Much of the conservative blogosphere has its collective knickers in a knot because Obama will be vacationing in Chicago this weekend and will not attend the Memorial Day wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknowns. I shot the photo below during my visit to Washington in 2005.
I've seen a number of people on Facebook and at other sites express their outrage and include a comment along the lines that "Obama is the first president to miss this event since the creation of Memorial Day".
Not true, and I think it's important we get the facts straight. George W. Bush missed the 2002 event because he was in France for ceremonies at Normandy. His father, George H.W. Bush never attended any of the Memorial Day events during this term of office. In 1989 he was in Rome where he participated in a Memorial Day event there, and from 1990-1992 he spent Memorial Day in Maine. Ronald Reagan missed four of the eight Memorial Day events during this term. Bill Clinton, to his credit, attended all eight events during his term.
There's plenty of things to blast Obama about without making stuff up. Previous presidents have vacationed on Memorial Day weekend and I can't get too worked up about this one.
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3 comments:
Well said.
It is well said. Besides, he doesn't honor the military in his everyday work, so let him be honest and not go to the tomb.
We can remember the sacrifices made for our country.
I think the reason people are annoyed with Obama about this is the incident feeds the already clear Obama storyline that he doesn't properly respect the military, plus he's a lazy narcissist. If he were a different type of person, his absence from Arlington wouldn't cause raised eyebrows.
I mean, George H.W. Bush was shot out of a plane in WWII, I don't have any problem with him celebrating Memorial Day any way he wants (grin). No one has any doubt about his feelings for his fellow soldiers and their sacrifices. I think George W. Bush marking the day at Normandy was comparable to being at Arlington. I give Clinton credit for doing the right thing and being at Arlington every year.
Obama...he's focused on Obama and what Obama wants, just as he always is. This is just one more example.
Best wishes,
Laura
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