Obama Snubs Nation's Heroes, Becomes the First President to Skip Ball Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients in Over 50 Years
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 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.
Follow-up story: American Legion Acknowledges That Obama Failed to Attend the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball
Comments
You Are Misinformed
THAT SOLDIER FROM IRAQ HAS ADMITTED THAT HE MADE UP THE WHOLE STORY. HE WASN'T EVEN THERE WHEN OBAMA CAME TO IRAQ. CHECK OUT SNOPES.COM FOR THE ACTUAL FACTS, INCLUDING THE SOLDIER'S CONFESSION.
snopes
i have read where snoes is mostly answers from a deranged man and woman in california which explains the anti american answers lol i believe he snubbed a lot of soldiers as he will snub our country as times goes by. and i do believe he purposely snubbed the moh ball. why would he go to it as he was probably upset that they help kill some of his own it is very strange that the ball was missed by accident .. i wont believe it it was on purpose and his wife was the main reason it was missed. remember , she was never proud to be an american. i heard her say it.
He didn't just miss "one"
He didn't just miss "one" ball. He missed "THE" Ball.
Let me guess - you're black,
Let me guess - you're black, aren't you.
I think his balls are
I think his balls are limited and that would be 2.
Just because President Obama
Just because he missed one ball out of many. Who is this person? Obviously not someone that has served in the military. As a retired Army Vietnam Vet, recalled to active duty during Desert Storm, and most importantly, f-in-law an MofH of WWII, this person deserves to be drafted regardless of age and sent to Iraq in the Infantry!
yes but if he has more than
yes but if he has more than 2 of them we may all be in big trouble
Usurper snubs the best of the best
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that those who defend the Usurper for not honoring this nation's "best of the best," have never served their country in uniform. They are keyboard commandos and nothing more. They don't know what it means to set their video games aside, put their Twinkeis and Coke down and actually make the sacrifice to serve and defend something greater than their own selfish needs.
THOSE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS RISKED THEIR VERY LIVES to defend the freedom of these morons who think it's no big deal that the COMMANDER IN CHIEF of our armed forces DISHONORED ALL MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM when he deliberately chose not to attend the MOH ball.
When the Commander in Chief flips his middle finger at those who sacrificed, and the many MOH recipients who lost their lives defending this nation, he flips his finger at all our men and women in uniform. In doing what he did, he sent the message to our military that they can go F themselves. And as their Commander in Chief, that's one hell of a message he sent. Yeah, no big deal, right?
Wrong!
I don't expect the Twinkie eating keyboard commandos to understand the insulting message the Usurper sent, given that they only understand the latest video game to hit the market. But one can bet the farm that our men and women in uniform understand it and they now know what kind of a man their fraudulent CIC is.
Way to go Mr. Barry Soetero-Barack-Hussein-Obama!
im glad somebody gets it.
you make the best point on this site.
"Usurper", I've served and
"Usurper", I've served and I'm still serving. I've been serving for a good while. You're using this forum to complain and it's not justified. Missing the MOH ball..hmmm. What's more important, attending the ball of individuals who have been recognized time and time and time again or shaking the hands and spending time with young Americans who may give the ultimate sacrifice today or tomorrow (CINC Ball)? I choose the latter. If the MOH host and recipients weren't upset then why are you? Oh by the way there were some of them in attendance with the warriors of today and tomorrow as well but not enough to satisfy you huh? This is a very mute and insignificant issue. It's obvious some people will use anything to fuse an issue thats really not an issue. America was falling apart the day before President Obama took office and may not be healed by the next election especially if we as "Americans" don't turn away from this senseless whining and utilize the normal channels to repair our country. I ask you and others to do a real self assessment of what is really driving this dead horse of an issue. Remember there are young people dying for their country as we read these comments so get it together America and bring God back to America.
I am guessing ... 2. lol
I am guessing ... 2. lol
"Just because President
"Just because President Obama
Just because President Obama missed one ball out of many, does not mean he doesn't care for the troops. I mean Obama can't be everywhere and it was probably the Secret Service who asked him to limit his balls to a certain number."
ONE BALL OUT OF MANY!!? is that the way you look at the sacrifice that these great men gave!? are the men that risked thier f$@# live less important than jay-z and kid rock? I'm sorry maybe I missunderstood him when he basically told the MOH respients f^@^ you! Maybe he really does care about the troops that risk their lifes to protect retarded people like you.
If you cant tell the last two lines were sarcasm. now think about this. dont you think if he cared even just a little bit about our troops, he would have MADE time to show his respect to them like all the other presidents for the past 56 years?
Rick Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran
come on people
Oh no, our country will disintegrate because he missed a ball. Is this REALLY even an debate? The United States of America, will go on whether he went to a ball or not. The millions of dollars spent on all these balls(from all sides) is ridiculous. I think it is UNAMERICAN to NOT support the democratic process at work. Obama was elected, get over it. Focus on REAL problems, if you haven't noticed there are much bigger problems than a ball.
Missed ball and soldiers
He did not only miss the ball. When he was still campaigning he went to Iraq and wanted nothing to do with the troops. He did some publicity photos with some generals and that was it. And this comes straight from a fellow soldier that was there when it happened. It would have taken no more than 5 minutes to at least acknowledge the troops in Iraq and even just an apperance of 10 minutes would have been fine for the ball. Those soldiers who recieved the MOH and are still living would have done extraordinary things to earn that award while living. Its not like he was just going to see some troops that never deployed before. Besides he is our boss, not just our president. That right there changes the situation slightly. Thats like you getting a new manager or CEO that won't introduce themselfs or even say hello.
you are so stupid. you dont
you are so stupid. you dont think that freezing the people's wages in the senate and what not is not good change. tell me how many people in congress have ever kept that promise? That is the change that is needed to keep america a float, cuts where they should be.
Obama snubs Medal of Honor winners inaugural ball
Comment to the person who wrote that Obama had frozen the pay of Congress--he did not do that--he froze the pay of his White House staff.
Do you know what you are saying?
The only wages he froze are the ones making less than $100,000. And that in DC is probably the peons that do all the running, leg work, the ones that are the real workers...He can't freeze congresses wages, they control that.
If he wanted to be noble, he should have taken a cut in pay and recommended that all congress do that instead of voting themselves a nice wage increase.
Froze wages on people making
Froze wages on people making more than, not less than....
Lets go way Back
We need to go back when the Pesident and Congress and Senate were not paid at all let see how many people run for any office then
Marie, I seem to recall that
Marie,
I seem to recall that our last President was held above reproach by some as well. And as far as the constitution is concerned, that last guy flat out trampled it along with the Geneva Convention, ran our national debt up to unprecendented levels, and probably missed a few balls during his inaugurations as well.
AMEN!
AMEN!
Medal of Honor Ball
He may not have attended the Medal of Honor ball but he did attend his home town ball to honor the men and women from Illinois who are serving in Iraq. He spoke with some on a live link up as well.
Republicans are all the same. Hateful, spiteful and throughly confused.
I think I hear Rush call. Better go kiss pig boys hand and make him feel better.
Because name calling and
Because name calling and abuse like that is so NOT hateful, right? If you're gonna dish it, don't complain when others do too.
Don't you think as Commander
Don't you think as Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces he should have known about it???
Congratulations! You have
Congratulations! You have found what you feel to be a mistake the President's made.
Maybe Obama is going to spend more time fixing the foreign policies that cause our troops to be in places for the wrong reasons.
Please, continue your complaining.........
uhhh, no.....bush is gone.
uhhh, no.....bush is gone. they elected a new guy
Re:Salute to Heroes, once again obots spin
This couldn't have been better said. There has been no doubt at all that Mr. Obama has no respect for our Military, and this only proves it more.
62 million people voted for him... So many lambs being lead to the slaughter.
I do pray for Mr. Obama to succeed, and if that is God's plan, then it will be... I will say this, without God's intervention, Mr. Obama doesn't stand a chance.
Bear~~~
Oh you mean like the last
Oh you mean like the last President did. The guy who actually came up with this bill??? They guy who put this country in so much debt that my great grand children will be paying the price. From what I have seen in the last eight years. This man can not do any worse. He can only left us up. We have already hit bottom...
Salute to Heros, once again obots spin
AMEN AND AMEN....... I agree with you Paul. I have said all along that if I was still in the military ( I am retired ) I could never recognize that man as my commander in chief.
Well it's a great thing
Well it's a great thing you're retired..end of statement.
civil rights? the Constitution?
Perhaps Obama did shirk his responsibility here, but you have a heck of a lot of nerve talking about somebody who doesn't care about our rights and the Constitution. These fools Bush and Cheney used the Constitution as if it was a place to wipe your feet. They started a war with the wrong country for false reasons after ignoring actionable intelligence regarding the act that started it all (9/11). You be sure and let us know when the WMDs turn up, OK? And your phony frat boy country club jerk President Bush begged and whined his way out of harm's way in the Vietnam Era, and YOU KNOW THAT'S TRUE. Then he turns into some kind of fake patriot. I'm so glad he's gone. We're lucky he didn't push the button for the weapons (" as he calls them, "New-Cue-Lar") he can't even pronounce.
know what you're talking about before you whine
One of the newest of “official” balls, started in 2005 to honor those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, will include wounded warriors (Purple Heart recipients), families of fallen heroes, and spouses of deployed military, as well as a number of each branch’s highest-ranking officers — enlisted or otherwise — too. A satellite connection even made possible the attendance — if only from afar — selected members of the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan who spoke with both the vice president and president.
Salute to Heroes....
I agree with Marie!!
Obama
I just got the e-mail today. This totally makes me sick!!!!!!!! My husband is in Afghanistan right now fighting for our freedom! It really hurts my heart and makes me sick to think the man I voted for to bring my husband home from the war, is not standing behind our troops... This to me was the most important ball of all.. And these men and women fought for us and him and deserved respect! To me there is no excuse for him not being there. I just wish I knew what I knew what I could do to let the people know how I feel about this topic..... Please let me know.....
obama snubbs heroe's ball
Maybe he should know what military means instead of kissing up to terrorists and learn history besides what he learned in his "church".
Obama missed ball?
His church is a real church. It is a part of the oldest organized one in the United States, the Congregational Church. To put church in quotes seems to denote that it is not a real church. I am also a member of the UCC, so I do take offense.
Since Obama probably does not have much say in his busy schedule, ans since he gave his team the freedom to set his schedule that night, I take it he and his team chose to have him and Michelle visit the Military Ball instead. I saw pictures of them dancing there.
Well I'm sorry that he
Well I'm sorry that he offended you and your church. I am also a part of the military AND I TAKE OFFENSE that he can be the only President in half a century to not "bless" the Medal of Honor, the highest award in the military, winners with his presence. That's bull. Make any excuse you want. He's proven over and over that if you or your beliefs aren't on his agenda the he doesn’t give a crap about you. It was stated previously about, but let me remind you too. Without these HERO'S and others like them, this fraud wouldn't have the opportunity to kiss up to celebrities and prove to us all what a joke he and his campaign was. Thanks a lot America, I can promise you one thing...John McCain would've died before he missed this ball.
It's going to be a LONG 4 years, with this guy and all his ignorant, liberal backers!
Don't forget McCain turned
Don't forget McCain turned his back on the military as well..research the bill for your own enlightenment. The guy is in office now..pray that he becomes the solution not that he fails. Express yourself off the court (here and other venues) but when you put that uniform on (suit up) do your duty and follow.
The Military Ball was
The Military Ball was cancelled, so not sure how you saw pictures of them in attendance. Read the article you just posted a reply to. It includes a list of balls he attended. You'll find that one is not among them.
"Next, the Obamas made their
"Next, the Obamas made their way to the Commander-in-Chief Ball, attended by many members of the military, including wounded veterans.
"It is wonderful to be surrounded by some of the very best and bravest Americans," Obama said. "Your courage, your grace and your patriotism inspire us all."
Obama told the crowd that there is "no greater honor or responsibility than serving as your commander in chief." Watch the Obamas as the Commander-in-Chief Ball »
Obama then introduced members of the military from Illinois stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. After thanking them, Obama took time for lighter banter, polling the members of the military about whether they were Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox baseball fans.
"Terrible!" quipped Obama, known to be a huge White Sox fan, as most said they were Cubs fans.
Then Obama introduced his wife, who took a moment to emerge from backstage.
"I may have been stood up," he joked, before she came out for their next dance."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/inauguration.balls/index.html
What does that have to with
What does that have to with the price of rice in China?
He skipped the ball that honored the MEDAL of HONOR WINNERS! How can you DEFEND HIM FOR THIS! Even Biden had the sense to attend. Have you ever read about the sacrifices that a medal of honor winner does to earn that honor? Their are actions such as jumping on hand grenades or saving a whole battalion of troops from harm. Maybe Obama should read up on it because if he did he probably would have skipped seeing Jay Z and Beyonce and been in the presence of real American heroes.
Hero's ball
Get your head out of the sand!!! Ken you are so deaf and dumb. To think that I went to war for your freedoms
Randy
Salute to Heroes Inaugural Banquet & Ball
Paul:
Since its inception in 1953, every new president has attended The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball and I would find it very difficult to believe that he did not know about it. Maybe he personally didn't, but the White House staff who organize the President's schedules certainly do. Isn't it strange that he is the first president in 56 years years to NOT have known about it?
Before you go on with all your lame-brain excuses for Obama, why don't you do a little research. It WAS HELD at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. according to the Cleveland Leader and WorldNet Daily. And according to the Media Relations Manager for the American Legion, one of many co-sponsors of the event, IT DID TAKE PLACE, although he played down the fact that the President did not attend siting possible "logistics" problems. One could expect this sort of toned-down comment from an official spokesman. SEE BELOW.
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.”
Craig Roberts
Media Relations Manager
The American Legion
1608 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
So you see Paul, IT DID TAKE PLACE AND OBAMA DID NOT ATTEND. He was in fact, the first President in 56 years who failed to attend an Inaugural Ball to honor our Medal Of Honor HEROES.
C'mon
So, which "Renaissance Hotel" was that in D.C.? The Renaissance Mayflower? The Mariott Renaissance? The Renaissance M Street? Let's demand accuracy from all "sides," eh?
C'Mon Retort
Does it really require the address of the Renaissance Hotel in DC to know for certain that it was not attended? Would there there be a specific logistical problem based on location for him not to attend? I think not. This is the wrong message for him to be sending this early in his administration. I did not vote for him but I do hope he can help to get something done. We got very little done policy wise over the last eight years when several things could have been ameliorated (I think) because the liberals were so pissed off they lost in 00 and 04 that they fillibustered anything that would look like a positive thing for the president and conservatives in general and at OUR expense. I and I hope others will rate Obama on his support for specific policies and moreover the ability to get SH*T done, not on the color of his skin or his political party of origin.
Address?
C'mon yourself. It matters little what Hotel it was in. The hotel is in the same town as the inaguration and this is the guy that campaigned in 58 states. How could he not have time in the same town to not make a short appearance at the MOH Ball, something every president has done for 56 years. This will not bring anyone together anywhere.
Inagural Ball
I agree with Paul! President Obama attended 10 balls that evening. Why are people so quick to want to criticize this incredible leader we have elected to lead our Nation? Are they just too ignorant to see how unifying he is? He brings hope to a world that needs it now more than ever! Give the man a chance and I believe he will be one the greatest President's we have ever had.
Gary
Hope! You have to be
Hope! You have to be kidding; he scares the hell out of me.
I couldn't agree more.
I couldn't agree more.
Incredible
You think this asshole is an incrediable leader what has he ever lead he hasnt done a thing for this country.