Posted by
Jim M. on Saturday, July 26, 2008 7:25:46 PM
Obama Cancels Visit With Wounded Troops
So, what was more pressing than honoring young men and women wounded in battle? Getting in a good
workout with a young and attractive German reporter, who summed up her encounter with Obama by sputtering "What a Man"? Shopping in Berlin?
Once the news was out on Obama's last minute cancellation, the Obama team took little time to go into their well rehearsed spin cycle. First, spokespeople were dispatched to claim that Obama had cancelled the visit for the benefit of the troops. He did not want to use them for a political event. Tough to view it as a political event when there are no pictures or witnesses to the visit.
Strike one.
When that excuse wasn't polling well, the Obama team blamed the Pentagon for cancelling the visit, claiming that the Pentagon has nixed the visit because it would have been
"too political". The truth is that Obama was advised, as all other candidates for office are informed, that he was welcome to come with his Senate staffers, but not with his campaign staff nor reporters.
"Sen. Obama is welcome to visit Landstuhl or any military hospital in his official capacity as a United States senator," Morrell said in a brief interview. [Geoff Morrell is a Chief Pentagon Spokesman] "But there is a DOD policy which governs campaigning and electioneering at military facilities that would have to be respected if he were to visit. That distinction was relayed and made clear to campaign, and they made a decision on their
own based on that guidance."
Morrell, in a subsequent interview, added that military officials told Obama he could only visit the military facility with his Secret Service detail and Senate staff.
"We made it clear to him that campaign staff and press would not be permitted to accompany him," Morrell said of Obama. "We relayed those ground rules. They made a choice based upon the information we relayed to them. It was their choice. We had nothing to do with it."
Strike two.
As the heat rose on the issue, Obama himself was forced to address his decision to cancel the visit. Obama arrogantly defended his action, noting he did not want his visit to be
"a distraction". With no one present to record or witness the visit, just what distraction would that be? Especially given the fact that the facility had prepared for weeks for this visit. Perhaps a distraction for Obama, but not for the troops. When asked point blank whether he thought the cancellation was a mistake, Obama responded with a firm "No".
Strike three.
Stunning. And despicable. If there was one troop visit that counted during Obama's magical mystery tour, visiting with seriously wounded troops was it.
Troops doing hard time in a sterile ward imprisoned by their injuries. Men and women who have the AUDACITY of hope to someday walk again, to see again, to speak again and to live again. In their struggle to recover, they hope, and pray. Time passes slowly. And every call, letter and visit is a treasured diversion from the toil and at times the misery of their recoveries.
They are our children. Our fathers and mothers. Our husbands and wives. Our nieces, nephews and cousins. Our neighbors and coworkers. Our comrades in arms.
A brief visit, a smile, a handshake. It means we haven't forgotten you, we're with you, and we appreciate what you have given to all of us. It means the world to a young man or woman cut off from their families and friends. And coming from a man who just may be the next President of the United States, that brief visit would prove that their sacrifice was not in vane.
Obama took the coward's way out. Since Obama had left all of his Senate staffers back in Washington, and was only accompanied by campaign workers and the press, he would have to have gone alone. Without an entourage. Without cameras. Facing the choice of making that visit alone versus remaining with his media and staff support group, he chose to avoid leaving the security of his adoring minions. He refused to walk alone and gaze into the eyes of war.
It can be a gruesome and gut wrenching sight at times. The sights, smells and sounds can be overpowering. However, it does not take a lot of courage to thank the people who have done what Obama never did nor could do. Not much time to utter the phrase "Thanks for your service and your sacrifice". Not much strength to grip the hand or pat the shoulder of someone searching for some small validation that what they lost was worthy of some small recognition. But it does require moral courage and conviction. It takes integrity and honor, to recognize integrity and honor.
Obama's excuses for his callous and disrespectful treatment of our wounded troops represent the height of arrogance. Arrogance in actually believing that well informed people would buy his story. Those of us that have served in the armed forces readily recognize those who hide their cowardice behind a facade of hastily crafted lofty ideals, and those who veil their contempt for the military with high-minded hyperbole. We know that the enemies we face are not limited to those in foreign lands. We have received a rare glimpse of just who that man is behind the curtain.
What a man, indeed. I truly hope it was a good workout.