Dreadful: Obama’s Ambassador a No-Show, Snubs Historic Gala Dinner in London for Ronald Reagan’s Centenary on Fourth of July
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on July 6, 2011
In London, the 10-foot bronze statue of Ronald Reagan honoring his legacy and help in ending the Cold War was unveiled
Another day, another Obama administration snub against our British allies.
And against Ronald Reagan.
No explanation has been offered as to why Obama’s hand-picked United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, Louis B. Susman, was MIA at the important gala dinner event in the UK that paid tribute to Reagan’s legacy. This week marked the unveiling of a new bronze statue of Reagan in London, honoring his memory for helping to end the Cold War. This year, the beloved former president would have celebrated his 100th birthday.
But, no ambassador.
Perhaps Susman blew off the Reagan centennial dinner because, like Obama did last July when he snubbed attending the Boy Scouts’ 100th Jamboree anniversary, Susman had an interview scheduled with the harrigans at “The View.”
But no one from the White House is yet saying a word about Susman’s dreadful absence — either they’re still working on a cover story or are likely hoping that after a few news cycles, no one will remember.
Or, they’ll somehow blame George W. Bush.
From the London Evening Standard, The Missing US Ambassador at the feast for Ronald Reagan:
Last night’s Guildhall dinner in honour of Ronald Reagan’s centenary was a truly glittering and warm occasion.
The British roasted lamb and the sunny Californian chardonnay evoked the close Anglo-US relationship of Reagan and Thatcher as much as the fine speeches by Condi Rice and William Hague.
But guests were left asking, where on earth was the American ambassador to London, Louis B Susman?
“Our ambassador should be here,” said Lynn de Rothschild, the American entrepreneur who is married to Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and was one of Hillary Clinton’s key fundraisers in 2008 as well as a supporter of several Republican presidential candidates. “This was an historic dinner to mark Reagan’s centenary and to celebrate him as the man who ended the Cold War. What could not be more important?
“Why is our ambassador not here on Independence Day? No excuse. How is it that America is not represented in this room by our ambassador? It is appalling that no representative of our government is in this room. This has the feel of petty partisanship.”
Ambassador Susman is, of course, a long-standing Democrat fundraiser, nicknamed the vaccuum cleaner for his skill at sucking donations out of the wealthy. And his efforts to fill Obama’s campaign pockets was said by many to be his main qualification to come to London.
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And where was he? The embassy won’t say.
Ambassador Louis Susman, missing in action at Reagan dinner in London
From Wizbang, Obama flips a symbolic bird at Ronald Reagan:
In England no less where folks gathered to honor The Gipper and his legacy:
This weekend, as America celebrated Independence Day, a statue of President Ronald Reagan was unveiled in London. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and others were on hand for the dedication. The bronze statue sits in the same park as a statue dedicated to the memory of Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was dedicated in 1989 by the Iron Lady herself, Margaret Thatcher. The Reagan statue is part of the world-wide celebrations celebrating the centennial of Reagan’s birth.
That night, a dinner was held in honor of Reagan. It capped a day of events that celebrated the life and extraordinary achievements of the 40th President of the United States. Yet, missing from the dinner – clearly the biggest event of the day – was United States Ambassador Louis Susman. While he did host a VIP breakfast that morning, Susman was absent from the grandest event, where speeches were given and the memory of Reagan was put forth – reminding everyone of his impact, and his legacy.
From Nice Deb, US Ambassador to the United Kingdom AWOL For Dinner Honoring Reagan:
Tongues are wagging in London over the absence of the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Louis B Susman, at the dinner celebrating Ronald Reagan’s centenary. Some are seeing it as a blatant snub.
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Susman had attended other grand centenary events, but according to the US embassy spokesman: “Ambassador Susman was pleased to be invited to the dinner but was unable to attend.”
Thus far, that has been the only explanation for his absence.
H/t to Maggie’s Notebook for this video of Margaret Thatcher on the economic devastation of socialism. These brief exchanges took place during Thatcher’s last speech in the House of Commons on November 22, 1990. What a grand, strong woman who — like Reagan — understood free market principles and the false promises of socialism.
From PJ Tatler, Screw Reagan!:
President Barack Obama has shown, over the past 2 and a half years, an amazing amount of contempt for Great Britain. From the earliest days in the White House, Obama sent the bust of Winston Churchill packing. He traded gifts with the Royal Family, giving them ipods of all things. Then, the lack of manners and customary protocol in the quasi-groping of the Queen by the First Lady. A possible simple mistake, but a lack of protocol and respect nonetheless. Fast forward a few years, and you have the worst toast in the history of the world, again showing his lack of manners and protocol – but now showing an odd willingness not to care about such things in regard to England.
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From all reports, Susman was not sick, stricken with illness or involved in a really intense game of Farmville. He simply didn’t show up, as the representative of the United States, to an event honoring one of the greatest presidents in US history. Susman didn’t show up to honor the long standing relationship that the US and Great Britain have; one that solidified in World War II, and was made stronger through the Cold War and its eventual end — and end that was percipitated by the man they were there to honor! The event itself served British lamb and California chardonnay…not a coincidence, but a reminder of that relationship.
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This says it all. The event wasn’t about politics, or partisanship. It was about the recognition that the world is a better place because Ronald Reagan helped make it a better place. Not just for Republicans or Conservatives, but for all people, in every corner of the world.
Obama doesn’t care about that, and the skipping of the event by Susman proves it. Obama is beyond partisan. He is a manipulative ideologue. And Susman’s no-show at the event speaks very loud and very clear. It says, “Screw Reagan.”
We say, “2012.”
People posing for photos with new Reagan statue in front of the US Embassy in London
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