Obama Memorial Day Speech Cut Short By Rain, Lightning - Braves Storm to Tell Visitors to Take Cover

[jefferson_dem]

Run time: 01:28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtYlmotsZO8   Posted on YouTube: May 31, 2010 By YouTube Member: AssociatedPress Views on YouTube: 279   Posted on DU: May 31, 2010 By DU Member: jefferson_dem Views on DU: 876

 
Obama Memorial Day Speech Cut Short By Rain, Lightning
AP/Huffington Post First Posted: 05-31-10 01:41 PM | Updated: 05-31-10 02:40 PM

ELWOOD, Ill. -- Torrential rain, lightning, thunder and strong winds forced President Barack Obama to cancel a Memorial Day speech at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Illinois.

Obama took the stage at midday under the cover of a large umbrella to tell thousands of people who came to hear him speak that "a little rain never hurt anybody but we don't want anybody struck by lightning."

He asked people to return to their cars for safety.

Obama waited out the storm in the cemetery's administration building. He later boarded a pair of buses to greet military families that came for the ceremony.

According to White House spokesman Bill Burton, Obama personally made the decision to warn people in the open field to take shelter. From the pool report:

Scenes from the great storm: People trudging barefoot across flooded fields, taking shelter in available vehicles. The wreath Obama laid earlier blown over. Flash flood-type pools of water on the road. Sharp bursts of lightning. Everyone, needless to say, is drenched.

Obama spoke at the Lincoln cemetery in 2005 when he was a U.S. senator. Lincoln created the system of national cemeteries during the Civil War.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/31/obama-memorial-day-speech_n_595340.html

[Cha]

1. Thanks.. asking if possible to very calmly

move back to their cars so that no one would be in harm's way.

Hope we get to hear what transpired on the buses.

[lob1]

2. At the end when he walked away from the mike, you could see how soaked

Obama's suit is.

[Ishoutandscream2]

3. Man that rain looked wonderful

The president needs to come to north Texas and bring it with him.

[goclark]

4. Why do I get a visual of GW in the same situation?

He would duck and cover and say something stupid to
the audience from under the podium. :scared:

[Pryderi]

5. It's a sign of God's displeasure of his presidency...

[ooglymoogly]

6. You can fool most of the people most of the time;

But you mustn't fool with mother nature and try to sweep damage to her under the proverbial rug, cus she'll kick you in the butt every time. To the forces of nature, we are all pipsqueaks.