Actually, I blame his handlers, who can’t or won’t see his limitations and put him into situations like this unprepared. He’s not the first President who wasn’t fast on his feet, but none has ever been so obviously bad at it.
I actually heard he had an IQ of ~160...LOL...and our military heros have to put up with this miserable person...
I have said that repeatedly - there have been so many screw-ups, mis-cues, etc. that the ONLY conclusion I can come to is that the bonehead staffers he employs [who are responsible for cluing him in] don't have a clue ...
NOW, as for Obama's part, there have been MULTIPLE gaffes by single individuals - yet, he does not fire them ...
If he was smart - he woulda given out the word after the VERY FIRST screw-up that the NEXT screw-up [by anyone] meant that they were history. And then follow thru with the firing when it happened ...
I think you're right. It the people that prepped him for this event, briefed him on talking points, and went over his comments that either provided the wrong name, or should've caught it. True, somebody that actually ~cares~ about his military like George W., probably would have known the names and not made such a gaffe, but not this guy. He has to depend on others for such things.
Ultimately, it is his responsibility to review the information and/or speeches provided to him. If he does not remember the only living person he awarded this to, then it obviously was not as memorable as he was trying to convey. And that can only come from him, not from his handlers. That is the problem, he’s trying to have this sincere moment, and it isn’t so sincere if he can’t even remember it.
He is the president, isn’t he? While he takes recommendations, in the end, it is up to him and no one else.
For the most part I would have agreed with you until he actually signed a slide projector screen with the image of Duke Ellington on it at the Kenmore Middle School in Arlington, Virginia.
From the photo it is "perfectly clear" that it is a projection, not a photo, and what he is doing is beyond stupid.
However, he is so detached from reality that when done he stands back and admires what he did!
That is not bad handling, That is down in the dirt brain damage/nuts.
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If Bush made the same mistake it would be the front page Headline of the NYT and all the other sycophant Newspapers throughout the country.