Boy Scout Jamboree’s 100th Anniversary vs. ‘The View’: Boy Scouts Lose, Obama to Appear with Daytime TV Harpies
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on July 28, 2010
Norman Rockwell's 'A Scout Is Helpful' appeared on the cover of Boys' Life magazine in 1941... click image to enlarge
Priorities, man, priorities… at least POTUS isn’t blowing off the Boy Scout Jamboree’s historic 100th anniversary celebration for something lame or self-absorbed like golf or a vacation or a Paul McCartney concert. It’s “The View”!
There will be other historical centennials, right?
On a positive note, Obama will get some good old-fashioned lefty flattery, drooling, and swooning from the “he’s so dreamy!” liberal harpies on “The View.” Hopefully, none of them will become so frenzied that they throw their panties at their rock star prez… ewww.
And with his approval ratings dropping faster than Democrat US Senate candidate Jeff Greene’s luxury yacht’s anchor that destroyed a fragile coral reef in Belize, the president desperately needs this ego-boosting pick-me-up on national TV.
I’m not angry or surprised about the president not attending the BSA Jamboree centennial. I frankly never expected him to attend in the first place. Even George W. Bush missed one Jamboree during his time in office… due to inclement weather. The View vs. bad weather… all the same in the hopenchange era.
From FOX News, Obama Missing Historic Boy Scout Jamboree for Fundraisers, ‘View’ Taping:
President Obama will make history as the first sitting president on a daytime talk show when he visits with the ladies of “The View.” But he’ll be missing out on another historic occasion — the Boy Scouts’ Jamboree marking the group’s 100th anniversary, right in the president’s backyard.
The Jamboree kicked off this week at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, where organizers had invited the president to speak to the 45,000 scouts in attendance. All three of Obama’s predecessors have made it to one Jamboree while in office.
But the president will instead be traveling Wednesday to New York for a taping of the ABC show, as well as Democratic fundraisers and a stop in New Jersey. The talk show appearance comes as campaign season moves into full swing, but also amid efforts to cap the Gulf oil spill for good, contain the damage from an unprecedented leak of Afghanistan war documents and battle Arizona over its immigration law — set to go into effect Thursday. Obama also has an out-of-town event planned for Friday in Detroit.
But while the Jamboree lasts until next Tuesday, the president is sending his regards via a videotaped message.
Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith said the organization knew Obama’s invitation would hinge on his schedule and found out two months ago that he would not be able to attend.
“It just depends on his schedule,” he said, adding that “there’s always a spot” available for the president during the Jamboree. Obama also serves as honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America.
The White House said Tuesday that the fundraisers, not the TV appearance, prevented the president from attending.
“We were always going to be out of town that day,” Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer told FoxNews.com in an e-mail. “It was never canceled.”
The Boy Scouts released a statement acknowledging that Obama has hosted Boy Scouts groups in the Oval Office twice since taking office.
“We thank the president for his effort to recognize scouting and look forward to working with his administration as we work toward accomplishing our mission of preparing young people to become exceptional adults,” the group said.
The Jamboree is held once every four years. This year’s festivities mark the organization’s 100-year anniversary — scouts are scheduled to visit Washington, D.C., and other regional attractions in connection with the celebration.
Every president is typically invited, though not all are able to attend. Obama’s three predecessors each made it to one Jamboree in person. President George W. Bush spoke in 2005, President Bill Clinton in 1997 and President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
Though Obama typically reserves his exclusive interviews for network and cable news shows, he appeared on “The View” as a candidate. “The View” is hosting the president as part of its “Red, White & View” series highlighting political guests. Creator and co-host Barbara Walters said Obama’s appearance, along with the past appearance of First Lady Michelle Obama, shows “The View” can play the role of news source.
“This shows that both the president and first lady feel that our show is an influential and important source of information and news,” she said in a written statement.
But Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a fellow Democrat, scoffed at the idea of a president appearing on such a show.
“I think the president should be accessible, should answer questions that aren’t pre-screened, but I think there should be a little bit of dignity to the presidency,” Rendell told MSNBC, at one point comparing “The View” to “The Jerry Springer Show.”
From NewsBusters, Obama Snubs Boy Scouts’ 100th Anniversary in Favor of ‘The View’:
President Barack Obama, the honorary chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, will not speak in-person before the group on Wednesday at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, as part of the organization’s 100th anniversary celebration. However, the president is sending a videotaped message to the scouts for Wednesday, the same day he will be in Manhattan to tape an appearance for ABC TV’s talk show “The View.”
Bob Dries, chairman of national news and media at the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree – a gathering that happens every four years and attracts thousands of scouts from around the world – told CNSNews.com that the organization was told on Monday that the president had scheduling conflicts and would not be speaking in-person at the week-long event.
The BSA had scheduled its Wednesday arena program to include remarks by the president at 11 a.m. in front of the more than 45,000 scouts who will be in attendance.
From Dallas Morning News, Will Obama enjoy The View?:
I think it’s fine for the president to make the occasional appearance on Letterman, Leno, even daytime TV. But right now, plenty of voters are so frustrated with the economy, the BP disaster, the national debt, immigration, and more. I’m not sure that seeing laidback Obama on The View’s couch is exactly what they’re seeking from the president. Plus, I think that just watching an entire hour of “The View” is painful. As president, I can’t imagine agreeing to endure an hour of being on “The View.”
From Gateway Pundit, Obama Will Skip Boy Scout 100 Year Anniversary Jamboree – Will Appear on “The View” That Day Instead:
Barack Obama will skip the Boy Scout 100 year Anniversary Jamboree…
Instead he will travel to New York City to appear on “The View.”
Maybe they’ll call him “sexy” again?
From Weasel Zippers:
The Boy Scouts are better off not having this worm at their event…
From The Lonely Conservative, Boy Scouts Don’t Vote:
Couldn’t he have re-scheduled the appearance on The View? His people said it’s not the appearance on The View causing him to dis the Boy Scouts, it’s the campaign events. But still, couldn’t those have been rescheduled also? It’s not like every day the Boy Scouts celebrate their 100th anniversary. Then it dawned on me, Boys Scouts can’t vote. So Obama has no time for them. For him, it’s all about retaining power. But hey, he’ll be there in spirit and a pre-taped speech (probably off the old teleprompter) will be aired for their enjoyment.
Sorry kids, the President isn’t that into you. Maybe I’m wrong. Who knows, maybe he just feels guilty about the debt he’s saddling you with and can’t face you. Whatever the reason, we know where his priorities lie.
From Cassy Fiano, Campaigner-in-Chief Snubs The Boy Scouts 100 Year Anniversary Jamboree For An Appearance On The View:
Now, I could understand Obama not attending if he was doing some actual, you know, governing. But he isn’t. He’s blowing off the Boy Scouts — 45,000 American boys — in favor of the women of The View. And it isn’t even a live appearance, it’s a taped appearance. You’re telling me there’s no way he could have rescheduled his pre-taped appearance on The View to make time for the organization that has built the character of millions of American boys? I don’t know. Maybe Obama would just feel uncomfortable around thousands of boys who genuinely love God and country.
[...]
He loves the perks of the job, he loves his celebrity status, but he doesn’t actually want to do anything. He’d rather hang out with celebrities than honor 48 Medal of Honor recipients. He’d rather go to parties and play golf than clean up the oil spill in the Gulf. And he’d rather play celebrity on The View than attend the Boy Scout 100 Year Anniversary Jamboree.
An excellent essay at On My Watch – Writings of SamHenry: Congress: The “Look and Feel” of Unethical Behavior… check it out. Also worthwhile reading at Conservative Pup: The American President Visits With Dignitaries Joy Behar And Barbara Walters: A First For The Nation!
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[...] My View On Obama and The View. Today marks 100 days since the oil started gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. There are hundreds of thousands of mommies and daddies, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who are currently wearing… Boy Scout Jamboree&39;s 100th Anniversary Vs &39;The View&39;: Boy Scouts [...]
[...] My View On Obama and The View. Today marks 100 days since the oil started gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. There are hundreds of thousands of mommies and daddies, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who are currently wearing… Boy Scout Jamboree&39;s 100th Anniversary Vs &39;The View&39;: Boy Scouts [...]
[...] it. For the first time in history, a sitting United. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and others sayObama On The View – Thursday marks either a momentous occasion worthy of celebration or the end of civilization as we [...]
45,000 future voters, plus their leaders, their parents and other family members may well cost him 200,000 votes. Hooray.
Boy Scout Jamboree's 100th Anniversary vs. 'The View': Boy Scouts ……
My father in law was a Boy Scout scoutmaster for almost 30 years. The number of Eagle Scouts to come out of his troop is astounding. He’s retired now, but is in favor of not subjecting such steadfast young men to O’s pandering, America degrading speech.
Although I do not agree with Obama’s decision to not attend the jamboree, when I attended the 2005 Jamboree Bush never showed up.
Tim, you must be remembering incorrectly. This is from CNS News:
The news site also has a photo of Bush shaking hands with Scouts at the Jamboree. He didn’t attend in 2001 because of bad weather – neither the 2001 or 2005 Jamborees, however, were the 100th anniversary, as this one was with Obama. Missing the centennial to be on The View and attend two Democrat fundraisers seem even more UNpresidential. If it weren’t the 100th anniversary, I think more people would have been more forgiving.
Two of my sons were at the 2005 National Jamboree and saw President Bush speak. His people cancelled the first appearance at the opening ceremonies due to weather conditions, however, he rescheduled and made it to the closing ceremonies. If anyone hasn’t seen the clip of Obama’s ‘message’ to the scouts it’s posted on the jamboree website – 1 minute 34 seconds – that’s all the time he had for the scouts.
I try to teach my children to respect the office of the president whether we agree with the policies that come out of it or not. It’s a job that is getting harder for me as I see what is and is not important to this administration.
By missing the Boy Scouts Jamboree, the proud female parents of the boys could not beam with pride that the President of The United States met with their sons. I pray that he changes his mind and visits the boys before they break camp.
My son is currently attending the Jamboree. He was so excited about the events that have been YEARS in the making, and is having the time of his life. He is, however, disappointed that the POTUS would not find the time to make an appearance. His words to me last night were to the effect of, \well, Obama did send a video with some fake speech someone else wrote for him.\ Out of the mouths of babes. I am personally glad my Eagle Scout and his friends were not subjected to a speech by a President who would rather be somewhere else, as that may have been worse. Too bad Mr. Obama does not seem to have the same priorities as the hundreds of thousands of Boy Scouts, their parents, leaders, and family members. The Boy Scout Oath has this line: -To do my duty to God and my Country… Mr. Obama could learn from this group of future leaders.
Well said, Kristina.
My 2 boys and I attended the Scout jamboree on Saturday. I’m unemployed and can’t afford this but you only get one chance in a LIFETIME to go to something like this! Most of the boys didn’t seem interested in the canned speech. But when Mike Rowe came on stage in a front end loader the crowd went nuts! Having been a scout Mike Rowe GOT IT! HELLO, 100th anniversary? B.S.A. put on a great show! If you weren’t there you missed out! My boys are proud to be scouts (Pack 1 & Troop 1, Lewes, De) and I feel safe in knowing that there were 100,000 boys there that will be the futures LEADERS if we have a future left!
What a wonderful memory for your sons, Bill! A centennial happens only once… something Barack Obama obviously doesn’t know or doesn’t really care about.
And while it’s doubtful that in the hundreds of memories your boys will form from attending the Boy Scout Jamboree that they will remember that the president didn’t attend because he was too busy appearing on a stupid daytime talk show and going to two Democrat campaign fundraisers, I’m sure that many parents of Boy Scouts across the country WILL remember.
A centennial or “The View”? Yeah, the president has made his priorities pretty clear… on the other hand, Mike Rowe (he’s on the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs,” for those who don’t know of Rowe) has just taken a huge leap on my “thumbs up approval list.”
I attended the Jamboree as a Life Scout. I don’t think it was fair that Obama ignored 45, 000 scouts just to be on the view and attentend 2 fundraisers. He could have done those things at any times. He missed out on the one and only 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts. We serve our country as good men and leaders for America. International Scouts, Venture, and Sea Scout Crews went also. I think that his “prior commitments” were a bunch of made up baloney. I am courteous, but I think Obama made a stupid choice and he is a jerk. I won’t vote for him again or support. I barely liked him before the Jamboree, but now I hate him. He doesn’t care about the Scouts who served his country.
That Scout, I don’t know you but being a Scout leader I know that you already have better leadership skills than Obummer. I feel that this country NEEDS a LEADER! Hmmm, maybe we need a Scout! At least we would know what his beliefs were up front. At least we know that his duty would be to God and country and that he would help people in need not ignore them. Good luck to you on your Eagle Scout project, I would say good luck in the future but being a Scout there is no luck involved!
Obama’s priorities are disgusting. He would rather go on TV than meet with the Boy Scouts on the 100th anniversary of Jamboree. He thinks he’s a rock star and meeting with the Boy Scouts means little to him. Sitting and laughing with Whoopi Goldberg and that horrible Joy whats her name is his idea of being the leader of the United States of America. What a misguided, immature, self absorbed man. One big awful mistake America.