By ,
Published May 10, 2017
And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine…
Rowdy Crowd
Politicians expect to be heckled-- but not when addressing-- what is supposed to be-- a friendly audience.
Yesterday President Obama spoke in the East Room of the White House -- to mark LGBT Pride Month -- and welcomed what he called a rowdy crowd.
He was right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
President Barack Obama: I’ve told you that the civil rights of LGBT Americans is…now hold on a second. You know what, no, no, no…
Hey, listen you’re in my house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
The protester was an undocumented transgender woman -- calling for the release of LGBTQ immigrants held in detention centers.
The crowd may have cheered the president's quip -- but many on Twitter -- took issue with the characterization of the White House as his.
Morgan M Page @morganmpage
Obama forgot: it isn't his house, it's the house of the people.
Another added –
Tim Henry @melaexec
He is a guest in that house and he should never forget it
Disaster Preparedness
A series of February Avalanches damaged Afghanistan's power systems.
Good thing the U.S. built a $335 million power plant designed to respond to emergency situations.
The bad news -- the Afghans are not using it.
Electrical shortages were felt throughout the country -- and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction is demanding answers.
The Tarakhil Power Plant began construction in 2007 -- and after the usual delays and extra costs -- was handed over to the Afghan government in 2010.
But the Afghans cannot afford to run the plant.
It has been operating at a dismal 2 percent capacity.
USAID has two weeks to offer an explanation.
Give-And-Take?
Finally -- waste is not just in government.
A Delaware charter school principal is accused of spending at least $128,000 of school money on personal expenses -- including alcohol -- electronics like a 55-inch TV -- and a treadmill.
The Delaware state auditor says Noel Rodriguez also paid $2,000-- for Christmas ornaments.
The auditor found Rodriguez took advantage of weaknesses of the state's oversight procedures.
Rodriguez has left the school at the request of the board.
https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/grapevine-president-obama-gets-heckled-by-a-friendly-crowd