US President Barack Obama, center, back to camera, greets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, center, before the official G20 leaders group photo with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at London's Buckingham Palace, Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
American Thinker adds this:
See Miss Manners on the protocol. Americans do not bow to foreign monarchs because that act signified the monarch’s power over his subjects.
Here’s the video. Obama’s bow is at :53 seconds in:
I’m very surprised there’s NOT a protocol liasion at the White House. It would seem to be common sense.
I’m okay with my elected official not knowing ettiquette and customs upon taking office–I’ve voted for them based on issues, not their international decorum. But I agree that it looks embarrassing when they flub like that. On the one hand, I’d be very willing to let Obama’s gaffe slide because it’s his first trip overseas. . . but on the other hand, he’s smart enough to realize that everyone would be watching every move of this first trip. Even if, in the long run, protocol doesn’t mean much, the Democrats gained a lot of their support over the past 8 years by making Bush (fairly or unfairly) look like an out-of-touch moron. They should have known that everyone would expect Obama to be on his A-game in public situations; the gaffes are stupid and, ultimately, don’t mean much…but he still should have known better.
As far as Obama’s breach of protocol, why didn’t the White House hire someone to train them in the intricacies of protocol? Do they think they are above it and that people from other cultures will just “let it slide?” Yes some of the customs are ridiculous in our view. But many on the left have complained for years that we are hated around the world because our policies don’t particularly line up with the rest of the world. Why don’t they see the importance of respecting others customs?
Again, Chris, you have stated your position well. While it’s been obvious that we disagree on much of our politics, you are always well spoken and kind in your approach, and for that I am grateful. I also appreciate your understanding that if the George W. Bush had to deal with persistent criticism and downright hateful bashing, why should Barack Obama not be subject to at least a little bit of cricism? Didn’t Hillary Clinton even say that it is patriotic to discent? Thank you for your civility and engagement of the issues. I always enjoy it.
I agree with Chris. Funny? Yeah. Disturbing? Hardly. You see how awkward it is when he does it?
Considering how antiquated monarchies are anymore, it’s not a surprise that the only people who know proper etiquette with monarchs is those who are in said monarchies.
I don’t think it’s disturbing, just a breach of protocol, same as his gaffes with the Queen (by the way, 25 DVDs and an ipod are way cooler than a painting of the Queen and Prince Charles–so long as “Snakes on a Plane” was part of the DVD collection).
Even as an Obama supporter, I’m glad that the media is catching these gaffes (Time’s website had a list of the top 10 gaffes). I don’t subscribe to the theory that he’s off-limits–if we were allowed to make fun of Bush’s gaffes and stupid mistakes (winking at the Queen! Is our children learning?) then Obama has to be willing to take it as well. Personally I’m not offended by him breaching stuffy, often ridiculous protocol (as Leslie Nielsen said, having a Queen is a silly idea) but if he’s going to play on the national stage, he has to learn his lines. My belief is that we’re just seeing someone green to foreign relations stumble as he tries to navigate ettiquette. . . these are the type of breaches you let slide in the first 100 days. If he’s still bowing to the wrong people and not behaving correctly with the Queen in a year, then there’s room for concern.