Reading all these comments I find it hard to listen to those one way or the other rationalize Obama’s choice (it was a choice HE made) not to attend. And it’s not that he ONLY snubbed the American Legion and other co-sponsors, he snubbed ALL veterans.
To David above quoting Craig Roberts comments that the AL wasn’t snubbed, this isn’t only about the AL as an organization, it’s about the gala being snubbed, all vets. If every president since it’s inception in 1953 can manage to attend this event, there is a way Obama could have and should have. Please, this crap about logistics, security, blah blah blah. He’s the president for crying out loud! He can go wherever he pleases. It obviously didn’t please him to attend, plain and simple. What can you expect from a dove like that?
Although I read that the AL may be putting something on their website about all this, as of 6:45am EST today I didn’t see anything. Regardless, it wasn’t a smart thing for Obama to do. As the left is known to say, it wasn’t the politically correct thing to do.
And Mr. Veteran above, learn to spell freaks first of all. I can happen to tell you that many vets there DID feel snubbed as I know two people who were there that night who said while they enjoyed the time, and warmly welcomed Biden, there was a little “sting” in the air that night while they all waited in anticipation of Obama’s arrival. This is not some kind of odd freakish right wing statement, it is the truth- stings a little doesn’t it? The facts are these: Obama attended much larger, more publicized and more highly attended, thus harder to secure and protect him, galas/balls. He had the means and opportunity to attend if he wanted. He had motive NOT to attend- his personal views on the war, and military in general attest to that. Geez, motive, means, opportunity- almost sounds like he should be in some criminal case, eh? In the end, it won’t matter. This too shall be swept under the carpet, a blip on the radar, soon to be forgotten by the country at large.
Yes, there are other issues now and to come that warrant more discussion that this possibly, but that isn’t the point here I believe. The point is this: This man of change – and I don’t mean that in a good way – is going to bring such drastic changes in foreign policy, military spending, etc. (you can expect a ‘reduction in force’ and possibly more base closures ala Bill Clinton) and that is not what is needed in this critical time on the world scene. Let’s not forget how many people hate the US now. Regardless of who started what war or why, it’s all semantics at this point. There are enough people in the world who hate us to the point of wanting to come over here and attack us again, that if they all organized to do so, we would be nearly powerless to stop them. Expect after military cuts by Obama another attack on the US somewhere, whether continental or an embassy, US interest somewhere – it is coming. What then Barrak? Then will you decide after pressure from all around to beef up the military you just cut back? Too little too late. I suspect Obama should go back to Chicago to do more organizing and leave the politics to people a little more adept than he! But hey, that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong! (Ok, never said that was an original, thanks Dennis).
