Obama Promises Teen Who Lost Her Father On 9/11 A Meeting With Justin Bieber

by Frances Martel | 11:49 am, May 7th, 2011

» 35 comments

Now that the greatest villain of this generation has finally been put to rest, President Obama can go back to the things that really drive up polls numbers: making childrens’ dreams come true. After the tweets of a young woman who lost her father on 9/11 to Justin Bieber fell on deaf ears, 14-year-old Payton Wall decided to ask the President for help. And after giving her a “bear hug” last Thursday, he promised to deliver.

Wall, whose father was an executive at the offices of Cantor Fitzgerald and lost his life in the September 11th attacks, sent a 1,500-word letter expressing her grief to the President, never expecting a response. The letter, according to the teen, was meant to honor her father and express the grief she had experienced in the decade since his death. In the process of describing how she coped, Wall wrote about the impact Bieber’s film, Never Say Never, had on her. The President responded to her letter overnight and invited her to the ceremony at Ground Zero last Thursday, where the two chatted about the letter and everything in it– including Justin Bieber:

Payton spent days practicing a strong handshake, but in the end Obama gave her a presidential bear hug. She said he also told her that he “knows Justin” and that he would help arrange a meeting between the two.

The teen said she’s thrilled, but “I just don’t want it to seem like I only wrote the letter to meet Justin Bieber. I did it to honor my father,” she said. “My father is the reason that we all came together today. I miss and love him and don’t go a day without thinking about him.”

Given that most of what Bieber tweets (and retweets) seems to be inspiration self-help talk nowadays, knowing he inspired a young girl to grow out of tremendous grief seems right down the pop star’s alley. But then there’s President Obama’s assertion that he “knows” Bieber– maybe someone should tell America’s teens that, while he has met with the pint-sized crooner, President Obama prefers the soothing sounds of Jay-Z and Frank Sinatra.

[h/t New York Magazine]

9/11 families, 911, barack obama, Justin Bieber, Osama bin Laden

Harry Flashman

And with a snap of his fingers, His Royal Highness Obama will summon one of his bevy of Royal Entertainers, of whom he has many and they fawn over him and grant his every Royal Request, to meet with this loyal subject.

And the subject will be grateful forevermore and live happily ever after.

The end.

Sweet smokin’ Moses.
stoogedudes

Here we go. Let the ODS commence!
PC Kryptonite

OMG, how utterly pathetic.
jakester

How freaking cheesy, I mean really. Why not be every poor waif’s matchmaker?
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Martin/1646024347 John Martin

I understand he is sending in Seal Team 6.

Frankly, I hope he continues using the office of the President in such a manner. He can do much less damage when he occupies his time with gold and coercing celebrities.
PC Kryptonite

The Messiah brings forth Justin Bieber to fulfill the girl’s wishes? Surely the Messiah can do better than that, during his 08 campaign I’m sure the media would’ve told America that Osama… I mean Obama, could raise her father from the dead.

Look at the eyes of this young girl as she gazes upon “The One.” The really reminiscent of the old film footage of young girls gazing upon Hitler as he passed in his car, one in particular comes to mind. It’s the same mindless gaze of adoration.

I’ll never forget the man on the street interviews after bin Laden death with teenagers in New York City who didn’t even know who Osama bin Laden was, how pathetic and revealing.
tatboy

“Obama Promises Teen Who Lost Her Father On 9/11 A Meeting With Justin Bieber”

WHAT???
tatboy

stoogedudes said:
Here we go. Let the ODS commence!

As predictable as PDS, isn’t it…
Lagoona

My, my, aren’t we all bitter and hateful!
tatboy

Lagoona said:
My, my, aren’t we all bitter and hateful!

Yes… it’s just awful when people act like that. But I don’t watch Olbermann or MSNBC for that reason.
chiefjgmac

Yet he declined it intercede on the behalf of 911 family member who asked him to talk with Eric Holder concerning prosecution of CIA interrogators who were just doing their jobs. Go figure !!!!!!!!!!
namseer

The girl may have asked the President because she knows he’s actually friends with the kid. Bieber has performed or visited the White House two or three times and I believe Bieber has referred to the President as “a friend” in an interview or two. So stop the hatred towards this little girl and our President. Save the right-wing hatred for really important Republican issues like destroying Medicare, cutting off poor women’s access to health care, and further tax cuts for the filthy rich.
stoogedudes

tatboy said:
As predictable as PDS, isn’t it…

Yes! It is! And every bit as annoying!
skyfet

He better delivers on this promise.
stoogedudes

namseer said:
So stop the hatred towards this little girl and our President.

I don’t believe we are seeing hatred of this little girl, but I do agree with you especially about the first part of what you wrote.

Really, here’s what is probably going to happen: Obama has one of his aides get a hold of Bieber’s people somehow (something which will likely take 10 minutes to do and cost the taxpayers exactly $0). Bieber’s people get’s this girls information, and then he visits this girl, brightening the year of a little girl who lost her father nearly 10 years ago from the most horrific terrorist attack on our nation’s soil. Not only that, she got a hug from the President out of it as well. Harmless. Period.

See this is what I’m talking about. I recall a picture many years ago of President Bush giving a hug to a girl who lost her family on 9/11. I thought it was heartwarming and terrific. Here is the leader of the free world giving this little girl a hug, which had to have meant the world to her. Liberals jumped on that picture, and of that I am ashamed. Although to be fair, he did use that photo and the girls family in a campaign ad for his re-election bid, which I think was a bit tasteless. If Obama uses this moment for a campaign ad (which I know, due to ODS, many on the right believe is what he is essentially doing, which is bollocks), I will find it equally as tasteless.

I understand criticizing a President for his policies, By all means, that’s what makes America great! But when he is attacked for the most harmless things, things which any other person would get at least a little praise for, it displays a derangement syndrome that is unhealthy to themselves and to this country.

So yes, Palin Derangement Syndrome, Bush Derangement Syndrome, Beck Derangement Syndrome is frustrating, as not everything they do is worthy of derision. The same goes for this President.

I sincerely thought this might be a moment of unity for this country after the capture of bin Laden. But no, it’s the same partisan bullshit from both sides, even now. I doubt we will ever see another post 9/11 unity ever again. I don’t even think another 9/11 will bring this country together and that, frankly, is so freaking depressing.
ProObamaAgenda

PC Kryptonite said:
The Messiah brings forth Justin Bieber to fulfill the girl’s wishes? Surely the Messiah can do better than that, during his 08 campaign I’m sure the media would’ve told America that Osama… I mean Obama, could raise her father from the dead.

Look at the eyes of this young girl as she gazes upon “The One.” The really reminiscent of the old film footage of young girls gazing upon Hitler as he passed in his car, one in particular comes to mind. It’s the same mindless gaze of adoration.

I’ll never forget the man on the street interviews after bin Laden death with teenagers in New York City who didn’t even know who Osama bin Laden was, how pathetic and revealing.

youre one sick disgusting asshole….Obama should use his power to lock you the fu#@ up…stupid ass racist conservaturds like you deserve no freedom….envy and jealously is about to eat your dumb ass up…to bad you’ll never eva eva eva be president… shamefully a black man can do things your po uneducated
saltine ass can only dream of.
LOGICandREASON

Who is Justin Bieber?

Wait a minute Mediaite! Do you guys ever address the DIRE situation of the US economy? I mean I could list 100 of the most recent articles uploaded on this website, and it will be shocking to visitors here, that less than 5% of the articles addressed the US Economy as a CRITICAL issue. If at all anything about economy was mentioned in your articles on other topics, then it was something trivial or one with a political undertone.

You Mediaite staff have to focus on topics like these:

High Gas Prices
Inflation
National Debt
Budget Deficit
Borrowing 45 cents of every 1 dollar spent by the US government
Interest on the National Debt
Death ceiling
Insolvency

I didn’t think this website would begin to look like TMZ or Perez Hilton
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

Harry Flashman said:
And with a snap of his fingers, His Royal Highness Obama will summon one of his bevy of Royal Entertainers, of whom he has many and they fawn over him and grant his every Royal Request, to meet with this loyal subject. And the subject will be grateful forevermore and live happily ever after. The end. Sweet smokin’ Moses.

Never mind it’s a small thing he’ll provide for a child who’s not seen or spoken to her father for almost 10 years and won’t ever do so. Get back to me if your head is ever extricated from your ample ass.
Pablo

Now THIS is why I voted for Barack Obama.

Oh, wait. No I didn’t.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

Pablo said:
Now THIS is why I voted for Barack Obama. Oh, wait. No I didn’t.

You didn’t – so sad, you never do anything Right
RhapsodyinBlue

How dare the President do such a thing! A 14 year old girl who lost her father in 9/11 wants to meet Justin Bieber and he obliged? OH dare lord, he probably spent a whole 15 seconds telling his secretary to contact Bieber about meeting the girl. He could’ve spent those fixing the blah blah blah

Sometimes some of you really need to listen to yourselves when you cry about Obama and then ponder “who is the real villain here”
Raygun

Jesus Christ guys, a girl lost her father, presumably finds some comfort in listening to Bieber’s music and being a fan, and the president promises to bring her some happiness. Quit being bitter, sarcastic, cynical turds and smile.
RowdyHoward

Anyone else notice the terrible photo-shopping here?
seek

RhapsodyinBlue said:
How dare the President do such a thing! A 14 year old girl who lost her father in 9/11 wants to meet Justin Bieber and he obliged? OH dare lord, he probably spent a whole 15 seconds telling his secretary to contact Bieber about meeting the girl. He could’ve spent those fixing the blah blah blah Sometimes some of you really need to listen to yourselves when you cry about Obama and then ponder “who is the real villain here”

You think the young girl said “Mr. President, can you arrange for me to meet Justin Bieber?”
RhapsodyinBlue

seek said:
You think the young girl said “Mr. President, can you arrange for me to meet Justin Bieber?”

I said that?
seek

RhapsodyinBlue said:
I said that?

I was asking you a question.
RhapsodyinBlue

seek said:
I was asking you a question.

How exactly is the context of how she asked the President to meet Justin Bieber important at all? I have no clue, neither do you and it is completely unimportant. You’re digging too deep for something to hate on that isn’t there, as I said, do some reflecting and ask yourself who is being the villain in this scenario…. the teenage girl wanting to meet her idol, a President abiding or the angry commenters on the internet throwing every single scenario out there hoping to latch onto something to bash the President for doing so?
seek

RhapsodyinBlue said:
How exactly is the context of how she asked the President to meet Justin Bieber important at all? I have no clue, neither do you and it is completely unimportant. You’re digging too deep for something to hate on that isn’t there, as I said, do some reflecting and ask yourself who is being the villain in this scenario…. the teenage girl wanting to meet her idol, a President abiding or the angry commenters on the internet throwing every single scenario out there hoping to latch onto something to bash the President for doing so?

I asked you a question. If you don’t really know, just say so.
omega919

Seriously, THIS is why so many folks refuse to talk politics. It’s one thing to disagree or agree with the President. You can even say “I love Obama” or “I hate Obama”.

But, turning “President promises teenager who lost her father in horrible American tragedy a chance to meet with her favorite musician” into a BAD thing….. WOW. Just… WOW.
seek

RhapsodyinBlue said:
How exactly is the context of how she asked the President to meet Justin Bieber important at all? I have no clue, neither do you and it is completely unimportant. You’re digging too deep for something to hate on that isn’t there, as I said, do some reflecting and ask yourself who is being the villain in this scenario…. the teenage girl wanting to meet her idol, a President abiding or the angry commenters on the internet throwing every single scenario out there hoping to latch onto something to bash the President for doing so?

If you had read the article instead of just skimming the headline – you would have known rhapsody.
RichS

RhapsodyinBlue said:
How dare the President do such a thing! A 14 year old girl who lost her father in 9/11 wants to meet Justin Bieber and he obliged? OH dare lord, he probably spent a whole 15 seconds telling his secretary to contact Bieber about meeting the girl. He could’ve spent those fixing the blah blah blah Sometimes some of you really need to listen to yourselves when you cry about Obama and then ponder “who is the real villain here”

If I were reading this in the paper my response would be to think, how nice, and then I’d turn the page and forget about it. But Mediaite, as Logicand Reason pointed out, where are the stories about the bigger events in our current affairs? This incident was a giant event in this teen’s life and will be a very pleasant life time memory, provided Bieber handles it like a human being, and I’m happy for her. Again to Mediaite, nice to cover this, by why do we have to have every word that what’s-his-name, the guy with the HBO show whose Political Incorrect was cancelled, utters in an article, sometimes more than one article a day?
RhapsodyinBlue

RichS said:
If I were reading this in the paper my response would be to think, how nice, and then I’d turn the page and forget about it. But Mediaite, as Logicand Reason pointed out, where are the stories about the bigger events in our current affairs? This incident was a giant event in this teen’s life and will be a very pleasant life time memory, provided Bieber handles it like a human being, and I’m happy for her. Again to Mediaite, nice to cover this, by why do we have to have every word that what’s-his-name, the guy with the HBO show whose Political Incorrect was cancelled, utters in an article, sometimes more than one article a day?

It’s a human interest story, it’s the garnish on the plate of a meal, it’s not meant to be taking too seriously and mediaite buried it at the bottom of the webpage.
Jayson

A movie and song has inspired, and helped this young lady to deal with what is and will not change regarding her Father, and to move on with her life. A simple song by a young singer did this. Such a harmless thing, yet the majority of the comments here find that distasteful, simply because Obama read the young ladies letter, met with her, and told her he’d try to help her meet the singer who inspired her. How can any part of that be wrong? How can that bring the ridicule and smart ass comments that have been left here? Why do so many of you hate so much?

My god, its time some of you spiteful, I hate everything, mediaite regulars, looked in the mirror. You might be shocked to see the bitter miserable person who’s staring back at you.

A few verses from Biebers song that inspired this young woman. The naysayers on here may as well tear it apart too.

“Never Say Never”

See I never thought that I could walk through fire.
I never thought that I could take the burn.
I never had the strength to take it higher,
Until I reached the point of no return.

And there’s just no turning back,
When your hearts under attack,
Gonna give everything I have,
It’s my destiny.

I will never say never! (I will fight)
I will fight till forever! (make it right)
Whenever you knock me down,
I will not stay on the ground.
Pick it up,
Pick it up,
Pick it up,
Pick it up up up,
And never say never.

I never thought I could feel this power.
I never thought that I could feel this free.
I’m strong enough to climb the highest tower.
And I’m fast enough to run across the sea.

And there’s just no turning back,
When your hearts under attack,
Gonna give everything I have,
Cause this is my destiny.
RhapsodyinBlue

seek said:
If you had read the article instead of just skimming the headline – you would have known rhapsody.

It’s inconsequential, stupid, stop deviating from the topic.
VoiceofReason

“Yeah young lady I will get you hooked up with Justin Beiber but tell that 9/11 grieving widow bitch over there I ain’t talking Eric out of harrassing CIA guys.”