White House Paris no-show
White House Paris no-show, The White House has admitted that being a political no-show at the Paris rally for international unity this week may have been a mistake. Although US government officials initially defended their actions in not being able to attend, they have since acknowledged that it might have been the wrong choice not to send President Obama, Vice President Biden, or some other top-ranking official to the important march. The National Journal provides the scoop on this breaking story this Monday, Jan. 12, 2015.
French citizens are still recovering from the Paris terror attacks that occurred earlier this week. While President Obama and White House officials had stated they were ultimately behind France to support it, being a no-show at the rally seemed to be poor backing for their claim. With over 40 world leaders standing side by side — not to mention the millions who participated in the march — the US chief’s absence was starkly evident.
Prior to previous claims of busy schedules and the need for extreme security, a White House spokesperson has admitted this morning that someone of high political rank should have attended the Paris rally. Forward News adds that it may have been “wrong” for neither Obama nor Biden — or someone of near equal rank from Washington, DC — to make the time and demonstrate their sense of solidarity in person.
"Some have asked whether or not the United States should have sent someone with a higher profile than the ambassador to France, and I think it's fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile to be there," said Josh Earnest, a White House press secretary, today. According to the media release, the highest US person in attendance at the rally was Jane Hartley, the American ambassador to France.
For those who have been keeping up with international news headlines, talk of this weekend’s no-show in Paris comes in light of the tragic shootings caused by Islamic extremists near the French capitol last week. A total of 17 people were killed in the violence. Nonetheless, Earnest and White House officials wanted to remind the public that timing concerns and issues of President Obama’s safety were real reasons for the lack of attendance.
A number of marchers, including world leaders involved with the Paris rally at the time, were said to be shocked by the lack of White House presence, including Obama or at least Vice President Biden. Nearly 4 million people arrived for the solemn march toward unity and strength in the face of terror, including the Britsh Prime Minister, the Israeli Prime Minister, the German Chancellor, and the Palestinian Authority President. A Russian representative was also there. Do you believe having a key US leader absent was indeed the wrong choice?
French citizens are still recovering from the Paris terror attacks that occurred earlier this week. While President Obama and White House officials had stated they were ultimately behind France to support it, being a no-show at the rally seemed to be poor backing for their claim. With over 40 world leaders standing side by side — not to mention the millions who participated in the march — the US chief’s absence was starkly evident.
Prior to previous claims of busy schedules and the need for extreme security, a White House spokesperson has admitted this morning that someone of high political rank should have attended the Paris rally. Forward News adds that it may have been “wrong” for neither Obama nor Biden — or someone of near equal rank from Washington, DC — to make the time and demonstrate their sense of solidarity in person.
"Some have asked whether or not the United States should have sent someone with a higher profile than the ambassador to France, and I think it's fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile to be there," said Josh Earnest, a White House press secretary, today. According to the media release, the highest US person in attendance at the rally was Jane Hartley, the American ambassador to France.
For those who have been keeping up with international news headlines, talk of this weekend’s no-show in Paris comes in light of the tragic shootings caused by Islamic extremists near the French capitol last week. A total of 17 people were killed in the violence. Nonetheless, Earnest and White House officials wanted to remind the public that timing concerns and issues of President Obama’s safety were real reasons for the lack of attendance.
A number of marchers, including world leaders involved with the Paris rally at the time, were said to be shocked by the lack of White House presence, including Obama or at least Vice President Biden. Nearly 4 million people arrived for the solemn march toward unity and strength in the face of terror, including the Britsh Prime Minister, the Israeli Prime Minister, the German Chancellor, and the Palestinian Authority President. A Russian representative was also there. Do you believe having a key US leader absent was indeed the wrong choice?
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White House Paris no-show
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