The Arrogance Of A President

Obama takes up to three minutes to thank staff members and to give a big "shout out to Dr. Joe Medicine Crow - that Congressional Medal of Honor winner" with a smile and a wave, before giving his condolences and comfort to soldiers and their families in the mass murder at Fort Hood.

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.

Update: According to Blackfive, "most media outlets are cutting out the weird intro."