President Obama: Are You or Are You Not Going to Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of D-Day?


It\'s a simple question, and the answer should be a no-brainer. So why is your administration stirring up the hornet\'s nest by insisting on \"No Comment\" as its response?

During his incredibly successful [/snark] trip to Europe last week, President Obama rejected an invitation from French president Nicolas Sarkozy to visit Normandy, France — the site of the 1944 D-Day beach landing. The reason given by the Obama administration? They didn’t want to offend the Germans by having the U.S. president visit the site where over 4,400 allied soldiers died in the operation that made victory in Europe against the evil, inhuman Nazi German regime and its allies possible.

They didn’t want to offend the Germans. Amazing. Perhaps we should next cancel all July 4 celebrations out of fear of offending the British? Or perhaps we should cancel Easter out of fear of “offending” the Romans, or cancel all 9/11 remembrances out of fear of “offending” al Qaeda terrorists, or cancel Memorial and Veterans’ days out of fear of “offending” all and sundry who have had the misfortune of throwing themselves on American bayonets over the course of our nearly-223-year history.

Sounds absurd, doesn’t it?  Absolutely — until you push a little further, and learn anew just what absurdity really is, courtesy — again — of the Obama administration:

Mr Sarkozy’s most senior aide said Mr Obama had agreed to come back in June for the 65th anniversary of the June 6th 1944, D-Day landings. A White House spokesman declined to comment on whether Mr Obama would travel to France in June.

So far, innumerable media outlets have reported that Obama will, in fact, be joining Sarkozy in Normandy on the June 6 anniversary of D-Day — but every one is citing Sarkozy and other European sources, because the Obama administration, for whatever reason, is refusing to confirm or deny whether Obama intends to honor those fallen — and those saved — by the historic D-Day operation.

It’s a simple question; the answer should be a no-brainer, and this topic should be a nonissue. Unfortunately, the indecisive and tin-eared Obama White House is, with its usual confusion, discombobulation, and ineptitude, quickly turning what should have been far less than a molehill into one heck of a forbidding mountain.

By the way, Obama’s effort to win the world’s love and respect once again sure is working wonders. The latest example: in early March, well in advance of his refusal to visit Normandy with Sarkozy, Obama dispatched an advance team of “senior American military officers” and “White House staff” to France, where walked with “French officials…through the [Normandy] cemetery discussing how the two presidents might follow the same route.”

The kicker? Obama knew all along that he wasn’t going to Normandy, and that the trip there by his advance team and senior staff was just a waste of our supposed ally’s time. “Even before their trip, the White House had decided that Mr Obama would not travel there,” wrote Toby Harnden UK Telegraph.

“It wasn’t going to happen,” said an American official in Washington. “We went through the motions to placate President Sarkozy but giving special treatment to France was not on our agenda.

Scratch another “special relationship” with an American ally, courtesy of the feckless Obama administration.


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43 Comments Leave a comment

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Matthew (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 6:44PM EST (link)

Most transparent government ever.

 

I'm numb

red4ever (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 6:46PM EST (link)

After awhile, the stupidity just is too much and you stop reacting.

Protocol exists for a reason. Normany is where AMERICANS died. You go to honor their memory. If the Germans don’t like it, well, perhaps they would like to live under a dictator again?

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
Dante

President Reagan

jimmyg Wednesday, April 8th at 7:11PM EST (link)

On his first trip to France, out of three, Pres. Reagan did not go to Normandy. He went on his second trip in 1984 where he gave the Normandy speech, and in celebration of the 40th aniversery of the invasion. He did not visit Normandy on his last trip to France.
Also the Telegraph, quoting an unnamed American officical states as follows, “During this trip we wanted to maintain a balance between the British, German and France.”
I think you might be a little to hard on Obama in this instance.

"I think you might be a little to hard on Obama in this instance."

Vegas_Rick (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:27PM EST (link)

Not. If he wasn’t going to go last week, he should have just said so. If he’s going or not going in June, he should just say so.

Nobody is being too hard on The One.

“God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.”- Billy Currington

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.

 

Do not compare Reagan to Obama. I don't

robmikpet (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:28PM EST (link)

care if scientists came out tomorrow and said they were long lost relatives.

When did Reagan go to France? Were all the trips at or on June 6th? The soldiers on D-day – God rest their heroic souls – did not land on any particular day.

I also KNOW Reagan loved our men and women in uniform with all his great big heart, I am sorry I cannot say Obama feels the same way.

But I have a prediction – Obama quietly visits because he is so emotional he wanted it to be a private moment that just happens to get leaked to the media.

Just like “loathe the military” Clinton who just happening to find a pile of stones on the beach with no other stones in sight so he could make a cross.

 

Three questions, jimmyg

Jeff Emanuel (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:36PM EST (link)

(1) Did he send an advance team over to waste the French’s time planning a trip to Normandy, knowing full well he wasn’t going?

(2) Did he visit France ON THE ANNVIERSARY OF D-DAY and neglect to visit Normandy?

(3) hen asked if he was going to Normandy ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY, did he respond with “No Comment”?

Please remove your head from your fourth point of contact. If you don’t know what that is, maybe you could ask a paratrooper — you know, airborne infantrymen the type of which about 2,500 were killed on D-Day.

JE

Reply to your questions.

jimmyg Wednesday, April 8th at 8:39PM EST (link)

I presume when you are talking about he, you are talking about President Reagan.
(1) I don’t know, but I doubt it.
(2) Yes, President Reagan was in France from June 2 through June 7, 1982. I checked with the National Archives, www.reaganutexas.edu, which stated that on June 2-4, 1982 President Reagan was in Paris, and from June 4-7 he was in Versailles for an economic summit. It appears that he did not visit Normandy during this time period.
(3) I don’t know but I doubt it.

Source?

Jeff Emanuel (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:13PM EST (link)

Please provide the source for your claim about Reagan.

JE

source

jimmyg Wednesday, April 8th at 10:43PM EST (link)

Try this link http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/reference/reference.html

1984 President Reagan Speech 40th Anniversary

DONTREADONME (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:51PM EST (link)

of the D-Day invasion. on June 6th 1984

 

June 5th 1982 Reagans Speech D-Day

DONTREADONME (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:56PM EST (link)

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1982/60582a.htm

That speech was given at Versailles

jimmyg Wednesday, April 8th at 11:12PM EST (link)

According to the archives, Pres. Reagan was in Versailles France attending an economic summit on June 6, 1982. If you read the speech you have just referenced, it was given in Versailles at the economic summit.
I stated earlier that he was at Normandy on the 40th anniversey, on June 6, 1984.
The question that I was answering was whether President Reagan was in France on June 6 and neglect to visit Normandy. (Jeffs words not mine) The answer to that question appears to be yes.

You are correct...

DONTREADONME (Diary) Thursday, April 9th at 12:20AM EST (link)

had my browser been maximized I would have saw the small footnote at the bottom of the speech that says the speech was recorded on May 31st in the Oval Office for play on French TV. I am still questioning whether he made the round to Normandy prior to Versailles France on June 6th.

 

"Neglected" while in the middle of a summit?

Jeff Emanuel (Diary) Thursday, April 9th at 2:04AM EST (link)

Really?

JE

Neglect

jimmyg Thursday, April 9th at 7:53AM EST (link)

Jeff
In Your 2nd question to me you stated as follows;
“Did He (Reagan) visit France on the anniversery of D-Day and neglect to visit Normandy?”
I did not use the word neglect, you did. I was only answering your question., and I repeated your question in a later post, making it clear that you used the word neglect and not myself.
Sometimes when you are in a hole, stop digging.

REAGAN WAS AT NORMANDY in 1982

GT350 Thursday, April 9th at 9:48AM EST (link)

I know… I was there.

I was part of the U.S. Boy Scout Troop in Paris, France. (Troop 112).
We had a very small part of the celebration of the event in Normandy.

I didn’t see President Reagan, but Nancy Reagan came by to chat with our troop leader. She reviewed our honor guard and shook my brother’s hand.

Trust me… this isn’t something that you ever forget. And by 1984, his subsequent visit, we had moved back to the United States.

Mrs. Reagan was at Normandy on 6/6/1982

jimmyg Thursday, April 9th at 1:49PM EST (link)

Mrs. Reagan was at Normandy on June 6, 1982. whttp://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/07/business/mrs-reagan-visits-us-cemetry-in-normandy-on-d-day-anniversary.html?sec=travelas President Reagan was unable to attend due to his attendance at Versailles, and the fact that Lebanon was heating up in that Israel had entered Lebanon, and Israel’s ambassodor to Britain was, on June 3, 1982, the victim of an assasination attempt.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

It's the REASON he gave...

UncommonRight Wednesday, April 8th at 7:38PM EST (link)

The issue is not wether he visited or not. It’s the horrible excuse of not wanting to offend the Germans. By saying that he implies that Germans today are all Nazi sympathizers who are still smarting over being defeated in WWII.

That is far more offensive a statement than visiting American dead at a cemetery ever could be.

I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me–not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

~Dean Alfange

Time To Keep Score

 

yo, jimmyg

streiff (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:40PM EST (link)

Jeff Emanuel asked you a question below. Answer it.

“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”

Reagan went

red4ever (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 8:00PM EST (link)

Even if he did not go on all his trips, he did go.

Obama did not stop at Normandy on this trip to France. No biggie. But, to NOT go on June 6 is a slap in the face to every single veteran of World War II. My stepfather who died on October 13, 2008 was one of those veterans. My mother — his widow — just recently said she is glad he is not alive to see what Obama is doing to this nation that that my stepfather fought and was wounded for.

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
Dante

The Macro-point is that Reagan loved

robmikpet (Diary) Thursday, April 9th at 10:01AM EST (link)

and repected the troops that served from the beginning of the Republic. Obama has no respect for the men and women in uniform now or ever.

If he believes America is an oppressive nation – he does – then he believes the military is the form of that oppression.

How do you honor the sacrifice in Iraq and those that died to bring democracy if you call it a distration? Sorry your son died in a distraction, what a disgrace!!

 
 
 
 
 

Our dear leader is:

phxg (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:12PM EST (link)

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle

 

I doubt he will offend the Germans

Tbone (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:28PM EST (link)

but he will definitely offend the dead.

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

 

Medal of Honor recpient Ed Freeman died last week.

loewenbrau (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:28PM EST (link)

I do not know how to send the e-mail (I received about Ed), as an attachment to write a diary about this because it was not mentioned in the media.
The WWII veterans are dying everyday & we are not giving this generation its due.
If we do not remember & honor these veterans—what can we expect from the Europeans, who now expect us to come to “their” way of thinking on everything —- translation ” we will take you down USA, you have thought too long your’e better than us”.

 

Sew confusion and use...

larryp Wednesday, April 8th at 7:34PM EST (link)

the values and mores of your target back against them. More crazy-making from Obama and his gaggle of fools. Skip the crazy-making part which is not telliong his palns and getting everyone upset and tiring people out. This is from Alinskys Rules for Radicals, his playbook.
focus in on the Number of Sen elections we need to win inorder to change things.

 

Let the record indicate...

ChattDawg Wednesday, April 8th at 8:12PM EST (link)

To date more solidiers died THAT ONE DAY than all 6 years of the war in Iraq. If he goes, I wonder if the White House will create some pseudo-event like they did for Clinton in ’94.

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem — government IS the problem…” Ronald Wilson Reagan, January 20, 1981.

What about the guy isn't staged?

Jeff Emanuel (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 8:22PM EST (link)

Of course they will. With his Binky there to talk him through it step by step.

JE

 
 

One small correction Jeff...

mbecker908 (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 8:23PM EST (link)

Obama obviously doesn’t care about offending the Brits.

Other than that, you’re right on point.

Hahah

Jeff Emanuel (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 8:27PM EST (link)

iPod….bust of Churchill….”England”….Region 1 DVDs….too tired for a presser……”no better than the other 190 countries”….yeah, good point.

JE

 
 

Don't Go

DerKrieger (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 8:37PM EST (link)

I don’t think Obama should go. The man clearly has no respect for the military as an institution and since most military members are “bitter, bible totin’, gun clingers” I doubt he has much respect for them as individuals. Any visit by Obama would only be a political move calculated to benefit him and his image. It wouldn’t be an event to honor fallen Americans like Reagan’s selfless visit.

I would rather he just stay away.

“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” – James Madison

Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.” — John Locke, 1690

Ditto on Obama staying away

innocbystr (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:07PM EST (link)

I think that the key thing to be concerned about here is the remark about not wanting to offend the Germans.

Is he going to apologize to them for our part in World War II next? This is really getting ludicrous….

 
 

Germans won't be offended

DerKrieger (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 8:40PM EST (link)

I went to graduate school in Austria and had German classmates. There is no way Germans would be offended by an American president visiting American war dead in France. If Obama really believes that then he knows nothing about Germans. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if Chancellor Merkel would go herself if invited.

“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” – James Madison

Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.” — John Locke, 1690

 

Ghost of my Dad

fisk2521 Wednesday, April 8th at 8:43PM EST (link)

My Father in law was at Norrmandy….my Dad was at the Battle of Okinawa. Mr. Obama just offended their memories along with the millions of other veterans that served to protect this country from a fanatic regime like Nazi Germany. I’m sorry it brings back bad memories for the Germans – - it should make them feel like monsters because that is exactly what they were.

I am so sick of hearing how bad the USA is from our own President while he ignores the hstory of World War II and the sacrifices made.

I can only take solace int he fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans feel exactly the way I do. They celebrate the memories and sacrifices of our fallen. Obama doesn’t, it’s just that simple.

LDavis

 

Visiting any cemetary would damage his persona,

Tbone (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 8:46PM EST (link)

what with everyone staying put, so to speak.

How would his followers reconcile that?

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

 

For what it's worth

leftylurker (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 9:27PM EST (link)

I think that your statement “he didn’t want to offend the Germans,” i kind of misleading. He didn’t want to offend the British or the Germans, the unnamed official says, buy taking an unscheduled trip to Normandy.

The implication in what you said was that he didn’t want to offend the Germans in some sort of WWII apologist way, and that’s just not there from a plain reading of the article.

Keep Up The Good Work

IJB Wednesday, April 8th at 9:54PM EST (link)

As posters from “the other side” go, your shtick isn’t bad. It almost sounds plausible and reasonable. Well, almost…

That said – aren’t you getting tired of all the excuses you’re having to make for your guy (and his Mini-Me, Biden), like every 3 hours of every day?!

Frankly, I hope “the other side” is properly reimbursing you for your efforts. They *should* be. :)

IJB check my spoiler from the other night...

DONTREADONME (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 9:58PM EST (link)

off topic I know but darn if I did not nail the whole Kal Penn thing. and to lefty lurker, that story can be taken any way you want to. There is really no good explanation in that story that can be taken seriously, didn’t want to offend the British or Germans. Giving special attention to the French Prez, etc.

Don't Worry DontTread - I Haven't Take "House" Seriously...

IJB Wednesday, April 8th at 10:04PM EST (link)

…Since they unloaded his original team.

Now that Kutner/Kal Penn is gone, they need to get rid of 13/Olivia Wilde before I’ll even think about checking out “House” once more!

As for Kal Penn – I suspect he’s about to disappear into that Black Hole known as The Obama White House never to be seen or heard from again… ;)

Agreed with 13, I suspect...

DONTREADONME (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:21PM EST (link)

next season we will have the originals back. :)

 
 
 

Biden...Lord help us

leftylurker (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:01PM EST (link)

I’m not going to apologize for that man. One issue that libs, myself at times included, totally are terrible on is intellectual property. Biden has done nothing but sell out the public to big publishing and Hollywood.

That having been said, I think that barring the economic nightmare he’s unleashing, Obama’s been doing pretty well…maybe it’s leftover Bush Derangement Syndrome, but he seems okay…not the messiah people thought he would be, but not a disaster either.

Take a look at trajectory and project some months down the line

civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:34PM EST (link)

Our ship of state is very large and takes some time to actually change course, but it’s clear that Obama has jammed the tiller further left in his first three months than anyone prior, even Roosevelt.

I’m referring primarily to foreign affairs with his speeches and policies, but domestically his spending bills and budgets and taking control of finance and auto industries are extreme too – but it’s going to take months to really see their disastrous effects – and at that point, momentum will be working against us.

So when those of us see that the new direction heads straight into shallow water and rocks, we start shouting now about the danger ahead while there’s still time for some course corection.

Or to use another analogy, your comment reminds me of the man who jumped off a 24-story building – and as he passed the 18th floor he shouted to the office workers inside, “doing fine so far”

The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis

http://www.gmsplace.com/

 
 
 
 

A victim mentality.

Old_Crow (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 10:37PM EST (link)

Obama sees every modern day German tied to the behaviors of the Nazis during WWII, and likewise, sees all white folks tied forever to slave owners. It’s a simple world for him, unsophisticated and one dimensional.

Can we swap Presidents with France?

“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” — James Madison

 

Cmon, didn't ya know

paulincolo (Diary) Thursday, April 9th at 12:58AM EST (link)

that June 6 is nationalize the banks day. He has to be here to replace the CEO’s.