Republicans don’t want to talk about how they’ve gone full-terrorist in their support and complicity of the January 6th insurrection. So this is the story being promoted far and wide by conservative outlets and mainstream media: Barack Obama is throwing a birthday party for himself on Martha’s Vineyard. How dare he! How dare the former president host a responsible outdoor party for his 60th birthday, inviting only fully vaccinated people! Doesn’t he know that Republicans have been trying to spread misinformation about the pandemic for the past year and a half?
Former President Obama is hosting a 60th birthday bash for himself and hundreds of guests on Martha’s Vineyard this coming weekend amid heightened public health concerns — locally and nationally — about the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Why it matters: The recent breakthrough cases in nearby Provincetown, Massachusetts, after the July Fourth holiday showed the continued risk of spread even between vaccinated people — prompting new masking guidelines from the CDC.
“If you’re talking about a small party like I might have at my house for six or eight people who are all fully vaccinated, I do not believe, at this point, we need to put masks on to be next to each other,” Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” While discussing generic masking protocols, not the Obama party itself, he added: “But if there were 100 people, and, of course, how are you really going to be sure about people’s vaccination status?”
A person with knowledge of the Obama party protocols said all guests will have to be COVID-tested, although they didn’t say when, where or what proof they would have to offer. Among the safety measures said to be put in place: The party will be held outdoors, all guests are asked to be vaccinated and invitees have been told there will be a COVID-coordinator to ensure all proper protocols are followed. Martha’s Vineyard does not qualify as an area of “substantially-high” risk, which was the target of the CDC recommendations. Obama officials did not say whether guests will be required to wear masks. Axios AM also reported Sunday about the extremely low rate of infection for people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine.
Axios’ Margaret Talev was told by one person on-island the party will be held at the former first family’s $12-million home, which sits on 30 oceanfront acres. The party already is the talk of Uber drivers, hotel maids and check-in clerks. One person with connections to Obamaworld said there were 475 confirmed guests — including friends, family and former aides — and 200-plus staff planning to work the party. Pearl Jam was set to play, and one local hairdresser had been retained to style the hair of a band member. Steven Spielberg also was expected.
In lieu of gifts, one person familiar with the gathering said, “guests are being asked to consider giving to programs that work to support boys and young men of color and their families here at home in the United States, empower adolescent girls around the world, and equip the next generation of emerging community leaders.”
A White House spokesperson said in a statement to Axios, “While President Biden is unable to attend this weekend, he looks forward to catching up with former President Obama soon and properly welcoming him into the over-sixty club.” The official did not address whether the White House harbored any public health concerns about the gathering.
I can absolutely feel the desperation wafting off of Axios as they try to stir up trouble. Y’all really think Barack Obama is going to host a big blow-out party and NOT make people show proof of vaccination? Y’all really think that a group of vaccinated people cannot and should not enjoy an outdoor party on the former president’s luxurious Martha’s Vineyard estate? Please. My vaccinated ass would be there. I would bring a mask, for sure. But if I was invited, of course I would go. It’s not like Obama is going to invite a bunch of those unhinged anti-Vaxxers, for the love of God.
And yes, I know there’s some legitimate concern about the Delta variant and we should all go back to being more careful and social-distancing and all of that. Of course we should. We will. Right after Obama’s party. Happy early birthday, Barry!
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
omg can you imagine the guests? I would love to be there. what a dream day that would be. Of course Biden can’t go, the republicans would use it to play their favorite game; this is just like that.
This is never just like that, but the rubes love it.
Happy 60th Birthday Barrack Obama. Thank you and best wishes always. I hope the GOP is pea-green with envy.
Where is my invitation?
I bet it ends up being way smaller than the news outlets are reporting, and I imagine they will be taking all precautions. An outdoor gathering of vaccinated people should be pretty safe.
Thing is, yes, a SMALL outdoor gathering would be a pretty safe bet. HUNDREDS of people, not so much. We have found Delta spreads like chicken pox, even through vaccinated people (who can spread it just the same as unvaxxed – the only difference being you can get it and be asymptomatic or just not *severely* ill/hospitalized).
So, sorry, no… this is just irresponsible at this point in time. Do a small party and a HUGE blow-out when the pandemic is over. Just because we love Obama doesn’t make this right.
@(TheOG) Jan90067: Thank you. I love Barack Obama – but you are absolutely 100% right – this IS irresponsible.
Totally agree. I love Obama, but now it’s not the time for a huge party.
I mean, we’ve learned that spread among vaccinated is still a big concern. While I’m sure he’ll be doing things as close to protocols as possible and outdoors helps a lot, 675 people is still a large number of people. I don’t think it is completely unreasonable to suggest it is dangerous.
To some degree, I feel like the guests can choose whether or not they think the risk is worth it to them, but feel bad for the 200 staff members working the party
The house and grounds are pretty big ( from pics I’ve seen), I think they can have a lot of people outside and everyone won’t be on top of each other.
I will take an invite too. I gots my vaxx. Hit a girl up!
Martha’s Vineyard is beautiful, although super busy during the high season. I wonder which town the Obama home is in.
Edgartown. Right on the great pond.
I used to live in Edgartown! It’s a lovely town.
I’m visiting MV again this fall, I’ve been once and really loved it.
Fall is the best time to go, in my opinion. The island is quiet, the colors are high, the air is cool, the sea is uncluttered. Lucky you!
Good, that’s why we chose September! It’s the best time here too, all the summer tourists leave and the weather is gorgeous. Except last year, when everyone…stayed. Hopefully with regular school again that doesn’t happen this fall.
@Merricat and @Lucy: do you happen to know when everything really shuts down after the high season? I’d love to go in the fall and wouldn’t even mind if a lot of places were closed, but it’s harder with a child…
They bought Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck’s house in Edgartown.
Actually this is very irresponsible, with the Delta variant being so easily transmissible even by vaccinated people. This is exactly the reason we aren’t over the pandemic, people — even progressive people — just refusing to take shit seriously.
I’m a Democrat and worked for Biden in Michigan in the last election. The reality is, having 675 people (!) mingling for hours is not going to end well. They’ll be lucky if no one dies as a result of this.
I completely agree. This is a bad idea. We are in a f!cking pandemic. Hold off on parties, even if people are vaccinated. This isn’t over and that is a LOT of people.
If they truly do have that many people I agree with you, but I really bet it’s much, much smaller. All of the numbers are coming from rumors, and I would imagine that’s a place where rumors spread like wildfire.
I work in an area similar to MV, and the rumors are crazy. I’ve had people tell me my boss is retiring (he’s not), that this celebrity or that is one of our clients (they’re not), this person is selling their business (they’re not) etc.
If they do have a huge blowout I’m going to be disappointed in them, as this is not the time, but I really bet most of it is just rumors.
The invite list may be smaller, but I’d venture once you add all the party staff, a good number who are probably coming from off island, it will be a pretty high number.
Hanna, Thank you. You are 100% correct. This is very irresponsible. I love Obama but I can’t agree with him having a party at all. This ain’t the time ! This is the reason the pandemic just won’t end. Being vaccinated does not make you bullet proof. You can still catch and spread Covid ! My cousin is having a party for her kid and invited me. I ain’t going. Sorry. My aunt died from Covid…I watched her funeral on a f*cking computer screen. I’ll never forget that.
I agree. It would be a little different if people weren’t traveling from all over as well. I have a health issue that means I can’t get vaccinated. Right now, I’m not in a high risk area. I would like it to remain that way, but people traveling like this is what causes it to spread. So, basically, I’ll never get to return to any kind of normalcy as long as people keep doing things like this. It’s one thing when it’s Republicans, but I expect better from the Obamas.
Eh, I disagree. These people will be taking their private jets, will all be vaccinated, and getting tested before and after. The actual risk is minimal. My bigger beef is that there are so many better ways to spend the millions of dollars that this party will cost.
Tanya, he wants to spend the millions he’s earned on a birthday bash for himself, that’s his business.
Nyro, agreed, and people are allowed to enjoy themselves sometimes, and do things for themselves. No one gives ALL their money to charity, but I believe the Obamas give a lot. I don’t like this line of thought. Have you given up all earthly pleasures to help others? I doubt it.
ITA and I’m a super liberal Bernie-to-Biden voter. I’m in a red state and scores of vaxxed people are catching and spreading Delta variant. I saw an interview this weekend with a vaxxed person that caught it from another vaxxed person at a backyard bbq. No one should assume their six hundred person party will be safe and that no one will catch Covid and take it home to their children just because guests are vaccinated and it’s mostly outdoors.
Y’know….I’m in the middle of rewatching The Social Network so ur post took me right bk there with the depth of gullibility of those amongst us who are completely & utterly in the control of the disinformation machine.
Folks hv completely swallowed axios’ statements on this supposed party.
I am soooo sorry for Gen Z & those younger because they hv & will hv absolutely no skills to counter the psychological manipulation tht we’re all being subjected to thru the use of our smart devices but I do expect at least SOME! Gen Xers & Boomers to push bk. Even a little bit?
Scepticism. Try it.
This. As if some writer at Axios has access to the Obamas. The general public still doesn’t know who all were at his 50th birthday party and that was in the White House. Axios hasn’t seen the guest list and nobody who works in, or even around, the tight ship that is Obamaland would run to the media with anything about this party.
Agree. Axios isn’t the be-all/end-all of accurate reportage. They print as many lies from the WH as they do truths and this non-story has republican stank all over it.
Terrible idea, surprising if true….
This needs to be said more. This is a terrible idea. They do not deserve a pass just because they’re Democrats/the Obamas–and I say this as an proud liberal/Democrat.
Cape Cod just had a massive Delta outbreak and more than half of those who got it were vaccinated. If it were anyone else, we would be blasting this decision.
Martha’s Vineyard and Provincetown on the Cape are not the same place. They are ~ 50 miles apart by plane and ~ 90 miles apart by car, ferry. It’s unlikely the people partying in the bars of P-town will be on the guest list.
And they are doing everything “right” as far as holding it outside, requiring vaccines and COVID tests. Hopefully masks too.
All that said, it sounds like a really stupid idea to be gathering hundreds of people anywhere right now. I hope the size of the event is being overblown.
We need to be careful about extrapolating too much, though. The P-town outbreak happened during Bear Week. That’s basically the exact opposite of an outdoors, socially distanced gathering of dignitaries.
@Butterysoft
What decision?
That will be one awesome party. I want an invite too!
I have an Obama story. Back when he was first running for President a woman I once worked for (back in 2015) was on a committee in Chicago that was dealing with all the Obama logistics. She had direct contact with him, like a few feet away. She hated him. Had nothing nice to say. Said he’s arrogant, unresponsive and cold. Well, no sh– lady, you’re a Trumpster Republican (and probably now a MAGAT) and he’s a smart guy – he knew you didn’t like him. Why should he be nice to you?? Although, I’m surprised he didn’t turn on the charm. Must have had a good reason. Oh and another thing she said she knows what he smells like. She didn’t comment further.
Karens always say this about black men who aren’t trying to be around them like that.
Obama isn’t as gregarious as Biden, but there is a difference between being cold and being a jerk. He could probably sense the racist vibes coming from her too.
He probably wasn’t any of those things. She likely decided what he was like before she met him and her confirmation bias did the rest. Even if he had turned on the charm, she would have seen it as arrogance because that’s what she was looking for.
Oh boy, see this is what I was referring to on that other thread last week when I said I won’t listen to any white people whining about being called dirty. I bet the woman who claimed Obama smells (or implied) doesn’t even wash her legs! Or her feet! This is what they do.
There’s no way he smells bad. This is such a vicious and racist stereotype, really a slur IMO. And this is why the white woman who doesn’t wash her legs went viral, and you should have seen the white people lining up to brag they don’t either and they smell great! Same thing happened here not two weeks ago. They all smell great, it must be something about my body “Chemistry” that makes my ass smell if I don’t wash it for three days!
Okay sure!
This is why I may stop sleeping with white dudes all together.
What Axios and those that quoted that article failed to acknowledge is the distance between MV & Provincetown. 3 hours by car and boat. Stop policing Black people and worry about those that aren’t vaccinated that travel without impunity and masks.
Happy Birthday, Obama! Hope you have a great birthday party!
Oh come on. The Obama’s are throwing a huge party in the middle of a pandemic. This isn’t policing black people. This is giving an opinion this is a STUPID idea in the middle of a pandemic with a horrible variant that is killing people. Sure, being vaxxed helps you from having serious illness but now is not the time for 600+ birthday party. I’ve had 2 birthdays since all this started and you know what I did for my birthday? Nothing. Because I’m smart. I love Obama, voted for him twice but I can call him out over a dumb idea and this? It’s a dumb idea.
When the article mentions the cost and size of their house, and doesn’t mention any of the hundreds of parties going on in the Hamptons, I reserve the right to say they are policing black people and their money. You do you.
Yes it is.
Plus, you don’t even know if this is true or not. Not to mention how these people have been salty that the Obama’s aren’t destitute and homeless since he left office.
You don’t even know if any of this is true, but like many other white posters, you accepted it as gospel and an opportunity to bash the Obamas.
I’m not sure what’s worse, fake ally liberals who can barely conceal their bigotry, or the pocket watchers who know what’s best for black people’s money any time they have more than fifteen cents.
Sorry, no. This is totally irresponsible. Two months ago, sure. Not now, with Delta.
I love that birthdays, weddings and family events are now coming back as people get vaccinated. For the anti vax people, I truly pray you see reason and get vaccinated ASAP. If not for yourself then for those around you.
Unncessary. I’m sorry. I have much respect for Obama, but this completely unncessary and if it was anyone else, they’d get called out for this too. Gotta have to keep the same energy here.
I totally agree.
Some biases are showing.
I agree. I turned 50 last year, and could not do anything for it. This pandemic is not over. Get over yourselves, people.
Yeah, he shouldn’t be having this party.
“But if there were 100 people, and, of course, how are you really going to be sure about people’s vaccination status?”
LOLOLOL. What a stupid comment. As if the Obamas don’t have a professional event planner to manage these things for them.
I thought the US had cards showing vaccination? I think that’s how you check. They still have secret service and they check everything so it’s not like regular folks throwing a party.
I volunteered at a small vaccine clinic and the med staff said there were issues with blank vaccine cards getting stolen, esp early on.
Oh we definitely do. It’s not like Barack and Michelle are going to have to personally call their 100 closest friends to ask if they are vaccinated. The Obamas are rich and famous–they have *people* for that kind of thing.
Yeah, exactly. They’ve got staff who will be checking on that.
And, just a guess here, but I’m thinking that the folks who are likely to be invited to this gathering are people who a) willingly got vaccinated if they could, as soon as they could and b) will have no issues confirming their vaccination status to the event organizers.
A diagram between invitees and the FREEDUM! crowd would likely not show much, if any, overlap.
I don’t know what to think about COVID or what’s safe or not safe anymore. Baseball teams are playing in stadiums open to full capacity with no masks required, at least not in my city. An outdoor party with a few hundred people doesn’t seem like much compared to that but then you hear these scary stories on the news. I’m guessing the point they are trying to make is if you are fully vaxxed its business as usual?
Mmm, I don’t know.
I have had both Pfizer shots and I will not be joining any large gatherings.
Covid is going to mutate and it is not over.
I have serious concerns about another bad wave of it sending us into another tailspin.
There was a huge airshow in WI last week that has an attendance of about 650K people yearly.
It sold out.
Lifelong Dem here, but not even for BO would I attend.
I want to go to there. Also, good for my President. It’s time for fully vaccinated people to go on with their lives. If I were having a big birthday this year, damn straight I’d have a real party and invite all my vaccinated friends and family. People are done being held hostage by those who insist on being ignorant and putting conspiracy theories over their health and the health of others. The world goes on.
I kind of agree. On the news they keep saying its a pandemic of the unvaccinated. The breakthrough rate overall is less than 1% but then you have people like Catt Sadler who was vaccinated and still caught it from her unvaccinated son. Its probably pretty low tisk for the party attendees since its outdoors and everyone has to be vaccinated.
Do you have or love any children who are too young to vaccinate?
But how many bathrooms does he have?
Still, the Delta breakout in Provincetown is a local story for us and kind of scary. Most of those infected had been vaccinated and a lot of the activities were outdoors. This outbreak has caused rethinking at the CDC. So, yeah, conservative criticism, but I don’t know…
“But how many bathrooms does he have?” 🙂
I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that the Obama party will not look like Bear Week.
I have a friend who got COVID during that outbreak. He’s in the hospital now, finally got off oxygen. I’m so glad he’s going to recover, but he’d be the first to say that there’s a big difference between being packed into a dark bar with shirtless men and milling about on the Obama’s lawn in fancy attire eating canapés.
Lol, that would be something wouldn’t it?
First, I’m happy that your friend will recover and I hope he will come out of this completely healthy.
The thing is (to me, at least) it’s not like the Bears all stayed in those dark bars – they went out and back home and wherever. And the point the CDC is evaluating is that vaccinated people can be contagious.
I’m super frustrated at having had to spend a year and a half in lockdown, in a city where everything was closed, with my free-lance business almost dead, and unvaccinated people are out there like human Petrie dishes brewing up new variants. I probably sound irrational but I’ve got an elderly mother and immunocompromised niece and sister-in-law and we’re all trying to be careful. So, although I respect the Obamas enormously, my knee-jerk reaction is No.
I’m as big a fan of the Obama’s as anyone but in this, I’m in agreement with those who feel this is irresponsible to do right now, and that if it was a GOP’r doing this they’d be blasted vs everyone rationalizing why it’s OK. If you guesstimate guests plus the additional staff that likely has to be brought over, that’s a big population influx to the island.
Also, if there is an outbreak, Martha’s Vineyard has limited ER and hospital capacity, as do the closest medical facilities on the Cape.
Semi-related, and very surprising to me, is while numbers in metro Boston and southern MA are going up, I was in the mega Whole Foods in Dedham, MA (Boston suburb) just last week and was shocked to see all the self serve food bars open, though one seemed to be very interested.
Yeahhh double standards on this reporting – swap Obama for a republican and you’d be up in arms. This isn’t a great idea right now.
Yeah, this. It might be technically OK but it’s in poor taste right now and it sets a bad example.
Agreed. This is dumb and they should know better.
I love Obama, but I’m afraid that I belong to the “this is not the time” crowd. In the Netherlands, we just had a spike of Corona cases. They decided to see who was testing positive here: 77% were due to either unvaxxed or incompletely vaxxed people, 5% were fully vaxxed but due to autoimmune issues had no antibodies, and there were 18% fully vaxxed people. The vaccines protect against severe disease, but especially with the Delta variant they do not fully protect you nor do they stop you from potentially passing on the virus to others. It would be great if people could learn from our mistakes.
Axios likes to cause problems and play both sides so until I get actual confirmation on the number of guests I am going to assume the obamas are going to be responsible and take precautions.
Exactly. I said upthread that this story has the stink of a republican rumour monger all over it and until the exact number of guests is revealed I’ll hold my opinion.
That’s what I’m saying too. I bet it’s way smaller than being reported, and all of the sources are just island gossips.
But if it is that big, I’ll be very disappointed in them.
Yikes not a great look. I understand and sympathize with thinking that there’s a way to do it safely but unfortunately with delta spreading there just isn’t. We’ve reached the point where even the cautious among us are starting to slip. I was so good with regulations right up until I got my vaccines. For most of the early summer I had quit wearing a mask and was starting to venture out to breweries and restaurants and the like. Just this week, my husband’s company had to admit that their reopening bash, where no one was required to wear masks because everyone was required to verify their vaccination status, has led to two delta cases so far. Bit of a reality check, especially considering we have a newborn niece we want to protect. We’re back in lockdown for the foreseeable future: no unnecessary outings and masks everywhere.
I just attended a wedding this past weekend and while I was glad to see my friends, I had anxiety about it the whole weekend. It was a “small” wedding at around 90 people but uh, that’s still a lot of people. I got tested about 48 hours before I went, which is not something the couple mandated by the way. I did it for myself and to keep others safe though I was probably the lone person who did this (my result was negative). When I mentioned to my friends I had done this, some immediately were like “Oh wow that was a good idea! I should have done that!” and I’m sitting there thinking it’s not rocket science to get tested with Delta circulating around. Some hadn’t heard of the outbreak in Provincetown (I read about it the night before I had to drive down for the wedding so that wasn’t fun). I just got tested this morning after the wedding which was always my plan regardless of symptoms (don’t have any apart from fatigue but I was in a car for 7 hours yesterday). I know they say it’s better to wait 3-5 days after exposure but with my anxiety I can’t wait that long. I’m also isolating away from my parents (we live in the same house) until I get my results. To some, this may seem overkill but to me this just makes sense!
So while the idea of an Obama birthday bash on Martha’s Vineyard sounds like a lot of fun, I do find this irresponsible. Even if they mandate people getting tested which will probably default to rapid testing which has a high rate of giving out false results, the risk is just too high if truly close to 500 people are going to attend. I have another wedding in October and I am unsure if I will attend now. The Provincetown story broke the night before my trip so a little late to change my plans but if it had broken just a week earlier, I might have cancelled. My friend just got very lucky with the timing of her wedding honestly.
See that’s the thing. The anxiety you get after attending an event is enough for me not to go to any parties or weddings. It’s not worth the anxiety you’ll have for days or weeks afterwards…and it sure ain’t worth catching Covid for. No thanks.
I went to a wedding earlier this summer before the Delta variant, and it was very weird to be with so many other people.
Unpopular opinion but I’m fine with this (and I’d be fine with this even if it wasn’t a Democrat). As long as people are required to be vaccinated, I don’t have a problem with big outdoor parties, outdoor music festivals, and more.
For the past year, I have been so careful, wore my mask everywhere, did everything to make sure others didn’t get infected. I have had friends and family lose their jobs. I suffered from depression from being cooped up so much. I got vaxxed a few months ago. There’s NO excuse to not be vaccinated at this point.
I’m sick of having to put my life on hold because idiots refuse to get vaccinated, even with the Delta variant killing unvaccinated folks. Enough. I have no goddamn sympathy for people who refuse to get vaccinated at this point. Maybe that makes me a horrible person, but life needs to go on…I was wiling to put everything on hold when there was no vaccination and when the vaccinations were still new but at this point enough is enough.
Also, it’s Axios. There is a huge chance the major details of this are wrong. I’m guessing Obama’s having an outdoor party, but I doubt it’s as huge as Axios is reporting.
Thank you. The vaccine’s like 99 percent effective, even against Delta. It’s time to move on. A group of vaccinated and tested people having an outdoor gathering is not the reason this thing won’t die.
co-sign on this post. I am vaccinated and have no problem going to large events where people are required to be vaccinated . Test yourself before and after the outing up to two weeks to monitor your situation.
If I was invited to Obama’s party, I’m going, even if I need to wear a hazmat suit 🤣. Most of this is speculation and his birthday party is none of our business and just an excuse to pocket watch the Obamas, who were supposed to take a vow of poverty to show they are virtuous and true patriots.
While I share your frustration and anger with anti-vaxxers and conservative conspiracy theorists who refuse to get the shot, isn’t there an element of self-interest for vaccinated people to help reduce the spread of the virus as much as possible? More transmission = more opportunities for the virus to mutate. A large outbreak among the unvaccinated population could lead to another new variant, that’s how we got Delta, and it could be a variant that the vaccine is not effective against this time. Not to mention the strain that unvaccinated COVID patients will put on the healthcare system that we all rely on. I’m not advocating for a return to full, or even partial, lockdown. But I don’t think it’s prudent for vaccinated people to think we can do whatever we want and that COVID is only a problem for the unvaccinated now. It sucks but we are, unfortunately, still all in this together.
However I’m fully in support of making life as difficult as possible for unvaccinated people – require vaccine cards for flying, movies, sporting events etc. We already infringe on personal liberties for public health reasons (e.g. smoking bans, seatbelt laws etc.) More employers should follow NY State and make non-vaccinated employees get weekly tests. Hopefully the inconvenience will change their mind.
I don’t know if I’d accept but the fact that I’d even consider says a lot about how high I regard Obama lol
Just think of the conversations that will go on during that party. Oh, to be a fly.
475 guests?! That is one HUGE house!
Will Bill and Hill be on the guest list? Harry and Meg? Oprah? George and Laura Bush? It’s too bad that Joe and Jill can’t be there.
And you know at some point in the evening after he’s he’s had a cocktail or two he’s going to grab the mike and start singing. Probably a Lou Rawls tune for starters. Possibly a duet with Eddie Vedder?
I’m turning 60 next July and this damn crap better be gone by then. Unvaxxed I’m looking at YOU aholes.
So irresponsible and a bad idea. Not now! Reschedule it for months down the road when hopefully this has gotten better. Vaccinated people can still get COVID and can still spread the disease. It’s just not a good look for anyone to be doing this right now.
If it’s hundreds of people getting together, it doesn’t matter if they are vaccinated, inside, outside or masked. With that many people it’s just irresponsible and reckless. We all want to go back to pe COVID living, but it is not possible. It has been proven time and again that it leads to spread but the world hasn’t learned. It’s infuriating. I’m disappointed in the Obama’s if these numbers are true. It’s continuing the problem, not contributing to the solution.
Has everyone lost their damn minds? All weekend I’ve seen images of musical festivals jam-packed with folks and it’s gross. You couldn’t pay me to go to ANYTHING with 500 guests and 200 staff…I don’t care who it was for or where it was. Nooooo thank you.
I think all of these parties and all the travelling celebrities have been doing is ridiculous. Yes maybe all the people at his party will be vaccinated. But what about the staff? The staff who get paid minimum wage and have little to no health care. The staff on these yachts and venues are the most at risk but rich people don’t care.
Why would someone who works in the hospitality choose not to get vaccinated? Again, why is everyone else supposed to not live their lives when for months and months now, a vaccine has been available. A safe, highly effective, and free vaccine that people are choosing not to get.
My main misgiving about this is that they want Pearl Jam to be the headliner. I thought Obama would want a band you could actually dance to, a bit more soul. Anyway happy 60th to my forever POTUS and I bet his house and the estate is spectacular. It’s gonna be amazing.
The fact that they said it’s Pearl Jam highlighting let’s me know that they know nothing and that these rumors are CLEARLY coming from the white side of town. IJS.
Yup. They have never shown up on an Obama play list . Like are they supposed to crowd surf and rock out in plaid shirts? Not exactly summer birthday bash on the Vineyard vibe.
I adore President Obama, but this is completely irresponsible.
Vaccinated people having a party is not irresponsible. It’s allowed and it’s safe. People still refusing to get the free, safe, and readily available vaccine is what’s irresponsible and prolonging this pandemic. I’m sick of people who are actually following the rules and who did the right thing being blamed and shamed for this.
I feel this way too. I was massively depressed before I was vaccinated, I did everything I was supposed to do, but my business took a huge dive and worse, I was so isolated. I’ve always been so active socially. Now I’m vaccinated, and my business still suffers thanks to the unvaccinated and now they want me back on lockdown? Not seeing my friends (all vaxxed) no more social events and outings?
How long do the people with functioning brains who did everything right, who acted responsibly, who believe science and got vaccinated as soon as they could, have to carry the burden created by these people? How long? how sustainable is it to ask us to ruin our lives for these idiots? how long are we going to put up with this for?
Why do we assume that every detail in this report is accurate? I would say that nobody really knows except the Obamas, their guests, and the secret service. The Obamas have been promoting vaccines since the beginning. I should think they would be responsible about whatever they plan for the birthday. Also, I just realized that Obama and Meghan Markle have birthdays on the same day!
@Darla: I really feel for you. Unfortunately, pandemics usually last four years; give or take.
In terms of the public there is a mixed bag. We have irresponsible a$$h0les but we also have young children that are ineligible for vaccines, immunocompromised people that are vaccinated (but still vulnerable ), working poor that don’t get days off to vaccinate or take sick leave if they have side effects etc. While any of these groups exist the disease will keep mutating.
I said from the beginning the government should not have locked down ANY business. That was a severe overreach and not sustainable for anyone in the long run. The virus is not going away anytime soon. We must work to sustain ourselves and our families. I think the government learned this the hard way. It’s impossible to give aid (rental subsidies, stimulus money, etc.)to everyone for years. The best we can do is vaccinate to try to minimize mutations, wear masks to protect ourselves from variants and be vigilant in case we need a booster down the line. This is not an easy time and I’m sad to say there is no light at the end of the tunnel anytime soon.
Yes I understand, we are in it for the long haul. But lately I am questioning how long we are going to put up with these unvaccinated people who are worsening everything for all of us. (the voluntarily unvaccinated of course, not children, they are the ones being put in terrible danger, and not those who truly cannot be vaxxed, though I believe that’s unusual). I want vaccine passports, even to get into restaurants. Bars, movie theatres, it goes without saying airplanes. They need to bear the burden as much as possible. Instead, we are. I don’t know how long this is sustainable. Once again, they are projecting their own sins onto others. They whine about their freedom, but in fact, they are stealing our freedom. I am so fed up.
Thank you btw, I am okay financially just nowhere near where I used to be. But I am not worried about a roof over my head or food or anything like that. I’m fine. Honestly, it was the mental stuff that was the worst of it for me. I know everyone is different, that was my weak spot. I shudder thinking about going back to that.
@Nyro: Unfortunately, vaccinated people can catch and spread the Delta variant. It would not matter if the spread was limited to a-h0les but as with any pandemic that’s not the case. Any vaccinated person at the party can spread the Delta variant. They can spread it to someone that has a compromised immune system, young children etc. Even vaccinated people are getting sick. The CDC allows for gatherings of vaccinated people but a blow out party should be postponed for the time being. I hope this is erroneous reporting and not actually what the President is planning.
@Darla: I’m glad to hear you are financially ok. I suffer from depression and the pandemic has really done a number on me. I’m fortunate that no one in my immediate family got sick. My husband is a transplant patient so I worry non stop. I really hate working from home but I don’t complain because many of my friends are in financial ruin after all of this. I’m bottling everything up and just hoping for this to pass. I also get extremely upset when I hear people not wanting to do their part (vaccine, masks, etc). The US is so fortunate to have access to these vaccines. Many countries around the world would kill to have what we have. I’m hoping some people come to their senses. Wishing you good health and happiness!!
The same for you and for your husband. Thank you.
No. This is a terrible idea. Period.
While I realize everyone will be outside in the yahd (just remove the R’s from Mahtha’s Vinyahd, no one uses them), I would be a little worried, just because it appears that vaccinated people are starting to get this thing. But adults should make their own decisions about the risks they want to take or avoid.
I am not going to give Obama flack after seeing the footage of the Lake of the Ozarks (yeesh) and P-town. FFS, Lollapalooza just happened, and it appears Disney World is still open. Barack’s party will have better safety protocols than all those places.
As an aside, Pearl Jam? Really? And I bet the Clintons are not on the invite list……