Obama's priorities (UPDATED) (AGAIN)

Watch this... and see if it has the same effect on you as it did me... when he finally broaches the subject of the Fort Hood shootings, note how he turns it into talking about himself... this is beyond sickening:

Clarice Feldman at American Thinker speaks for me:

... his expression of grief was very odd.  He spent the first two minutes of the four-and-a-half minute address in a light-hearted discussion of his earlier "Tribal Nations Conference" on Native American rights, including a "shout out" recognition of a conference attendee.

When he finally got around to the purpose for his public appearance, he gave an uninspired and rambling dissertation on the tragedy.  Even then, he could not keep the topic focused on sympathy for the pain of others:

I want all of you to know that as Commander in Chief, that there's no greater honor, but no greater responsibility for me (emphasis his) than to make sure that the extraordinary men and women in uniform are properly cared for...

Poor soul, it's so saddening to know how this tragedy affects him. 

Listening to this address provides some insight into Obama's character and how he ranks his priorities.

Incredibly infuriating.

H/T Michelle.

UPDATE: There are others now weighing in on this:

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  cled 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. Who is advising him?

Anyone at home aware of the major news story of the previous hours had to have been stunned. An incident like this requires a scrapping of the early light banter. The president should apologize for the tone of his remarks, explain what has happened, express sympathy for those slain and appeal for calm and patience until all the facts are in. That's the least that should occur. 

Indeed, an argument could be made that Obama should have canceled the Indian event, out of respect for people having been murdered at an Army post a few hours before. That would have prevented any sort of jarring emotional switch at the event. 

Did the president's team not realize what sort of image they were presenting to the country at this moment? The disconnect between what Americans at home knew had been going on -- and the initial words coming out of their president's mouth was jolting, if not disturbing.

It must have been disappointing for many politically aware Democrats, still reeling from the election two days before. The New Jersey gubernatorial vote had already demonstrated that the president and his political team couldn't produce a winning outcome in a state very friendly to Democrats (and where the president won by 15 points one year ago). And now this? Congressional Democrats must wonder if a White House that has burdened them with a too-heavy policy agenda over the last year has a strong enough political operation to help push that agenda through. 

If the president's communications apparatus can't inform -- and protect -- their boss during tense moments when the country needs to see a focused commander-in-chief and a compassionate head of state, it has disastrous consequences for that president's party and supporters. 

All the president's men (and women) fell down on the job Thursday.  And Democrats across the country have real reason to panic. 

UPDATE II: Bookie comments on the piece above:

Aside from the fact that Robert George is completely correct, I couldn’t help contrasting Obama’s performance with Bush’s in the wake of 9/11.  As you may recall, Michael Moore had a field day with the fact that Bush, who was reading a book to elementary children, went back to the reading the book after the news about 9/11 was first whispered in his ear.  I’ve always thought that Bush did the right thing, and that he showed a tremendous amount of courage.  A couple of minutes of reading made absolutely no difference to what was to happen, but staying calm in a televised classroom meant that he prevented a panic from happening, both in the classroom and in the outside world.  In the hours, days and weeks afterwards, Bush showed himself to be a man of normal, even extraordinary compassion, able to hug people in need, all the while maintaining his presidential duties.

And yet here we have a narcissist who just can’t stop having everything be about himself, his goals, his interests.  Nothing interferes with Obama’s own Obama obsession.  This is a deeply disturbed man and it is deeply disturbing that he is our president.

Comments

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

Sadly I’m no longer shocked by this man’s attitude.

Giving a prepared speech in front of adoring fans, who would clap if he passed wind, is hardly worth the ridiculous praise he receives. This shallow, empty shell of a man will never have his “I can hear ya’, the whole country can hear ya’ and pretty soon the people who did this will hear ya’” moment. Not because the possibility won’t be available but rather because he’s not remotely capable of coming close to anything in the neighborhood of inspiration.

Inspiration comes from an inner belief, a confidence of thought relating to the subject matter, in this case our military. He cannot, even in a moment of great tragedy, relate to those brave souls. Hell, he can’t even fake it like Clinton.

The façade is plain for anyone to see, this man only cares about one thing – himself.

I can hear Axelrod now, “Quick, let’s get Barry down to Ft. Hood for a photo op pronto!”

[chuck aka xtnyoda]

It is becoming more obvious that not only does his staff not know how to speak to Americans, they also can not relate to the feelings of Americans.

They are not Americans, and it's nothing to do with birth certificates.

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

the president thanked various staffers and offered a "shout-out" to "Dr. Joe Medicine Crow -- that Congressional Medal of Honor winner."

Just to through salt in the already gaping wound, I heard on the radio, Medicine Crow was not awarded (you don’t “win” like the lottery) the CMH but was awarded the Presidential Freedom Award, the highest CIVILAIN award.

Yea, luckily we don’t have that dolt Bush in office anymore…or that dumb Alaskan chick…

I can imagine Barry O given a eulogy, “I’d like to give a shout out to my man (……) , I understand he’s here somewhere”, “This death has really affected me…”

Most Out of Touch President Ever (but can give a great speech…he’s practiced for months…with a teleprompter).

[shanasfo]

What strikes me is this:

All the president's men (and women) fell down on the job Thursday. And Democrats across the country have real reason to panic.

In this article, unbelievably, it seems everyone BUT the president is blamed for the president's comments.

His STAFF are to blame, of course! They fell down on the job and made him act in a lighthearted way and say these self-centered things. The staff is causing panic among Democrats.

Bad, bad staff! Bad men who made the president say these silly things! Bad women who are making Democrats panic everywhere! None of Michelle's leftover organic arugula and kale hor'dourves for you!

(and yes, my computer is still not working. Have to use the kids' and it's rather old.)

[Bob Sykes]

Dr. Sanity calls Obama a malignant narcisist, and Limbaugh calls him a manchild. Both are right. He is also a deeply confused Christian/Muslim/Communist. There is something profoundly wrong with Obama's twisted mind, and he is surrounded by the worst kind of enablers. Perhaps they are exploiting his disease for their own benefits and purposes.

We are heading toward a historic disaster during his Presidency.

[allyHM]

Is anyone else here inclined to think that, had this happened during his time in office, President Bush would have gone to Ft. Hood personally just as soon as he was able? Granted, there weren't thousands of people hurt/killed like the 9/11 terrorist act, but this was still a terrorist act AND it was committed on Army soil. My gut says "W" would have gone straight there to show (1) America isn't scared of you, Mr. Terrorist! and (2) support and compassion for the people affected. Just my HO.

[Mommynator]

I agree completely, ally. Mr. Bush would have been right there, right in the middle of the family and friends and military fellowship.