When the bow, and a deep waisted one at that, is performed by Obama to the Saudi King. When it's performed by Bill Clinton to the Emperor or Japan, then the media is all over it. The New York Times in 1994 took Mr. Clinton to task for his sorta, kinda bow:
It wasn't a bow, exactly. But Mr. Clinton came close. He inclined his head and shoulders forward, he pressed his hands together. It lasted no longer than a snapshot, but the image on the South Lawn was indelible: an obsequent President, and the Emperor of Japan.Canadians still bow to England's Queen; so do Australians. Americans shake hands. If not to stand eye-to-eye with royalty, what else were 1776 and all that about? But Mr. Clinton, alas, is not the only one since George Washington who has seemed not quite to know what to make of monarchs.
...
But the "thou need not bow" commandment from the State Department's protocol office maintained a constancy of more than 200 years. Administration officials scurried to insist that the eager-to-please President had not really done the unthinkable.
"It was not a bow-bow, if you know what I mean," said Ambassador Molly Raiser, the chief of protocol.
White House officials described Mr. Clinton's tilt as something of an improvisation. Because Emperor Akihito broke with tradition in turn to raise his glass at the state dinner, some even said Mr. Clinton had managed something of a breakthrough.
Where's the Times now? Barack Obama's bow was quite demonstrative, so it's hard to explain why the Times or any other media news outlet for that matter refuses to report Obama's chucking of 200 years of protocol, except that perhaps they've sold their souls to The One.
Thanks to The Anchoress for the New York Times flashback.
Ed Morrissey gives the media a good scolding:
The media took Clinton to task for even suggesting the unthinkable. Now they remain silent on Obama's leap to the unthinkable.
Thus proving that the mainstream media is nothing more than the Obama administration's PR wing.
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Filed under:
Barack Obama, Media
Comments (29)
"Now they remain silent....... (Below threshold)1. Posted by GarandFan | April 4, 2009 7:06 PM | Score: 6 (12 votes cast)
"Now they remain silent...."
If they don't report it, it didn't happen. But look on the bright side, at least Obama didn't kiss his ass. That'll happen later.
1. Posted by GarandFan | April 4, 2009 7:06 PM |
Score: 6 (12 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 19:06
2. Posted by Adrian Browne | April 4, 2009 7:15 PM | Score: -12 (18 votes cast)
Perhaps the New York Times investigative reporters have put this important issue on the back burner until they get to the bottom of Obama's Fake Birth Certificate.
2. Posted by Adrian Browne | April 4, 2009 7:15 PM |
Score: -12 (18 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 19:15
3. Posted by 914 | April 4, 2009 7:31 PM | Score: 8 (12 votes cast)
He came, He bowed, He was conquered.
3. Posted by 914 | April 4, 2009 7:31 PM |
Score: 8 (12 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 19:31
4. Posted by Jeanking | April 4, 2009 8:20 PM | Score: -13 (17 votes cast)
I don't think it was really a bow to say that he is inferior to the saudi king. it was a polite act , just to respect the customs of Saudi Arabia. Obama, the president of the United States wouldn't bow to show inferiority...come one!
4. Posted by Jeanking | April 4, 2009 8:20 PM |
Score: -13 (17 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 20:20
5. Posted by LiberalNitemare | April 4, 2009 8:23 PM | Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
Unforgivable.
5. Posted by LiberalNitemare | April 4, 2009 8:23 PM |
Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 20:23
6. Posted by joe | April 4, 2009 8:34 PM | Score: 4 (10 votes cast)
EXTREMELY WEAK MAN...SOME LEADER
6. Posted by joe | April 4, 2009 8:34 PM |
Score: 4 (10 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 20:34
7. Posted by T.M. Whitworth | April 4, 2009 8:37 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
What really slays me is that the main stream media thinks that if they don't report it we the American people want know about it. They are so vain they think we get our news from them.
7. Posted by T.M. Whitworth | April 4, 2009 8:37 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 20:37
8. Posted by hermie | April 4, 2009 9:20 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Jeanking:
This took place in Great Britain, not Saudi Arabia. Obama and the king were there representing their countries as heads of state...as equals.
Besides, the President of the United States is not to bow to another country's leader in such a fashion, a low sustained bow. He could've bowed to the Saudi king in the same way he bowed to the Queen, but he did not. He deliberately chose to show a submissive act, and thus he represented the United States as being subservient to the Saudis.
8. Posted by hermie | April 4, 2009 9:20 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 21:20
9. Posted by Falze | April 4, 2009 9:26 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Are we sure he wasn't just trying to give the King some Batman slippers? That's about right for this administration's gift-giving abilities, after all.
9. Posted by Falze | April 4, 2009 9:26 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 21:26
10. Posted by 914 | April 4, 2009 9:35 PM | Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
If He had turned right or left 180 degrees and bent over I would have been proud of my Country once more.
10. Posted by 914 | April 4, 2009 9:35 PM |
Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 21:35
11. Posted by davidt | April 4, 2009 9:48 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Call them what they really are,the Democrat News Media.
11. Posted by davidt | April 4, 2009 9:48 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 21:48
12. Posted by Live@9 | April 4, 2009 11:33 PM | Score: -14 (16 votes cast)
At least he didn't hold hands with the king while they walk around the ranch like some love sick teenagers.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/27/eveningnews/main691413.shtml
12. Posted by Live@9 | April 4, 2009 11:33 PM |
Score: -14 (16 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 23:33
13. Posted by John Irving | April 4, 2009 11:44 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
I see the usual suspects are trying to cover for Obama's sheer ineptitude.
Wasn't he supposed to be better than Bush? He's made more faux-pas, policy errors, and judgement failures in 3 months than W did in 8 years.
13. Posted by John Irving | April 4, 2009 11:44 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 23:44
14. Posted by 914 | April 4, 2009 11:54 PM | Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Live@9
So one holds hands while the other bends over? It was Obamas first date......Cut him some slack..
14. Posted by 914 | April 4, 2009 11:54 PM |
Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2009 23:54
15. Posted by Canadagirl | April 5, 2009 12:15 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Do a little more research on the Queen. She's the Head of State, not only for Great Britain, but Canada, Australian, and their other commonwealth countries. One of her titles is Queen Of Canada. That's why the Prime Minister of Canada bows.
15. Posted by Canadagirl | April 5, 2009 12:15 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 00:15
16. Posted by bryanD | April 5, 2009 12:44 AM | Score: -12 (14 votes cast)
"Thanks to The Anchoress for the New York Times flashback."-kp
The Anchoress. Who advertises herself as a Pope-worshipper while avoiding serving her own country. While kvetching at Obama.
"Ed Morrissey gives the media a good scolding..."-kp
Ed Morrissey's mother deserves a "good scolding" for stuffing Young Ed with "healthy" carrot cake for 18 years.
"Thus proving that the mainstream media is nothing more than the Obama administration's PR wing."-kp
I like you, kim. You've always seemed basically sane. But the "mainstream media" was GW Bush's friend from 2001-early 2006.
So, would you use your posted argument in a live open forum? The answer is No. Because you would be embarrassed by inconvenient parallelisms which even your own post alludes to and which a bright 13-year-old might bring up.
PS: I've already said as much on another thread, but Obama's (SHALLOW) bow was only a courtesy tinged by an (admittedly) non-WASP etiquette.
Anyone who objects to such COURTESY has likely not ventured past their mailbox regarding the whole wide world.
(It's like old men walking arm-in-arm in Yugoslavia ARE NOT gay. And girls who peck one another on the lips in Germany ARE NOT lesbians.)
Sheesh!!! (Keep it up!)
16. Posted by bryanD | April 5, 2009 12:44 AM |
Score: -12 (14 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 00:44
17. Posted by WorldCitizen | April 5, 2009 12:56 AM | Score: -10 (12 votes cast)
Let me try this...
The President of the United States is a fool and I hate him. The President of the United States will destroy the United States of America. All my problems and those of every American are a result of the President of the United States. I hate him.
Yeah, I feel it. Much better.
17. Posted by WorldCitizen | April 5, 2009 12:56 AM |
Score: -10 (12 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 00:56
18. Posted by bryanD | April 5, 2009 1:12 AM | Score: -13 (15 votes cast)
World Citizen,
Very well put!
18. Posted by bryanD | April 5, 2009 1:12 AM |
Score: -13 (15 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 01:12
19. Posted by jackalope | April 5, 2009 1:38 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Hey 914:
Right On!!!
Unless I am mistaken, they do not bow in the
Arab world, they kiss. And under no circumstance should our President be doing either...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roY9SaqM0mo
19. Posted by jackalope | April 5, 2009 1:38 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 01:38
20. Posted by John Irving | April 5, 2009 4:57 AM | Score: 2 (6 votes cast)
The President of the United States is a fool
Only part of that you got right.
20. Posted by John Irving | April 5, 2009 4:57 AM |
Score: 2 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 04:57
21. Posted by marc | April 5, 2009 5:48 AM | Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
bryanD[espciable] - "I like you, kim. You've always seemed basically sane. But the "mainstream media" was GW Bush's friend from 2001-early 2006"
Yeah, you're right except all the leaked stories, all the econ news that was headlined as bad but had all the good news of the econ buried on the jump page 22 in para 43.
nitwit
21. Posted by marc | April 5, 2009 5:48 AM |
Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 05:48
22. Posted by Oyster | April 5, 2009 6:36 AM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Translation of Bryan's response:
"The Anchoress. Who advertises herself as a Pope-worshipper while avoiding serving her own country. While kvetching at Obama."
Idolater! Chickenhawk!
"Ed Morrissey's mother deserves a "good scolding" for stuffing Young Ed with "healthy" carrot cake for 18 years. "
He's fat!
"I like you, kim. You've always seemed basically sane. But the "mainstream media" was GW Bush's friend from 2001-early 2006."
[Shallow flattery followed by]: Uh-uh!
"So, would you use your posted argument in a live open forum? The answer is No. Because you would be embarrassed by inconvenient parallelisms which even your own post alludes to and which a bright 13-year-old might bring up."
(Mumble some big words and take back the shallow flattery.)
"PS: I've already said as much on another thread, but Obama's (SHALLOW) bow was only a courtesy tinged by an (admittedly) non-WASP etiquette."
(Change entire context.)
"Anyone who objects to such COURTESY has likely not ventured past their mailbox regarding the whole wide world."
You object, so you're ignorant.
"(It's like old men walking arm-in-arm in Yugoslavia ARE NOT gay. And girls who peck one another on the lips in Germany ARE NOT lesbians.)"
Allow me to seque here.
"Sheesh!!! (Keep it up!)"
Shutup!
22. Posted by Oyster | April 5, 2009 6:36 AM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 06:36
23. Posted by Jim Treacher | April 5, 2009 11:25 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
it was a polite act , just to respect the customs of Saudi Arabia.
Which customs do you mean? Sounds like you know a lot about the subject.
23. Posted by Jim Treacher | April 5, 2009 11:25 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 11:25
24. Posted by rimo | April 5, 2009 5:58 PM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)
friendly gesture for the king to open new page of relation with world we were asking why they hate us
24. Posted by rimo | April 5, 2009 5:58 PM |
Score: -2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 17:58
25. Posted by James H | April 5, 2009 8:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Today's NYT castigates the president over FOIA. Strikes me as a hair more important than social faux pas.
25. Posted by James H | April 5, 2009 8:19 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 20:19
26. Posted by Tony | April 5, 2009 10:51 PM | Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
Hussein was trying to give him an ORAL lesson, while submitting like a dog to his master!!! Barack, "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction" Obama is a disgrace to this country!
26. Posted by Tony | April 5, 2009 10:51 PM |
Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
Posted on April 5, 2009 22:51
27. Posted by _Mike_ | April 6, 2009 8:52 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
He's following the foreign policy advice of Ben, Dover, and Hope.
27. Posted by _Mike_ | April 6, 2009 8:52 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2009 08:52
28. Posted by Rob | April 10, 2009 1:54 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Sounds like a bunch of under achieving republicans again trying to divert attention from their lack of leadership ability. Never wrong to show respect for leaders of other countries - something most right-wing repubs have no clue about. You people should support our president and help unite and make our country stronger - but then you have no interest in making our country stronger - shame on you!
Quit blaming democrats and President Obama for all the mistakes G.W. made over the last several years - grow up and take resposibility.
28. Posted by Rob | April 10, 2009 1:54 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 10, 2009 13:54
29. Posted by T. | April 11, 2009 3:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
What do we expect anyway? He's never led anything but his own campaign. We get what we deserve.
29. Posted by T. | April 11, 2009 3:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 11, 2009 15:03