On Memorial Day, the Vietnam Memorial in D.C. is supposed to look like this:
Instead, for seven long hours, it looked like this:
Obama’s secret service shut down the memorial for most of the day, as families and veterans who had come to pay their respects to fallen loved ones were forced to stay hundreds of feet away.
Why? So that the Narcissist-in-Chief could show up for a 15-minute speech and photo-op with his carefully selected fans in the audience.
In his campaign speech remarks, Obama made sure to mention that:
“As long as I’m president, we will make sure you and your loved ones will receive the benefits you’ve earned and the respect you deserve,” Obama said. “America will be there for you.”
Wow. How did our veterans ever get their benefits before the benevolent Obamessiah came to office? Is that his argument for why they should vote for him? Because their benefits are only available “as long as I’m president?” Perhaps he’s hoping they’ll forget that he suspended hazard pay for deployed U.S. troops, terminated 157 Air Force Majors without retirement benefits, and proposed a budget that would cut healthcare benefits for active duty and retired US military while protecting union benefits.
Brian Trubee left this comment on Weasel Zippers:
I just received this e-mail from a brother in arms who I served with as a USAF pararecueman. A link to his e-mail is at the bottom of the message. I deleted the photos because the server rejected them. -Brian Trubee, Redmond, Washington.:
I am currently in Washington DC and witnessed the following. I saw this first hand and I bet you won’t hear about this from the Liberal media…
Vietnam veterans and the families of Vietnam veterans killed in action whose names are etched on the Wall were denied access to their memorial today, of all days, Memorial Day. The Vietnam Memorial was shutdown, cleared and secured for approximately 5 hours prior to Obama, his cronies and hand picked veterans for a 15 minute appearance by Obama. It’s obvious it was all for show. After all, this is an election year.
Hundreds if not thousands of Vietnam veterans and families of Vietnam veterans killed in Vietnam stood in disbelief as Secret Service, Park Police, Washington DC Police, etc., blocked all access to the Vietnam Memorial and kept everyone approximately 100 yards away from their memorial for the first time in the history of the Memorial so Obama could get some photos of him at the Wall. Veterans in uniforms stood in the heat angered as Obama makes them wait. It was a photo op at their expense and families of those killed in Vietnam.
As I stated, I was there and witnessed all of this. Many veterans and others flipped Obama the finger as his motorcade drove past. I didn’t honor him with a finger salute because I was busy holding up my 3′x5′ Don’t Tread on Me Flag as his motorcade drove past.
On another note, I was able to dedicate some port-o potties to Jane Fonda. Pictures attached. Maybe Obama should share this honor with Jane Fonda henceforth.
– Jim Morris
Kristinn at Free Republic confirms the story:
So this is how Obozo honors those who served….I just had this passed on from a friend who was at the wall this morning:
I normally try to avoid political statements, but this one is a bit different. This was received by Colonel Wayne Morris just a few moments ago, who was refused access to the Vietnam War Memorial, where he has visited his fallen comrades for the last 15 years.
Today is Memorial Day and I went to the Vietnam Memorial and something happened there that upset me greatly and I want to pass it on.
For over 15 years I had been going with my dear Marine buddy, Larry Cullen. Since he passed away last year and was interned at Arlington Cemetery, I went this year accompanied by my grandson, Cameron. I had my list of Recon Marines, school classmates, and Larry’s fallen buddies to visit but, as we got close to the area of the National Mall where the Wall is located, we saw huge white tents. We also saw barricades all along Constitution Ave and for a couple blocks in each direction from the Wall. They even closed down all of Constitution Av from the Lincoln Memorial all the way to the WW-II Memorial and there was a virtual army of uniformed and plain-clothes security everywhere.
The biggest tent was right at the west end of the Wall entrance and there was a covered walkway leading right up to The Wall. It was so close, you couldn’t get to the Wall on that side so, my grandson and I went all the way around to the eastern entrance to the Wall and walked down along the Wall to the first of my names and I began telling my grandson about my buddies and how each one died. In short order, a guy in a dark suit and earpiece in his ear told us we had to leave as it was 0730 and they were closing Memorial until at least 1400 so the President could drop by. I asked if he was serious and he assured me he was. We and all the other veterans and families were forced to leave and it was locked down.
The Vietnam Memorial is the most visited site on the entire National Mall. Memorial Day has more visitors to the Vietnam Memorial than almost any other day. Even at the rather early hour Cameron and I were there, there were a lot of veterans and family members down there. In the midst of all that, Obama decides to close it for over seven hours just so he can roll by for 30 minutes in the afternoon for a campaign appearance with Democrats, supporters, and campaign donors? This is an incredulously arrogant, egotistical, and inconsiderate thing to do. What in hell was Obama thinking?
Hey President Obama: Since you ran me (and all the other veterans and family members) out of the Memorial before we finished our business there, how about doing me a favor. If you can take a short break from all the grippin’, grinnin’, posin’ and pontificatin’, how about taking a minute or two to stop by and say hello to my fellow Recon Marines and other classmates on the Wall. I suspect you’ll be too busy with photo ops, campaigning, and stroking donors to be troubled with a couple minutes doing what the Memorial was built for but, just in case, here’s a list so you can have your man find them and point them out to you. Hope you have a Meaningful Memorial Day.
Joseph J. JONES; 53-W-02
Sherwood David Kreis, 42-W-40
Dale Kagebein, 34-W-50
Jerry Bock, 25-W-95
Larry Daniels, 09-E- 66
Joe Mack Kemp, 09-E-69
Rhonda L. Raglan, 09-E-70
Robert L. Studards, 09-E-71
Jose D. Flores, 09-E-74
Arthur Willie Greene, 14-E-56
Eric Barnes, 17-E-41
Godfried Blankenship, 17-E-48
Michael Ray Smith, 19-E-113
Ervin Lovell, 19-E-120
William D. Martin, 25-E- 87
Michael L. Laporte, 26-E-1
Ronald Frederick Kitzke, 32-E-76
Charles Harris, 34-E-48
Robert Tracy, 34-E-72
Michael G. Murdock, 36-E-57
Maybe it would have been better for everyone if Obama had just gone golfing like last year. Unfortunately, this is what veterans and their families have to suffer when Obama is in full campaign mode.
No wonder a recent Gallup poll showed veterans prefer Mitt Romney to Obama, 58% to 34%.
H/T Jan Weeks
UPDATE: The National Park Service, Public Affairs, and Vietnam Veterans of America all confirmed the shut-down when contacted by phone. VVA said that all the guests had to be pre-screened for security reasons, and it would have been “very difficult” to give advance notice to all the families and vets who arrived to find it closed.
Cross posted at ThoughtsFromAConservativeMom.com
Audrey LeBlanc
May 28, 2012
I think I’m going to be sick!!!!!
warren Teafatiller
May 31, 2012
It is unfortunate a few thousand people had to wait to see the wall and honor those fallen heroes, indeed. However; since JFK no president has enacted more policies to support the hiring of our veterans. Look it up! I am a former US MARINE and I have never received more support than I have in the past few years by our VA. He has taken a very aggressive approach to working with the Veterans Administration. That speech was delivered to over 35 Million homes and likely several million were able to HEAR what he said and listen to his speech. Too bad we have so many short sided one dimensional thinkers out there. It was a privilege to see him there and I look forward to voting for him in 2012! Oh, and if someone wants to go to DC and expects not to stand in line for a few hours, you have another thing coming. Obama 2012!
Robert Miller
May 31, 2012
Thank you for your service to OUR COUNTRY but do you understand what YOUR President ( not mine ) is doing to this country ? Apparently NOT !
Donald Town
June 2, 2012
All Obama does is Pander for votes, it’s not about AMERICA, It’s all about himself. Even George Jefferson won’t vote for him.
JoDee
June 3, 2012
My husband is a Vietnam Vet., and I would be insulted if obama (his name’s not worthy of a capital “O,” in my opinion), even spoke my husband’s name! He’s a fraud! He’s a disgrace to America, and an insult to those who refused to vote for him…and those who helped to put him office – I can’t believe you’re so dumb you can’t see what his ambitions are…Can’t you see through this man? How could you trust our great country to this poor excuse for a human, much less the president of the USA! You don’t have to have a college degree to understand this man and what he’s after… Wake up! Enough damage has been done to America by this fraud!!
BCK51
June 8, 2012
What’s all this got to do with the President of the United States honoring Vietnam Veterans?
And the “your president, not mine” statement is a cop out. Unless you’re leaving the country and giving up your citizenship – he’s your President too. You’re either supportive of our country or you’re a “Know Nothing” (look it up). Regardless of who sits in the White House, we should all be hopeful that our country does well in the future. Or if you think that we should insult and interfere for 4 years when the person you didn’t vote for wins, then please do seek another nation to live in.
So, put aside the politics in topics like Memorial Day and veterans – it’s un-American!
PVC850
June 17, 2012
To BCK51 and all of you idiots that voted for this Communist, Muslim Bastard, I do not claim him as my president either. He is destroying everything our military men and women have fought and died for. You better be prepared to become a Communist Muslim yourself if he is voted in again, because all the freedoms you have now that our military has fought for will be gone! Then tell me how you feel about this so called president of YOURS.
Doc Shannon
May 31, 2012
You may be a former Marine Mr. Teafatiller, but I would bet a lot you are not a Vietnam Veteran. It is obvious from your comments that you do not understand the significance of the Vietnam Memorial to those of us who served there and to the families of those killed in Vietnam.
Matter of fact, I bet you were never forward deployed in a war zone or surely you would understand.
Bryan Kroelinger
May 31, 2012
I guess there’s more than one way to look at this. Mr. President goes to honor vets that served in Nam. It’s an HONOR for the President to do this. That people had to wait a few extra hours is an inconvenience, nothing more, nothing less. BTW, this was an effort by more than Obama, he was just the keynote speaker in a ceremony that would have been held anyways.
BTW #2 President Obama is not the first, and won’t be the last, President to “inconvenience” a few veterans and veterans families on Memorial Day.
It’s Washington DC, it’s Memorial Day, for Crissakes this should be expected!
No offense, and I thank you for your service, but some of you Viet Nam vets think your shit just doesn’t stink, that you walk on water, that you are the most abused class of people on the planet. You know what? Plenty of people have suffered in war, not just your “special” group. So grow the fuck up, dump the “entitlement” mentality and join the rest of the world. Your outright hatred for all things “Liberal” is just a sign that you have not learned to cope with the past, nor let go of it. Some of the most hateful things I read on-line come from you Viet Nam vets.
Get some counseling if you have to.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. On Memorial Day, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta launched a national effort to commemorate the conflict in Southeast Asia.
President Obama delivered the keynote address at the ceremony held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall, which included speeches by Sec. Panetta, Chairman of Joints Chief of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey and former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), a Vietnam veteran. Actor Tom Sellick was Master of Ceremonies.
The Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemoration Program, which honors veterans and those missing-in-action as well military families on the home front, is a partnership between the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, veterans groups, state, local government and non-government organizations. The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the Secretary of Defense to initiate the commemoration program.”
Anthony Wilson
June 1, 2012
Wake up dumb ass!
Mike
June 1, 2012
Wow! Do you have an attitude or what. I shouldn’t even dignify your post by answering it but your attitude about Vietnam vets is over the top. It is pretty obvious that you never were drafted into the service and sent to fight an unpopular war under incompetent political leadership, did your mandatory 2 years and then came back to a country that spit on you and called you a baby killer. So don’t be surprised that a bit of bitterness hangs on after that kind of betrayal. And for your information most Vietnam vets reintegrated very well into society, made successes of themselves and don’t even like to talk about it, especially the combat veterans.
Thank God that the returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are being honored at least in words. Each and every one of their lives are precious.
I apologize to all for the rant here but the, probably far lefty, poster really pushed a button with me. Nuff said.
I'm speechless
June 1, 2012
Did you really just use the phrase, “drop the entitlement mentality” while defending your position as a Liberal?
Just so you’re aware….when other presidents have gone to the memorials on MD, they didn’t shut it down. They had their SS members but they didn’t force anyone away. It’s not like the people could just ‘come back tomorrow.’ It was Memorial Day. They had to stand there and wait, without an idea of how long, until they could go and honor their loved ones.
Here’s one for you. Bush was NOT a good president. But Obama has already played more rounds of golf in 1 term than Bush did during both. After Bush began the WOT, he stated that he would NOT go and play anymore golf when he knows he had sent his troops to go fight in a war. Additionally, he would always get shit for “going to the ranch.” Michelle has taken trips all over the world with her daughters and their friends, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on trips to HI, Aspen, the like without any political agenda attached; strictly for pleasure. At least Bush was going to his own home and not shutting down cities while he went on vacation. There’s two words that separate the previous POTUS and the turd we have in office now; Respect and Honor. Obama has neither and the same goes for his flunkies. Don’t ever tell anyone to “drop the entitlement mentality” again, so long as you are a Liberal. That’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one.
K. Mitch
June 7, 2012
You do realize it reads like you just called “Jr” Respectable and Honorable…………
johnny
June 2, 2012
Most people who have put their lives on the line for you to be able to spout your rethoric resent that the “Apologizer-in-Chief” has done so much to move this country away from the constitution that many have died to protect so that people “like you” can spout your obvious hatred for their dedicated service. When Rambo was asked “What do you want?” he answered, “for my country to love me as much as I love it”. I think that most Vietnam vets must have twinges of these feelings because of what they experienced upon their return to their homeland. For individuals like you who obviously support a government that seeks to destroy the constitution and the American way of life, it must be interesting to live in “la la” land and imagine all the benefits of Socialism and Communisum as you choose to disrespect all that has been handed to you to enjoy at the cost in blood so that you can enjoy the arrogance of your thinking and actions. A vetern? I doubt it. You perhaps served on the staff of some Politician as the “security detail” assigned to protect his worthless being. If you were actually a vetern who has seen action, you may not agree with the stand of others but one thing all ACTUAL veterns respect is the earned right to speak their mind and the right THEY EARNED FOR THE REST OF US TO SPEAK OURS!
G Sutherland
June 2, 2012
Koleinger you might call yourself a Marine but you would not make a pimple on a Marine’s Ass by the way I am a Vietnam Veteran and damm Proud of it as far as a few supporters being locked out of their own Memoral by your President ( not mine) over 10 thousand vbisit that Memorial in the period of 7 hours .Obama is not the only President has spoke there on that day but he is the only one to lock out the Veterans on that day !!! by the way POS don’t ever meet me on the road and let me know who you are.
MST1 USN
John
June 5, 2012
Semper Fi, Marine!
Raven
June 3, 2012
You want to talk “inconvenience?” Try talking to those whose names are on the wall. They and their families and friends come first, not some politician trying to score points.
RENE
June 3, 2012
BRYAN, YOU SOUND LIKE A TEENYBOPPER. I’M NOT A US VET. I’M JUST A MOM OF 5 ADULT CHILDREN. I BELIEVE ANTHONY WILSON HAS YOU PEGGED, WAKE UP.
Dvious1
June 4, 2012
Brian Kroelinger, you are one of the most vile indiviuals I have had the displeasure to read in print in a very long time. HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE THAT FOUGHT IN VIETNAM!!!! I do so wish I had the opportunity to be within three feet of you because I would surely knock the snot out of you. You come across as a fairly educated individual, but you really do need a lesson in respect for those that have come before you. I would venture to say that you have NEVER sat down with some of these men and women to discuss what they went through abroad or worse, what the went through upon their return. You sir, are the one in need of counselling as you should learn to have compassion for those that did battle so you would not have to. I say THANK YOU to all Vietnam Vets for all that you have done. I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE.
Jmark
June 5, 2012
The NDAA also classified US Citizens as permissable war targets….You are blind.
War Vet
June 7, 2012
They could have done the 50 year anniversary on any other day of the year beides memorial day. A better day might have been perhaps the first day we sent our troops there or the day our last troop came home.
K. Mitch
June 7, 2012
It is nice to see someone with intelligence making such a statement instead of constantly having to hear all the “Obama Haters” complaining, bashing, and basically making an arse out of themselves because they hate having an African-American Liberal-Friendly President! Awww those poor old rich WASPS lost a bunch of money when “their” candidate lost 4 years ago. And don’t you just love how not all, but many use “Veterans” as a shield and cover for what they REALLY want…. lower taxes and higher profits for the American upper crust income brackets! BTW, I am White, Christian, and my family tree has generations of VETS from before WW-1 to my little brother who is a Sergeant in the Marine Corp, and yes he had a RPG shot at him, he’s been there and done that. Thank you so much Bryan!
K. Mitch doesn't have a CLUE.
June 7, 2012
You have got to be joking. First of all, you have already embarrassed yourself as well as your fellow Liberals by trying to claim that we dislike Obama because he is black. That shows how racist YOU actually are and everything following that statement was just flushed down the toilet. What kind of idiot would make such a outrageous claim like that?
Secondly, you and I are both of the lower 50% of Americans. K. Mitch, do you not understand that half of this country, our half, only pays 3% of the total taxes collected by the IRS? HALF OF THE PEOPLE ONLY PAY 3% OF ALL TAXES! Does that not register in your little Liberal head? The top 1% pays 40% of ALL taxes collected by the IRS. ONLY 1% OF THE POPULATION PAYS 40% OF ALL OF OUR TAXES. The top 50% of Americans pay a total of 97% of all taxes. So half of Americans, you and I included, aren’t paying shit. All you Liberals have in common is that you are lazy, unsuccessful, and want those who already pay MORE THAN their fair share, to give you more entitlements. You are pathetic. “Oh those bad bad rich people. They should pay more taxes; even though they pay 40% of all of the taxes by themselves. I just want a president who will give me more free stuff and make other people pay for it. That’s what America is all about.”
K. Mitch, you should be embarrassed by your post. First you make a bold claim that everyone in here is a bunch of racists. Then, you criticise the rich who make your life possible. You are obviously ignorant and don’t have a damn clue about any of America’s economics. If you are so upset by the rich, why are you giving them so much money? Every time you go watch a movie, listen to music, go to a sporting event, you are supporting the rich. Idiots like you, pretend like the rich are some faceless enemy who is some CEO of a large company. Most of those rich are your beloved celebrities and you are all too stupid to realize it. The difference between your celebrities and the CEO’s is the CEO’s invest money into starting businesses and create jobs. What jobs did Lebron James create when he accepted $48M from Nike to wear a little symbol? Go ahead, do your best to vote to take money away from the rich. What will follow will end our economy. The celebrities will continue to collect your money that you pay to them. The CEO’s…..well, they don’t need to work because they have a ton of cash. So instead of paying ridiculous taxes, they’ll stop investing and go hang out in their mansions for the rest of their lives. Jobs will be lost and company stocks will plummet.
You’re an imbecile…..
BCK51
June 8, 2012
Well said.
For those vets who did have to wait the entire 5 hours before they could visit the Wall up close, you should be thankful that you’re still here today to be able to pay tribute at all. If you are truly vets, you should be tough enough to handle the heat and the wait. That’s what we did…we waited and we waited a lot. There’s 50,000+ names of our fallen comrades on the Wall that cannot.
And the insults and single-finger salutes that some say they displayed – disgraceful! We, as military veterans, should be honored that the President of the United States participated in such a ceremony and his remarks were a tribute to those who served during that time – in theater or not – because when we came home we all endured what the President called a shameful response by Americans for the service and sacrifice we all made.
I know it’s an election year – but show some dignity and keep your politics to yourself. Do it for those listed on the wall. Because when you don’t, the rest of us then know you are without honor.
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
The flip off salutes shows just why he needs so much protection. He and the nasty, nasty SS know how much he is hated by the vast majority of our military vets. Hey even the SS has a low, low, low opinion of him with all the naughty things they have been up to, telling people security stuff. Wonder how it is nothing serious happened. Hmmmmmmmmm
Linda Collins
June 11, 2012
Oh my. I bet you have one of those ‘civility now’ bumper stickers, too.
Unfreakingbelievable. You are a total jerk.
PVC850
June 17, 2012
He was not there to show respect for the fallen or their family’s,
and he has done nothing good for our veterans. He is there not to honor anyone but himself.
Hunter576
June 23, 2012
I would reply to this however I am sure the profanity filter would kick it out.
Unless you have walked a mile in our shoes then shut the F_____ up!
Faith
June 3, 2012
I didn’t think there was such a thing as a “former” U.S. Marine.
Gahnzo55
June 8, 2012
Doc, I would be surprised if he actually made it through boot, and if he did, I’d guess he was out within a year. Doing something like this is the act of a desperate man (Obama)…..Perhaps, if he would stop listening to the a** kissers that surround him, or quit believing all the hype he himself says (or his press releases) he’d actually see how disrespectful he was/is/will be to our military men and women… but that is asking waaaay to much of this man. I just can’t wait for November to make the change. I’m bringing all my conservative friends to the polls, and hell since there have been so many states that do not want to have voter ID I’m going to bring a vanload of people to the polls.. have em all vote for Mitt… Heck, maybe I’ll get a bus and bring them in. Take em around to various polling places and vouch for every one of em.. Maybe we should just join the Democrats in their folly and do the same that they do.. Vote early.. and vote often….
Douglas Larabel
May 31, 2012
What a Dumb Shit
R. Parnell
June 1, 2012
If Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, and Bush 43, felt secure enough to speak to ALL those gathered at the Wall, why does the current Occupier in Chief not feel the same way? The man thinks of only himself.
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
think about why he is fearful….THINK…all those former and current military, most of which despise him….think.
Paris Gannon
June 1, 2012
WOW!!! I even have doubts that you were ever a Marine! Any other Marine that I know would never use the word “former” in front on Marine! “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.” is just one of the things I hear coming out of my Husband, 2 sons & all their friends, who are REAL Marines!
Anthony Wilson
June 1, 2012
You sound more like an Ex Marine than a former Marine. Most former Marines I know wouldn’t give you two cents for Odumbo. Where have you been? Check all the vet benefits he’s tried to diminish or do away with. I spent 4+ years in Vietnam and am retired military. I see what a wonderful supporter of the military this dumb ass is. Wake up and get a life.
Ray
June 1, 2012
the only thing you are former of is reality. this dumbass has tried to do away with Tricare that we have earned. he wants to do away with a retirement system all together..I am a VietNam Marine and proud to have served my country for 20 years the first time and them aske to come back for another year..just remember in 1991, it wasn’t your dumb ass that welcomed the troops home, it was the VietNam veterans and their families..so you can keep your lying friend in office and his racist wife who by the way does not like our country or our flag…Semper Fi to those Marines that deserve it because you sure don’t..
remember also this president wanted any wounded personnel pay for their own medical when they returned home since it is a voluntary service…
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
he wants to destroy our miltary….shows it in everything he does and says.
Gary Baxter
June 1, 2012
I too am a Vietnam veteran and I have a totally different opinion of BHO. This is the guy that when he took office he proposed that service members that were injured or wounded in combat pay for their own medical expenses. His rationale was that they volunteered so they should cover their own medical expenses. He is also the one that proposed that service members in a hostile area should be paid “combat pay” only for days that they were personally fired upon. They would be paid $7.50 per day that they were fired upon and would some how have to prove it. And lastly, today (6-1-2012) I was to recieve my monthly VA dissability check and it did not arrive. I called and was told it may not be paid any longer.
Patriot
June 1, 2012
To Warren Teafatiller .
I am for Obama 2012 as well, I am for sending him home looking for another job.
You must have forgotten that it was Obama who said that military people should have to pay for their own insurance, afterall they are all volunteers. Who the hell pays for his medical insurance etc., (after all, he volunteered to run for office, he was not drafted, so he should pay for all his and his families total medical and health insurance) sure isn’t him. It is we tax payers.
Mike Lacey
June 2, 2012
This just goes to show you not all marines are smart marines! How could you vote for a communist jackass that is trying to make you as a vet pay for your own health ins? It is because of ignorant welfare leftist dingbats like your self we are in the posistion we are in right now! That idiot is dismantling the constitution that you and he swore an oath to defend! You disgrace me sir as I hold our vets close to my heart and ANYONE who would side with this marxist, communist, socialist, idealogic dictator while he deprived real heroes and their families from visiting the memorial on memorial day is a disgrace to the flag as well! Good day and good luck, you will be out on your ass with him in january!
ron Calub
June 2, 2012
Way to go Warren, appreciate the good words you spoke about the good work the President has done for the VA All vets should be thankful for his efforts to make sure the veterans get what they earned.
Obama 2012 Semper Fi
Ron Calub is clueless
June 2, 2012
Yes Ron, I should be thankful that my GI Bill (which I am overly grateful for) was reduced in benefits by Obummer; breaking a promise I was given and is why I chose to join the military. I am also thankful that he proposed closing down all commessary on all bases. Yes, I should be thankful my wife received the smallest annual pay increase ever, because of Obummer. As we know, promotions in the military are nothing but a stripe and higher responsibility. Pay increase only comes in the form of an extra $20 a month, once a year. Yes, I should be thankful that being medically retired from the military as a kid in his mid 20’s, Obama wants me to pay more for my Tricare insurance, violating the contract I signed when I enlisted 7 years ago. Yes, Obama has been great. You are clueless and all of you Obamazombies are literally the cancer of America. It’s not even an opinion. Under this regime and political mentality, we have never strayed father away from American values and come closer to total economic collapse. You truly are going to put us all on the street and you can’t even realize it…..such a shame.
Donald Town
June 2, 2012
WAKE UP and don’t fall for Nobama’s false statements. A REAL birth certificate still hasn’t been produced for this PLASTIC man. He’s a fraud with big political money backing him up. We’ll all be sorry if this man returns to office. He’ll promise you the world to get elected. Put US citizens back to work and get rid of Obama. “PLEASE”
Jim
June 3, 2012
I don’t know how old Warren is but it’s possible he missed his 15 minutes in civics slass or maybe he skipped the day the Constitution was taught. The presidend can do nothing for or against veterans. The only thing he has is the “Bully Pulpit.” He?she can make all the proposals they want but it is all up to congress as to what is dine at the VA. Congress creates the rules and provides the money. A president can wrap any proposals around himself/herself but as far as law goes, the president can only sign a bill.
Donald Town
June 2, 2012
You are related or part of Obamas Communist Party and probably planted here to support this Pied Piper of a world destroyer. I never was involved in politics before, but Obama is a “WORLD THREAT” Search YouTube for the FEMA Camps. It’s frightening!
johnny beach
June 3, 2012
you need to turn in your Globe and Anchor
Michael B.
June 4, 2012
why couldnt Obama have done the photo op and speech the day or even week before memorial day and then just broadcast it on memorial day
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
Because it’s all about him…not about our war dead…or our active duty soldiers.b
FK.; US Army 269 EOD, DaNang '72
June 4, 2012
Hey, Teafatiller:
As my mother once said (she served in WWII and retired, Honorably, as a Corporal, US Marines) “Son, not every Marine is a Saint.”
How well you so prove this point (I found, as a youth, to be so surprising as she spoke those words,) but now, from your own mouth… so sad, but so true.
As she always, also, said… God Bless The United States of America, Semper Fi !
.
Zip Trower, USN
June 4, 2012
It was a good speech Mr. Teafatiller. The person who wrote it did an excellent job. However, it is a shame that our current President was the one to read it. This man has no idea what it means to don a uniform and put himself in harm’s way. His comments of support go against all he stands for, and the disrespect shown for the veterans that came back in the early 70’s was fueled by the mindset of his closest friends and supporters. A man of false words he is. And for you, if you are a former Marine, to possess such a ‘Chris Matthews’ adoration of this Socialist, is a sad reminder of the ill-informed who elected him in the first place.
Brendan A. (Mac) McLoughlin
June 4, 2012
I agree with you. As a Vietnam vet, I was moved by our President’s speech and was pleased that he took the time to recognize all veterans for our service. It’s unfortunate that the ‘haters’ look for ways to disparage OUR President regardless of how much he has done to try to improve the lives of so many Americans.
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
You have GOT to be effing kidding. Where have you been since Nov 2008… oh, that’s right in a hole where vermin such as yourself and BO are spit out of. Yes, hatred and and unabashed and unapologetic vitriole coming from me….. like about 300,000,000 LEGAL Americans and let’s not include many not from our country! Ummmm, Russia just so showing us the love because of our dipshit President. How could voters have been so stupid…do they really want to be Greece when no one is working anymore? I know that BO does….
Pat1
June 5, 2012
Smoke & Mirrors till he gets his second term….then bend over. His plans are far reaching and deadly to the American citizen. Read Obamacare! Read what he will hand to the Soviet union. Read what will be taxed in the future. And hope you are in good health!
We are headed to a train wreck with ohnoblama at the wheel/throttle!
Sharon Reese
June 5, 2012
You can’t say that about our former Presidents. Obama thinks of nothing but himself and family and how much money he can spend
Disgusted!
June 7, 2012
I didn’t think there was such a thing as a “former” Marine…..Just saying.
Robert Rudd
June 7, 2012
Why don’t you just marry Obama? Seems you’re so in love with him…
Retired RCMCC
June 7, 2012
Only a candidate for the loonie bin would vote for him. He has cut off medical aid to your grandma and grandpa. He lets doctors murder your unborn baby. He prevents us from using the oil we have so his OPEC buddies can keep gouging us and using our money to support terrorists. You ought to hang your head in shame.
Brad Johnson
June 9, 2012
Former Marine? You must be so stupid and not really been a Marine. I too receive VA benefits but I am still a Marine. Obama bin laden has been our worst president ever. Oh and let’s not forget who we should be paying tribute to on Memorial Day? A Jack a$$ who has faked his birth certificate or our fallen comrades from Vietnam and any other war or conflict? I know whom I support! Semper Fidelis Marines! I salute all our service men/women and thank them for their service. Respectfully- a Marine for life(notice it’s not former as once a Marine always a Marine)
Harriet Tobin
June 2, 2012
I am neither an ex Marine, nor someone who has been privileged in any way to serve this country. I understand that this speech was to honor the veterans who were not honored when they returned , to kick off a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the war, and to finally say thank you to those who served their country when asked to fight. wouldn’t it have been better if the President had thanked those Vets who were visiting the Monument rather than make a speech to his cronies? The Veterans belong at the wall, speeches can be made anywhere.
G Sutherland
June 2, 2012
Harriet Tobin you can ride the River with me any day of the week Thank You.
Harriet Tobin
June 3, 2012
No, THANK YOU!!!!!!
Gary Del Valle
June 3, 2012
I never have been in the military and quite frankly am not sure how I would react in a combat zone. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to be there. It makes me angry when I see that promised benifits are being cut, medical care being reduced, and congressional pay continues to rise. I respect our veterans, and any of you knot heads that feel like criticizing them is welcome to meet me somewhere so we can find out how I would react in a combat situation. All you veterans will know who I am, I am the 53 year old man who approaches all soldiers and thanks them for what they do. Long live the veterans, and long live the USA.
Hunter576
June 23, 2012
Too much crap, too little and WAY FRIGGN too late, I would bet should BHO been around when I came home, he would have been one of those hippy bastarDs throwing rocks over the fence at the Repo Depot in Oakland!
Donald Town
June 2, 2012
We can’t let this clown be re-elected. he is a big phony out for his own political pleasures. He loves America like O.J. loved Nicole. He has to be removed from office. DO NOT vote for Burack Hitler as he will destroy America. “GOD BLESS AMERICA”
Harriet Tobin
June 3, 2012
Let’s not get carried away with the use of the name Hitler. There is an enormous difference between the incompetence of Obama and the psychopathology of Hitler. Using analogies like this doesn’t help either side. Let’s stick to the facts and use them to keep Obama from reelection not exaggerated emotional tirades.
BALL2012
June 26, 2012
“HIS ARROGANCE” Continues To Show How OUT-OF-TOUCH Obama IS To The Rank & File Americans. Every Soldier Should Be OUTRAGED By His Actions & Treachery To America!
chris mcmullen
May 28, 2012
Why am I not surprised? This is typical behavior of our used-car-salesman-in-chief.
Ty Raddue
May 29, 2012
Woah…that is a slap in the face of any & all used car salesmen. :-3)
weeone
May 29, 2012
Hay Hay Hay quite insulting used car salesmen like that, not one of them can lie like BO
John
June 1, 2012
Most intelligent people can spell “hey”.
jack
June 2, 2012
Drop dead, Johnny.
His spelling has nothing to do with the truth of his words.
Melinda
May 29, 2012
This man is an absolute disgrace! Does he not even realize that for our military Memorial Day is not just an day off work to grill out and drink a few beers? There are tens of thousands who travel long distances to visit the wall and paying homage to the fallen on Memorial Day, who will look back to this day in disgust next November. As the parent of a soldier serving in Afghanistan right now, I do not even have the words to describe how angry this makes me!
Ally
May 29, 2012
Now now…It’s not that Obama doesn’t realize, it is that he doesn’t give a shit.
Anthony
May 30, 2012
To use this memorial to Pander for votes and photo op is shameful. Locking down the Vietnam memorial for 7hrs, while hundreds or more likely thousands of vets and family and friends of vets whose names are on this memorial is beyond slapping them in the face. Considering the distance these vets-families-friends traveled to visit the wall on memorial day as well as cost to them makes me feel ashamed and disgusted with this POTUS. I am one vietnam vet who will remember how OBAMA treated these people as well as the monies and benefits he’s taken including of all thing combat pay. When I vote for ROMNEY it will be a vote against OBAMA and hope the other 2.5 million nam vets will do the same.
Bryan Kroelinger
May 31, 2012
Did the names on the wall disappear in those 7 hours or something? No doubt all these comments are from those that have already decided they hate Obama and will use any excuse to “justify” it.
That you are using your own fallen bretheren and their families that gave all, in order to validate your hatred, is vile.
Bryan Kroelinger is clueless
June 1, 2012
Bryan,
I understand that you are a simpleton and the issues with Obama’s ‘visit’ are far beyond the scope of your understanding. The people that were at the wall that day, came far and wide to be there. Many spent lots of money to travel across the country to be there. Much planning was involved and no one had any idea what they were in store for. You speak about using any excuse to be angry about Obama but it clearly goes both ways. It’s quite obvious in your mind that Obummer can do no wrong and you will defend him no matter what. If a rational defense can’t be made, it is standard operating procedure to blame it on someone else. Just like his ‘triumph’ in taking down OBL. Forget the fact that every organization that had been tracking OBL was already established long before Obama took office. He took all of the credit for that raid when he did nothing but say, “Ok, go ahead.” NOTHING. Meanwhile, he had a letter pre written to pass the blame if the raid when awry.
It doesn’t matter if the memorial was closed for 5 minutes or 7 hours, no president has ever closed down a war memorial on Memorial Day, unannounced. Especially not to have an exlusive list of people that they could have a great photo op for. Do you not see the conflict in his actions? He stood there that day pretending to care about veterans, meanwhile he yet again oppressed veterans by keeping them away from the memorial they traveled to come visit. There are organizations, families, and friends who go to that memorial annually and spend good money on wreaths and other tributes. Others were there for their first time because of the far trip they had to make and the travel/lodging costs associated with it. When visited by Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and Bush Jr. they never closed it down to have their friends on an exclusive invite list take pictures of him. To answer your question; no, the names on that wall did not disappear. But this isn’t a situation where they could just “come back later.” They were there on a specific day. They had to sit there and wait, without any idea of when they would be allowed to proceed with their tributes. For those that traveled to be there, many had to leave that same day to make it back for work on Tuesday. There was no come back later or try again tomorrow. You probably have never honored anybody who made a sacrifice to something other than themselves. In fact, the only honoring you are familiar with is when you get on your knees and bow to your god, Obummer.
Because respect and honor don’t register in your mind, I don’t expect you to understand any of what I just wrote. Read this last statement and maybe it will be simple and clear enough for you to understand, “Bryan, a man went to a place where people were visiting and he made them all leave because he didn’t want them there. He did a naughty thing and it was not nice. “
joanne heydon
June 3, 2012
This is the best response written here…thank you from my Viet Nam Vet husband, (you know, one who was actually SPIT upon when he came home in 1972) and my father a deceased WWII, Okinawa, Korea, Viet Nam vet who is rolling over in his grave at the absolute disrespect shown by this idiot voted into office by other idiots… like Kroelinger, who is a not a Marine in ANY sense of the word, he is a disgrace to all Marines …and I doubt he actually is one because he is a fucking idiot too boot…sorry about that, Dad. Obama must be gone in November for the sake of our Precious America and my two Iraq war tour Army son and his wife and baby…the Army has SO screwed my son under this, God I hate to use the word…president…tis a shame he is not in the same condition as Hugo Chavez, may he rot in hell.
Suzanne Reirdon
June 1, 2012
You don’t realize or care that most of the people going to visit the memorial are in their 70’s. You think people of this age can just stand 7 hours and wait. You are a jerk. RIP Fallen warriors.
Nora Pointer
May 30, 2012
I agree with you! I’ve been out of town, just got in and saw this. I’m mad and I want to just throw up! How dare they!!!! This is the veterans and families of,and all of us who want to say thank you for your service. It’s not for a friggin photo op!!!!
Greg Zotta
May 29, 2012
Obama and the Military
Do not believe what Barack Hussein Obama says, or what he reads from the teleprompter, when it comes to his true beliefs of the military, look at his actions. Obama says he cares about the military. Can you say hypocrite or phony? Obama wasn’t going to pay the troops if there was a Government shutdown; instead, he was going to use the military as pawns or a shield for political reasons. On 4/7/2011, he signed a memo stating if there was a Government shutdown the troops would have their payments delayed, contrary to what was allowed in the past by other Presidents. Obama floated the idea that military personnel wounded in battle should have their private medical insurance pay for their medical bills. The Obama Regime prosecuted the Navy Seals for a bogus claim of abuse by a terrorist/jihadist.
Then it was learned during Memorial Day Weekend, 2011 that Obama and his Regime want to cut military spending, including pay and health benefits to the soldiers, because he wants to be fiscally responsible. Of course he does, how else do you think he is going to get the billions to give to the Muslim Brotherhood and the Egyptian Nazis? Now, he is using the threat of military cuts against the Super-Committee. There shouldn’t even be a Super-committee, because it may be unconstitutional. The Super-committee combines the House and the Senate and I do not believe they can do that without amending the Constitution.
More phony OPTICS. At the White House, Obama announced that Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal will join the First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to lead a program in support of military families dubbed “Joining Forces.” He has Michelle Obama and Jill Biden doing commercials about the American people supporting our troops. Let’s see, Obama has cut funding for the military in the past, but now he is launching a national initiative supporting military families.
Let’s not forget Bill O’Reilly’s Super-bowl (Super-dud) interview with Obama when O’Reilly asks him, “What’s the worst part of the job?” Obama said the worst part of the job is he has to wear a jacket on Super Bowl Sunday and being in the bubble, with eyes constantly on him, where he is not able to have a spontaneous conversation with someone. A pathetic and pitiful response. I would think it would be writing a letter of condolence to the family of a fallen soldier or sending soldiers in harms way. Then again, what do you expect from a coming from a narcissistic elitist Community Agitator? This man is DESPICABLE.
After the death of Osama Bin Laden Obama gave a speech from the teleprompter and said, “These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.” Of course he read that; after all, Obama is running for reelection. Obama’s whining, spontaneous statement shows his true feelings about the military.
Our soldiers should be paid on time and soldiers who served in the military should have the best medical care provided to them as a benefit for serving and protecting this great country. Thanks to everyone who served and is serving in our military.
MFS
May 29, 2012
Hi.
I posted on Saturday that the Vietnam memorial would be closed off, trying to warn the public.
I took the liberty to link to your post.
Will.
Oregon Media Watchdog
May 29, 2012
Thanks Will, much appreciated.
JP
May 29, 2012
Because to BHO, you can’t spell “Memorial Day” without a “ME” first.
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
So true…it’s always ME,ME,ME…ad nauseum and infinitum.
Denise Quinn Nanke
May 29, 2012
This is an utter disgrace and it’s not being reported anywhere in the MSM. A quick google search brought up a WAPO article that verily gushed about the speech but made no mention of the 7 hour closure and disruption this caused to visitors. Nauseating to say the least.
Randi
May 29, 2012
I look forward to the day when I have a President who does not make me sick. Not just angry, but sick. His narcissistic self aggrandizing speech was an outright insult, and obvious display of hypocrisy about caring for those who gave their lives, and the families and comrades of those who did, as he blocked access to those who came to legitimately express such emotions and tributes to their loved ones. As he looked around and saw the crowds gathering, I’m sure he thought they were all coming to see him, having no concern that he was the last person they came to see, and he was depriving them of their sacred moments with those who sacrificed.
Anthony
May 30, 2012
Randy, could not have said it better. Thank you.
Connie
June 3, 2012
You are so right. Thank you for your post.
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
Randi, no truer words spoken. I would venture to say that our selfless vets would have avoided the Memorial had they known he was going to in essence close it down. They might actually have waited until it was cleared out and gone to have a nice lunch. You know, something that would not have made them sick to their stomach, like his sickening speech. Actually , the No Nofication about his “plans” would have probably reduced his “audience of the King” to about 5%…do ya think?
LindaMash
May 29, 2012
More than likely Secret Service had to secure the area, check behind every tombstone. It is a tradition for the President to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Bitch and complain…
Oregon Media Watchdog
May 29, 2012
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is several miles away from the wall. The monument was shut down from 6am through about 3pm.
Wanda Lichtenberg
May 29, 2012
This sounds like what happened is related to a recently passed law (HR 347), which expands the ability of the Secret Service to block or impede an entrance or exit to activities or official functions… in or around certain restricted zones near the President… Being found guilty of crossing into a restricted zone is punishable not just by going to jail, but by a prison sentence… This is part of an incremental and persistent effort by the government to keep demonstrators away from events involving those at the top of the political food chain.
LindaMash
May 29, 2012
Even on a good day, Washington is a difficult city to get around in. If one truly wants to enjoy taking in the sights and visiting the monumets…do not go on a holiday, avoid the city when the schools are bused in for class trips.
MB
May 29, 2012
The point of Memorial Day is to remember fallen soldiers. Telling families of soldiers who gave their lives for our country that they need to NOT go and memorialize their loved ones on the very day that was set aside for them to do so is unreasonable. They are not there for the “sights”. They are there to see The Wall and pay their respects.
retdetvet
June 1, 2012
LindaMash
You are absolutely correct and in the spirit of the good advice you are dispensing I will do the same.
If you celebrate Christmas on March 25th you will avoid all the crowded shopping conditions and have much better weather conditions to boot. Caroling in the neighborhood will be a much warmer activity than in the sometimes frigid December weather. You can probably think of numerous other advantages so I’ll leave it to you to have a wonderful Christmas next year. Unless you decide on June 25, in which case,
Merry Christmas.
Retired cop
June 1, 2012
It’s truly amazing that these people walk among us. God Bless the USA. God Bless our military. God help us if Obuckwheat gets re-elected.
LOL
June 2, 2012
Linda,
That’s like telling parents not to go christmas shopping on black friday. People aren’t given the day off on MD just to sit at home. You can’t be serious.
Gary Busch
June 1, 2012
Another intellegent observation from a dumb blonde.
andrea de baay
May 29, 2012
no surprise to me, like he is not saluting our flag or wearing a flag pin, or having our flag on airforce 1,what a disgrace,i can not believe people will still vote for him and lets face it our so called first lady behaves like trailer trash ,i am so sorry that is a insult to trailer trash
Wanda Lichtenberg
May 29, 2012
Amen!
johnny beach
June 3, 2012
AMEN again
weeone
May 29, 2012
and you should be sorry!
Dawn Marie Svanoe
May 29, 2012
“Federal statutes setting forth Flag protocol have always limited the right to salute the flag to those serving in the military, or veterans who have served. All others are not to render a salute, but to cover their hearts with the right hand.”
Here is a link to that:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/11/obama_nabbed_by_the_patriotic.html
And in case you decide to bring up the “left hand pledge incident” here are the facts on that one: (Oh… and you can see his flag pin in the picture.)
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/photos/lefthand.asp
As for the Air Force One rumor:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/airplane.asp
And our First Lady… how is she acting like “trailer trash”? Since when is being young and full of life, “trailer trash”? Your manner of writing (if you can call it that) is more trailer trash than anything.
If you want to make an informed point, check your facts and your grammar and punctuation if you want to sound relevant. Thank you!
eno
May 29, 2012
thanks for setting the record straight!
Retired Vet Nam Vet
June 2, 2012
Fact: POTUS is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. As such he is entilted to salute, which he does all the time when getting on and off Marine One and Air Force One.
johnny
June 2, 2012
Noticed tht, as a liberal, you have been well scooled in Alinsky’s methodology. Ignore the issue and switch the conversation by attacking using irrelevant rethoric. You are despicable.
jth
June 3, 2012
Unfortunately, ya dodo, he is the CIC…ya know Commander in Chief. So he must salute. Oh, and yes, his wife is trailer trash in $800 sneakers during the worst recession since The Great Depression. She is an embarrassment to all past First Ladies…disbarred attorney, cheater, snob, anti-American, anti-Military, and RACIST. Oh yeah, trash, plain and simple. You have too much free time yourself, liberal trash.
drue hartwell
June 3, 2012
She was not dis-barred, and using this false information, along with so much else I read on this site is why this country is in turmoil. If any of you would check your facts instead of spouting the rhetoric you hear on fox news or other conservative blogs, you might know the truth. But you don’t care to know the truth. You are racist and haters and ignorant. I would venture to guess that 90% of what is written in these comments is false from what you say (she volutarily became inactive, she was not dis-barred) to Obama cutting healthcare to soldiers is a crock of crap. The only thing I ask you to do is to check sources that are bi-partisan about things that piss you off before you go repeating them
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
She was FORCED to give up here license…do YOUR homework! I agree she is trash with a very poor eyebrow lift.
beau cottington
May 29, 2012
So I guess in 2008 when W Bush did his “photo op” from Arlington Cemetery he did not do THE EXACT SAME THING AS OBAMA HERE??? You people are mindless.
Oregon Media Watchdog
May 29, 2012
Bush didn’t shut down the cemetary for most of the day. Learn to read.
johnny
June 3, 2012
Sounds as if Beau can’t read, because he has attended only liberal schools that tell him all he meeds to know!
Christiana
May 29, 2012
President Bush was in and out. He did not shut the cemetery down for 7 hours. Make sure you have the facts before posting.
Dawn Marie Svanoe
May 29, 2012
AMEN!
jth
June 3, 2012
You’re a dipshit Beau…do your homework. Typical lib, an idiot.
Ruby Begonia
May 29, 2012
There may be things to be pissed off at the president for, but this ain’t one of them. This entire event was planned by the Department of Defense and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, not the White House. Obama was an invited guest. I agree the event was ill-conceived, but your gripe should with DOD, not the president on this one.
DH
May 29, 2012
At least you discern that this “event” was “ill-conceived”… but if you think The White House did not direct Panetta to arrange it, you are (sadly) naive.
Ruby Begonia
May 29, 2012
I should have known better than to try to inject facts into this. Your blind hatred of the president has made it impoosible to have a real dialogue anymore. The committee for this event was put together by legislation in 2008 under Bush, and it was directed by them and VVMF, who are trying to raise money for their education center. Those are just the facts. Feel free to hate Obama but at least have a valid reason. If you are truly enraged about access to the memorial, you should let the 50th commemorative committee and vvmf know how you feel. If you just want to rage about the elected president, just say you hate him and be done with it and leave the memorial out of it.
Christiana
May 29, 2012
Show me the facts that the Department of Defense and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund planned this event without the help of the White House.
You say that you want to “inject facts” go ahead and inject them.
reborn579
May 29, 2012
Ok, so it was set up by the DoD and the WMF. That being said, was it truly necessary to have the memorial blocked off for seven hours? The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was two miles away, was blocked off as well by the secret service. Was that necessary? Also, some of the things that he said in the speech, which was filled with blatant lies and plugs for his campaign, were nothing short of disgusting. Does he deserve all the blame here? No not at all. But to make him out as if he did nothing wrong yesterday is also completely off the mark as well.
Robert Bousfield
May 29, 2012
Ruby tell me is the Socialist/Communist tea you drink bitter?American Men and womrn have fought Both all over the Globe dont know why we stopped time to start again I think
Ol Navy
May 30, 2012
Ruby,
The committee to which you refer was not responsible for shutting the area down for 7 hours. The committee was established to help put together events to raise funds for the Vietnam Veterans Memoria Fund. This was not a fund raising event, it was a blatant re-election photo-op. Obama’s statements that as long as “HE” is president the families of military families will be protected is ludicrous. Under his administration military personnel both active duty and retired have been made to shoulder balancing the budget by having their healthcare and retirement benefits reduced while Obama’s union cronies benefits are protected.
Like the old saying, your love for Obama is blind.
jth
June 3, 2012
Ruby…you be de impoosible one…..git de facs.
johnny
June 3, 2012
This answer fits with Obama’s M.O. If it does not go well, he can blame Paneta? We must begin to realize that this president is a genius at avoiding responsibility and at blaming someone else for his failures. So I agree, he probably did set this up so that he was invited. That way, it’s not his fault!
RGO
May 29, 2012
Everyone just get out there and work harder than ever to make sure this fool is not re-elected.
Ed
May 29, 2012
I cannot begin to fathom the ignorance of some people who believe they have the right to tromp on the American Flag or that for which it stands. the very freedom they now experience was paid for by the same blood that set these fools free. Commander and Chief, my foot, this fool never spent the first minute in any branch of the American service. Memorial Day is about the fallen, not about political correctness for this idiot.
Frank Martin
May 29, 2012
Most Presidents take up a memorial area for maybe a hour or too… Not ours..
wheatfat
May 29, 2012
This utter disrespect for America, those who serve it, and those who love it by the President is… Unprecedented. I am now 100% firm in my belief that Barack Obama is the worst President in the history of the U.S.A., and those who support him are either socialist, or a welfare abuser. Or both.
Long live the Constitution, the rightful ruler of our nation.
The Loud Talker
May 29, 2012
Does anyone know what the Memorial Day calendar looked like last year? How long was it shut down (if at all)? I would love to compare the agenda last year with the agenda in this election year.
Truth
May 29, 2012
What is a double standard?
I don’t remember a single one of you complaining the six times George Bush closed public access to Arlington National Cemetary on Memorial Day.
Frank Martin
May 29, 2012
Actually that happens every time a President goes to Arlington Cemetary.. I have been there TWICE while Bill Clinton was in office.. they closed the place for nine hours under his administration so Please Truth.. tell me its all George Bush’s fault again?
Get over it.. Obama is in office and he is in the hot seat
Conservative Mom
May 29, 2012
The wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery is an annual event that everyone knows about in advance. The Vietnam Memorial is traditionally open. For this event, no families or vets were given advance warning that the memorial was going to be closed, even though many had traveled from all over the country for the express purpose of paying their respects to loved ones there. There is no excuse for failing to communicate with the families, vets and public ahead of time.
hiway280z
May 30, 2012
the wreath laying looked like pictures from another year. Did anyone else notice that ? Made me wonder if he even did it this year.
He talks about how much he will do for our military and what he has done is cut their pay, cut their medical. Give them rules of engagement that get them killed and protect the enemy.
Randi
May 30, 2012
The wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is designed for an audience. There is a place for viewers to sit or stand, similar to a stadium setting, where people can take in the reflections of the moment, and actually watch a very formal ceremony.
The Vietnam Memorial is not set up in the same way, for it is much more personal and intimate, with specific names identified for very personal contact by their loved ones, and a walkway for people to freely browse, not a stadium area for people to sit and watch a formal ceremony, or hear a grand speech.
For those who can’t comprehend the difference, I pity you, but hold out hope that you will reflect on the purpose of the day, and study up on the design and purpose of this nation’s Memorial structures and ceremonies, as well as the purpose of designated days of remembrance.
Kelly Hardy
May 29, 2012
There is life after Obama…Once we get him out of office maybe he will get life for his criminal behavior…
jth
June 3, 2012
Ahahahahaa…alright Kelly! Give this POS POTUS life behind bars just like the other tyrannical dictator Mubarek…or even saddam. Oh gee he isn’t behind bars…well alrighty then.
Paula Perry
May 29, 2012
This needs to go viral!
ron y
May 29, 2012
he couldnt lick the dog shit off of a vietnam veterans shoes him and that bastard biden pompous arrogant asses ,he and other liberal freaks shouldnt be allowed within a mile of a sacred place like the wall,pc of shit
Door Kicker
May 30, 2012
This really makes me sick that anyone, much less the president would impede any veteran or relative from honoring their friends or loved ones. Its obvious he isn’t invested in anyway to the honor of our fallen. RIP my brothers. OIF/OEF veteran.
Charley Wachowski, Louisville, KY
May 30, 2012
Thank you for publishing this. Yesterday I returned home from the 25th annual demonstration to make the public aware that POW’s and MIA’s still remain on foreign soil. Monday, I intended to attend the annual Memorial Day observance at the Vietnam Memorial only to be turned away because our President chose to schedule another re-election public appearance. To my recollection, this is the first time he has done this in 3 1/2 years! As I left downtown heading to Georgetown, I found my path blocked as the President’s motorcade would be passing by on its way to another symbolic public display. While waiting for His Excellency to pass, I was able to dismount my motorcycle, walk across a lane of stopped traffic and stand on the median with the back of my Rolling Thunder vest in clear view for Him to see. I was just barely able to return to my mount and prepare to continue my journey to Georgetown as the barrier was removed. I know that this act probably did little to influence or convince Mr. Obama of anything but at least I was able to show my displeasure with what he does and the methods he uses to get re-elected. God bless us and God help us if he is re-elected.
Charley Wachowski, Louisville, KY
Conservative Mom
May 30, 2012
Charley, thank you for your service, and for doing your part to remind Americans not to forget POW’s and MIA’s. Thank you also for confirming an important and outrageous story that the media chooses to ignore.
j oliver
May 30, 2012
Is there no end to the disrepect and contempt this idiot shows t this country and vets?
JUSTICE FOR ALL
May 30, 2012
It’s amazing how the fact that the entire Arlington Cemetary has been shut down for the past 15 years so that those Presidents could pay tribute to our fallen. The bigotry and hatred that is being spread here is a disgrace to all of the names on that wall-all the names on those head stones–who sacrificed their lives to protect ALL of us from the likes of people like you.
Oregon Media Watchdog
May 30, 2012
Funny how you take a half truth and immediately inflate it into something completely unrelated. I know they don’t teach logic in the public schools, but they teach reading comprehension, or at least used to. I’d suggest a high fiber diet and a remedial reading course for you.
jth
June 3, 2012
Noooooooo, sorry, Justice for None, it’s what BO does, oh, and YOUR response that is disgraceful. Pls go back into the hole you crawled out of. You must be a pig attorney…they all are.
johnny
June 3, 2012
Do you own a mirror? Perhaps you don’t understand that this a “last straw” reaction to the incompetency of this president. Most people, especially vets, respect the office and have a strong dislike for his policies and for his disrespect of the freedoms and for the disrespect of our of constitution, our nation, and for the freedoms these men fought to defend and to provide this president the freedom to use his rethoric and for his efforts to destroy all they fought to defend.
ANTHONY BRYANT COLSTON
May 31, 2012
SCREW YOU, OBAMA…YOU SELF-SERVING, HYPOCRITICAL, COMMIE INSPIRED, CHEATING, ILLEGAL SOB!
Bruce A. Wilsterman
June 1, 2012
WAY TO GO MR. PRESIDENT!!!! You’ve managed to “spit in the face” of America….again…. and our Vietnam Vets “On The Wall” and all those who came to pay their respects TO THEM and remember , as well as their collective Families and Friends…….Not to mention ALL THE OTHER VETERANS in this country………….Thank you sssooo much , you arrogant , egotistical ass.
Anthony Plescia
June 1, 2012
I can’t believe that they actually let him do that, to be so vain and uncaring is a shame. To have no respect for our fallen HEROES and what they gave up for their country is one of the lowest life things anyone can do. That ground you were standing on is now sacred ground to all who died and their families, but used it to further you ambitions and to lie to all who were there. You could of had you little get together with your cronies on the front lawn of the white house, or as I call it the LIE HOUSE. But no you had to dishonor our heroes with your bullshit, I and probably most of the country believes that you obama owe an apology to all the people who came to honor our heroes and not to betray them and what they did for our country. People of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA please take note and remember this on election day and not just him but all the candidates, cause there is not one politician out there that is capable of doing the job, they all lie to us and most of us believe them. Open your eyes AMERICA that hole we’re being pushed into by them has no bottom. WAKE UP!
johnny james
June 1, 2012
you should have reformed and charged the hill–peaceably of course walking calmly in protest.
Sic Semper Tyrannis
June 1, 2012
You want to see something that can really get your ire up?
The “Official” White House photo of President 0bama at the Vietnam Memorial wall on the same day.
It’s also being discussed HERE.
It’s not PHOTOSHOPPED or anything.
Oregon Media Watchdog
June 1, 2012
Thanks for the heads up. I just emailed Ed Morrissey to see if he’d like to cover this issue.
jth
June 3, 2012
OMG I want to vomit…disgusting narccissim it’s worst.
Gary
June 1, 2012
Wonder how many of these folks voted for The Kenyan™ the first time? How many will vote for four more years of this?
Be sure and remember this and all the other nonsense come election day. Because you can be sure illegal aliens will vote, the dead will vote 4-5 times and Black Panthers will guard polling places.
Obama WILL get another four years, of that you can depend.
Liz
June 1, 2012
Just another example of his contempt for our country and what it stands for.
ron Calub
June 1, 2012
Just typical of “Redneck republicans The President only spoke for thirty minutes.Im a Marine who served in Vietnam and I appreciate everything the President has done for the Vets Confirmed agent orange, heart condition,diabetes all taken care of by the VA Believe me, the Bush administration dragged their feet and so many vets never got what they deserved. Im voting for Obama in Nov. and so should every Vet. all six times I’ve visited the Vietnam wall, I’ve stood in line, not a big deal. Obama in 2012—Yes!
Jerry hoy
June 1, 2012
I was proud United States Army Ranger You can check that out on the memorial at Fort Benning. Its people like you that suck this country dry. Look at what he is doing to the soldiers today. I served in a 5 man LRRP team on the DMZ in Vietnam and I am happy that I did not have voimit like you covering my back.
ron Calub
June 2, 2012
Obama In 2012
ron Calub
June 2, 2012
Sorry Jerry We couldn’t all be heros, “somebody had to sit on the crub and clap as you praded by”
Obama 2012
johnny
June 3, 2012
Were you on the curb in Canada as many other cowards were when they deserted? That makes sense in view of your comments. They deserted, were granted amnesty had their benefits restored. Your disrespect leads us to reach no other conclusion. Was this you and why did you come back?
Ron Calub drinks the koolaid......a lot of it
June 2, 2012
Ron,
I had typed about a paragraph when I highlighted it and hit backspace. It would be lost on you. You are clearly brainwashed and have no political or economic education. There is a reason why everyone who votes for obama is poor and uneducated and why anyone with an education understands that his policies have driven us farther away from all American values than we have ever been and closer to the great depression than we have ever been. I won’t even tout any facts as all one needs to do is pay attention and not turn into a drooling zombie when they see their god, Obummer.
I have no opinions, only facts and examples. I KNOW each and every time I encounter someone like you, I will personally thank you when years from now our economy has collapsed, the government has control of our entire lives, and there is chaos in the streets. We are headed there thanks to you. Officially over 50% of citizens are on some sort of government aid. Meaning 49% are giving and 51% are taking. Do you see no problem with that? Nothing? You are obviously ignorant to everything around you. Good luck with your facist.
I would venture to guess you don’t have a college degree and you receive government assistance……no?
Dale Lumley
June 2, 2012
Seems that you’re the one with the Kool -Aid problem! maybe there are Vets out there who have legitimate injuries. Open up and tell the world what you would do if elected President. Since you say you have no opinions, shall we guess who your voting for?
johnny
June 3, 2012
Another brainless liberal?
J Myer
June 1, 2012
I regret seeing the over-the-top personal attacks above — by both sides of the argument. They do neither honor nor courtesy to anyone, and certainly detract from the justifiable outrage of those whose who experienced the 7-hour closing of the VVM, “Our Wall” — and the unprecedented barriers to simple access even to the Viet vet activities hundreds of yards away — this past Memorial Day, “our day.”
Unmentioned above was the 90-degree heat and humidity that added health risks to inconvenience, especially for those of us well into our 60s and 70s (as most of us Viet vets and contemporaries are) — the more so for those of us carrying or dragging equipment the extra hundreds of yards beyond the Constitution Ave. barriers and back to reach our tents or booths … well outside the cordoned-off “Presidential security area.”
Barely mentioned above was the cascading effects of the extra road closures as well as the no-notice barriers that made our Memorial Day such a SNAFU. In my group’s case (the Memorial Day Writers’ Project, MDWP), its rented tent, audio equipment, folding chairs and other artifacts — in their assigned place by the duck pond Sunday night — had vanished by Sunday morning. For our MDWP, as well as other customary Viet vet and unit activities, the day went instantly from SNAFU to FUBAR. Our honcho scrounged a (smaller) tent and a few chairs, but our succession of poets, authors and balladeers performed as best they could without mikes and subject to overriding interruptions via the nearby loudspeakers relaying announcements or music from “the main event-in-waiting” at The Wall itself.
When the formal program began (late; the President was placing the annual wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at the Arlington National Cemetery a couple of miles away across the Potomac River), our activities were rendered mute. Announcements, military protocols and speeches followed one another. This was, after all, the declared start of a 13-year-long observance of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War,* as well as a tribute to the ten additional names etched on “Our Wall,” bringing the official total to 58,282 KIAs (12 of whom had their status changed from MIA as their remains had been repatriated since the Memorial Day of 2011).
* It may be the “Vietnam War” to the Army and Marine ground troops, who formed the great majority of those who served in the region, but it’s more properly known as the Southeast Asia (SEA) War to our Air Force, Navy and Marine aviators (and special ops ground units), who also operated over (or in) North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia — essentially all of Indochina.
The President’s speech was well-structured to hit all the notes that would appeal to the military community, especially in an election year. However, his actions and policies to date left many in his audience unimpressed (as most comments above attest). Moreover, the sweltering heat and ordeals imposed by the unannounced barriers and lost equipment left most of us resentful rather than receptive. The one useful fact I recall was that our SEA War MIAs had been reduced to 1,666 — a tribute to the diligence of those still working to explore crash sites and repatriate the remains of any MIAs found there, and solace for their families for their decades-old loss and uncertainty.
The fact that “Our War” has now been declared to have begun (however arbitrarily) in 1962 with its end in 1975, making it officially 13 years long, should at least put an end to the fatuous claims (started in 2010 by some critics and media) that it “would soon be” or “already has been” overtaken by our war in Afghanistan as “our nation’s longest war.” I fear they’ll just have to wait another couple of years before they can make that claim again.
As a final point, whether the foul-ups over sudden security needs and the unprecedented 7-hour denial of access to The Wall were instigated by the 50th Year Commemorators, the VVM organization, the Secret Service or the White House itself, “the buck” (as Harry Truman so famously said) stops with the President.
Accordingly, I would respectfully request that, if or when the President again seeks to honor the nation’s military, he choose some location other than the Vietnam Veterans Memorial … such as the Lincoln Memorial, which offers more space for an audience, a better view from its steps, and has been used to great effect by leaders in years past.
Jonathan Myer
Col, USAF (Ret.)
O-1E “Bird Dog” Fwd Air Controller (FAC)
Kontum Province, RVN, & the DMZ
1966 – 67
Dea
June 2, 2012
This happens anytime any president goes anywhere to make a speech. It’s not just Obama. I have been shut out of events on bases that I lived on thanks to Bush and Clinton too. Unfortunately ever since Reagan got shot the Secret Service has had to enact very strict protection protocols that do inconvenience the public. Once Romney is affirmed as the GOP candidate he will also inconvenience people in order to ensure that he, his family, and his staff are not in danger. With all the death threats and angry rhetoric being tossed around like candy from a parade float it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’d rather wait a few hours to honor my loved ones than to witness an attempt to hurt any president, no matter who he or she is.
45 years and counting as a proud military dependent (brat, spouse) and now Parent.
Larry Mazar
June 5, 2012
You’re so right, Dea. The President doesn’t dictate the security measures used to minimize/eliminate any risk to his/her life.
Larry Mazar Makes Stuff Up To Support His Liberal Ideals
June 5, 2012
No no no no no no no Larry. The secret service PROTECTS the president. It does NOT tell him what to do. Watch any documentary on presidential security and you will see time and time again, “Hold on Mr. President. We have to secure the area first.” “No Mike. I’m getting out. It’s ok.”
I watched a clip as Obama pulled into downtown D.C. into the deep urban area and pulled up to a Five Guys Burgers. He told the SS agent not to worry as he pushed out the door and got right out of the limo. His inner city fans were all over the place crowding around him. There had to be 100 people packed into that small store and well over the capacity limit. Obama was loving it.
If he can get out of his limo in the middle of downtown D.C. to get some burgers without removing everyone from the area, why can’t he visit a memorial without removing all of the visiting vets? The ONLY reason I could see why he wanted nobody around him at the memorial is because it is election season and majority of veterans do not support Obama; he knows this. He was trying to avoid people screaming out at him. Either way, his urban base means more to him than the country’s vets.
The SS does NOT do what the president doesn’t want them to do. You are wrong.
J Myer
June 6, 2012
Dea, I’m sure that all reasonable people agree with you that the President (and all in his entourage) need protection and whatever special arrangements may be necessary to assure their safety and the dignity of the occasion. However, with respect, I think you’re missing the main points of this blog’s and commenters’ complaints, namely that:
1. For all military veterans and tourists, access to The Wall was denied for an unprecedented 7 hours before the 1-pm event (which actually started later), and for the duration of the ceremony plus as long as it took for the dignitaries to depart and barriers removed. In effect, rather than a couple or “a few” hours to wait, would-be visitors to the Wall itself were denied access for effectively up to a full day. These numbered in the thousands. Many had come from everywhere to “visit” their family members or colleagues KIA decades ago; this Wall has become their shrine. Many presumably could not wait an indefinite period of time, and left; the shock and outrage you see expressed here is the result of this mass effect.
2. For Vietnam veterans and others whose day-long purpose is to gather for their own memorial activities near The Wall (and visit it or not when practical), the entire area — not just the Wall itself and “safety zone” at its apex (as in earlier years) — was barricaded for the day. This required significant detours — no fun in the 90-degree heat or when dragging equipment — to more distant locations that had been announced Saturday. Unfortunately for many, their locations — in readiness as of Sunday night — were found bare Monday morning: rented tents, chairs and equipment had vanished, and, in at least one instance, personal artifacts from the war had been left on the ground by movers and found damaged by their owner. Such “surprises” were hardly in keeping with the justifiable expectations of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s most regular aficionados.
The irony is that the “special ceremony” at The Wall, designed to be “the beginning of a 13-year, nationwide program to thank and honor our Vietnam Veterans,” has had (according to most comments above) precisely the opposite result.
In perspective, one can understand why the VVM was chosen as the site for the start of this rolling 50th year commemoration of our still-longest war: Maya Lin’s agonizing memorial to our fallen, all of them by name, has become part of our nation’s soul. What other location could mean as much for the occasion?
Unfortunately, the combination of preparations by all the agencies involved and the speed at which they had to be executed resulted in, for many of us, a “perfect storm.” Perhaps (in cynical military terms) “Ya gotta expect losses in a big operation.” But this was no “major battle,” no “fog of war” was involved; if anything the wreckage resulted from “failya(s) to communicate.” But beyond that, there had to have been failures of imagination, to fully think the preparations through, to consider — beyond what it would take to “get the job done” (and what had worked for lesser occasions over the years) — what impacts might result to the mass of other visiting veterans or tourists? I.e., those not involved with the ceremony itself, those who had not received the tickets needed to enter the “secure” area . . . or even to cross the barriers on Constitution Avenue to avoid quarter-mile detours in the heat!. . . Those who constituted the vast majority of actual observers of this Memorial Day itself.
Typically, there was no evident follow-up reporting of the day’s “challenges” that debased it for so many — except on a few “social” media, like this blog, or via individual experiences shared on veterans’ nets. For those in charge, the day was a success: the “Presidential Proclamation for the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War” took place, with the cameras focused accordingly. For the rest, many of us “members of the original cast,” we can like it or lump it. It’s too late for apologies . . . unless, of course, someone who was not involved in the off-scene debacle offers regrets some decades from now. 😉
G L Hall
June 2, 2012
How sad the President of our country showing so much disrespect to our citizens with family and friends on that memorial wall. Never thought I’d see the day . I am a Viet Nam vet and we were disrespected during the war seems some things never change. This action is totally indefensable and if you agree with this action you need to redefine your patriotism.
reason1984
June 2, 2012
It’s Bush’s fault.
johnny
June 3, 2012
Powerful expresident isn’t he?
Jim
June 3, 2012
Some people don’t realize the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is like few others and no others that I know of in our nation’s Capitol. It is one where a family member, vet or friend can go and visit someone by name. Many people plan a trip to the “wall” many months ahead of time to visit someone on Memorial Day. Yes there are long lines but they move along smoothly. Sometimes one must wait to visit the panel that has the name they are looking for, but they don’t have to wait for hours. Each line on the panel has five names. When I visit panel 13E there are 11 lines that indicate two days in November of ’66 and I spend time with them. I’m lucky because I live nearby and can visit when I wish, but it means most on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. I had my wife drop me off as usual and when I saw what was going on I walked to the METRO and went home with the knowledge I could visit in the evening. I know there were thousands that didn’t get a chance to visit that special name they came to see. All who planned the speech were very inconsiderate of those who made their special pilgramage. There are many who won’t be able to return for some time, if ever. I can only hope planners now see the difference between this memorial and others.
johnny beach
June 3, 2012
Semper Fi
Over the Hill
June 3, 2012
This is for any liberal who happens to get on this sight if you are still reading this bs. there were some good points made such as “Justice for all” and “truth says” I hope you read them and that you will do every thing you can to help get the working class to vote come Nov. We do not need a hatchet man in office. I thought it was interesting the fellow who used the republican term entitlement the only people I have ever heard speak of entitlement is Republicans. I have been around for a while and wonder where did entitlement come from? SSI stood for Med insurance, unemployment insurance, disability insurance. You pay for these insurances.Entitlement ? I can understand why rhe rich are Republicans, But there is a heck of a lot more middle class. Look out for yourselves. Vote
Over the hill without a brain
June 3, 2012
You clearly don’t have much education about economics if you still believe Obama is a good candidate to run America for the next 4 years. Do you not understand that for the first time EVER, there is now less people paying taxes than there is those who are collecting from the government? Did you hear anything about the tax loop hole that has been uncovered where illegal immigrants working in America have been able to file for tax returns and are claiming 10, 20, 30 kids that don’t exist and they are getting tax returns of $8,000-$32,000. There is NOT, I repeat, NOT a single person in the world that is poor who receives tax returns of $10,000. These very same people are the ones that Obama wants to give immunity to. They have already taken hundreds of millions in tax dollars and we will continue to hand out money to them so Obama can secure their illegal votes. The other day, I was on a hobby blog and someone started a political thread where they posted a picture of a receipt from a transaction they had just processed. They must work in some sort of food service position and a person with an EBT card came and bought food. The poster took a picture of the store receipt that he printed out and it showed, “Remaining monthly balance: $1,896.32” For food! That’s nearly two grand for FOOD for ONE MONTH! That’s more than some people make in a month and that person is walking around with a card given to them by the government. I grew up in a family of 5 and my mother spent no more than $400 a month on food. My wife and I now go shopping once a month and spend roughly $200 for the two of us. I don’t know how many people that person has milking off of the government with them but that is exactly the problem. Obama voters are intentionally having kids so they get more and more government money with each child. And yet you people have NO problem with this. It’s ridiculous. Obama is running around bragging about GM up and running, meanwhile GM still owes the United States of America $26Billion. If you give ANY company $26Billion, of course they will be sitting fat and happy. Obama is giving and giving and giving to all of the unions, racial groups, and cultural groups he can find so he can secure votes. Meanwhile, the debt continues to grow and the government is giving out more money than ever before. Obama doesn’t care because all it takes is one election and he’s in. I wouldn’t be surprised if this communist tries to impose a new law to allow himself to be reelected for a third term (if he somehow wins a second term). Guaranteed, if he did, you idiots would still support him. I don’t understand what is wrong with you people. Is it because you aren’t giving any of the money that Obama is redistributing? Do you not care that me, you and the other bottom 50% of America only pay 3% (yes three percent) of all of the nation’s taxes and you people are still trying to say, “Tax the rich”? You see no problem with this? The best part is, you act as if the rich are some sort of faceless enemy and then you skip on out of the house to go support the rich by giving them your money–excuse me, MY money–to see the new movie they just made. You wack-o’s want to go protest the rich? Go protest every athlete you cheer for and every celebrity you idolize. Not the rich CEO’s that create jobs by investing in new companies. As soon as you break down CEO’s of major companies, they will stop all spending and go hide in their mansions with their millions of dollars and never work again. Meanwhile, their businesses crumble and they don’t care because they are getting screwed by hypocritical America who likes the rich celebrities and hates the rich CEO’s that make all of the jobs.
You Obamaniacs are driving us into the ground. This regime is nothing more than a redistribution of wealth. Tax the workers and give to the occupiers. Obama’s “Tax the Rich” campaign isn’t just going to affect the super rich, either. It is going to screw over everyone in the middle class that makes 6 figures. So someone who makes $100k is going to get to pay more in taxes…..that’s far from rich and is still a part of the middle class. Two words…..Economic Collapse. We are headed there and people like you are leading the way. You don’t care that the country is now filled with government leeches and tax payers are now a minority. If none of this registers with you, let me just say this………If Obama is reelected, I won’t be upset because I don’t like him, I will literally be afraid for what happens to America in the following 4 years.
I want to close by personally thanking you for being responsible and directly involved in supporting the recession of the United States economy.
This video is a perfect depiction of the average Obama voter:
I'm Liberal. Give me money! It's my right to have other peoples' money!
June 5, 2012
This video above is such a perfect example of the type of people that support Obama. This is so terrible that these people think their cries for entitlements are legitimate. What ever happened to, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
A bunch of selfish lazy un American idiots. They WILL ruin our country.
Jim
June 4, 2012
Yes you do pay into the Ponzi scheme. It doesn’t go into any account for you. It goes to pay off people who are receiving benefits now. SSI is now paying out more than it takes in. Remember SSI isn’t like an IRA or other savings account. The only thing the surplus funds can be put into is Government Bonds which is a loan to the government who will have to raise taxes to repay it. It is an entitlement because you expect to receive funds from it. If you’re under 45, good luck.
Robert K. Turner
June 4, 2012
I spent 2 tours over in Nam and had a very good buddy on that wall 65-68
I have been fighting this goverenment for 30 some odd years now for benefits due me. My records say I have PTSD & Agent Orange but the so called goverenment says there not service related. Where the hell did I get it. I get a lousy 10%. This so called president damn sure isn’t going to make it any better. We need to get him out!
Hunter576
June 23, 2012
Ya me too, man 10% ain’t that much is it? I will be going in hospital next month for PTSD hell I didn’t even put in for disability, I just want it to stop….. So do my family…. then this crap happens, just adds to the anger and resentment.
Stash
June 4, 2012
I wonder how many of us understand who and what this man, Obama, really is. By many he is considered inept and clueless concerning the economy. I believe otherwise. He has spent the first term of his office pandering to those who will help him in his re-election bid for a second term. This includes unions, the extreme far left, the “poor”, the celebrity elite, and yes, even foreign heads of state. I include the “poor” in this list because the number of voters in this country who do not pay federal income tax is approaching 50%. These are the voters that love him because he promises “fairness” to all. Those wealthy, successful, greedy people who, in fact, make it possible for the “takers” to have something to take, are the folks Obama is promising will pay more, so the “takers” have a regular paycheck without having to work for it. He is desperate to win a second term so that he will be able to finish what his first term started, without having to worry about the next election. And I believe that is to bring the United States down to the level of third world countries. Two Columbia University professors, Richard Cloward and Frances Piven wrote an article in 1966 in “The Nation” magazine:
“The article was published on May 2, 1966 and laid out what is now known as the ‘Cloward-Piven Strategy’. The plan calls for the destruction of capitalism in America by swelling the welfare rolls to the point of collapsing our economy and then implementing socialism by nationalizing many private institutions,” explains a synopsis on the Worldview Radio website. “Cloward and Piven studied Saul Alinsky just like Hillary Clinton and President Obama.” (inforwars.com, March 10, 2009)
Just Google “Cloward & Piven”.
If one looks at the “ineptness” of his econonic policies, his take-over of a large part of the auto industry, his constant harping on “fairness”, his refusal to allow our own huge energy resources to be tapped, does it not look like a purposeful action toward socialism, and not
simply ineptness?
I sincerely hope I am wrong.
Stash
Jdavid
June 4, 2012
This arrogance goes right along with his “crotch” salutes to OUR flag!
Jerry Alexander
June 5, 2012
The Picture of those “Agents” should be shown to their children,and! the children should also be told of how their father is helping to destroy their future.
J Myer
June 20, 2012
Nam6869, I fear you have drunk too much of the “Koolaid” for too many of your generalizations, namely:
— “[S]poiled children”? For those who visit The Wall regularly, but especially for those who come from all over the U.S. (and beyond) to visit it on one of its special days . . . Memorial Day (or Veterans Day) . . . such visits are more like pilgrimages than simple tourism. Most such come for the tangible remembrance of a lost family member or fallen comrades. No “popsicles” involved.
— “[S]ome had to wait a while before visiting the wall”? For many, “the while” was the rest of the day. Instead of the hour or two for all previous Presidential visitors, the Secret Service (with the aid of the Park Police closed off access from 6 am for 7 hours before starting to remove the barriers, i.e., till at least 3 pm — with no indication how long the wait would be until it was over.
— As for “the hot sun in boot camp and in Vietnam,” how old were you then, and how fit are you now? If you were 20 in the late-60s, that would make you in your mid-60s now. Some of us, who were older and did our tours earlier, are in our mid-70s (like me, and my wife). When I was standing parades (at 21 and in the Florida sun, e.g.), I’ve had the people on either side of me collapse in the heat. (I might have too, except I was still too hung over to care. . . .) Still, at 76 I cannot and should not do the things I could still do in my 60s, let alone when I too was young and invincible.
— “[R]acist beliefs”? Sure, you’ll always find some (just as you’ll find counter-racism), but most of us judge people on their merits, so let’s not simply “play the race card” and think it’s relevant to what occurred this past Memorial Day.
— About “that idiot” who claimed there were WMDs in Iraq, remember that from Clinton on, most of the major Intel agencies of the world firmly believed Saddam Hussein had some — even Saddam himself. (Remember CIA chief Tenet’s “slam dunk” assurance?) Now some points about that:
1. Bush took his lumps over the embarrassment of our team’s inability to find any nucs. The one thing you did NOT hear was his blaming any subordinates or his predecessor for the fiasco. That showed me a contrast in character, if nothing else.
2. Actually, supplies of old chem/bio missiles WERE found (“WMD” includes chemical and biological weapons as well as nuclear), and Saddam had used such on his own people … particularly those who had risen up against him as urged by the elder Bush’s administration after the Persian Gulf War a dozen years before.
3. If you’ll read “Saddam’s Secrets,” by Maj Gen Georges Sada (memoirs of his service as Saddam’s air force chief, although a Christian!) up to and during the second Iraq War, you’ll find the claim that Saddam did indeed have a nuclear program going, but destroyed its facilities (having ordered its technicians to memorize all relevant program records) and smuggled the tooling and other hardware out of Iraq to Syria (both before and during the war) under guise of “humanitarian aid” after a flood in Syria. Sada’s book was published before the Iraqi nucs had become a major issue, so Sada did not emphasize his narrative; told it rather casually, as just one more of Saddam’s “secrets.” I have found no corroboration of Sada’s claim, but no debunking of it either. Moreover, the sudden September 2007 destruction of a facility in Syria, about which neither Syria nor Israel nor the U.S. had any official comment (despite the sensing of some nuclear particles on the site as it was being cleaned up) does provide circumstantial support for Sada’s story. This one, like other secrets that take years or decades to come out, may also take some more time before the ultimate truth becomes public. So, “What fools”? Perhaps … but still TBD in my book.
Finally, may I suggest you (re-)read the more explanatory of the outraged Comments above (including my own two), and perhaps you’ll get a better understanding about the outrage expressed, and why the President’s (or those acting in his name’s) preemption of everyone else’s traditional visits to “Our Wall” (yes, yours too) was considered by many to be such a travesty. The sad irony is that his Proclamation, designed to honor our generation’s service, was thoroughly undermined by some combination of zeal and failure to think through the likely impacts of such zeal … that its direct effect was the opposite of the organizers’ intent.
— AND, to date I have seen no apology from the 50th Anniversary of the VN War organization, nor the VVMF (Jan Scruggs), nor any government agency, nor even the so-called MSM — whom you’d expect to jump on the issue, whether to hype it or to justify it. Xin loi!
JMyer, O-1E Bird Dog FAC, Kontum Province & “Tally Ho” (DMZ), 1966-67
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
Yes, and my son was with a Brigade that FOUND some of that biological/chemical crap….yes he did about a year into the war. So if anyone denies that there was, why did my kid have to stand guard around it for hours on end until they could dispose of it. Try asking someone who was actually there not Bill Mahar, Brian Williams or Katy POS Couric NY Times or other lamestream media shills.
Larry Mazar
June 5, 2012
I didn’t read each comment, but I saw no mention of the Secret Service, which sets the rules for protecting the President. If you put aside your prejudice for a bit and recall your military experience, how would you provide a zero risk environment for the President in the middle of the mall?
Amey Fooks
June 10, 2012
I think the point was that he shouldn’t have been there on Memorial Day at all, thereby denying the veterans access on a sacred day. The debate has nothing to do with how to provide a zero rish environment for the President!
Dr. Lane D. Schultz
June 5, 2012
I and my wife along with many of my former colleagues and their family members were turned away from the Vietnam Memorial Wall by Secret Service agents at the barricades along Constitution Avenue in the early morning on Memorial Day. A large contingent of my unit, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and their family members have assembled annually on Memorial Day at the “Wall” for the past 25 years to honor our 738 brothers whose names are stenciled on that magnificant black granite wall. Each attending veteran has the opportunity to speak to the assembly of 11th Cavalry brothers identifying themselves, their 11th Cavalry unit, and their current address, and providing pertinent information of interest to the group. These individual comments are followed by general comments from our association (The 11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia) President, Allen Hathaway. This is followed by a prayful tribute to our fallen brothers. Thereafter, the Cavalry contingent proceeds to the apex of the Wall where a shield of beautiful red and white roses is placed; the ensamble is artistically designed in the image of our Regimental ensignia, “The Blackhorse”, and honors our brothers who gave everything they had. It is an annual event of healing which maintains the bond among all Cavalry brothers, those who survived their Tours of Duty, those who did not, and those who have subsequently passed on to Fiddlers’ Green.
This year owing to the President’s agenda we were denied for the first time this annual period of honor and healing at the apex of the” Wall.” Not withstanding some quiet comments of disappoinment, the contingent of 11th Cavalry troopers was orderly and proceeded with ceremonies on the sidewalk of Constitution Avenue. Although I noted an increased flow of tears undoubedly due to the denial of access, my pride in this extraordinary assemblage of courageous and honorable brothers will never be forgotten! Nonetheless, it is inexcusable and unconsciousable that these men and women veterans and their famailies were denied their sacred rights at the Wall on Memorial Day. I only hope that the politically priveleged with passes who heard the President speak that day at the Wall appreciate the sacrifices of my 738 brothers, the very best of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Oregon Media Watchdog
June 5, 2012
Dr. Schultz,
I found your note so moving that I took the liberty of making it into a separate blog post: http://5440fight.com/2012/06/05/a-veteran-reacts-to-being-denied-access-to-the-viet-nam-memorial-on-memorial-day/
Thank you for your service, sir. And thank you to all the vets who have reacted to this story.
Robert Armstrong
June 8, 2012
Dr. Shultz is right on. Barrack Hussein Obama does not deserve to be President of this country. He spat on the families, friends and fellow service veterans when he closed off the memorial to the people who came to honor the 58 thousand plus fallen so he could make a political speech to help his re-election.
Mr. Obama could care less of the sacrifises of our service members unless it will promote his own socialist, fasist agenda. He does not deserve to walk upon such hallowed ground and should forever be banned from the memorial.
Jack
June 5, 2012
My heart goes out to the familys and love ones who could not see there love one, on a SPECIAL DAY on the Wall. Obama should have been on a golf field of in Disney land. Not at the Wall so that the Familys and Freinds could not visit and talk and be with one another. Bet you he didn’t stand and face the wall and say a Pray of any kind.
Thanks to everyone who has gaven me my Freedom and is still working day in & day out so that I can have my Freedom. In the United States Of American.
Thanks Again Jack.
Pat Gipson
June 6, 2012
This is so disgusting!! I had a cousin who gave his life in Vietnam. We all better make sure we get out and vote so as to get him out of the White House!!! He’s taking all of our freedoms away from us in 3 yrs. We’ve got to get off our duffs and ban together & do whatever we can!
LB
June 6, 2012
I am really looking forward to the day when we will no longer have to open a newspaper, turn on a TV and have to look at such a face as BO. His initials give away how I feel about him. Guess Carter will not be listed as the worst past President. Even LBJ moves up a notch. God save our country and help us in obtaining a better leader.
BCK51
June 9, 2012
I can’t believe all of the ignorant postings here because of a few hours where the Wall was unavailable for visitors. It’s been there for 30 years available 24 hours a day and with Park Rangers available to answer questions 14 hours a day.
But this isn’t about access to the Memorial, this is another political ploy during an election year with an agenda to create anger and discontent where none is deserved.
President Obama was the key note speaker at the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War. There were many veterans present and family members of those listed on the Wall were recognized and honored by being personally escorted to the Wall by the President, Vice-President, Military Chiefs of Staff and other dignitaries. That’s who the Wall is there for and it is only right that they be honored.
Put aside your partisan politics and view it for what it was – a tribute to our fallen. But if you must rant, rant about the President’s who haven’t visited the Vietnam Memorial or honored our fallen in any ceremony there. Sure, they have given thanks on Veterans Day, Flag Day and Memorial Days past to honor all veterans with a speech or released proclamation, but search the past for those who have taken the time to show up to a specific Memorial such as the one for my generation – the Vietnam Memorial.
And for those who missed it or don’t know what happened, here’s the link to the C-SPAN video of the 1 hour and 50 minute ceremony: http://www.c-span.org/Events/Vietnam-War-Marked-on-Memorial-Day/10737430977-1/
Watch it for yourself and then try posting what you thought of the tribute – but do it as an American and not as Republican, Democratic, Libertarian or to whatever flavor you happen to align yourself.
To disparage what took place and who was involved is disgraceful.
You're a Liberal idiot who will defend everything Obama does
June 9, 2012
If you have ACTUALLY read all of the comments here, then you would understand what the frustration is about. The reason why it was a big deal for Obama to shut out thousands of people, who traveled from all over the world, on MEMORIAL DAY without advanced notice has been explained over and over again. If you don’t understand by now, you never will. I understand an Obama supporter wouldn’t understand many things other than, “I will make things change”…….. {3 years later} “I will make things change.” There’s nothing that needs repeating as it has all been explained already. If you truly want to read others’ views, go ahead, but everything you asked and wrote has already been said here already. So please reread the thread before you decide to ramble on about something that has been argued 8 times before you showed up.
Nam6869
June 18, 2012
I have to say, most of you sound like spoiled children who had their popsicles taken away. So some had to wait a while before visiting the wall…..so what? Did you forget all the waiting we did in the hot sun in boot camp and in Vietnam? You sound like a bunch of sissified wussies who have a political axe to grind. Ity’s not far that one has to scratch the surface to find your racist beliefs. Keep telling yourselves that you don’t dislike Obama because he’s black. Keep perpetuating that myth in yoyr head until you believe it eh? I bet a lot of you still believe that idiot who bankrupted this country in Iraq claiming weapons of mass destruction. What fools.
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
Were you not there because you were in a drug or alcohol induced coma that you could not make it? Are you bitter? My husband was drafted but he isn’t bitter and although he has serious health issues as a result of his time there he doesn’t seek any disability compensation unlike someone like you would. I think so. I doubt you were ever in Viet Nam in 6869…you can type anything in to your so called name. Such disrespect, you are bitter and whiney and an embarrassment to all vets…but I bet you brag you were there don”t you?
J Myer
June 21, 2012
The following were RESPONSES to “Nam6869,” but somehow wound up ahead of his June 18 post:
J Myer says:
June 20, 2012 at 1:14 am
Nam6869, I fear you have drunk too much of the “Koolaid” for too many of your generalizations, namely:
— “[S]poiled children”? For those who visit The Wall regularly, but especially for those who come from all over the U.S. (and beyond) to visit it on one of its special days . . . Memorial Day (or Veterans Day) . . . such visits are more like pilgrimages than simple tourism. Most such come for the tangible remembrance of a lost family member or fallen comrades. No “popsicles” involved.
— “[S]ome had to wait a while before visiting the wall”? For many, “the while” was the rest of the day. Instead of the hour or two for all previous Presidential visitors, the Secret Service (with the aid of the Park Police closed off access from 6 am for 7 hours before starting to remove the barriers, i.e., till at least 3 pm — with no indication how long the wait would be until it was over.
— As for “the hot sun in boot camp and in Vietnam,” how old were you then, and how fit are you now? If you were 20 in the late-60s, that would make you in your mid-60s now. Some of us, who were older and did our tours earlier, are in our mid-70s (like me, and my wife). When I was standing parades (at 21 and in the Florida sun, e.g.), I’ve had the people on either side of me collapse in the heat. (I might have too, except I was still too hung over to care. . . .) Still, at 76 I cannot and should not do the things I could still do in my 60s, let alone when I too was young and invincible.
— “[R]acist beliefs”? Sure, you’ll always find some (just as you’ll find counter-racism), but most of us judge people on their merits, so let’s not simply “play the race card” and think it’s relevant to what occurred this past Memorial Day.
— About “that idiot” who claimed there were WMDs in Iraq, remember that from Clinton on, most of the major Intel agencies of the world firmly believed Saddam Hussein had some — even Saddam himself. (Remember CIA chief Tenet’s “slam dunk” assurance?) Now some points about that:
1. Bush took his lumps over the embarrassment of our team’s inability to find any nucs. The one thing you did NOT hear was his blaming any subordinates or his predecessor for the fiasco. That showed me a contrast in character, if nothing else.
2. Actually, supplies of old chem/bio missiles WERE found (“WMD” includes chemical and biological weapons as well as nuclear), and Saddam had used such on his own people … particularly those who had risen up against him as urged by the elder Bush’s administration after the Persian Gulf War a dozen years before.
3. If you’ll read “Saddam’s Secrets,” by Maj Gen Georges Sada (memoirs of his service as Saddam’s air force chief, although a Christian!) up to and during the second Iraq War, you’ll find the claim that Saddam did indeed have a nuclear program going, but destroyed its facilities (having ordered its technicians to memorize all relevant program records) and smuggled the tooling and other hardware out of Iraq to Syria (both before and during the war) under guise of “humanitarian aid” after a flood in Syria. Sada’s book was published before the Iraqi nucs had become a major issue, so Sada did not emphasize his narrative; told it rather casually, as just one more of Saddam’s “secrets.” I have found no corroboration of Sada’s claim, but no debunking of it either. Moreover, the sudden September 2007 destruction of a facility in Syria, about which neither Syria nor Israel nor the U.S. had any official comment (despite the sensing of some nuclear particles on the site as it was being cleaned up) does provide circumstantial support for Sada’s story. This one, like other secrets that take years or decades to come out, may also take some more time before the ultimate truth becomes public. So, “What fools”? Perhaps … but still TBD in my book.
Finally, may I suggest you (re-)read the more explanatory of the outraged Comments above (including my own two), and perhaps you’ll get a better understanding about the outrage expressed, and why the President’s (or those acting in his name’s) preemption of everyone else’s traditional visits to “Our Wall” (yes, yours too) was considered by many to be such a travesty. The sad irony is that his Proclamation, designed to honor our generation’s service, was thoroughly undermined by some combination of zeal and failure to think through the likely impacts of such zeal … that its direct effect was the opposite of the organizers’ intent.
— AND, to date I have seen no apology from the 50th Anniversary of the VN War organization, nor the VVMF (Jan Scruggs), nor any government agency, nor even the so-called MSM — whom you’d expect to jump on the issue, whether to hype it or to justify it. Xin loi!
JMyer, O-1E Bird Dog FAC, Kontum Province & “Tally Ho” (DMZ), 1966-67
Reply
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members says:
June 20, 2012 at 11:32 am
Yes, and my son was with a Brigade that FOUND some of that biological/chemical crap….yes he did about a year into the war. So if anyone denies that there was, why did my kid have to stand guard around it for hours on end until they could dispose of it. Try asking someone who was actually there not Bill Mahar, Brian Williams or Katy POS Couric NY Times or other lamestream media shills.
Reply
Wife, Mother and Daughter of 3 Brave Service Members
June 20, 2012
bck51 you are obviously no veteran because of your callous, insensitive and blatant liberal biased comments here. You are also obviously a child/man/woman who would never put your life on the line for your Nation or for anyone for that matter. When history tells us all that the insensitve worthless and Country damaging piece of crap in the Oval Office we have who would lie, cheat and steal to stay there perhaps ignorant creeps such as yourself will eat some crow. As seen today at the Contempt hearings in Congress he has a lot to hide besides ALL his past he has so deftly avoiding disclosing. Gods Will Be Done on Novmber 6th. You need to go serve your country in the military to learn some compassion and what it means to be a part of something good you are not now. And please spare us…by saying you are a former Marine!
Harriet
May 29, 2012
To be honest this really doesn’t surprise me because Obama is only out for what he believes. He doesn’t care for the America this country was founded on by our forefathers. He only believes in “his’ America. Which if he had his choice America would be gone and all americans would be obliterated.