PrintMay 5, 2011
Obama snubs 9/11 families at Ground Zero today
Today President Obama is traveling to Ground Zero to commemorate the killing of Osama Bin Laden. What is President Obama's purpose in going to Ground Zero if he could not be bothered to meet or invite all the 9/11 families who lost loved ones there? Many families are devastated and saddened about being left out and do not understand why that occurred. I was at Ground Zero on September 11th, 2009 and can emphatically state that not one family member is ever denied access to that sacred area. Numbers or space is not an excuse for turning away family members that have sacrificed and endured the loss of their loved ones this past ten years.
The Obama representative responded that "In consultation with the National 9/11 Memorial staff, we invited a group of 9/11 family members who we believe represents a cross section of family members from various 9/11 organizations. The President looks forward to spending time visiting with the families of those who were tragically killed on 9/11." Well, Mr. President, not all the families just the ones handpicked. At least the family members should be allowed to come to Ground Zero to be recognized, especially if the President is going to say a few words.
Those left out include the mom of a ten year old boy who was invited as well as the husband of an elderly couple that have gone to every 9/11 event together. The Obama representative was contacted by Americanthinker.com and he responded that if given the names he would correct the mistake. A few hours later the couple called me to inform me they were allowed to come.
Debra Burlingame who lost her brother, the pilot of Flight77, was invited to a separate Pentagon ceremony but declined to go since she sees this as "all about photographs. Our presence there is just a prop. If they really wanted to do something for the families they would make sure they were respectful to ALL the families." Another family member said she did not think she was invited because she was "not part of the ‘in crowd.'" Gary and Judy Reiss are extremely upset that they were never notified. They are dumbfounded over how the choices were made and feel that "it is a horrific slap in the face that every family member who lost a loved was invited. I am livid over this."
President George W. Bush's representative commented that the former President declined the invitation to attend Thursday's ceremony because he "has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight. He continues to celebrate with all Americans this important victory in the war on terror."
Maybe President Obama should be sensitive to the 9/11 families instead of worrying about how the Muslim community views the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
