Obama's Insensitivity Following Shooting

[Saint Therese]

Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting
A bad week for Democrats compounded by an awful moment for Barack Obama.
By ROBERT A. GEORGE
Updated 9:18 AM CST, Fri, Nov 6, 2009




President Obama didn't wait long after Tuesday's devastating elections to give critics another reason to question his leadership, but this time the subject matter was more grim than a pair of governorships.

After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations went to the president. The situation called for not only his trademark eloquence, but also grace and perspective.

But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a "shout-out" to "Dr. Joe Medicine Crow -- that Congressional Medal of Honor winner." Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. Who is advising him?

Anyone at home aware of the major news story of the previous hours had to have been stunned. An incident like this requires a scrapping of the early light banter. The president should apologize for the tone of his remarks, explain what has happened, express sympathy for those slain and appeal for calm and patience until all the facts are in. That's the least that should occur.

Dramatic Photos: Fort Hood Shooting
Dramatic Photos: Fort Hood Shooting
LOOK

Dramatic Photos: Fort Hood Shooting

2009 in Memoriam
2009 in Memoriam
LOOK

2009 in Memoriam

Indeed, an argument could be made that Obama should have canceled the Indian event, out of respect for people having been murdered at an Army post a few hours before. That would have prevented any sort of jarring emotional switch at the event.

Did the president's team not realize what sort of image they were presenting to the country at this moment? The disconnect between what Americans at home knew had been going on -- and the initial words coming out of their president's mouth was jolting, if not disturbing.

It must have been disappointing for many politically aware Democrats, still reeling from the election two days before. The New Jersey gubernatorial vote had already demonstrated that the president and his political team couldn't produce a winning outcome in a state very friendly to Democrats (and where the president won by 15 points one year ago). And now this? Congressional Democrats must wonder if a White House that has burdened them with a too-heavy policy agenda over the last year has a strong enough political operation to help push that agenda through.

If the president's communications apparatus can't inform -- and protect -- their boss during tense moments when the country needs to see a focused commander-in-chief and a compassionate head of state, it has disastrous consequences for that president's party and supporters.

All the president's men (and women) fell down on the job Thursday. And Democrats across the country have real reason to panic.

[kamiller42]

The left for years made fun of Bush reading a book to kids on 9/11. Now Obama has been caught reading a speech to American Indians during a crisis. Give that man a Nobel Peace prize!

Edited November 6, 2009 by kamiller42

[JimR-OCDS]

I see this as nothing more than political hand-ringing, by the right.


I didn't see the insensitivity by Obama, when I saw and heard him speak last evening.

Sorry if I don't go along with the proverbial tar and feathering.


Jim

[Brother Adam]

Like many of Obama's actions, he does not carry the demeanor and decorum required of the president of this country. You could tell he was simply saying what was expected of him and had no real interest in the event. 90% of what was said was not words.

[dominicansoul]

I was a little taken aback by his first words, and I wondered if he even knew he was "live" at that point...

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='JimR-OCDS' date='06 November 2009 - 02:33 PM' timestamp='1257532386' post='1997201']
I see this as nothing more than political hand-ringing, by the right.


I didn't see the insensitivity by Obama, when I saw and heard him speak last evening.

Sorry if I don't go along with the proverbial tar and feathering.


Jim
[/quote]
Its not proverbial, its deserved. If President Bush acted in like manner he would he equally condemned.

[Nihil Obstat]

Every little mistake brings him that much closer to not being in office anymore.

[JimR-OCDS]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='06 November 2009 - 02:48 PM' timestamp='1257533306' post='1997215']
Its not proverbial, its deserved. If President Bush acted in like manner he would he equally condemned.
[/quote]


I left-wing websites, Bush was condemned. In right-wing sites, he was defended.

Its just a reversal of political affiliation now. Left wing sites are defending Obama
as right wing sights condemn him..

We should follow neither of these political agendas, but always be rooted in Christian charity.

I personally, didn't see Obama being insensitive toward the victims at Fr Hood.

Jim

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='JimR-OCDS' date='06 November 2009 - 02:54 PM' timestamp='1257533646' post='1997221']
I left-wing websites, Bush was condemned. In right-wing sites, he was defended.

Its just a reversal of political affiliation now. Left wing sites are defending Obama
as right wing sights condemn him..

We should follow neither of these political agendas, but always be rooted in Christian charity.

I personally, didn't see Obama being insensitive toward the victims at Fr Hood.

Jim
[/quote]
I did. The first thing out of his mouth should have been about the murder of unarmed soldiers in the US. He is supposed to be commander in chief. Nothing else has precedence over such a tragedy, and if he is incapable of deviating from a set speech then he shouldn't be in office.

[dominicansoul]

...when you think about it, on 9/11, prez bush was reading to a bunch of little kids when he was told about the attacks...he calmly went back to reading not to disturb the little kids...because of this reaction, he was mercilessly attacked by the haters in the media and the dems...

obama went from schmoozing some guy in the audience and accepting laughter and applause to trying to be solemn and serious in his comments about the shooting at Ft. Hood...it was not natural...a very cold response...was it him being insensitive? My question is, when is he ever sensitive??

[JimR-OCDS]

dominicansoul

date='06 November 2009 - 03:31 PM' timestamp='1257535881' post='1997256']
...when you think about it, on 9/11, prez bush was reading to a bunch of little kids when he was told about the attacks...he calmly went back to reading not to disturb the little kids...because of this reaction, he was mercilessly attacked by the haters in the media and the dems...

[quote]My question is, when is he ever sensitive??[/quote]

Did you read about his visit to Dover AFB, to meet the coffins of the returning soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan?

Of course he's sensitive.

Jim

[zunshynn]

That's pretty much what I would expect from a guy who flew to Iraq for a PR shoot with soldiers and then after taking a couple pictures went to play basketball until his plane was ready to leave.

I don't have a problem so much with him delivering the speech still, but he should have addressed the shooting for. It's like he doesn't have a clue what's going on and needs someone to tell him what he should be doing every ten seconds.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='JimR-OCDS' date='06 November 2009 - 03:43 PM' timestamp='1257536629' post='1997274']
dominicansoul

date='06 November 2009 - 03:31 PM' timestamp='1257535881' post='1997256']
...when you think about it, on 9/11, prez bush was reading to a bunch of little kids when he was told about the attacks...he calmly went back to reading not to disturb the little kids...because of this reaction, he was mercilessly attacked by the haters in the media and the dems...



Did you read about his visit to Dover AFB, to meet the coffins of the returning soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan?

Of course he's sensitive.

Jim
[/quote]
another photo op?

[kamiller42]

[quote name='JimR-OCDS' date='06 November 2009 - 02:43 PM' timestamp='1257536629' post='1997274']
Did you read about his visit to Dover AFB, to meet the coffins of the returning soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan?
[/quote]
Didn't have to read it. We can just see it. He made sure the press and their cameras were there to report his compassion. I also remember his compassion when he went to Germany and played basketball instead of visiting the wounded military because cameras weren't allowed in the hospital.

I finally saw the video this story is addressing. He does come off as insensitive, like accolades and applause take higher priority. As zunshynn said, he should have addressed the shooting and then proceeded with his speech as normal, including the opening atta-boys.

[JimR-OCDS]

[quote name='kamiller42' date='06 November 2009 - 04:05 PM' timestamp='1257537959' post='1997284']
Didn't have to read it. We can just see it. He made sure the press and their cameras were there to report his compassion. I also remember his compassion when he went to Germany and played basketball instead of visiting the wounded military because cameras weren't allowed in the hospital.

I finally saw the video this story is addressing. He does come off as insensitive, like accolades and applause take higher priority. As zunshynn said, he should have addressed the shooting and then proceeded with his speech as normal, including the opening atta-boys.
[/quote]


Actually, the overnight trip to Dovear AFB was not announced to the press or even his staff, who only learned at the end of the day, that they were going to be working late.

Jim

[Sojourner]

[quote name='JimR-OCDS' date='06 November 2009 - 03:10 PM' timestamp='1257538239' post='1997286']
Actually, the overnight trip to Dovear AFB was not announced to the press or even his staff, who only learned at the end of the day, that they were going to be working late.

Jim
[/quote]
Yet somehow, the press managed to make it there. And, were able to photograph Obama after the administration [url="http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/02/dover.html"]lifted the ban[/url] on photographing coffins of deceased service members.

[dominicansoul]

*sigh*...i guess what I was trying to say was, how can a man who supports infanticide have any compassion???

He's very hard to read...I've seen him smile and laugh...but even that seemed to be staged...most of the time obama seems very dry and emotionless...sometimes even more so than that cardboard, Al Gore...

[JimR-OCDS]

[quote name='dominicansoul' date='06 November 2009 - 04:54 PM' timestamp='1257540881' post='1997319']
*sigh*...i guess what I was trying to say was, how can a man who supports infanticide have any compassion???

He's very hard to read...I've seen him smile and laugh...but even that seemed to be staged...most of the time obama seems very dry and emotionless...sometimes even more so than that cardboard, Al Gore...
[/quote]


He does't support infanticide, but thats a different subject.


Jim

Edited November 6, 2009 by JimR-OCDS

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

I'm not sure that it truly is insensitivity, just because I really have no idea how his brain works. I know he is human, and that he has an immense amount of stress put on him because of the position he is in. I also know that he should have been aware that this would be a demanding and draining position to hold.

I was taken aback by his informal opening, but if I think about it, he is the 'choice' of the 'youth'. He has a need to appear hip and youthful, without the formality, or 'stodginess' as some may define it, that we expect from a man in that position. He is appealing to those who got him where he is. He needs to keep that connection to keep credibility.

I can understand that the press conference was for another event, but I was also surprised on just how long it took for him to actually address the incident. We see much more of a man's true character showing when tragedies and the unforeseen happen.

I agree that the tragedy ought to have precedence over his other comments. It is a shame that his comments were carried out in this manner. We knew this was going to be an interesting presidency from the get-go. Let's pray and see where things go from here. He is only human after all...

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='JimR-OCDS' date='06 November 2009 - 04:56 PM' timestamp='1257540963' post='1997322']
He does't support infanticide, but thats a different subject.


Jim
[/quote]
Yes he does.