Asked at this afternoon’s press conference if he himself would travel to Ferguson, Mo., President Obama seemed to say “no” after a very lengthy answer to the question. Attorney General Eric Holder will travel to Missouri on Wednesday, but Obama said he couldn’t appear to “put a thumb on the scales” one way or another.
Pres Obama: "I can't be seen to be putting my thumb on the scale one way or another."
— Roger Simon (@politicoroger) August 18, 2014
POTUS says" I don't want to look like I am putting my thumb on the scales one way or another."
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) August 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/AdamSerwer/status/501470335842385920
It would be very surprising at this point if the president went to Ferguson. Particularly given what he said about thumbs and scales.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 18, 2014
Stand-up comic W. Kamau Bell, however, says he voted for President Obama so he would put his thumb on the scale.
Oops. I totally elected President Obama so that he would put his thumb on the scale. #MyBad #Ferguson
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 18, 2014
I'd like Obama's thumb on the scale, Eric Holder's thumb, Michelle's thumb, Michelle's mama's thumb, Sasha & Malia's thumbs. #AllTheThumbs
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 18, 2014
@wkamaubell I clearly misunderstood what both Hope and Change meant. I'll have to ask for a clarification of terms next election.
— El Rey de Canada, MLIS (@NutriaAtomica) August 18, 2014
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@wkamaubell @okayplayer, shit, even white presidents have opened federal probes, that ain't shit…get death penalty for that cracker
— Dawid Ben Yahudah (@DawidBenYahudah) August 18, 2014
Bell’s not alone in his thinking.
Obama you don't have to put your thumb on the scale. But could you put a pinky. Could you breathe hard in a direction. Could you blink
— Alexis Wilkinson (@OhGodItsAlexis) August 18, 2014
Thumb on the scale? A kid was shot six times and left to cook on the pavement, and newspapers are sending war reporters. Come on Barack.
— Bradford Pearson (@BradfordPearson) August 18, 2014
.@BarackObama It’s almost the end of your 2nd term, sir. PUT YOUR THUMB ON THE SCALE. #Ferguson #MikeBrown
— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) August 18, 2014
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with an additional tweet.
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