Things that Bothered Me About the Obama Inauguration Ceremony
I almost, ALMOST would have rather watched former President George Bush stutter incoherently and duck Armani dress shoes than witness the ceremony that carried Barack Obama into the Oval Office.
It's not that I don't like Obama or didn't vote for him. Watching the inauguration didn't have anything to do with who I thought should have made it to the White House so that's not what bothered me.
What did bother me was the idea that the expected cost of the inauguration was at least $100 million dollars - several days before the actual the event.
Take a moment and read that again.
There are families in this country that are struggling to keep their jobs just so they can eat, and not well at that. People are losing their homes, unemployment is through the roof, our nation's biggest corporations are begging for money and the White House is shelling out mega bucks to get down and party.
Before you fault me for being stingy about the cost of Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony let me remind you that a few years ago President Bush was asked to be frugal - during the beginning of the impact of our economical decline. President Roosevelt served chicken salad sandwiches during his inaugural luncheon. Surely chicken salad isn't beneath the Obamas? Surely this isn't a sign of things to come.
One million people could have benefited from receiving only $100 of that money. Think of how much help that would have been. That's just one random, off the top of my head example. I can see so many other uses for that much money.
One of the other things that bothered me about the inaugural ceremony was Aretha Franklin's version of Our Country Tis of Thee.
I don't care how much R.E.S.P.E.C.T. She's gotten over the years for her beautifully powerful set of pipes. I don't care how many presidents she's sung for. Don't go messin' around with one of our most patriotic of songs.
Her rendition was horrid. Half the time I couldn't tell what the heck was coming out of her mouth. I didn't appreciate being made to feel like I was at church either. Singing the song the way it was intended to be sung would have been just fine.
The thing about the inauguration ceremony that bothered me the most was probably the newscasters. I don't know why in the world the networks pay people to say exactly what we are seeing. Diane Sawyers would say something like, "And there's Senator Hillary Clinton. She's comfortably wrapped in former President Clinton's arms," as if we couldn't see that for ourselves. I could have watched the whole thing with my eyes clothes and I would have known what color shoes Michelle Obama was wearing.
Other than that the inauguration was okay. I wasn't impressed but he did talk some pretty good talk. Hopefully he walks the walk just as well.
Published by Kelly Spies
I'm just a chick with a lot to say about different things. I've been writing for most of my life and aspire to someday be a published novelist as well as content writer. View profile
Presidential Inauguration Has Strict RulesIf you are planning to attend the Inauguration you need to know these rules before you go.- Traveling to Barack Obama Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. January 20...Are you traveling to the Barack Obama Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C.?
Barack Obama Inauguration ScheduleThe official schedule is available for the multiple days spanning the Inauguration of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States.
How to Get Barack Obama Inauguration Ceremony and Parade Tickets If you are hoping to attend the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20th in Washington, D.C. you must have tickets.
Traveling to Barack Obama Presidential Inauguration?Use the Metro at Barack Obama Presidential Inauguration on January 20 in Washington DC.
- The Reasonable Barack Obama
- Barack Obama: Fired Up and Ready to Go
- Barack Obama Addresses Newton, Iowa, Crowd on December 30
- Presidential Hopeful Barack Obama Pays Youngstown State University a Visit
- Racial Issues in the Barack Obama Campaign: Jeremiah Wright, Obama-Bashing and Med...
- Zane's Top Ten "Problems with Barack Obama Smoking in the White House"
- Presidential Inauguration Primer
11 Comments
Post a CommentI'm a bit late in the game here, but well said. This expensive inauguration business should have been nipped in the bud long before Obama. Of course, I still hold him accountable. How awesome it would have been if he had refused to spend that much money and simply celebrated from the comfort of his home via a webcast.
It is horrid how much money was spent on the inauguration. Well, to balance this out he's just released funding for stem cell research. That might save some lives.
Well, that price tag is very disappointing. I couldn't watch it because I no longer have cable and cannot even pick up local channels. One of the cuts I've had to make because of the state of the economy.
I agree that too much money was spent on the celebration and that it could have been put to better use. But we can look on the bright side - some average people actully made money that day. Think of the Port-A-Potty company that got the contract for that event - and all of their workers. I bet a lot of hot coffee, pastries and hot dogs were sold by vendors to all the people standing around for hours in the cold. Hotels, restaurants and shops for miles around Washington D.C. made money as well as the airlines getting people there. And it looked like the 2 million or so people that attended seemed to be enjoying themselves. At least some businesses and employees were able to make money and work, so that's something.
I was at work and "missed" the live coverage. When I got home, I played the video of the address without "benefit" of the newscasters telling me what I was hearing. Oh darn. Aretha is aging...it shows in her voice, but I thought her rendition was very inspiring. I haven't seen the video of him walking down the street, but have read a lot about it. Foolhardy? Maybe, maybe not. While there have been threats spouted since he became a "serious" contender, not too many have been deemed credible. I look at "the walk" as a show of defiance.
aretha's getting pretty old, i thought for her age she did alright and as for the cost I'm sure it had more to do with security than menus. I heard alot of the food and decor for the luncheon was donated by supporters. Still, a thought provoking article! thank you for posting it.
Too much money was spent, which as you state, could be put to better use! Newscasters...right on there! Aretha Franklins' song...not moving as it almost always is! Her hat...unforgiving! Great article and glad to see some folks here are brave enough to speak up!
Linda...we are going to need those prayers.
;-);-)
I feel the same about the price tag and his walk down the middle of the street - after all the threats and the news and secret service being worked up about that why would he choose to do such a fool hardy thing. I remember another president who did not heed the warnings of his secret service. Sad situations when they think they have to make a spectacle of everything to be heard.