'Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting'

[JJC]

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.

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.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/polit...President.html

Do you think Obama responded inappropriately or NBC is just picking at a non issue here?

[Jobu]

non-issue .

[Hogan]

Originally Posted by JJC

Do you think Obama responded inappropriately or NBC is just picking at a non issue here?

The guy that wrote this article is a regular Obama basher. Move along....

[Sarig]

I think he was somewhat inappropriate but that it isn't worth making a big issue out of how Obama was inappropriate instead of the shooting itself. I find the latter a somewhat more serious issue.

[shocker1]

non issue but I was expecting him to start off his speech with Fort Hood. However this is trivial and not something I would count against him.

[Bruisercruiser]

I don't think it's a major issue but the intro was not done well. I do remember thinking, "Did I just hear the President of the United States say he was giving a shout-out right before leading into the tragedy at Ft. Hood?"

[JJC]

Originally Posted by Bruisercruiser

I don't think it's a major issue but the intro was not done well. I do remember thinking, "Did I just hear the President of the United States say he was giving a shout-out right before leading into the tragedy at Ft. Hood?"

That was only part that sounded weird to me, and I don't think you need a team of "communications advisers" to tell you it won't look appropriate when you give out "shout outs" before condolences.

[bono]

Subtle but unmistakeable. Nuanced. Metaphorical.

Originally Posted by Bruisercruiser

I don't think it's a major issue but the intro was not done well. I do remember thinking, "Did I just hear the President of the United States say he was giving a shout-out right before leading into the tragedy at Ft. Hood?"

[Universal_Soldier]

The Issue here is that some shameless partisans are trying to exploit a terrible tragedy and find a way to blame the President for something. Shame on all of them!!!!

[Martial]

Originally Posted by Bruisercruiser

I don't think it's a major issue but the intro was not done well. I do remember thinking, "Did I just hear the President of the United States say he was giving a shout-out right before leading into the tragedy at Ft. Hood?"

That's exactly what I was thinking. Embarrassing.

[B_706K]

I saw the interview on the live feed and knew something like this would be said. Yes it was a faux par but to say that it mean Americans should 'question his leadership' because of it is ridiculous. A slight blunder being blown out of proportion by someone with an axe to grind.

TBH in retrospect I think it was better to finish the speech on a sombre note than to end it by saying 'oh and on a lighter side thanks to XYZ for this that and the other' with big smiles.

[CMN]

This is "frightening"? Can I live in Disneyland too?

[XShipRider]

The President offered words, end of story.

[seraosha]

Y'all want some kleenix to wipe your chins with?

The "Great Orator" screwed up...not a big deal, but really...where is the polished delivery we have cum to expect?

[FullMetalJackass]

Originally Posted by Universal_Soldier

The Issue here is that some shameless partisans are trying to exploit a terrible tragedy and find a way to blame the President for something. Shame on all of them!!!!

Well that is what the shameless partisans in the liberal democrat party do, so -get over it cause it is just tit for tat.