The McCains and Obama at Ground Zero
I’m watching the livestream of the joint appearance by John McCain and Barack Obama at Ground Zero right now.
Cindy McCain is also there. Michelle Obama is not — as the cable networks are pointing out, not just me.
4:30pm Eastern. Obama looks lost, trying to find someone’s hand to shake.
Fox reports Michelle Obama is home with her kids.
***
Earlier today: A reminder of Obama’s compassion…for jihadists
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No comment.
Time to reflect and honor the fallen heros. All of them.
I was a little more than stunned by who did not attend. Cindy McCain is there, but no Michelle Obama.
Is Obama crazy? This just brings back the “I am not proud of my country” meme and makes people wonder whether Michelle Obama truly believes that trash spewed by Jeremiah Wright about America getting its just desserts on 9/11.
Couldn’t let that go, could you?
If Michelle Obama is spending time with her kids, I applaud her decision not to be a prop.
I loved the fact Cindy came with John.
L
After reading Obama’s comments after 9/11/01, seeing him there just turns my stomach. I want to be kind, but I just don’t have anything nice to say.
Seeing the two of them together is something I think is purely American. Made me very proud.
So, now Cyndi McCain is a prop?
I agree this is a time of memorium….
and will reserve judgement on the lack of Michelle O’s presence til the facts are presented on the reasons for her absence.
It is, however, an honest question.
You’re a better person than I.
CyndiCindyPhony bipartisanship at its best. Bloomberg really sets my teeth on edge. He may be an “independent” but is as changeable in position when the political winds shift.
Ughhhh… this is nothing more than a photo op. It gives me no comfort. It’s especially nauseating to see Obummer there, who wants us to have empathy for the terrorists.
I would rather they had made separate appearances. Their joint photo op will not solve our problems but give the semblence of a bandaid that will quickly be ripped off again when the Obummer campaign starts in again on Bush-McCain linkage, bumper sticker slogoneering, and attacks on Sarah Palin instead of discussing the actual real, applicable solutions to our challenges.
Good lord.
#1 ditto…though juxtaposing BO with JM is a bit like the lipstick-applying pig getting his comeuppance.
Fox said Michelle Obama is home with the kids.
You can’t go to Pearl Harbor after all these years without a lump in your throat. The emotions at ground zero today must be nearly overwhelming.
#11 Bloomberg is NOT independent. Period.
It did make many of us wonder why , or how , michelle obama did not go to this event…
my thought too.
What is really going thru my mind, plus the guy on Cavuto just mentioned how important Bush was three days after the attack, is who will have the integrity, the honor and honesty to thank President Bush for keeping this great country safe for 7 years?
No one thought it possible 6 years and 50 weeks ago, but Bush has done it.
He deserves some credit today, that this has not happened again, here in America.
Major Garrett & Neal Cavuto are spinning as if O has risen from the ashes. Shame on them.
I don’t care how Cindy McCain spends her time. I also don’t call out Michelle Obama for staying home with her kids during a school week instead of getting on TV in New York.
Absolutely. It happened barely nine months into his presidency. Nine months! And he was simply remarkable.
I wish to commend both Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama for taking time out of their campaigning to pay respect to those who lost their lives seven years ago. Neither of them had to, and they both made the decision to do what is right.
There is nothing wrong with pointing out the absence of Michelle Obama. However, I am not going to judge her negatively for it. The school year has started and it’s a great thing that she is home with her daughters. I think it would have been wonderful for the girls to be there and experience the memorial, but that’s just my opinion.
Michelle is not proud period. Her kids could be with a babysitter for one day. She could at least be there and leave later. How disgraceful.
Cindy shows class and respect.
Printed in the New York Times on September 11, 2001
I was watching O and McCain. You know little things tell you a lot. They took their roses to the gazing pool . Obama tossed the rose in. (plunk) McCain and Cindy, bent and laid the roses with respect.
Sorry, he was just there for the photo op.
Seems to me all this “bi-partisanship” only comes up when it’s Democrats in image trouble and needing a little cover. Where’s the “bi-partisanship” the other way, like thanking our President for kicking some enemy a$$?
Color me a BLUE STATE SKEPTIC.
cellphone call 9/9/08…
BHO: “Hey John, its Barry. Cindy coming, or you flying solo?”
JSM: “Flying solo, bro…”
Agreed, Next Laura Bush.
Sen McCain is in charge of that situation…also, when it came time to place the flowers in the memorial, did anyone else notice that Sen & Mrs. McCain placed their flowers in w/care, whilst Sen Obama tossed his in?…
Better yet why not bring the kids? I would definitely have mine there in the same situation.
Yeah, not “the view” so M.O. has no reason to be there.
This is just not another photo op to a lot of us. This is an important event.
It gives me pause that Michelle was not there. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Tanya, I didn’t see it, but I agree with you – it’s in the little things.
I wasn’t there either. Not because I didn’t want to be, I just couldn’t be. Knocking Michelle O for not being there is like mocking all of us that couldn’t be there.
I’m glad Michelle isn’t there. The constant gritting of her teeth while she is trying to be patriotic is annoying.
An event such as this is an optimal moment to have the children involved. They could write a report about it and get credit…. it’s done all the time in schools with families all over. I’ll not let the missing of Mrs O go by….. it is a bonafide issue to raise. If not…. then shut your mouths about Mrs. Palin’s kids.
Rudy Guliani
I would add for energy policy, next time call Governor Palin.
And if he brought the kids and McCain didn’t, people would be saying the kids were props.
This is just sad.
Showing respect for the victims of 9/11 “doesn’t help my kids.”
MO-ron.
I’ll base any criticism of the candidates I have on what is done or said elsewhere, not at Ground Zero.
The “she wanted to spend time with her kids” mantra rings a tad hollow. This is a Presidential election, and Michelle Obama’s actions speak louder than usual.
Interesting that she did not have time for the 9/11 service, but she did have time to attend the Tubbs Jones memorial service in Ohio last week. Priorities. And judgment.
That was funny.
Now,
As for BHO tossing the rose? I backed up the DVR and watched it twice, the governor kinda suggested to toss it that way and I think BHO was just trying to get the rose into one of the faux little twin tower foundations.
I’d leave that one alone.
As for MO not being there…with what BHO said just after the attacks ( see link on top) it’s no surprise they don’t want any chance of her speaking to anyone.
You know, I’m beginning to believe the Obama’s don’t just throw dirt on themselves, they roll in doodoo like dogs.
don’t forget, B.O. wants us to empathize w/the terrorists…in my book that makes Ground Zero up for grabs…
Michelle Obama probably thinks the USA deserved 911 (although she wouldn’t include herself under that blanket – she doesn’t associate herself with the common peasants).
Today marks an important day in our history. For Michelle Obama to not be there is a sign of disrespect. She could have been there. Her daughters were off to school in the MORNING. It is the afternoon and she could have gotten on a private plane and be by Obama’s side.
The MSM might bring excuses, but this is a symbolic gesture. For her not to realize that frightens me of the possibility of her and her husband in the White House.
Sorry John, but I have to disagree.
Is there some job that she had to report to that was keeping her away like many of us here in Manhattan? All Barry had to do was say she needed to be there and poof.. she’s be on the same jet he flew in on to get here.
I think it’s more likely that the attacks of September 11th are less of an issue for her. Given her actions and the ease with which she could have been present, what else are we to think?
To me, the fact that the wife of a Presidential candidate isn’t sharing this most sacred time with the country tells me everything I need to know. I guess this is what they mean by “CHANGE?”
MichellO has to show the country how good of a mother she is by being home with her children baking cookies and getting ready to take them out for ice cream after piano lessons of course. She would love to be their but she just can’t because of her committment to her children. Did you see when the girls we interviewed? When mo mentioned they all go out for ice cream like normal families the one little girl said “WE’RE GOING OUT FOR ICE CREAM” like it was something of a surprise to her. I wish Sarah would tell bo to read her lipstick and say……..well I can’t say that here and I’m sure Sarah won’t use the words I had in mind.
I thought the same thing when I saw it.
Nice try at throwing a red herring into the mix. You know damn well it is not the same thing.
Kids nothing, leave ‘em at home. She campaigned all around the country without them, even during school.
This is a PRIORITY & CHOICE situation.
Why did they make this choice?
What are their priorities?
Same as Wrights? Same as Ayers?
Unless someone is really sick…Michelle Obama should be there.
Michelle O’s conspicuous absence is a legitimate item to note.
Well its good that “Mouthy Michelle” Obama is not opening her mouth. The truth probably is that her nanny/manny is with the kids so she can go shopping for another cover of US magazine
Obama’s presence at Ground Zero is an offense.
“Change” for Obama means give me what I want, and scr$w the country.
The arugula just went on sale; she had to spend her $600 ‘tax incentive’ on something….
oops; ‘economic stimulus’.
Sorry. I know words mean a lot.
BINGO! Cindy realized the importance of being there. And I am certain that she would have showed up even if the cameras weren’t rolling.
For the record, I don’t support Barack Obama (or his wife) in any way, shape, or form. But I believe that the fact that Michelle Obama is absent from Ground Zero has been blown out of proportion a bit. For all we know, she could have been having gastrointestinal trouble or a hellacious head ache. Stating that she is “staying at home with this kids” sounds a lot better than what I just stated above.
Personally, I would have preferred that neither one of the presidential candidates visited NYC today. There’s no question that McCain loves his country, however, I’m a bit of a pessimist. I feel that this is all just a convenient photo-op for their respective campaigns.
“Hey! Hey, guys! I’m patriotic! See?! I’m at Ground Zero!” is the vibe I get.
My current mindset is unfortunate, but I just don’t trust politicians.
Michelle Obama not being there is just plain idiotic. She is the one who made the comment regarding being proud for the first time in her life. The questions about her are out there and she doesn’t show up?
There are babysitters and secret service agents who could see the kids off to school. She has campaigned for her husband, leaving the kids behind so how is this a lesser priority?
I cannot believe they would be this stupid!
Sorry, I’m not willing to give her a pass on this one.
Her husband is a candidate for the office of POTUS, and Mrs. Obama is a potential First Lady. She should have known instinctively that this national memorial event is deserving of both her public attendance and her respect, and taken the time to arrange a sitter for the day to attend the memorial service with her husband.
It doesn’t speak well of her that she stayed at home on this day of all days, when it would have been easy enough for her to attend.
1. They have an on-call, advanced support network available to their family 24/7 for heavens’ sake.
2. They have enough $$$ in the kitty to purchase a round-trip flight ticket to New York City for Mrs. O.
3. The average flight time from Chicago to NYC, is just slightly over 2 hours… she could have taken an early morning flight out of Chicago, attended the ceremony and a lunch buffet at some undisclosed location, and taken a flight home in time to make dinner and supervise the homework.
Michelle is right… They really don’t have a valid excuse for not attending as a couple. Her absence at ground zero today is a valid criticism as far as I’m concerned, and the Obama campaign is just going to have to deal with it.
On September 11th, 2008 at 5:19 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:
Spot on.
I think anything that means as much to people as this does is a “Damned if you do and damned if you don’t” situation for politicians. No matter whether or not they go, or what they do, somebody is going to criticize them.
Everyone and their Mother knows the comparison of Michell O. to Cindy is Polar Opposite.
Um, didn’t Michelle Obama just have some “spare time” to dance on Ellen Degeneres?? I guess that was OK to leave the kids home, huh?
That’s right. Michelle O. dances with Ellen and Cindy McCain goes to Kosovo to address land mines.
Red State Skeptic states:
This seems to be a veiled dig at Sarah Palin.
But Michelle Hussein Obama has enough time to go on the View, Oprah, give People magazine interviews. . .but she suddenly has no time to visit the World Trade Center memorial? She can’t hire a babysitter with her salary?
If she wasn’t proud of our country on 9/11/01, it is no wonder she wouldn’t want to be there now.
Just using your words, RSS. BTW, I don’t really care if Mrs. Obama is there, but I would have taken my kids had I been in her position because it would be a wonderful experience for her girls. Then again I might not want them to miss school. At $18000 per year, I’d want to get my money’s worth.
Well spoken.
No sympathy from me… none.
Actions speak louder than words.
I agree with the majority of you-all. MamaObama is in big-league tryouts for First Lady. Flinchy definitely looked uncomfortable and out of his element. Don’t know if that was because McSame brought the wife or because The One really wasn’t engaged in the emotion this day carries. With all of Aunt Esther’s other frivolous appearances of late, her absence shrieks volumes.
Too tied up today with the kids, but Michelle Obama was in Cincinnati, Ohio yesterday at a Baptist function:
http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/election/story.aspx?content_id=0bbba88f-b5ae-4c9f-9455-a78f3296a580
They share middle names now?
According to an Al Jazeera spokesman, Adam “Al Amriki” Gadahn blamed “production problems” —and being buried beneath a million tons of earth and rock after a Predator missile attack— as reasons for not issuing his annual 9/11 taped Al Qaeda threats against the U.S.
Mr. Gadahn could not be reached for comment.
Flinchy was just dyin’ for a smoke, that’s all.
I think her absence speaks volumes so we don’t need to beat a dead horse.
Is he dead? I hadn’t heard confirmation.
Irish Rose The points made by you today with respect to Michelle Obama are better than mine… well said.
(I admit I’m in a bad mood for other reasons today)
There were people from all over the globe today representing their respective countries – but not her. Michelle and Obama GO TO HELL!
OT I think the Memorial at the Pentagon is beautiful. I can’t wait to take my child to see it some day. Nice to hear Rumsfield and his wife donated $250K to the fund.
True. But by MO not attending the 9/11 ceremony reveals her true feelings about America that words cannot assuage…the McCain camp has some excellent new ammunition for their campaign now if they want to use it…
MO not showing up was absolutely dumb on the part of team Obama…like I said they all have servants and nannies/mannies so there was no reason for MO to not show up unless she really doesn’t like the U.S.A. and thus her absence is in fact a Freudian slip….
navywife91: no there’s not been confirmation, so maybe I’m just a-wishin’ and a-hopin’.
But last week I read at some intelligence website that “analysts” were looking for a Sept. 11 tape from Gadahn, as he has been giving them for several years.
Here’s the current state of speculation on Wikipedia:
“”"In February 2008, Pakistani news sources reported rumors that Gadahn was killed by a missile fired by a MQ-1 Predator drone in the strike that killed Al-Qaeda leader Abu Laith al-Libi.[26][27][28][29][30] On March 2, an Al-Qaeda spokesperson claimed that Gadahn was alive,[31][32][33] but some doubt has been cast on this, particularly since the quality of recent Al-Qaeda videos from As-Sahab has declined considerably.[23][24][25]
On May 18, 2008, Counterterrorism Blog surmised that Adam Gadahn is dead based on the latest Al-Qaeda missive.[24]
On June 2, 2008, ABC News reported that the U.S. Is Stepping Up Efforts to Capture California Boy Turned al Qaeda Operative,[34] and MSNBC on June 13 reported that ‘U.S. tries to smoke out accused terrorist Adam Gadahn’,[35] although Associated Press reported that ‘Pakistani news sources reported in February that Gadahn was killed in a missile strike, but the FBI has not received conclusive evidence of his death, Eimiller said.’[36]
Laura Mansfield has stated that “Normally important messages from Zawahiri contain linguistic indications that they were translated by Adam Gadahn. Gadahn’s translation style is noticeably absent from this video, giving more credence to open source reports from Pakistan regarding the possible death of Gadahn in an American air strike. (However, there are other plausible explanations for Gadahn’s absence from the scene—including his quip in his January video tape that ripping up his passport would not hinder his ability to travel.)”[37]“”"
We can all hope, based on these comments, that Gadahn is now nothing but hair, teeth and eyeballs.
Did anyone see Rummy at the classy Pentagon memorial unveiling this morning? I had forgotten that he acted as a first responder, even when he was warned to stop. He and his wife gave $250,000 toward the memorial.
The detail that went into this site was incredible. The heights of the benches (shaped like waves), range from 3 in. (the age of the youngest victim) to 71 inches (the age of a retired naval officer there that day).
The maple trees selected for the memorial are supposed to hold their foliage longer than other varieties, and turn a bright red — which the reporter said, “carries major symbolism.”
The gravel is supposed to absorb sound, since it’s by a busy/noisy highway, and each bench has its own reflecting pool.
The Marines, in their dress blues, looked sharp as they unveiled each of the benches by removing blue cloths. The positioning of the benches reflects the trajectory of the plane that hit the building.
(As an aside, the family of each victim was given a chunk of the original limestone from the damaged building. The stone of the rebuilt area is slightly darker.)
On the downside, while the President was speaking, the camera found Bela Pelosi, who was yakking it up to whomever she was sitting with. Tacky.
Michelle Obama appearances during the last week (that I could find)
9/3/2008 – Hollywood Fundraiser
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/09/03/michelle-obama-to-headline-hollywood-fund-raisers/
9/3/2008 Guest on Ellen Show
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090801717.html
9/4/2008 Santa Fe, NM
http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=8954665&nav=menu193_2
9/10/2008 Cincinnati, Ohio Baptist Convention
http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/09/11/hjn091108obama.html
9/10/2002 Fishers, Indiana, Economic Round Table
http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8988053&nav=menu593_2
And I thought today was gloves off politics. So why was Obama with Clinton today and they did come in front of the reporters and did discuss politics.
To me serving the community would be putting your kids aside, and to take the time to recognize the worst attack on American soil since the “bomb” was dropped on Pearl Harbor. There are many a Mom and Dad that are dead due to 9-11. The least she could do is give up one day to attend this ceremony. As the job of being First Lady, I am sure there are going to be events when she cannot be with her kids but might have to be with other kids performing your typical First Lady obligation. So, the question after to day for me is – Is Michelle Obama experienced enough or does she have the proper judgement to be my First Lady? NO!
Michhel Obama September 3 reported appearances:
9/3/2008 – Hollywood Fundraiser
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/09/03/michelle-obama-to-headline-hollywood-fund-raisers/
9/3/2008 Guest on Ellen Show
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090801717.html
Rather damning and telling all at the same time.
Michelle Obama September 4 reported appearance in Santa Fe:
9/4/2008 Santa Fe, NM
http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=8954665&nav=menu193_2
This was one of those moments where she should have brought the kids with her…
O/T, I’m bringing my 6-year-old to a 9/11 rememberance ceremony this evening. I think she needs to understand what happened, and why.
Michelle Obama September 10 reported appearances in Ohio and Indiana:
9/10/2008 Cincinnati, Ohio Baptist Convention
http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/09/11/hjn091108obama.html
9/10/2002 Fishers, Indiana, Economic Round Table
http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8988053&nav=menu593_2
Perhaps she IS being a prop, trying to emphasize what a wonderful and caring mother and homemaker she is, as opposed to a political figure.
So, MO took a day off … from campaigning. I get it now.
Did you ever think she could’ve brought her children along? One day isn’t going to kill them.
The girls started school on Monday. Their mother has been campaigning in the states surrounding Illinois so that she can be home with them in the evening. Why is this even an issue?
Why didn’t the McCain’s bring their teenage daughter?
The comment above really ticks me off. So Mrs. O is so wonderful for staying home and taking care of her kids instead of being at Ground Zero with her hubby? Well, she wasn’t all that damned worried about staying home with her kids when she and her hubby were stomping around the country trying to get votes. talk about misplaced priorities.
If she were there, the comments would be all about how this is just a photo op for her. It’s silly to pretend that everyone here hasn’t already decided that she hates this country. She was basically dam*ed if she did and dam*ed if she didn’t.
Are you naturally an idiot or do you work at it? Don’t get much attention? Your post doesn’t even deserve an explanation. People like you take up too much time as it is.
Mookie, c’mon. You know how this site works. What — are you genuinely surprised?