[cyphar]

First of all -- it was clearly a stunt. The question from the reporter where he "drinks" some water[1] happened after he asked for water in the middle of a speech[2] -- the moment in his speech was so obviously staged that it's not worth elaborating past including the link to the video. With that in mind, it's pretty clear that his answer to the reporter's (probably genuine) question was just doubling-down on the point he'd made with his earlier stunt -- that it's safe to drink.

But ignoring all of that -- why is it a good thing that he said the water was safe? The water wasn't safe to drink, and the video of the President sipping water from Flint means that the entire country collectively agreed that the situation was fixed. But it wasn't fixed -- the water in Flint is still contaminated with lead today.

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ZynkD3N_k [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjugN-nUHh8

[cloverich]

It doesn't seem obviously staged to me? The first video you linked he says the water is filtered, emphasizes it multiple times, and says "this doesn't mean we don't need to still replace some pipes". Is there more to the story?

[cyphar]

As far as I can tell, the second video I linked to (where he asks for water during a speech) happened before the first one (where a reporter asks him about the water he drank). The first one is a reporter following up to check that the water actually was from Flint (and he says it is, but it's filtered) -- and was probably a genuine question from a reporter after his speech (it's probably one of the first questions I'd ask).

The thing I'm referring to as being clearly staged is when he asks in the middle of a speech (where he was talking about things that need to be done in Flint) for some water, takes a tiny sip (he must've been really thirsty!) and continues. If you don't see that as being staged, I really don't know what I could possibly say to convince you otherwise. People from the crowd were shouting "don't drink" and he counters with "I know I'm going to be okay, because I've already had some Flint water."

And you're right that he mentions it's filtered (after being asked that in a follow-up and not when he first did the stunt, but whatever) -- but just because he's not outright lying about the situation doesn't make it the earlier stunt any less staged. There has been very little further outcry about Flint in the past 6 years, because most people you talk to will say "Oh, wasn't that thing in Flint solved years ago? Obama drank the water when he was there!

[3JPLW]

He didn't claim the water was not contaminated. He claimed that the _filtered_ water with a _correct_ filter _properly installed_ was safe to drink.

Was that not the case?

[jtms]

Right - it probably is safe, but I am not sure most people in flint can afford the triple carbon filter reverse osmosis water system that I would want to use in their situation. Raw sewage water is “safe to drink” if it’s filtered enough.

[3JPLW]

Hunh? There was an active campaign to distribute and install lead-certified filters.

Looks like they're still available for free pickup: https://www.michigan.gov/flintwater/0,6092,7-345-73954-36627...

[Fishkins]

But (at least initially) the filters they distributed didn't actually make the water safe to drink

https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-skolnik-lead-poisoni...

[jtms]

Sorry, but those little faucet attachable kind are complete junk. If they weren't handing out decent R/O systems then it wasn't and isn't good enough and people should feel safe with their kids drinking that.