President Obama Snubbed U.K. Over Thatcher Funeral-Truth! & Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that alleged that President Obama snubbed Great Britain by turning down an invitation to attend the funeral service of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The eRumor also alleged that President Obama sent a formal delegation to Venezuela to represent him at the funeral of Hugo Chavez.
The Truth:
We have found no evidence of an intentional snub by President Obama who was absent for the April 17, 2013 funeral service of the late Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. In his place, the President sent a delegation of high ranking staff members who worked under U.S. Presidents who served in office during the time Thatcher was at 10 Downing Street.
Leading the delegation where George Schultz, former Secretary of State for President Ronald Reagan as well as James Baker, who held various senior positions for both Reagan and George H.W. Bush. This according to an April 15, 2013 article by Reuters. The article also said that the delegation included “Barbara Stephenson, charge d’affaires to Britain and Northern Ireland, and Louis Susman, former U.S. ambassador to Britain.”
President Obama also sent a delegation to Venezuela for the funeral of Hugo Chavez. According to a March 7 2013 article by the Washington Times, the delegation included the current Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in in Caracas, Congressman Gregory Meeks (D- New York) and former Congressman William Delahunt (D- Massachusetts).
Posted 7/18/13