Cue Conservative Media Outrage Over Obama's Selfie, Use Of “YOLO” In BuzzFeed Video

Written by Lis Power & Nicholas Rogers

Published

Right-wing media are indignant that President Obama appeared in a BuzzFeed video taking a selfie and saying “YOLO” as part of a promotion for HealthCare.gov.

President Obama Takes Selfie, Says “YOLO” In BuzzFeed Video Promoting Health Care Coverage 

President Obama Promotes HealthCare.gov In BuzzFeed Video.  On February 12, President Obama appeared in a BuzzFeed video titled “Things Everybody Does But Doesn't Think About” to promote the upcoming deadline to sign up for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. In the video, Obama takes a selfie with a selfie stick, makes funny faces in the mirror, and says “YOLO, man,” (which stands for “you only live once”).  [BuzzFeed, 2/12/15]

Conservative Media Claim Video Evidences Obama's Apathy Toward National Security, Heartens Our Enemies  

Fox's Heather Childers: Obama Said “YOLO,” But “You Know Who's Not Alive?” Kayla Mueller.  On the February 13 edition of American's Newsroom, host Heather Childers linked Obama's BuzzFeed video to the death of Kayla Mueller, an American hostage killed by the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL). Citing Obama's use of the acronym YOLO, she claimed: 

CHILDERS: So, the way this whole thing ended, that's what I want to talk about. The president says, 'YOLO, man.' And for people at home, who may not know what that stands for -- YOLO stands for 'You Only Live Once.' Well, you know who's not alive, Juan, now? Kayla Mueller. [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 2/13/15] 

Fox's Elisabeth Hasselbeck: “On The Very Day” An American Is Confirmed Dead At The Hands Of ISIS, “How Does Our President Respond? 'YOLO.'” On the February 13 edition of Fox & Friends, host Elisabeth Hasselbeck said that while “the world is exploding all over ... [and] on the very day Kayla Mueller is confirmed to be dead at the hands of terrorism, how does our president respond? 'YOLO.'” On-screen texts claimed, “POTUS plays with selfie stick amidst crisis,” and “POTUS goofs in video as ISIS kills Americans.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/13/15]

Fox's Greta Van Susteren: Obama's Video Is “Tone Deaf” And In “Bad Taste.” During the February 12 edition of Fox News' On The Record, host Greta Van Susteren derided Obama's video as “tone deaf” and in “bad taste.” She added, “I yearn for my president looking presidential and serious right now.” An on air graphic asked, “Presidential play or pathetic?” [Fox News, On The Record, 2/12/15]

NRO's Jim Geraghty: “At Some Point, We Stopped Having A Fire Sale On Presidential Dignity.” On the same edition of On The Record, National Review Online's Jim Geraghty said that “we're not living in silly times, but we have a silly president.” He went on, “At some point, we stopped having a fire sale on presidential dignity.” [Fox News, On The Record, 2/12/15]

Washington Post's Marc Thiessen: “What President Says YOLO?”  Discussing Obama's video on the February 12 edition of Fox News' The Kelly File, Washington Post columnist and Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen asked, “What president says YOLO? It's just not funny.”  [Fox News, The Kelly File, 2/12/15]

Fox's Brian Kilmeade: Obama's Video Is “Heartening To Our Enemies.” On February 13, Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade tweeted: 

[Twitter.com, 2/13/15]

Michelle Malkin: "America's Commander-In-Chief Is Goofing Off  ... While The World Burns." In a February 12 tweet, conservative commentator Michelle Malkin responded to the BuzzFeed video by accusing Obama of “goofing off ... while the world burns”:

[Twitter.com, 2/12/15]

Fox Radio Host Todd Starnes: “Is President Obama -- Um -- Well?” On February 12, Fox News radio host Todd Starnes suggested that Obama may not be “well” given his appearance in the video:  

[Twitter.com, 12/12/15]