The U.S. media wondered why President Obama was missing. Nearly four million Paris marchers and heads of states were were chanting, ?Je suis Charlie.? They were honoring the murdered journalists who worked at the magazine that was attacked, ?Charlie Hebdo.
FOX News wants to know. CNN’s host of ?The Lead With Jake Tapper? and chief Washington correspondent wants to know, too.
Even former speaker of the House of Representatives and Republican presidential contender, Newt Gingrich, wants to know.?Gingrich took advantage of the situation to call the president a coward.
Fox News’ media great Greta Van Susteran’s tweet went viral. She wrapped a public apology to the French people around a zinging criticism of President Obama.
The French media had a different take. They reported that Obama was slammed by the U.S. media. Reuters said:
“The fact Obama was not at the march appeared to gain little immediate traction in France on a day dedicated to unity.
One French TV commentator said the president’s visit would have been unthinkable given the level of security that accompanies him at home and abroad.
French news channels have prominently featured Obama’s expressions of solidarity with France, as well as Kerry’s remarks in French last week condemning the attacks.”
The U.S. sent its ambassador to France, Jane Hartley, as its representative. Attorney General Eric Holder represented the U.S. in the Parish security meetings.
And CBSNews reported about Kerry:
“I want to emphasize that the relationship with France is not about one day or one particular moment, it’s an ongoing, long-time relationship that is deeply, deeply based in the shared values and particularly the commitment that we share, freedom of expression,” Kerry said.
The White House will hold a summit on February 18th representing its partner nations. The goal is to prevent extremists from recruiting and radicalizing followers in the U.S. and in other countries.
