Commander in Chief?

http://www.clevelandleader.com/print/8627
Obama Snubs Nation's Heroes,
Becomes the First President to Skip Ball
Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients in Over 50 Years
By Julie

Created 01/21/2009 - 10:13pm

Barack Obama may have stumbled over his words briefly during his inauguration, but he made an even bigger blunder later Tuesday evening. The newly sworn-in President opted not to appear [1] at what should have been one of the most important Balls on his agenda that evening - The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball.

The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball was begun in 1953 for President Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration. The event recognized recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. There were 48 Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, who were undoubtedly disappointed by the Commander-in-Chief's failure to show. Over the past 56 years and 14 inaugurations, no President has skipped this event - until now.

The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball is sponsored by the American Legion, and co-sponsored by 13 other veteran's service organizations, including those such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Instead of attending this ball honoring our nation's heroes, Obama was busy making stops at 10 other official balls. Obama and his wife's first stop was at the Neighborhood Ball. From there they went to the Home State Ball for Illinois and Hawaii, the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Youth Inaugural Ball, and the Home State Ball for Delaware and Pennsylvania. They finished off the night with brief appearances at the Mid-Atlantic, Western, Midwest, Eastern, and Southern regional Balls.

Celebrities were a plenty at the balls, with Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Mary. J. Blige, Faith Hill, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, will.i.am, Sting, Mariah Carey, and Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance at the Neighborhood Ball. In addition, the other nine balls also featured a star-studded lineup including Kanye West and Kid Rock at the Youth Ball, Marc Anthony at the Western Ball, and Cheryl Crow at the Western Ball.

It was the party without all of the celebrities that Obama skipped. The very people who he sought to have support him during his candidacy and campaign, who have fought to protect this country, were snubbed in favor of publicity and the opportunity to rub shoulders - yet again - with the out-of-touch Hollywood elite.



Land of the free....because of the brave...

This was passed on to me. I find it reprehensible that the President of the United States who is the Commander in Chief of the United States would skip a ball that honors the heroes of this country, in order to rub elbows with the Hollywood Elite. The Medal of Honor is a very elite award, and for the most part the recipients were awarded the Medal posthumously. Even for a President to be able to rub elbows with he 48 men in attendance that are entitled to wear that ribbon with the thirteen stars on it. I personally would rather be in the company of these great men then the likes if Kid Rock,Kanye West, Shakira, or any of the other entertainment elites out there. These are men who were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to save their fellow man.