Writing for the New York Times, Rick Lyman tells us:
OSWIECIM, Poland — For what is likely to be the last time, a large number of the survivors of the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz will gather next week under an expansive tent, surrounded by royalty and heads of state, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of those held there at the end of World War II.The Obama administration is apparently unimpressed and therefore the US presence will be represented by Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.
“This will be the last decade anniversary with a very visible presence of survivors,” said Andrzej Kacorzyk, deputy director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which encompasses the sites of the original concentration camp, near the center of Oswiecim, and the larger Auschwitz II-Birkenau on the city’s outskirts.
My guess is that Shaun Donovan, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, is probably too busy, so they're sending Lew, instead. Or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Jacob Lew's first name is - ya know - Jacob.
A preliminary list of those attending includes President François Hollande of France, President Joachim Gauck of Germany and President Heinz Fischer of Austria, as well as King Philippe of Belgium, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. The United States delegation will be led by Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew.There I go picking on poor old president Obama again.
It's not as if a pattern of disinterest in, if not hostility towards, Jewish concerns has clearly emerged over the years... it's just that the man is busy.
Besides, Team Obama is not interested in Jewish concerns, anyway. Why should they be when the American Jewish community has very clearly shown that no matter what Obama says, or does, in regards Israel or the Jewish people, they have his back?
If the Obama Administration wants to smack around Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the world stage for the terrible crime of accepting an invitation to speak before Congress, who are we to say "no"?
I am convinced that if Barack Obama went on national television and urinated on the Israeli flag while stark naked and, yes, singing Hatikvah, he would still receive at least a 67 percent approval rating among American Jews.
So, why wouldn't the Obama administration blow off the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz?
Let's just toss this on the ever growing pile of little things that we are supposed to ignore about this administration.
