The White House is denying that the president bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at a G-20 meeting in London, a scene that drew criticism on the right and praise from some Arab outlets.
“It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah,” said an Obama aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Washington Times called the alleged bow a “shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate” and said it violated centuries of American tradition of not deferring to royalty. The Weekly Standard, meanwhile, noted that American protocol apparently rules out bowing, or at least it reportedly did on the occasion of a Clinton “near-bow” to the emperor of Japan.
Interestingly, a columnist in the Saudi-backed Arabic paper Asharq Alawsat also took the gesture as a bow and appreciated the move
According to the White House it was all because Obama is tall. Obama is taller than most people he meets how come we have not seen this bow before? And Politico (above) calls the bow “alleged.” Cripes.
Gibbs acting like he didn’t see the video or knew that much. With a snarky remark to top things off.
How dare you question the change that 55% of the country voted for.
How dare you question the change that 55% of the country voted for. That’s not very American of you.
Clearly, a bogus “scandal” perpetuated by idiots, for idiots.
#2 – No, just another way to mock those who will defend Obama until the death.
Looks like a bow to me.
I agree with GF. Looks like a bow to me too. SO WHAT? Seems like a an appropriate gesture to a king.
#2 I think you’re misunderestimating the power of a gaffe.
The Washington Times called the alleged bow a “shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate” and said it violated centuries of American tradition of not deferring to royalty.
I want to know where the Washing Times got this notion from. It has been a longer tradition that one is greeted in the local custom.
The some of the people at the White House need to be fired, they first deny it, then make-up a stupid excuse.
Just say it was a mistake, and move on. Lets face it, they guy wasn’t elected because he had the most experence. Lying about it just feeds the scandal.
Recent visits from/to foreign officials demonstrate that the President needs a new protocal person and needs to practice.
BTW, I didn’t vote for him, and if I can cut the guy a break, the rest of you could too.
Nothing wrong with some respect between leaders.
You do want respect as a nation don’t you?
The Queen is shorter that the King and he didn’t “bow” to her. What a stupid lie. Only blind O’mama-bots would believe it.
I don’t think this story is about the bow as much as it is about the denial and credibility of what purports to be an honest and open administration. And would the “local” tradition also entail kow-towing to some local a-hole who demanded that of all his people? This is nonsense, no President has bowed to this guy before.
Oh, I forgot. The Queen and the Prince where much shorter than the saudi king, Obama didn’t bow to them.
Like I sad, stupid excuse from the white house.
#8 BigBoyBC
I agree. Yawn! If he had bend down to kiss his ring, that would be one thing. But like Michelle touching the queen, who cares.
11,
Really? How about this straight shooter?
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/33289_Bush_Bowed_Too#rss
To me, this is far superior to the French kissing that the Bushes use to do to the Saudi king.
I listed to you and Adam discuss this on NA. I think Adam’s claim that bowing implies that the other other is top dog all over the world is bogus. Bows are done in Japan, and Americans have bowed in Japan too. Adam is reading waaaay too much in to this.
Let’s reverse the situation. Take the Iraqi shoe thrower. To most Americans, it just seems like a funny and childish act. To Arabs, it is the deepest insult. My point is that gestures are not universal in the meaning.
And, if give the King of KSA a deep bow insures Saudi help and cooperation in our ongoing war on terror, then I’d say we got ourselves a good deal.
It is about respect…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw
#15 You Jerk
Watch the video, he’s puting a metal or something around Bush’s neck.
Your just perpetuating this BS.
#5:
“SO WHAT? Seems like a an appropriate gesture to a king.”
I hope you’re not an American. If you are, learn the proper protocol or relinquish your citizenship. We do not bow to royalty.
Show respect, certainly, but never bow.
I agree with theBadSteveO… it seems like the appropriate thing to do.
#17, sure is. Bush is just one of the guys and Obama is a respected leader. You can twist it any way you like. Also, no mention of the timing and circumstances under which each visit occurred.
#15 This is bogus..this is NOT a bow, Bush is bending over so a medal can be placed around his neck. What is he supposed to do, stand on a ladder?
Deny the bow all you want.
As for bowing in Japan this is what they do in lieu of a handshake..but there still is a subservience message and it matters who bows the lowest.
And HOW DO WE KNOW he wasn’t kissing the king’s ring? We are blocked from viewing most of the event. Perhaps this is what really happened. The bowing story is a cover-up.
no John is right. no president has ever bowed to this guy before. most of the time they just kiss him and hold his hand. http://prophetofdoom.net/pics/Islamic_Clubs_Taliban/George_W_Bush_Prince_Abdullah_kiss_hold_hands.jpg
I think what made is so bad is his staff tried to cover for it, instead of just telling the truth. That being, “This is a new president, and he wasn’t sure what the proper protocol is for greeting a king as the president of the United States”, they instead said stuff like, “he had to bend over to shake the kings hand”.
And you thought the Bush presidency had a problem admitting when they made mistakes.
Bush holds hands with the king, bows, receives a medal, the wackos ignore it. Obama bows, the wackos get their diapers in a twist. Why does anyone expect anything different from Right Wing Wackos?
Paddy O’Troll, Big Boy, James Hill… that’s why your party is in tatters and in the minority. You’re idiots, plain and simple, and the country is coming to realize it.
Keep up the good work. 🙂
What an embarrassment! No matter the job title some people will never be more than a community organizer.
# 25 Phydeau said, “Keep up the good work. :)”
I will if you keep caring about my posts. 😉
This just in: Wingnuts bashing Obama. In other breaking news, the sun rises in the east.
You just know that if he didn’t bow, the wingnuts would be right there, howling that he didn’t show proper respect for a foreign leader. 🙂
#28 Paddy O’Troll, you keep talking as loud as you can. With people like you representing the Republicans and current “conservative” thought, the country will be more likely to stay in good (Democratic) hands. Thanks. 🙂
You have to appreciate the powerlessness and the frustration of the wingnuts, when this is all they have to complain about.
Personally, I’m kind of enjoying the spectacle. 🙂
Is Gibbs retarded? I suspect he won’t last long.
#15 – Watch again and use your glasses this time. You can see clearly that the King does not hang anything on Obama. Oh, and by the way: if you’re going to tell someone to watch their typos, it would be in your best interests not to include an error in the admonishment. You meant to say “you’re a professional.”
Personally, I think it was just a gaffe made by a newly-elected, naive man unfamiliar with protocol (he proved that with the Brown visit) and easily awed by ostentatious displays of wealth. The bad part is the lying about it by his staff. There’s an interesting article here [americanthinker.com/2009/04/obama_doubles_down_on_the_bow.html] that also includes a nice photo proving he was NOT giving a two-handed shake.