech. Does NBC really need to show it too?

elviouslyqueer September 1, 2011 at 5:43 pm

Mmm, judging from the lovely comments on the NBC site, I can safely say that most these fans have enjoyed one too many subdural hematomas due to rough tackling themselves at the neighborhood flag football fiesta.

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:31 am

Should I go look, or will I regret it?

MissTaken September 1, 2011 at 5:47 pm

Wow, I'm a shitty American. I totally forgot the Packers won the Superbowl last year. But I do remember the Baconation Bloody Marys I was drinking that day.

Fare la Volpe September 1, 2011 at 6:14 pm

The who won the what now?

MissTaken September 1, 2011 at 6:20 pm

The bacon flavored bloody mary won the drinking contest. Yummy!

Fare la Volpe September 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

That I get. I meant the shit that didn't make sense. Something about packers putting up your bowls. Are you moving?

poncho_pilot September 1, 2011 at 7:32 pm

i think it has something to do with "packing" a "super bowl" because it's "420, man".

SmutBoffin September 1, 2011 at 6:49 pm

Every year, muscular males assemble on an outdoor field of polymer-based turf to compete in an extended contest of grace, exertion, and domination. They dress and posture in a manner that would make Tom of Finland blush, and the whole environment of the spectacle is one of glitz and glamour. At the end of one hour of heaving and jarring contacts between the bodies of the participants, they calculate some final score number thing that means something.

Fare la Volpe September 1, 2011 at 7:13 pm

How did you find my Xtube history?

flamingpdog September 1, 2011 at 8:04 pm

Howard, I thought you were dead!

Arken September 2, 2011 at 12:20 am

I believe it primarily means extensive neurological damaga due to repeated head trauma.

imissopus September 1, 2011 at 5:48 pm

On this subject, Politico has a story (I won't link out of respect for Wonkette history) about how pissed off the WH is at Boehner for being such a prick about the schedule. Since it's Politico I make no claims as to the veracity of the story, but it's interesting. The thrust is that Boehner agreed to the original time and date on Wednesday morning, the WH announced it a couple of hours later, and then Limpballs and the wingnuts started shitting Dominican cabana boys, at which point Boehner backpedaled. The story then implies that the WH threw up its hands, said "Fuck it, there's nothing to be gained by having a fight over this," and pushed the speech back.

Now, this might be all post-fuck-up spin on the part of the WH, but it's a simple and logical explanation, and thus probably the correct one.

BarackMyWorld September 1, 2011 at 5:55 pm

Boehner was pretty expliciting whining about not being consulted about the time before it was announced, so that story would mean he was *gasp* lying.

MissTaken September 1, 2011 at 5:58 pm

Wouldn't be the first time that a boner lied and whined to get what it wanted.

Arken September 2, 2011 at 12:22 am

They just do the thinking. It's the mouth that does the lying.

So then Eric Cantor.

HistoriCat September 2, 2011 at 3:03 pm

A lot of alcoholics can't remember what they said or did during a binge.

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:33 am

Oh, rub it in, why don'tcha?

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 4:00 am

The thrust is that Boehner agreed to the original time and date on Wednesday morning, the WH announced it a couple of hours later, and then Limpballs and the wingnuts started shitting Dominican cabana boys, at which point Boehner backpedaled.

This is par for the course. This is what Boenher does. It's really the only thing Boehner does. This is Lucy-and-the-football shit, here. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice…well, the moral of the story has been for months now: Don't trust a Boehner. Ever. Also.

horsedreamer_1 September 2, 2011 at 6:36 pm

Especially one from Ohio. And even more when driving drunk with a stripper in Indiana.

Indiepalin September 1, 2011 at 5:51 pm

Maybe he should let Springsteen give the speech. He killed at the Super Bowl a couple years ago.

MissTaken September 1, 2011 at 5:57 pm

"packattackisback says: Sep 1, 2011 9:34 AM

Why is all this crap happening after the Packers won the Super Bowl? Very irritating that the Pack haven’t gotten proper Champion-treatment so far. I’m not a big fan of those bands or anything, but Packers fans deserve to see the whole darn show."

Packattack is right. I'm sure listening to some shitty band lip-sync through their one-hit song while fighter jets fly over is a Constitutionally protected right.

ManchuCandidate September 1, 2011 at 5:59 pm

Because football is life. Unlike real life.

V572 T-Blow September 1, 2011 at 6:50 pm

Man isn't it great when four $150M/each jets fly over at $44K/flyiing hour taxpayer expense of about $44,000/flying hour/each?

No wait, that was the F-22, which unpatriotic Obama mercilessly killed. The F-35 only costs $31,000/hour to fly. See? Things are getting better!
http://tucsonforward.com/news-articles/f-35s-per-...

SorosBot September 1, 2011 at 8:01 pm

I would think the F-35 would cost $0/hour to fly, considering there inability to get off the ground.

ttommyunger September 1, 2011 at 5:58 pm

Jobs speech; don't give a fuck, won't watch it. Republican Debate; don't give a fuck, won't watch it. Football, don't give a fuck, won't watch it. WIN!

V572 T-Blow September 1, 2011 at 6:53 pm

The VC really did a number on you when they had you in that tiger cage, didn't they Tommy?

ttommyunger September 1, 2011 at 8:10 pm

Nope, just old and cranky;)

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 4:02 am

I only hope that I live long enough to be both old and cranky. God bless you, tommy.

ttommyunger September 2, 2011 at 7:18 am

Thanx.

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:36 am

They're your best qualities, ttommy. Make you downright lovable.

Oh, and the cruelty, also.

ttommyunger September 3, 2011 at 7:07 am

Again, you are too kind.

BarackMyWorld September 1, 2011 at 6:06 pm

They could've just moved the speech to Sept. 6th instead of Sept. 8th, but that would've interfered with Fox rerunning that episode of "Glee" where Sue's sister died.

Pristine_ODummy September 3, 2011 at 2:38 am

Or he could have moved it to Sept. 11th and then he would have to hear about how that Marxist Africosocialislamist Commie was totally disrespecting the Tradition of NEVAH FORGET (insert obligatory teary eagle graphic).

hagajim September 1, 2011 at 6:17 pm

Good idea for those who are concerned his speech might cut into whatever terrible country bumpkin act is playing in the pre-game – don't FUCKING WATCH! Jeez – you'd think that all the unemployed fucks might care about how they are going to get a job, but apparently all they give a shit about is watching some redneck sing about getting ready for some football or some shit.

Sue4466 September 1, 2011 at 6:23 pm

And then they'll complain about how come the black guy in the White House never seems to give a fuck about jobs. Cause he should care about their welfare more than they do about their own.

Sharkey September 1, 2011 at 6:24 pm

I already threw up once today, but thanks.

Sue4466 September 1, 2011 at 6:26 pm

Meanwhile, Michele Bachmann was asked by George Stephanopoulos about whether minimum wage regulations were one of the "job killing regulations" she's talked about. She actually said "All regulations, George."

All of them.

V572 T-Blow September 1, 2011 at 6:55 pm

Air traffic control: job killer!
Wage and hour laws: job killer!
Import tariffs: job killer!
Equal employment opportunity: job killer!
13th Amendment: job killer!

flamingpdog September 1, 2011 at 8:08 pm

And she didn't call him Katie? She lost my vote!

KenLayIsAlive September 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm

These fucking assholes. Jobs jobs jobs. Don't they understand that what can't be done by Chinese slaves gets done by robots now?

There's no fucking "jobs" anywhere. Come on America. Get with the training all of us as subsistence farming artists.

metamarcisf September 1, 2011 at 6:26 pm

Now maybe Obama's speech would go over better if he broke it into sections. Like maybe a few minutes about jobs every time one of those goddam red coaches challenge flags flies out onto the field which is all the fucking time.

V572 T-Blow September 1, 2011 at 6:56 pm

Just so it doesn't interrupt any commercials. We're trying to make an honest buck selling boner pills here, you know.

Hurricane Ali September 1, 2011 at 6:27 pm

He needs to go to the goddamm stadium and deliver his stupid jobs speech directly to the peoples. But first he needs to land on the using a paraglider. Preferably with red, white, and blue fire works ablaze in the background. God knows this is the only way he's going to get everyone's attention.

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 4:04 am

Then, he should do a kick-ass electric guitar riff solor for good measure.

#stuffwhitepeoplelike

Troglodeity September 1, 2011 at 6:51 pm

Which Republican has been designated to give the rebuttal "You Lie" this time?

poncho_pilot September 1, 2011 at 7:26 pm

who is this Foot Ball person and why are they so popular?

Arken September 2, 2011 at 12:23 am

His talented but feisty red-headed sister was once the queen of television.

arihaya September 3, 2011 at 3:35 am

some people who love soccer (i.e: the real football) call it affectionately as "hand egg'

not that Dewey September 1, 2011 at 7:34 pm

Obama should get Roseanne Barr to sing the jobs speech, and then she could have a wardrobe malfunction and Bono can yell "FUCK!" while Joe Scarborough calls Mark Halperin a pussy. I'd watch that.

And I don't even have teevee.

flamingpdog September 1, 2011 at 8:11 pm

What would allow me to stomach the pre-game show? Alcohol.
What would allow me to stomach the jobs speech? Alcohol.
Sounds like a win-win situation to me!

ShaveTheWhales September 1, 2011 at 8:14 pm

So, speaking as a genetically-determined Packer fan of some 50 years or so: We already gots the Lombardi Trophy this year. Some of my brethren or sistren may care about how much advertisement-encrusted blather gets blown out on the teevee before the game, but I don't. Who the fuck watches the pre-game show, other than as background music?

If I could afford psychoanalysis, an interesting but low-priority area to explore would why it is that I, a 63-year-old who hasn't lived in Wisconsin since I was 21, still have an emotional reaction to the successes and failures of a football team composed of kids thirty years my junior. It's a real reaction, I do not lie. There really isn't anything else that affects me the same way.

But I still don't give a rat's ass about the pre-game show.

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 4:07 am

It's not a mystery, Whales. The Packers are the "People's Team." How can no one at least respect such unapologetic and unabashed socialism? What other small city in America has the commitment to do something like Green Bay has done? Allah/God/Yaweh/FSM bless the people of the bay.

LetUsBray September 1, 2011 at 8:59 pm

C'mon, Mr. Prez, don't cave to the pre-game show… don't cave… don't…. Aww, CRAP.

comrad_darkness September 1, 2011 at 9:17 pm

People still watch television?

Radiotherapy® September 1, 2011 at 9:32 pm

Just give the speech on Labor Day. No one seems to give a shit about that.

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 4:10 am

Obama gets a pre-game of sorts this year for the Detroit Labor Day Parade. Aretha Franklin will be the featured singer, and I promise you she'll do a better job than she did at the inaugeration, though, sans fancy Detroit-made decorative hat.

In all seriousness, they are expecting a few hundred thousand people. If he proposes anything of merit, this could be a "big fucking deal."

BTWBFDIMHO September 1, 2011 at 9:55 pm

What?! Obama has to speak earlier so the Packers can show us their Trophy! What's next? The Packer Party nominating Mandingo for President? Cheeseus!

slowhansolo September 2, 2011 at 12:06 am

I dunno. I'm starting to think a society such as this probably ought to die.

Schmegeg September 2, 2011 at 12:08 am

Jesus, this is a controversy? LBJ and Nixon would have released the hounds on these pinheads and sold tickets so we could watch. Which would be way better than any NFL game.

Negropolis September 2, 2011 at 3:41 am

We can haz bread and circus? Oh, joy! I tell you, we are spoiled rotten, us peasants. But, no, really; we know we're fucked in America when we're arguing over the timing of a presidential speech. Not the possible content of the speech, no, but the fucking timing of the speech.

Barry should get all the Congresscritters in the House chamber, start his speech, lock the doors, and then not let them out until they come out all zombified screaming his praises.

BTW, go Lions; Restore the Roar! They are one less thing Detroit has to be embarrased about, this year.

MMathS September 2, 2011 at 7:10 am

I love football. But, Christ, when the president wants to address the public, you fucking delay the game.

worrierqueen September 3, 2011 at 10:29 am

How dare Obama get in the way of our bread and circuses. Oh that's right, I forgot, we've run out of bread.

Scottsdalian September 5, 2011 at 9:44 am

Repubs will do something Thurs nite to drag out the speech, thereby delaying…or, worse yet, forcing viewers to MISS THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THE FOOBALL GAME. National outrage will follow.

flamingpdog September 1, 2011 at 8:03 pm

If it were the Vikings, I think Marcus would be "packing" a "super bowel".

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