President Obama started coughing during a speech Wednesday in Flint, Michigan, leading him to stop the proceedings so he could have a glass of water.
As he was there to address the city's water crisis and had taken a dramatic sip of filtered water earlier in the day to assure residents that it was safe to drink, Obama promised that needing water at the podium was not a "stunt."
Touting the importance of government to address basic needs, Obama coughed a few times, and he asked, "Can I get some water?" to raucous cheering. He looked under his podium and saw nothing was there.
"I want a glass of water," he said. "I want a glass of water. Sit down. I'm all right. I'm going to get a glass of water right ... It'll be filtered. Hold on, I'm going to talk about that in a second. Settle down, everybody."
Returning to his remarks, Obama insisted it wasn't "big government" to fight for essential services.
"It's not government overreach to say that our government is responsible to make sure you can wash your hands in our own sink, or shower in your own home, or cook for your family," he said. "These are the most basic services. There's no more basic element sustaining human life than water. It's not too much to expect for all Americans that their water's going to be safe. Now, where do we go from here?"
The crowd yelled out, and Obama replied he was still waiting for his water.
"Somebody obviously didn't hear me," he said. "Usually, I get my water pretty quick. Hold on a second. Now the reason I know I'm OK is because I already had some Flint water."
An aide finally came up with the class, and Obama took a sip.
"I really did need a glass of water. This is not a stunt," Obama said.
Obama's potential replacement next year, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, has suffered from constant coughing attacks during her campaign events. The Washington Post has a useful summary of such moments here.