"Obama a No Show at Paris Rally"

[pathansen]

Can anyone explain why no high ranking US official showed up including Obama, Biden, Kerry and even Eric Holder who was even in Paris at the time of rally?

Wasn't this a poor choice for foreign relations, esp when these are our allies? It appears some of rest of world felt this was shameful since 44 other world leaders were there.

&list=PL3ZQ5CpNulQngouZac-CxbDVAhMcepQBb

[all american girl]

1. Because not everything has to be about us.

[DeSwiss]

3. If it's about peace it certainly isn't about US. n/t

[BlueCaliDem]

53. This wasn't about peace. It was about photo-ops for EUROPEAN solidarity. Not American solidarity. eo

[PoliticAverse]

2. American exceptionalism? n/t

[underpants]

4. Holder was there he just didn't go to the march

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026071251

[Fred Sanders]

14. No leader went to the march, it was a restricted area photo-op.

[BlueCaliDem]

54. Exactly! And Netanyahu crashed it, much to the French gov't's chagrin. eom

[DeSwiss]

5. I imagine Obama is trying to avoid Poroshenko.....

...hitting him up for some more cash. You know how it is when you get a new puppet. They're cute for a while. Everyone wants to hold them and cuddle with them. Then the first stinker comes. And they start to tear up your good slippers and pee everywhere. Let him tear up Anglea's stuff, she can afford it.



Besides, the NSA will let him know if they say anything important. He knows they'll all be talking about him and his damned sanctions and how they need to end. And he doesn't want to hear that shit because there ain't nothing he can do about it.

- It's out of his hands..........

K&R

[JackInGreen]

6. Maybe, just maybe

he's got a country to run and an oncoming hostile congress to cope with?

[DeSwiss]

7. He has his own plane, you know?

- It's a sleeper too. With a kitchen and everything.

Or he coulda sent Handsome Joe. Where was he? A ribbon-cutting ceremony?

[JackInGreen]

11. I don't put it to myself

to keep track of or check the presidents schedule when he 'should' be one place and he's not, or the other members of the executive staff.
and I know he's got a plane....more particularly, WE have a plane that he uses. I'd really prefer he not use the gas and support staff or the time to fly half (quarter of?) a globe away to stand attend a memorial service.
As to where Joe was....does it really matter? Do we need to see our executive branch or their representatives everywhere tragedy strikes for a few words and a photo-op? I think there are better uses of the time.

[DeSwiss]

25. If ''we'' have a plane.....

...then I'd like to reserve it for the third week of July 2016. Too soon?

As for the President's schedule, that is posted at WhiteHouse.gov for anyone that's interested.

It does matter when the so-called leader of the free world doesn't show up for a worldwide condemnation of the terroristic acts and the joining with the world's leaders in a show of solidarity and in support of the victims of the atrocities that just happened in France.

Lip service doesn't count.

I understand that you and others don't think it matters.

- But then that's exactly why this country is in the shape that it's in.

[JackInGreen]

36. yeah

Not worth the response but thanks for that. Go jump in a lake.

[DeSwiss]

43. I'm sorry.....

...I should have posted a warning first:

[JackInGreen]

48. le sigh

Because I'm not willing to indulge your perspective (and tell you to go soak your head) I must be information averse?
On some places on the net we refer to you as cancer, even the best organ can damage it's fellows. Seems about your only goal is the growth of your perspective. You enjoy that.

[randys1]

31. I am pissed that the last lotto scratcher I bought was a loser, THANKS OBAMA

I am pissed that my front lawn is getting yellow again, THANKS OBAMA

I am pissed that the work he did saving our economy was only brilliant, I wanted better, THANKS OBAMA

[DeSwiss]

37. As for your lawn.....

...you're either blind or color-blind or not too bright if you don't recognize the changing of the seasons. They turn that color every fall and change back in the spring. True story!

As for ''saving'' the economy:



And as for the bum lottery tickets you buy:

[randys1]

38. Seasons? I elected Obama to do away with seasons, I want sunshine ALL the time, THANKS OBAMA

[DeSwiss]

40. He never promised seasons....

...but there's plenty more he did promise that he didn't do either.

- So it doesn't surprise me in the least. None.

http://vimeo.com/20355767


I dare you to watch it......

[BlueCaliDem]

52. randys never said he "promised it". He was making a point, and you were losing

the argument so you do what all ObamaHaters do when they lose the argument - veer off. Now you can go back and join the hatefest with the rest of corporate America and the Republicans, or you can read further and inform yourself.

Here, at DU, we damn well know why the president didn't show up for that stupid brief photo-op that's supposed to show EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY. Last I looked, the United States is NOT part of Europe, but if I'm wrong about this, feel free to correct my geography.

Also, the FRENCH GOVERNMENT has said that they'd rather not have him come because it was too short notice and they wouldn't be able to put the security in place that's needed for this prime-target U.S. president for radical Muslims. Understand now? Or is that still too much for you to "absorb" as filled with disdain as you apparently feel for this president?

By the way? Pretty photo-ops aside, President Obama was THE FIRST world leader to offer help in intelligence and anything else the French government needs in order to track these murderers. That's worth a helluva lot more than just standing in a fake photo-op symbolizing EUROPEAN unity, and smiling big for flashing cameras while hoping you don't get shot in the head by snipers of one of the five or six of the group that's still hanging around, isn't it?

[Nailzberg]

57. In the garden, growth has it seasons.

First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.

[Renew Deal]

8. Obama has done enough to protect Europe from terrorism

And doesn't need to prop them up again.

[DeSwiss]

9. Agreed.

I mean he's had all their emails checked for terrorism (even Angela's). And their bank accounts examined for terrorist purchases. And even their phone calls have been screened for terrorist messages and terrorist call-centers calling to raise terrorist money, just to be on the safe side. Plus he's got planes, ships, bases, soldiers, sailors and/or marines in all their countries, all nuked-up and ready at a moment's notice.

What more could they expect of him!?!?

- Hasn't he done enough!?!?!

[Fred Sanders]

10. Because the focus is on European terrorism, Big Brother stealing the attention was not

appropriate...how many European or French folks are complaining?

And did you hear the Kerry speech in fluent French?

Please stop carrying water for the reichwing.

[BlueCaliDem]

55. What? And compromise the only reason for him being on this site that supports Democrats?

They'd cut his pay.

[rpannier]

12. Did Stephen Harper attend?

I haven't seen any place where he was in attendance
The French Gov't may have decided they wanted it to be a European unity thing
I know that the French Gov't tried to keep Netanyahu and Abbas from attending.
Both agreed not to attend then that ass circus Avril Leiberman said he was going, so Netanyahu went and the French had to re-invite Abbas

It's been sort of a fluid situation

[randys1]

34. this has NOTHING TO DO WITH any other leader nor does it have to do with the march

or even the issue of terrorism

It NEVER has ANYTHING to do with the issue being used to beat on Obama, it is SOLELY about beating on the Black President every chance people get.

[rpannier]

47. Hysterics aside

I'm guessing you have no idea why he didn't attend.
At least I now know not to ask you for any useful information

[randys1]

49. Like I said , some people will ALWAYS whine like babies no matter what Obama does

[Fred Sanders]

13. No fucking leader "marched with the people". Unless you think standing for a photo-op in a

cordoned off street is "marching".

Only Fox News does.

Show me a picture from any of the massive media coverage showing them marching?

Tight group shots do not count, show me the beef or stop with the beef.

You are all being played.

[George II]

17. To be honest, they did march - I don't know how far, but they did proceed down the street.

[Fred Sanders]

20. They walked arm in arm for a few feet and then left before folks arrived.

[George II]

22. I didn't watch the whole thing. But the point is Obama not being there really is...

....no big deal in the big picture. As noted elsewhere here, if he WAS there some people would have found something to complain about.

[dawnie51]

15. Had Obama gone he would have caught hell...

for wasting taxpayer money on Air Force 1, flying to Europe at the drop of a hat for a few hours. There is no pleasing people.
This was a European demonstration, and it showed class and restraint to not jump into the pic op and dominate the proceedings. If anyone thinks we haven't been in contact with these leaders, you're hallucinating.

[underpants]

19. Exactly

Hell they would just complain about something he didn't say or do if nothing else - they do it all the time.

[DeSwiss]

24. First of all.....

...asshats will complain about Obama just for being President any damned way. They don't want him being President, remember? But why should Obama care? Especially now?

Secondly, there were leaders from all over the world:

As The Blaze reports, world leaders linked arms and marched together at a unity rally that numbered more than 3.7 million people. Among the attendees were Angela Merkel of Germany, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, King Abdallah of Jordan and the brother of the Emir of Qatar, marching with French President Francois Hollande. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attended, walking feet away from each other.. link

- So it wasn't a ''European thing.'' Terrorism and the loss of free speech rights is a worldwide thing. He should have been there.

on edit: Then there's this: http://7online.com/uncategorized/white-house-admits-french-protest-error/471973/

[George II]

16. Who cares? Anyone look into where Obama was or what he was doing at the time?

He may not have been able to rearrange his schedule. Remember, he's President of a country of more than 320 million people!

I've seen some right-wing whining about him not flying to NY for the funerals of the police officers there. Yet, not a peep about Chris Christie not going to the funeral of an officer in NJ last weekend who was killed while on duty. Where was Christie? On his way to Dallas for the football game last Saturday.

[blm]

18. Can you explain why France preferred Netanyahu NOT show up?

Perhaps they were more aware of the difficulties they were in and did not make a staged photo op the priority that RW noise machine is making and some, even here, are swallowing?

That photo op was NOT the actual march of the people.

[DeSwiss]

29. No one likes Netanyahu.....

...not even in Israel apparently.

- It had to be told and I was glad to do it.

[Fred Sanders]

21. Where are the crowd of folks they are "rallying" and "marching". There is none. Zero. Nada.

Stop the shameful surrender to the propaganda.

[PoliticAverse]

23. "White House admits error not sending President or Veep to French protest"

Last edited Mon Jan 12, 2015, 10:28 PM - Edit history (1)

WASHINGTON, DC (WABC) --
In a rare public admission of error, the White House said Monday the U.S. should have sent a high-level official to the anti-terror march in Paris that was attended by more than 40 world leaders.

The Obama administration was represented Sunday by the U.S. ambassador to France, though Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris for security meetings.

"It's fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

Secretary of State John Kerry was on a long-planned trip to India on Sunday but now will visit France later this week.

Read the rest at: http://7online.com/uncategorized/white-house-admits-french-protest-error/471973/

[upaloopa]

26. He didn't show up at my wife's birthday either

Darn that Obama all he has to do is play golf.

[arcane1]

27. Concern noted. Did the French people feel insulted, or just journalists and pundits?

[dballance]

28. Did you really want to put forward a Right-Wing meme?

You are so ridiculous. If Obama went or sent people to the rally I'm sure you'd go off about how he was just playing to politics.

[DeSwiss]

32. ....

http://7online.com/uncategorized/white-house-admits-french-protest-error/471973/

[randys1]

30. If he had shown up some would be furious that he was making it all about himself

If he cures cancer some will be furious he did it on government time

If he brings the USA back from a crippled economy, many will say it isnt enough...wait, that did happen

Some will criticize every single thing he does, no matter what.

[DeSwiss]

33. Reality this way ----------------->

http://7online.com/uncategorized/white-house-admits-french-protest-error/471973/

[randys1]

35. Like I said, I am FURIOUS that he hasnt fixed my lawn yet...

NOTHING he does is EVER good enough for some

[DeSwiss]

41. I believe you have other problems.....

...more important than your lawn. The fact that you think that's what Presidents can do is concerning.

- But I don't think Obama can help you with that one either......

[randys1]

42. I have lots of problems , but my attitude about Obama isnt one of them

[DeSwiss]

44. Well, okay I can accept your assessment.....

...as being the more valid one, given that you know yourself better than anyone.

- But then again, you're biased.....


[center]''I would never die for my beliefs, I could be wrong.'' ~Bertrand Russell[/center]

[randys1]

45. Too bad there isnt a way to confirm that you had this exact same attitude about

W, CLinton, Carter, Reagan, HW, etc

[DeSwiss]

46. Yeah too bad. But no I didn't then.....

...and I sure as hell don't now. I don't believe in Presidents as saviors, nor even as leaders. Not mine anyway.

- Not since the first one owned slaves so that he could be free.


The whole system is warped, yet most can't even see that. So how they gonna fix it?

[randys1]

50. here is your photo op that Obama didnt bother with

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/paris-march-tv-wide-shots-reveal-a-different-perspective-on-world-leaders-at-largest-demonstration-in-frances-history-9972895.html

[BlueCaliDem]

56. Um, shouldn't it be, <-----------------Reality that way? Or is going Right your thing?

And just as an FYI, when again did they post that admission at the White House? Before of AFTER the photo-op? Before of AFTER Netanyahu crashed the photo-op which forced the French to invite Abbas? Before or AFTER it's been unmasked that those esteemed European leaders didn't actually march with the French people but were staged in a secluded section of the City for their politically advantageous photo-op? Do tell.

[tblue]

39. I can guess why but I don't have any facts.

It's not the end of the world. My gosh.

[djean111]

51. Just what, exactly, do you hope to get from this?

Personally, I think any sort of huge march about what happened in Paris, when 60-80 people were killed BY US, because they just happened to be in a jail we bombed, and when 2000 people were killed in Africa - is a bit odd. Were the lives in Paris worth more? Is this the first time terrorists have struck?

In any event, what, exactly, are you looking for? I save my anger for things like having Jamie Dimon whip for votes.
Real things like that.
The French are okay with what happened. I do not presume to be outraged on their behalf.

Oh, and no one can tell you why, first, because they don't have to, and second, because likely none of us can really know, all we can do is extrapolate. Are you this outraged about Obama's policies, which affect people?