Obama to skip Gettysburg anniversary because of website's woes

The Hill ^ | November 19, 2013 | Justin Sink

[Cincinatus' Wife]

President Obama was unable to attend Tuesday's ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address because of scheduling issues stemming from the rollout of his signature healthcare law, the White House said Tuesday.

Following stories questioning why the president had skipped the event, given his public affinity for President Lincoln, White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer tweeted that "it didn't work schedule-wise."

In response to a journalist's Twitter query about what could be more important, Pfeiffer wrote: "Oh, I don't know, there's this whole website thing that someone suggested might destroy the [Democratic] Party."

According to the president's public schedule, Obama will be meeting with senators Tuesday morning to discuss ongoing negotiations with Iran over their nuclear program, as well as an appearance at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council annual meeting.

On Monday, White House press secretary Jay Carney wouldn't explain why Obama was skipping the event, although noted that he had taped an appearance for a Ken Burns project on the speech that features other living presidents.

"Obviously, that address and that moment in time is seminal in our history. I think that all Americans across the country will have the opportunity to think about those words and that address," Carney said.

[MichaelCorleone]

Sure Barry, whatever you say...

[God luvs America]

LOL- but didn’t he golf with someone famous over the weekend???? what a POS...

[Steely Tom]

Buncha white people died.

[TigersEye]

He has so much more on his plate than Lincoln did!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

LET MY PEOPLE GO. Abolish 0bamacare.

[a fool in paradise]

Dropped the phrase “under God” from his reading of it on video as well.

[technically right]

Too tired from playing golf on Sunday.

[mom.mom]

He will not stop lying.

[Obadiah]

He can go golfing, as he most certainly did this past weekend, but he can't go to Gettysburg because of the Obamacare train-wreck. Sure, Barry.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

He has so much more on his plate than Lincoln did!

Great comment.

[ColdOne]

I guess he didn’t want to hear the boos!

[duckman]

Doesn’t need associations with Lincoln any longer,so he is probably out golfing.

[dfwgator]

Good, we don’t need him desecrating that hallowed ground.

[EagleUSA]

Anti-American, anti-Constitutional FRAUD.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

...but he has time for hoops.

[TigersEye]

Lyin’ Barry disses Honest Abe.

[ColdOne]

From the comment section............... Since the website woes, and Barry being held hostage (wouldn't look good to fundraising using Air Force One during slow down) ended, Barry has golfed and traveled to: Massachusetts Texas Louisianna Florida Ohio PENNSYLVANIA And golfed regularly and stayed over in Florida to golf at a resort! Why didn't Barry schedule his fundraiser with a $1 million dollar haul in Philadelphia, with this HISTORIC DAY of Gettysburg Address? Thought Barry was just like Lincoln!!!!!!!!

[JSDude1]

But he has time to play Golf on fields that look eerily like old Civil War battle fields at times..

[Cincinatus' Wife]

And time for a 4 1/2 hour birthday dinner at a D.C. restaurant to celebrate Valerie Jarrett’s birthday.