Why no US Leader at Paris gathering of world leaders?

[Stardreamer]

French President Francois Hollande is surrounded by world leaders and millions of supporters in Paris, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, at a rally against terrorist violence in Europe. AP photo

So a lot of folks seem to be upset that at this impressive gathering of world leaders there was no representative from the top leadership from the US. Personally, I've never really been impressed by the administration's foreign policy but it never seems to amaze me how politically tone deaf they can be on these things. Hell anything that gets Abbas and Netanyahu holding hands out to be worth some effort on our part. What do you think, for a gathering of 40 + world leaders in support of a major ally we couldn't have shook loose at least a cabinet member or a former president?

 

[opinterph]

Eric Holder (US Attorney General) was supposed to participate in the march, but apparently failed to show.

 

[Cormac135]

Perhaps they remembered it wasn't that long ago that they called the French, "Cheese eating surrender monkeys"

It was very noticeable the American no show.

 

[Vitamin]

I blame Holder. He was in Paris, all he had to do was go outside.

Fucking moron.

 

[T-Rexx]

Someone should have been there.

Holder is not important enough. I suspect he stayed away because his presence would have been perceived as an insult. But sending only ambassador Hartley is just as bad. Neither Obama nor Biden had any public events scheduled for Sunday.

This is an inexcusable faux pas on the part of the administration.

 

[Telstra]

Not necessary that every world leaders need to show up.
Just a waste of their time to turn up. They support the French 100% is enough. And Over 3 million people marching is enough.

 

[nycguydowntown]

Not necessary that every world leaders need to show up.
Just a waste of their time to turn up. They support the French 100% is enough. And Over 3 million people marching is enough.

Agree---maybe Biden should have showed up---but we have nothing to prove in terms of supporting the EU--i can't help but think it had something to do with security concerns---the President is the most threatened official in the world and is usually not sent into crowds as big as the one yesterday. There would have had to be lot's of security extra prep for him to show up. He came to my neighborhood a few years ago for a fundraiser at Sarah Jessica Parkers townhouse. The amount of closed streets, military trucks with guys with semi-automatic weapons---it was crazy--and this was the West Village in NYC.

 

[Sausy]

I can totally understand maybe logistics would have made it tough for the President, somewhat less so the Vice President. Symbolism DOES count for something, and if Holder were indeed supposed to represent the Obama Administration, whatever could have been so important he just couldn't bother showing is puzzling. Now today even the ironically named press secretary for the White House, Josh Earnest, is saying that yes, it kinda looked bad and there should have been a high ranking official present. Not merely the ambassasor, who just by virtue of the position has to show up.

 

[Telstra]

I can totally understand maybe logistics would have made it tough for the President, somewhat less so the Vice President. Symbolism DOES count for something, and if Holder were indeed supposed to represent the Obama Administration, whatever could have been so important he just couldn't bother showing is puzzling. Now today even the ironically named press secretary for the White House, Josh Earnest, is saying that yes, it kinda looked bad and there should have been a high ranking official present. Not merely the ambassasor, who just by virtue of the position has to show up.

I'm sure there are US citizens there.
That is enough ... People criticize petty non issue is just petty and noise making.
They should criticize the more serious issues.

 

[Adrock-JD]

I think the president should have gone. France is US oldest ally and the French president was the first to come to US right after 9/11. This was their 9/11.

But let's look at the situation.

This is a president who has had more shit thrown at him and more death threats than any in history. His party has now lost the majority in both houses of congress and he can't run for president again. He can rather do what the fuck he wants for these two years and not really mind.

I'm rather looking forward to watching him just be himself and watching the rightwingers/haters/racists who blocked him on EVERY move, explode.

 

[Dragan]

I heard on the radio that it might have been for security reasons. At some point Netanyauh had to wait a couple of minutes outside and looked quite tense. The US embassador had met Hollande in the morning. I really do not mind Obama not showing up, it was already a moving surprise for me to see all those foreign leaders coming at the rally, not mentionning the fact that Netanyauh and Abbas were a few meters appart.

 

[nycguydowntown]

The same group of clown car right wing nut bags in this country who are saying Obama should have gone to France---are the same one's who were screaming on fox news and every place they could--after 9/11---that we should rename french fries --freedom fries!!!---because France didn't go along with the Iraq invasion by dumb and dumber-- bush cheney ---now they are all over France--it's so sickening and hypocritical and so typical.

 

[T-Rexx]

^ It is hard to care what Fox News has to say on this (or any other) subject, since Fox doesn't really have an opinion on this (or any other) subject. That organization has one and only one position on everything: Whatever Obama does (or wants to do) is wrong (and worthy of impeachment).

If Obama had gone, they would have attacked him viciously for interfering in European affairs, tying up the French security apparatus, and grandstanding on French misery.

Now that Obama has not gone, they will attack him viciously for slighting America's oldest ally, ignoring the threat of "Islamic terrorism," and golfing while Paris burned.

They are already attacking him viciously for not using the phrase "Islamic terrorism." Apparently, we need to turn this into a war on Islam if we are going to make any progress in discouraging these incidents.

I saw a Fox segment blaming Obama for the French attacks. Yes. It seems the release of some prisoners from Guantanamo somehow encouraged the French terrorists to carry out their plan. But for that, they would have been so intimidated by the long reach of American injustice that they would not have dared try anything. So, really, these attacks in Paris are all Obama's fault.

It's so tiresome.

 

[JayQueer]

Eric Holder (US Attorney General) was supposed to participate in the march, but apparently failed to show.

Someone should have been there.

Holder is not important enough. I suspect he stayed away because his presence would have been perceived as an insult. But sending only ambassador Hartley is just as bad. Neither Obama nor Biden had any public events scheduled for Sunday.

This is an inexcusable faux pas on the part of the administration.

If the shooters were Caucasian white males w/ blue eyes and blonde hair & the victims were Black..............Eric Holder, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Pres. Obama would have been there. Obama would have even said one of the victims could have been his son..

But as we know from Fort Hood, the administration probably considers this "workplace violence."

 

[Telstra]

If the shooters were Caucasian white males w/ blue eyes and blonde hair & the victims were Black..............Eric Holder, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Pres. Obama would have been there. Obama would have even said one of the victims could have been his son..

But as we know from Fort Hood, the administration probably considers this "workplace violence."

Did many world leaders go to Norway for that terrorist shooting ????????????????

 

[johaninsc]

If the shooters were Caucasian white males w/ blue eyes and blonde hair ....

you would probably be posting about how hot they were

 

[Just_Believe18]

If the shooters were Caucasian white males w/ blue eyes and blonde hair & the victims were Black..............Eric Holder, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Pres. Obama would have been there. Obama would have even said one of the victims could have been his son..

But as we know from Fort Hood, the administration probably considers this "workplace violence."

You're still around? Way to go, making this topic an issue of race, racist.

Eric Holder messed up. He was in Paris already. Why he wasn't in attendance was a public embarrassment for the U.S. This would be reason enough for Obama to ask for his resignation, but the doofus has already resigned.

 

[TX-Beau]

If the shooters were Caucasian white males w/ blue eyes and blonde hair & the victims were Black..............Eric Holder, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Pres. Obama would have been there. Obama would have even said one of the victims could have been his son..

But as we know from Fort Hood, the administration probably considers this "workplace violence."

Hola Jayqueer! Considering your well known bias in favor of white men, I can only assume you're grieving has left you bereft of insight!

If they were Americans of any color I suspect that Obama would have been there, and I wish I'd posted earlier this afternoon, because when I saw the photo of who was involved, I thought that Obama was well out of it, then Chris Hayes the bastard had to go make the same point - not exactly the pantheon of freedom heroes assembled, and now I sound like a follower, bastard, but he's white so I'm sure you'll forgive him, and I'm white so I'll expect you to bow before me as well.

Anyway if Obama only shows up for non-white people, rejoice! If you are ever murdered by terrorists, he'll come cry for you!!

- - - Updated - - -

you would probably be posting about how hot they were

Bastard! (imagine French accent) Beat me to it!

 

[JayQueer]

If they were Americans of any color I suspect that Obama would have been there, and I wish I'd posted earlier this afternoon, because when I saw the photo of who was involved, I thought that Obama was well out of it, then Chris Hayes the bastard had to go make the same point - not exactly the pantheon of freedom heroes assembled, and now I sound like a follower, bastard, but he's white so I'm sure you'll forgive him, and I'm white so I'll expect you to bow before me as well.

I only bow down to white conservative men when I'm giving them BJ's.

Especially military men, police men, & firefighters

You don't fit that criteria, sorry

 

[TX-Beau]

Of course I do, I'm butcher than Eastwood and have a big cock, of course I won't slap you and call you faggot, that may be a deal breaker.