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Posted on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 5:57 a.m.

Obama speaking in Ann Arbor: Free tickets distributed Thursday morning

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Obama-Airport.JPG

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Michigan in May 2010.

Jim Deakins | AnnArbor.com

President Barack Obama's visit to Ann Arbor on Friday morning will be open to the public.

However, the speech on college affordability at the University of Michigan does require tickets.

They will be available starting at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Michigan Union Ticket Office on South State Street.

Tickets will be limited to one per person and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Obama will speak at the U-M Al Glick Field House at 9:35 a.m. Friday.

Comments

1233456789

Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 6:35 p.m.

I guess many people posting has never heard, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".

SJ Knapp

Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.

@Meral at 11:01 AM on January 24, 2012 You say folks on the Right call him "Obama. I recall the folks on the Left calling former President Bush "Bushitler". I would say that anything you infer from the Right is not because he is black, but because they believe he is incompetent. I say toMAYto, you say toMAto..... Cheers, K/

lumberg48108

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.

Did I miss it or are the republican students protesting his speech and complaining about him? Are they organizing a boycott? Are they planning to leave en masse during his speech? Where is the story? I mean, U-M students did the same to Gov. Rick last spring so I am assuming more of the same will happen for the Oabama visit?

moveon2011

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.

WE have 170 Senior and vetreans at our place and we would like to hear the president side... But since we are Elderly we cannot run ritgh out to get ticket at 9 Am... our local congressmen Office is across the street And it is his oFFICE that should iussed the tickets etc etc etc Some of Us are disablet .or on walkers but WE ARE AMERICANS first OUR SON, father and husband service AMERICA ..we should be first on the ticket list..

treetowncartel

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 7:35 p.m.

Politics aside , it would be neat to take my two kids to see a sitting United States President in person. The problem is it would be two days out of school if i can even score the tickets. I am sure the line at the Union is already forming.

EyeHeartA2

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 7:02 p.m.

I heard the tickets come on a roll. I wonder if they will be single, or two ply?

ChelseaBob

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.

Naturalize- My comment wasn't meant to endorse or condemn domestic energy production. My point was, Barry spent the last 2 1/2 years doing everything he can to stop or slow production of domestic energy AND spent a bundle on alternative energy. Whether that's good or bad is not my point. The point is, his advisors have now told him to make a speech in favor of increasing domestic energy production. Draw your own conclusion.

John Q

Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 7:21 p.m.

"My point was, Barry spent the last 2 1/2 years doing everything he can to stop or slow production of domestic energy AND spent a bundle on alternative energy. " Was he the one that blew up the oil well in the Gulf? No, I didn't think so. Plus, all the evidence is against your claim that there's been an effort to stop or slow the production of domestic energy. Show us one source of domestic energy that has been stopped or slowed in the past 3 years.

moveon2011

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.

IN 1974 CONGRESS estabished THE DEPARTMENT of ENERGY to insure we America ?poeple wouldnot run out of oil/energy..call you congressmen /women and ask WHAT HAPPEND to ALL the $$$$$$ spend oil /energy.Who has it and what and where is it..At that time gasoline was $ 0.27 cents ana went up tp $ 0..57..before BUSH it was $ 0.97 after bush in office up to $ 4.69 ......................so where is our energy,,still better BUILD the train/masstransportaion NOW.... T

nyrdreems

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.

Great that a sitting president is coming to our town. I'm going to stand in line Thursday. If for no other reason, I'd like to tell my grandchildren about the day the president came to town. Yes indeed! When my grand children read in the history books about 2012 and they look at me and ask what it was like. I'll have an answer that will make them want to learn more. But there will be others who will look at their grandchildren and say..."he was the worst president in history, I didn't bother to attend". I imagine those children looking wide-eyed and asking why? Then again, maybe...perhaps...some grandchildren will have no desire to learn anything new or different... Or talk to anyone who doesn't look and think just as they do.. Wow, I wonder if any of the republican hopefuls will find time to visit Ann Arbor. I would love to ask a few questions. But I'm sure they would not dare come to Ann Arbor where most residents are well informed, educated people who enjoy sharing views with those who don't agree. Snoopdog sounds like an oxymoron.

Meral

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.

Why is it people mostly Republicans call him " Obama" when he is THE Commander of Chief? Is it because he is Black? Shame on all those. He is doing his best to clean up the mess G.W Bush created and cost us billions of $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and many many young lives.

EyeHeartA2

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.

OK, lemme try this again, see if I can get by the censors (how obviously have no opinion on the matter). I didn't see the outrage when the "Buck Fush" tee shirts were making the rounds....and since we decided to play the race card in the orignal post (which the moderators should take a minute to read), perhaps it was because Bush was white?

treetowncartel

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 7:38 p.m.

Actually, some people called Bush Shrub.

ChelseaBob

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 6:32 p.m.

Meral- Stop already. Everyone called Bush, Bush. Now everyone calls Obama, Obama. Where's the harm?

Loves2Cook

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.

Perhaps his best should get better.

Doug

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.

Of course they're free! I would be embarrassing to speak to an empty venue.

hank

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.

Compare the crowds for President Obama to the republican presidential hopefuls. Many events scheduled for the republicans had to be cancelled due to lack of participation by its members. Kinda says it all don'tcha think?

Ron Granger

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.

Well, I almost went to see Cain. I wanted to do it for the comedy, to see the train wreck in action. It's the same reason I'd like to see Bachman. These are people who embrace a culture of perpetual war, and think they deserve to be president. They openly advocate war, war, war; something I never thought I would see in America in my life. It's something to see. Like a circus, or a car crash.

Karma21

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.

Wow, I think it's funny how the comments of this website skew Conservative but Ann Arbor doesn't have a single Republican on the city council. Personally I think it's great when any President or Presidential candidate comes to our town no matter what party. It means that our state and town are still important.

Dan

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.

Partisan Republican is not the same thing as conservative.

grye

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:15 p.m.

Too much security, too many hassles, who cares.

ChelseaBob

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.

Skotsky- Nice idea, but most of us who oppose socialism have jobs and we'd hate to waste a day off listening to Barry (two days off if you count waiting in line for tickets). I heard he is going to stress developing domestic energy in his state of the union. Will anyone believe him after 1 1/2 years of savaging domestic energy exploration?

Rusnak

Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.

Chelsea Bob. Just wanted to get the "left" going. They get rattled so easily. And no I wouldn't believe him he's a narcissistic liar. Energy? Let's see we'll get rid of coal put a moratorium on off shore drilling (that way it's open season for the Chinese). And, say no to the Keystone Pipeline. This way he can help buddies at Berkshire Hathaway which own BNSF the rail shipper of oil to the refineries on the Gulf coast. Oh, and the Canadians can now sell their oil the Chinese too. Great Job Barry. Do you think the DHS has a copy of this?

naturalize

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.

Is protecting the environment equal to "savaging domestic energy exploration"? If we don't protect the environment and use our creative powers to find alternative energy sources, our species won't be around much longer.

hank

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.

Your right it would take two days to get tickets and go through security. Why, because he is a great man. I guess for the republicans running for presidential office they couldn't get enough people to fill a small room, you could walk right in.

einy

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.

I also would love to see President Obama speak, but I can't wait in line on Thursday because I have a UMHS appointment I made three months ago! (see my comment in "Hundreds of UMHS employees hunt for parking spots after opening of new Mott hospital")

Rusnak

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.

Here's an idea. All of us who don't want to go see POTUS let's go get the free tickets and not use them. They won't be able to get a "rent a mob" in there fast enough. Just a thought.

Ron Granger

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.

Maybe that free time would be better spent studying, looking for work, or even walking in a park.. Living for spite is no way to live.

hank

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.

If you can't win cheat. Just a thought.

Susie Q

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.

I would LOVE to go see President Obama speak on Friday. Unfortunately, I have to work.

Diane

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.

Keep your free tickets.

snoopdog

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.

No thanks on the free ticket. You couldn't pay me enough to get me to go and waste several hours of my time watching this president, probably the worst in U.S. history give a live telepromter speech ! Good Day

lumberg48108

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:14 p.m.

history is written by those how want to control the future <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRx-trdMGtY" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRx-trdMGtY</a>

Dan

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.

Afraid you'd like it?

Susie Q

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.

Regardless of what political persuasion you are, history will judge the best, worst issue. We won't really know for a while. However, I don't believe President Obama will be shown to have been &quot;the worst&quot;.

Ed Kimball

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.

Most historians rank Lincoln the best and Harding the worst. See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States</a> GWB is ranked badly; it's too early to tell on Obama.

musicnerdsftw

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 1:13 p.m.

The best president-worst president debate is much easier than most people think. Best-Washington, The original, Started the country, stepped down when his work was done. Worst-Hoover, Caused the great depression

Are you serious?

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.

Just curious - where would you put GW Bush who was responsible for getting us into two wars in which thousands of young American were killed or injured, and spending trillions of dollars that we did not have? How about those hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in 2007 &amp; 2008? Are you really saying Obama is worse than that?