“Clean, safe and open for business,” were the words spoken by our nation’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, as she stood on Panama City Beach’s shores on her visit to the area. The visit came on a day when the beach was beautiful, gorgeous blue skies hung cloudless above and the presence of our First Lady shined a spotlight on a city and an area in need of good coverage.
With casual attire and a charming smile, Michelle Obama opened by happily exclaiming she had sand in her toes. Our first lady focused on positive news for Panama City Beach. She emphasized that hopeful measures are on the horizon in containing the oil (that has been spewing for 81 days now). She was clear and concise about the fact that our beaches are “Clean, safe, and open for business!”, and went on to bluntly say, “The best way (for others) to help is to come on down here, and spend some money!”. You can imagine the cheers she received from Panama City Beach residents who have been nervous to say the least, throughout this ordeal. The first lady went on to admire the beauty our beaches have to offer, and spoke highly of our “extraordinary hospitality”.
After concluding her presentation, our First Lady shook hands with those in the audience, and took a walk on the beach behind The Boardwalk Beach Resort with Panama City Beach Mayor Galye Oberst, and Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau CEO, Dan Rowe.
First Lady Michelle Obama told us nothing we didn’t already know. No major issues were discussed, such as how we can avoid horrible disasters like this in the future. However, her visit placed a spotlight on our area. An area that is beautiful, clean, and OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!
PCBDaily 
How ’bout that. Glad you were there and got to write about it, Angie.’
CM
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Thank you, Carolyn! I kept thinking how much I wished you were there. She would have loved a Carolyn hand shake and a smile 🙂 When the secret service guy asked me to put my camera down when she was getting close, I said, “Ok, if I can get a hug”. He replied, “No ma’am, we’d rather you not.”. About the same moment someone was hugging her, and I gave the “see that!” look. 🙂
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Michelle said, “Come down, spend your money!” then they run off to Maine where they will spend their money on vacation. “I will not rest …. I willl not rest … I will not rest” until the spill is contained and the beached cleaned, said our President. How many golf outings and vacations have they had in the last 85 days? I don’t know, but it’s at least three. And he calls himself a leader? Not even close.
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Wow just how many times did the fearless leader W go golfing while having two wars go on? How many times did the man take vacations, more then anyother president in our history. I would rather our president take a break once and awhile and clear his head even if its to play golf then step back up tp the table to work on our nations problems. You John need to quite listening to the teabaggers and see what the real problem is, BP not your president.
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you are totally worthless and I was NOT a W fan! You are just so pathetic! I mean do you work . . repeat, do you work at all?
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Why Yes Robert I do work at an honest to goodness job, so if someone supports the president they dont work? You confuse me is this about me or about you and your problem? See this is why people like you make me laugh my butt off when you open your mouth, you sound kind crazy. Have a good day.
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are you better off than you were 18 months ago? do you pay fed income taxes? I was NOT a Bush fan. Why are Obama fans NOT Bush fans? Why are Bush Fans NOT Obama fans? Obama’s policies will NOT work, just like Bush’s, just much worse! If you have a big butt I hope you are losing weight laughing it off! Its a just a blog, good dialog here!
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Robert, as you have repeated this remark several times here “we” must all assume that YOU do not work or you are touched in the head!
I on the other hand assume that you would not be a supporter of any President that may hold the office, it’s people as yourself that find faults and wrongs with anyone elected.
We are Americans and with due justice we should all support our President of The United States….. if we voted for him or her at all. It really does not matter, it is our duty to uphold & respect our President & leader.
I am inclined to believe YOU need to follow this or learn to keep your opinions to yourself.
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He has partied, gone on vacation and wasted OUR money enough. He needs to get to work and quit passing off problems to worthless committees.
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very well said!
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Hi John……
I can certainly pick up on the angry through your writings here.
Do you actually believe that (if) President Obama came & sit on the beaches of Florida…. things concerning this accident would be better?
My good man, this was a tragic accident that occurred ,workers and trained professionals are working night & day to get this under control so our ocean, beaches, families, wildlife etc. can be safe again!
Do you also not thing “everyone” has the prerogative to vacation where they love, even our President.
If you did or did not vote for President Obama it makes no mater but:
Might I remind you that President Obama is our United States of America President and “Leader”… YOU might want to learn to show (RESPECT) and support our President.
I have always be amazed by people…… if any catastrophe happens, (People) in general always are more than ready to point the crooked finger of blame, usually at our President! It makes no good sense at all… You have to stop and ask yourself: What on earth did he have to do with this? The answer will always be the same: Nothing
John, I sure hope this reply helps you and others as you.
Thanks, Cathy/Tn.
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very poorly said!
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Well said Cathy, people who try to to blame a president for the actions by a private company are touched in the head. And Robert we are better off than we were 18 months ago. GWB is no longer President.
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Right on John. Here’s a good article of what he’s done so far…
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/28/disaster-gulf-days-counting/
decide for yourself people.
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Hoosier…… I have decided, as I commented if President Obama were to have been sitting on the beach of perched atop that oil rig himself “HE” could not have prevented this (accident) from happening.
I’m sure he was informed of it just as he is informed of other incidences around this world.
BP…… is handling this, like many others out there I sure hope they get it under-control soon. I would think you would hope this too instead of shifting this to the President. I’m sure he is just as concerned as all of us are.
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Well said Cathy.
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you are totally worthless and I was NOT a W fan! You are just so pathetic! I mean do you work . . repeat, do you work at all?
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I realize he couldn’t have prevented it from happening, but he sure could have done a lot more to help after it happened.
Obama has said that he has been in charge from Day 1. Looks like a lot of inaction to me. He also declined help from other contries 3 days after the accident. Why? And now, the gov’t has put a stop to the new cap and drilling the relief well. Why?? What’s going on there? I thought he had the most brilliant minds in the world working on this problem.
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Hoosier, first of all please quote a News source, fox news does not air news it is a political hack for the right wing in this country. If I want fair and Balanced news and the Truth I certinally would stear clear of Fox Noise.
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you are totally worthless and I was NOT a W fan! You are just so pathetic! I mean do you work . . repeat, do you work at all?
Fox News is better tha CNN!
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Are you crazy? The so called “major” networks have done nothing but lie. Look up the facts for yourself. Fox News gives both sides not just the liberal side of events.
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Fox News does nothing but lie. They have been caught in lie after lie. Hoosier, you’re so naive
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Name one of the lies please. They at least correct things if some thing is reported wrong. I don’t believe the liberal networks would ever correct a story against a conservative group, example the Tea Party. They continue to lie about Tea Party event.
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We are blessed to be able to vacation in PCB twice a year…….. while this tragedy happened we had already decided to still come down. We love PCB, the area & the wonderful beach & ocean. If anything, I told my condo owner that I would spend my time there scooping up oil balls…. it would be “my” part in helping the beach which I love dearly! Now some of you may think this is small… but, to me it’s not…… we each help in our own way.
It’s wonderful that our First Lady Michelle made the trip there and walked the beach…… I certainly hope & pray that others will see that things are “ok” at PCB & continue their travels there to enjoy this great vacation spot.
Myself…… I can’t wait to get there! I’ve always said: If Tennessee had a beach, we would have it all! lol lol
We hope each & every day that the workers are guided in the right way to get this oil accident under control.
Thank you, Cathy/Tn.
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So glad you kept your plans for us! Praying the oil continues to stay off our beaches, but I know, regardless of what happens, PCB will show you a good time!! Thank you for your support to our area. And, hey, you can’t have Nashville AND the beach! That would be too perfect, and people wouldn’t make it down here 🙂 PS: Wishing the best for those recovering from the terrible flooding in Tenn.
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Mrs Obama is the first lady, she was not there to discuss major political issues or how not to have this oil spill happen in the future ( maybe stop offshore drilling). The first lady has no political power, I am greatful she came to town and showed the nation that Panama city beach has the most beautiful beaches and to show they are open for business,and everyone should also be happy with that. I do take offense to your saying she discussed “nothing new” makes me think that you need to brush up on just what a first lady does. Politics and other issues are left to the politicians not the first lady!!!!
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Well said Angie
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Then why is she there?? Oh Plezzz . . . sad very sad!
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The roll of the First Lady varies from administration to administration, some more involved on policy issues than others. My point, however, was not intended to say that she should have offered us something we didn’t already know, but to simply state that we didn’t hear anything new, but it was great having her here none the less. I found her quite charming, and love the fact that she visited our area to help get the word out that our beaches are clean and open for business….From one Angie to another 🙂
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Was this visit aired anywhere other than on our local channels? I heard that it was on network. If so, which one or ones? If it was only on local channels, what purpose was it?
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The “purpose” to airing this news “visit” of our First Lady walking the beaches of Panama City Florida was for encouragement and to show many many vacationers of other states that the beach was clean & open for business. It’s the same with this news email we receive……
It simply stops rumors that PC Fla. beaches are unsafe.
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Good question, Thomas. It was indeed aired nationally. Over the next couple of days, I have seen clips of her and our white sand on at least three major news channels. 🙂
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Nice report. Publicity is publicity – good, bad or ugly. Luckily we have been blessed and truly do have some of the ‘World’s most beautiful Beaches’ to promote!!
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Thank you so much Michelle! You couldn’t have said it better…if only BP could step it up a little, this is like watching paint dry! Thank you for your visit, bring the kids back and stay, we can use a little more PR! You should have tried our oysters, while we still have them 🙂 Nothing like an Apalchcola oyster!
God bless the families of the gulf coast.
George Hans
Laguna Beach (PCB) Fl
ps. we are the 3rd most popular golf destination in the country :), so bring your hubby!
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We are headed ot PCB on Saturday – I decided oil or no oil I am coming to support the community I spent a large part of my life having a great time at PCB! Can’t wait to get there!
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We love to hear that, Ann!! Great times are ahead in PCB!
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Did anyone happen to notice the First Lady’s blouse??
http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/what-michelle-wore-to-panama-city-beach/
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Oh me….. what on earth could have been wrong with it???
I think lots of people go really overboard in judging anyone in the “spotlight” so to speak on what they are wearing.
What could it matter?
She looked wonderful to me for a stroll on the beach!
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Mrs. Obama would of done the country a better service if she would of attended a Tea Party , I mean wtf is she really gonna do ,lol
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Something I think we can ALL agree on….At this moment, there is reportedly no oil spewing in our Gulf from this rig! Cheers to hoping for an end to the Oil Volcano!!
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Now, I just placed this artical, but god help us if any of it is true . . .I sure hope not? What do you think?
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Sometimes it takes a “First Lady” to bring the press corps to a particular story. For that, we can certainly be grateful Michelle Obama chose to visit PCB. I think PCB at least gave her a real reason to be “proud of her country”!! 😉
The Obamas are one-termers. I think people are underestimating the full scope of damage they have done to our country in just 18 months. True, Bush was not exactly a great president — but his misguided initiatives pale in comparison to what Obama and the Democrats have done.
Obama has created a deficit larger than ALL previous US presidents COMBINED! He didn’t “inherit” this current deficit — he created it. Ignorance and apathy are our greatest enemy. If the American electorate doesn’t wake up and understand how the Democrats have stripped them of sooo many rights — our country will never recover and we will no longer be a free people again!!
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LOL. Wow. The simple fact that her presence alone could possibly generate a slew of interest of and bring hesitant vacationers to the our beautiful beaches…which by the way benefits us all… has yet to sink into the minds of a few of these sorry “thinkers” astounds me!! And I’m pretty tolerant of all voices…even the ones who obviously have many voices in their heads…lol. get a grip haters.
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If she liked PCB so much, why did they vacation in Maine?
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