NEW ALBANY —
President Barack Obama appeared on ABC’s “The View” Thursday morning, but Shannon Oakley didn’t watch. She was too upset with a decision the president made Wednesday to make himself available for the show’s taping.
Instead of speaking to 45,000 Boy Scouts at the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, Obama bolted from tradition to appear on “The View.”
“I was very disappointed in his choice not to attend the Jamboree,” said Oakley, whose son Ethan is attending the event. “I think the choice is a bad one. Those 45,000 boys are practically in his backyard and he couldn’t go over there for just a short visit.”
According to the White House, Obama was unable to attend the Jamboree due to a scheduling conflict. That conflict was a fundraising event and the taping of “The View” in New York City.
Obama, the honorary chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, sent a videotaped message to the Boy Scouts. He is breaking somewhat of a tradition by not attending. Several presidents, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, spoke at past Jamborees — which occur every four years.
“The significance of the president being there is something that would have stuck with those boys for a long time,” said Oakley, a New Albany resident whose son Ethan attends Holy Family Catholic School.
Oakley said she sent a letter to Obama and organized an e-mail campaign inviting people to share their displeasure about the decision by writing the White House. She also contacted Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell to share her displeasure.
“I could understand it if he had a pressing issue or had to go to the Gulf to deal with the oil spill. But there was no real value for him not to show up except to appear on ‘The View,’” Oakley said. “I just think it’s a snub to 45,000 Boy Scouts.”
Oakley said there is still time for Obama to make an appearance, since the Jamboree will run through Aug. 4.
“I just don’t understand his decision,” she said. “It’s not too late.”
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President Barack Obama (AP Photo/Mannie Garcia)
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