America snubs historic Paris rally: Holder was there but skipped out early, Kerry was in India, Obama and Biden just stayed home

[superbeets]

[h=1]America snubs historic Paris rally: Holder was there but skipped out early, Kerry was in India, Obama and Biden just stayed home[/h]

• German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and British PM David Cameron were among dozens of world leaders there
• Neither President Obama or Vice President Joe Biden attended the historic event, though both of their public schedules were open
• Obama told the French on Friday that 'the United States stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow' – but he didn't stand with them in Paris
• US Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris for a terrorism summit on the march's sidelines, but was not seen at the march that followed
• No cabinet secretaries or other senior officials attended, leaving only US Ambassador to France Jane Hartley as the top US official there

 

[superbeets]

President Barack Obama and other top members of his administration have snubbed a historic rally in Paris today that brought together more than 40 world leaders from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and even Russia.
'France is our oldest ally,' Obama said during a speech Friday in Tennessee. 'I want the people of France to know that the United States stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow.'
But he wasn't standing in Paris as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas put aside their differences and linked arms.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov made the same unifying gesture in the march down the Place de la Concorde in defiance of the Islamist terror attacks that rocked the city last week.
According to an administration official, President Obama spent part of his Sunday afternoon watching a National Football League game on television. Both games were broadcast hours after the march.
Heads of state from every major European power, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, joined French President Francois Hollande.
But the U.S.A. was M.I.A.

 

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MAKING A STATEMENT: World leaders walk side by side in a show of defiance and unity at a rally in response to the terror attacks that have taken place in France, including (left to right) British Prime Minister David Cameron, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French President Francois Hollande and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel

 

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The Marche Republicaine saw numerous world leaders from Europe, Africa and the Middle East link arms and walk through the streets of Paris as a show of solidarity with France

OTHER ATTENDEES: Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (second from left) Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz (third from left) EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini (fourth from left) Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary-general of the Council of Europe, (fourth from left), President of the European council Donald Tusk (third from right), Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (second from right) and Queen Rania (right) and King Abdullah II (not pictured) of Jordan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not pictured)

 

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WHERE DID HE GO? Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris on Sunday for a security summit, but did not appear alongside world leaders when they joined an anti-terrorism march in the afternoon - instead he slipped away to appear on several US morning shows

 

[superbeets]

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden remained in Washington, despite having no events on their public schedules Sunday. Secretary of State John Kerry was a world away in India, on a pre-planned trip.
Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris for a terrorism summit held on the march's sidelines, but he slipped away and made appearances on four American morning television talk shows just as the incredible rally was starting.
The US was represented at the march only by Jane Hartley, the American ambassador to France who is unrecognizable to most Americans, let alone the rest of the world.
A senior administration official was quick to point out, however, that 'Attorney General Holder – a Cabinet level official – is representing the United States at the security meetings in Paris today.'
'He is joined by the DHS Deputy Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas,' the official added in a statement to many news outlets.
'The United States is represented at the march by Ambassador Hartley.'
And 'as far as public signs of French solidarity from the U.S.,' the official concluded, 'don't forget several public statements from the president, his call to Hollande and a condolence stop to the French embassy.'
Obama went to the French embassy in Washington, D.C. on Thurdsay to pay his respects, and signed a condolence book with the rallying cry 'Vive la France!

 

[superbeets]

Holder, Obama's longest-serving cabinet member, was pictured shaking hands with French officials after the event, but he slipped away – as did Mayorgas – before the march kicked off around 3:00 p.m.
The attorney general appeared on four Sunday morning talk shows around the same time as the march, although it's unclear whether he spoke live from Paris or if his segments were pre-recorded.
The Department of Justice would not immediately comment on Holder's schedule with DailyMail.com, and a spokesperson for Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson similarly did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The White House press office also did not respond to a question seeking confirmation that the president was engrossed in the NFL playoffs on Sunday afternoon.
Vice President Joe Biden often fills in for the president at events that require White House gravitas, but he was nowhere to be seen either, despite his own empty schedule.
Among those who did attend were: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Union President Donald Tusk, Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, Queen Rania and King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov.

 

[superbeets]

Political opponents – and even some allies – were quick to criticize Obama for not showing up himself, or at least sending a senior administration official to represent him at the street-swelling rally.
An incensed former Speaker of the house Newt Gingrich vented on Twitter and told DailyMail.com that it was 'sad that 50 world leaders could show solidarity in Paris but President Obama refused to participate.'
'The cowardice continues,' Gingrich jabbed, referring to Republicans' refrain that he has shown a weak hand when dealing with terrorism overseas.
Politico reporter Ben White tweeted: 'Is it just me or does it feel like Obama should be at this big March in Paris?'
Fox News host Greta Van Susteren wrote: 'This is really embarrassing – WHERE IS PRESIDENT OBAMA? Why didn't he go?'
Obama's absence was notable as dozens of nations' show of solidarity unfolded before a global audience – especially considering his public schedule was wide open.
According to Buzzfeed, Holder left Paris after the summit to return to Washington.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry was half a world away in India, preparing for the president's upcoming trip to the south Asian country in the coming weeks.

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SKIPPED: Both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden's schedules were free today, but neither flew to Paris for the historic march. Pictured above in Clinton, Tennessee on Friday

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OUT OF TOWN: Secretary of State John Kerry could not attend the rally because he was in India, preparing for President Obama's upcoming visit to the country. Pictured above on Sunday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

 

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CNN's Jake Tapper reported that security for the march was difficult, with 2,300 police officers and paramilitary forces deployed to Paris.
The foreign dignitaries were protected with police snipers, plainclothes cops and anti-terror officers. Streets were shut down and parking was restricted.
However, the attendance of controversial heads of state like Netanyahu appeared to show that the march was well secured.
'I don't mean this as a criticism of the Obama administration,' Tapper said Sunday while reporting live from Paris, 'but just as an American I do wish that we were better represented in this beautiful procession of world leaders.'
'I'm a little disappointed, personally – this is me speaking personally, not as a representative of CNN, but as an American – that there isn't more of a display of unity here,' the host of 'The Lead' added.
CNN's Fareed Zakaria was one of the many who noticed President Obama's absence, and remarked that it was a mistake not to show up and support our 'deepest ideological ally.'
Zakaria said that it would have sent an important message to have an American face among the wold leaders.
Forbes columnist Stuart Anderson echoed Zakaria's statements, saying: 'By not attending the unity rally in Paris on Sunday, President Obama has missed an opportunity to show leadership, to demonstrate that Americans are as committed to fight against terrorism as anyone in the world.
'And that America stands with its allies in a worldwide battle that, unfortunately, is likely to last many years.'
The White House announced on Sunday that it would convene 'a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism' in February 'to highlight domestic and international efforts to prevent violent extremists and their supporters from radicalizing, recruiting, or inspiring individuals or groups in the United States and abroad to commit acts of violence.'
A statement from White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest made no specific mention of Islam, Islamist terrorism, or Muslims in general.

 

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Support: French President Francois Hollande (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) stand side by side in the march on Sunday

 

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[h=1]'We are here to support freedom. We will not be beaten': 3.7MILLION people march across France as world leaders are joined in Paris for moving tribute to 17 terror victims[/h]

• An estimated 3.7million gathered in shows of solidarity across France today in tribute to those killed by terrorists
• Unprecedented crowds were seen in Paris where millions walked the capital's streets chanting 'Je suis Charlie'
• British Prime Minister David Cameron linked arms with other world leaders to lead the proceedings this afternoon
• President Francois Hollande began the march, poignantly telling crowds: 'Today, Paris is the capital of the world'
• Elsewhere crowds gathered in major world cities, with famous monuments illuminated in the Tricolor

More than three million people gathered across France today to stage defiant marches in a moving tribute to the 17 people killed in terror attacks across the country last week.
With the majority flocking to the capital where cartoonists and passers-by were murdered by Islamic fanatics last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron joined crowds marching in their memory.
Arm in arm with President Francois Hollande and a host of other world leaders, he was among an estimated two million people marching through the city.
Elsewhere, US Attorney General Eric Holder joined officials, including Home Secretary Theresa Mary, at the Interior Ministry where talks were held about threats posed by Islamist extremism.
Standing in a front-row of world leaders near Place de la Republique shortly before 3pm, President Holland told crowds: 'Today, Paris is the capital of the world.'

 

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An estimated 3.7million people marched across France today, the majority gathering in Paris (above) to pay tribute to those killed by terrorists in a swathe of attacks across the capital last week

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As night fell in the French capital, tens of thousands of people continued marching in 'unprecedented' numbers. Today saw more people flock to the city's streets than ever before in its history

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Thousands remained in Place de la Nation this evening after some five hours of marching in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo and supermarket massacres

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Local newspapers reported the crowds as being as large as two million people, with an 'unprecedented' number of people turning out in the French capital

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Protesters wave pencils and flags at Place de la Nation as the rally continued past dusk, with chants of 'Charlie' and the national anthem ringing loudly

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Youths release green flares from the monument in Place de la Nation tonight as crowds remain in the city's streets after hours of marching

 

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As dusk fell in the French capital tens of thousands of people remained in the streets some five hours after they began

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Crowds march behind a giant black and white banner reading 'Nous sommes Charlie' (We are Charlie) as night falls on Boulevard Voltaire

 

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Emotional: French President Francois Hollande (left) comforts French columnist Patrick Pelloux (right) from satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo

 

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Decent view: People watch from their roof-top apartment as some thousands of people gather at the Place de la République

 

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Holding hands: Family members and relatives of the 17 victims take part in a solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris

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Relatives of cartoonists killed in the Charlie Hebdo offices last week wear white headbands sporting the satirical magazine's name

 

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[h=3]PAYING TRIBUTE AROUND THE WORLD: HOW OTHER WORLD CITIES REACTED TODAY TO THE ATROCITIES IN PARIS[/h]BERLIN, GERMANY: Around 18,000 people gathered in front of the French embassy next to the Brandenburg Gate. Many brought flowers or pencils and help up signs saying 'Je suis Charlie' or 'Je suis Juif' (I am a Jew). Some protesters also held up cartoons published by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and played French chansons, speaking a mixture of German, English, French, Russian and other languages.
ROME, ITALY: Thousands of people participated in a silent demonstration in front of the French Embassy, holding aloft pencils, candles and placards. A small demonstration was also held in Venice's Campo Manin, drawing many young people.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Some 20,000 people marched silently through the centre of the European Union city, despite a bomb threat which forced the evacuation of the offices of the offices of the Brussels newspaper Le Soir. Another 3,000 marched in the western city of Ghent.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Around 12.000 people joined Austrian leaders to pay homage to the victims, beginning beside the French Embassy and moving to the square next to the palace of the country's President, who also attended. The Vienna State Opera Choir sang works by Mozart and Verdi.
MADRID, SPAIN: Those gathering included several hundred Muslims, who carried banners saying 'Not in our name'. They assembled next to the train station where in March 2004 bombs on rush-hour trains killed 191 people in Europe's deadliest Islamic terror attack.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Around a hundred people, mostly French citizens, took part in a silent march in Moscow's Gorky Park. 'I am a French citizen who wants to tell the terrorists that we will fight against the terror and for freedom,' said France's ambassador to Russia Jean-Maurice Ripert.
MONTREAL, CANADA: Thousands of people, repeatedly chanting 'Charlie', marched including Laurent Beltritti, a French flight attendant on a stopover, who said: 'I thought it was important to protest in favour of freedom and the right to express oneself without being killed by fanatics'.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Scores of demonstrators gathered in central Istanbul for a small rally. Minutes after the remembrance got underway, a man, apparently critical of the gesture, tried to cut them off, shouting 'Muslim blood is being shed!' The man was detained and carried away by riot police.
BEIRUT, LEBANON: Around 200 protesters gathered to condemn the attacks, carrying signs that said 'We are not afraid,' and 'Je Suis Ahmed,' - referring to the French Muslim police officer, Ahmed Merabet, who was killed as he confronted the gunmen.
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Several hundred people gathered at a memorial ceremony at Jerusalem's City Hall to express solidarity with France and the French Jewish community as officials hoisted 1,500 French flags throughout the city.
RAMALLAH, WEST BANK: About 200 Palestinians and foreign supporters held a solidarity rally in the central Manara Square saying France and the Palestinians share the same values - liberty, equality and saving modern civilization against the 'criminals' spreading across the Arab world.
GAZA CITY: In Gaza, around 20 people held a candlelight vigil. Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, said: 'We are here in this vigil against terrorism. The French people are friends of the Palestinian people and support them, so we are supporting them in return.'
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: More than 500 people rallied in Martin Place, where a shotgun-wielding Islamic State movement supporter took 18 people hostage in a cafe last month. The standoff ended 16 hours later when police stormed the cafe in a barrage of gunfire to free the captives.
TOKYO, JAPAN: A couple of hundred people, mostly French residents of Japan, gathered in the courtyard of the French Institute in Tokyo. The institute opened as normal during the ceremony, with students shuffling in as the French flag - tied with a black ribbon - hung over the balcony.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Hundreds of mostly French-speaking New Yorkers braved below-freezing temperatures and held pens aloft at a rally in Washington Square Park, where a leather-clad pole dancer gyrated in a display meant to reflect the over-the-top cartoons in Charlie Hebdo.

 

[Willie99]

Obama didn't want to be seen with all those crackers, watching bros be much more important

The least prepared man in the room, the pathological liar, the race baiting moron, the worst president ever, has diminished the integrity of the White House and made himself an international laughing stock.

Maybe he's too embarrassed to meet world leaders face to face, maybe he knows he's intellectually and morally inferior and he knows they know this too

 

[The Guesser]

Obama didn't want to be seen with all those crackers, watching bros be much more important

The least prepared man in the room, the pathological liar, the race baiting moron, the worst president ever, has diminished the integrity of the White House and made himself an international laughing stock.

Maybe he's too embarrassed to meet world leaders face to face, maybe he knows he's intellectually and morally inferior and he knows they know this too

The irony of this pathetic loser, calling someone else a race baiting moron, while talking in his juvenile, gibberish Ebonics, is nothing short of delicious. face)(*^%