A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
I know what’s going to come from me saying this. “You’re only saying this because you’re a Soldier and you have to stick up for your boss!” I know I’ll take some flack for this by people who aren’t as open minded as I am. Wrong! I’ve been critical of Bush and he was my boss for eight years. But, I really can’t hold this in any more. I’m a Conservative, but I’m an open-minded Conservative. I’m a realist. I have the pleasure of being neither Republican nor Democratic. I’m a Realocratican!!
A lot of my fellow military bloggers have come out strongly attacking President Obama for being the first President in over 50 years to miss this event. Okay, that may be true, but he’s also only the second President to attend the Commander In Chief’s Ball (it was started with President Bush in 2005). It would have been nice if he had gone to the Salute to Heroes Ball instead of, say, the Neighbors Ball or the Western States Ball, but he DID attend the Commander In Chief’s Ball.
Not only did he attend it, but he spent over 15 minutes at the ball. He joked with Soldiers live from Iraq and Afghanistan. He thanked all the troops in attendance in person. Those troops were junior Soldiers, junior Officers, Wounded Warriors, and family members. Again, he spent over 15 minutes there! When all the messianic news coverage began with respect to all the balls, I decided I was going to time him so that I’d have something to slam him on when he eventually skipped or gave little attention to our troops. Fortunately, I was proven wrong.
By my unofficial calculations, Obama spent about 59 seconds on average at each of the other nine balls he attended. That means that he spend more than fifteen times longer with the troops. Why are we complaining that he didn’t attend the Heroes Ball? You all know me! You know the kind of respect I have for our Medal of Honor recipients. They’re the only people I find myself speechless in front of. Movie stars don’t impress me. Musicians don’t impress me. Politicians don’t impress me. But, when I’m in the presence of a MoH recipient I truly feel a sense of wonder and awe.
President Obama did not “snub” the troops on election night. Quite the opposite. He spent just as much time during ONE ball with the troops than all the other balls PUT TOGETHER!! And that doesn’t include the time that Vice President Biden spent there.
Folks, President Obama is far from a perfect example of the President we’d like, but let’s stick to criticism of his policies, not little piddly things like this. Conservatives lost the election in no small part to the fact that the crazies on our side were arguing about whether he was a Muslim, an American citizen, a real black man, etc. This is all stupid! Let’s stick to the issues and his policies. He’s already proving that we’re going down in flames quicker than ever (more on this later – still researching and explosive post that may get me in trouble). If you’ve been complaining that Obama didn’t attend the Heroes Ball, I just think you’re barking up the wrong tree. Here’s something to also think about: Obama attended ten balls on inauguration night; Bush only attended nine in 2005 (granted two of them were the Salute to Heroes Ball and the Commander in Chiefs Ball).
Here is the video of the Commander in Chiefs Ball so no one thinks I’m blowing smoke here in an attempt to kiss the ass of my President. Obama appears after Bon Jovi at the 10:08 mark. He leaves at the 25:39 time hack.
Let me also add that I’m an American Legion member and have friends who have made friends with some of the people in attendance at the Heroes Ball. Again, it would have been great if Obama attended both military-themed Balls, but come on! He’s not THAT into the military! President Bush made it to both because he genuinely cares for our troops. When I see President Obama shed a tear talking about our fallen troops, I’ll change my opinion.
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Lisa: I also met him on Are You Interested... and got the poems :-) If
TSO
You aren’t “wrong” since this is your own opinion, however, I would like to point out 2 things.
1) The commander-in-chief ball is to honor the troops who are serving, and who are injured etc. The Salute to Heroes Ball is to honor veterans, those who went before. The CinC is for GWOT, whereas the STH is for GWOT and all the other preceding ones. Although it had active duty soldiers as well, the focus was on those who received the MOH. Ergo, I think your strawman of “Snub the troops” is inaccurate insofar as it was MOH recipients, and not “troops.”
2) I think there is a lot to be said for tradition, and every presdient back to Ike had come. So, I think this was a tactical error on the political front. As a guy in attendance, I didn’t care, because it meant slightly less interference from teh Secret Service. However, I am concerned about what not honoring veterans at the first opportunity (as opposed to troops again) may auger for future budgetting priorities. I made a post going on record saying if he comes through for vets, I am happy with that and all forgiven. But, would you not at least discuss this as a potentially important move, by tossing 50+ years of tradition out the window?
Frankly, I just wish both sides would calm the hell down and have a rational debate. Apparently we aren’t quite there yet.
Oh, and you suck for coming to town and not letting me know 1SG.
NY-David
Thank you for pulling us all back to “the issues” and leaving the pettiness aside. Most urgent issues are coming up, especially in how to jumpstart the economy and this needs to be discussed in earnest.
NY-David
Carolyn Hileman
You will have to forgive me if I simply do not agree, he spent fifteen minutes with one group while ignoring the other, he could have missed a couple of the Hollywood balls and made time for our honored heroes. Don’t get me wrong I understand where you are coming from but the man will forever be known as the first president to diss the heroes of this country and after this it will be OK to diss the others, I mean really it has only been around a couple of years no big deal right? He did not have the time to visit the wounded troops, he did not have time to visit the heroes. I would think that he would make that a priority and I would think if you are in awe of them you would have expected him to
John O. - NYC
Thank you for the perspective. I too have grown weary of debating the non-sense and pettiness that comes out during elections. We become so bogged down in ridiculous petty issues that have nothing to do with leadership or the quality of life for us a tax payers. We have spent the past three administrations being distracted by gossip and inuendo while the average tax payer has diminished in earnings potential as cost of living increases and criminals have taken control of Wall Street and various political offices accross the country.
Let’s climb out of our partisan political bunkers and stop killing each other with “friendly fire”. Remember the Taliban and Al Qaeda are our real enemies.
John O. – NYC
Doc Hal
Sorry, man but I can’t run with ya on this one…of course, you know that I am highly opinionated. For the new prez unity states to diss the MoH recipients was, to me, low class, but more importantly it tells me that he cares not about those who have come before and basically made it possible for him to be in the position he now occupies…at least we’re not speakin’ German. It also shows me how far left the dhimorats have moved. Even Clinton (who loathed the military) attended. Let’s see who REALLY loathes the military. Yeah, I know you’re not old enough to remember the post WWII years, but believe me, they were years when the country was really together and political discourse was much more civil. The military was an honorable but poorly compensated profession…I know, I was an Army brat. Obama will do more to dismantle the military than Carter and Clinton did. I wish ya luck under your new CinC, bud, I really do. Hopefully you won’t be sent to war with pitchforks.
Doc
NY-David
Quite frankly, I don’t remember there being so many balls. Any chance we could go back to one. Someone will get offended someway.
I personally was offended he didn’t show up for my transplants-from-the-midwest-who-ended-up-in-NYC party. The nerve!! I bought special load of Schlitz from Milwaukee.
NY-David
Ron WI
I agree he missed the wrong ball. However, he’s still a civilian trying to figure us out. I have hopes that he will learn as he goes and am sure if he could, he’d attend the ball.
He’s the first candidate that I can recall who had the foresight to get a feel for the world situation by visiting our allies before going into office.
He’s doing his best, but I’m certain he’ll never live up to the false hero status that GW had, just because he spouted off (in error) on an aircraft carrier deck.
As we should do with every president, give the man a chance to screw up big time before picking at his weaknesses.
CJ
Ron, I appreciate your comment here but I need to correct you. I’ve said this before, but you probably missed it as a new reader. President Bush never “spouted off (in error) on an aircraft carrier deck”. I’m assuming you’re talking about the “Mission Accomplished” banner. He never ONCE said, insinuated, or led anyone to believe (except those with BDS) that the war was accomplished. I urge you to read the entire transcript from the speech he made as well as look for the quotes from the military commander’s on the ship at the time about the banner. President Bush, unlike President Obama, actually served in the military. For that reason, he is a REAL hero in my mind. He served more than 99% of this country did, whether people agree with it or not.
Thanks again for your comment, I just can’t allow blatant inaccuracies to be repeated here especially when I’ve already addressed it.
Ron WI
I do apologize for my ignorance and must bow to you on your points as you’re obviously better researched than I. Your reply as well as your perspective is also appreciated, but…
Goodness!
I didn’t realize that serving in the military made somebody a REAL hero. If that’s the case, we have a lot of heroes around (even if it’s 2% of the total population) and those who truly went above and beyond by sacrificing of themselves in some exemplary manner are somewhat lessened, aren’t they.
The term ‘Hero’ is applied all too often these days and we forget that fulfilling an obligation does not create a hero, it means the person is responsible and is able to sacrifice as required. Receiving a decoration for valor, a combat badge, saving a life while endangering one’s own or risking what has been earned in some way creates a hero. A service medal does not. I know we’ll disagree on that one!
I served for twenty years, went to Kuwait and the combat zone in Iraq, but please don’t call me a hero. I don’t deserve it. I just did my job and enjoyed it.
CJ
You’re right that military service alone does not create “hero” status. I’m no hero, so I know. However, his total service and sacrifice to this country and keeping us safe makes him a hero in my mind.
I guess a better word would be respected or honorable.
Stormin
I would make these points:
1. It was a insult to miss MOH Ball!!
2. His “Team” sets up his scheldule,with his approval, ahead of time and therefore HE KNEW THE BALLS HE WAS ATTENDING THAT NIGHT.
3. 13 mins. with the troops would have left a couple at the MOH Ball
4. For anyone from the Left that says “lets stick to issues & policies”, I guess you forgot the last 8yrs. of PERSONAL ATTACKS on PRES. BUSH.
5. I DID NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA FOR SEVERAL REASONS,BUT I AM PRAYING FOR HIM AND OUR LEADERS.
6. EVERYONE REMEMBER, NO ATTACK ON USA FOR 7 1/2yrs.!!! IF PRES. OBAMA FOLLOWS WHAT HE SAID ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, “PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION”(KILLING BABIES) WILL BE BACK, OUR MILITARY WILL SUFFER, AND PRAY HE CAN KEEP THE USA FROM BEING ATTACKED!!!!
Phaze-Az
I wouldn’t consider this a big deal either if he wasn’t the first president in history to skip this event. I can also recall the absences of the flag lapel on his coat during his campaign, which he did not correct until he was called out. I can also remember staring in wonder at the photograph of Obama, Clinton, and Richardson during the primaries reciting the National Anthem, all of them had their hands placed over their heart in respect to this country except Obama. I can recall Obama speaking down about the troop’s actions in Afghanistan, yet the man has never once visited Iraq or Afghanistan to see with his own eyes the hard work we have put into rebuilding those countries. All of these “petty†occurrences seem to be all too common with Obama. I understand this is not a critical issue right now but remember he is going to be president for the next four years, and when he drastically cuts military spending as has already promised, you can bet it will be an easy decision for him. He is no different than any other liberal, he enjoys the freedoms he has, yet looks down upon those who have provided it for him.