Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) steered clear of President Obama’s visit to his state today. Obama stopped off at Elemendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage on his way to his tour of Asia that starts tomorrow.
Obama was greeted at the base by hundreds of cheering airmen as well as Alaska’s Lt. Gov., Craig Cambell (R), and the state’s junior U.S. Senator, Mark Begich (D). But Parnell said he was too busy to make an appearance.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner columnist Dermot Cole offered his take on Parnell’s decision:
I understand that Parnell had a commitment that he made a month ago, but Parnell should have apologized to the Associated General Contractors and gone to meet Obama at Elmendorf. I’m sure the AGC would not have objected.
Parnell’s decision reflects poorly on Alaska. It’s an unwanted holdover from the partisanship of the 2008 vice presidential campaign. Parnell should be charting a different course.
Whenever our president stops in our state, it is a matter of common courtesy for our governor to provide an official welcome and show the hospitality that Alaskans are known for.
Not surprisingly, the Alaska Democratic Party agreed with Cole’s view. Party chair Patty Higgins, from a party statement released today:
“We are talking about the President of the United States coming to Alaska. When your Commander in Chief comes to address our soldiers the day after Veterans Day, the Governor should be there, come hell or high water.”
