Wash Times
Obama to new chief of staff: Stop biking to work
“I have stopped biking to work,” Mr. McDonough said on NBC over the weekend, attributing the stoppage to a presidential order. The new chief of staff used to ride his bicycle to the White House while employed as Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser, The Hill reports.
But his new position carries a Cabinet-level title. And for security reasons, The Hill reports, the president says he has to put away the bike.
A sort of “free McDonough” rally has erupted.
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But Global Warming, Carbon Footprints, etc.
Sometimes I forget it only applies to everyone else, not those pushing that agenda. My bad.
Ca97 on February 18, 2013 at 1:27 PM
think of all the greenhouse gases that he will now emit just making it to work and back…..
*for shame*
ted c on February 18, 2013 at 1:27 PM
McDonough is a real sh_t – he is angry and radical – and will encourage Obama to fight the GOP every step
jake-the-goose on February 18, 2013 at 1:30 PM
Hmm… sounds like Dear Leader wants to dodge the embarrassment of explaining why a senior official was mugged (and/or murdered) within the Gun Ban Mecca otherwise known as Washington D.C.
(Security for me, but not for thee…)
CPT. Charles on February 18, 2013 at 1:40 PM
Biking is for the little people.
rbj on February 18, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Well, as a cabinet officer, he is a high value target and requires a certain amount of security that the average American doesn’t.
Outlander on February 18, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Just put his security detail on bikes as well.
cs89 on February 18, 2013 at 1:46 PM
But but that goes against the wishes of Dear Leader!!1!
Kensington on February 18, 2013 at 1:57 PM
“We’ll send a helicopter for you”.
Clink on February 18, 2013 at 2:04 PM
this seems hardly more than a little nugget for pinky reporters to chew on and feel green about, obviously the WH CoS cant go biking along a public highway every day at the same time lest the bads guys come zipping up in a van and snatch him.
Sacramento on February 18, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Good. One more bicyclist DC drivers won’t have to try to avoid hitting. This might be the only order Obama’s ever given with which I agree.
Missy on February 18, 2013 at 2:05 PM
“Average” American?
Clink on February 18, 2013 at 2:05 PM
Mayhaps… considering that Valerie Jarrett is the true power behind the throne, someone like McDonough (as ‘Chief of Staff’) is little better than a functionary at best… an errand boy at worst.
CPT. Charles on February 18, 2013 at 2:10 PM
I’d suggest that they build one of those pneumatic tube things like you have in a bank drive-through between his house and the White House. Just put him in the tube, press the button and whoosh him right to his desk.
Mr. D on February 18, 2013 at 2:12 PM
Good idea. We can’t have Obama’s cabinet in harm’s way. Wait a minute . . . hmmm.
davidk on February 18, 2013 at 2:17 PM
Post his commuter route as a GUN-FREE ZONE. That’s fix it.
petefrt on February 18, 2013 at 2:33 PM
These bicycle hippies are serious business…
In my city, they’re demanding that the car lanes be replaced with divided bicycle lanes and all this bicycle infrastructure be created so people can bike to work and bike around their neighborhoods. The idea is that cars are evil and bicycles are good, and if we stop building roads and start building bicycle lanes, we’ll eventually make it so painful to drive that people will ride bicycles instead.
Lots of this infrastructure has been built, and aside from annoying the hell out of motorists (whose 3-lane roads were suddenly reduced to 2 lanes), has done nothing to increase bicycle use.
More liberal social engineering!
Outlander on February 18, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Yep here as well.
gophergirl on February 18, 2013 at 3:28 PM
What city are you talking about?
You should be happy if more people choose to ride their bikes (and cycling as a form of commute is up in many cities). Many [sensible] bicyclists will take the backroads/local roads on their commutes, leaving more room on the major roads for the cars, meaning there is less traffic. They don’t take up parking spaces either, reducing demand; ditto for gasoline.
A lot of bicyclists, myself included, also are drivers. I bike a few days and drive the rest. When I drive I take the interstate or major roads. When I bike, there is one less car out there to clog things up.
cep on February 18, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Why is the WH Chief of Staff a cabinet officer? Or a high value target? Does anyone know who he is? He isn’t in the 25th amendment line of succession.
Illinidiva on February 18, 2013 at 4:14 PM