Proud Americans might have noticed a disturbing pattern during each stop on the first family’s spring break. That is, in the shadow of the deadly Brussels bombings, President Obama tends to break up each vacation stop into two parts. First comes the “fun” part with terrible optics: doing the “wave” at a ball game with dictator Raúl Castro or dancing the tango in Argentina while the search for bodies in Belgium continues.
The second essential component is the president’s inevitable apology for America. Obama told Castro that he looked forward to constructive dialogue between Cuba and America regarding human rights, racism and inequality, and in Buenos Aires Wednesday, the president confessed his wish that Americans had a “greater awareness” of the world outside U.S. borders.
Thursday’s “fun” excursion was an Obama family hike and boat ride at a national park in Argentina. The apology? America should have done more on behalf of human rights during Argentina’s military coup 40 years ago.
Pres Macri notes today marks 40th anniversary of the military coup in Argentina that began "the darkest period in our history."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 24, 2016
Pres Obama pays tribute this morning to the victims of State Terrorism in Argentina during the military regime. pic.twitter.com/7bDHpSDoJW
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 24, 2016
Please … don’t blame yourselves. Blame us.
Pres Obama says US has to acknowledge that it was slow to speak up for human rights during early days of "dirty war" in Argentina.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/tickedswan/status/713010475647242240
@markknoller Obama Farewell Apology Tour 2016
— D. McDaniel (@DManiac777) March 24, 2016
@markknoller The apology tour just never ends.
— Lt. Col. CornpopDelecto (@LDreeniatnuom) March 24, 2016
@Catrocky22 At this point all of the apologizing over the last 3 days are kind of just running together. @markknoller
— Sick and tired (@AgnesSBaker) March 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/rickbk/status/713001842939133952
@markknoller Shame his hero Hugo Chavez is not alive to accept his apology!
— OldNorthState (@OldNorthState12) March 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/PostmasterBen/status/713001962233577472
@markknoller Were we as quick as Cuba?
— Walden70 (@Blackbear359129) March 24, 2016
@markknoller Wonder if @POTUS will ever apologize for dumb things he has done or NOT done. Of is it just predecessors that did dumb things?
— Sarah Sweet (@ssweet1084) March 24, 2016
His predecessors did the dumb things; President Obama’s purpose (in his mind, at least) is to make things right with the world regardless of the cost.
To make up for American’s inaction decades ago, the president announced the least America could do was to release U.S. military and intelligence records from the time.
Pres Obama announces US to release US documents on Argentina "dirty war" including military and intelligence records.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 24, 2016
Will the State Department be releasing those documents? Be prepared to wait another 40 years, President Macri. The State Department doesn’t release military and intelligence records as quickly as some might like, but it’s been getting a lot of practice.
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