Politics - Obama's Memorial Day Gaff

[Texican]

Quoted from http://www.imao.us

From Obama's Memorial Day speech in New Mexico:

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

So either he doesn't know what a fallen hero is or he has the sixth sense. If you believe the latter, why in the world would the military dead be attending an Obama rally? That's like a wookie living on Endor.

[Old Ironsights]

Quoted from http://www.imao.us

From Obama's Memorial Day speech in New Mexico:

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

So either he doesn't know what a fallen hero is or he has the sixth sense. If you believe the latter, why in the world would the military dead be attending an Obama rally? That's like a wookie living on Endor.

It's the former.

Like his claim of Kennedy discussing the Cuban Missile Crisis with Kruschev in June 62 - when the crisis broke in Oct 62...

or,

-- Last May, he claimed that tornadoes in Kansas killed a whopping 10,000 people: "In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died -- an entire town destroyed." The actual death toll: 12.

-- Earlier this month in Oregon, he redrew the map of the United States: "Over the last 15 months, we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states? I think one left to go."

-- Last week, in front of a roaring Sioux Falls, S.D., audience, Obama exulted: "Thank you, Sioux City. ... I said it wrong. I've been in Iowa for too long. I'm sorry."

-- Explaining last week why he was trailing Hillary Clinton in Kentucky, Obama again botched basic geography: "Sen. Clinton, I think, is much better known, coming from a nearby state of Arkansas. So it's not surprising that she would have an advantage in some of those states in the middle." On what map is Arkansas closer to Kentucky than Illinois?

-- Obama has as much trouble with numbers as he has with maps. Last March, on the anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march in Selma, Ala., he claimed his parents united as a direct result of the civil rights movement:

"There was something stirring across the country because of what happened in Selma, Ala., because some folks are willing to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama Jr. was born."

Obama was born in 1961. The Selma march took place in 1965. His spokesman, Bill Burton, later explained that Obama was "speaking metaphorically about the civil rights movement as a whole."

-- Earlier this month in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Obama showed off his knowledge of the war in Afghanistan by homing in on a lack of translators: "We only have a certain number of them, and if they are all in Iraq, then it's harder for us to use them in Afghanistan." The real reason it's "harder for us to use them" in Afghanistan: Iraqis speak Arabic or Kurdish. The Afghanis speak Pashto, Farsi or other non-Arabic languages.

-- Last March, the Chicago Tribune reported this little-noticed nugget about a fake autobiographical detail in Obama's "Dreams from My Father":

"Then, there's the copy of Life magazine that Obama presents as his racial awakening at age 9. In it, he wrote, was an article and two accompanying photographs of an African-American man physically and mentally scarred by his efforts to lighten his skin. In fact, the Life article and the photographs don't exist, say the magazine's own historians."

[C. Cash]

Evidently, as apart of this or another speech around Memorial Day, he also brought up the fact that his Uncle was one of the liberators at Auschwitz. Fact checking by some of the news folks brought out that it was his great Uncle, as his mother was an only child, and that his unit was never around Auschwitz(which is in Poland), but Buchenwald in Germany. The looney Left doesn't really care about facts though, as long as they come away feeling good and in knowing the ends justify the means.

[Hobie]

In defense of his botched attempt to connect to the military with the Auschwitz story, many such oral histories have been botched in many families. Doing genealogical research, I've come across quite a few. Further, many families don't distinguish between great-uncles and uncles in daily speech. His great-uncle was present at the liberation of Buchenwald.

What bothers me more about this is that he has to reach back to a great-uncle to have any understanding of military experience. That he mucks that up (probably due to a misunderstanding or poor oral history) only shows how little he can possible understand about military matters.

[Ysabel Kid]

And how little he actually cares about the military and our history.

I agree with Hobie - lots of family lore gets mangled as it gets handed down from generation to generation. I am fortunate to have my Uncle (not "great" in the relative term, but a great man!) still with us, and have talked to him about his first hand experiences with the 29th ID at Normandy and beyond. I trust these accounts. Going back beyond that, the details are probably losely based on the truth, but again, family lore has a way of improving and getting grander with every generation!

Unfortunately, if you asked 100 people on the street what Memorial Day honored, I doubt 10 of them would actually get it correct. Not trying to defend Obama - I expect more out of those who want to lead the nation in any elected capacity - especially those aspiring to be the President...

[C. Cash]

Yeah, I agree fellas and can see that happening. But he should have confirmed it as fact before he said it to the world, even if he knew he was almost right. Same goes for anything that McCain says. Men who don't speak the truth in little matters cannot be trusted with the big stuff, including Mrs. Sniper Fire herself Preaching to the choir

[Hobie]

I notice that we too often think of people as liars when they themselves have been deceived. One can't tell the truth if one doesn't know the truth. I doubt that the details of this incident was a common topic of family discussion. Likely it was seldom mentioned and often avoided. Hardly surprising he couldn't get it right when nobody else had it right. Should he, as a candidate for POTUS, make that extra effort. Yeah, but this just proves that he isn't right for the position. Attention to detail is important, he lacks that urge.

[Blaine]

DemRats always are parading their imaginary people and family........they think we are stupid......

[Pete 22]

Auschwitz was liberated by the Russians. Hence Mr Obama's great uncle was a commie......OK things are starting to make sense now


Pete 22

[donw]

if sen obama is elected to be our new pres, we will see things change dramatically in ways you cannot imagine.

i am not an alarmist, but a realist.

he was raised and educated as a muslim. he all but denounces his 'white' side. he has stated he will not wear the american flag lapel pin so he won't seem to "be taking sides" and thinks the national anthem is "to warlike, to belicose...".

he claims to have attended the same church for twenty years and yet not heard any of the sermons...yeah...right...convienent lapse of memory? sounds kind of like "i did not have sex with that woman..." from klinton about monica lewinsky doesn't it?

if you wish to vote for obama, that's your choice...an extremely poor one IMO...he represents change alright..but not like you THINK...his change will be one of supression, oppression and against all we have known and fought for...especially against firearms and religion.

i, speaking in behalf of MYSELF only, am not open to discuss obama as being a viable choice. if he is the only choice i have to vote for, i will not vote. he is not a choice for a reasonable, rational, thinking person.

[El Chivo]

it's easy to misspeak when you're up there on the podium, and I'm sure it's not easy traveling the campaign trail.

I wouldn't make too big a thing of gaffes, both sides have them, but I would concentrate on the ideology.

I think the Democrats showed their true colors when they kept harping on GWB's gaffes, it made them look desperate.

[Old Ironsights]

When Obama is President, we will live in an Obamination.

[Ysabel Kid]

By the way, I read this to my family at dinner Monday evening (the citations for the four servicemen who have earned the MOH during our fight against Islamofascism). I barely got through it without choking up:

DUNHAM, JASON L. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader,
4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced),
Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April
2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the
town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small
arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led
his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support
to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was
traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced,
they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad
to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several
blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in
a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the
vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an
insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled
the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent
release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines
to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal
Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the
explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless
act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at
least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit,
and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for
his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the
highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

MONSOOR, MICHAEL, A. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty as automatic weapons gunner for
Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and
Iraqi Army Sniper Overwatch Element, tasked with providing early warning and
stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent held sector of Ar Ramadi,
Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery
in the face of grave danger. In the early morning, insurgents prepared
to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the
element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt
by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element,
engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy
activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine
gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALs
vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade
from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest
and landed in front of him. Although only he could have escaped the blast,
Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly
and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to
absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two
teammates. By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion
to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave
his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and
upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SMITH, PAUL R. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the
call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport,
Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was
engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task
Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the
vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly
organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley
Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed,
Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the
enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of
three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket
propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun
their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire
to man a.50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel
carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed
position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he
was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack,
and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the
safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith's
extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself,
the Third Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne," and the United States Army.

MURPHY, MICHAEL P. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty as the leader of a special
reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Afghanistan on 27
and 28 June 2005. While leading a mission to locate a high-level anti-coalition
militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism
in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province,
Afghanistan. On 28 June 2005, operating in an extremely rugged enemy-controlled
area, Lieutenant Murphy's team was discovered by anti-coalition militia
sympathizers, who revealed their position to Taliban fighters. As a result,
between 30 and 40 enemy fighters besieged his four-member team. Demonstrating
exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the
large enemy force. The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous enemy
casualties, as well as the wounding of all four members of the team. Ignoring
his own wounds and demonstrating exceptional composure, Lieutenant Murphy
continued to lead and encourage his men. When the primary communicator
fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for
assistance for his beleaguered teammates. Realizing the impossibility of
communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain
death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to
transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing
him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his Headquarters,
Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his
location and requested immediate support for his team. In his final act of
bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded,
gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom. By
his selfless leadership, courageous actions, and extraordinary devotion to
duty, Lieutenant Murphy reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the
highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.


Obama would have been better off just reading these citations to the crowds he addressed - and praising such men and the millions (1.3 IIRC) like them who have sacrificed everything - given that "last full measure of devotion" - to God and country...