In the wake of the Baton Rouge and Dallas police massacres, police groups have asked President Obama to have the White House illuminated in blue to honor the fallen officers.
The White House was recently lit in the LGBT rainbow to show support for same-sex marriage, and illuminated in pink for breast cancer awareness. However, the president has thus far refused requests to turn the White House blue in a show of support for the murdered policemen.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Monday:
I don’t suspect that that is something that we will do.
After the Dallas massacre, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association made an official request that Obama honor their ultimate sacrifice. In his July 8 statement, FLEOA Foundation President Jon Adler said:
I respectfully ask that all elected officials drop their scripted speeches, and feel the pain resonating in Dallas and across the country. Light a blue candle and say a silent prayer, but don’t insult the law enforcement community with perishable scripted gibberish. Five honorable heroes made the ultimate sacrifice in Dallas, and it would be a tribute to their service by illuminating the White House in blue.
The White House refused the request.
During Monday’s White House press briefing, Fox News’ Kevin Corke told Earnest that a lot of people have been asking him about the issue:
It seems to be such a very small but potentially powerful gesture that would take so little — and would mean so much to so many.
Corke asked if the White House would reconsider its refusal given the killings in Baton Rouge. Earnest did not explain the White House’s continued refusal, instead offering a laundry list of steps the president has taken to support the police.
“Obviously the president did travel to Dallas to attend the memorial service for the five Dallas police officers. that city’s five slain police officers there, Earnest said.
Earnest pointed out that Obama met with the officers’ families and other Dallas police while he was in Texas. He also ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff “to reflect the mourning that our nation had engaged in for the police officers in Dallas.”
Additionally, Obama met with law enforcement twice at the White House last week, including a four-hour meeting that brought law enforcement together with community leaders and activists, Earnest said.
The White House has been illuminated in other colors before to mark its support for various causes. In 2013, for example, it was lit up in pink for breast cancer awareness, and in 2015, the White House was lit in the LGBT rainbow to show support for same-sex marriage.
Earnest insisted that the White House supports cop, despite this symbolic move.
“All of this is an indication of just how strongly the president feels about the need to show our strong support for our men and women in law enforcement,” Earnest said, including Obama’s “strong” condemnation of the ambush that left three Baton Rouge officers dead over the weekend.
“The president dedicated a lot of time to this, both in substance and in symbolism,” Earnest said. “The president’s strong support for American law enforcement officers is crystal clear.”
What is actually crystal clear is the fact that the Obama White House will show support for issues that are politically expedient for Democrats. Illuminating the White House in blue would enrage a key faction of the Democrat party base. Everything the Obama White House does is politically calculated.
On Tuesday, Obama published an open letter to law enforcement:
We proclaim loudly our appreciation for the acts of service you perform as part of your daily routine.
…
Every day, you confront danger so it does not find our families, carry burdens so they do not fall to us, and courageously meet test after test to keep us safe. Thank you for your courageous service. We have your backs.
Of course, most people will never see this letter, though they would have seen a White House illuminated in blue.
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