WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is featuring eight Americans as "citizen co-chairs" of his inauguration, a new role created to highlight his first-term accomplishments with examples of lives that have either been improved by his actions or inspired his presidency.Inaugural planners say the honorees include a woman with a brain tumor who no longer is denied health care for a pre-existing condition; an autoworker who got her job back after the General Motors bailout; and a gay pilot-in-training kicked out of the Air Force before the president repealed the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.Inauguration officials said Wednesday that the president has met most of the eight individuals during his first term and their inclusion in inaugural events is meant to showcase his administration's core values through real-life examples that people across the country can relate to.
I have to admit that I don't know enough about inaugurations in general to be sure... (because I care about their silly, expensive parties only marginally more than I care about all those incredibly boring entertainment awards programs) ...but has that sort of thing been typical of past inaugurations? I doubt it, but maybe I'm wrong.
It feels more like what you'd expect during campaigning than months after election day-- and it seems awfully self-congratulatory... (Especially with the still-dreadful economy, among the other problems we face.)
It feels more like what you'd expect during campaigning than months after election day-- and it seems awfully self-congratulatory... (Especially with the still-dreadful economy, among the other problems we face.)
The common diagnosis of narcissism seems more credible with every day that passes!
