Muscatine

Some people are none too happy that Obama summoned two Marines to hold umbrellas for him and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan when it began to rain during Thursday’s press conference in the Rose Garden.

Obama, it seems, is averse to using military force, except to protect him from precipitation.

I think he was being polite: He didn’t want Erdogan to be rained on, but it would have been insulting just to give Erdogan an umbrella, so he took umbrellas for both of them.

BUT WHY THE MARINES? I have to admit, I really don’t like seeing these Marines stand out there getting soaked to save Obama’s suit.

Why not have Jay Carney and Valerie Jarrett do it? Or a couple of the little White House aides he takes golfing with him every week. OR THE PERSON WHO PLANNED TO HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE ON A RAINY DAY?

Or, come to think of it, why not let Erdogan get rained on? He’s busy undermining democracy in Turkey, throwing opponents and journalists in jail, and offering support to Hamas. If God decides to rain on him, let it pour.