Trump's Inauguration Committee Ousts Longtime Parade Announcer

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Mon Jan 9, 2017, 12:00 PM - Edit history (3)

Trump's Inauguration Committee Ousts Longtime Parade Announcer

by Christina Sturdivant in News on Jan 6, 2017 10:42 am

President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration committee has replaced a longtime inauguration parade announcer, according to several reports. Charlie Brotman told The Washington Post and NBC Washington that the committee delivered the news via email. ... "I was totally shocked," Brotman told NBC. "I've got friends and family expecting me to do this and I want to do this."

The email (which attempted to soothe the burn by calling Brotman “a Washington Institution and a National Treasure”) stated that he’ll have the title “Announcer Chairman Emeritus,” and he’d have “a prime seat" at the parade in honor his service. ... Brotman got the gig more than six decades ago.

In 1956, he announced during opening day for the Washington Senators baseball team, in which President Dwight Eisenhower was throwing out the first pitch against the Yankees. Brotman recalled to Tablet Magazine in 2013 that he later got a call from the president’s office asking if he’d announce during the inauguration parade. “At the time, I thought it was kind of a fun thing,” Brotman said. “I thought it would be a one-time shot, and that would be the end of it.”

But the 89 year old has announced at every inaugural parade since President Eisenhower’s second term.

ETA, Saturday morning. It's not LBN, so I can edit the headline.

ETA, Monday morning: back to original title.

[LisaM]

1. Why are they so awful and petty? WHY?

What a bunch of assholes, pardon my language. The good news is that it's pretty likely a Lord of the Flies situation will develop pretty quickly with this bunch.

[SaschaHM]

4. My guess is that they've sold off the role to one of Trump's/RNC's donors.

[ElementaryPenguin]

2. Make way for the GRINCH Inauguration!!

Mr. Brotman should consider himself lucky.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Another Trump shit pile....

The “ Washington Institution and a National Treasure, and “Announcer Chairman Emeritus,” gets an impersonal email.
How tacky and petty and boorish.

[Laurian]

5. Deplorable?

Absolutely.

[Pholus]

6. Well, if he only does legitimate presidents this one doesn't count!

[2naSalit]

8. THIS

[Hortensis]

7. Well, this is just plain sad. And informing Mr. Brotman

by email is...less than gracious, but the people did make an effort to soften it and honor him in other ways.

By that we know Trump himself was not involved, except for the initial "he's fired!," perhaps.

Btw, anyone remember when Bert Parks was canned? The Miss America pageant went straight downhill after that. I remember my own surprise at genuinely missing Parks' dreadful singing of "Theeeere she gooooes, Missss Amaayricaaaa..." Some things just can't be replaced.

Many are going to miss Mr. Brotman, I feel sure. Also that this was a just one more bad decision -- yet another item in the accumulation of what is so wrong about this inauguration.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. Inaugural parade announcer since 1957 not invited back for Trump's big day

Inaugural parade announcer since 1957 not invited back for Trump's big day

by Mike Carter-Conneen, ABC7 News

Friday, January 6th 2017

WASHINGTON (WJLA) - Exactly two weeks away from President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, we're learning the longtime and legendary voice of the parade will not be behind the microphone this year.

Charlie Brotman has announced every inaugural parade since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957. The walls of his Silver Spring, Maryland home are lined with memorabilia and photos of him greeting many presidents, celebrities and sports stars.

In all, the 89-year-old has served as lead announcer for 11 presidents during inaugural parades. He is also remembered by many fans as the iconic voice of the Washington Senators baseball team.

He had already started preparing for the 45th president’s parade, but said he was left "heartbroken” this week when he learned he was not invited to resume that role this year. ... “I've been doing this for 60 years,” he said. ... He learned about the change in an email. “At first this is {Thursday}, I was destroyed,” he said.