From KGO Radio:
“Obama will be on vacation in Chicago this Memorial Day, instead of presiding over Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington. This may be the first time since the Civil War that a president will not pay respect to the veterans passed.”
What a slimeball.
Somebody wrote, “Good! I’m relieved that the graves of brave men and women won’t be desecrated.”
And he might be right. But the paradox here is that the fact that Obama isn’t going is proof that he doesn’t deserve to go in the first place.
Here’s the story, which cites the Washington Post report that Obama will skip the Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington:
President Obama’s Memorial Day Plans, Skip Arlington, Vacation In Chicago
By Shannon BellPresident Obama’s Memorial Day Weekend plans include skipping Arlington,vacation in Chicago, you know, because he hasn’t been there in a while. The mainstream media sure has a nifty way of spinning the fact that Obama’s skipping Arlington services on Memorial Day in a time of war no less to vacation in Chicago.
The Washington Post says Obama’s skipping Arlington on Memorial Day to keep a “campaign promise.” One of his many promises during the campaign of 2008 was that he would visit Chicago every six weeks or so. He hasn’t been there for a stay since February of 2009.
Once again Obama’s lack of good decision making shines through. He’s the Commander in Chief whether he or we like it or not. Memorial Day comes but once a year, Arlington is where the President of the United States needs to spend his time. But Obama’s Memorial Day plans, skipping Arlington, vacationing in Chicago.
It’s only Memorial Day. The day when we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. It’s only Arlington National Cemetery. Quite possibly the most hallowed and sacred piece of realestate in the country. He’s only the Commander in Chief. The leader of our armed forces who commands their respect.
But hey. If you need a break take it when you can get it, right? Obama hasn’t had many opportunities to fly home to Chicago. There was that one time he took Michelle out dancing and to the theater. Oh wait that was New York. Well how about a couple weeks ago when he took the time to spend the weekend there when he should have been attending to the oil spill? Did I miss that one too? You’re right, that was a weekend getaway to a spa in North Carolina.
What about his numerous golf outings, or what about the Obama’s vacation last year to the beach? He couldn’t have taken one of those “opportunities?” Nope. Obama’s Memorial day plans, skipping Arlington , vacationing in Chicago. Priorities Mr. President, priorities.
Obama basically hasn’t kept any of his other promises. Why is his promise to vacation in Chicago more important than his duty to honor the fallen soldiers in wars past as well as the one he’s sending troops to die in now?
The problem is that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is in Arlington, not in Chicago. Unless Obama wants to have one made out of Styrofoam like those tacky Grecian columns he once used.
And, oh, yeah. That golf thing. After the media criticized George Bush for playing gold while his troops were fighting for their lives, Obama has played golf more in one year than Bush did in eight years. In fact, Obama was playing golf when three of the soldiers under his command were sacrificing their lives on the battlefield.
This is a president who has ordered men to their deaths in Afghanistan. The least he can do for those who’ve died under his direction is lay a freaking wreath on a freaking tomb on one special freaking day of the year.
Shame on him.
Slimeball.
You know if it were Teleprompter Day, Obama would be there to lay that damn wreath to honor the only device that keeps him from looking like the complete jabbering fool that he truly is.
Barack Obama apparently won’t be there (unless political pressure shames him into canceling his “vacation”), but please help me – even if you’ve disagreed with everything I’ve said about Obama – in doing your darnedest to honor our heroic warriors, be they young or old, living or dead.
Update, May 31, 2010. I have been challenged on the claim that Obama is the first president since the Civil War to skip Arlington. I checked into it, and stand corrected. That said, many of those who tell me to check my facts should likewise check their facts.
For instance, Farrow says:
Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II all missed the wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery at one time or another
Moreover, President Obama will lay a wreath tomorrow (Memorial Day) at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
Well, yeah. But Bush II missed Arlington only one time – when he honored the veterans who had fallen on the beaches of Normandy in France. That’s a pretty good reason to “miss.” Much better than Obama’s promise to vacation in Chicago more.
With the “blame Bush” climate, this is one thing you can’t “blame Bush” for.
George H.W. Bush missed ceremonies at Arlington, but he was a decorated combat veteran of World War II. Barack Obama, by contrast, is not a veteran, did not serve in combat, and has not been decorated for anything.
When Barack Obama is decorated for heroism in combat, like Bush I was when he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, he can skip Arlington, which honors such heroes. Until then, an excuse that cites George H.W. Bush falls apart rather pathetically.
One of the occasions Regan missed as President occurred while he was recovering from wounds incurred after having nearly been assassinated. You might cut him some slack for that one. He also attended a summit meeting, and was out of the country dealing with the Soviet Union, during wreath-laying ceremonies. In 1987, Reagan was in Camp David – working on a nuclear arms treaty with the Soviets. Again, hopefully you’ll cut him some slack for working to end nuclear Armageddon.
As a further update, Obama did not actually participate in the Memorial Day event in Chicago. It was canceled due to rain. Which means that maybe God Himself doesn’t think Obama deserves to honor our warriors. End update.
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