The Obama administration was criticized by key politicians and the media for not sending a high-level U.S. representative to join dozens of world leaders at the Unity March in Paris held to show solidarity for France in the wake of the deadly terror attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Uncharacteristically, the White House even admitted that the government should have sent a higher official than the ambassador of France to the symbolic gathering.
So after the fact, John Kerry was sent to personally deliver a public expression of sorrow for the Paris terror attacks that killed a total of 17 people.
But then in what many media watchers are calling a bizarre turn, Kerry chose to bring along ‘60s American folk singer James Taylor, who performed a heartfelt version of his famous song You’ve Got a Friend.
The criticism didn’t just focus on James Taylor – who is in fact viewed by many as a treasured American – but had more to do with the lack of thought that must have gone into the stunt, which left Kerry awkwardly trying to appear somber during the rendition.
The discussion focuses on how – after having to admit a mistake by not sending Obama or Kerry to Paris in the first place – the administration still didn’t appear to much thought into what could remedy the earlier gaffe.
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