Required Reading

Jake Tapper:

The United States, which considers itself to be the most important nation in the world, was not represented in this march — arguably one of the most important public demonstrations in Europe in the last generation — except by U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley, who may have been a few rows back. I didn’t see her. Even Russia sent Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

I say this as an American — not as a journalist, not as a representative of CNN — but as an American: I was ashamed.

The key to Tapper’s shame comes at the top of his column:

“Thank you,” said the man. I was standing outside of the offices of Charlie Hebdo covering the aftermath of the terrorist attacks for CNN. He was thanking me just for being here, just for covering the event and its aftermath, what Le Monde referred to as France’s September 11. And his appreciation was echoed by French citizen after French citizen.

The rally Sunday for unity drew 1.5 million people in Paris and more than twice that nationwide; it was like nothing I’ve ever seen or covered. Our nation’s oldest ally stood firm. A young Muslim Frenchwoman held a sign saying “Je suis Juif.”

A man and his son came over to me holding a sign saying “I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” beseeching me to share their message with the American people.

Tapper is far too decent a person to say this out loud for himself, so I will — a TV journalist, just doing his job, did more to show solidarity with France’s newfound dedication to fighting Islamic terror, than did the President of the United States.

So please, Jake, do take some pride today, too.

Do read the whole thing, although I think this next bit requires a small comment as well:

I find it hard to believe that Speaker of the House John Boehner and new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had more worthy pursuits on Sunday than standing side-by-side with our French brothers and sisters as they came together in an inspirational way.
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And I’m frankly floored that not one of the people who is contemplating running for president in 2016 has yet to even tweet on the subject of the momentous demonstration in Paris, much less attend France’s biggest rally in the history of the republic.

I imagine that Hillary Clinton and her husband are kicking themselves for not hopping on a corporate jet to get here. Can you picture Hillary and Bill walking in the front row, arm-in-arm with Netanyahu and Hollande?

This part feels somewhat rote, perhaps a clumsy attempt at fairness and balance and whatever. World leaders attended the march, not parliamentarians or unannounced political candidates. Only a Prime Minister or a President (or in Jordan’s case, a King) can represent an entire nation, and many of those did indeed make the trip to Paris.

Our President yesterday demonstrated what looks to me like a malice of absence.