OK, now that I ranted about the complaints about Obama’s response time, I’d like to do a simple compare and contrast on the way Obama responds.

Let’s go back to the “beer summit.”  Obama’s friend, Prof. Gates, was involved in an altercation at his home with the police.  He was arrested, and Obama said the police “behaved stupidly” before he admittedly had all the facts.  But when given the clear facts (terrorist blows off his crotch in front of a hundred witnesses or soldier kills fellow soldiers in front of witnesses on a military institution), Obama continues to use “allegedly” and other lawyer speak. 

Let’s go back to when Obama was pushing his health care agenda.  A woman asked him about her grandmother who had a pacemaker put in at 100 years old — how would his agenda treat her?  He basically said she might just have to take a pill.  However, when asked by a doctor if Obama would pledge to abide by the same rules as everyone else once health care was reformed, he pretty much said no.

Let’s jump back to present time.  When the Christmas day attack happened, Obama’s staff didn’t inform him for three hours.  Then, it took him three days to issue a mealy-mouthed response.  And this was after everyone was once again on edge after another Nigerian on the same flight the next day acted in a similar fashion, although that man only seemed to have explosive … well, I won’t complete that.  I’m just saying people were on edge.  And he gave us more lawyer speak and it seemed to be another day at the office to him.  But what happens when his friend’s kid is injured and taken to the hospital?  Well, Obama is immediately informed and immediately leaves the golf course to attend to the matter. 

Now, I know that we all have different responses to situations when they involve our families vs. strangers.  But we didn’t seek out and win the job of leader of this country.  People around the world look to him as a symbol of our country and an indication of our strength.  And he basically treats the terrorist attack like a nuisance keeping him from his outdoor activities.  I mean, we’re even hearing that the administration’s first thought was to try to show the public how badly Bush treated similar situations.  Bush?  Really?  C’mon! 

At least Obama has succeeded in one thing with this debacle.  The wool is being pulled from the eyes of even some of his most ardent supporters, and Obama was forced to make a second, more forceful (still tieless) statement. 

Too little, too late, Mr. President.