"Where was Obama?"

[Storebought]

German editorial(?) complains about the absence of Obama from the Paris funeral march.

From Der Spiegel

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The US president was absent from the Funeral Solidarity March -- and even his possible replacements, Vice President Joe Biden or Secretary of State John Kerry, had other things to do. There was no official explanation from the White House. At last they clarified that Kerry will travel to France some time in the week.

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The absence of top politicians was even noted within the US, and criticism came from all the usual corners. Newt Gingrich wrote on Twitter: "50 World Leaders show their solidarity in Paris and Obama is nowhere with them. That is sad." Talk show host Greta Van Susteren of the hard right Fox News Network expressed a similar note: "This is embarrassing. WHERE IS OBAMA? Why didn't he go?" In any event, on Monday the president's calendar is booked with a White House reception with the NBA Champions San Antonio Spurs.

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In France itself Obama's absence was only little noticed and the country instead dedicated itself to
working through the traumatic week. However a commentator in a French TV shown noted: Perhaps it is not to be regretted that Obama stayed away. The security details for the solidarity march were already expensive enough without the Secret Service, CIA and company.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

LOL, it probably makes more sense to send Kerry. He's actually fluent in French. I guess it's refreshing that Republicans probably won't be attacking attacking Kerry for "being French looking" or speaking French.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I think that French officials were actually relieved that Obama didn't go. It would have been a logistical and security nightmare for both sides.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Yeah, someone from the US definitely should have been there.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Yeah, Kerry should have been there.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

It was disappointing to see Holder clearly not in the rally since the demonstrations came while he was in Paris.

I guess President Obama had to learn his lesson the Hardway, don't ditch terrorist rally marches, especially if Israel and Palestine are marching in unison.

[King]

Go to what?

[ingemann]

I had honestly not even thought about him not being there, and this is the first I hear about it. But yes I get why the Republicans criticise him for this, or I at least think they have a legitimate reason this time.

[IceSpear]

This coming from the party that brought us "freedom fries"?

[Landslide Lyndon]

Yeah, Kerry should have been there.

I read that he was en route to India and couldn't cancel that trip to go to Paris.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Kerry shouldn't have gone, and wouldn't have, it was Holder or Biden. It would of just exploited his lack of negotiation with the Mideast Crisis.

Better luck next time.

Due to the target against European Jews.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I think that French officials were actually relieved that Obama didn't go. It would have been a logistical and security nightmare for both sides.

I didn't want Obama to go for that reason.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Go to what?

[Rockefeller GOP]

Yeah, someone from the US definitely should have been there.

[badgate]

This whole thing has kind of become like when all your friends have a really good party and the next week in class they're like "where the hell were you this weekend we had an awesome party" and basically make you feel guilty for not going

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

This whole thing has kind of become like when all your friends have a really good party and the next week in class they're like "where the hell were you this weekend we had an awesome party" and basically make you feel guilty for not going

And also your friends think you shouldn't even be allowed to attend school because they insist you were born in Kenya.

[Foucaulf]

No disrespect, but it would be better to question why 50 world leaders were brought into this in the first place. European heads are fine, and leaders from Arab or former colonial countries are expected. But why Viktor Orban? Why the President of Romania? Why Bibi, who ended up using his trip as a campaign rally anyway?

OC is also right - Eric Holder was the American representative Holder could only arrive after the march proper, so the U.S. sent their top ambassadors. It also looks like Canada sent our Minister for Public Safety instead of Harper, but the Canadian press is well-behaved enough to not pounce on this.

[DrScholl]

And if he had gone, people would have complained that he disrupted the event, because of his security detail.

In reality, most of those leaders that went only did it to be seen. That's what politicians do, they love to be seen.

[swl]

No disrespect, but it would be better to question why 50 world leaders were brought into this in the first place. European heads are fine, and leaders from Arab or former colonial countries are expected. But why Viktor Orban? Why the President of Romania? Why Bibi, who ended up using his trip as a campaign rally anyway?

Why not? It was open to everyone (even Marine Le Pen, despite what she claimed). Everyone came for its own reasons. Some came to support Charlie Hebdo,  some came for Ahmed Merabet, some for free speech, some for the Jews victims, and some to take pictures to put on Facebook. EU leaders probably felt compelled because they didn't want to be the only one missing out. Netanyahu came because several victims were Jewish and he had his own agenda (pushing French Jews to move to Israel and electoral reasons).

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

All these world leaders are making a big show of solidarity with the murdered journalists, then going back to their countries and prosecute people for their speech and expression, and in France as well. Without the free speech aspect, there have been much more destructive terrorist acts recently.  It doesn't bother me that Obama didn't show up.

[Joe Republic]

Jesus, who cares?  Slow news day?

[Simfan34]

I had a friend complain about this. It would have probably cost around $5 million for him to go- and people would then complain it was just some photo-op and that he was being irresponsible and superficial.

[ingemann]

I had a friend complain about this. It would have probably cost around $5 million for him to go- and people would then complain it was just some photo-op and that he was being irresponsible and superficial.

Yes likely they would, but here's the thing, while I doubt this will have much effect on French-American relationships; the French is not going to be angry at him, but it's one of those small things, which slowly erode national relationships, if such things happens too often, it's like when minor American allies meet the president and he use the standard buzzwords for minor allies, it's not something which make anybody angry, but it gives the wrong impression. 

[Nutmeg]

but it's one of those small things, which slowly erode national relationships, if such things happens too often

Please. President Obama's opposition, and his predecessor, were openly disdainful/antagonistic of France.

[Nhoj]

No disrespect, but it would be better to question why 50 world leaders were brought into this in the first place. European heads are fine, and leaders from Arab or former colonial countries are expected. But why Viktor Orban? Why the President of Romania? Why Bibi, who ended up using his trip as a campaign rally anyway?

OC is also right - Eric Holder was the American representative Holder could only arrive after the march proper, so the U.S. sent their top ambassadors. It also looks like Canada sent our Minister for Public Safety instead of Harper, but the Canadian press is well-behaved enough to not pounce on this.

Uhh.