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| Obama drinks Flint water amid criticism of 'criminal neglect' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has arrived in the beleaguered Michigan city of Flint for a briefing, community meeting, and speech amid allegations of “wilful and criminal neglect” over its poison water crisis. | US President Barack Obama has arrived in the beleaguered Michigan city of Flint for a briefing, community meeting, and speech amid allegations of “wilful and criminal neglect” over its poison water crisis. |
| Although the White House did not confirm any plans to do so, Obama drank from a glass of filtered city water during a meeting with government officials at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan when he arrived in Flint on Wednesday. | Although the White House did not confirm any plans to do so, Obama drank from a glass of filtered city water during a meeting with government officials at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan when he arrived in Flint on Wednesday. |
| “Generally, I haven’t been doing stunts, but here you go,” Obama said before taking a sip. “Filtered water is safe and it works.” | “Generally, I haven’t been doing stunts, but here you go,” Obama said before taking a sip. “Filtered water is safe and it works.” |
| “Working with the state and the city, filters are now available for everyone in the city,” he added. | “Working with the state and the city, filters are now available for everyone in the city,” he added. |
| Obama did note that pregnant women and children under 6 should use bottled water “out of an abundance of caution.” | Obama did note that pregnant women and children under 6 should use bottled water “out of an abundance of caution.” |
| Obama wasn't clear on how long it will take for the city's water system to be replaced, however. | Obama wasn't clear on how long it will take for the city's water system to be replaced, however. |
| "It might take a year. It might take two years. It might take more," he said. | "It might take a year. It might take two years. It might take more," he said. |
| A spokesperson for Governor Rick Snyder had previously told ABC that they were "hopeful" the president would "drink the water in Flint, to help reinforce Gov Snyder’s actions and the EPA’s message that filtered Flint water is safe to drink." | A spokesperson for Governor Rick Snyder had previously told ABC that they were "hopeful" the president would "drink the water in Flint, to help reinforce Gov Snyder’s actions and the EPA’s message that filtered Flint water is safe to drink." |
| Snyder claims he is currently drinking tap water from Flint for 30 days in an attempt to prove it is safe for consumption. | Snyder claims he is currently drinking tap water from Flint for 30 days in an attempt to prove it is safe for consumption. |
| The White House press secretary said Monday that he was unaware at that stage of any plan for the President to be seen publicly downing a glass of Flint's finest, although he has done photo ops consuming other liquids in the past. | The White House press secretary said Monday that he was unaware at that stage of any plan for the President to be seen publicly downing a glass of Flint's finest, although he has done photo ops consuming other liquids in the past. |
| A former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy analyst and whistleblower criticized Obama for his lack of action, two years after austerity measures instituted by Governor Rick Snyder’s emergency managers poisoned the city’s water supply with lead. | A former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy analyst and whistleblower criticized Obama for his lack of action, two years after austerity measures instituted by Governor Rick Snyder’s emergency managers poisoned the city’s water supply with lead. |
| “Perhaps the trip to Flint is an attempt to place a bandage on an ugly chapter of willful and criminal neglect in Obama’s presidential legacy or simply an obscene checkmark on his political bucket list,” wrote Dr Marsha Coleman-Adebayo on a blog post titled A Day Late and a Dollar Short: Mr Obama Goes to Flint, citing the unrest following the shootings of unarmed Black men such as Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. | “Perhaps the trip to Flint is an attempt to place a bandage on an ugly chapter of willful and criminal neglect in Obama’s presidential legacy or simply an obscene checkmark on his political bucket list,” wrote Dr Marsha Coleman-Adebayo on a blog post titled A Day Late and a Dollar Short: Mr Obama Goes to Flint, citing the unrest following the shootings of unarmed Black men such as Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. |
| The sentiments echo those of Flint filmmaker Michael Moore, who pleaded with the President last week to urgently help with the ongoing crisis, warning riots could happen soon. | The sentiments echo those of Flint filmmaker Michael Moore, who pleaded with the President last week to urgently help with the ongoing crisis, warning riots could happen soon. |
| READ MORE: Michael Moore to Obama: Flint will riot ‘soon’ if you don’t #ArrestGovSnyder | READ MORE: Michael Moore to Obama: Flint will riot ‘soon’ if you don’t #ArrestGovSnyder |
| The Oscar-winning director, along with a number of his fellow residents, called on Obama to #ArrestGovSnyder, adding that Michigan's right-wing leader “has now killed more Americans than ISIS”. | The Oscar-winning director, along with a number of his fellow residents, called on Obama to #ArrestGovSnyder, adding that Michigan's right-wing leader “has now killed more Americans than ISIS”. |
| Coinciding with Obama's visit to Flint is a court hearing involving Mike Glasgow, who has been charged with a felony and misdemeanor for his part in the city's water crisis. | Coinciding with Obama's visit to Flint is a court hearing involving Mike Glasgow, who has been charged with a felony and misdemeanor for his part in the city's water crisis. |
| Glasgow was the city water plant operator but according to Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech professor who helped uncover the lead poisoning, Edwards isn't really to blame. | Glasgow was the city water plant operator but according to Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech professor who helped uncover the lead poisoning, Edwards isn't really to blame. |
| Edwards claims Glasgow made errors but was not in the same league as the other instigators, telling Michigan Live that Glasgow "did not have the training that would have created an expectation or a knowledge of how harmful his actions were." | Edwards claims Glasgow made errors but was not in the same league as the other instigators, telling Michigan Live that Glasgow "did not have the training that would have created an expectation or a knowledge of how harmful his actions were." |
| According to ABC, Glasgow's legal team is meeting with the Attorney General's Office to discuss a plea agreement. | According to ABC, Glasgow's legal team is meeting with the Attorney General's Office to discuss a plea agreement. |
| The issue has been ongoing since April 2014 when the city’s water source was changed in an attempt to save money. | The issue has been ongoing since April 2014 when the city’s water source was changed in an attempt to save money. |
| The new source was left untreated with anti-corrosives, resulting in lead from supply lines seeping into the water and contaminating the supply. | The new source was left untreated with anti-corrosives, resulting in lead from supply lines seeping into the water and contaminating the supply. |
| The water has since been switched back to its original source, but the lead in the lines is still present. | The water has since been switched back to its original source, but the lead in the lines is still present. |
| READ MORE: Detroit resumes water shutoffs that could impact 20,000 customers | READ MORE: Detroit resumes water shutoffs that could impact 20,000 customers |
| Despite complaints from residents in Flint, state officials insisted the water was safe to drink for a year and a half. | Despite complaints from residents in Flint, state officials insisted the water was safe to drink for a year and a half. |
| Some 12 Flint residents died during an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, which some believe is connected to lead contamination. | Some 12 Flint residents died during an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, which some believe is connected to lead contamination. |
| Congressman Gerry Connolly pressed Snyder during a hearing in March about his emergency managers and austerity economics. | Congressman Gerry Connolly pressed Snyder during a hearing in March about his emergency managers and austerity economics. |
| "This is a failure of a philosophy of governance that you advocate," the Democrat from Virginia told the Republican from Michigan. "The taint and the stain that state government has put on this country in the form of Flint will be a long time being erased. At some point, the buck stops at your office." | "This is a failure of a philosophy of governance that you advocate," the Democrat from Virginia told the Republican from Michigan. "The taint and the stain that state government has put on this country in the form of Flint will be a long time being erased. At some point, the buck stops at your office." |
| Despite the longevity and seriousness of the situation, Obama did not announce he would visit the city until last week, after receiving a letter from an eight-year-old girl who lives on bottled water and is restricted to 60-second showers so she doesn’t make the rashes caused by lead any worse. | Despite the longevity and seriousness of the situation, Obama did not announce he would visit the city until last week, after receiving a letter from an eight-year-old girl who lives on bottled water and is restricted to 60-second showers so she doesn’t make the rashes caused by lead any worse. |
| Coleman-Adebayo warned that if the media “stick-to-the-script and talking points agenda”, the visit will merely be “framed around a president visiting Flint moved by a child’s letter.” | Coleman-Adebayo warned that if the media “stick-to-the-script and talking points agenda”, the visit will merely be “framed around a president visiting Flint moved by a child’s letter.” |
| She wants the press to push the president for answers on when exactly he was informed of the issue and what his immediate actions were regarding his orders to the EPA. | She wants the press to push the president for answers on when exactly he was informed of the issue and what his immediate actions were regarding his orders to the EPA. |
| A federal court found the EPA guilty of violating Coleman-Adebayo’s civil rights in 2000 during the George W Bush administration. She’s now on the board of directors for the National Whistleblowers Center. | A federal court found the EPA guilty of violating Coleman-Adebayo’s civil rights in 2000 during the George W Bush administration. She’s now on the board of directors for the National Whistleblowers Center. |
| Air Force One arrived in Flint Bishop International Airport just before 12 p.m. EST where the president was briefed by Flint officials. | Air Force One arrived in Flint Bishop International Airport just before 12 p.m. EST where the president was briefed by Flint officials. |
| Following his speech at Flint Northwestern High School, Obama is flying back to Washington for an evening speech at the $250-per-plate Gala Awards Dinner sponsored by bottled-water retailer Walmart, Japanese automaker Toyota, and the American Petroleum Institute. | |
| READ MORE: Michigan police tracking social media to keep tabs on Flint water crisis chatter | READ MORE: Michigan police tracking social media to keep tabs on Flint water crisis chatter |