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The applause from the members of the United
Nations General Assembly rolled around President Obama, echoing off the
vast expanse of wood and marble, a tidal wave of approval and acclaim,
although... truth be told, it was a little less than he had expected.
His first address to the world body and not even a standing-O?
President Obama held up his hands to acknowledge the applause and the
diplomats must have misinterpreted him, must have thought that he was
asking for silence, because they immediately stopped clapping, leaning
back in their chairs, awaiting his speech. He cleared his throat,
trying to hold back his annoyance.
“Thank you, thank you,
really, no, thank you very much.” He grinned at the cameras that were
broadcasting his address to the world, flashed the smile that had never
failed him. “My name is Barak Obama, and I approved this message.”
Silence in the great hall. A few nervous titters from the aides that
David Axelrod, his campaign strategist, had sprinkled throughout the
room, but their attempt to jumpstart another round of applause fell
flat. Note to self: Diplomats are harder to roll than journalists. He
glanced over at the U.S. ambassador, Barbra Streisand, who gave him a
thumbs up.
“But seriously,” said President Obama, his grin
faltering. He cleared his throat. Wet his lips. The crowd shifted in
their seats. “Well... um... as you know... people will try to scare
you, warn you about me, because... I’ve got a Harvard law degree and a
funny name, and uh, as you can see, I... I don’t look like any other
president on the money... “ He looked at the African diplomats in the
front row. “The U.S. money, not your money, of course...” (Robert Ferrigno comtinued)
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