How do you define class?

On the morning of November 5th, Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire, killed12 soldiers, and wounded another 31. The President of the United States responded in a clear about face to the way he responded when a black man was arrested by a white officer in Massachusetts. If you remember, he stated in a news conference, "I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played, but I think it's fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry; No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, No. 3 ... that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately."



Understand that he stated clearly that: 1. He wasn’t there. 2. He didn’t have all the facts. 3. Mr. Gates jimmied his way into the house. 4. A report of a break in was reported. 4. He didn’t know what role race played. (Clearly race did play a role as Mr. Gates played the victim card early on. When Crowley told Gates that he was investigating a possible break-in, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed, "Why, because I'm a black man in America?" –No Mr. Gates, because you are present in a home where a break in has been reported.) 5. Cambridge police acted stupidly. 6. African-Americans (More on that term later) and Latinos are victims.

When confronted with a terrorist act on American soil by a man known to federal law enforcement officials because of internet postings that discussed suicide bombing and other threats, speaking in Washington, President Barack Obama called the shootings a “horrific outburst.” “It’s difficult enough when we lose these great Americans in battles overseas,” Obama said at the Interior Department. “It’s horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.” "We don't know all the answers yet. And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts," Mr. Obama said in a Rose Garden statement.
So here we have the President saying: 1. This is horrific. 2. It is difficult to lose troops – especially on American soil. 3. He doesn’t have all the facts –again. 4. But this time in stark contrast, he tells us not to jump to conclusions about this self proclaimed Muslim.

The only thing I am leaving out is a few “shout out’s” to people before telling the nation of this “horrific outburst”. After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations went to the president. The situation called for not only his trademark eloquence, but also grace and perspective.

But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a "shout-out" to "Dr. Joe Medicine Crow -- that Congressional Medal of Honor winner." Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. THREE MINUTES! Wouldn’t it have been appropriate for the President to skip the first part and go directly into the
But that is not the end of the story.



No, what comes next is more telling of our Commander in Chiefs respect for the military. The shooting occurred on a Thursday and it wasn’t till late afternoon early evening that the base was actually secure.
You would expect the President to visit sometime Friday or Saturday; reassure the troops, visit the wounded, in general act like a Commander in Chief. One Commander in Chief did former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, made a private visit to the Darnall Army Medical Center to visit with the wounded soldiers and their families. He didn’t call the press to let them know he would be there. He didn’t pose for reporters or tell them how great he was visiting the wounded. He didn’t use the soldiers as a photo op. No, they went there in private and only a few pictures have come out; from family members of those he wished a speedy recovery.

By contrast, President Obama, kept his regular schedule on Friday and on Saturday addressed the House Democratic Caucus (part of his transparency and getting both sides together), made a statement to the press on health care and then departed with the first lady to Camp David. No visit to the troops. It took the CIC 6 days, and a federal holiday, to make his way down to Texas. Eulogizing after mass tragedies is a somber duty of the modern presidency, and this was Obama's first such effort. He was resolute and somber; he did not well up, and his voice did not crack. He trod carefully about the motives of Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, alluding to his Muslim faith without directly mentioning or blaming it. Another Jihad, another Muslim extremist, another attack on American soil. Granted, this one is not anywhere near as dramatic as 9-11. But it is an attack nevertheless. To date the liberal press and President Obama still refuse to call this situation for what it really is: an extremist Muslim attack upon American soil. Period.



Now I ask, which of the two individuals Former President Bush or current President Obama showed more class? If the attack had happened at a union hall or ACORN office do you think Obama would have been there? Don’t answer; if you read my blogs, I believe I know your answer.