Soldiers Relocate Wedding so Obama Can Play Golf

[Utah]

Before they could say "I do," President Obama needed to play through.
Two Army soldiers reportedly had to relocate their Hawaii wedding over the weekend so the commander-in-chief could play golf.

Bloomberg reports that the Army captains, Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr., had planned to get married at the 16th tee box at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, on Sunday.

But just as they were finishing their wedding rehearsal on Saturday, they were told they'd have to move -- to accommodate the president's round the following day.

"It was emotional, especially for her -- she's the bride and in less than 24 hours they had to change everything they had planned," Mallue's sister Jamie McCarthy told Bloomberg.

The couple reportedly ended up moving to a lush site overlooking the 16th hole, which one of the wedding planners said was more secluded and prettier anyway.

The White House may not have even known about the wedding in advance.

And after Bloomberg asked the White House about the incident, Obama apparently tried to make it right.

McCarthy told Bloomberg the president called the bride to apologize and congratulate them. "Made their day," she said.

A source familiar with the incident confirmed the phone call to Fox News.

Still, the incident proved fast fodder for the president's critics.

"I usually say at least he isn't doing something harmful when he's playing golf..." Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., quipped on Twitter, linking to a story on the relocated wedding.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/12/30/soldiers-relocate-hawaii-wedding-so-obama-can-play-golf/?intcmp=latestnews

FOUR ! ! ! !

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

When I heard this on Fox News Channel yesterday, I wondered, how is it that a president can't decide to tee off two hours later? I know there's a lot of logistics to even a simple golf outing when you're the CoC, but good grief, man, have a heart! Perhaps check with the Wizard of Oz.

 

[Desdichado]

I had heard that he did not know of the wedding until later and personally called the couple to congratulate them and apologize.

Also, the dates the President will likely play are posted at military bases well ahead of time. The couple was well aware of the fact they were taking a chance.

If both of these things are true, then I see very little to complain about. Obamacare on the other hand...

 

[Tearose84]

No one is to blame but the golf course itself.

 

[Human]

When I heard this on Fox News Channel yesterday, I wondered, how is it that a president can't decide to tee off two hours later? I know there's a lot of logistics to even a simple golf outing when you're the CoC, but good grief, man, have a heart! Perhaps check with the Wizard of Oz.

In all honesty, wouldn't you have just refused to move? President or no president, wedding trumps golf.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

In all honesty, wouldn't you have just refused to move? President or no president, wedding trumps golf.

Lol it's hard to refuse the Secret Service. Maybe Obama could at least get them a wedding gift for the trouble though, that be cool.

 

[Anonimous]

No one is to blame but the golf course itself.

I bet they were both "teed off"

 

[Agricola]

In all honesty, wouldn't you have just refused to move? President or no president, wedding trumps golf.

But isnt Obama commander in chief or something like that and is the servicemnes commanding officer, so they have no choice but to obey him.

 

[Human]

But isnt Obama commander in chief or something like that and is the servicemnes commanding officer, so they have no choice but to obey him.

Citizens with rights don't have to relinquish those rights just because the President wants to play golf. American's are bound to honour the constitution, not the commander in cheif's requests to scrap your wedding because he fancies teeing off.

 

[Oncefallen]

Citizens with rights don't have to relinquish those rights just because the President wants to play golf. American's are bound to honour the constitution, not the commander in cheif's requests to scrap your wedding because he fancies teeing off.

I'm not one to defend Obama, however the spin on this story is sad. From everything I've picked up on the President was NOT aware that there was a wedding scheduled therefore it was someone else's executive decision to relocate the wedding. When he found out about it he offered his apologies (and congratulations) to the couple.

That aside, the golf course was on a military base in which case either one (or both) of the couple were military personnel placing them under the direct chain of command of the President. In the military world (of any nation) rank trumps all, and even in the civilian world presidential security trumps a boat load of things. There is no constitutional right to a wedding on a golf course owned by the military, it is a privilege extended to persons in the military. I could even argue that there is no constitutional right to marriage since it is not specifically mentioned in the constitution, although it is arguable under the equal protection clause. That aside, many constitutional rights are surrendered the moment you step foot on a military base (and there are signs at the entrances stating as much). Entry to a US military base is with the implied permission of the base commanding officer which can be revoked at any time without due process.

 

[Human]

I'm not one to defend Obama, however the spin on this story is sad. From everything I've picked up on the President was NOT aware that there was a wedding scheduled therefore it was someone else's executive decision to relocate the wedding. When he found out about it he offered his apologies (and congratulations) to the couple.

That aside, the golf course was on a military base in which case either one (or both) of the couple were military personnel placing them under the direct chain of command of the President. In the military world (of any nation) rank trumps all, and even in the civilian world presidential security trumps a boat load of things. There is no constitutional right to a wedding on a golf course owned by the military, it is a privilege extended to persons in the military. I could even argue that there is no constitutional right to marriage since it is not specifically mentioned in the constitution, although it is arguable under the equal protection clause. That aside, many constitutional rights are surrendered the moment you step foot on a military base (and there are signs at the entrances stating as much). Entry to a US military base is with the implied permission of the base commanding officer which can be revoked at any time without due process.

Fair enough. I think I failed to read the 'military base' part of the story, along with the 'military personnel getting married' part.

 

[Desdichado]

Fair enough. I think I failed to read the 'military base' part of the story, along with the 'military personnel getting married' part.

Nevertheless, in principle you were right. In a perfect world (or the equally mythical functional democracy harharhar), the POTUS staff would have looked at the schedule and notified the President himself that a wedding was about to take place to which he would have deferred.

But that didn't happen and Lord knows there are worse things that have happened or could have happened.

 

[Oncefallen]

Nevertheless, in principle you were right. In a perfect world (or the equally mythical functional democracy harharhar), the POTUS staff would have looked at the schedule and notified the President himself that a wedding was about to take place to which he would have deferred.

But that didn't happen and Lord knows there are worse things that have happened or could have happened.

I assume the ball probably got dropped by base security/secret service. POTUS wants to play golf, they made it happen. It really isn't their job to tell him about other things on the schedule that conflict, it's just their job to make it happen.

 

[Oncefallen]

In reality people's lives are disrupted in some way or another wherever POTUS (or the VP) show up. Once AF1 enters the flight pattern of an airport all other flights are put in a holding pattern until AF1 lands and POTUS is off the tarmac (remember the scandal during the Clinton era where LAX was blocked up for hours while Clinton had his haircut on AF1 on the tarmac). Here in CO Springs I can think of a handful of times over the years when local street traffic was jammed up considerably because either the POTUS or VP was in town traveling from the airport to a local base via motorcade instead of helicopter.

 

[Reborn]

In reality people's lives are disrupted in some way or another wherever POTUS (or the VP) show up. Once AF1 enters the flight pattern of an airport all other flights are put in a holding pattern until AF1 lands and POTUS is off the tarmac (remember the scandal during the Clinton era where LAX was blocked up for hours while Clinton had his haircut on AF1 on the tarmac). Here in CO Springs I can think of a handful of times over the years when local street traffic was jammed up considerably because either the POTUS or VP was in town traveling from the airport to a local base via motorcade instead of helicopter.

I remember times like that.....
Years ago, I would do an occasional job in Fort Carson.
(and people think DIA/ any airport security is rough to go through?)
There are parts of CO Springs that always feels as if it's in lock down mode though.

 

[kennethcadwell]

Citizens with rights don't have to relinquish those rights just because the President wants to play golf. American's are bound to honour the constitution, not the commander in cheif's requests to scrap your wedding because he fancies teeing off.

I guess you have not heard of the new law that was initiated a few years ago, and that is any thing the secret service tells you to do now is a law. And if you refuse to obey what the secret service tells you to do, then you can face prison time for it.