Barack Obama rejects Normandy trip to avoid offending Germany

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | April 2, 2009 | Toby Harnden, US Editor, and Henry Samuel in Paris

[CitizenM]

Barack Obama, concerned about offending Britain and Germany, rebuffed strenuous attempts by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France to persuade the new American president to make a trip to Normandy this week.

White House officials travelled to France at the start of March to discuss a visit by Mr Obama to Omaha Beach, the site of the American Cemetery, established in 1944 just after D-Day and where 9,387 American personnel are buried. Among them is Theodore Roosevelt Jr the eldest son of the 26th US President.

French officials and senior American military officers walked with White House staff through the cemetery discussing how the two presidents might follow the same route. But even before their trip, the White House had decided that Mr Obama would not travel there this week.

"It wasn't going to happen," said an American official in Washington. "We went through the motions to placate President Sarkozy but giving special treatment to France was not on our agenda.

"During this trip, we wanted to maintain a balance between the British, German and France". A White House spokesman in London declined to comment. Last month, White House officials briefed that a Normandy visit had been considered but it had not been logistically possible.

Mr Sarkozy is said by French officials to be piqued that Gordon Brown became the first European leader to meet Mr Obama and was then lavished with praise by him at a 50-minute joint press conference in London on Wednesday.

----snip----

According to French reports, Mr Obama was to visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-mer, just north of Omaha Beach. The pair were apparently to have dined at the nearby chateau de Bénouville in Caen.

The White House rejected the offer....(see rest of story)

[Tax-chick]

Thank you very much!

[thestob]

for later

[scott says]

"I see these headlines and assume they are satire."

You got that right! I swear that every time I click on a story about Obama here on FR, I read a few sentences and wonder, Is this the Onion or some satire piece? Sadly it is not and this complete CLOWN Obama is actually this bad! I have come to the conclusion that Obama is actively and intensely trying to destroy this country, this is WAY more than being naive and ignorant---it is on purpose.

[Steel Bill]

In the 80’s I was a part of the Airborne Battalion Combat Team stationed at Vicenza Italy. We jumped into a field near Omaha beach as part of a D-Day ceremony. I cannot speak about the French population as a whole ,but the people in and around that area love America and Americans. Forever etched in my mind is the picture of the little girl who handed me some flowers she had picked as I departed the drop zone. She was with someone who I would guess was her grandfather and when I shook hands with him I noticed that he was crying. We did not say a word to each other, but the look of gratitude in his eyes told me more than anywords could about his feelings for America. Whenever I get down about the direction our country is going I recall that moment in that field far from home. Though the media may paint most of the world as being America haters, I know nothing could be farther from the truth. There are good people like the ones I met that week I spent in France that know what the world would be like if America becomes just another country in the world. That should make us all proud to be Americans.

[jveritas]

You are absolutely right right. Liberals want to only satisfy those who voted for them and those who voted against them can go to hell. Although without the tax money of those who voted against them they cannot give government handouts and welfare to a majority of the people who vote for them and hence they could not win elections. It is the one of the biggest paradox in existence.

[Northern Yankee]

A great book is The Few by Alex Kershaw.

The story of several American flyers that went to fight in the Battle of Britain. An amazing page turner.

[jveritas]

Memo to all governments: The Obama regime cannot be trusted in negotiations.

They know this already.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

If Obama refused to visit Normandy for fear of upsetting Germans,
then who was he afraid of upsetting if he visited American wounded at Landstuhl ??
The obvious and logical answer is Muslims.
And a lot of Democrats.
Obama was on his I Hate America Tour and wouldn’t dream of showing respect to our military, fallen and wounded.
He’s not a POS-he’s the entire thing.

[1_Rain_Drop]

Why is it any surprise that barak wouldn't honor American heros?
Look how he treated his own mother and white grandmother.

I am glad that he didn't go. May those soldiers rest in peace. They won't need to turn in their graves.

This European trip has been so revealing about his character, and lack of it. This pres_ent has no heart. He's not human.

[allmendream]

In the name of keeping things equal between France, Germany, and England?

Normandy was a trifecta.

We launched Normandy with the aid of our traditional allies, England. Remind them of this.

We launched Normandy to aid the frequently ungrateful benefactor of our military power, France. Remind them of this.

We launched Normandy upon a people of whom it is noted “they are either at your feet or at your throat”, in order to crush their imperial aspirations. Remind them of this.

What an incompetent team that is leading this incompetent President.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks! I’ll try my library catalog.

[Northern Yankee]

My daughter was in France a few years ago. She had a similar experience. She and some of her classmates were going to school there at the University of Caen. They traveled over to the beaches of Normandy. They went into the cemetery. While in there they saw some young kids being unruly. They chastised them for their behavior, and the kids left.

My daughter saw an elderly French woman. She came up to my daughter and asked, with tears in her eyes, "Are you an American?" My daughter answered, "yes!"

The woman gave her a hug, and thanked her for America's help during the war.

They both had tears in their eyes when they were finished talking.

[patriot08]

Thank you, FRiend.

[NowApproachingMidnight]

Michelle - Splaylegged.
That is some funny S***.

[sport]

The one white guy who appeared to be in his late 50s that I heard on television said,”I voted for him [obama] so that I could retire.”

In the interest of not geting banned I will refrain from further comment.

[Tax-chick]

You’re welcome. Help yourself to a Guinness to drink to our soldiers, living and dead.

[Shyla]

He such a POS.

Words fail me.

[Shyla]

What a damn downward turn our country went.

Damn him.

[frposty]

... Giving attention to OUR SOLDIERS GRAVES: boy what a good point. Somehow I managed to not see that fact.

[HotLead61]

And count on Obama doing the same thing when his thugs do a poll

If they do a poll on this, they'd better go somewhere else besides the Welfare office this time...

[peeps36]

Obama isn't worthy of walking on the sacred soil where those patriots are buried. They are better off this traitorous scumbag decided not to visit them.

[eaglestar]

The Sensitive President.

The President who does not want to offend anyone except for the United States, the United States Armed Forces, Israel, Conservatives, the Christian Faith and white America.

[rlmorel]

Agreed. I am glad he didn’t go.

[MGMSwordsman]

This is understandable. The Americans that died at Normandy are 99.99% White, Male, and either Christian or Jewish. That is the enemy to Obama.

[Steel Bill]

I did not admit it in my post,but I got a little “misty” that day. I have traveled to a lot of the european countrys,and while there are people that hate America,there are just as many that feel guilty and embaressed by the treatment our country receives from the America haters.

[uncitizen]

Doesn’t each President place a wreath at the cemetery in Normandy each year on D-Day? What will BO do on June 6th? Will an unexpected emergency occur that will make it impossible for him to be there that day?

[Think free or die]

Perhaps Zero is afraid of ghosts . . .

[rlmorel]

Dear Admin Moderator:
Is there a special hall of fame repository for great posts? I would like to nominate Ms. Tax Chick at the following thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2223678/posts?page=5#5

I refer to Post #5...:)

Sincerely,
rlmorel

[Tax-chick]

Oh, you’re too kind!

[Kickass Conservative]

No, Obama is the Apologist in Chief, but I really prefer the term, Douche-bag in Chief.

[rlmorel]

No, really.

That just got me and made me grin. In this environment we are in, a genuinely funny post is worth its weight in gold!

So, take a bow. That post was as good as any by pissant, dead or martin fierro.

[Twinkie]

Never mind. If this is the case, then Obama is unworthy to sully the land with the soles of his shoes. Some things border on desecration. Those dear war dead, beloved mothers’ sons, deserve a better man from all indications so far.

[lady lawyer]

Obama’s message to the famlies of all the White Americans who died at Normandy: “Get over it!”

[Grizzled Bear]

This is just plain disrespectful to the GI's that fought and died in WWII. The Germans wouldn't be offended by it: they are very much aware of that dark part of their history. For that matter, the Vichy were defending Omaha Beach, too.... but the French weren't offended.

I participated in a memorial service in St Avold, France. Many French citizens thanked me, because my nations soldiers died for their freedom. While assigned in Germany, many older German citizens apologized to me for their nations actions over 50 years ago.

When I first noticed this article, I thought it was John Semmons or Scrapple Face.

[happygrl]

Hey, 0bama wouldn't even visit the live military on his trip to Germany last summer.

He has no interest in seeing the cost that was paid to enble him to be where he is today, and not speaking "Austrian."

[HotLead61]

What I don’t get - how can the American people be so absolutely stupid as to continue to support this absolute disaster?

God's Word says that they are being deceived by spiritual wickedness that takes advantage of their own greed, laziness, and rejection of the Truth.

[lonestar]

I guess it doesn't fit in well with his agenda of apologizing for American "arrogance."

Everyday I think I can't despise Obama more...then tomorrow comes.

[Tax-chick]

High praise!

[HotLead61]

"the American people"

Oh, and [as Columbo used to say] just one more thing...

The poll numbers are bogus as well. We aren't being told the truth by any of the major media outlets. That's why we need a place like FR to find out what's really going on. People are really starting to get pissed off, and that's the one thing the tyrants fear.

That's why they are doing their darndest to keep us in the dark about how many of us there are. They want to keep us divided & in the dark, so they can keep consolidating their power & control.

[manapua]

Same here. I thought that this had to be an Onion or Scrappleface article... holy @#$@#% s#%^.

[Northern Yankee]

Hell... I get misty eyed every June 6th.

[Tax-chick]

I could have the baby on June 6 this year. It will be my brother’s 45th birthday. I wonder what day of the week that is ...

[Freee-dame]

this President does not like or appreciate anything American.

I don't think he likes anything European either. It seems that he has absolutely no interest or respect for the countries that were primarily responsible for the founders of the USA writing the constitution and other early laws.

Was he ever in Europe before running for President? I don't think so.

[NewLand]

This man is bringing shame on our nation.

This man is bringing has already brought shame on our nation.

Statement is now updated.

[Zman516]

You nailed it!

"...while Michelle stands around, splaylegged, dressed in the hotel bedspread."

I can't stop laughing!

[exit82]

No, he was never in Europe before running for Prez, but he WAS in Pakistan in 1981.

In addition to seeing his birth certificate, I’d like to see which passport he used to get there, as Americans were not allowed to travel to Pakistan in 1981.

[SkyDancer]

Obama just offended millions of Americans ... but that’s normal for him ....

[Tax-chick]

If I’d been just a fraction sharper, I’d have worked in the belt around the ribcage ;-).