President addresses Boy Scouts at National Jamboree

Via video.  He couldn't break away from fund raising and other commitments to show up in person.



But that is OK.  Ronald Reagan didn't attend the Jamborees while he was President (he sent his wife).  And Bill Clinton and GW only attended one of the Jamborees of the two that took place during their terms.  Bush Sr. attended during his first term - good thing, yes?  Maybe Obama is counting on a second term?

Some people - mostly those with Scouting backgrounds or sons and daughters at the Jamboree - are upset that the President of the United States could not find time to attend in person.  After all, he is the Honorary President of the National Organization.  It is also Scouting in the USA's 100th Anniversary.  Google "President Disses Boy Scouts" and you'll get a sense of the thoughts of our country.  More people seem upset about people being upset than anything else.  How dare the Boy Scouts 'expect' the President to show up?  Frugal Cafe' Blog Zone has a good sampling of what people are saying.

Boy Scout Jamboree’s 100th Anniversary vs. ‘The View’: Boy Scouts Lose, Obama to Appear with Daytime TV Harpies

 Jane Chastain lays her thoughts out very plainly in her posting on WorldNetDaily -

Obama disses the Boy Scouts

Truth be told (I'd tell nothing else), the Presidency and the Boy Scouts are not that tight.  You might think, given the number of Astronauts, prominent business men and entrepreneurs, and other popular figures (like
Mike Rowe, who did speak at the Jamboree) that were scouts, that most of the Presidents were Eagle Scouts; or at least Scouts.  Not so much.  Not until 1961 did a Boy Scout end up in the Oval office (John Kennedy).  The next President with a Scouting tie from his youth would be Gerald Ford, the first and only Eagle Scout to be President.  Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were both Cub Scouts.  I can't find a credible source for this, but I believe Barak Obama was in a program similar to the Cub Scouts when he lived Jakarta, Indonesia.  Knowing this, it might be easier to understand why the President did not feel a sense of loyalty or duty to the Scouting organization.  (Ref. http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/presidents.aspx)

I probably would not have even taken the time to post this moderate rant had it not been for a local piece in the Daily Item -

Valley Scout dances before 70,000

Jamboree blends good times with learning

Near the bottom of the article, Ted August is quoted -

 "He is the first president in a long time that has not attended the Boy Scout Jamboree. Everyone here was disappointed. It's too bad the leader of the United States government could not take the time, but he could show up for a talk show on TV."

And the President didn't even show up for the talk show that day.  He pre-recorded the show.  FOR THE VIEW!!!  *shaking head* sad, sad, sad.


Depending on your lean, you may or may not want to give the President a second chance to attend the National Jamboree.  It will mean giving him a second term to continue his war on our country.  I would prefer if he doesn't have to make a choice between The View and the Jamboree.  Let someone else make that tough call instead.