No senior U.S. official at mammoth Paris pro-democracy rally
Secretary of State John Kerry's upcoming visit to Paris follows heavy criticism of President Obama in the wake of Sunday's rally of solidarity following the shooting at satricial newspaper Charlie Hebdo in the French capital. There were no senior U.S. officials among the dozens of world leaders who came to show their support. But officials at the White House have said there were good reasons for that, reports CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante.
The White House reaction was that the president's security would have significantly interfered with the crowd of millions who attended. But now the absence of any U.S. leader now has the administration on the defensive.
Leaders from some of America's strongest allies were among the more than 40 heads of state marching in solidarity with French President François Hollande. The group included German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron. Even Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were there.
Notably missing? Mr. Obama, Vice President Biden or any other high-ranking official representing the United States, including attorney general Eric Holder, who was in Paris for counter-terrorism meetings.
And no one from the administration showed up at a rally attended by thousands in Washington, D.C. just over a mile from the White House.
Mr. Obama has had little public reaction to the attacks, taking just two minutes on Friday while announcing his free community college plan in Tennessee, and avoiding it altogether in his weekly video address.
"I want the people of France to know the United States stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow," he said.
On Thursday, he visited the French embassy to sign a book of condolences.
The president has been criticized before for appearing insensitive to global crises. While on vacation in Martha's Vineyard in August, he played golf shortly after condemning the beheading of journalist James Foley.
One U.S. official was present at the rally: Ambassador to France Jane Hartley.
The White House announced Sunday that Mr. Obama will hold a summit next month on ways to counter violent extremism like the attacks in France.