This is a picture of a hero and a zero. There is no difficulty in figuring out which is which.
Posted on 10/30/2009 10:36:44 AM PDT by kristinn
ABC News' Pentagon correspondent Luis Martinez reports that Barack Obama brought twenty-four reporters, photographers and videographers from fourteen media outlets to Dover Air Force Base to cover his 'surprise' visit there early Thursday morning.
The New York Times reported earlier that there was a "small contingent" of media at Dover. However, two dozen is a crowd, especially when vulnerable grieving families are involved.
Liz Cheney is being attacked (and here) for pointing out that Obama imposed the question of media coverage on the families by his presence at Dover. Seventeen out of the eighteen families of the fifteen soldiers and three DEA agents refused media coverage of the return to American soil of their loved ones.
The AP reports that one family changed their minds and decided against media coverage when they were informed Obama would be there:
The wife of Army Pfc. Brian Bates, who died Tuesday in Afghanistan, said she changed her mind and decided against allowing coverage after learning by phone around 11 p.m. EDT Wednesday that Obama would attend.
"Brian met the president, and that's all that matters," Enjolie Bates, who was not at Dover for the transfer, said in a telephone interview from her home in Lakewood, Wash. "I know he would like that. We didn't need to broadcast it to the world."
Thanks to Obama, Pfc. Bates' grieving widow is answering phone calls from the AP not about her hero husband, but about Obama and the media.
The AP also reported claims by the Pentagon and Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs that "there was no suggestion from the government for the families to lean either way on media coverage."
As was reported yesterday, the sole family out eighteen to permit coverage is well below the sixty percent rate of permission granted since the ban on media coverage was lifted by Obama in April.
Fourteen of the eighteen families were present at Dover Thursday morning, which is consistent with the seventy-three percent rate of families of the fallen coming to Dover since the Pentagon changed its policy to now pay for travel and hotel costs for the families. That policy was also instated in April.
The Pentagon videotapes each dignified transfer, apart from the media, and offers the video to the families. ABC reports about three-quarters of the families accept the videos.
It's unfortunate that Obama's motives in going to Dover are suspect, but his terrorist associations and his leaving his general and troops twisting in the wind in Afghanistan leave Obama open to such doubts--especially from military families.
He didn’t go there to pay his respects. He went there to gloat.
It’s ‘all about the show’.....and about ‘him’, of course.
The photo will show up in the reelection campiagn, bet on it. Remember the furor over the RNC using the picture og Bush on AF1 on the telephone on 9/11/01 talking to the White House. We will not hear a peep out of the press when zer0 uses his picture.
He was not there for a photo-op as much as to gloat and admire his handiwork.
17 out of 18 families refused the photo op.
That’s certainly a pretty strong indicator of how they feel.
And it’s encouraging if Obama ever decides to order our troops to attack Americans on our own soil. Would they follow such orders blindly? I trust not.
Prayers for the dead.
My daughter-in-law’s grandfather,a WWII vet, died last week. When her Dad was handed the flag he was asked if he would like a signed letter from O. His response was” thanks but no thanks”.
Two dozen reporters and photographers for a photo op with the caskets of dead soldiers? Good God. And these people wonder why we hate them.
That was a powerful message.
Obama is a media whore and any time he needs a popularity boost he uses anyone and everyone to achieve that boost! Never mind that Oct has been the deadlist month in the Afghan war “oh no lookie at our CIC and how much he cares”...ooopppsss guess if he really cared there wouldn’t be 24 reporters with him would there?
These people are beyond contempt. What makes me even more sick is the fact that I can actually picture in my head, Gibbs, Axelrod, Obama, etc. sitting around thinking of ways to get him some face time regarding the military and they choose Dover!!!
I will bet dollar to donuts that there was a cold reception earlier in the day down in Jacksonville and the callous idiots that they are thought this would get them some “street cred”.
words fail me..at least in polite company. How DARE he?
I don’t understand your comment. Did Obammie do something to your wife?
I wonder if he saluted.
Exactly!!! Nicely put.
That's just it, he doesn't.
I recommend you un-FUBAR yourself Mr. President, and either fight this war to win it, or bring our heroes(including my son)home!!! Either option will show testicular fortitude; anything else will be due to a lack of it.
If it helps Mr. President; maybe you can pretend the Taliban is under Rupert Murdoch's command...that should give you incentive to win.
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