Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

[Stinky The Clown]

So, how does Obama deal with the Scalia funeral?

Some say he should go, some say he shouldn't. His own plan is to privately pay respects to the family and then send Biden to the public events.

Consider the KRAZEES who will be making comment on all of this.

If Obama goes, how DARE he? He had Scalia killed, after all. Or he hated Scalia, after all. Or he's just a "muzzie commie" and how DARE he go to the funeral of the greatest judicial protector of LIBERTY the world has EVER known?

If he doesn't go, he's a disrespectful "muzzie commie" who is an illegitimate president.

Personally, I don't know what he should do, really. By not going, he takes away what is likely to be a distraction - his mere presence. If he goes and stands proud, he could light a fuse that will be a looooong slow burn to a big explosion.

I just don't know.

[valerief]

1. Why should he go to a racist's funeral? nt

[mountain grammy]

3. Exactly

[daleanime]

5. Thanks for helping me cover all bases!

[Hortensis]

19. Racist is only part of Scalia's betrayal of his duties.

I'm pleased with Obama's balancing honoring the office while drawing back from the man.

[safeinOhio]

13. Free food

[valerief]

14. Communion wafers don't count as food.

[frylock]

27. It's being catered by Olive Garden.

[Blue_Adept]

18. Because it's considered a duty of a head of state

There's plenty of political reasons, reasons of decency, and just the fact that in general Obama has always attempted to be a build bridger rather than an earth scorcher.

It also comes down to what many of us are told growing up - be the bigger/better person. It's one of the reasons I voted for him because he was like that.

[valerief]

21. You mean like the way SCOTUS is supposed to attend the State of the Union?

And be impartial when they do attend?

http://time.com/3672123/state-of-the-union-supreme-court/
Justice Antonin Scalia’s absence is no surprise. It was the 19th State of the Union in a row that he’s skipped since he considers the speech a “childish spectacle.”

Justice Clarence Thomas’s empty seat was also unsurprising. In 2012, Thomas said he doesn’t attend the annual event because “it has become so partisan and it’s very uncomfortable for a judge to sit there.”

[Blue_Adept]

24. Yes, and Scalia should have gone

Which is also why I said I expect Obama to be the better man in all of this. I don't believe he's acting like Scalia did, to make that clear.

[former9thward]

35. Liberal Justices did not attend Bush SOTU

And there is nothing that says SCOTUS is supposed to attend the State of the Union.

[KamaAina]

32. He is paying his respects to Injustice Scalia on Friday

when he lies in repose at SCOTUS.

[Blue_Adept]

33. Oh, I know, and I don't have any real issue with what he's doing

I just dislike the argument that because Scalia didn't go to things that Obama should do it as a tit for tat thing. Scalia's actions were childish. Obama's not being childish.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. it really won't matter in the eyes of the racists

[daleanime]

4. Exactly.....

[MineralMan]

6. He should make his own decision.

Apparently, he has done so already. I doubt that it matters either way, really.

I'm more interested in whom he appoints to the court. Now, that will be something to discuss. Attendance at some memorial service for a political opponent doesn't seem to rise to that level, as far as I'm concerned.

For the record, I don't plan to attend, either.

[mountain grammy]

11. Yes, think I'll skip it too.

Afraid I'll get an attack of uncontrollable giggles.

[Warpy]

7. Scalia consistently avoided Obama's State of the Union addresses

calling them "a childish spectacle."

I'd be disappointed in Obama if he canceled his long standing plans to go listen to hours of right wingers yammering about what a great man that citizen hating scumbucket was.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

9. +all. nt

[brush]

29. YES!

[patricia92243]

8. ANY presidential visit would overshadow the families needs. The family comes first.

[a kennedy]

10. "Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.".....welcome to this POTUS's whole presidency.

He just can't win at anything.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

12. I don't like funerals, myself

I wouldn't go. Visiting the family in private seems nice and I don't think Scalia will care either way. Since the ones who are determined to find fault with either decision are irrelevant, he should make up his mind for his own personal reasons. It's called the "pursuit of happiness".

[world wide wally]

15. Did Scalia skip any State of the Union addresses?

[MohRokTah]

20. Most of them. eom

[world wide wally]

22. Well, there you go

[former9thward]

36. He skipped Bush's SOTU addresses.

[world wide wally]

39. You mean "also"

[The Blue Flower]

16. How is this different from everything else he's done or not done?

He'll be criticized as always no matter what he chooses to do.

[StopTheNeoCons]

17. POTUS and VPOTUS cant go to same function

ESPECIALLY when the speaker of the House is dipshit ryan

[SickOfTheOnePct]

34. Laughable n/t

[former9thward]

37. So Joe Biden was not at Obama's SOTU?

Learn something everyday...

[lunatica]

23. It won't matter so he can do the honoring thing

Unless Scalia's family don't want him there I think he should go simply to pay his respects to an important Supreme Justice. History won't care one wit.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. The opposite of both love and hate is indifference.

[Kalidurga]

26. I suspect whatever he does it's going to be the right thing.

If it drives RWers even more nuts than they already are then it's a sure bet it was the right thing.

[still_one]

28. President Obama will honor Scalia at Friday's viewing, and Biden will attend the funeral.

more than appropriate.

The media of course doesn't headline it that way, they headline it as "Obama refuses to attend Scalia's funneral"

Damn libural media

[Xyzse]

30. That does sound appropriate.

Quite classy actually.

[wendylaroux]

31. They would slam him no matter what he does. nt

[spanone]

38. Obama will pay respects to Scalia at court

let 'em hate....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027622789