Michelle Malkin » Ground Zero etiquette: A tale of two roses

Ground Zero etiquette: A tale of two roses

By Michelle Malkin • September 11, 2008 10:41 PM

It’s a small gesture, but gestures matter at the hallowed grave site of so many murdered innocent Americans.

Barack Obama flings a memorial rose at Ground Zero like he’s a kid tossing pennies into a fountain at the shopping mall — or a spectator tossing flowers at a bullfight.

He doesn’t know what he’s doing.

(Clueless NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg copies him.)

By contrast, John McCain and his wife kneel and gently, somberly, place their roses down at the foot of the 9/11 tribute.

Tons of you e-mailed me about this. Here’s the vid for the rest of you who didn’t see it. It’s a telling cultural and generational distinction between these two men vying to be commander-in-chief of our nation:

Here’s another angle (you can see Bloomberg’s toss in this one):

***

Reader Joe W. also notices: “The first 30 seconds showed that Obama could not take the time to shake hands with the uniformed firemen (John McCain took the time) nor the construction worker with the American flag hardhat…He was painfully uncomfortable at this ceremony!”

***

Some readers are complaining about Joe W.’s comments, interpreting it to mean that Obama didn’t shake any firefighters’ hands. I think he simply meant the ones standing that line. Obama shook plenty of hands during the rest of the ceremony.

Commenter Mookie: “The video showing that he spent time with the uniformed fireman and the construction worker has been posted numerous times. That’s what people are objecting to, not the notion that he didn’t shake any hands at all.”

Noted.

Posted in: 9/11, Barack Obama, John McCain

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#453338

On September 12th, 2008 at 3:33 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

lgm said:
McCain is a vet, Obama is not. In the previous cycle, it was the Democratic candidate who was a decorated war hero from the Vietnam warand the Republican who was the draft dodger.

Kerry… a hero who lied about his service, lied about the actions of his brothers in arms and tossed his medals over the fence of the white house. Sounds more like dereliction of duty and disgracing the uniform to me.

And W did his time in the ANG like many others at the time and many still do today. One question though… are you really Dan Rather???

Continuing on…you’ll remember that Kerry chose the Swift Boat as I recall as it was reported to be the best way to avoid combat and time in-country.

So don’t compare Kerry to John McCain sir. Kerry not could polish John McCain boots when it comes to his military service.
#453419

On September 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

I would put my honorable discharge up against John Kerry’s any day of the week.

Better yet-lets compare McCain’s discharge to kerry’s discharge. My money is on McCain.

GSP
RetFireman-You’re on when you come to Memphis
#453442

On September 12th, 2008 at 4:32 pm, RetFireman said:

Did I read that right? Did someone without a single freaking clue actually write that the military supports Odhimmi 6-1? Wow…that is the biggest load I have heard in I can’t remember when. That is so delusional..I can’t even fathom it.

And every time some little poo-butt know nothing never served their country, state, city, county claims that Bush did not serve, dodged the draft or anything of that nature and demeans his time in the Air Guard, they spit in the face of every single Guardsman and Reservist in this country past, present and future. They, who are too selfish to give of themselves for the priveledge of living in this country, would dare besmirch anyone like that is just about the lowest form of life here is.

NO ONE claims that Kerry did not serve. NO ONE besmirches the Navy or those that served on the Swift Boats. What we are saying is that Kerry has lied…has been proven to have lied, and he threw his own men under the bus, spit on the memories and honor of those who served in Vietnam publicly and in grand fashion on television before Congress and at rallies etc.

The difference between how George W. Bush served, and what Kerry did to get out and after he served is cast indeed.

How dare you. You aren’t fit to clean their latrines.
#453447

On September 12th, 2008 at 4:35 pm, RetFireman said:

then again, I guess it is my fault for even thinking for a nano-second that someone like them lgm and others here and other places would even know what the definition of “Honor”, and “Integrity” means.

No wonder they mock those words.
#453469

On September 12th, 2008 at 4:59 pm, DBNinKY said:

Followed your link, which led to another link… You neglected to mention that the support here is in terms of campaign donations and does not necessarily indicate a shift in voting preference (especially considering the low volume of 323 total).

Get use to it, Salt. He distracts, obfuscates, equivocates and exaggerates against Republicans all the time to puff up B. Hussein Obama and America’s enemies. Best just to scroll past him ’til after the election.
#453478

On September 12th, 2008 at 5:03 pm, lgm said:

RetFireman said (#181):

I guess it is my fault for even thinking for a nano-second that someone like them lgm and others here and other places would even know what the definition of “Honor”, and “Integrity” means.

OK, explain how the McCain campaign represents honor and integrity. The campaign ads are lies and smears. Palin did not oppose the bridge to nowhere until Congress killed it. Obama did not push sex in kindergarten. The McCain health insurance plan includes a tax increase on the middle class. McCain grandstanded on torture then quietly supported the Bush veto of that bill.
#453522

On September 12th, 2008 at 5:34 pm, RetFireman said:

It is typical of the troll to completely take what I have said and change the subject. Therefore, i do not reply to the troll, for the troll demonstrates with every post, his lack of understanding of how to do things honorably.
#453553

On September 12th, 2008 at 6:09 pm, RW_the_original said:

CNN reported that Michelle Obama didn’t show up because it was the kids first week of school and she wanted to home with them.

Apparently that didn’t apply to Wednesday.
#453568

On September 12th, 2008 at 6:29 pm, Salt said:

On September 12th, 2008 at 5:03 pm, lgm said:

OK, explain how the McCain campaign represents honor and integrity. The campaign ads are lies and smears. Palin did not oppose the bridge to nowhere until Congress killed it.

You might wish to check with the Alaska Democratic party on this.

The Alaska Democratic Party – certainly no fan of Sarah Palin – has weighed in on this issue. An anti-Ted Stevens website run by the Alaska Democratic Party says “Ted Earmarked Funds for Bridge that Goes Nowhere” and the “State of Alaska killed bridge”. They go further to credit Governor Palin for killing the Bridge to Nowhere. The site states: “She said it was clear Congress had little interest in spending any more money for it and that the state had higher priorities.” (emphasis added)

lgm continued:
Obama did not push sex in kindergarten.

It’s cute how you take out the word “education” to make it sound as if conservatives said that Obama was pushing sex and not sex education in kindergarten.

I responded to you on this previous claim already.

lgm continued:
The McCain health insurance plan includes a tax increase on the middle class.

Obama’s plan would be partly paid for by eliminating the Bush tax cuts. Suggesting that this is not an increase is disingenuous. Mandating employers to pay for this completely would also have a trickle down effect on the middle class as well. Unless Obama is planning on printing money, universal health care cannot be completely subsidized by the “rich” (wherever the sliding scale on that term might be these days).

lgm continued:
McCain grandstanded on torture then quietly supported the Bush veto of that bill.

Hardly quiet considering that there are several quotes from him after it happened. It’s not as though the media was sleeping on this.

Mr. McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, has led the battle in recent years on a number of bills to end torture by the United States. He said he voted against the bill Wednesday because legislation he had helped to pass already prohibits the C.I.A. from “cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.”

Mr. McCain, of Arizona, said he believed it would be a mistake to limit C.I.A. interrogators to using only those techniques that were enumerated in the Field Manual, which he noted was a public document.

“When we passed the Military Commissions Act, we said that the C.I.A. should have the ability to use additional techniques,” Mr. McCain told reporters Friday in Oshkosh, Wis. “None of those techniques would entail violating the Detainee Treatment Act, which said that cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment are prohibited.”

…but I know you’ll keep repeating these DNC talking points anyway.
#453598

On September 12th, 2008 at 7:23 pm, Mrs. Happy Housewife said:

Lack of class or lack of empathy? I’d say both.
#453600

On September 12th, 2008 at 7:28 pm, GrayLoess said:

I watched the ceremony live as it happened and was immediately struck that McCain placed his rose gently and respectfully and Obama tossed his like he was flicking a booger off his finger.

Obama’s lack of respect was readily apparent. He disgusts me, and it seems that I’m not the only one here that saw it the same way.
#453616

On September 12th, 2008 at 7:43 pm, bayou22 said:

A sickening, but shining example of the absolute lack of caring this man has about anything but himself and his own presidential aspirations. Sickening and obscene…not to mention the absence of his angry wife – is that any way to expect to act as first lady?

Argue however you want lefties, but McCain actually showed his respect while Obama callously threw his.

Huge difference.
#453684

On September 12th, 2008 at 9:01 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

This one was over the top. Is it REALLY that big of deal as to how Obama throws a rose? Come on, conservatives !

LGM

If McCain gets to be President, his superior funeral technique might come in handy, given the wars he’s likely to get us into.

McCain doesn’t like war, LGM. And he’s never said that he’ll invade a sovereign nation, unlike Obama.

Real issue: which candidate has done more for veterans? Clue: one of Obama’s accomplishments in the Senate (who says there are none?) was improved veterans’ benefits. McCain opposes this.

A liberal like you who doesn’t support the troops is going to lecture us on veterans’ benefits and cite Obama as having more credibility than McCain on a 9-11 thread….that’s hilarious, LGM.

Let’s be honest here: you don’t care about the troops either way, do you? And the reason you don’t care is because you think they are fighting Bush’s war, isn’t that right?
#453687

On September 12th, 2008 at 9:02 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

Obama said he would be willing to use air strikes or small special forces units to pursue known terrorists in Pakistan. That is the policy Bush has followed since then.

That is incorrect. Bush has always sought permission from the government of Pakistan first, Obama had said he would send in ground units even without permission.

To do so without permission is an act of war.
#453708

On September 12th, 2008 at 10:16 pm, ackrite55 said:

Just maybe McCain placed the rose because he didnt have the arm strength to toss it. Consequentially, it was gracefully done.
#453861

On September 13th, 2008 at 1:44 am, atheling said:

It’s about Presidential decorum.

Leaders with decorum when honoring the dead go back to ancient civilizations. Whether Pharoah or POTUS, the leaders must demonstrate gravitas in situations as these.
#454231

On September 13th, 2008 at 2:10 pm, imjustsaying said:

Yeah, but was he wearing a flag pin? This is the most ridiculous post I have even seen on any blog, right wing or left wing.
#454351

On September 13th, 2008 at 6:20 pm, zyzzyg said:

Yep, Sen Obama tossed his flower onto the other flowers, it can certainly be viewed as tacky. When I first it live I was taken aback.

Now that I see the provided clip, I wonder how the other flowers got that far back from where Sens McCain and Obama were standing. Please note that Sen McCain might not be capable of tossing the flower and only did what he was able to do.

I noticed another thing as I watched the Senators walk down the ramp. Only one of them was wearing an American Flag pin in their lapel. And, in the clip provided there was a Fireman placing something in the lapel of the Senator who was not wearing an American Flag.
#454412

On September 13th, 2008 at 8:24 pm, winemkr said:

I’d love to be a fly on the wall and watch BO’s reaction if and when he ever walks’s up to the Wall.

I can’t get within a hundred feet withut weeping, 90% inwardly, 10% outwardly. The 10% are the tears.

This POS makes me sick to the depths of my soul, and he makes my personal military radar go off every time I hear him speak or observe his smug mug talking down to us little people.

Obama is the worst thing that could possibly happen to our country and I’m not talking about taxes.

I’m talking about future DEAD warriors.
#454738

On September 14th, 2008 at 1:43 pm, exdeadhead said:

Barry was trying to be fair and balanced, tossing his rose toward the center where there were fewer. This demonstrates more of a Monk-ish, excessive compulsive impulse than an intent toward disrespect. Can we get back to the issues now?
#511099

On October 22nd, 2008 at 4:32 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

What Bill Ayers posted on his blog on September 10, 2008.

…more…