"I've been working real hard for the American people..."
Posted on 10/29/2009 11:27:45 AM PDT by kristinn
Barack Obama was nearly denied the photo-op he traveled to Dover Air Force Base for early this morning as all but one of the military and civilian families of the fallen refused permission for the media to report on the return of their loved ones.
The sole family to allow media coverage was the family of Sgt. Dale R. Griffin.
According to media reports, Griffin's casket was the last to be brought off the C-17 cargo plane that carried the bodies of 15 soldiers and 3 DEA agents killed this week in Afghanistan.
That is a stark contrast to the reported 60% approval by families for media coverage since Obama lifted the ban on media coverage in April. Byron York reported a month ago that media interest has plummeted since April such that at most dignified transfers there is only an AP stringer there to take still photographs.
Obama met with the families of the fallen at a base chapel before the dignified return took place.
AP raw video of the military's dignified transfer of Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, featuring Barack Obama.
Obama's photo-op last night was the culmination of a long campaign by Obama's left wing allies like Code Pink to give aid to our enemies by highlighting the deaths of America's servicemen and women in the war on terror.
While not casting judgment on the decision by the family of Sgt. Griffin, the near unanimous decion of the families to deny Obama his photo-op, compared to the average 60%, is telling.
"I've been working real hard for the American people..."
Obama’s Rules of Engagement have led to more troop deaths as he tries to find a way to get us out of Afghanistan while making it look like we lost militarily.
Same with me and it was the same sick feeling when Clinton did it.
Deepest Condolences and Prayers for the families of our fallen.
The Left and their leaders has never shied from using somber events for their own purposes.
Originally we thought he was different from Sharpton and Jackson, but he is really the Lying-Fraud-in-Chief.
It certainly is telling, it tells me Obama's administration and the enemedia has lied...again!
Pretty hard to write letters with your hands around a golf club.
I work at a scooter/bike shop in Key West, and I always acknowledge and support our Armed Forces. I give them a discount or sometimes it’s on the house (when permitted by the owner). The very least I can do to show some appreciation for what they go through and I thank them for their service. Each and every one of them. It makes all the difference that you ACKNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT the uniform of the United States Military. Some even say , gee thanks, surprised that I even said anything about their service, or that I took the time to thank them outright. Something is wrong with that.What’s wrong with people? Frickin ZoMbiEs
First time for Gibbs. Imagine that.
“”I’ve never seen anything like it,” Gibbs said. “I think you get a real sense of gravity when you see the faces of those that are grieving loved ones.””
Obama causes their death by dithering, then stands and salutes that they are dead. Sickening.
Since the new rules of engagement are causing many of these casualties, it wouldn’t surprise me if the families blame Obama for killing their loved ones.
You’ve never seen anything like it Gibbs?
I’ll bet more of us at FR have been to more funerals of our military than all of Obama’s administration.
I loathe them all.
Here’s a true example of one of the great points about President Bush. Some good points for ALL of us that lead. The print gets a bit blurry though.
The Value of Service
By Lt. Col. Mark Murphy
354th Maintenance Group deputy commander
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — I learned a big lesson on service Aug. 4, 2008, when Eielson had the rare honor of hosting President Bush on a refueling stop as he traveled to Asia. It was an event Eielson will never forget — a hangar full of Airmen and Soldiers getting to see the Commander in Chief up close, and perhaps even shaking his hand. An incredible amount of effort goes into presidential travel because of all of the logistics, security, protocol, etc ... so it was remarkable to see Air Force One land at Eielson on time at precisely 4:30 p.m.—however, when he left less than two hours later, the President was 15 minutes behind schedule. That’s a big slip for something so tightly choreographed, but very few people know why it happened. Here’s why.
On Dec. 10, 2006, our son, Shawn, was a paratrooper deployed on the outskirts of Baghdad. He was supposed to spend the night in camp, but when a fellow soldier became ill Shawn volunteered to take his place on a nighttime patrol—in the convoy’s most exposed position as turret gunner in the lead Humvee. He was killed instantly with two other soldiers when an IED ripped through their vehicle.
I was thinking about that as my family and I sat in the audience listening to the President’s speech, looking at the turret on the up-armored Humvee the explosive ordnance disposal flight had put at the edge of the stage as a static display. When the speech was over and the President was working the crowd line, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see a White House staff member. She asked me and my wife to come with her, because the President wanted to meet us.
Stunned, we grabbed our two sons that were with us and followed her back into a conference room. It was a shock to go from a crowded, noisy hangar, past all of those security people, to find ourselves suddenly alone in a quiet room.
The only thing we could hear was a cell phone vibrating, and noticed that it was coming from the jacket Senator Stevens left on a chair. We didn’t answer. A short time later, the Secret Service opened the door and President Bush walked in. I thought we might get to shake his hand as he went through. But instead, he walked up to my wife with his arms wide, pulled her in for a hug and a kiss, and said, “I wish I could heal the hole in your heart.” He then grabbed me for a hug, as well as each of our sons. Then he turned and said, “Everybody out.”
A few seconds later, the four of us were completely alone behind closed doors with the President of the United States and not a Secret Service agent in sight.
He said, “Come on, let’s sit down and talk.” He pulled up a chair at the side of the room, and we sat down next to him. He looked a little tired from his trip, and he noticed that his shoes were scuffed up from leaning over concrete barriers to shake hands and pose for photos. He slumped down the chair, completely relaxed, smiled, and suddenly was no longer the President - he was just a guy with a job, sitting around talking with us like a family member at a barbeque.
For the next 15 or 20 minutes, he talked with us about our son, Iraq, his family, faith, convictions, and shared his feelings about nearing the end of his presidency. He asked each of our teenaged sons what they wanted to do in life and counseled them to set goals, stick to their convictions, and not worry about being the “cool” guy. He said that he’d taken a lot of heat during his tenure and was under a lot of pressure to do what’s politically expedient, but was proud to say that he never sold his soul. Sometimes he laughed, and at others he teared up. He said that what he’ll miss most after leaving office will be his role as Commander in Chief.
One of the somber moments was when he thanked us for the opportunity to meet, because he feels a heavy responsibility knowing that our son died because of a decision he made. He was incredibly humble, full of warmth, and completely without pretense. We were seeing the man his family sees.
We couldn’t believe how long he was talking to us, but he seemed to be in no hurry whatsoever. In the end, he thanked us again for the visit and for the opportunity to get off his feet for a few minutes. He then said, “Let’s get some pictures.” The doors flew open, Secret Service and the White House photographer came in, and suddenly he was the President again. We posed for individual pictures as he gave each of us one of his coins, and then he posed for family pictures. A few more thank yous, a few more hugs, and he was gone. The remarkable thing about the whole event was that he didn’t have to see us at all. If he wanted to do more, he could’ve ! just given a quick handshake and said, “Thanks for your sacrifice.” But he didn’t - he put everything and everyone in his life on hold to meet privately with the family of a Private First Class who gave his life in the service of his country.
What an incredible lesson on service. If the President of the United States is willing to drop everything on his plate to visit with a family, surely the rest of us can do it. No one is above serving another person, and no one is so lofty that he or she can’t treat others with dignity and respect.
We often think of service in terms of sacrificing ourselves for someone in a position above us, but how often do we remember that serving someone below us can be much more important? If you’re in a leadership capacity, take a good look at how you’re treating your people, and remember that your role involves serving the people you rely on every day.
I will reach 20 years in December. I almost got out during the Clintonista regime but stayed in. Obama is ridiculous. Our S-2 needed a copy of my birth certificate (after 20 years they just now ask) to verify my citizenship! I only took it to them today after my commander ordered me to. When I gave it to them I said it was under protest and I also wanted to see a copy of Obama’s.
I am retiring as I see no sense in serving under a “pretender in chief” who has no confidence in us and who’s policies contradict the very constitution I’ve sworn to support and defend.
Oh my. That reminds me of Michelle Obama saying on the presidential campaign trail that she never thought of military families before—even though she’d been the wife of a state senator and then U.S. senator since the nation had gone to war in 2001.
He is the devil incarnate!!!
He used this opportunity to get his precious photo op because these men died in helicopter crashes so none of their deaths could be blamed on him for his stupid rules of engagement or lack of additional troops. He’s a piece of shit.
Obama is feeling the heat, hence the photo op.
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