The prince and the president dance around politics
Prince Harry interviews Barack Obama
(CNS): Former US president Barack Obama’s first media interview since he handed over the keys of the White House to Donald Trump may have come as a surprise to many as it was with the BBC and a royal prince. When Prince Harry sat down with the former US leader for the Q&A as part of the prince’s special guest editing of Radio 4’s Today Programme, the two managed to dance around politics and only hint at the state of affairs under the new American president.
Obama avoided anything overtly political about his successor but he did raise the issue of the abuse of social media and the need for leaders to be careful about what they say on such forums. He also spoke about the need to encourage and cultivate the next generation of leaders.
The meeting between two of the world’s most famous people has generated considerable media attention and raised the question of whether Prince Harry and his fiancée, Meghan Markle, will be inviting the Obamas to their forthcoming wedding. This will not be a state affair but nevertheless has the potential to create the sticky situation of the former president being a royal guest before Trump.
When asked, Prince Harry said he wasn’t going to spoil the surprise when it came to the guest list.
Listen to the full BBC interview here.
Category: UK, USA, World News
It’s hard to mention Obama and history together because he will not be remembered for anything. In that sense, he will be history.
He was weak. When the world’s political platform needed him because of his title, he was weak. The only real thing you’ll remember of him was his tenure resulted in Trump being voted to office.
How’s that taste?
No mention of the prince’s stellar military service and Obama’s dismal record as commander in chief of the most powerful military in the world.No mention? no I say that page was intentionally left blank.
President Trump’s 8 years in office will be limited only by liberals, snowflakes, milenials, and freeloading slackers, many of whom are replying to this topic, I hope that I have not been politically correct in any way shape or form.
MAN UP !!!!
Dear Mr, or Mrs editor,
Why can I not like or dislike certain topics in your colum? Hope there is no bias as that would be counter to free press.
Sincerely,
Concerned citizen.
CNS: There’s no way for me to turn off the thumbs – I can disable the comments completely but not just the thumbs. If you cannot vote, it is likely because someone else on your network has already done so, but sometimes there are just inexplicable glitches. If you turn your modem off and then on again, you get a new IP address. You should then be able to thumb vote.
Good explanation, Thank you for your very timely response.
Obama fooled me and I voted for him in 2008 because I believed his unity lies. Once in office he brought no one together and if you disagreed with him you were labeled racist. The IRS, DoJ and FBI were politicized under Obama and were that to have been done by a conservative real grounds for impeachment would be in order.
The national debt almost doubled under Obama and race relations are the worse they have been in decades.
Obama was interviewed after Daniel Pearl was beheaded by ISIS and immediately after the interview Obama went golfing and was videoed laughing with his golf buddies.
Obama used ridicule when people sincerely and honestly brought their concerns to him and I do not think history will be kind to him.
Most if not all presidents have stepped aside after their terms in office but not Obama his ego precludes his stepping aside because he believes the country and the world cannot survive without him.
B.S. to the highest degree. Obama has NEVER uttered the word “racist” in the direction of another individual – even the blatantly racist that were expressing their bias in the most obvious way.
It is interesting that people like you fail to recall that he inherited an America with the WORST economic and financial standing since the 1930’s and handed it over to President Orange in a very good standing despite the challenges.
He didn’t have to utter the word racist, he forged it through neglect.
And EVERY president inherits problems from the predecessor so get off that wagon. The problem you have is refusing to admit he had 8 years to make great changes and he did nothing.. I repeat, nothing…
Name one marginal change that children today will feel tomorrow from sweeping changes he pushed through.
All children of America will feel they have the potential to become President.
Hopefully they will follow Obama’s example of (genuine) education, class, and diligence in their endeavour of that goal as opposed to the paths of vile behaviour, disrespectful antics, and inebriation as the Presidents immediately prior and after.
Unfortunately, they should bear in mind they are still living in a country where only the privileged amongst them could possibly attain such office despite the referenced backgrounds.
Obama, by the mere essence of what he represented within his environment, raised the bar tremendously.
Nevertheless, old habits die hard and America grabbed said bar and brought it crashing back down to the lowest level witnessed in my lifetime.
Interesting that many feel more comfortable with the current status.
I am by no means surprised – simply entertained by the shock-horror of those that have existed in denial (and or ignorance) for decades as they come to terms with the new old AmeriKKKa.
As you seem to express such great admiration for Obama please tell me just what did he do in 8 years to improve the lives of urban blacks? Obama spent more time on the LGBTQ issues than the black issues. Why was that? Obama won the Nobel Peace prize before doing anything as President, like just being elected was enough. Obama is the only president who as I watched his behavior made me wonder if Obama liked America.
You watch FOX news every night at dinnertime, don’t you?
This discussion is going nowhere fast.
Lastly, why do people like you have an obsession with Obama’s term and the corresponding fate of Black Americans? Was Obama the “President of Black America”?!
Never have I heard any President, the 40 something before and one after, taken to specific task about the fate of Black Americans.
Just goes to show that race and Obama’s colour definitely matters and ALWAYS pops up in the discussion.
Anyway, enjoy the new old “Alt-America” with its well-appointed President.
Presidents come and go, polices change with the seasons, however, one thing that stands the test of time is personal integrity.
On that basis Obama wipes the floor with Trump – in fact, Trump did not even make it to the qualifying stage.
He ended the wet foot, dry foot policy which needed to go! That’s a plus right? The silly Cubans thought Trump (who is so anti-foreigner)was going to undo it and keep letting them in just because they could?! 90% of them who claimed political asylum was rubbish. lmao
He said that anyone who watches FOX NEWS is from another planet, I watch FOX NEWS and he put me in a category that is not the norm. That is saying that I am from a s–t hole planet. What a racist.
CNS: As usual, the far right takes the very sensible and thoughtful things that Obama says out of context and twist them around to use against him. It seems to me that because Trump is saying things that are actually racist, the Obama haters are determined to make ludicrous claims that he is, in fact, the racist.
You are referring to Obama’s appearance on the new David Letterman show on Netflix and that is not even close to what he said. He did not, for example, refer to a s**t-hole anything. He was making a point about the cavern between the right and left in the US and said that one of the dangers to democracy is that they don’t have the same perception of reality.
Verbatim: “What the Russians exploited – but it was already here – is we are operating in completely different information universes. If you watch Fox News, you are living on a different planet than you are if you listen to NPR.”
You nailed it. Every word you said was on point.
Obama was one of the worse presidents ever. Top ten worst ever.
Top 5 worse. The worst with regard to the debt.
Good grief.
You got that right!
Could not have said it better.
You nailed it. THE WORST! He was truly a disgrace to both sides of his family. His shortsighted crony corrupt policies left all Americans in greater danger and poverty.
Trump is, soon to be was, the worst president ever. He hasn’t a clue, is narcissistic, a liar and a groper: just an all out nasty. A president: huh.
I have thought about it and it is really hard to find another president who was worse than Barrack Obama. Maybe Jimmy Carter, but he was simply misguided and ignorant. Obama had an agenda.
The intellect and class that pu$$y-grabbing and racist-embracing replaced.
Congrats AmeriKKKa.
Enjoy the tax break, Bubba … in your trailer-home, lol!
You will be begging for Ms. Liberties protection one day soon.
Always entertaining to witness an outdated perspective in these times.
Thank you.
…As you race bait here. You can always tell the real racists, they are usually busy accusing everyone else of being racists.
Only a racist would settle a racism based lawsuit.
By the way, racism / “western whiteness” is THE leading factor in western politics right now.
In fact, only a racist would fail to realize … so, yeah.
You’re the kind of idiot that would call MLK Jr. a racist.
These new age tactics to dismiss modern racism are in full effect.
MLK wasn’t perfect, certainly, but he was all American, courageous, was a brilliant verbal advocate for equal justice, and knew his Christian bible. None of these things can be said of Obama. He isn’t worthy to tie MLK’s shoes.
If he was, I doubt if he could accomplish the task. He copied MLK’s style of speaking and with the aid of a teleprompter, made fools out of enough uninformed Americans and the masses of the world. The one weakness of democracy is that the crowd has a vote, even when it is uninformed.
Glad someone mentioned MLK. Obama and his cronies set back MLK’s accomplishments 40 years. Shameful.
7:06 you’re the exact POS we Americans are trying to destroy in our Country. Please stay home, we don’t need your tax dollars or hot hair.
I simply spoke truth my friend.
The fact that you felt compelled to respond by way of personal insults speak volumes to your standing in the matter at hand.
Sucks to be you.
problem here is that every household including the single mother – young couple will also receive tax break (12-24k)- unless there are no single black mothers then chances are this bill will do more for blacks than under mr obama! bubba will also get his! does that offend you that whites are included?
how sad it is that liberal narratives blind you
1. Whites are the greatest benefactors of government welfare in America.
2. AmeriKKKa should be ashamed that so long after the original sin we can have posters like yourself accurately refer to entire races of people as likely benefactors of social welfare.
3. (FYI) I come from a Black country and my country outperforms America in almost every modern measure of living standards.
4. Systemic, institutional and generational discrimination is real.
1: not sure how that matters. If anything it puts a dent in the white privledge argument
2:I did not say entire races are benefactors but did point to a real point- single motherhood in the black community is a real problem and on the rise. Google .it is a fact and is not meant to offend but empower you/ me to do better.
3: I did not suggest black communities are not capable of success -but by large they are not – again sorry if it bothers you. Only the truth can help us fix our social problems.
4: well there are many laws that disagree with that notion but I will agree that instances are real.
Truth is this the point that I am making . You can’t see the truth for the offense you are busy taking . We (I am black) ignore our social issues and then feel offended when the truth obstructs our future. I grew up in caymans ghetto where hitting it and bouncing has caused many many many single mother homes and have seen the effects it have on our young ones. I see the rampant drug abuse, the dysfunction in the home. The lazy that rather crowd up under their mothers roof than get a job . And I have defiantly meet those like you – that rather cast generalities and pretend the victim rather than be smart ! Obama fuelled his campaign and legacy on the emotions of your kind .
Facts !
Your first mistake was assuming my numbered list was directed at you personally. It wasn’t.
Your second mistake is believing the western tale that race is by any means an indicator of behaviour; (Examine our respective (3) points and see where you are missing the entire point.)
Anyway, you have simply proven yours to be yet another conditioned mindset of your wider environment.
Somehow the FACT that people are lining up to leave “1st world” countries to permanently relocate for the superior standards that this Black country (by western standards), with a history very similar to that of Jamaica, is completely lost on you to the extent of your (3) observations.
I genuinely pity people like you. They’ve got you and there is no coming back.
– Who
They ?? Who is they ? And how have they got me ? Books and education have me buddy boy . Include some hard real life lessons and the nerve to stand up and I am the man I am today . You back track and confuse your point and have not the clarity to see you offer no value to yourself or group of people you match for – which would include me if I did not have the strength to see the world. Who is leaving which country to come to which country – stop talking in tongues , are you saying the few thousand people who come here represents the world ? And if so I promise you it has more to do with tax exempts than living standards. Btw Africa is the largest continent with the most black countries – speak to this point ??? Cayman is British , I know you of all people did not forget this . Crickets I am sure . I say this not to discredit my people but to reposition the mirror that our ignorance has broken and refused us to see clearly .
Be a man and stop crying skin colour
Russia, the largest in the world, is a white country – speak to that point??
Are you aware of the rate of (white) single mothers in Britain producing the EQUIVALENT societal fallout as so prominently magnified in Black America??
(The only difference is, it is not quantified or assessed along racial lines – but I am casting my pearls before a pig right now for, as I mentioned earlier, they’ve got you and your mind.)
Re: “…And if so I promise you it has more to do with tax exempts than living standards.”
Yet you go on to end your post with reference to ignorance.
From that statement alone I know you have NEVER lived in the UK or Europe for any meaningful period of time.
Saddest of all, is you are the type of sitting-duck Caymanian that any Johnny-come-lately can sell any b.s. to. Ignorance indeed, buddy boy. Generations of Caymanians like you are why our people find themselves in the current position.
Re: “Be a man and stop crying skin colour”; whereas I am doing quite fine despite racial discrimination along the way, this does not negate the wider reality.
Tell that to Walter Scott and Anthony Walker.
However, you are advised to bring your shovel as skin colour is what got them dead in the dirt today.
(Black, British, A-Level student, 18 years of age, chased down by an axe-wielding mob of 4 and killed by a chop to the head … simply for being the wrong colour in the wrong place – in these modern times.)
However, I am sure such hatred halts itself at such cases and doesn’t permeate or manifest itself throughout the wider society, right?
Anyway, it is clear you lack a hands-on global perspective hence our conflict as it concerns certain points.
We are all limited by our experiences. Walk good.
– Who
This was awesome – loved it. Lots of good social lessons and inspiration in this as the world moves forward.
Obama is such a loser and put the US on a downward spiral!!
Obama was and is a prince compared to that orange guppy they have now. As My grandmother always say “money can’t buy class”.
Obama = Highest debt the world has ever seen. Fact not fiction.
Dumb comment. Every President in living memory has left ‘the highest debt the world has ever seen’. Reagan an GWB both increased debt to GDP more than Obama and neither inherited the financial mess Obama did. Got any more ‘facts’?
-Illegally armed Mexican drug cartels and ISIS militants- Operation Fast and Furious
-Monsanto Deal
-ObamaCare
-Secretly obtained phone records from Associated Press journalists
-Ordered private company to fire 1,000 employees
After Boeing hired 1,000 new employees to work at its new factory in South Carolina in 2011, the Obama administration ordered the company to close it down because the factory was non-union.
-Tried to outlaw family farms
The Obama administration wanted to eradicate family farms in 2012 by trying to prohibit farm children under 18 from working in various farm-related activities.
…………………………………
You forgot your #1 grievance; – a Black man (educated and classy).
i am black! and those are fact! i dont cozy up to sides my friend ,every color have capacities of criminality. you ever paid attention to how black men are treating black men in africa?! you ever visit northward?! every color is represented .liberal values have cornered your capacity to imagine the criminal in men
Conservative values have resulted in 500+ innocent people shot down in cold blood in Las Vegas – not to mention 20+ in a Sunday morning church service a few weeks later.
By the way, Larry Elder is black as well.
He said
and educated…
A constitutional lawyer, who better to bring down “WE THE PEOPLE” That’s how the Constitution of the U.S.A. Begins.
That’s it? Bless.
So true. It is hard to challenge the truth.
Problem is that the world did not need a prince in the most powerful office, it needed competence. And that, he was not. But I will agree that he was a prince. Prince of failure. Prince of welfare. Prince of debt. Prince of socialism. Prince..sure.
Absolute nonsense.
Western European Liberal Political stunts!
Wouldn’t have been able to do that had the interview been held here on a Sunday
The president who did bugger all interviewed by the prince who does bugger all.
Yep…a has been and a wannabe.
Think you will ever be President?? I think not. President Obama is a breath of fresh air, in this world of crass and hateful rhetoric. The entire world benefitted from his measured statements while he was US. President.
2:14 A Prince who fought in Afghanistan as both a soldier on the ground and an Apache attack helicopter pilot. What the f*** were you doing at the time – watching daytime TV and playing with your PS?
Yes; he like his hero Donald had ‘heelitis’ and couldn’t serve.
A president and a veteran… and what do you do?