Obama dissed *Medal of Honor holders*, in favor of youth and celebs.

[blue]

Commander in Chief gets off to a bad start.

Obama Snubs Nation's Heroes, Becomes the First President to Skip Ball Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients in Over 50 Years
Submitted by Julie on January 21, 2009 - 10:13pm. Elections Elections 2008 News Politics U.S. Government U.S. Politics World Politics

Barack Obama may have stumbled over his words briefly during his inauguration, but he made an even bigger blunder later Tuesday evening. The newly sworn-in President opted not to appear at what should have been one of the most important Balls on his agenda that evening - The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball.

The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball was begun in 1953 for President Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration. The event recognized recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. There were 48 Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, who were undoubtedly disappointed by the Commander-in-Chief's failure to show. Over the past 56 years and 14 inaugurations, no President has skipped this event - until now.

The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball is sponsored by the American Legion, and co-sponsored by 13 other veteran's service organizations, including those such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Instead of attending this ball honoring our nation's heroes, Obama was busy making stops at 10 other official balls. Obama and his wife's first stop was at the Neighborhood Ball. From there they went to the Home State Ball for Illinois and Hawaii, the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Youth Inaugural Ball, and the Home State Ball for Delaware and Pennsylvania. They finished off the night with brief appearances at the Mid-Atlantic, Western, Midwest, Eastern, and Southern regional Balls.

Celebrities were a plenty at the balls, with Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Mary. J. Blige, Faith Hill, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, will.i.am, Sting, Mariah Carey, and Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance at the Neighborhood Ball. In addition, the other nine balls also featured a star-studded lineup including Kanye West and Kid Rock at the Youth Ball, Marc Anthony at the Western Ball, and Cheryl Crow at the Western Ball.

It was the party without all of the celebrities that Obama skipped. The very people who he sought to have support him during his candidacy and campaign, who have fought to protect this country, were snubbed in favor of publicity and the opportunity to rub shoulders - yet again - with the out-of-touch Hollywood elite.

Whomever on Obama's staff planned what balls he attended should have been fired that night if not before.

[Karen]

Yes, I am sure some staffer planned that schedule ... and will hopefully get demoted, if not fired.

[sasvermont]

I assume we will be seeing the same folks gripe about every little move Obama makes.

Hopefully, many of the folks who did not get a personal visit at their ball, will understand that Obama could attend only so many balls and they were big enough to share him with others.

I am not defending his decision, just wondering how big of a deal this really ended up being............

[lizbud]

I am not defending his decision, just wondering how big of a deal this really ended up being............

Apparently it was a big deal to "Julie", whoever that is. They did visit a
military ball. I saw film clips of Obama dancing with a female Army person
and Mrs Obama danced with a male Navy officer.

http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents...guralballs.htm

[Twisterdog]

They did visit a military ball. I saw film clips of Obama dancing with a female Army person and Mrs Obama danced with a male Navy officer.

http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents...guralballs.htm

Yes, I remember watching them at a miliatary ball, also.

How much can you do in one night, realistically. I'm sure there were other balls they didn't attend as well. There's only 24 hours in a day.

[RICHARD]

And 57 States.

[blue]

The Medal of Honor Ball has a 50 year history. Whatever staffer thought that the Youth Ball was more important then honoring MOH members needs a new job and the new POTUS should have his head examined for pissing them off on his first day on the job.

Make all the excuses you want. Chosing 18-35 year olds over those who earned a Medal of Honor was a bad move.

[Grace]

Perhaps he was not given a choice? Perhaps he was handed a list of places where he was to make an appearance? Perhaps no one informed him of all the possibilities?

[lizbud]

Yes, I remember watching them at a miliatary ball, also.

How much can you do in one night, realistically. I'm sure there were other balls they didn't attend as well. There's only 24 hours in a day.

Agreed. I believe this ball was the one I saw of them them dancing.

"Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball - National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. The ball is in honor of the country's active duty and reserve military.

Invited guests included wounded warriors (Purple Heart recipients), families of fallen heroes, and spouses of deployed military. Tickets were provided free of charge to all invited guests. This event was not open to the general public.

It was broadcast to American troops around the world on the Pentagon Channel, which is available via cable on 368 military bases and on commercial cable and satellite services throughout the United States. "

[sasvermont]

Hmmmmmmm. I wonder how the stories get so distorted?

[blue]

Perhaps he was not given a choice?

He is the POTUS, why would he not have a choice? If Clinton could attend 14 Obama could have attended 11.

Did the MOH holders not donate enough or voluteer enough of their time to Obama's campaign? Did the 18-35 year olds buy his appearance to their ball with their donations and time?

Agreed. I believe this ball was the one I saw of them them dancing.

"Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball - National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. The ball is in honor of the country's active duty and reserve military.

Invited guests included wounded warriors (Purple Heart recipients), families of fallen heroes, and spouses of deployed military. Tickets were provided free of charge to all invited guests. This event was not open to the general public.

It was broadcast to American troops around the world on the Pentagon Channel, which is available via cable on 368 military bases and on commercial cable and satellite services throughout the United States. "

Thier are many active and retired American Troops who are very angry that Obama snubbed the MOH holders Ball in favor of the Youth Ball.

The MOH Ball, actual name is The Salute to Heroes Ball, has a 56 year history, the Commander in Chief Ball has a 4 year history. Tradition means alot to military personel, active and retired. I have to say Im suprised Obama would continue a tradition started by Bush and not one started in 1953.

[EDIT]My original title for this thread has failed, I will fix that.[/EDIT]

[jennielynn1970]

Does it happen every year? Can he go next year?

Seriously, like someone else said, there are only so many things one can do in 24hrs.

He may be president, but who ever does his scheduling, I'm pretty sure you have to go by that schedule since that's how they know where he will be and know where to have security. He can't just say "Oh, I think I'll just skip this and go where I want to go." Things are organized very specifically when you're in a public office and need security.

It's not like he just stopped and got pizza instead.

[blue]

If he didnt know the schedule or able to change it well in advance, we are probably in more trouble then the Tinfoil Hatters are predicting.

If Clinton could attend 14, Obama could have done 11. Or the 18-35 year olds could have settled for an honorable mention.

Spin it however you want, he pissed of alot of the people he commands.

[Grace]

Spin it however you want, he pissed of alot of the people he commands.

Well, we know he p.o. you for one, just by being elected.

Perhaps I will write a letter to the President, asking why he did not attend that particular ball. Will let you know, when and/or if I receive a reply.

[blue]

Well, we know he p.o. you for one, just by being elected.

Perhaps I will write a letter to the President, asking why he did not attend that particular ball. Will let you know, when and/or if I receive a reply.

To be honest Ild be pissed for the next 4 years if McCain had gotten elected and would be posting this type of thing as well.

Actually Im more POed that people are trying to spin this off of the POTUS and making excuses for him.