From Media Matters:
"Glenn Beck stated, "Obama is skipping out on a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington Cemetery because he'll be in Chicago on vacation. I'm sorry, I don't ever, ever question the president's vacation. I didn't under Bush, I didn't under Clinton, I don't under Obama." He later stated: "I have no problem with the man taking a vacation. But I am sick and tired -- sick and tired -- of people believing the lie that this administration has respect for the police or has respect for the soldiers of our country. I'm tired of it." [Premiere Radio Networks' The Glenn Beck Program, 5/25/10]
Malkin guest blogger: "Boy, I'm starting to think that West Point speech wasn't from the heart." On MichelleMalkin.com, guest blogger Doug Powers wrote: "President Obama went to Arlington Cemetery to lay the wreath last year, but this year Obama's handing the wreath to Plugs and heading off to the more welcoming political climes of Chicago." Powers later added: "Obama will however make it back to Washington in time to honor Paul McCartney next week. Boy, I'm starting to think that West Point speech wasn't from the heart."
OTHER PRESIDENTS WHO HAVE SKIPPED ARLINGTON MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES:
Posted at The Conservative Media blogspot:
"In 1983 Deputy Secretary of Defense W. Paul Thayer laid a wreath at Arlington Cemetery during the Memorial Day ceremony, according to a May 31, 1983, Washington Post article. The AP reported that President Reagan attended a "summit meeting in Williamsburg, Va., with leaders of the industrialized democracies.
Vice President Dan Quayle laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, according to a May 26, 1992, Boston Globe article. The Globe reported that President George H.W. Bush attended a wreath-laying ceremony and made brief remarks at an American Legion hall in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he also played a round of golf."
"I guarantee this; Soldiers, Sailors and Marines killed in battle are not just buried at Arlington, and their ultimate sacrifice is just as great as those buried at Arlington." --Blogger Kevin Shopshire at The Conservative Media
THE FACTS:
Obama to honor troops in Chicago ceremony while Biden attends Arlington ceremony
AP: Obama "scheduled to participate in a Memorial Day ceremony" in Illinois; Biden to lay wreath in Arlington National Cemetery.
A May 24 Associated Press article reported that during a "long holiday weekend in Chicago," Obama "is scheduled to participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill."
The article further reported, "Vice President Joe Biden will participate in the customary wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington."
MR. OBAMA WILL PARTICIPATE IN MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES HONORING OUR MILITARY DEAD BY ATTENDING A WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL CEMETARY FOR VETERANS.
President George HW Bush attended NO ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetary on Memorial Day during his four years as president.
During his 8 years as president, President Ronald Reagan MISSED FOUR SERVICES at Arlington National Cemetary because he was not in Washington DC on Memorial Day.
President Bill Clinton in 8 years never missed a Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetary.
Source: Snopes.com
