There's a rat in the White House (Wizbang)

No... really:

In his battle with the titans of Wall Street, President Barack Obama almost got upstaged by a rat.
But he didn't even seem to notice. Assuming that's what it was, scurrying in front of his podium Thursday in a sun-drenched Rose Garden.
Obama had just begun an afternoon statement to reporters lauding the end of a Senate filibuster on his financial overhaul plan when some kind of rodent -- opinions differ on which -- dashed out of the bushes to his right, just outside the Oval Office.
As photographers snapped away, the critter trundled straight past the gray podium with the presidential seal and made a bee-line for another set of bushes to Obama's left.
It's not clear if the president could even see the streaker, but he didn't show any reaction. And he concluded his statement minutes later, returning to his office without answering a few shouted questions on other topics.

For those wondering, the rat is the one in the lower right hand side of the picture posted.

Crossposted at Brutally Honest.

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Section Editor: Maggie Whitton

Editors: Jay Tea, Lorie Byrd, Kim Priestap, DJ Drummond, Michael Laprarie, Baron Von Ottomatic, Shawn Mallow, Rick, Dan Karipides, Michael Avitablile, Charlie Quidnunc, Steve Schippert

Emeritus: Paul, Mary Katherine Ham, Jim Addison, Alexander K. McClure, Cassy Fiano, Bill Jempty, John Stansbury, Rob Port

In Memorium: HughS

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Comments (34)

"It's not clear if the pres... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Michael Laprarie | May 20, 2010 10:13 PM | Score: 16 (16 votes cast)

Michael Laprarie:

"It's not clear if the president could even see the streaker"

If it didn't show up on his Teleprompter ... then no.

Posted on May 20, 2010 22:13

Family Reunion?... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Brett | May 20, 2010 10:15 PM | Score: 15 (17 votes cast)

Brett:

Family Reunion?

Posted on May 20, 2010 22:15

The rat made no effort to i... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | May 20, 2010 10:16 PM | Score: 16 (18 votes cast)

Baron Von Ottomatic:

The rat made no effort to interrupt Obama out of professional courtesy.

Posted on May 20, 2010 22:16

You have, quite clearly, po... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Arizona CJ | May 20, 2010 10:18 PM | Score: 20 (22 votes cast)

Arizona CJ:

You have, quite clearly, posted a picture of TWO rats.

However, I find the smaller one by far the least objectionable.

Posted on May 20, 2010 22:18

You can't spell Democrat wi... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by davidt | May 20, 2010 10:30 PM | Score: 15 (17 votes cast)

davidt:

You can't spell Democrat without r-a-t.

Posted on May 20, 2010 22:30

"For those wondering, the r... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by GarandFan | May 20, 2010 10:30 PM | Score: 12 (14 votes cast)

GarandFan:

"For those wondering, the rat is the one in the lower right hand side of the picture posted."

LMAOROTF! Now that's funny!

The rat in the lower right ... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Justrand | May 20, 2010 10:42 PM | Score: 12 (14 votes cast)

Justrand:

The rat in the lower right is VASTLY less of a threat to our country.

Posted on May 20, 2010 22:42

The image is blurry, but fr... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by epador | May 20, 2010 11:09 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)

epador:

The image is blurry, but from my amateur viewpoint the short tail suggests this is a

Very
Offensive
Liberal
Effetist

Posted on May 20, 2010 23:09

That's not a rat. That's N... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Matt | May 20, 2010 11:19 PM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)

Matt:

That's not a rat. That's Nancy Pelosi's lost soul.

Posted on May 20, 2010 23:19

Nah, just a realtive of the... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by GarandFan | May 20, 2010 11:27 PM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)

Nah, just a realtive of the San Francisco Bay Marsh Mouse. Wanted to stop by and personally thank Barry for that $160 million 'stimulus check' for habitat reclaimation. I hear it created "millions of shovel ready jobs".

Posted on May 20, 2010 23:27

Looks like the little fella... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by SpideyTerry | May 21, 2010 2:33 AM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)

SpideyTerry:

Looks like the little fella is deserting the sinking ship caused by the big fella.

Posted on May 21, 2010 02:33

The mouse that bored.... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by Jay Tea | May 21, 2010 6:26 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)

Jay Tea:

The mouse that bored.

Posted on May 21, 2010 06:26

Although a rat may be more ... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Scott Lassiter | May 21, 2010 6:47 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Scott Lassiter:

Although a rat may be more appropriate, it is likely a vole.....I'd guess a praire vole. I studied voles for years and they are used frequently in laboratory settings for various reasons. They are really everywhere but we seldom see them. Certainly a favorite food for owls and other small mammals and snakes.

Posted on May 21, 2010 06:47

Which rat are you talking a... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by mag | May 21, 2010 6:50 AM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

mag:

Which rat are you talking about???

Posted on May 21, 2010 06:50

Why would the president not... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by JPO | May 21, 2010 8:09 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

JPO:

Why would the president notice the little guy? I'm sure he just assumed it was another member of the press corp.

Posted on May 21, 2010 08:09

"There's a rat in the White... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by MikeNC | May 21, 2010 8:38 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)

MikeNC:

"There's a rat in the White House" and a rodent scurrying along the steps below the lectern.

Posted on May 21, 2010 08:38

Why is everything about his... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 9:27 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

914:

Why is everything about his scurvy ass all day 24/7? One would think he was elected instead of selected..

Posted on May 21, 2010 09:27

As for vermin, Yeah, he fil... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 9:42 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

As for vermin, Yeah, he fills that bill nicely.

Posted on May 21, 2010 09:42

Maybe one of Barney Frank's... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by LeBron Steinman | May 21, 2010 9:42 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

LeBron Steinman:

Maybe one of Barney Frank's gerbils got loose.

"Maybe one of Barney Fra... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 9:54 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

"Maybe one of Barney Frank's gerbils got loose"

Ewwwww! HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Posted on May 21, 2010 09:54

It may be a titmouse? Also... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 9:57 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

It may be a titmouse? Also, theres a shrew running across the stage!

Posted on May 21, 2010 09:57

Barak makes an unexpected a... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 10:03 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Barak makes an unexpected appearance at the "All about him lifetime underachievement award" ceremony in Bakersfield or somewhere where they dont believe in jobs, liberty, or death.

Posted on May 21, 2010 10:03

Quick,check his papers and ... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by just bob | May 21, 2010 10:27 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

just bob:

Quick,check his papers and tax the little bastard.

Posted on May 21, 2010 10:27

"Rat" is much too kind, I w... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by Maddox | May 21, 2010 10:49 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Maddox:

"Rat" is much too kind, I would call him a traitor.

Posted on May 21, 2010 10:49

Calling him the first Afric... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 11:00 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Calling him the first African American President is an insult to Billiebob Thornton.. The only real black President weve ever endured.

Posted on May 21, 2010 11:00

He looks so unpresidential ... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 11:14 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

He looks so unpresidential standing up there like that?

Posted on May 21, 2010 11:14

Oh come on, you can hardly... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by Sean P | May 21, 2010 12:03 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Sean P:

Oh come on, you can hardly blame Obama for not noticing the rat. I mean, it's not like it was right next to the teleprompter or anything.

Posted on May 21, 2010 12:03

28. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 12:08 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

"There's a rat in the White House"

There's a uniter not divider fink there too!

Posted on May 21, 2010 12:08

I just thought it was Chris... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by Tammy | May 21, 2010 12:09 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Tammy:

I just thought it was Chris Matthews attempting to run up the pantleg of Obama.

Posted on May 21, 2010 12:09

Maybe now we know why the c... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by ak4mc | May 21, 2010 12:19 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

ak4mc:

Maybe now we know why the celebrity chef from the other night wasn't supposed to tweet about his White House work. Obviously one of Nancy Pelosi's hors d'oeuvre's got loose.

Posted on May 21, 2010 12:19

President Obama: "Contrary ... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Don | May 21, 2010 12:31 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Don:

President Obama: "Contrary to what you may hear in the right wing media, there is no evidence my administration is a sinking ship."

Birds of a feather...

One of these is a dirty stinking rat.

One of these causes intelligent people to shriek in fear.

Despite moving his podium up two steps, President Obama was unable to differentiate himself from that of his brethren.

Posted on May 21, 2010 12:31

Even the rats are bailing s... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by 914 | May 21, 2010 12:46 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Even the rats are bailing ship.

Posted on May 21, 2010 12:46

I see a big one behind the ... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by Constitution First | May 21, 2010 2:22 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Constitution First:

I see a big one behind the podium...is there another one? Oh! There it is.

Posted on May 21, 2010 14:22

Just FYI: It's a vole.... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by Peter F. | May 21, 2010 3:26 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Peter F.:

Just FYI: It's a vole.

I surprised Obama didn't bow to it as it passed.

Posted on May 21, 2010 15:26

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