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In a bold move today, President Obama announced
he will try to negotiate with the raging wildfire,
which has so far burned over 14 thousand acres in California.
This morning, White House Deputy Press Secretary, Brenda Inglett
announced the President is confident he can convince
the flames to stop incinerating everything in their path.
The President plans to make the wildfire understand
that our difficulties are shared difficulties.
Not man against fire.
But man and fire working out their differences.
President Obama is already en route to Santa Barbara County
where he will be shuttled into the maw of the inferno.
Here to talk about what this means is Jason Copeland
from politico.com. - Hi Dan.
Jason, this fire has burned over 300 homes so far.
It's growing larger by the hour.
What is Obama's strategy here? - Well, look.
You know, previous administrations have immediately resorted to
putting wildfires out. But this is a different president.
And he just didn't think that a combative approach
with hoses and axes would be the best way to solve this crisis.
But Jason, so far the fire has refused to acknowledge
any of the overtures the President has made. - Yes.
Obama sent a letter requesting it cease its destruction.
And the fire apparently incinerated it without even reading it.
That's true. But I mean, look.
Politically, this is a stroke of genius, I think.
The most powerful man in the world is offering
an olive branch to this petulant fire
and the fire looked pretty bad here.
Childish even, burning it up like that.
And Obama is also going to present the fire with a gift.
A charred table leg from the White House
that was torched by the British in the War of 1812?
That's exactly right.
As the President said in a recorded statement,
"Fire has a complex, beautiful, and at times, destructive history.
But we would be remiss if we did not recognize
its unique ability to create as well."
Yes. And that must have been the idea behind
all of those photo ops with the various fires over the past few days
while the wildfire was destroying homes. - I think it was.
But Jason, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's meeting
with the fire two days ago was considered a total failure.
Well, it certainly didn't go well. - And then there are a lot of conservatives
who aren't convinced we should even be approaching the fire.
Here's what Wendell Mack had to say
on his syndicated radio show this morning.
Obama puts fire first.
You know, some people say, "Wendell, you're crazy."
It's not like he gets up in the morning and thinks,
"What can I do to help fire?"
Well, you know what, folks? I'm not so sure he doesn't.
And what do you make of that, Jason?
Well, look.
As Obama has said, himself, numerous times,
if he wanted to, he could talk to the clouds and get them to
unleash a great big rainstorm upon the wildfire.
But that's not this president.
It's going to require all of the President's diplomacy skills
to make the fire see that putting itself out
is what's best for both parties. - Alright.
Thank you Jason Copeland. - Thank you Dan.
Later in the hour we'll look at the rumors sweeping the internet
that Obama himself, is born of fire.
Moving on, a new report finds extra marital affairs
cause happiness in scientists.
STILL AHEAD:
U.S. SIGNS UP FOR DO NOT TERRORIZE LIST TO STOP UNWANTED BOMBINGS.