The atmosphere, though, I found a bit creepy.
Here's the introduction by, I don't know who.
"We are truly honored to have the leader of our great nation with us here tonight. (cheering) We are obviously saddened by the circumstances that bring President and Mrs. Obama to Tucson. But we are comforted [shout-out] we are comforted by their compassion and we are inspired by their determination to reach out and help. America has been blessed through its glorious history by visionary and comitted presidents, who -- often at great personal sacrifice, step forward to lead us to better futures and greater hope. Barack Obama assumed the Presidency at a perilous time in our history. We are fortunate to have someone with his intellect, his energy, and his heart, to lead us forward PLEASE WELCOME -- [wild cheering starts to build] the PRESIDENT of the United States, Barack Obama." [Cheering builds to a frenzied crescendo]Nope. Sorry. It sounds like the President is about to speak at an award ceremony in his own honor.
In his defense, the President did keep it to a subdued "Thank you - thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you."
Here is how the president should be introduced at a memorial service:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States." Nothing more, nothing less.
Whoever decided to do this instead did it wrong.
The appropriate response should perhaps be brief polite applause, if anything.
Take away the introduction and the inappropriate response of the crowd, and it was indeed a great speech. A bit long. Half an hour.
Here's the video.
If you want to look at how I think things ought to be handled at such an event ... look no further than our last president, at Virgina Tech.
Say what you want about the man, he knew decorum was called for. 6 minute speech. Long enough to have made an official appearance and say some words ... short enough to show the event was not about him.
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