Obama Orders US Flags at Half Staff for Miners

newsmax ^ | 4/12/10

[bestintxas]

President Barack Obama has ordered U.S. flags in West Virginia to be flown at half staff in honor of 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion.

In a proclamation issued Monday, Obama said all U.S. flags in the state are to be flown at half staff until sunset on Sunday.

The proclamation comes as federal and state mine safety officials begin their investigation into the nation's worst coal-related mine accident in 40 years.

Crews are still working to recover the last of the victims. Recovery attempts have been hampered by high levels of hazardous gases.

State Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training spokeswoman Jama Jarrett says recovery of the last nine victims should be completed by late Monday afternoon.

[bestintxas]

At the risk of being labeled insensitive, why do this at all? This is like the victims of 9/11. Horrible, yes but lowering flags to half-staff?

There is no national reason to do this at all, like military victims killed overseas. This cheapens the whole ceremony of the memory of those who should have the recognition. It should not be done for those who unfortunately get caught up in a terrible accident.

I guess union workers are lifted up so high by this regime that anything they do or get involved in must be elevated in a national sense.

[Batman11]

“why do this at all?”

Obozo probably thinks he’s doing it for 29 kids under 18 years of age!

[henkster]

Well, he can’t very well ask for prayer for the families, can he?

No, lowering the flag is all he knows. He doesn’t respect it anyway.

And he will make sure this tragedy never happens again...by closing all the other coal mines.

[caver]

I’d like to know why he didn’t “order” the flags to be flown half-mast last week?

[snowrip]

This is being done because of the president’s ignorance as to what constitutes true sacrifice, and it cheapens the entire tradition... another fact of which he is also ignorant.

[ladyvet]

I’m with you. This was an awful work accident but to lower the flag?????

[Truth29]

This is a political move leading to further restrictions on the coal industry as part of the overall strangling of the US extraction energy industry. The more we need energy, the more Obama and company make it more difficult to develop or expand sources other than unreliable “green” sources.

[Batman11]

Please let me add that there is nothing funny about the death of 29 people. My prayers are with them and their family’s. Obama, on the other hand, is an idiot, so he is fair game.

[HD1200]

Well who can argue with this no matter how political of a decision this President just made to order them at half mast....

[sodpoodle]

The irony!

IIRC this is a non-union mine.

IIRC BO said he would kill the coal mining industry.

If this flag lowering is for W.VA only - why is this not the W.VA Governor’s prerogative? Isn’t POTUS only involved in NATIONAL days of mourning?

[Constitution Day]

This is a political move leading to further restrictions on the coal industry as part of the overall strangling of the US extraction energy industry. The more we need energy, the more Obama and company make it more difficult to develop or expand sources other than unreliable “green” sources.

BINGO!

[TChris]

The man has no clue, nor respect, for what many powerful American symbols mean.

There are dozens of people killed every day, in various types of accidents. Shall we just go to always flying the flag at half-staff from now on?

[Spok]

But not for the 12 soldiers at Ft. Hood? What’s he trying to say?

[NMEwithin]

Why?

Because it's good PR for the Kenyan...plain and simple

[Bernard]

While Barack Obama is President, we should consider flying the flag in the international symbols for distress - I believe that means upside down, or in a wheft; with a knot tied in the center.

[Genoa]

military victims killed overseas

I'm against it for that too, actually. When America is at war and men are killed in battle, the flag needs to fly high. Half mast should be for specific occasions of national mourning, such as for a dignitary. In other words, not for soldiers lost in battle in World War II, but for FDR when he died.

[ArrogantBustard]

If this flag lowering is for W.VA only - why is this not the W.VA Governor’s prerogative?

Good question. I would have thought so, as well. Zero should keep his nasty nose out of WV's business.

[cricket]

Give me a break; what a 'show'. These people are beyond disgusting; we know that of course. His next move; will be a shovel upside the back of their heads - figuretively speaking, of course.

This is a shameless 'self-promo' at the expense of an industry he is determined to destroy; and the expense of our flag as well.

[Leg Olam]

I think he ment ‘minors’.

[CholeraJoe]

568 service members have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since Obama took office and he has never lowered the flag for even one of them.