Presidential inaugurations are significant events in the U.S. political setup. They signify the end of an era and the beginning of another.
So, without the inauguration, a democratically elected president won’t assume office. The inauguration ceremony must take place to install the new president.
Barack Obama’s victory in the 2008 and 2012 elections was massively shocking. Both were victories the opposition and many political analysts didn’t anticipate.
He was the first African-American president in history, which was unforeseen. But that wasn’t the only newsworthy thing about the election. The drama surrounding Obama’s inauguration was another newsworthy event.
What transpired was that several top dignitaries didn’t show up. Now, here’s the question many people have been asking.
Who skipped Obama’s inauguration?
Many notable personalities skipped Obama’s election. But then, it’s something any president-elect would expect. The outcome of the election didn’t favor the opposition. Thus, finding a happy party member in their camp would not be easy.
Shockingly, several notable Americans everyone expected to participate in the inauguration didn’t show up. Among them are George Bush and his father.
The former U.S. President, George W. Bush, skipped Obama’s election because his father and ex-president, George H.W Bush, was unwell.
Other notable personalities that didn’t attend Obama’s inauguration were Oprah Winfrey and Mitt Romney. Many Republicans also didn’t show up for numerous reasons.
What made the Bush family’s absence newsworthy was that they had never skipped a U.S. presidential inauguration.
Nevertheless, George W. Bush’s reason for not attending Obama’s inauguration was justifiable. He can’t leave his 88years old father at the hospital. It doesn’t make sense.
Keep reading to see more information about Obama’s inauguration.
Obama’s Inauguration: A Day History Was Made
Every candidate has an opportunity to make history during elections. Some might win more states or have historic electoral votes.
Obama’s victory at the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Presidential elections left an indelible mark in the country’s political history. He was the first African-American president. He also won his second-term bid.
On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama defeated Senator John McCain in the U.S. Presidential election. Then he beat Mitt Romney in his second term bid on November 6, 2012. John McCain was a senator from Arizona, while Mitt Romney was a former Massachusetts governor.
In the 2008 Presidential election, Obama’s victory over the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, was massive. He had 365 electoral votes, while John McCain had 173 votes.
Furthermore, in the 2012 general elections, Barack Obama had 332 electoral votes, while Mitt Romney had 206.
When Did Obama’s Inaugurations Take Place?
Barack Obama’s inauguration attracted top dignitaries from different parts of the world. Millions of people attended the event.
But years after, many news outlets, including CNN, are still trying to compare Obama’s inauguration crowd to Trump’s. Obama’s inauguration had more participants, but several views on why Trump had a lower turnout have emerged. Many are citing high temperature and rain as part of those reasons.
Obama’s first inaugural election as the 44th U.S. President took place on January 20, 2009. It was the country’s 56th inauguration at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, Washington DC.
Barack Obama’s second election and inauguration were almost as successful as the first. It was the country’s 57th inauguration and final term for the president-elect.
His second inauguration took place twice; the first was a private swearing-in, on January 20, 2013, at the White House’s Blue Room. The second was a public inauguration at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, Washington DC. It took place on January 21, 2013.
Did Republicans Skipped Barack Obama Inauguration
Yes, many Republicans did. They skipped Obama’s second inauguration for one reason or another.
But let’s not forget some attended the 44th president’s inauguration, though they were Republicans that had official assignments at the event.
Many Republicans that didn’t attend the inauguration gave diverse reasons. Some were on official duties and couldn’t come. Others were either at home and didn’t want to attend the event or traveled out of town.
But the bottom line is tons of Republicans didn’t attend Obama’s second inauguration. And though they had their reasons, such an act isn’t the best for the country’s democracy.
Nonetheless, it is not compulsory for anyone to attend inaugurations. It is a matter of choice.
Top Republicans That Intentionally Travelled And Missed Obama Inauguration
The U.S presidential Inaugurations are national events. They are important events in the country’s political history. And we must understand that whether party members choose to attend or not, the president-elect will take over the office.
The inaugurated president is the president and leader of all Americans. He’s not the president of a political party. So, people need to start taking inaugurations seriously.
Several notable members of the GOPs left town ahead of Obama’s inauguration. And shocking, most of them weren’t on official assignments.
Here are the names of people that traveled out of town ahead of Obama’s inauguration.
Charles Spies is the first name on this list. Why? He did something newsworthy. He and his wife, Lisa Spies, organized a trip to Las Vegas.
Shockingly, Charles Spies and his wife didn’t embark on the trip alone. They took over 100 Republicans with them. He and his wife named the trip “We believe in America,” a title derived from their campaign slogan, “Believe in America.”
Here are other top Republicans that traveled out of town ahead of Barack Obama’s inauguration.
- Russ Schriefer
- Ron Bonjean
- Kevin Sheridan
- Ben Ginsberg
Where did Republicans that ditched Obama’s inauguration travel to? That’s the question.
Well, Russ Schriefer didn’t travel for any official assignment. He and his wife went to Switzerland to have a great time.
Ron Bonjean also didn’t travel for an official assignment. He and some other Republicans traveled to Mexico ahead of the inauguration.
Kevin Sheridan is another name on the list. He made a trip to Charleston, S.C., and his reason for traveling was to attend a work retreat.
Ben Ginsberg and his family decided to have a weekend vacation.
When Does The U.S. Inauguration Event Hold?
The U.S. presidential inauguration is an important event. It is done to install a new president and marks the beginning of a new era in the United States’ political journey.
The U.S. inaugurations take place January 20 after an election has been concluded, and it’s held at noon. That has been the tradition in the country since 1937.
Do presidential inaugurations hold on Sundays? If January 20 falls on a Sunday, a private swearing-in is usually held on that day. Then a public inauguration takes place the following day.
Conclusion
Who skipped Obama’s inauguration? Many Republicans did. And the reason is quite clear. It was obvious they wanted Democrats to enjoy the inauguration. They didn’t want to spoil Democrats’ moods with their presence.
George W. Bush and his father, an ex-president, also skipped Obama’s inauguration, but their reasons were compelling enough. Shockingly, many Republicans traveled out of town ahead of the inauguration.
Nevertheless, the inaugurations went on and were a success. It had in attendance dignitaries from different parts of the world. But then, there’s nothing like having both party members present in such an important event.
