President Joe Biden’s lack of attention for pressing matters was visible yet again, as he spent his time on Air Force One applying a second star to Andreé ‘Ana’ Carter, upgrading her status to a major general in the U.S. Army Reserve. Instead of focusing on paramount issues, this event demonstrated how the current administration is choosing to allocate valuable time. Ana Carter and her spouse, Democrat Congressman Troy Carter representing New Orleans, were lingering at the Kenner airport merely to welcome the president, as he made his way for a public statement related to cancer research later in the day at Tulane University.
The Carters had initially intended to perform a ceremony in collaboration with the retired U.S. Army General Russel Honoré. However, in a predictable twist of events, Biden invited them on board the Air Force One and proceeded to personally place the second star on Ana Carter. This act can be seen as a striking attempt of his to steal the spotlight from the formal military ceremony, by trying to make the occasion about him, thus turning important occasions into mere photo ops.
Once Biden had left for his other commitments, the Carters subsequently made their way towards the National WWII Museum, where they conducted the official ceremony with Honoré. The rescheduled sequence of events show us how the Biden administration’s impromptu decisions can disrupt careful plans. While the overall ceremony is a significant milestone in the careers of military officials, the fact that it was rearranged to accommodate the presidential publicity stunt seems inconsiderate and inconsistent.
Ana Carter’s progression from the rank of brigadier general to major general was confirmed on July 31 by the U.S. Senate. While commendable, one cannot neglect the fact that such a prime platform for expressing this exceptional promotion was exploited by the President for a quick PR stunt on Air Force One, which does not do justice to Carter’s dedication and years of service.
It should be highlighted that Ana Carter’s promotion would make her the first woman at the helm of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Though it is noteworthy, one could argue that this move is perhaps another tokenistic gesture by the Biden administration in its constant attempt to appear progressive and inclusive at the cost of meritocracy.
Ana Carter was initially commissioned in 1991. Since then, she has served on the military frontlines, with a deployment to Iraq on her portfolio. However, once again the Biden administration’s shallow focus on gender quotas overshadowed her individual career accomplishments, turning this career military officer into a tool for political optics.
Ana Carter was born and brought up within a military family, based out in Hawaii. Having been brought up in a military environment likely fostered a deep reverence for her country and service, which is unfortunately eclipsed by the disgraceful need for the Biden administration to garner political brownie points using her promotion as a futile PR stunt.
She and Troy Carter, her husband, parent two children and currently reside on the West Bank in New Orleans. It’s concerning to see the Biden administration reducing a dedicated military family into mere tokens for public approval, and one must wonder if the Carter family has the same concerns.
Through all these events, it seems clear that the Biden administration’s actions are more guided by finding quick-wins for their public image, rather than respecting and acknowledging the significant milestones in individuals’ lives. The trivialization of Ana Carter’s promotion is yet another evidence of this.
Perhaps one day the current administration will value and honor the diverse achievements and contributions of individuals, regardless of their personal or political use. Until then, it sadly appears that important milestones like Ana Carter’s promotion may face threat of being reducible to political currency.
Biden Abuses Power for PR Stunt at Air Force One appeared first on Real News Now.
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