where was barack yesterday?

[madrchsod]

i guess when he has nothing to say no one notices if he`s gone......


DEKALB, IL -- The outpouring of aid and sympathy after a deadly shooting at Northern Illinois University should remind those struggling with the tragedy that they are not islands and not alone, the school's president said at a memorial service Sunday.....


Others who spoke during the service were DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, who said he was speaking for the entire Illinois congressional delegation....


Illinois' other senator -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama -- sat onstage during the proceedings but did not make any remarks. Afterward, he met quietly with the family of at least one victim".


http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/national_world&id=5979922
abc13.com: Community gathers to remember NIU victims in Illinois 2/25/08

[NightWatcher]

1. why open his mouth when he's winning? I'd be quiet for the next week and let Hillary sink herself

[babylonsister]

2. Thanks for this; it wasn't all about him, was it. Nice. nt

[Occam Bandage]

3. Are you seriously bashing Barack Obama for taking time off from campaigning

to attend a memorial service for a shooting?

[madrchsod]

32. no...i would never do that

he`s my senator and the next president of the usa..have to wipe the stain of reagan from illinois

[Big Blue Marble]

4. You are criticizing him for what?

Quietly consoling families. If he had spoken, the story would have been about him.
He chose to stay in the background and allow the grieving families to take centerstage
as is appropriate.

[madrchsod]

28. - it`s the media...not him .

i guess i should have made my intentions clear but it`s gd/p

[AtomicKitten]

5. Very poignant piece.

thanks for posting

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. that makes me so proud, and i'm glad he was there....n/t

[goclark]

10. He continually shows that he is class

Class vs. Noclass

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. agreed..........n/t

[thoughtcrime1984]

7. If he takes the stage there

it would be decried as politically motivated. No win situation, really. I think he did the right thing here, as he did talk to victims' families afterward.

[MoJoWorkin]

8. Are you making a criticism of him for having the good sense to not make it about him?

A speech by him would have been seen as grandstanding by some. He was there to pay his respects. What he did was very appropriate.

[Renew Deal]

9. If he spoke it would be seen as political.

He did the right thing, obviously.

[dana_b]

21. Definitely

when something this tragic happens, all politics need to be left at the door.

[global1]

11. This Was A Wonderful Gesture By Obama To Take Time From This.....

close primary race to pay respects to those students,their families and friends in person. I also think that it was smart of him not to speak to the gathering. He didn't want to become the story here and take the focus away from the mourning. But as an Illinois Senator - he knew he had to be there.

[jenmito]

12. Very classy of him! Hillary would've given a speech to make it about HER and she'd "remind"

people of how this is just a reminder of how a president has to be prepared for anything on day one. :eyes:

[Faygo Kid]

14. If this is meant as criticism, it is the worst I have yet seen here. Thanks for posting.

Based on your previous posts, I think you actually did mean this as criticism.

Which makes this the single most obtuse post in the history of DU.

[madrchsod]

24. no a criticism of the media not obama

[Barack_America]

15. I think it says a lot about him to not overshadow the event.

It was a classy move.

I'm sure others would have used it as a forum to preach about gun control.

[scheming daemons]

16. Thanks for the positive news story..... Hillary would've grabbed that microphone with both hands...

...and wouldn't have let go.



Obama.... pure class.

[DUyellow]

30. shutup

[taught_me_patience]

17. This was a very classy

It's nice to see someone pay respects and not grandstand.

[Perky]

It was completely classy. He isa state official he should be there

he took time out from the rigors of the campaign to attend a memorial service for his constituents. Completly appropriate. If had uttered a word some would no doubt accuse him of pandering.


Ya done good Obama

[Perky]

18. It was completely classy. He isa state official he should be there

he took time out from the rigors of the campaign to attend a memorial service for his constituents. Completly appropriate. If had uttered a word some would no doubt accuse him of pandering.


Ya done good Obama

[MadBadger]

19. Please tell us if you are really are classless enough to be criticizing him here.

[madrchsod]

29. no i`m not

[Recursion]

20. Awesome; I'm really impressed

That was classy and the right thing to do

[DS1]

22. OP shortly after posting

[madrchsod]

23. i was trying to point out that

each day there`s always this or that about both candidates...so i found it interesting that nothing was posted or even mentioned here yesterday or even the main stream media.

i`m sorry if i did`t make my intentions clear but i think that he handled himself with class and dignity. no one informed anyone in the press where he was going and when there he said nothing to distract what was really important to the people of illinois.

[psychopomp]

26. Thank you, hadn't seen that

[redqueen]

27. Thanks for posting it...

I wouldn't have known.

[madrchsod]

31. i just got back...have some explain`n to do...

... dekalb is a few miles away and we know some kids who were in the next hall...

[TheDonkey]

25. Good for Obama for showing up. I was surprised by that and of course no mention on the MSM

He didn't really need to speak and turn this into an "Obama" event but the MSM could have sent some crews down just like they do when Bush is doing this sort of thing and they fawn over him.

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. I think the absence of the press was by design....

shows what a classy guy Obama is. He didn't want to turn this occasion into a media circus, and I applaud him for that.