Is there a 'debunk' of Obama skips medal of honor ball? Typical

[BR_Parkway]

Reich Wing garbage email making the rounds - the guy who sent it was dumb enough to give me almost 300 addresses to Reply All with a correction.

[ErinBerin84]

1. There were some threads on it in

general discussion:presidential. Biden was there, I'm pretty sure.

[BR_Parkway]

3. Thanks, here is my reply if anyone's interested

More Bullshit - how typical of the right wing folks who send this stuff out to make sure everyone stays "outraged"

First Clue - no links to any actual sources, just the claim that goes around the internet.

The American Legion Ball was one of 60 balls thrown that night, but wasn't one of the 10 official Inauguration balls and here's the response from the American Legion (no link, but a direct phone number if someone wants to verify it (now why can't the shit stirrers on the right ever include things like that? oh, yeah - they just LIE to try to keep people voting for them in spite of it being against their best interests)

In answer to your inquiry:

The American Legion, as it has on every inauguration evening since 1953, hosted the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Banquet & Ball on January 20th. The quadrennial event is co-sponsored with fourteen veterans service and military service organizations and honors recipients of the Medal of Honor. Forty-seven of these heroes attended this year's event which was held in the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel.

President Obama was invited but did not attend. Vice-President Joe Biden did appear, however, and was very warmly received. The new President's absence was understandable considering the unprecedented logistical challenges presented by the vastly increased number of visitors to this inauguration and the necessary attendant security measures. The American Legion, as an organization, does not feel offended or "snubbed."

Thank you,

Craig Roberts

Media Relations Manager

The American Legion

1608 K Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

202.263.2982 (direct)


Now, here's the link to the Official Commander-in-Chief Ball that President Obama did attend -

the wingnuts are saying Obama went out of his way to snub the military by not attending the American Legion's Medal of Honor ball.

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/8627
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/32518_Obama_Snu...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2169085/posts

So is it true that Obama decided to snub those that serve in the US armed forces during the inaugural balls last night? The answer is NO.

Actually, the American Legion web site has a picture of Obama on its front page attending the commander in chief's ball ( http://www.legion.org )

Stars and Stripes has pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Obama at the Commander in Chief's ball held at the national building museum

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=...



and Medal of Honor winners were invited and attended the commander in chiefs ball as well


By the way - when you get the "outrage" email about Obama skipping the Veteran's Inaugural Ball - it was canceled, and the individual who was organizing it got lost - along with all the ticket sales of $385 per ticket

Hopefully - the Navy Times and Fox News are good enough sources for you:

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_vetsball_missingorganizer_011909w/

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/19/report-veterans-inaugural-ball-canceled-organizer-disappears/


So, during the past 7-8 years that you've been forwarding me these type of "outrage" emails - have any of them ever turned out NOT to be bullshit? NOPE - they're always lies. So, who's sending this stuff out - and what are they trying to distract you from?


Love,

[baldguy]

5. Never let the facts get in the way of a good smear.

[rfranklin]

2. iT WAS CANCELLED...

Veterans ball canceled, organizer missing

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 21, 2009 11:01:53 EST

If you bought tickets to the Veterans’ Inaugural Ball, plan on staying home.

The ball, which was to be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C., has been canceled and the promoter, Dante Hayes of the nonprofit Congressional Education Foundation for Public Policy, cannot be located for an explanation.

As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, the links on the foundation’s Web site where tickets were sold — at prices topping $385 apiece — no longer work.

The St. Regis referred questions about the canceled.... MORE

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_vetsball_missingorganizer_011909w/

[onenote]

4. Different ball -- the AMerican Legion Salute to Heroes ball was not cancelled

[backscatter712]

6. IIRC, Obama did attend the Commander In Chief ball,

and there he did honor Medal of Honor recipients, and was photographed dancing with servicemembers (as was Michelle.)