General Discussion

branford

(4,462 posts)

26. We agree.

Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:01 PM

Jan 2015

I'm really curious why he chose not to attend.

At first I believed security might be a concern, but given the raw number of extremely high-value VIPs, including heads of state and big targets like Benjamin Netanyahu, I doubt the president would have been in any more danger than usual. Obama also wasn't engaged in any high-level political negotiations or entertaining other heads of state. He also just returned from a few week vacation in Hawaii

Could it have been simple laziness and failure to appreciate the extraordinarily bad optics of not attending? I hope that wasn't the case.

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Highlight:

White House says it erred in not sending higher level official to anti-terror march in Paris [View all] Sopkoviak Jan 2015 OP

Why apologize for having done the right thing ? Mass Jan 2015 #1

+1 KoKo Jan 2015 #2

+1 JaneyVee Jan 2015 #3

You're expressing what you wanted the rally to be, not what it was. branford Jan 2015 #4

the politicians' "march" was a PR stunt photo op nt msongs Jan 2015 #6

Yes, it was. What's your point? branford Jan 2015 #9

Why no Canada, Australia, Mexico, India, South America? JaneyVee Jan 2015 #7

The eastern part of the country is "like france" LordGlenconner Jan 2015 #11

What's your point? branford Jan 2015 #12

Canada was represented B2G Jan 2015 #17

I'll squeeze in and add my +1 to this. HappyMe Jan 2015 #8

They did not apologize, which would mean they did something wrong, they said they erred, as in Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #14

+1 Blue_Tires Jan 2015 #38

This was essentially the only question at the White House press briefing today. Vinca Jan 2015 #5

It's people like Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio...did you hear Steve Holland's answer? countryjake Jan 2015 #29

I agree with the White House. It erred. nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2015 #10

I think a lot of the problem is tribalism. branford Jan 2015 #18

When you have the leaders of France, England, and Germany present Dreamer Tatum Jan 2015 #19

It didn't even need to be the president, branford Jan 2015 #20

Kerry would have sufficed. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2015 #21

Kerry was actually engaged in important negotiations and dealings in India. branford Jan 2015 #22

Kerry would have SUFFICED. I believe Obama should have been there. nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2015 #24

We agree. branford Jan 2015 #26

Because they didn't realize this would be THE protest event of the year McCamy Taylor Jan 2015 #13

Admit your mistake, move on. The right thing to do. TwilightGardener Jan 2015 #15

I support President Obama for apologizing! Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #16

I don't care about stuff like this. Ykcutnek Jan 2015 #23

You might not care, but many others certainly do, including both the liberal and conservative press. branford Jan 2015 #27

Oh jeez whining over the lack of an apology? geek tragedy Jan 2015 #25

uh no, whining over the act of apologizing Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #35

Ah, I misread the complaint. geek tragedy Jan 2015 #36

He should not apologize for missing a photo op. The march was about the French people, not uppityperson Jan 2015 #28

+100 countryjake Jan 2015 #30

Well said. No point in being coerced by a right-wing griping point. (nt) Paladin Jan 2015 #34

why do anti-Obama pols and news stations always want him to comment or appear ecstatic Jan 2015 #31

Their noise would be even louder today if he'd gone to France. n/t countryjake Jan 2015 #32

Yeah, they'd call him a rank opportunist... or say his trip would be costing the taxpayers a billion deurbano Jan 2015 #37

Ha! I was going to welcome you to DU... countryjake Jan 2015 #39

Thanks! That low post count is deceptive. deurbano Jan 2015 #40

I rarely do this but +1 old guy Jan 2015 #33