Barack Obama rejects Normandy trip to avoid offending Germany

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | April 2, 2009 | Toby Harnden, US Editor, and Henry Samuel in Paris

[CitizenM]

Barack Obama, concerned about offending Britain and Germany, rebuffed strenuous attempts by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France to persuade the new American president to make a trip to Normandy this week.

White House officials travelled to France at the start of March to discuss a visit by Mr Obama to Omaha Beach, the site of the American Cemetery, established in 1944 just after D-Day and where 9,387 American personnel are buried. Among them is Theodore Roosevelt Jr the eldest son of the 26th US President.

French officials and senior American military officers walked with White House staff through the cemetery discussing how the two presidents might follow the same route. But even before their trip, the White House had decided that Mr Obama would not travel there this week.

"It wasn't going to happen," said an American official in Washington. "We went through the motions to placate President Sarkozy but giving special treatment to France was not on our agenda.

"During this trip, we wanted to maintain a balance between the British, German and France". A White House spokesman in London declined to comment. Last month, White House officials briefed that a Normandy visit had been considered but it had not been logistically possible.

Mr Sarkozy is said by French officials to be piqued that Gordon Brown became the first European leader to meet Mr Obama and was then lavished with praise by him at a 50-minute joint press conference in London on Wednesday.

----snip----

According to French reports, Mr Obama was to visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-mer, just north of Omaha Beach. The pair were apparently to have dined at the nearby chateau de Bénouville in Caen.

The White House rejected the offer....(see rest of story)

[peeps36]

Obama isn't worthy of walking on the sacred soil where those patriots are buried. They are better off this traitorous scumbag decided not to visit them.

[eaglestar]

The Sensitive President.

The President who does not want to offend anyone except for the United States, the United States Armed Forces, Israel, Conservatives, the Christian Faith and white America.

[rlmorel]

Agreed. I am glad he didn’t go.

[MGMSwordsman]

This is understandable. The Americans that died at Normandy are 99.99% White, Male, and either Christian or Jewish. That is the enemy to Obama.

[Steel Bill]

I did not admit it in my post,but I got a little “misty” that day. I have traveled to a lot of the european countrys,and while there are people that hate America,there are just as many that feel guilty and embaressed by the treatment our country receives from the America haters.

[uncitizen]

Doesn’t each President place a wreath at the cemetery in Normandy each year on D-Day? What will BO do on June 6th? Will an unexpected emergency occur that will make it impossible for him to be there that day?

[Think free or die]

Perhaps Zero is afraid of ghosts . . .

[rlmorel]

Dear Admin Moderator:
Is there a special hall of fame repository for great posts? I would like to nominate Ms. Tax Chick at the following thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2223678/posts?page=5#5

I refer to Post #5...:)

Sincerely,
rlmorel

[Tax-chick]

Oh, you’re too kind!

[Kickass Conservative]

No, Obama is the Apologist in Chief, but I really prefer the term, Douche-bag in Chief.

[rlmorel]

No, really.

That just got me and made me grin. In this environment we are in, a genuinely funny post is worth its weight in gold!

So, take a bow. That post was as good as any by pissant, dead or martin fierro.

[Twinkie]

Never mind. If this is the case, then Obama is unworthy to sully the land with the soles of his shoes. Some things border on desecration. Those dear war dead, beloved mothers’ sons, deserve a better man from all indications so far.

[lady lawyer]

Obama’s message to the famlies of all the White Americans who died at Normandy: “Get over it!”

[Grizzled Bear]

This is just plain disrespectful to the GI's that fought and died in WWII. The Germans wouldn't be offended by it: they are very much aware of that dark part of their history. For that matter, the Vichy were defending Omaha Beach, too.... but the French weren't offended.

I participated in a memorial service in St Avold, France. Many French citizens thanked me, because my nations soldiers died for their freedom. While assigned in Germany, many older German citizens apologized to me for their nations actions over 50 years ago.

When I first noticed this article, I thought it was John Semmons or Scrapple Face.

[happygrl]

Hey, 0bama wouldn't even visit the live military on his trip to Germany last summer.

He has no interest in seeing the cost that was paid to enble him to be where he is today, and not speaking "Austrian."

[HotLead61]

What I don’t get - how can the American people be so absolutely stupid as to continue to support this absolute disaster?

God's Word says that they are being deceived by spiritual wickedness that takes advantage of their own greed, laziness, and rejection of the Truth.

[lonestar]

I guess it doesn't fit in well with his agenda of apologizing for American "arrogance."

Everyday I think I can't despise Obama more...then tomorrow comes.

[Tax-chick]

High praise!

[HotLead61]

"the American people"

Oh, and [as Columbo used to say] just one more thing...

The poll numbers are bogus as well. We aren't being told the truth by any of the major media outlets. That's why we need a place like FR to find out what's really going on. People are really starting to get pissed off, and that's the one thing the tyrants fear.

That's why they are doing their darndest to keep us in the dark about how many of us there are. They want to keep us divided & in the dark, so they can keep consolidating their power & control.