Barack Obama took an hour out of his Christmas in Hawaii to visit Marines at Kaneche Bay.  ABC’s Sunlen Miller makes it sound as though Obama got an unenthusiastic reception:

As Obama entered the room it was absent of the regular fanfare of cheering and clapping. The diners were polite; staying seated at their respective tables and waited for the President-elect to come to them to stand up.

Obama, dressed casually in a blue polo shirt and dark khaki trousers, worked his way around the room – table by table – and took pictures with the service members. He slapped them on the back at times, shook hands, and signed some autographs.

“Hey guys, Merry Christmas,” The President-elect said as he walked from table to table.

In fairness, he walked it while the Marines had already begun eating their holiday meal.  That may have accounted for the lack of applause and cheers on entering the room.  Obama probably surprised them as well with his visit.

I’m sure some will make hay out of the supposedly lukewarm reception Obama received, but I won’t be one of them.  Obama took the time to visit our men and women serving their country on the holiday, something he could have easily skipped since he’s not yet their Commander in Chief and technically no longer a member of the Senate, either.  He didn’t make a big deal out of it, either.  Obama will give us plenty to criticize in the next few years, and hopefully a few things to cheer as well.  Visiting the troops is cause for the latter.