Obama Marks Memorial Day at Arlington, Sidesteps Racial Controversy Over Confederate Monument

Traitors shouldn't be honored, regardless of their rational for doing what they did. What's so difficult to understand about such a simple point?

Mike----

George H. W. Bush actually was the first president to start sending the wreath to the Confederate monument on Memorial Day. Prior to that it was sent on Jefferson Davis's birthday.

Mike----

George H. W. Bush actually was the first president to start sending the wreath to the Confederate monument on Memorial Day. Prior to that it was sent on Jefferson Davis's birthday.

I admire him for doing what he did. Didn't vote for him, yet am seeing the good in a lot of the things he does.

Why should the president refuse to honor Confederate veterans by laying a wreath at their graves? Simple, the cause they fought for was beneath memorialization. It may be true that they fought for their own individual reasons, but the fact is they fought in an army whose purpose was to defend a nation upholding the right to own slaves. If you still can't see my point, imagine if the German chancellor laid a wreath on the graves of SS men.

Excellent Move By the Pres. ignoring the requests to not lay a wreath at these soldiers monument, They ALL need to be "Memorialized" every year for their service and sacrifice,,,,,,,,
No`matter`what side they fought on !!

Obama sidestepped a controversy? He dodged actually having to take a position? anything new here?

What a slap in the face to all soldiers to have a president do This!!!!!!!!!!!

All soldiers need to be honored,to try to re-write history is a waste of time.The Confederate troops deserve to be honored just as much as the Union troops.

The U.S. was never reluctant to send these Southerners to their deaths in subsequent conflicts.. in U.S. uniforms.

Isn't Barack Obama related to Jefferson Davis?

I think you should leave the judging up to god and Obama shouldn't have done the judging.

It would have been very easy for the president to forego sending a wreath to the Confederate Memorial and most people, including me, would have understood his reluctance. However, he chose to do the right thing. I want to salute President Obama for having the courage to continue with a tradition established by past presidents and for establishing what I hope will become a new tradition for future presidents by laying a wreath at the African American Civil War Memorial. Thank you, Mr. President.

Bill

It ought to noted that Obama, through his mother, is descended from Conderate soldiers including local Newton Co., Ark. hero, Capt. Larkin C. Bunch.

To quote from another southerner, "Only me and crippled soldiers give a damn."
Sadly this is true. Our military is unappreciated, used as a whipping boy, and ridiculed as being uneducated. This has been true from all liberal-democrats in my lifetime.

Noah, sounds like you and your daughter had a wonderful, memorable day. Thank you for your service!

Well he showed up in time for me to see the motorcade, six hours on a harley with my daughter was the greatest trip/vacation. Ending with us at arlington seeing him. I am a Vet , My father was a Vet. There is no reason that all Members of all the services from all the times should not be Honored. Remember this is and always will be Memorial Day. If you cant remember, you must be Ignorant, or just plain lame. Noah The Barber..Air Force 43151F Turboprop Crewchief AK.

Actually I agree that he did good.

The only snide remark I can think of is that he was so presidential he even forgot to mention that it was Lincoln's and Andrew Johnson's mess that he has to straighten out ;)

All soldiers North and South should be memorialized, all were Americans and fought for their homes and rights as they saw them. It was the out-come of the war that settled the states-rights and constitutionally gauranteed rights of states to secede vs the federal govt power to prevent that at a time when regionalism polarized the country. the vast majority of confederate soldiers did not own slaves and many black soldiers wore the butternut and grey, unionists protested the emancipation proclamation including the Illinois State Legislature who sent a letter of descent to President Lincoln. I mention this to emphasize that the issues of that day cannot be visualized thru a 21st century historical revisionist lens. I say honor all soldiers who gave" the last measure of sacrifice".

He did this 129 times in the Illinois State Senate.
Posted by: drjohn | May 25, 2009 5:04:18 PM

You must be running low on idiotic right-winger talking points.