Friday, January 9, 2015

President Obama's 'Hilarious' Comments on #CharlieHebdo at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee — UPDATE: Video Added

You know, there are times when leadership requires that we not make light of grave circumstances. President Obama was horribly disrespectful of those killed in France in his remarks today from Knoxville. He joked about college, had the audience all laughing hardy har har. And as soon as his comments were completed --- not even 5 seconds after he'd finished speaking on France --- he broke into another round of jokes.

Sometimes, in some moments, the circumstances call for solemnity. Today is one of those times.

Here's the president's statement delivered today from Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, via the Guardian UK:


“The United States stands with France,” President Barack Obama has said in a speech from Tennessee, cautioning “the French government needs to stay vigilant” as it confronts new threats.

“Events have been fast moving, I just spoke to my counterterrorism advisor, we have been in close touch with the French government. … Since the moment that this tragedy began we directed all of our enforcement and counterterrorism to providing whatever our ally needs.

“We’re hopeful that the immediate threat is now resolved [but] the French government needs to stay vigilant, the situation is fluid.”

Obama then made a broader remarks about what the attacks mean for the France and US going forward:

“France is our oldest ally. I want people of France to know that the United States stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have been directly impacted. We grieve with you. We fight alongside you to uphold our values, the values that we share – universal values that bind us together as friends and as allies.

“In the streets of Paris, the world has seen once again what terrorists stand for. The have nothing to offer but hatred and suffering. We stand for freedom and hope and the dignity of all human beings. That is what the city of Paris represents to the world and that spirit will endure forever, long after the scourge of terrorism is banished from this world.”
UPDATE: Obama speaks after the Bidens, at about 18 minutes, and then tries out a few jokes before attempting, but failing, to be serious about the terrorist attacks in France.

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