-201 To Americans: You're furious that Obama is going on vacation to Chicago with his family instead of the Arlington Memorial Day service, amirite?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

how can you NOT be furious? we're in a time of war, and there's a giant oil spill that's about to hit our borders. our president is going to RELAX while people mourn the deaths of loved ones, and he doesnt care...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

please refer to Bush junior and the events of 9/11. I think Obama pales in comparison, amirite?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Well put ^

by Anonymous 13 years ago

HOW DARE HE SPEND TIME WITH HIS FAMILY ON A NATIONAL HOLIDAY?!?!?! GRRRRRRR!!!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

He's the President, and since he is in that position, he has certain responsibilities that he has to uphold, which includes going to events like this one. He's someone our entire nation is supposed to look up to, and honoring our veterans is a part of his job as the leader of our nation. He ran for the position, and it is a very demanding position, but he knew what he was getting when he signed up for it.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

yeah, but a lot of the shit Obama has to deal with is either large corporations fault or bush's, but you know what? i bet bush is relaxing too, and the corporation owners are taking the day off or getting a bonus, so shut up! if you had to deal with that type of shit every day you would develop mental issues, and need a few days to relax. It's not as if he's taking a month off!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I don't care if he takes weekends off or whatever, I just wish he hadn't taken Memorial Day weekend off. I'm not saying he's doing a bad job or that he doesn't deserve a break, I think he just chose the wrong time to do it. And what do corporations have anything to do with Memorial Day, jesus, don't tell me to shut up.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

you mentioned the oil spill, and that is not obama''s fault. its the cheat bastards who decided the .5 mill was more important than a emergency shut off. and if you expect obama to go to every nation event i'd like too see you try it first. it would be hella hard to make it to every single one. so what if he's president, he's only human, or did you think america elected god?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

When did I ever mention or blame Obama for the oil spill? And yeah, maybe you're right and I do have too high expectations, I don't know, but Memorial Day is a pretty big national event to miss; I'm not talking Thanksgiving, which is traditionally meant for family, but Memorial Day is meant for our veterans.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Meant to post that as a reply, sorry. See my response below.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I kind of meant that his going would be a good gesture to the families of the veterans; it's the one day where they are honored nationwide for their sacrifices to the country, and currently, Obama is pretty much the figurehead for our country.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

That's true and maybe he should have gone, but he is not obligated to go and I'm certainly not "furious" about it.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yeah, I'm not furious about it either but I'm kind of amazed that so many people apparently don't seem to care. :( Sorry. And I'm not OP BTW.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I agree with this, but only because of the first comment. When you think of it as a man just wanting to spend time with his family on a holiday, then yes I would agree with all of the people who said no.... but if you realize he is our president, the person responsible for taking care of our country, going on a vacation when thousands of people are dying.....then yeah that would definitely make me angry.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

you know what? it's not as if obama is the only one running the country! there are hundreds of other people working on every problem you know about, and more.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

True, but as said above he choose the wrong day! This is Memorial Day, he should be honoring the veterans.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Which responsibilities is he not upholding? What exactly would be fufilled by him going to this event? This isn't part if his job. His job is to run the country. I think we'll be fine if his misses this one event. It just seems very petty to pester him for something like this.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

His job is to run this country and to honor those who serve it. Not going to this memorial service that hasn't been missed since 1992 [when we weren't at war, mind you] is a total disgrace. I understand wanting to spend time with family, but when you run this country and many people are losing their lives to protect our rights, you should go to such an important service. If he doesn't stand behind our troops, by all means, stand in front.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You think he doesn't support our troops because he didn't go to this one event, despite the fact that he has supported them this whole time throughout the rest of his presidency? That's like going up to a teacher and saying "gee, you must not support public education because you didn't read any books today."

by Anonymous 13 years ago

The Arlington service is a pretty big deal. It's sort of THE service. All he had to do was sacrifice one weekend to really and truly show support for the people protecting us. And he can't even do that. I do dislike Obama, but I also realize the stress. It is a lot to run a country. Everyone does deserve weekends of relaxation. But this is a pretty big deal. Did he HAVE to choose this weekend?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yes, he could have and maybe should have gone, but I still don't see what the big deal about him not going is. I don't believe it says anything about how he feels for the troops, not anymore than me not going to Woodstock has anything to do with how I feel about music. His job responsibility ends with his obligation to serve and protect the country. As long as he does that, I don't care what kind of PR events, galas, commorations, parties or whatever he goes to. That's all trivial to me.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

He hhas taken much less time off than is average among recent presidents. The above comment is right. Let's see anyone here put up with all the shit he has to even for one day and then whine about him taking time off. I don't get why everyone wants the president to be a PR guy.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I just think he shouldn't have taken Memorial Day off, that is an important day for him to honor the veterans. Why can't he take a different weekend off?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Because then we'd all be bitching about him taking a weekend off. Honestly, yes, going to the service would be better but, hey, that's his family. And it's not like, by going on vacation with his family instead, that he's basically flipping off veterans and such.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

He does take weekends off. Everyone deserves weekends off. No one can work 24/7. I'm fine with him taking Memorial Day off, but is it too much to go to a service to show appreciation for the people who fought to keep our nation free? The people who made him able to become president in the first place?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I don't go to services- doesn't mean I don't appreciate what they did and I don't think it means he doesn't appreciate it.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It's one thing if you're just a citizen. It's another thing if you're the president. It's one of those things.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

A president going somewhere does not mean he supports it. A president not going somewhere doesn't mean he doesn't support it. -shrugs-

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yes, that is true, but put yourself in the situation of someone related to a veteran. Your husband/wife/son/daughter/etc. gave their life for your country and you look for the commander-in-chief to honor them. The service is what you look to. You expect your president to go there and show some respect. Nope. He goes on another vacation to Chicago to relax. You'd be mad, right? I sure as hell would be furious. It's a ceremony. Just a short ceremony. There are 51 other weekends.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

To be honest, I would not be furious; a bit irritated, yes. But I'm also not related to any veterans that I'm aware of, so of course that would defiantly make my view different if it was somebody I knew.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm related to a few veterans. Yeah, it does change your perspective. I'll maybe try changing it to something everyday people deal with. It's like sharing your homework and food with your friend everyday, but they don't return the favor in any way, shape, or form, and say, "Yeah. I appreciate you. But I just don't care." Secretly, they might, but you'd feel better if they actually said, "Thanks!" and hugged you, or maybe let you copy their homework if you forgot to do it one night. It's a poor example, but it gives a rough idea.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Okay yeah I agree people would be freaking over him taking a weekend off. He can't do anything without someone criticizing him, but not going to the service does not help anyone like him more, if anything causes him to loose supporters.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Honestly, I think the man doing anything will have him losing supporters. As I said, going to the service would be best, though I'm honestly not furious about it. So long as he does he protects us, stays loyal to this country, and isn't out there bad mouthing veterans or anyone at war right now.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Okay, I agree with this completely.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I have a question (I'm Canadian). Don't Americans celebrate Remembrance Day?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think that Memorial Day is the same as Remembrance Day. We also have Veterans Day in the fall.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Ya'll realize Memorial day is to honor those who died? Veterans have... Veteran's day. So really, the people who the holiday is for won't even notice he is on vacation.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Ever think about the family members of those who died? The grieving people will look to their president to honor them. Yes, the Veterans have Veteran's day, but they also probably lost a friend in the war. He should attend, it is his responsibility.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Asshole.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think its ironic that he is one of the few presidents who did not serve, or even enlist, in any branch of the service. (Clinton, FDR, and Hoover come to mind.. I am positive that I am missing some) Other presidents have not gone to the Arlington service. Reagan was attending a summit meeting that day. In 1992, H.W. Bush pulled a stunt similar to Obama's vacation: He went to Maine, attended a ceremony, and then played some golf. In 2002, Dubya did not attend the Arlington service; however, he attended and spoke at the service in Normandy, France.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

We weren't at war at the time, and Bush did it because he was campaigning.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm more furious that he has been threatening war with Iran, used drone strikes against civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan, passed the NDAA which can be used for indefinite detention of American citizens without a trial, had several Iranian scientists assassinated, and never closed Guantanamo Bay even though he said that he would. Plus even though he stated that he supports same-sex marriage, he also said it should be left up to the states, and these are two statements that one could say are contradictory.

by Anonymous 11 years ago