Comments on: Obama Misses Heroes Ball; So What?

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:54:49 +0000

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.

By: Ron WI

Ron WI — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:45:25 +0000

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.

By: Phaze-Az

Phaze-Az — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:45:01 +0000

I wouldnâ€™t consider this a big deal either if he wasnâ€™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 troopâ€™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 â€œpettyâ€ 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.

By: Stormin

Stormin — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:54:13 +0000

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!!!!

By: CJ

CJ — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:33:47 +0000

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.

By: Ron WI

Ron WI — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:12:51 +0000

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.

By: NY-David

NY-David — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:08:24 +0000

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

By: Doc Hal

Doc Hal — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:17:47 +0000

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

By: John O. - NYC

John O. - NYC — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:15:22 +0000

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

By: Carolyn Hileman

Carolyn Hileman — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:33:25 +0000

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