Obama to skip wreath laying at Arlington for Memorial Day; makes sure not to miss Paul McCartney

posted at 9:57 pm on May 25, 2010 by
[ Obama ]   

Last year, Obama did his duty as Commander-in-Chief and paid his respects for the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day. This year, he’s sending Joe Biden in his place, because he’s got more important things to do… like go to Chicago.

President Barack Obama plans to spend a long holiday weekend in Chicago.

The White House says Obama and his family will travel to their hometown on Thursday and stay through the weekend. It will be their first trip back home since a visit for Valentine’s Day weekend in February 2009.

On Monday, Obama is scheduled to participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill.

In Obama’s absence, Vice President Joe Biden will participate in the customary wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington.

As Doug Powers noted at Michelle’s blog, he won’t be missing a visit with Paul McCartney. Nice to see where his priorities lie.

Memorial Day should be a pretty big priority for the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces. The wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery is not just some arbitrary meaningless tradition. It actually means something, and Obama is just blowing it off so that he can go hang out in Chicago. I understand the desire to go home for a little while, but when you’re the president, Memorial Day ceases to be just another holiday where you get to take an extra day off for a weekend and have a barbecue. For him, he still has to work. It’s part of his responsibility as president. Blowing off paying his respects to the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery — our country’s most sacred shrine — on Memorial Day is inexcusable. It’s despicable and he does not deserve the title of Commander-in-Chief if he has this little respect for the heroes who have given their lives for their country.

If he doesn’t like it, he can always resign.

I’m curious how much golf he’ll play while he’s in Chicago.

Cross-posted from Hard Corps Wife.

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Keep it up, Mr. President. Keep it up.

A hundred bucks says this narcissist is completely shocked when he is soundly booted out in 2012.

inviolet on May 25, 2010 at 10:15 PM

There’s not much lower this Obama person can sink.

beachgirlusa on May 25, 2010 at 10:16 PM

Hmmmm.

Obama. Phoning it in like always.

memomachine on May 25, 2010 at 10:30 PM

I don’t understand how people can not understand how much of a douche he is.

Living4Him5534 on May 25, 2010 at 11:01 PM

a foolish bunch of carping bullwinkle of a post

audiculous on May 26, 2010 at 1:02 AM

Last year he said, in part –

… What is thing, this sense of duty? What tugs at a person until he or she says “Send me”? Why, in an age when so many have acted only in pursuit of the narrowest self-interest, have the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines of this generation volunteered all that they have on behalf of others? Why have they been willing to bear the heaviest burden?

Whatever it is, they felt some tug; they answered a call; they said “I’ll go.” That is why they are the best of America, and that is what separates them from those of us who have not served in uniform — their extraordinary willingness to risk their lives for people they never met. ….

He still hasn’t figured it out.

htom on May 26, 2010 at 1:26 AM

The wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery is not just some arbitrary meaningless tradition. It actually means something…

Obviously not to him, it doesn’t.

Cylor on May 26, 2010 at 3:06 AM

Maybe the dead don’t want him there. Too much pinwheeling in the tombstone-covered sward from his previous actions as President.

NaCly dog on May 26, 2010 at 5:16 AM

Still voting Present I see.

Parade on May 26, 2010 at 7:40 AM

Memorial Day should be a pretty big priority for the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces. The wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery is not just some arbitrary meaningless tradition.

Scandalous.

Has any previous president so blatantly shunned the ceremony?

Disturb the Universe on May 26, 2010 at 8:04 AM

“Just let me eat my waffle.”

rockmom on May 26, 2010 at 8:17 AM

Does anyone have a tally of which presidents have skipped the Arlington ceremony? Curious to know how rare this is.

tbradshaw on May 26, 2010 at 9:15 AM

a foolish bunch of carping bullwinkle of a post

audiculous on May 26, 2010 at 1:02 AM

Articulate. I’ll bet you’re clean, too.

davidk on May 26, 2010 at 10:59 AM

“Blowing off paying his respects to the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery — our country’s most sacred shrine — on Memorial Day is inexcusable. It’s despicable and he does not deserve the title of Commander-in-Chief if he has this little respect for the heroes who have given their lives for their country.”

YES A THOUSAND TIMES YES

HOW DARE THE PRESIDENT SKIP THIS IMPORTANT CEREMONY

REAGAN WOULD NEVER SKIP IT (okay, except for skipping it in 1983)

H W BUSH WOULD NEVER SKIP IT (okay, except for skipping it in 1992)

W BUSH WOULD NEVER SKIP IT (okay, except for skipping it in 2007)

Hey

maybe

you

should

s

t

f

u

.

Dave Rywall on May 26, 2010 at 11:06 AM

Incredible.

SWLiP on May 26, 2010 at 11:31 AM

The man is the laziest, most disinterested, incompetent president we have ever had. 2012 cannot come fast enough.

RebeccaH on May 26, 2010 at 11:38 AM

Actually, let’s see, W Bush missed it because he was in NORMANDY FOR THE D DAY CELEBRATIONS…. I believe Reagan was at a similar ceremony as well and as for HW Bush, I don’t know where he was.. but let’s face it, the man served in WWII and therefore has a little cred when it comes to military service and sacrifice for this country, Davy Rywall, YOU, should get your friggin’ facts straight before you come here with your idiotic excuses for YOUR PRESIDENT’S lack of respect for our military members and those who have died so HE CAN GO TO A FRIGGING PAUL MCCARTNEY SHOW ON THE PUBLIC’S DIME.

This business of “Bush did it so it’s ok” does NOT fly in this instance. In this instance, Obama shows his true colors as the selfish, self-absorbed jerk he is and no matter of excuse making for him will NOT work.

Mad Mad Monica on May 26, 2010 at 12:57 PM

REAGAN WOULD NEVER SKIP IT (okay, except for skipping it in 1983)

H W BUSH WOULD NEVER SKIP IT (okay, except for skipping it in 1992)

W BUSH WOULD NEVER SKIP IT (okay, except for skipping it in 2007) – actually 2002 but let’s not get hung up on that

So, Reagan was in the middle of an economic summit and sent VP Bush.
H W Bush was in the midst of a tough re-election campaign and sent VP Quayle.
W Bush went to Normandy to honor our fallen soldiers there.

It’s not like any of them were skipping Arlington in order to take a vacation. Or should I say the second vacation in a month.

And I don’t buy the flimsy excuse that he is visiting another National Cemetery in order to honor other fallen soldiers. If that were to be believed, then I think he would have made a real effort to schedule a trip to one that was not so near to his ‘hometown’. This just looks like an afterthought.

sirnapsalot on May 26, 2010 at 12:59 PM

I apologize for my rudeness above, but I have had ENOUGH of these smug libbies making excuses for Obama like he’s God or King of the World or something. It’s INSANE.

There is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for his missing this event. None. And for someone who desperately NEEDS to make himself look supportive of the military, it’s a BIG mistake.

But, alas, as usual, the libbies and media will fall all over themselves patting him on the back and telling him it’s ok for him to be disrespectful because such behavior makes him look better to our enemies. Disgusting. Truly Disgusting.

Mad Mad Monica on May 26, 2010 at 1:00 PM

Actually, let’s see, W Bush missed it because he was in NORMANDY FOR THE D DAY CELEBRATIONS…. I believe Reagan was at a similar ceremony as well and as for HW Bush, I don’t know where he was.. but let’s face it, the man served in WWII and therefore has a little cred when it comes to military service and sacrifice for this country, Davy Rywall, YOU, should get your friggin’ facts straight before you come here with your idiotic excuses for YOUR PRESIDENT’S lack of respect for our military members and those who have died so HE CAN GO TO A FRIGGING PAUL MCCARTNEY SHOW ON THE PUBLIC’S DIME.

This business of “Bush did it so it’s ok” does NOT fly in this instance. In this instance, Obama shows his true colors as the selfish, self-absorbed jerk he is and no matter of excuse making for him will NOT work.

Mad Mad Monica on May 26, 2010 at 12:57 PM
——–
H W Bush missed 1 because he was vacationing in Kennebunkport. Vacationing. He also golfed that weekend.

W Bush was indeed at D Day ceremonies (excusable, obviously) but also missed one because he was vacationing in Texas. Vacationing. That’s….vacationing.

Reagan had some economic summit thing he thought was more important than “paying his respects to the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery — our country’s most sacred shrine — on Memorial Day”.

Sorry to have the facts straight.

Oh well.

But your dumb fabrications and exaggerations are noted.

Dave Rywall on May 26, 2010 at 1:51 PM

And I don’t buy the flimsy excuse that he is visiting another National Cemetery in order to honor other fallen soldiers. If that were to be believed, then I think he would have made a real effort to schedule a trip to one that was not so near to his ‘hometown’. This just looks like an afterthought.

sirnapsalot on May 26, 2010 at 12:59 PM
—–
Yeah, so in ’92 when Bush addressed American Legion guys in Kennebunkport instead of being at Arlington that was obviously a despicable display of disrespect! AN AFTERTHOUGHT FOR SURE.

Dave Rywall on May 26, 2010 at 1:53 PM

There is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for his missing this event. None. And for someone who desperately NEEDS to make himself look supportive of the military, it’s a BIG mistake.

But, alas, as usual, the libbies and media will fall all over themselves patting him on the back and telling him it’s ok for him to be disrespectful because such behavior makes him look better to our enemies. Disgusting. Truly Disgusting.

Mad Mad Monica on May 26, 2010 at 1:00 PM
——
Let’s hear your condemnation of Bush, Bush and Reagan.

Can’t wait.

Dave Rywall on May 26, 2010 at 1:54 PM

Dave, you need to stop lying your butt off and get your facts straight.

W Bush was indeed at D Day ceremonies (excusable, obviously) but also missed one because he was vacationing in Texas. Vacationing. That’s….vacationing.

Reagan had some economic summit thing he thought was more important than “paying his respects to the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery — our country’s most sacred shrine — on Memorial Day”.

“Some economic summit” was the G-7 summit, attended by Pierre Trudeau, Gaston Thorn, Helmut Kohl, François Mitterrand, Ronald Reagan, Yasuhiro Nakasone, Margaret Thatcher, and Amintore Fanfani.

Now, you allege that George W. Bush missed another Memorial Day laying of the wreath (presumably, it’s acceptable for him to visit the graves in Normandy on that day in 2007). Which year? Because I’m looking at a list of his addresses to the nation, and I’m unsure of which year you mean.

Roxeanne de Luca on May 26, 2010 at 4:31 PM