Memo to Flies: Don't Bug President Obama Something was bugging President Obama today as he nominated Mary Jo White to head the Securities and Exchange Commission and re-nominated Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "This guy is bothering me here," the president said, as he repeatedly swatted at a large black fly buzzing near his face. Given Obama's reputation, it was a bold move for the insect to spar with the "swatter in chief." During a June 2009 CNBC interview, Obama famously killed a fly with a single smack. "Get out of here," the president ordered of the fly before the interview began. When the directive was ignored, Obama waited for the fly to land on his hand and then, "slap," swiftly ended its life with a single blow. That was pretty impressive, wasn't it? Obama proudly declared. I got the sucker. PETA later condemned the move. The fly in the State Dining Room today was lucky enough to avoid a similar fate.