Wow - it's scary here in diary land for a middle-aged, technologically challenged woman, but I hadn't seen this story/video published on DK yet and it's too awesome not to share. I'm jumping over the suddenly ominous looking orange waves before I lose my nerve. Follow if you dare.
From the Des Moines Register, 8/23/12:
At least one Cedar Falls man can confirm that President Barack Obama is a job creator.
Obama's impromptu job-hunting advice to Tim Getting during a campaign visit to Cedar Falls last week was filmed with a cellphone and posted on YouTube. Within 43 hours, Getting landed a job. He started Thursday.
Mr. Getting graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in May 2011 with a degree in electronic media and had been working two part time jobs ever since. He had no idea that Mr. President was nearby, but he took full advantage of the opportunity.
"Mr. President, Getting blurted out. I'm looking to find a job. Do you have any advice?"
To his surprise, Obama engaged him in nearly half a minute of fatherly-sounding advice.
Here is the video that tells the rest of the story:
Video transcript:
Getting: Mr. President, I'm looking to find a job. Do you have any advice?
President Obama: Yeah, I'll tell you...what are you into?
Getting: Television broadcast.
President Obama: Is there a station around here?
Getting: Yeah, KWWL.
President Obama: Have you gone over to talk to them? Tried to maybe intern with them?
Getting: Should I go in person?
President Obama: Always go in person. Show up and say, "I'm interested in interning, even if it's just part time, even if I'm not getting paid right away." Get it on your resume. Then the next time you apply for an opening that pays, you've got a track record.
Getting: Alright.
President Obama: Alright.
Getting (looking at camera): I'm gonna go in person to KWWL. Get an internship.
Cameraman: That was awesome!
Mr. Getting followed through on President Obama's advice, resulting in a full-time position at the station.
“I wasn’t talking to a Democratic president; I was talking to the president. It was a real-life moment, and it’s the kind of person he is, whether you agree with his politics or not,” Getting said. “The man landed the job as the country’s leader. He knows a thing or two about getting a job.”
I think this story speaks volumes about the character of our President. Far from the "GET A JOB, LOSER!" Battle Cry of the Teapublic, our guy - the Leader of the Free World - took a moment to pass along some truly helpful advice to an unknown young person in the crowd, and he did it without judgment, without contempt, and without batting an eye. Unlike Mitt Romney, President Obama is at his best when he's off script.
Thank you, Mr. President, for once again making me proud to be a Democrat. I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that you get to keep your job for the next four years.
Here's a link to the entire article (I hope I'm not breaking any rules!):
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/...