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.
#29 FIDO said “something stupid in an attempt to defend Obama acting like a slave.”
Obama’s stupidity brings attention on himself proving again and again and again that he is in over his head. If Obama had any hint of honor he would resign immediately. But, since he is only a selfish, self-centered, egomaniac no letter of resignation is forthcoming.
Ooops! Too quick on the Submit button.
I meant to add, a two-handed shake would have been a breech of protocol, too. Your left hand is used for wiping your ass and should be kept to yourself in the Islamic world. I learned that rule in Afghanistan when I severely offended an important warlord with a two-handed shake.
obama is great a marketing expert
When in doubt, lie. The Obama-worshiping media will provide cover.
SOP for the Obama White House.
This president, as a candidate, would not have survived 1 week with the kind of media scrutiny focused on George Bush or Sarah Palin for that matter. But love prevailed and here we are.
ROTFLMAO. I’d rather have the guy ‘bow’ than Bush’s homo-erotic man kissing then walking holding the mans hand.
At least Obama didn’t slip him the tongue like Bush…LOL
“He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah”
Wow, I didn’t realize that Obama was 10 feet tall. (Either that, or Abdullah is only 3 feet tall.)
I’m 6′ 3″ – I’ve met and shook hands with all kinds of people, many of them around 5′ 2″ – and I’ve never felt the need to bend at the waist.
Dealing with the Saudi King alone is an affront to the forefathers of the United States and to those that fought in and with us in the Revolution. Their people deserve the same freedom as we did from our monarch.
We have become Hessians to these kings in the Middle East.
Cursor_
Actually, looking at the video, my first thought was that he tripped on the carpet and caught himself just before he bumped into Abdullah.
They could have said that and no one would have cared.
But the Chosen One doesn’t trip. Ever. He does bow.
#5.) We, as Americans, do NOT bow before any man. We are free men (or women). Our ancestors fought for our freedom from kings and royalty. William Penn fled England to found Pennsylvania because he wouldn’t bow to the King of England.
If I were to meet a foreign leader, I would show them only the same respect I would give to the President of the United States. I would not bow to Obama; I would not bow to any king, prime minister, prince, or pope. I would say “yes sir” and “no sir” or “Mr President” or whatever the appropriate title is.
(Yes, I would show respect to President Obama if I met him even if I disagree with some of his policies. If asked, I would plainly, but politely answer any question he may have and I would answer truthfully.)
Silly men. Don’t you know how his campaign was all about change? Well maybe he broke tradition by bowing. Traditions only stay traditions when you adhere to them. It also used to be traditional to have women out of the voting polls and blacks on the back of the bus.
This is a small thing. Don’t we all have better things to worry about?
Dvorak, I guess if your issue is about the lying, did republican administrations always tell the truth? Does the phrase “weapons of mass destruction” ring a bell?
#11, John,
If this is your over riding concern then maybe you need to get out more. A bow to a ruler that the previous administration not only bowed to, but kissed affectionately?
Oh and keep thinking about parties rather than country, that’ll make the fall faster.
How funny to see the people whose party has self-destructed ,tut-tutting about partisan politics. Funny but not surprising.
Remember back in ’95 or so when Newt the newt instructed Republicans to refer to Democrats as “sick”, “twisted”, “immoral”, etc. Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it?
Take it like a man, pedro. Don’t whine and complain. The guys you don’t like are in power now. It happens sometimes. Don’t be a crybaby about it, OK? You’re embarrassing yourself.
And that goes for the rest of you crybabies too. You want to find something serious to criticize Obama about, see what the liberals are criticizing.
#2 for the win
Yeah he bowed, yeah it was a mistake, he probably farted in public one time too.
The only people who care about this are the ones predisposed to criticizing obama. Look, we know you don’t like him, but he’s the first real president we’ve had in eight years, so get a grip. Give him a few months and shut up. After 9/11, I (and 90% of the country) got behind Bush for a while until he proved what an incredible empty suit he was.
John, you and a number of other wingnuts (Hannity etc) were just waiting for something to jump on about this trip. You’re ridiculous.
Are you going to also discuss the positive things he did and accomplished? Of course not.
I heard you on Twit just a few months ago claiming that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the economy. So – maybe you could be wrong about other things too. Did that ever cross your mind?
Let’s see… the country’s economy is cratering, the rest of the world scorns us after 8 years of Bush misrule, we’re bogged down in two bloody wars thanks also to Bush. Obama’s got a HUGE task on his hands cleaning up after the Republicans, and all the wingnuts can do is whine and complain about he bowed to a foreign ruler?
C’mon, seriously, guys… Paddy O’Troll, pedro, Alfred, Obamasucks… fess up, you’re really undercover Democratic operatives trying to make the Republican party look as stupid as possible, right? Because no one could be so petty and stupid on purpose, right? Right? 🙂
#48 – Try to evade the issue as much as you want. Obama’s weak background is shining through his facade.
* Russian reset button
* Speak to me in Austrian
* Silence on pirates
D’oh !!!
Experience Matters
http://bit.ly/OPeRL
#49 – Bowing is just one of the hundreds of blunders Obama has made in less than 100 days. It is going to be a very bumpy 4 years for both
The Republicans
and
The Dependents
jbenson2, you too? Undercover Democratic operative trying to make the Republicans look stupid? Experience matters?
A little history here… Dubya was a failure at every business he tried, constantly getting bailed out by his daddy’s rich friends. Managed to get elected governor of Texas, which is a mostly powerless office (the Lieutenant Governor has all the power, thanks to laws created after the Civil War). In other words, a total lightweight. And you have the nerve to criticize Obama’s qualifications???
You gotta be an undercover — no one could be that stupid.
I will never forget bush walking hand in hand with the saudi princes like half a fag.
ok, I mean whats all the fuss about? He bowed in respect, that doesnt mean he cleaned his shoes or scrubbed the carpet under his feet? When you meet a King, you have to bow, thats a sign of respect. This is done all through Asia and some parts of Africa. Nothing new there.
Infact making an eye contact in Eastern culture is considered very rude, bowing down is well resptected and breaks the ice in the eastern culutre more than just a handshake or the Bush’s infamous “You are with us or against US”…so be cool guys.
pedro, my friend… anyone can pretend, after the fact, that they never really liked Bush. That’s the beauty of the internet, you can create whatever personality you want. I’ve seen you bash Obama on every single thing he does. I’ve never seen you write anything that approved of anything he does. You may say that you’re just a rugged individualist, calling them like you see them. I think it’s much more likely that you’re a wingnut Obama basher pretending not to be a wingnut. Because you know wingnuts have no credibility.
And that goes for the rest of you “rugged individualists”. You might have more credibility if you could think of one single thing Obama has done that you approve of.
Nothing sadder than a closeted wingnut.
Noam, I’m not predisposed to criticizing Obama. The real issue is less about the bow and more about the administration’s clear dishonesty. If they’re dishonest about something this minor, which of their other assertions can we really believe?
Zorker, you’re complete wrong. The President of the United States does not bow to royalty under normal circumstances. In fact, bowing to anyone other than Allah is forbidden in Muslim cultures.
Hey, why are my posts being deleted? I didnt tell Obama to bow you know.
[Your posts are not being deleted. – ed.]
#59
so your point is?? other than religious bashing as usual.
#59 Interesting because I do not see anyone else bowing to this character. AND now I am more convinced than ever that he wasn’t bowing either. He was indeed kissing his ring. Makes more and more sense. It was this guy who may have gotten Obama elected with back door money. Possible? Yes?
# 62 John C Dvorak said, “It was this guy who may have gotten Obama elected with back door money. Possible? Yes?”
Well, we do know that records showing the ID of millions in “small” donations are not to be found…
this list could go on for pages and pages
oh_no
Carter: wore jeans and sweaters in the White House, and “lusted after women” (so he’s honest and informal)
Reagan” has “outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes”(so he had a sense of humor)
Bush I: Auschwitz, he commented “Boy, they were big on crematoriums, weren’t they?” later he spewed on Miyazawa(moment of absurdity and got sick in Japan)
Clinton lies about sex and only his wife forgives him.(lying under oath very bad but this was about personal matter not like Bush and Cheney’s crimes against the country)
Bush II: so many to pick from…touches Angela Merkel (ya bad call on his part but lecher I don’t think so)
Obama: is bad at picking gifts and bowed to a king(so what he’s just trying to be polite I’m sure he knows the place of his office)
These are all just fodder for a news media and public that finds it easer to pick apart trivial matters then spend time thinking on the real issues we face.
Greg Allen said, on April 10th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Clearly, a bogus “scandal” perpetuated by idiots, for idiots.
Yep.
Operatives are not to reveal their Islamic orientation…
Woohoo! I hope the Republicans pick this up as an official party belief. 🙂