Beck falsely claims Obama will not "honor our troops" on Memorial Day

[teko]

Beck falsely claims Obama will not "honor our troops" on Memorial Day
May 26, 2010 7:22 pm ET — 3 Comments

Glenn Beck falsely claimed that President Obama "has decided not to honor our troops on Memorial Day." In fact, Obama will speak at a Memorial Day service at a dedicated Veterans Affairs cemetery in Illinois; Obama is not the first president to commemorate the holiday somewhere other than Arlington National Cemetery.

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Beck falsely claims Obama "has decided not to honor our troops on Memorial Day"

From the May 26 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Glenn Beck Program:

    BECK: The president has decided not to honor our troops on Memorial Day and go to -- can you find out the last president that decided to take a vacation and then go to a Paul McCartney -- come back for a Paul McCartney concert, but not for the laying of a wreath on Memorial Day? Maybe this has happened before. I don't recall it.

Obama will commemorate Memorial Day in Illinois ceremony

Obama will speak at veterans cemetery; Biden to lay wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. A White House press release states: "On Monday, the President will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. Also on Monday, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will host a breakfast for Gold Star Families at the White House. Afterwards, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery." Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is dedicated as a national cemetery within the VA's National Cemetery Administration. [WhiteHouse.gov, 5/24/10]
Previous presidents have honored Memorial Day away from Arlington Cemetery

1983: Reagan attended summit meeting; Defense Department official Thayer laid wreath at Arlington. Deputy Secretary of Defense W. Paul Thayer laid a wreath at Arlington Cemetery during the Memorial Day ceremony in 1983, according to a May 31, 1983, Washington Post article (retrieved from the Nexis database). The Associated Press reported that President Reagan attended a "summit meeting in Williamsburg, Va., with leaders of the industrialized democracies."

1992: George H.W. Bush allowed VP Quayle to lay wreath. In 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, according to a May 26, 1992, Boston Globe article (from Nexis). The Globe reported that President George H.W. Bush attended a wreath-laying ceremony and made brief remarks at an American Legion hall in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he also played a round of golf.

2002: George W. Bush spoke at commemoration in Normandy. On May 27, 2002, President George W. Bush spoke at a Memorial Day commemoration in Normandy, France.
Bush remained in Texas for Veterans Day in 2007

Veterans Day 2007: Cheney attended ceremony to pay tribute at Arlington as Bush remained in Texas. On November 11, 2007, the AP reported that "President Bush honored U.S. troops past and present at a tearful ceremony Sunday for four Texans who died there." The AP further reported that "Vice President **** Cheney went to Arlington to pay tribute to Iraq veterans."

[teko]

No he is not scheduled to be at Arlington, VP is. Obama is scheduled at a National Cemetary elsewhere. It has been all over the news. Now I am sure this does not suit your fancy along with many others. With that being said, other presidents have not been at Arlington Cemetary on memorial day, so whatever you might think about it? You can pile on all the others with him when you criticize him. Some of which are listed in the article.

[margypops]

oh brother, well I heard he isnt going to Arlington and it was dear little Ariana Huffington who said it ..not the most reliable paper for the truth at all ,the Huffington Post ...so are you saying he will be at Arlington , or has he gone to the Gulf with his family to help clear up the oil still gathering on the shores ..waiting ....

[teko]

Specialmom, Margaritas, now that is talking my language. Forget the wine, straight to the hard stuff! Adgal, Snow? Seriously? Ew! Yep bring your suit and that baby and come on over! Anytime! I would absolutely love it!

It is 7am and got my joe brewing. A beautiful day. Sun coming up and birds a singing. Another day in paradise.

[Steve_MHModerator]

A topic reminder:

This is a place where we can discuss current events and what happens to be in the news. We are adults and can have healthy debates about issues we feel strongly about, BUT BE RESPECTFUL of each other and NO NAME CALLING. Otherwise, let's have some great debates and fun!

[teko]

Yep! Its a full moon!

[margypops]

telling porkies about Beck  ....was pretty nasty that how this thread started then you all got waylaid .........

[margypops]

no sense of humor ? whoops as nasty as ever' it was a joke ..

[margypops]

respectful debate  ooh my   go on I dare you ..admit it you were all scrapping ......its allowed you know even amongst  pals ......

[margypops]

Oh Lordy I just read all this had the best laugh I had all day ...I dont know what I liked best the scrapping or the apologising ..haha  with Tequila  . WOW ......lol have nice scrapping or scraping ,.bowing evening .....he isnt going to Arlington ..hes off to ......drum roll..... Chicago    yehhhhhh.........

[adgal]

I'm coming to the beach with you...in fact, SURPRISE!!!  I'm coming to stay with you..lol.  To top off my otherwise awful day, it has started snowing!!!!!!!!!  To heck with this, I'm heading to the airport!

[specialmom]

I'm going straight for the tequila!  Just kidding.  The smell of it alone makes me drunk as well as reminds me of one unpleasant incident long ago . . . but  if I have some margarita mix with it. . .yum.  Just what I need to get this ranting, full moon kind of mood out of me!  Enjoy the bath and enjoy the beach.  

[teko]

I will have red with chocolate and you may have the white to take to the bubbles and hopefully you and ryder will have sweet dreams! lol  Me gonna watch CSI and make an early night of it and hit the beach tomorrow! All welcome to join me.....BYOB!

[adgal]

I second that...I respect and like all of you as well.  I enjoy our debates and hope I never make it sound personal.

Now, that said, Teko I will join you in that glass of wine..then I am having a nice long bubble bath!!!  It is a full moon isn't it...I had forgotten...yep, I am blaming my ranting and raving on that!!!!!!

[teko]

Well, I had my rant! lol, I think it must be a full moon! I have actually been on good behavior recently but every once in a while I get stoked! I think it is clear that we all agree on one thing, our vote is what counts. If Obama is voted out, so be it. I hope I would agree with whoever was put in his place but even if I dont, I will not treat them like this man has been treated. Every problem in the world comes across his desk, it is a major major job. I wonder sometimes about those that have so much idle time that they make a living out of kicking em. I wonder just how well they would fare in that job and being treated the way he is. The politicians all of them have something to gain, votes is what they are called. What does everyone else have to gain tho? And like I said entertainment tv being the head of the republican party is what is scary to me. What in the world is happening to us? And as far as that 58 mil to Greece? Well, there is a good reason behind that but it is too involved to get into here. If you research and learn what happened, how and why, it will make sense. He had his hands tied on that one.  As far as Bush, Reagan or any of the rest of them. I did not agree with all that they did either and yes, you had idgets acting the same way about him. (Not nearly as badly tho). And yes, the hatred that is spewed and the talk that I have witnessed, race does have a play with quite a few, not all no, but quite a few. I mean, they even argue cause of what he put on his census for crying out loud. So my rant is over. For today...... I still love and respect each and everyone of you guys. Now, somebody open that bottle of wine! lol

[adgal]

I just read through all the comments and posts on this thread.  It really does all come down to perspective and what you personally feel is important (and that is exactly how it should be).  My rant (sorry about that) was about all the nonsense stuff that comes up to "cloud" the issues.  When I talked about the out and out lies around a single payer health care system, I was referring to all the comments I saw about things like death panels.  Or that we in Canada cannot change Dr.s without approval.  In all honesty, I do believe (in fact I am fairly certain of it) that single payer allows for less interference.  For example, your insurance companies dictate what type of treatment you will have by what they will pay for.  Everything around our health care is decided by our Dr.'s and ourselves.  The gov't just pays the bill like an insurance company would, but without dictating to our Dr.'s  Again, this is my perspective based on my experiences. Don't misunderstand, there is plenty wrong with our system, I am not blind to that.  I just like the fact that I am not capped or declined for anything, not ever.  But again, this is the way I grew up, and just as you have heard horror stories about our system, I have heard horror stories about yours.  So really, it comes down to perspective and what we want out of health care.

As for the race issue, I have no doubt it is not a factor for many, but is a factor for quite a few.  That's just reality in our world today...sad but true.  And I do think that is playing a part in the extra scrutiny.  It;s not 100% of it, but it is a fact.  I mean, the man had more death threats then any other President, and that was only a few weeks after inaguration.  I can understand though, for those like you SpecialMom that do not base your opinion on this, it must be frustrating to hear it come up time and time again.  

I think my frustration with most of this is it seems so little is being based on fact.  I don't understand all the energy being put into slandering the man...and that is what some of it is.  Are there legitimate issues with him?  No doubt about it, but again, that is what the vote is for.  I am just so sick of hearing he was born in Kenya, or he is anti American and Muslim.  I am sick of being accused of being a socialist and jealous of the US.  I am sick of him being accused of being Socialist and trying to bring down the country.  I dunno, maybe I need to just quit reading journals...I just get ticked off..lol.

[specialmom]

Oops.  Busy writing my lengthy post above.  

Oops again.  I did forget what the topic was.  Sorry.

But I was just saying that I really didn't even know what the other presidents did on this weekend-----------  just being honest.  And my further thought was that Obama is scrutinized more than other presidents during my lifetime.  You and I have different reasons for why we think that is so . . . but I think my point is still valid.

Oh yeah . . . I was alive during the Vietnam War having been born in the mid 60's.  But I was a wee little babe and don't remember much from then . . .  

[specialmom]

Taxes will change when the Bush tax cuts expire in the near future.  We are in two wars and I didn't agree with Iraq to begin with.  Has Obama impressed you in this department?  And Bush may have started the bail outs but it has escalated to bailing out everyone . . . including Greece for how much again?   We can't afford that.  We just can't.  There is money being thrown around for everything . . . and I have no idea where it is coming from.  I thought Bush spent way too much too . . . so don't throw Bush out at me.  But someone needs to talk about budgets with these folks.  I just might have to send my husband to Washington.  

And . . . remember where I said that I'm sure racism does play a role in the way some people view Obama.  Remember?  I could never deny that.  I never would.  But that isn't everyone and I do believe that is a convenient way to opt out of the fact that many are unhappy with him as our president.  Do you believe that his race is completely to blame for that?  Because if you do, we should stop talking.  Because then you ARE calling me a racist . . . and that would hurt my feelings.

I am not speaking for other people, by the way.  I'm speaking from my perspective and what I see in my own little world.  My too hot (for May!), kid laden, suburb living perspective.  I can't speak in absolutes as to what people that don't like Obama feel anymore than anyone else can.

Maybe he will surprise me and I'll see things going great. I would welcome that.   Maybe he will be voted out.  I don't get mad at people for having different political view points than me.  I really don't.  I don't scream from the rafters about dislike for Obama. Others do (and NO NO NO, not talking about med help but in general) and that is their choice.  They are passionate and say how they feel.  For me,  I think that no matter who he or she (maybe some day) is that they do deserve respect.  I respect my elders, I respect our commander and chief.  I was appalled at names called to Bush and feel the same about names called to Obama.  I also know that our president no matter who he/she may be does not run the whole show.  Obama is not approaching things politically by himself.  Our government has checks and balances.  Sometimes they work for us and sometimes they work against us.  But the president is not the only one calling the shots.  He just takes all the bullets.

But I will tell you . . . that every time I say that I do not care for him . . . it irks me that the word racist comes up.  

[mikesimon]

BTW, you didn't forget that this thread is about Beck saying Obama was the only President to not show up at Arlington on Memorial Day?

BUT,

Bush 1

Bush 2

and the great messiah - Ronald Reagan missed it too.

But Obama gets called out  - remember? I just wanted to remind you that was the point of this thread!

Why does only Obama get called UN- American?

Oh yeah, I forgot - he's a Muslin born in Kenya.

Mike

[mikesimon]

I guess sending young men and women into a war for absolutely no reason doesn't constitute doing " something to people that is beyond what I've personally seen."

No one admits that race has anything to do with it. Everyone is above that, of course. I don't buy it for one second. I am not accusing you of racism but I have seen it where I live. Maybe you live in a sanctified environment but where I live racism is alive and well. I have a friend who owns 3 country type bars in my area. This guy would be called a redneck - grew up in a coal mining family and worked blue collar jobs his whole life until he got into the bar business. Before the election he told me that it was scary what people were saying in his bars. They were talking about :killing that N" and lynching and all of that racist talk. This guy was blue collar rural and he was shocked and scared and he wasn't an Obama supporter by a long shot. But he saw what was going on and he thought it was scary .No one can believe that race has anything to do with the incredible amount of hatred for Obama but please someone - explain it to me.
Is it so different today than it was under Bush.
We're still in 2 wars.
The taxes haven't changed.
We have some health care legislation so that is a change.
Bush started the bail outs - remember?
We had Katrina and now we have the oil spill.
Bush got us into a deficit when he inherited a surplus and Obama is spending a lot of money too.

No one cared all that much about the deficit that Bush created out of a surplus he inherited going to war without any justification whatsoever. He was a good American.

Please, don't fool yourself because you're way too smart for that. People are screaming that they want their country back - what country are they talking about because face it - aside from starting the Iraq war there ain't a lot of difference. There simply is not enough difference that would prompt someone to say that they want their country back. Can't you see that?

I am amazed when I hear this stuff. I can get that people don't like Obama but this hatred is way off the charts and if you think there is a reasonable basis for it then I am in total disbelief, But, that's OK - it won't be the first time.

Mike

[adgal]

Aww, I think we can forgive each other..lol.  Nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree, but still think your great!!!  

I need to think about your comments, but first I need a nap (Ryder had his vaccinations and has been grumpy and not sleeping, so neither has mommy..lol).  But you know I will have something to say...ha!!!!

[specialmom]

Adgal----------  I am going to be honest with you on this.  I've corresponded with many people now that have children with a disability of some sort.  You WANT to live in America if this is the case.  The treatment these kids get is apalling and the wait time is incredible.  And some countries have taxes that are extrememly high.  Those in our country who want single payer health care are not always aware of the cost to them it will have.  Not to mention the fact that some of our government programs currently run are a total and complete mess.  Hard for me to trust that this would be different.  BUT . . . this is an old argument.  I think the Republicans can start talking about this at election time and will have a LOT of leverage.  Just my opinion and I know . . . not a popular one here.  

I think it is important to remember that the race between Obama and McCain was pretty darn tight.  It was NO landslide. So this change that you speak of people being afraid of-----------  many did not want it in the first place.  It is important to remember that, I think.  

As to Politics being an old White Boy's club.  Well, probably true.  But I don't look at Obama that way and I am NOT a fan.  I've even grown to dislike his demeanor in every situation except when he is with his family.  He rubs me the wrong way to the point that I'd honestly take just about anybody over him.  That is an emotional statement, I know.  But it took me a while to get to this point.  

And while there is always fear of change as that is human nature . . . there a lot of people that think these big changes are unnecessary.  We've been a strong country for a long time.  We are having a rough patch . . . does that mean you throw out everything we've done for the past two centuries?  Keeping the level of government involvement in day to day lives of American citizens was a big concern when the laws of this land were drafted.  I still believe in that.  The grass is NOT always greener.  

All just my point of view and I just might be as grumpy as you today Adgal!  lol Hopefully we can forgive each other!  ha ha

[adgal]

I think for some race is definately an issue.  And it may not be the fact that he is black, but that he is different then past Presidents.  It's something new.  And I also think many are terrified of change, especially the type of change it would seem he is trying to make.  What I find most ironic is those that will find fault regardless....for example: The BP oil spill.  The same people that scream no more gov't "control" are yelling that he has not done enough to regulate.  I hear some screaming free speech, yet it's only the "free speech" they want to hear.  Anyone who say's differently is an "idiot".  I don't think the poor guy can win no matter what he tries to do.  Can you imagine if he had done nothing to regulate the banking industry?  The same people that are now screaming gov't control would be screaming that he did nothing to prevent it from happening again.  And I do think much of that comes down to fear...fear of change and fear of something different.  And then there are those that scream that the US is and should remain a Capitilistic Society (it's actually not and true Capilism works no better then true Socialism).   I also think these radio programs are doing nothing to help the situation.  People do listen and are influenced by them.  I just wish everyone would base their opinions on the facts and really look at situations.  But sadly, many are not interested in the truth.   I cannot tell you how much garbage I heard about a single payer health care system.  I live with one so I can say that...it was absolute nonsense.  But when you try to tell people the truth, they just don't want to hear it.  They prefer to live with their fears. These talk show hosts play right into their fears and are manipulating them.  If someone had any fear of a black president looking for extreme changes, they will look for that which backs them up and that is what is happening.  I think exactly the same thing would be happening if a women had been elected, or a hispanic, or so on.  Politics has long been an old white boy's club, and as much as many say they want that to change, when it actually happens, they are terrified of it.  It's really human nature...change is scary.

[specialmom]

Oh . . . and I just wanted to add that some of the "things" out there about Obama I also have questioned.  I think that sticking with his policy making (and foot stamping, arrogant speech making) are enough.  My opinion.  Only my opinion.

[specialmom]

Ouch Mikesimon.  I don't want to be a bloviator or anything . . . but my feelings on him have nothing to do with race.  I'm a little above that. (that is the bloviator part . .. I had to make it work.)  I'm sure that factors in for some . . . I am PollyAnna but not naive (too much). And I would say that it is very sad that it does.  Very sad-------  and I have no respect for that.

I know there are ALWAYS those who oppose the president in power.  But this guy does something to people that is beyond what I've personally seen.  And blaming it JUST on race is not true in my opinion. That is an easy answer.  I think there is more to it than just that.  

You can't blame the feelings people have for Obama on the Right radio show guys either . . . some of them have been around for other Dem presidents (I'm sure Limbaugh was for Clinton )-------  and there were other guys before them.  Remember the Liddy radio talk show?  And the mainstream news broadcasts and CNN are pretty left leaning . . . don't they counteract anything.  Isn't it a draw?  Oh yeah . . . and print media seems to lean that way too.  

So I don't know.  Maybe I know nothing.  There is always that chance. I can only speak from my perspective.

And a President in woman's clothing?  That might go over alright if it is a woman but if not, I think they should steal Mrs. Obama's wardrobe and stylist!