Rolling Thunder Not Expecting Obama Greeting

Rolling Thunder not expecting Obama greeting
Washington Times
The last time Rolling Thunder roared into Washington, the president welcomed the riders in the White House driveway with a smile on his face and heartfelt personal greeting. This year, maybe not.

“We initially got a call this year saying the president wasn’t going to greet us,” said Artie Muller, founder of the group that is marking its 22nd annual patriotic motorcycle ride through Washington to draw attention to policy issues influencing veterans, active-duty military, prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

But a second call in recent days revealed that the White House would do something.

“We expect it will be a member of the staff, not a meeting with President Obama. We really won’t know until sometime on Friday afternoon. But this is a step in the right direction,” said #Nancy Regg, a spokeswoman for the group, which has 88 chapters across the country and expects to draw as many as a half-million bikers for a “Freedom Ride” on Sunday from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

An administration official confirmed Thursday that a group of Rolling Thunder members were expected at the White House on Friday, but was unsure with whom they would meet.
The official said the bikers would meet separately with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki.
Rolling Thunder, meanwhile, is still on a mission. Whether Mr. Obama greets them or not, the organization has information to share.

“We’ve got a letter to pass on to the president about our issues and concerns. But we won’t really know until Artie gets there,” Ms. Regg said.

President George W. Bush, on the other hand, was very comfortable in the biker realm, as he was around pickup trucks and NASCAR. He was the first and only president to formally greet Rolling Thunder members, Ms. Regg said.

President Bush Meets With Rolling Thunder 5-25-2008

In 2008, Mr. Bush was made an honorary member of the group, accepted a cowhide biker’s vest and posed for multiple photos. He also met with the group in the Oval Office.

“And I am just so honored to welcome you back. I want to thank you and all your comrades for being so patriotic and loving our country as much as you do. I don’t know if this is the eighth time we’ve been together here, but it’s pretty close.,” Mr. Bush told the group, which included Mr. Muller.

“You’ve done a lot for the country, and the troops appreciate you, and the veterans appreciate you and your president appreciates you,” Mr. Bush added.

Several Bush administration members rode with the group over the years, including Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, top economic adviser Edward Lazear and Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten.

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Wild Thing’s comment……..
This is not Swivel Heads’ type of crowd!!!!
“But a second call in recent days revealed that the White House would do something. “
Sure. A cardboard cutout of The First Thug which of course will have much more personality then the original..
The last time they came into town, we had a president. This year there is no president, but only an imposter in chief.
Obama is reminded of everything he is not. First on the list is they are Americans.
And we must not forget these are a bunch of Veterans that are on the DHS Terrorist list.
This is a two way kind of feeling.
1. I can’t stand this creep Obama, so I would prefer he is not around any of our Veterans or our troops today. He is so far beneath them he would have to dig his way up from under the earth thousands of feet to even be able to see the bottom of our Veterans shoes.
2. I guess if it was a MUSLIM Saudi then Obama could show up in person to thank Rolling Thunder and appreciate all they have done and do. He could have another chance to bow again and he would like that.
BUT since this a group of macho, American Heroes that continue the fight for our POW-MIA’s and oh dear just might have taken out a communist in the Vietnam war…. a communist like Obama he just can’t show up to meet these men, these American Heroes in person. The roar of the bikes might hurt his ear drums, and so many Flags, so much patriotism would just be too much for HUSSEIN Obama to handle.

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Obama, Rolling Thunder meet privately
Washington Times
At 3:30 p.m. Friday, President Obama met privately with representatives of the group famous for its support of active-duty military, veterans and prisoners of war not to mention its distinctive blend of patriotism that includes Old Glory and motorcycles.
The moment was totally unexpected.
“The president stopped by while members of Rolling Thunder were meeting with administration officials about veterans’ issues,” said White House spokesman Nick Shapiro.
“He was very happy to meet with them,” he added.
The group included Rolling Thunder founder Artie Muller, national vice president Lynne Jenks and national president Gary Scheffmeyer.
The situation has been somewhat of a cliffhanger.
Things did not seem quite so friendly with the new administration, however. The culture of the White House appeared to have changed.
Last week, Mr. Muller told The Washington Times that he received word from the White House that Mr. Obama would not follow suit.
“They said he was too busy,” Mr. Muller said at the time.
But the situation began to evolve. Mr. Muller a Vietnam-era Army veteran and Harley rider learned a few days later that “someone” from the White House would at least be there to accept a letter from Rolling Thunder that outlined the group’s concerns about veterans, soldiers and POWs.
Who was this “someone?” An official? A Cabinet member? Bo, the White House pooch? No one knew.
In the end, it was the president. Mr. Obama came through at the close of a busy week .
The meeting was brief but cordial.

“We’re here for the veterans, for our military, for America. And we want them to know we will never forget them,” said Rolling Thunder spokeswoman Nancy Regg.

As for Mr. Obama, he’ll get a rest with the wife and children at Camp David this weekend.