June 20, 2013

Politics

During toast, Obama begrudgingly quotes Churchill

BY: CHARLIE SPIERING MARCH 15, 2012 | MODIFIED: MARCH 15, 2012 AT 9:09 AM
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"I intended to make history tonight, I thought that I could be the first American President to make it through an entire visit of our British friends without quoting Winston Churchill," President Obama joked last night during the State dinner toast in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"But then I saw this great quote and I thought, “Come on, this is Churchill!” So I couldn’t resist." Obama added.

Obama then quoted from Churchill's remarks after the attacks in Pearl Harbor:

I will say that he must indeed have a blind soul who cannot see that some great purpose and design is being worked out here below, of which we have the honor to be the faithful servants.

In 2009, Obama controversially removed a bronze bust of Churchill from the Oval Office and sent back to the British shortly after his inauguration, angering Churchill fans.

In December of 2010, House Speaker John Boehner responded by introducing a resolution that passed in the House commissioning a bust of Churchill for the U.S. Capitol.

Here is video of Boehner's speech:

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Author:

Charlie Spiering

Commentary Staff Writer
The Washington Examiner

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