WASHINGTON, January 16, 2015 — President Obama has given France the gift that keeps on giving: laughter.
After enduring years of post WWII scorn from some francophobic Americans, France now has the upper hand in the optics of war. Obama’s failure to stand with other world leaders last week at the Paris Unity March has been eclipsed by America’s apology: The White House sent John Kerry and — are you ready? — James Taylor.
In a moment of total, insipid inanity, James Taylor, with Kerry standing by, sang his song of national mourning, “You’ve Got a Friend” to the people of France. This is apparently the president’s bumbled attempt to sooth hurt feelings.
I doubt it worked. And while the audio on this clip is light, it may be on purpose. You can’t hear the snickering.
In the brief time since the Kouchi brothers’ bloody rampage, Obama failed to send a cabinet level official to Paris with ridiculous excuses about security (though he attended Nelson Mandela’s funeral without those same concerns); then spokesman Josh Earnst emphatically said today that the terrorism was not result of “Muslim Extremism,” instead calling them the result of “violent extremism”:
“This phenomenon of violent extremism, the ideology, the networks, the capacity to recruit young people, this has metastasized and it is widespread and it has penetrated communities around the world. I do not consider it an existential threat.”
Then to add a final layer of butter to the croissant, he sent James Taylor to serenade them.
And we thought his giving an iPod of his speeches to the Queen of England was an insult. Unlike Michelle Obama, I have always been proud to be an American, but right now, I am just a little bit embarrassed.
Can’t wait for the French delegate to the next Sept. 11 anniversary. pic.twitter.com/GhRMlv4I27
— Cuffé (@CuffyMeh) January 16, 2015
