Yesterday was the 66th anniversary of D-Day. This may be news to President Obama because he didn’t do or say anything about it. Now, I understand that the anniversary isn’t a national holiday but there are some things I expect the President of the United States to remember. Presidents have addresses and do things to recognize all kinds of silly things. June 4th (2 days before the anniversary of D-Day) the President had a ceremony recognizing Utah’s Major League Soccer team for winning their Championship. While that is great, it may not be of the same national importance. Not to say the President did nothing yesterday… He went to Ford’s Theater for the filming of America Celebrates July 4th at Ford’s Theater.
I have to be honest, I saw this on Fox News at the gym and I thought they were kind of blowing things out of proportion. Surely, he did something just maybe not anything at the level Fox thought the President should do. Well, I came home and searched the White House site for something. A mention in a radio address, something. The only mention this year of D-Day on the White House site is how we won’t have a D-Day moment in Afghanistan and that was back in May.
I knew that President’s didn’t write there own speeches but I assumed they at least stood behind them. Last year President Obama said D-Day was important so we didn’t forget. Apparently that is until we do.
Apparently, commemorating on the actual day has never been a MUST for presidents. If President Bush set the standard then you only have to notice it twice in one 4-year term.
http://mediamatters.org/research/201006070009
“Obama delivered speech at Normandy for D-Day 65th anniversary in 2009. President Obama traveled to Normandy for a June 6, 2009 ceremony honoring the 65th anniversary of D-Day. He delivered a speech honoring the troops, saying in part, that victory “came down to the men who landed here – those who now rest in this place for eternity, and those who are with us today. Perhaps more than any other reason, you, the veterans of that landing, are why we still remember what happened on D-Day. You are why we come back.”
Bush administration commemorated D-Day in 2001 and 2004, but spent others in meetings and at least one concert. White House archives of June 6 for each year President Bush was in office only show Bush commemorating D-Day in 2001 and 2004. In 2001, Bush dedicated a D-Day memorial in Virginia, and in 2004, he went to Normandy to mark the 60th anniversary of D-Day. There are no “news” references to D-Day in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, or 2008.
On 2005 D-Day anniversary, Bush hosted a concert celebrating Black Music Month and did not recognize the holiday. While Hoft and Fox criticized Obama for attending a “party” instead of recognizing the anniversary of D-Day, on June 6, 2005, Bush held a concert at the White House celebrating Black Music Month. According to the White House archives, Bush also did not commemorate the D-Day anniversary.”
This isn’t a partisan thing to me (though I am a conservative). Obama made a public appearance and he could have had remarks. I even put in the piece that I was sure Fox was exaggerating a bit but they weren’t. It is a big deal especially in a time with current war going on! My judgement of right and wrong isn’t based on previous Republican action.
Oh, I knew he gave an onsite speech last year. The video is from President Obama’s 2009 speech.
The point is, Obama has made special remarks on a lot of different occasions and is handling this similarly to other presidents but is being held to a higher or more critical standard than others. The criticism is unbalanced and unfair.
oh yeah! black music is the best..;`