There was no moral reason for him to attend i guess, but politically ??
Your saying your in the "inner circle" you should know what i am talking about!
You like your cohorts try to downplay the obvious .... The general president was in town, and a principle officer snubs him and your claim he was "excused"
What about the president, vise president and recording-secretary, were they excused as well?
But this goes back to his leadership, he doesn't have that power over his staff to make them do anything.