Exploit the troops! "Because which funeral do you go to?"

[ProSense]

Video: Hearing on Tillman, Lynch Incidents: Jessica Lynch's Opening ("Misleading Information from the Battlefield" April 2007)







More: Today's front page Times of India , Bombay edition

Star and Stripes (July 2006):

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Bush has met hundreds of families of fallen soldiers, but he has yet to attend a servicemember’s funeral, he said Tuesday.

“Because which funeral do you go to? In my judgment, I think if I go to one I should go to all. How do you honor one person but not another?” he said.

Bush jogs with wounded soldiers so, given his inability to determine whose funerals to attend, does that mean he has visited with all of the more than 30,000 wounded soldiers?

[bluestateguy]

1. You assume that a family would want Bush at their kin's funeral

I would be willing to bet that most families would rather he not be there.

[ProSense]

2. Imagine if that was

actually reported by the media.

[peace13]

6. This *resident in particular

In the real world it would be an honor to have the president attend.

[Swede]

3. That's an "honor" I could do without.

nt

[Captain Hilts]

4. Pres. Bush is right in this case. Going to some funerals, but not others, creates a hierarchy...

that is unfair. If he went to an army funeral, he'd have to go to a marine, navy, air force or coast guard funeral too, etc. If he goes to an officer's funeral, he has to go to an enlisted funeral, etc.

And most people would not want the president to attend the funeral. It's a tremendous hassle and distraction.

Neither Franklin nor Eleanor attended funerals of service members.

[NYVet]

5. You also don't look at the logistical and security nightmare this

would cause for the friends and family of that servicemember. Background checks, metal detectors, etc, etc, etc...

[ProSense]

7. For all the screeching he does about supporting the troops, he should attend at least one or five.

Richard Nixon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Nixon does not appear to have attended the funerals of any soldiers killed in Vietnam. He did award posthumous medals of honor to the families of several soldiers on 22 April 1971 and on several other occasions. On Veterans day in 1971 he visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. In 1973 he met with the family of Colonel William Nolde after the colonel was buried in Arlington Cemetery. Colonel Nolde was killed on January 27th, the night before the cease-fire went into effect.

Jimmy Carter
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According to the New York Times, Jimmy Carter attended a memorial service for the soldiers killed in the failed rescue of America hostages in Iran in 1980.

Ronald Reagan
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Ronald Reagan attended memorial services on several occasions for American soldiers. In 1983 he attended a service at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in connection with the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, which cost the lives of 241 people. In 1987 he attended a service at Mayport Naval Station in Florida for the sailors killed on the USS Stark.

George H.W. Bush
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President George Herbert Walker Bush does not appear to have attended any funerals for American soldiers. (The NYT, citing Marlin Fitzwater as a source, indicated that the president did attend several such funerals. But no details were provided.)

Bill Clinton
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Bill Clinton attended a service in October 2000 in memory of the 17 sailors killed in the attack on the USS Cole.

After the terrorist bombing the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City he publicly grieved with the families of the victims at an event that was regarded at the time as a turning point in his presidency.

Like many other presidents he visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

link

(emphasis added)

He can figure out how to have photo ops with the soldiers on other occasions, this should be a priority. Of course, there is also the possibility that some families don't want him there.

[ProSense]

8. Kick! n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Yes he should go to all of them

The bastard is the reason they are dying. Besides, that would keep him busy and maybe he will do less harm to the country.