Commentary: Obama Gulf swim was faked!

By Stephen Lendman

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Florida - August 17, 2010 - On August 15, AP reported that Obama gave his "personal assurances of (the) Gulf's safety," saying, "Beaches all along the Gulf Coast are clean, they are safe, and they are open for business."

He lied.

The same day, BBC reported, "Barack Obama has taken a swim in the Gulf of Mexico (to) reassure Amerikans that the waters are safe despite the recent oil (gusher)."

U.S. corporate media reporters repeated the message, CNN's senior White House correspondent Ed Henry among them, stating, "Obama takes (the) plunge, swims in the Gulf (to show it's safe and) open for business."

In fact, area businesses continue to be severely impacted and the entire region is dangerously unsafe.

As for Obama's swim, on August 16, the London Independent reported that Obama and his daughter, Sasha, swam in a private Panama City Beach, Florida beach off Alligator Point in St. Andrew Bay, which is not part of the Gulf of Mexico.

Reporters were banned and no TV or video was permitted. So only the White House photographer was allowed to capture proceedings. The official picture was intended to provide evidence that the region's beaches are back to normal.

That statement is false. A dangerously toxic oil/dispersant brew contaminates much, if not the entire Gulf. It's poisoned and potentially lethal for decades, maybe even generations. Nothing in it should be ingested. Millions in the region are at risk. No one should swim in coastal waters or eat any Gulf seafood. Responsible officials should ban it. Instead, the all clear has been given.

Obama, his officials and BP executives are criminally liable. So are state governors, coastal mayors and regional health authorities.

Area residents with children should leave. Tourists should avoid the region. A growing catastrophe will continue for decades, including a silent epidemic of cancers and other diseases, as well as lives and livelihoods lost.

That's the major media's unreported reality, which is worsening, not improving daily.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.