Thunder, lightning stop Obama Memorial Day speech - lays wreath, greets visitors on buses (IMAGES)

[jefferson_dem]

US President Barack Obama (2nd L) lays a wreath as he participates in a Memorial Day Ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary in Elwood, Illinios, May 31, 2010. A large thunderstorm opened up just as President Obama's Memorial Day ceremony was getting underway. It grew so violent so quickly that the White House pulled the president out, but not before he went to the microphone and ordered thousands to get to a place of safety.


US President Barack Obama (L) asks the crowd to seek shelter as the weather turns while participating in a Memorial Day Ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary in Elwood, Illinios, May 31, 2010.


Audience members used chairs to shield from the rain as President Obama delivered a Memorial Day speech at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois on Monday.

Thunder, lightning stop Obama Memorial Day speech
ELWOOD
Mon May 31, 2010 1:58pm EDT

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks in the pouring rain during a Memorial Day event at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois, May 31, 2010.

ELWOOD Illinois (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's Memorial Day observance was stopped in its tracks on Monday by a torrential downpour accompanied by bolts of lightning and booming thunder.

Obama thrilled the crowd at Abraham Lincoln National Ceremony by appearing under an umbrella as the rain poured down. But he did not deliver his prepared remarks honoring troops who died fighting for the United States.

Instead he urged the crowd to seek shelter in their cars.

"I am going back to mine," he said from the podium, the storm so loud his words could barely be heard through the amplifiers.

As it became obvious that the storm was not going to ease, aides announced that Obama would not make his speech. Instead, he climbed onto buses where the crowds had taken shelter and greeted the visitors who had been soaked by the storm.

Obama was able before the storm to quietly lay a wreath at another part of the cemetery, and then stood, his head bowed as a bugler played "Taps."

<SNIP>

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64U3QH20100531?type=domesticNews

[Cha]

1. Even Better~

THanks Jefferson!

Dealing with what it is dealt in a most gracious and excellent way.

[hedgehog]

2. If you can hear the thunder, you can be hit by the lightning-

even if the storm has already passed over.

For those of you dealing with Freepers:

The Threat

Lightning is the #2 storm killer in the U.S., killing more than hurricanes or tornadoes on average. Only floods kill more. But the real story of lightning isn't the deaths, it's the injuries. Only about 10% of those struck are killed; 90% survive. But of the survivors, many suffer life-long severe injury and disability. These injuries are primarily neurological, with a wide range of symptoms, and are sometimes difficult to diagnose. Lightning also causes about $5 billion of economic loss each year in the U.S.

http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/hazardwarning.html

[jefferson_dem]

3. It was coming down in a big way and not safe to be outdoors. AP VIDEO here -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtYlmotsZO8&feature=player_embedded

[Cha]

9. Thank you, hedgehog..I've been

yelled at a few times for not getting out of the lightening danger.

It's a real thing..people do get killed by it and why take a chance.

[hedgehog]

24. Thank you - i was a little worried about people thinking me too

bossy telling them about this safety hazard! We had two people killed here a few years back working a lettuce field.

[jakeXT]

27. yep, recently watched Lightning - Nature Strikes Back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MTz7kdFCak

[Frustratedlady]

4. Handling the situation graciously while the Repugs scream he didn't...

go to Arlington...but sent Biden.

Is there ANYTHING that guy can do right in their eyes? I am SO sick of this.

[goclark]

28. Only once or twice have I heard mention of other Presidents

not going to lay the wreath in DC.

MEDIAMAFIA in action.

[HughMoran]

5. I thought he was being criticized for being on vacation?

Hardly seems 'vacation-like' to me. :wtf:

[O is 44]

11. I know really, I'm with you on this one....n/t

[Parker CA]

12. Those who create those memes are perpetually out of touch. Obama's on the ball. Always.

[HughMoran]

13. I want to go on a ball-kicking rampage

Who are these morons that we're letting shape our discussions?

[awoke_in_2003]

23. "I want to go on a ball-kicking rampage"

sounds like fun (as long as you are the kicker and not the kickee)

[CreekDog]

22. Seems only conservatives are calling 3 days in Chicago a "vacation"

consider the source.

[Cha]

6. Thanks for adding the pics, Jefferson..

What a contrast in a few minutes.."he urged them to seek shelter."

I would actually rather the President come into my bus and talk with us..much more comforting.

[jefferson_dem]

8. My pleasure, Cha.

:hi:

[jefferson_dem]

7. Why Did Obama Ask Allah To Shoot Bolts Of Lightning At Soldiers’ Graves? (WONKETTE)

It was enough of a slap in America’s face for Barack Obama to skip the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in favor of one at his precious Chicago thug-controlled “Abraham Lincoln National Ceremony,” which isn’t even accredited by the Princeton Review. Now what’s this, lightning? Who cares about dumb electricity sparkles in the sky. Look at this actual alien, telling everyone to go to their cars, saying he may or may not “stick around.” Oh, and what about the fallen soldiers in their GRAVES — are they supposed to go to their cars too, Obamar?

http://wonkette.com/415714/why-did-obama-ask-allah-to-shoot-bolts-of-lightning-at-soldiers-graves#ixzz0pXAotMCG

Sure enough, some vile Obama foamers are already blaming him for the rain too. http://twitter.com/ByronYork/statuses/15124152195

[O is 44]

15. Who cares what the haters say,

they’re an irrational bunch of losers. Ps. I know you don't but I just wanted to vent.

[O is 44]

10. Thanks Jeffferson for posting....

Very cool that he went on the buses to visit those that came, something the MSM will make sure they omit. I saw the beginning of this, it was okay at first then it started to down pour. I was looking forward to his speech I’m sure it would have been good!

[jefferson_dem]

14. President stopping at Fisher House (connected with a VA Hospital near Chicago)...

...to visit with families of wounded military personnel.

http://twitter.com/WestWingReport/statuses/15125888272

[AnnieBW]

16. It looks butt-ugly out there

judging by the pictures. Good call, Barack.

[jefferson_dem]

17. Indeed it was. Check out the video.

--> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x470348

[quiet.american]

18. That was so weird-huge winds during the Pledge of Allegiance, and then - boom! the skies opened up.

The rain was so powerful, it almost instantly knocked out the C-Span equipment and signal.

[Undercurrent]

19. That's some bad weather!

People brave a driving rain storm after President Barack Obama encouraged them to go to their cars for safety during Memorial Day ceremonies at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill. , Monday, May 31, 2010.

http://www.daylife.com/photo/081h1VL1HHbD5?q=Barack+Obama

[Cha]

20. Thanks for that pic, Undercurrent! nt

[LLStarks]

21. That chair pic looks funny. Saving. nt

[Cha]

25. Yeah, you grab what's handy in a torrential rain storm! nt

[jefferson_dem]

26. The White House Blog - A Downpour on Memorial Day in Illinois

The White House Blog
A Downpour on Memorial Day in Illinois
Posted by Jesse Lee on May 31, 2010 at 05:59 PM EDT

The President was able to lay a wreath at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois before it started raining. But he was forced to take the stage only to announce to the crowd that his Memorial Day address had to be cancelled. The crowd was spared standing around in the rain, and the President attempted to make it up to some of them by talking with them on the buses they rode to dryness.


President Barack Obama after laying a wreath at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois, on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)


President Barack Obama takes the stage amidst a downpour at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois, on Memorial Day. He announced that the event was being canceled because of the severe weather, May 31, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)


President Barack Obama boards buses to speak to people who were attending the ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery after the Memorial Day event he was supposed to speak at was canceled because of severe weather in Elwood, Illinois, May 31, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/31/a-downpour-memorial-day-illinois

[O is 44]

29. Luv the bus pic, they seem like a happy bunch! n/t

[Clio the Leo]

30. See! If he'd JUST gone to Arlington!

:evilgrin:

[NYC Liberal]

31. Just saying:

[Merlot]

32. LOL - thanks for posting the reality check!

[Jennicut]

33. Ha! Bush couldn't even handle his umbrella all that well.