Imagine the firestorm if President Obama had skipped Arlington on Veterans Day Opinion: Why only a few sparks for Trump?

EJ Montini | The Republic | azcentral.com

Sooner or later the events of the day expose our prejudices and, for the most part, we ignore them. I’m as guilty as anybody. We want to believe in the people and causes we believe in, even when we come across bits of evidence to the contrary.

This week, one of those comparisons was available to us all.

President Donald Trump skipped out on Veterans Day services at Arlington National Cemetery.

And if the other guy had done that?

Imagine if President Barack Obama had done that.

With Trump there was some criticism. With Obama there would have been a firestorm.

Imagine.

Since getting elected Trump staged more than 60 campaign rallies all over the country, including one on the day of the massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. He has traveled more than 200 times to properties that he owns, roughly 30 percent of his time as president. And more than 150 of those excursions were to golf properties.

But he didn’t travel the 2 miles from the White House to Arlington on Veterans Day.

Two miles.

And there was the snafu in France

Trump touts White House commitment to veterans Days after he was criticized for canceling a trip to a WWI cemetery in Paris and not visiting Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, President Donald Trump honored the nation's veterans and touted his administration's commitment. (Nov. 15)

And this came after Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin were the only world leaders to skip a procession of world leaders marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.

Imagine if Obama had done that.

At least one host on Fox News admitted the double standard. Sort of.

That is difficult to do for any of us. But it shouldn't be impossible.

First since Kennedy - not in a good way

It was a tough week for Trump. The midterms didn’t go well for him. And the conservative Wall Street Journal reported that Trump played a “central role” during the 2016 in paying off the porn star and Playboy centerfold who alleged to have affairs with him. That may not bode well for him with the Mueller investigation.

Reports say that Trump is the first president since John F. Kennedy to not attend services at Arlington on Veterans Day.

The president did not attend, but there were representatives at the ceremony from France.

Imagine, just imagine, if that had happened under Obama.

Or, if it will make you feel better, don't.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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