Obama lowers White House flag

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Hill

President Obama has ordered flags at the White House and other public buildings to fly at half-staff after mounting criticism over the delay in honoring five armed forces members killed last week by a gunman.

Obama's proclamation calls for the flags to remain at half-mast through Saturday “as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 16.”

“Our thoughts and prayers as a Nation are with the service members killed last week in Chattanooga. We honor their service. We offer our gratitude to the police officers and first responders who stopped the rampage and saved lives,” Obama said in a presidential proclamation released Tuesday.

“We draw strength from yet another American community that has come together with an unmistakable message to those who would try to do us harm: We do not give into fear. You cannot divide us. And you will not change our way of life.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/248646-obama-lowers-white-house-flag

[KamaAina]

1. In other words, he caved in.

As has been discussed in several threads, there is no expectation that the flag will be lowered for soldiers killed in the line of duty. Hell, it would have been at half-mast for Bush*'s entire two terms!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026993966#post13

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026994471#post1

[Hulk]

3. Exactly!

The reich wing is looking for ANYTHING to hang over the head of this President. Such bad losers.

[Eleanors38]

8. That GOP dynamic of bully>kowdown works like an old Kenmore appliance. Every time.

[840high]

2. The 5 marines deserve this respect.

[Demit]

14. Four marines, one sailor.

[dbackjon]

5. Maybe because the shooter

was off his meds, psychotic, suicidal, and maybe no different than Adam Lanza, et al

[Demit]

15. Because they haven't determined that's what it was.

If you have inside information of some sort that will help the FBI, you should share it with them.

[bluestateguy]

6. I'm sure that will appease all of his critics and they'll be nicer now

nt

[KamaAina]

10. No, that thread is about the Capitol flags.

Wrong end of Pennsylvania Ave.

[OKNancy]

11. oops... good thing I screwed up and forgot to lock it.

[TwilightGardener]

9. It's the appropriate thing to do. I believe it's been done for other terror attacks and shootings

on service personnel in this country, this is no different.

[maxsolomon]

13. Let's do the same for citizen victims of mass shootings as well.

Oh, right: then we could never raise it from half-staff.

[Chakaconcarne]

12. Geezus... You should have seen FOX news yesterday perseverating for atleast hour over this.....

F'in ridiculous....

Why do I think they won't report on this... or claim that it was there reporting that forced the dropping of the flag.

[onehandle]

16. This was domestic terrorism by an American wielding a Weapon Of Mass Destruction.

Time for Homeland Security to step up and focus on gun culture.

AK-47s with 30 round magazines should not be anywhere near possible to be obtained.

[ThoughtCriminal]

17. This weeks phony outrage - Obama took too long.

But I remember a few years ago when some Republicans were outraged when flags were flown at half-mast for soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan because they felt it was disrespectful to President Bush. Not kidding.