Obama Snubs Medal of Honor Ball
Posted on January 21, 2009
Another milestone, and another first for Obama! He is the first president in 56 years to snub the American Legion’s “Salute the Heroes” Inaugural ball. Perhaps his ego couldn’t handle being surrounded by actual heroes?
The American Legion sponsors the ball, which recognizes recipients of Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award. It started in 1953 for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first inauguration.
Event co-sponsors include 13 other veterans service organizations, among them the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
For some reason, Obama couldn’t find the time to squeeze this ball into the long list of black tie parties.
» Filed Under Barack Obama, News, military
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44 Responses to “Obama Snubs Medal of Honor Ball”
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Let’s see, he went to balls until 3 A>M> and went to work early today. Yeah, let’s dump on him right off the bat. And let’s really forget the 4,000 plus dead military heros who are not here at all in a war that should never have been. I cry for these brave soldiers and their families. Let the Man start the “change” with out all of the negative garbage. Let’s save that for the past eight years that got us in the mess (lost jobs, lost houses, lost hope) we are in. JL in Dallas
Gawd, liberals make me sick. In fact, come to think of it, I got deathly ill right after the election.
I think Obama just likes to “squeeze in” his balls at home. Y’know what I mean?
judy lee,
Here’s my “calm, cool, and collected” erudite response to your post:
Tough s***. His Majesty wanted the job, so he needs to live up to it and everything that comes with it.
Judy Lee,
I highly doubt you shed one tear for the men and women who have lost their lives in the service of our country. You and your ilk have made it your lifes purpose to shame their service and demoralize what it is they stand for. Its always END THE WAR. If you cared one bit about our armed forces you would know they see it as WIN THE WAR.
Judy,
Were I a wartime President, I might skip Babs Striesand and Andrea Mitchell and make a little time to salute WAR HEROES. That is unless I were an anti-American Communist who has spent his whole life hating everything those brave men fought for. —-Oh, never mind.
Who reports this stuff?
President Obama attended the Salutes to Heroes Ball hosted by the American Legion, and is in fact on the front page of their website if you haven’t checked.
There is also a fantastic write-up about the event in today’s Stars and Stripes Magazine.
You may not want to believe all the bogus rumors you hear. BTW, the Cleveland Leader who also obtained erroneous info will be issuing an apology tomorrow.
He was there. He rocked. Enough said.
http://www.stripes.com/articlephoto.asp?section=104&article=60160&photo=4&count=5
Judy manages to still bash Bush on a thread about Obama pissing on our heroes. Way to go, Judy!!
Spare us the “dump on him right away” crap. People like you have been dumping on Bush for 8 years, you’ve got what’s coming to you.
Actually, what you are referencing is the Commander in Chief Ball. NOT the Medal of Honors Ball, which is a separate event.
Fort Richardson Army Base comment makes a mistake.
Obama did attend the Com in Ch Ball and stars and stripes site does have pictures of it. He also said Amer Legion site had photos which it does not. The American Legion is the service Org that sponsored the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball which the Pres has indeed attended since Eisenhower.
What a shame Obama broke such a fine tradition. There were over 40 MoH members there, from late 50’s to 100 years old and many won’t be alive for the next one. Very poor judgement on Obama’s part.
I can’t find any existance of that ball.
Hotel says no, American Legion says no,
anyone have a link ?
Deerin the headlights Ozombies,
We the people that love America look at you as hapless victems of your moral relativisum. We see your attachment to Obama as pathetic because underlying moral relativisum is an aversion to a Creator. Obama is out for himself and that is what we on the right know beyond a shadow of a doubt. You, your hateful left media, and hateful politician, celebrities, education system tore bush apart for 8 years trying to destroy his character in every way. and know you think we are going to support your used car saleman president? President Bush honored those on your side when official funtions came up. Obama’s speech put Bush down many times indirectly. Bush has more charater in his little finger than the whole buch of goons you just put in office and the sorry and pathetic dem congress. Your hate of Bush is disgusting to us. We don’t hate obama, we hate his moral relativisum and yours. Obama is for himself and you will see that soon enough. President Bush had more humility and respect for this country than your immoral media wanted you to see.
Looking forward to a lib reply, prediction: “The writer is hatful and a sore looser”. Thats right out of the democratic handbook, avoid truth by name calling. Enjoy your new hero and sorry your so empty, Obama had to “complete” your life.
Military Coup.
It was difficult to find a link. Clearly not on the top of the lefty fav’s. But I did find a link on this lefty site: http://godc.about.com/od/holidayseventsindc/a/09balls_RO.htm.
But also, Pres. Bush attended this ball in 2005, it was his FIRST stop: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=24307
It should be first stop for every Commander in Chief, honoring the very people he will command. It’s called priorities.
Ozombie you get an ‘attaboy’!!
Nice spelling, folks.
Obama was not attending balls until 3am. He was having champagne with Oprah Winfrey at the White House before 1am. Sad to think that the Commander in Chief doesn’t understand that most Medal of Honor recipients died in valor. Obama makes me ill.
the TRUE colors of your new president are shining thru.
the TRUE colors of “our” new president are shining thru.
i will no longer were the american flag
Oh, you mean the ball that wasn’t even held this year? I can’t imagine why Obama skipped it.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_vetsball_missingorganizer_011909w/
If you take the time to look, this story is verified on an Obama website..he skiped it.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamablogger/gGxHPx
Traditionally, the president and first lady visit as special guests, from time to time accompanied by the vice president and his wife. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and leaders of the veterans groups also headline the guest list. This event has been an Inaugural tradition since 1953. This year there were no administration visits. However, LT. General James B. Peake was seated at the head table. General Peake recently served as the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary under George Bush.
Congrats, you’re one of the many neocons who fell for this hoax.
http://www.commercialappeal-web.com/simple/index.php?topic=11773.new#new
Well, I’m no neocon, but maybe you can post a link that acutally tells us something.
Missed the Navy Tmes link, thanks, I didn’t anyone could be that dumb.
No hoax Zombie. It’s just a matter of you and Andrew not knowing that the Veterans Inaugural Ball is not the same as the Medal of Honor Ball.
Try to read this and then be grateful you live in a country where you can whine and piss and moan because you lost the election.
“Blackfive, which I read occasionally for military pieces, confirmed that President Obama did not come to the inaugural ball. So I became curious because the only two sources were two blogs and one source that consisted of initials. Therefore, I did what any rational person would do: I contacted the American Legion to get the straight story from the people who would know. I was put in contact with a very pleasant gentleman named Craig Roberts who is the American Legion’s Media Relations Manager and after our conversation he e-mailed me this statement which I will include in its entirety: In answer to your inquiry:
The American Legion, as it has on every inauguration evening since 1953, hosted the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Banquet & Ball on January 20th. The quadrennial event is co-sponsored with fourteen veterans service and military service organizations and honors recipients of the Medal of Honor. Forty-seven of these heroes attended this year’s event which was held in the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel.
President Obama was invited but did not attend. Vice-President Joe Biden did appear, however, and was very warmly received. The new President’s absence was understandable considering the unprecedented logistical challenges presented by the vastly increased number of visitors to this inauguration and the necessary attendant security measures. The American Legion, as an organization, does not feel offended or “snubbed.”
Thank you,
Craig Roberts
Media Relations Manager
The American Legion
1608 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
202.263.2982 (direct)”
[edited]
The Commander in Chief’s absence is not understandable to me especially since he has to earn back respect after saying that US troops were killing innocent men and women. He is travesty as a Commander in Chief in my humble opinion. My father must be turning over in his grave.
I look at this a little differently -
Though it was an absolute snub – NO excuse, he could have gotten there – I have to wonder how many of those true heroes were actually relieved that they didn’t have to “Mr President” this poser; yet, got to see each other at a great party.
More of them than can actually risk telling us,
I’m sure.
And Craig Roberts seems to be a traitor…
Jeb
VFW
How many of you could have attended all of the balls — with all of the security detail that it encompassed? And then get up and be at your desk at 8:30 am? Why are you all so hateful, anyway? Give President Obama a chance and see what he will make happen. The right wing media is who/what is so hateful and already spewing nasty messages hoping all of you writing here will believe everything that is said. Bush left this country in a terrible mess after 8 years, and it will take a long time to rectify. He should be impeached, along with Cheney for lies, crimes committed, etc. MSB
There is no excuse for Obama to miss the Medal of Honor Ball. It is the freedom that these men fought for that allows us to do the things we take for granted. His snub should tell the military what type of commander and chief he will be. As for the rest of the Bush bashing, there is a clear line connecting the war in Iraq, 9/11, the subprime meltdown to the Clinton administration. Clinton failed to reign in Saddam Hussein in the 8 years he was in office. Albright was useless as a UN ambassador. Clinton hamstrung our intelligence community by making it difficult for them to share information (yes it was Clinton who did this). Thus 9/11 the worst attack since Pearl Harbor. Let’s not forget that Clinton had the opportunity to take out bin Laden and didn’t. He ignored the warnings, the first World Trade Center attack, the Cole, the African embassies. We get hit and you want the commander and chief to guess whether we will be hit again or do you want him to take decisive steps to prevent another attack. That is courage President Bush showed us and the Obama’s snub shows the complete lack of character. If we had been attacked again after 9/11, all of you Bush haters would be the first to scream Bush did not do enough. The subprime mortgage mess is directly due to the Carter administratin promoting mortgages to people who could not pay them back. Clinton made it even. In 2004, the Bush adiministration warned Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac about the poor quality of loans and the Democrats refused to go along with changing the rules. The CEO’s of Fannie and Freddie made millions and the tax payers have pick up the bill. To make matters worse, these two guys are advisors to Obama. As for Katrina, why not place some of the blame on the governor of LA and the mayor of New Orleans. I would think they would have disaster plans ready for such an event. Oh that’s right, they were both Democrats. Every school district where the high school drop out rate is high, the city and state are run by Democrats. But it is Bush’s fault the schools are bad. You Bush haters are pathetic. You have your man in the White House. Let’s see what he can do. I tell people you can judge a man’s character by the friends he keeps. Obama has little character with friends like Ayers, Wright, Rescoe. Look at the scandels following his cabinet picks. Oh that’s right failing to pay your taxes is just a hic-up.
I love it when someone talks about the Federal response to Katrina, and doesn’t have the foggiest idea what they are talking about. FEMA, for decades, has told the locals that they are responsible for their own citizens for up to three days. Along with that, the state has to request, by written order, that the Feds step in. Mayor Nagin ran like a little girl, and the stupid Democratic Governor stood in the capital of the state, wide eyed like a deer in your headlights. They did not take care of their citizens, the ones that elected them to office. FEMA, whether you like it or not, was there in three days, just like all the other states and cities in the United States plans for.
Obama is a disrespectful hack for not showing up and honoring the Medal of Honor recipients. To send Biden, as VP, who had never even served in the military, to me is just as much an act of disrespect.
It only took the Democrats 2 years of control in the Congress to totally screw things up.
Warmest regards to the veterans.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid this is only the beginning of the lack of respect the Armed Services and past war heroes are going to get with this administration.
The priorities of the White House will never be the “ordinary citizens” of the US as long as it is an Obamanation.
For instance, why was it one of his first acts to lift a ban on our taxes paying for abortions in other countries? IF we have to pay for something in other countries, lets start with birth control! Oh, that’s right, it is birth control, because it’s NOT a real baby………..
What hope is there for our country if we downsize or turn our backs on our military, Israel, and the unborn babies?
Thanks to Mike Mark, this barack obamaa web site sets the record straight. Barack did not attend!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamablogger/gGxHPx
It is amazing how simple facts get distorted in this era of web searches.
For anyone who doubts the truth of this story, here is a link to the U.S. Department of Defense’s public website:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=24307
And, no the “Salute to Heroes” inaugural ball, honoring the living recipients of the Medal of Honor, is not the same as the other veterans ball that was canceled this year.
Why is the Veterans of Foreign Wars mentioned in this artical?. I understnd when it stated other orginizations but the VFW is the Second Largest Veterans group and we actually served in combat.
If the man did not want to come to the Ball than everyone probably had a better time.
For those of us who have served our country and continue to serve, this is just another let down by the very people we have sworn to defend. Has anybody really taken the time to consider how America would really be without our military? You would no longer have the right to speak out as you do, I recomend all the people who take our freedoms and military for granted to fly to (NOT GOOGLE) and acctually visit these other places that you think we pick on or bully and live there for a while, come back when you have been humbled by the rights these men and woman have granted you through sacrifices they have made that most will never understand.
The American Legion doesn’t feel snubbed? Well this member OF American Legion Post 500 and Ernie Pyle VFW Post 1120 sure as hell feels that we were snubbed.
Craig Rogberts doesn’t speak for me and doesn’t speak for the overwhelming majority of fellow members that I have spoken to.
This is simply a taste of what is to come from the “anointed one.” Whether you are Democrate or Republican you should feel deeply offended by his actions.
in response to “n/a on January 23rd, 2009 11:55 am”…
to ‘were’ the US Flag is to disrespect it, so i’d HOPE you weren’t wearing it, anyway. Please reference the US Flag Code for the proper ways to display and honor our nation’s symbol.
So how do you vets feel about General Eric Shinseki (retired) being picked for Veterans Affairs Secretary?
I mean I’d rather have a President that misses the Medal of Honor Ball but doesn’t make up wars that costs about as much as the stimmulus package and wastes thousands of American lives along with many times more Iraqi lives.
But that’s just me.
Yo, Judes,When Bush was elected in 2004 the very first ball he dropped in on was the Veterans’ Ball. Obama could of done the same thing it wouldn’t have killed him
As a Viet Nam Era U.S.A.F. vet (’68 – ‘72) and the son of a combat wounded U.S.A. vet (Fighting 69th ‘39 – ‘45) who earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star in defense of his country, I find B.H.O.’s snub offensive and unforgiveable, as every veteran should.
This empty socialist suit will never be my President and I’m counting down the 1460 days until we can throw this anti-American Chicago socialist back to the Windy City – he’s all rhetoric and no substance anyway, so that’s a great place for him….
The facts are Vice President Biden attended the Medal Of Honor winners Ball. President Obama chose not to. It is on the Legion website.