Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
It was one of the most memorable moments of the night Tuesday: President Trump in his first speech before Congress turned the spotlight on Chief Petty Officer, Ryan Owens and the wife he left behind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_3FR6FrTEk
Owens died during a raid in Yemen at the end of January. The circumstances aren't clear.
The two-minute standing ovation for the fallen Navy Seal was a touching moment to some,
Media people in my feed (left) viewed Trump's Navy SEAL moment last night very differently from the veterans (right). A story in two images: pic.twitter.com/P2vlptE5B1
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) March 1, 2017
Reaction from veterans online was swift: several condemned the display, saying Trump exploited Carryn Owens' grief. Then came the TV commentary:
Presidents often point out persons of note in front of Congress. Sometimes their motives are clear, other times opaque.
So why do it? For answers, Take Two turned to Barbara Perry, director of Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Center.