Why White House didn’t invite women to play basketball with Obama
October 9th, 2009 - 2:22 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Oct. 9 (ANI): As President Barack Obama got ready to play basketball with his Cabinet secretaries and congressmen on Thursday, the White House is facing questions over why no women were invited for the game.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs admitted the mistake saying: “I would say that the point’s well taken. As the father of two young daughters, Obama has an avid interest in their competing against anybody on the playing field.
“The president’s certainly played basketball and other sports with women in the past, and I anticipate he’ll do so in the future.”
Obama played basketball with four Cabinet secretaries and 11 members of Congress - all men, Politico reports.
The Cabinet members were– Treasury’s Tim Geithner, Education’s Arne Duncan, Interior’s Ken Salazar and Housing and Urban Development chief Shaun Donovan.
Two Republican House members were included on the list - Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.). Gibbs said some of the congressmen invited also play in a regular game among House members.
On being asked whether he would also play, Gibbs said he has been there, done that, and realized that the game doesn’t suit him.
“I played a few weeks ago with the president and, about 15 minutes into the whole affair, I turned my ankle and spent the next five days with it sitting in a bucket of ice,” he said. (ANI)
- "There's 'no doubt' Democrats could lose control of House," says Obama's top spokesman Robert Gibbs - Jul 12, 2010
- Why Obama couldn't even smile when his Christmas tree was delivered! - Nov 27, 2010
- Obama says 'all male' basketball game didn't have gender bias message - Oct 25, 2009
- Obama to observe 9/11 anniversary at Pentagon - Sep 02, 2009
- God promised Noah global warming wouldn't destroy planet: US politician - Nov 11, 2010
- Former journalist Jay Carney to take over from Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary - Jan 28, 2011
- Bhangra music in White House - May 27, 2010
- Obama back to basketball - this time as a spectator - Nov 28, 2010
- Robert Gibbs to step down as White House press secretary - Jan 06, 2011
- President Barack Obama Receives Lip Injury During Basketball Game - Nov 27, 2010
- Longtime aide to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden resigns - May 24, 2011
- Obama coaches daughter Sasha's basketball team while she goes skiing - Feb 20, 2011
- Gibbs Claims Obama Hasn't Smoked in 9 Months - Dec 29, 2010
- Obama Administration's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Steps Down - Jan 06, 2011
- Press Secretary Gibbs to leave White House - Jan 06, 2011
Tags: ariz, arne duncan, barack obama, cabinet members, cabinet secretaries, congressmen, donovan, game doesn, housing and urban development, jeff flake, john shimkus, ken salazar, members of congress, press secretary, rep jeff flake, republican house members, robert gibbs, secretary robert, tim geithner, white house press