Class or Photo-Op?
October 29, 2009 5:03 pm Current Events, Politics, Support the Military
AP Photo
President Obama went to Dover early to see the real cost of the war in Afganistan. The AP was impressed. I really want to be. I really don’t want to be so cynical. But it was his administration that so recently lifted the ban on photographing the flag draped remains in spite of veterans’ protests. Military families approved of the change allowing remains to be photographed with the permission of the family. Vets worried that it may be used as a photo op. This administration has focused far more on image than actual substance. I do not criticize the family for consenting their loved ones image to be used, and I do not criticize the AP for reporting it. It’s absolutely newsworthy. And heart-breaking. Whatever his reasons, I hope the families felt honored and respected by the Presidential visit.
I really want to believe that he was there to honor them. I can’t imagine that he could have walked away unmoved by what he saw. The AP is quick to point out that Bush never met the war casualties at Dover. He did, however, spend a lot of time with the military families. I know that anywhere the President goes, an entourage must go. I can only assume that the previous President did not want to burden families with the Presidential circus at such a delicate time. This story was not an appropriate place to throw in a dig at the previous administration.
The Commander in Chief has a responsibilty to personally recognize those who give all in service of this country. These brave men deserve the honor. It is by understanding the sacrifice that he can understand the importance of what he is ordering them to do. These men understand that the costs are not measured in dollars but in blood. They volunteer for it because our country is worth fighting and even dying for.
I hope it is a reminder as to why he absolutely cannot delay the solemn decision to give the troops the support they so desperately need. Every delay means more soldiers come home via Dover. It’s a cost we simply cannot afford.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
:lets loose a stream of profanities:
COMPLETE photop.
Sorry sack of shite hasn’t had 30 minutes for the military all this time, but he flies off to be phographed saluting the caskets of our fallen.
I GUARAN-DAMN-TEE you everyone on that detail was muttering under their breath, some extremely salty language.
I’m sorry, this piece of excretia we have in our whitehouse isn’t worthy of the station. Seeing him do this fills me with red-blooded rage.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I agree 100% with everything JAFO said above.
I don’t think that arrogant SOB has an ounce of class in him. He might have been saluting on the outside, but I bet he was fantasizing about having his middle finger extended instead.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:58 am
It’s just sad that the picture even begs the question.
How in the hell have we gotten so polarized?
What happened in the Vietnam era, that respect and honor for our fallen troops has become suspect?
And with his statements, and personnel choices, Obama sure is suspect.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:43 am
This is the first time i recall him saluting/returning a salute to anyone in the military. IF that is right, not just my bad memory, its a total fucking photo op!
October 30th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
JAFO nailed it. I have nothing further to add.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Hell, it probably took him this long to LEARN HOW TO SALUTE!
October 30th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
(Oh, and what everybody else said, too!)
October 31st, 2009 at 12:45 am
Photo Op. My best friend in the Marine Corps told me how pissed off he was that Obama did that. Not even Pres. Bush went to Dover.
Here’s what he said (from my Facebook page):
“I couldn’t believe he was standing next to the casket rendering a salute. Two things about the photo pissed me off, first it was supposed to be a surprise visit to pay his respects to the families and the fallen and not pubicized but photos “leaked” out. Second he’s never served a day in his life, what does he know a bout the salute and what it means…Bush said he never went to Dover out of respect for the families. He would call them and offer to bring them to the White House to pay his respects or visit their home. Most people don’t know that because it was never a photo op for him.”
November 1st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Obama and “class” do not go together.
He is calculating and has one purpose.
Screw America!
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 am
I think Stormbringer’s recent post covers this well:
http://seanlinnane.blogspot.com/2009/10/salute.html
Nothing Obama does is an accident….
- pupista! (barking mad on the right)
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Stormbringer’s post is awesome. Spot on.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
absolute and total photo op. He knows nothing about class, respect or how ANYTHING should be handled…
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Completely agree with all above, Stormbringer included.
I think I’ll go throw up now.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I would like to agree, but I just keep thinking – if Pres. Bush had done this same photo op, wouldn’t we all be saying how touching and patriotic it was of him to go and salute our fallen soldiers? To be totally honest with myself, I think that’s what I would’ve thought.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Lisa
If that was the first time that President GWB had shown any respect to the military, i would agree with you, but that’s not the way it was. There were many times that President GWB went to Walter Reed MC, and he spoke with many of the parents of the wounded/fallen soldiers. I could go on, but i wont. I hope you get my point.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Dagamore,
True – I remember that President Bush visited with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed pretty often. I thought Pres. Obama did that too, just at other facilities – Bethesda Naval, Landstuhl (our military hospital in Germany), etc. – so in my mind those are pretty similar, I guess. But I definitely agree with you that the two presidents are perceived differently on how they view the military, and that would definitely come into play on interpreting the Dover photo.
Lisa