Press gets the "fist bump" thing wrong... again

By GottaLaff

Here is a headline that was typical of what I read repeatedly this morning:

Obama Declines to Fist Bump

Now here's what really happened. First, the back story:

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Senator Obama received critical press yesterday for refusing to give a boy a fist bump while touring the Eastside Community Ministry in Ohio.

According to Tuesday's press pool report, Obama denied the boy, saying, "If I start that..." before trailing off and turning away. The interpretation from various news outlets insinuated that Obama was shying away from a greeting that was labeled a "terrorist fist jab" last month after Michelle Obama bumped fists with her husband on stage in St Paul.

Wowzers, he musta been really a-scared of the badmouthing he'd get from the press! What a coward! He'll be a terrible president! If he shies away from fist-bumping a little boy, how will he deal with terrorists?!

Well, it turns out the fist bump refusal was much ado about nothing, and much to do about a child hoping for an indelible Obama marking on his hand.

Oh. I'm sure the press will apologize. After all, they wouldn't want a misleading story about Barack Obama to start circulating needlessly.

Here is the actual exchange based on a review of ABC's video:

Child: Can you sign my hand?

Obama: If I start that...plus Mom might not be happy when she comes home. She'll be like, 'what is the dirt on your hand?'...see ya.

Child: Can you sign it in pen so it will come off?

The child rose his hand in a fist to get Obama's attention as he asked for a signature – perhaps prompting the fist bump portrayal.

Obama instead signed the autographs for the children in crayon on drawings they were working on during class.

What a mean-spirited Muslim terrorist he is.