White House: No bow to Saudi King

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is alien to me. In the UK noone idolises the prime minister like this.

Even if he does something mildly embarrassing we rarely hear about it, except those exceptional occasions where the deputy PM gets into a fist fight with a member of the public.

[truffles 2]

I would suggest that the president has, amongst his huge resources people in his adminstration who have an excellent grasp on what is good etiquette and what is not, they would have debated and discussed this with him so that he was fully aware of what the implications of any actions he took when it comes to greeting heads of state - so I dont think it is fair to call it a "gaffe". We are told that the president is a very articulate, intelligent well educated individual - so you would think that he has weighed up what his advisors say to him and then must make his decisions himself - and understand he will be judged by his actions .. after all actions speak louder than words.

Edited April 9, 2009 by truffles

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I would suggest that the president has, amongst his huge resources people in his adminstration who have an excellent grasp on what is good etiquette and what is not, they would have debated and discussed this with him so that he was fully aware of what the implications of any actions he took when it comes to greeting heads of state - so I dont think it is fair to call it a "gaffe". We are told that the president is a very articulate, intelligent well educated individual - so you would think that he has weighed up what his advisors say to him and then must make his decisions himself - and understadn he will be judged by his actions .. after all actions speak louder than words.

It would be silly to assume that every word and action has been weighed in advance. He's still human. Errors in judgment do still happen.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I would suggest that the president has, amongst his huge resources people in his adminstration who have an excellent grasp on what is good etiquette and what is not, they would have debated and discussed this with him so that he was fully aware of what the implications of any actions he took when it comes to greeting heads of state - so I dont think it is fair to call it a "gaffe". We are told that the president is a very articulate, intelligent well educated individual - so you would think that he has weighed up what his advisors say to him and then must make his decisions himself - and understand he will be judged by his actions .. after all actions speak louder than words.

If you watch the video enough though, it looks improvised...like Obama was caught off guard as to what to do. If the King extended out his hand, palm down - even if Obama was prepped on what to do, that could have thrown him off.

Also, as Private Pike points out - there is a guy blocking much of the action, making it difficult to see what exactly happened. But, nevertheless, the WH should have issued a statement admitting he goofed and be done with it.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[Peikko 1,575]

It's rather like viewing one's president as a god, in my opinion - one that can't be seen to behave like a human.

They are human, these guys we elect and they should be able to act normal and fallible without it causing some diplomatic outrage. I don't see there being some huge outcry in the UK over Michele's queenly cuddle. I guess the royals have altogether more dignity than to get embroiled in the messes of the common people

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is hysterically funny to me. Are people really, honestly serious about this? Can I expect to switch on bill o'reilly later and see a 15 minute segment with bill's body language expert going over the video frame by frame, as he clicks his tongue and sucks air over his teeth?

Edited April 9, 2009 by Private Pike

[truffles 2]

From personal experience I can tell you - if you are invited to meet the queen you will be coached before the meeting takes place ... and this coaching is done regardless of your status or rank. He will have advisors who are more than aware of what is expected - and the possible repercussions. He isnt meeting a crowd of well wishers .. he is on the world stage representing his country - it is part of his job to get this right - if he can't get something like this correct ........

[Peikko 1,575]

Probably, I hope it gets lampooned though

Yeah, he blows as a president. Let's get a better one, one that can handle etiquette even if he can't string a sentence together that makes sense. Hilarious.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's rather like viewing one's president as a god, in my opinion - one that can't be seen to behave like a human.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect an American President to have the instincts befitting a man in his position... and that would include not wanting to bow to any man.

Remember, this is the President of the USA. Not the PM of some podunk country like the UK.

[Peikko 1,575]

Instincts? Perhaps you need to have a lineage then, if you want presidential instincts

Yeah, yeah, we may not have a president, but we have a queen. She wears a crown, so nah nah nah nah nah!

Edited April 9, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[one...two...tree 2,762]

From personal experience I can tell you - if you are invited to meet the queen you will be coached before the meeting takes place ... and this coaching is done regardless of your status or rank. He will have advisors who are more than aware of what is expected - and the possible repercussions. He isnt meeting a crowd of well wishers .. he is on the world stage representing his country - it is part of his job to get this right - if he can't get something like this correct ........

I agree. If I were his staff - I would have prepped him by showing him several video clips of other heads of state greeting one another. I think watching others would have ingrained in him what to do better than just telling him, "Now if the King nods, you nod back. But if he extends his hand, you kiss it." Knowing Obama's public persona, I'd say he was just trying to respectful while winging it because he was caught off guard. Maybe he'll get a chance to elaborate just what was going through his mind when he greeted the King.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What repurcussions could there possibly be from this?

A few people getting hysterical on blogs or message boards?

Add to that the complete bs people allow themselves to believe, like that ####### about obamas lapel pin, whether he had his hand on his heart during the pledge of allegiance, his "terrorist dust jab" and complete nonsense like the suggestion that he somehow wants to bring in neo Nazi brown shirts.

Put all this stuff together and you have a very silly, very childish picture.

[Peikko 1,575]

From personal experience I can tell you - if you are invited to meet the queen you will be coached before the meeting takes place ... and this coaching is done regardless of your status or rank. He will have advisors who are more than aware of what is expected - and the possible repercussions. He isnt meeting a crowd of well wishers .. he is on the world stage representing his country - it is part of his job to get this right - if he can't get something like this correct ........

I agree. If I were his staff - I would have prepped him by showing him several video clips of other heads of state greeting one another. I think watching others would have ingrained in him what to do better than just telling him, "Now if the King nods, you nod back. But if he extends his hand, you kiss it." Knowing Obama's public persona, I'd say he was just trying to respectful while winging it because he was caught off guard. Maybe he'll get a chance to elaborate just what was going through his mind when he greeted the King.

Elaborate? #### me, I hope not. He should remain silent and dignified, as befits his godly status.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A bit OT, but apropos...

During Jesus' time, it was customary for a guest welcomed into a home, to have his feet washed by the host. He had the Pharisees all worked up into a lather when he got down on his knees and washed the feet of the woman who welcomed him into her home.

The cynics will twist that into something about Obama and his messianic complex, but there's real wisdom in that story there.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[GaryC 7]

Just a question, what would the reaction be if the Queen bowed like that to a head of state? Not just the few UK'ers here but in the press in the UK?