Obama missed chance to send message: Your Say

The Obama administration admitted Monday that someone with a higher profile should have attended the anti-terrorism rally in Paris. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

It is an embarrassment to the U.S. to not have President Obama or Vice President Biden present. It was a botched opportunity to show solidarity with others around the world.

The Obama administration admitted Monday that someone with a higher profile should have attended the anti-terrorism rally in Paris. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

John Hipp

It was a European unity rally, and the focus should have been on Europe, not the United States. It was appropriate for Obama not to attend and to leave the spotlight on European solidarity and security.

— Carey Frisch

Obama's responsibility is to keep us safe. How is going to France going to help you or me? It's all show! This criticism is petty. What's more important, going to a rally or keeping our world safe?

— Robert Rodriguez

Letter to the editor:

I consider it a diplomatic blunder that neither President Obama nor Vice President Biden showed up for the massive demonstration against the terrorist attacks in Paris ("'Charlie' draws historic crowd, world leaders to Paris").

Certainly Obama's security was no more at risk than that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was there arm in arm with other world leaders alongside French President François Hollande. Security arrangements could have been made. This does not look good.