White House explains why Obama won't be attending Antonin Scalia's funeral

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President Barack Obama made what seemed like political waves on Wednesday, when it became known that he wasn't going to attend the funeral of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

But the White House said Thursday that all the noise is much ado about nothing.

"There's so much rancor in politics and partisanship that we allow ourselves to get drawn into different corners to the extent that some people actually want to use the funeral of a Supreme Court justice as some sort of political cudgel," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

"The president doesn't think that that's appropriate and, in face, what the president thinks is appropriate is respectfully paying tribute to high-profile patriotic American citizens, even when you don't agree on all the issues."

The President and Michelle Obama will pay respects on Friday, as Mr. Scalia's body lies in repose at the Supreme Court. Vice President Joe Biden will attend the funeral.

Politico reported that people close to the Scalia family have said that President Obama is making the right choice by attending the ceremony on Friday rather than the funeral.

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