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Barack Obama rejects Normandy trip to avoid offending Germany
Telegraph.co.uk ^ | April 2, 2009 | Toby Harnden, US Editor, and Henry Samuel in Paris

Posted on 04/06/2009 4:20:18 PM PDT by 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)

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; antimilitary; disgrace; military; normandy; obama; obamagaffes; veterans
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To: Tax-chick
Good. Obama doesn’t deserve to be in the same graveyard as the WW2 dead, or on Omaha Beach. Saves us having to listen to him read mealymouthed, hypocritical platitudes while Michelle stands around, splaylegged, dressed in the hotel bedspread.

That is too good.

61 posted on 04/06/2009 4:54:00 PM PDT by Always Right (Obama: more arrogant than Bill Clinton, more naive than Jimmy Carter, and more liberal than LBJ.)
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To: CitizenM

Obama doesn’t want to iritate the nazi sympathizers. Arafat’s uncle alligned with Hitler to eradicate the Jews.

This man is bringing shame on our nation.


62 posted on 04/06/2009 4:54:15 PM PDT by a fool in paradise ( “Saving the New York Times now ranks with saving Darfur as a high-minded cause.”NYTimes Bill Kell)
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To: Tax-chick

“Good. Obama doesn’t deserve to be in the same graveyard as the WW2 dead, or on Omaha Beach. Saves us having to listen to him read mealymouthed, hypocritical platitudes....”

Indeed. BO is a clueless, classless, unappreciative, America loathing dolt. I hope he NEVER walks the hallowed ground in Normandy.


63 posted on 04/06/2009 4:55:27 PM PDT by LeonardFMason
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To: CitizenM
Barack Obama rejects Normandy trip to avoid offending Germany

Would he reject going to Hiroshima to avoid offending Japan.....

.....No, he would go to say that he thinks America was wrong to drop the bomb.

64 posted on 04/06/2009 4:55:55 PM PDT by SteamShovel (Global Warming, the New Patriotism)
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To: CitizenM
But the worst offense was to our Military...with Obama not even making a stop to pay honor to the Americans who gave their lives in WWII, buried there

Which of course is exactly the real reason, not the bushwa put out by the mushpeddlers.

65 posted on 04/06/2009 4:55:58 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: CitizenM

There are many legitimate reasons for a President might not make a stop at Normandy on a trip to multiple European cities. However, to give the reason as “not to offend the Germans” is idiotic. But it’s the Obama White House, nothing like this should surprise us.

I really which someone would post a countdown clock to the next presidential election. I could use a morale booster right now.


66 posted on 04/06/2009 4:57:02 PM PDT by GreenLanternCorps ("Barack Obama" is Swahili for "Jimmy Carter".)
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To: KSCITYBOY
Mostly white males died there.

They are all the hated Christians and Jews too, I'd bet.

67 posted on 04/06/2009 4:57:10 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Tax-chick

“Good. Obama doesn’t deserve to be in the same graveyard as the WW2 dead, or on Omaha Beach. Saves us having to listen to him read mealymouthed, hypocritical platitudes while Michelle stands around, splaylegged, dressed in the hotel bedspread.”

Correct! I’m glad he’s not going. He doesn’t belong there.


68 posted on 04/06/2009 4:58:30 PM PDT by Fu-fu2
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To: CitizenM

There’s somethin’ stirrin’.


69 posted on 04/06/2009 4:59:20 PM PDT by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: Ukiapah Heep

Your father was a real man and a real hero.


70 posted on 04/06/2009 5:04:01 PM PDT by cubreporter (Rush the greatest voice of CONSERVATISM! God Bless Rush Limbaugh!!!)
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To: autumnraine

I do not imagine that it has crossed Mr. Obama’s mind that were it not for the sacrifices of American soldiers, he would not possess the freedom to gallivant about Europe apologizing for America. To rise above mere detestation of our presumptive leader at a moment like this requires an effort that pales in comparison to theirs.


71 posted on 04/06/2009 5:07:30 PM PDT by andy58-in-nh (You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.)
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To: KSCITYBOY

0bama doesn’t give a darned about the sacrifices made for our liberty. He is completely out of touch with history, with dignity, and with honor.

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


72 posted on 04/06/2009 5:09:40 PM PDT by TheBattman
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To: CitizenM

Not on the apology tour itinerary.


73 posted on 04/06/2009 5:13:21 PM PDT by IrishCatholic (No local Communist or Socialist Party Chapter? Join the Democrats, it's the same thing!)
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To: SteamShovel
No, he would go to say that he thinks America was wrong to drop the bomb.

You know, the odds are better than even that if he goes to Japan he will do that very thing given his statements re nuclear disarmament.

74 posted on 04/06/2009 5:13:31 PM PDT by jdub (A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.)
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To: Anti-Kenyan; CitizenM; 1035rep; Campion; Madame Dufarge; mass55th; Harmless Teddy Bear; ...

Thank you all very much! Please tip the FReepathon ;-).

Bill Clinton’s scene with the rocks on the beach was unspeakable, but B.O. would be worse. Suppose he decided it was time to apologize for the United States’s unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of Europe?


75 posted on 04/06/2009 5:13:36 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance." ~Sam Brown)
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To: Pride in the USA; Stillwaters
The most ignorant, offensive, treasonous b*stard to have ever served as the Commander-in-Chief. The Obamessiah administration has the audacity to say that paying respects to the gravesites of over 9,000 of the most heroic men to have ever died for our nation would be pandering to France! I trust that our active and reserve military forces take careful note of such reports.

"We went through the motions to placate President Sarkozy but giving special treatment to France was not on our agenda..."

76 posted on 04/06/2009 5:16:47 PM PDT by lonevoice (This tagline is identical to the one you are reading)
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To: CitizenM
Thank God the Commander-in-Thief didn't go to the military cemetery. It would just provide him another kumbaya photo-op akin to kissing the @$$e$ of our enemies and pissing on these brave men's graves!

I never thought we would see another President as despicable as Bubba, but I think we've found him.

77 posted on 04/06/2009 5:18:21 PM PDT by Gritty (This is our moment. We are fundamentally transforming the United States of America.-B Hussein Obama)
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To: CitizenM

You have got to be kidding me.


78 posted on 04/06/2009 5:18:45 PM PDT by SlapHappyPappy
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To: CitizenM


79 posted on 04/06/2009 5:20:02 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - Obama is basically Jim Jones with a teleprompter)
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To: Dallas59
LOL!

But can you find a bigger hole next time?

80 posted on 04/06/2009 5:20:53 PM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is an EVIL like no other, and must be ERADICATED)
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