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Audacity of Truth
Gaffetastic:
Vice President Joe Biden had his “oops” moment Wednesday speaking in a 49er-crazed SF when he told a crowd at a city political fundraiser that “the Giants are on their way to the Super Bowl.” - SF Chronicle, 1-18-12
Respect from the military will have to be earned, Mr. President-elect
ABC News reported today on a visit PEBO made to troops stationed in Hawaii:
President-elect Obama stopped by the Marine Corps base in Hawaii Kaneche Bay where servicemen and -women were eating Christmas dinner in Kailua Thursday evening.
“Just wanted to say hi, hey guys” Obama said as he walked into the Anderson dining hall which was decked out in Christmas decorations.
The diners represented seven military units — Marine and Navy — some of whom were joined by their families for Christmas dinner.
As Obama entered the room, it was absent of the regular fanfare of cheering and clapping. The diners were polite, staying seated at their respective tables and waited for the president-elect to come to them to stand up.
Obama, dressed casually in a blue polo shirt and dark khaki trousers, worked his way around the room — table by table — and took pictures with the service members. He slapped them on the back at times, shook hands, and signed some autographs.
“Hey guys, Merry Christmas” The president-elect said as he walked from table to table.
[...]
The president-elect spent about an hour with the troops. Obama transition aides say that Obama did not eat with the uniformed men and women — he ate at his beach home with his family and friends Christmas night.
John Hinderaker writes in response:
I don’t doubt that Obama comes from an anti-military background, much like Bill Clinton, who famously wrote that he “loathe[d] the military.” But Obama knows that he is about to become commander in chief. He seems to be making the right gestures, and I assume he is smart enough to understand that being President requires him not only to be symbolically pro-military, but to take an active interest in the welfare of our troops. Until his actions compel a conclusion to the contrary, I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he holds our military in the esteem to which it is entitled. I hope and expect that we’ll see more efforts on his part to build bridges to the military community.
Yeah? It’s gonna take a lot more than “symbolic gestures” like visiting troops in Hawaii over the Christmas holidays, and playing basketball with them in Afghanistan on a trip designed to highlight your “foreign policy creds.” Barack Obama repeatedly and routinely denigrated the mission in Iraq, not just as a US Senator, but as a candidate for Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Whether or not he meant to demean the sacrifices of our troops, that’s exactly what he – and anyone else – did who either said or implied that they were making the ultimate sacrifice for a “lie” … that their deaths were “wasted” deaths. That’s what he did when he noted over the summer that, even knowing the successes that the surge would have brought to the table – including the sharp downturn in violence – that he still would have voted against the surge. It was something he said no doubt to please the anti-war left, whose votes he needed to help him win the election, but it was also something he said that turned the stomachs of the military and those who supported them alike, who realized that not only would the violence and death have escalated as a result of not putting the surge in place, but that the deaths of our servicemen and women over there would have been in vain, because he wanted troops out by March of this year.
As CIC, or one who stands in line to be the CIC, no matter the situation our troops are in as a result of a mission they’ve been sent on on behalf of the United States, a CIC never openly admits defeat, a CIC never denigrates the mission they’ve been sent to fight, a CIC never says that their deaths are “wasted.” A CIC, whether they’ve served in the military or not, should understand – or in Obama’s case, learn – that it’s no small gesture a man or woman takes when they sign up to serve in the armed forces. As soon as they sign their name on the dotted line, they’ve placed their lives on the line to serve and protect this country with honor and dignity, and to represent the interests of the United States no matter what foreign land they step foot on, on the orders of their Commander in Chief.
Barack Obama will be their Commander in Chief in a matter of a few weeks. Until he’s indicated that he has realized his error in some form or another for how he spoke about them and the war in Iraq, until he proves that he realizes, contrary to claims he’s made previously, that the safety and security of Iraq is imperative to us winning in the war on terror and that the mission there must continue, he will not earn their respect beyond that they are required to give whoever sits in the big chair. Respect to them isn’t earned simply because he ran a good campaign that got him elected. Their respect will be earned once he stops uttering meaningless platitudes about “gratitude for service” and starts showing it with more than “just words.”
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Hugh Hewitt has some related thoughts.
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I suspect there was no slight intended at all in the reception he received. He’s no longer a senator, and President-elect has no official standing. The military is very big on rules and protocol, and I don’t doubt these servicemen and their families were briefed beforehand on etiquette. I think this is a hullabaloo over nothing.
On the other hand, I’m willing to suspect Dubya would have received much more than the reception required by protocol.
Likewise, I wouldn’t read too much into this. As Anthony points out, Obama has no actual official standing – he isn’t Commander in Chief yet, and he’s resigned his Senate seat. As such, he’s just one more distinguished visitor.
The tumultuous reception Bush gets is personal – the troops do like and respect him, as inexplicable as that is to today’s left. Obama may never earn that kind of greeting, but he will never be disrespected by our servicemen and women – they are far too professional for that (again, an attitude inexplicable to today’s left). Bear in mind the Clinton years – as much as Slick Willie was personally despised, as Commander in Chief he was always treated with respect.
One thing civilians do not readily understand is that for a military person to behave unprofessionally is a personal diminishment. Integrity and honor are too important to our military.
“I think this is a hullabaloo over nothing.”
It’s no “hullabaloo.” Sis Toldjah’s got PEBO down cold, and thanks go out to her for making the case with moral clarity.
Merry Christmas as well, one day late, sorry.
In order to intend a slight, Obama would have had to have given a thought to the people he was slighting.
So I’m sure the slight was quite unintentional.
Hullabaloo? Hullabaloo? This isn’t a Hullabaloo, it’s more of a Kerfluffle!
Hullabaloo? Hullabaloo? This isn’t a Hullabaloo, it’s more of a Kerfluffle!
Or perhaps a donnybrook?
Americaneocon, my reference to the mild uproar this has caused on the web wasn’t to what ST wrote (in fact I mostly agree with her about PEBO’s attitudes toward the military), but to the speculations at other sites that this was some sort of slight on the part of the military toward Obama. Like Steve, I’m certain our military can distinguish between the office and the man, and that they gave their visitor whatever reception was appropriate under protocol.
I was just typing a bit too fast to make this clear, I guess.
Very inspiring.
I have a friend whose son is in the special forces and said when Obama arrived in Afghanistan this Summer that he walked past the service men ans women without greeting one of them. Now that he is PEBO, he must put on a show. I’m sure one of his people said you need to visit the troops.
Now if there was an actual free unbiased reporter out there in Camp Loonseville, or at least less fawning over The O, the *family and friends* portion might recieve a bit more scrutiny…..and….
Did not break bread together….who’s slighting whom?
Actually, I’m glad The O hasn’t been taught any more new tricks yet. The men and women with whom PEBO had hoped for camera face time with, were able to eat in peace.
Pet peeve here: Barack Hussein Obama is not the “president-elect.”
On November 4th, the voters selected slates of candidates to serve as members of the Electoral College. On December 15th, the people chosen as Electors met in their various state capitols, and cast their ballots for President and Vice President. Those ballots were then sealed and transmitted to the Congress. On January 5th or 6th, the President of the Senate, presiding over a joint session of Congress, will open those ballots and disclose the vote totals to the Congress. It is only at that point that our next president and vice president will have been elected!
Right now, the gentlemen in question are former Senator Barack Obama and (still) Senator Joseph Biden.
And am I the only one who has wondered why Mr Biden has not resigned from the Senate? He skipped his last duties as a senator, and Governor Ruth Ann Minner has already appointed one of his cronies to replace him in the Senate. He’s just drawing a paycheck for not doing his job.
I still think that BO stinks…. I wonder if I could get that in a bumper sticker..
Should I copyright that now????
BO Stinks….
copyrighted by BeachBabe
Dana, you’re just plain wrong. I mean, the guy has an official seal and everything! I think he was installed in the Office of the President Elect by the Pope or Ed McMahon or somebody like that.
Try to keep up, old sport.
Ed McMahon?? Woh….
[slapping forehead] Well, of course you’re right, Steve!
Despite all the hand-wringing about Dubya “only” having served in the TANG, the truth remains that not only was he an accredited warbird pilot, he was also the son of a Naval aviator. Dubya understands the warrior cadre in ways that BarryO simply does not. And honestly, I don’t get the impression that PEBO has any real desire to learn, either. (Beyond what’s essential for photo ops, I mean).
I’d like to be wrong about this.
I don’t think you are wrong Tango. Obama, much like Clinton, used the military for photo ops when they needed them, then went back to slashing budgets and personnel from the armed forces. Obama will do the same. I think he holds the same contempt for the military that Clinton did, he just wasn’t stupid enough to say it on record.