On being congressional, er, presidential

A strange performance. Perhaps Mr Obama doesn’t realize that he's on camera? He spends minutes stroking the egos of his Native American and Department of the Interior audience, including a weird ‘shout-out’ to Joe Medicine Crow, whom Mr Obama identifies as a holder of the ‘Congressional Medal of Honor’. No, no! Civilians sometimes append Congressional to the Medal of Honor, but I never thought to hear it from the commander-in-chief of our armed forces. And although Dr Medicine Crow served gallantly in World War II-—he even counted coup and stole horses from the Germans, as Crow warriors are supposed to do-—the Army didn't think him medal-worthy at the time. In 2008, after his deeds were publicized by the documentary film maker Ken Burns, he was belatedly recognized with the Bronze Star, and two months ago Mr Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Blue skies! – Dan Ford