The euphoria over the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs has begun to dissipate--much to the chagrin of those who have used this game-changing event as a way to promote the presidency of Barack Obama.
[See photos of reactions to Osama bin Laden's death.]
Obama and his national security team certainly deserve kudos for putting an end to his particular reign of terror. Nevertheless it seems that the president’s allies have been working overtime trying to lock down for him the credit for the kill.
From the shouts of “Obama Got Osama” in Lafayette Park the night the news was announced to the more serious think pieces analyzing just how the operation was conceived and executed it seems there has been a constant and ongoing effort to make sure Obama’s stamp--and no one else’s--is on the operation. [See a transcript of Obama's speech on bin Laden death.]
In the political context this reflects the perception by the president’s own allies that his performance in office has been weak--as reflected by the general state of the U.S. economy. Good news, any good news, is being hashed to death in an effort to rebuild his image--which has suffered mightily from his mismanagement of the federal government and his record-setting federal spending spree. [See a slide show of six potential terrorist targets.]
For its part the White House has been remarkably reserved. There’s no “Mission Accomplished” banner hanging from the Truman Balcony overlooking the south lawn. If it were up to Obama’s media lapdogs, it is easy to believe, there would be. And they would applaud it, perhaps even give it a standing “O.”
- See photos of reactions to Osama bin Laden's death.
- See a slide show of six potential terrorist targets.
- See a transcript of Obama's speech on bin Laden death.
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troy of MI 7:00PM May 12, 2011
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