Many on Thursday afternoon were reaching for that box of tissues they’d emptied Tuesday night during President Obama’s farewell address in Chicago. As if it were possible to feel worse over the president leaving office, Obama surprised Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.
.@potus surprises @VP with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, nation’s highest civilian honor. pic.twitter.com/fNQ3GTvvtu
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/karoun/status/819651541762273280
liberals sure like decorating other liberals with awards and medals https://t.co/DVe3cWSkzP
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) January 12, 2017
This bromance. Has there ever been a thing quite like it in the Whitehouse before? Doubt we'll see it again. pic.twitter.com/KDANuKr87D
— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) January 12, 2017
Obama and Biden have redefined the relationship that is possible between POTUS and VPOTUS.
— Cal Perry (@CalNBC) January 12, 2017
Biden to Obama: we've disagreed, we've argued, we've raised our voices…have watched how you acted. …this is a remarkable man
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) January 12, 2017
Regardless of your politics, Joe Biden is a national gem.
— Matt Viser (@mviser) January 12, 2017
Biden's willingness to wear his heart on his sleeve is rare in politics these days. And makes him totally unique.
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/llerer/status/819651523458322433
At several points during the ceremony, Biden even turned his back to the crowd to hide his own tears, which seemed to be everywhere.
Joe Biden turned around to wipe tears from his eyes after President Obama surprised him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom pic.twitter.com/O1WN67yrBH
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) January 12, 2017
is anyone watching this not crying.
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) January 12, 2017
not me. Got the box of tissues out.
— Beth Bryson (@maddezmom) January 12, 2017
sobbing
— (((clevecarole))) (@Clevecarole) January 12, 2017
Can't stop.
— Cynthia Cohen (@SadDayinUSA) January 12, 2017
We felt a little bad that we too hadn’t been moved to tears, but thankfully Popehat came through with the words we were looking for.
I like Joe Biden. But . . . well. Maybe I'm not the audience for this.
— IWantNothingHat (@Popehat) January 12, 2017
I mean, to me there's a "this is the series finale so let's make narratively improbable heartwarming things happen to protagonists" feel.
— IWantNothingHat (@Popehat) January 12, 2017
Imagine, for a moment, the reaction to GWB giving Cheney the Medal of Freedom during his last week.
— IWantNothingHat (@Popehat) January 12, 2017
I guess I don't like the idea of the Chief Executive giving medals to his #2, or vice versa. Seems kind of military junta-ish.
— IWantNothingHat (@Popehat) January 12, 2017
Seems like?
— J. Scott McPhee (@JScottMcPhee) January 12, 2017
Reminds me of my son's peewee soccer team where everyone got a trophy because Everyone's A Winner!!
— TX Examiner (@QCExaminer) January 12, 2017
As much as viewers were caught up in the bromance between Obama and Biden, which we don’t doubt is real … nothing any of the media types have said above seems to merit the highest civilian honor … from your boss, essentially.
Obama hands out medals like candy
Making them meaningless
Biden gets highest honor
FOR DOING HIS JOB— americashawk (@americashawk) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/WynTheDay/status/819655487780098048
What is this? Biden is given a participation trophy by Obama, a trophy formerly called the medal of freedom which used to hold significance.
— Cam! (@Cam_Reese561) January 12, 2017
Obama, once again, turns an esteemed medal into a participation trophy. pic.twitter.com/M9ep1oRL9f
— Donnie Meismer (@USMCTexian) January 12, 2017
Obama has these medals out like freaking candy, makes them as worthless as John Kerry's Purple Hearts. https://t.co/jj9n31fknE
— Skip Blough (@skip_blough) January 12, 2017
Obama gives out medals like they are candy! You don't have a medal? Here there a medal, every liberal has a medal!
— Bryson Morrison ?? (@morrison_bryson) January 12, 2017
I am extremely surprised Obama didn't give the Presidential Medal of Freedom to himself….. pic.twitter.com/3NwK1fePE4
— John doe (@juhhhjgghk) January 12, 2017
I just got mine. You didn't get yours yet?!? pic.twitter.com/X89H5RCojS
— ?BLACK☘️IRISH? (@I3LACKIRISH) January 12, 2017
One thing about Joe Biden: he does manage to hit the nail on the head, sometimes uncomfortably so.
"I don’t deserve this," says Biden of the Presidential Medal, "but I know it came from the president’s heart." pic.twitter.com/vrS2YDPqJK
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 12, 2017
Biden: I don't deserve this, but I know it came from the president's heart. Mr. President, you and your family have crept into our heart
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) January 12, 2017
Eww … is that covered by Obamacare?
A parting thought:
https://twitter.com/MetricButtload/status/819669552841785344
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