Video: No, Obama wasn’t cleaning the floor when greeting Abdullah
posted at 12:08 pm on April 3, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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While I don’t post a lot on Twitter myself, I do learn a few things by monitoring my feed. For those wondering why the media hasn’t reported at all on Barack Obama’s protocol-smashing deep-waisted bow to King Abdullah — besides the usual Cover Obama’s Behind impulse — a few people are suggesting that media outlets are taking the position that Obama was really picking something off the ground instead of bowing.
Where did they get idea? Certainly not from the video. I’ve highlighted the portion, and repeat it a couple of times to be clear:
Very clearly, throughout the bow, Obama’s right hand stays engaged with Abdullah’s. His left hand remains visibly at his side, and doesn’t once reach for the ground.
So where would they get the idea that President Obama assigned himself the task of cleaning the floor? I’d assume that Obama’s press office pushed that meme out hard yesterday when the video first came out, and they didn’t bother to check it. Considering Anderson Cooper’s long missive about the Obama’s brief head nod to Queen Elizabeth, the silence on this greeting seems astonishing.
National media — when will you report this? 2013?
But did it buy Obama any respect from Abdullah and the Saudis? Apparently not. Arab News, the recognized media mouthpiece for the Saudi royal family, dismisses Obama in an editorial today as false change:
The so-called new plan is nothing but Bush’s old wine in Obama’s new bottle. So much for the “Change We Can”! Looks like the pundits who mocked our boundless adulation for Obama and celebration of “change in Washington” were right after all. They were right when they insisted that whoever is in charge in Washington, the US foreign policy seldom changes. This is unfortunate considering the great expectations and hopes the new president’s talk of exploring a “new way forward” had spawned across the Muslim world.
I guess the next time, the Saudis expect a lower bow, and perhaps a kiss on the feet.
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The hell it isn’t.
capitalist piglet on April 3, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Amateur hour continues.
echosyst on April 3, 2009 at 12:48 PM
That is too sick to imagine. I am horrified! This man is a sucessor to George Washington!
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 12:49 PM
To me, he looked absolutely eager to do it. I am guessing it came from someplace deep within him.
capitalist piglet on April 3, 2009 at 12:49 PM
You consider that the gracious Queen had to cover for our embarrassing Fisrt Lady an international success!?
It is humiliating that the Palace had to issue a statement saying the Queen was not insulted by the behavior of our First Lady.
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 12:52 PM
So he refused to bow for the queen of our closest ally, but practicaly grovels before the king of our sorta sometimes maybe ally.
Classy.
sonofdy on April 3, 2009 at 12:53 PM
A proper bow would have had him hold his left hand behind his back with the back of his hand against the small of his back. So Obooba doesn’t even know how to bow.
Akzed on April 3, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Its all good.
sonofdy on April 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
notaclue reminds me of the Iraqi Information Minister ca 2003: “We have the American forces surrounded, and are expecting them to surrender any moment”.
mr.blacksheep on April 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Most of us are smart enough to know that he already has.
Friday, April 03, 2009Strongly Approve
35%
Strongly Disapprove
32%
Economy Getting Better
23%
Economy Getting Worse
52%
canditaylor68 on April 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Why can’t the late night comics do this?
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
maybe in liberal fantacy land its all good.
self correction.
sonofdy on April 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Instead, what’s happening is that for the first time in history a President of the United States bows down on bended knee to a foreign monarch. And this monarch just happens to be Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.”
Bows. Just bows. Don’t tell me that bows don’t matter!
Loxodonta on April 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Oh hell yeah. That’s what was so weird about it. He owned that bow and made it his own. You could practically hear Paula Abdul yelling “touchdown!”
econavenger on April 3, 2009 at 12:55 PM
getalife-your one liners are very funny.
What is the website that you get your talking points from?
Democrats.com?
Or is that just where you form your opinion on matters?
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Of course not! He’s an American! Americans do not bow. The idiot.
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 12:55 PM
He *sold that bow and made it his own
econavenger on April 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Notice in the photo you linked the look on the towel head’s face on the right.
He seems very amused & pleased the POTUS is doing this.
Very triumphant.
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Maybe The One’s “bow” is secret code that he is going to need the Prince when The One’s Cap and Trade kicks in and gas goes thru the roof.
Dire Straits on April 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
That’s good…
Holding hands with a culture that respects that, where men on similar “status” often do that…and certainly a nod of the head in honor of tradition is fine, it does show respect…but bowing deeply before a King, where he has never done that before seems more then a bit strange…is is viewed as subservient.
For those who think this is too much, let me remind you that these things are analyzed in detail by political regimes around the world, they take apart every detail.
Where one sits, how one is greeted, the words of greeting, the body language. This isn’t some stumble, misstep, stutter that is part of life…this is a deliberate attempt at being subservient.
They, Russia, China, Korea, Iran, etc., will all read this as a week president.
The only thing that keeps us from being overrun, is our military so splendidly built by Reagan and the Bush’s…in another time, we would be facing certain invasion because of this seemingly small “gaffe”.
Weakness is not an asset in the world…strength and character is what makes us safe.
And I am afraid that Obama is showing neither…
right2bright on April 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Great! He’s even incompetent at bowing.
Loxodonta on April 3, 2009 at 12:57 PM
You needn’t worry. Next time he’ll be prostrate, licking Abdullah’s boots.
mr.blacksheep on April 3, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Do you wipe yourself after a trip to the bathroom? Its just etiquette…….
dmann on April 3, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I wish our current president was only there for a week, weak is what I meant to type.
right2bright on April 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Original “getalife” thinking.
Just a proud Independent American.
getalife on April 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/International/story?id=1207382&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
OUCH. Thought I remembered somthing along these lines from the last time I was briefed on how to act in Saudi…
LInk found for my little Stalker buddy…
Romeo13 on April 3, 2009 at 12:59 PM
He bowed like it was the Special Olympics.
Proud Rino on April 3, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Obama’s servile bow gets my vote for Obamateurism Of The Month!
OhioCoastie on April 3, 2009 at 1:00 PM
We are so screwed. Prepare accordingly.
TheBigOldDog on April 3, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Well, from that footage, I’ve got to wonder if P.BO was kissing the guy’s hand.
Count to 10 on April 3, 2009 at 1:01 PM
I think the asian guy confused him…
Step away from the coke mr o.
lexa on April 3, 2009 at 1:02 PM
“Hey king, that’s some mighty tasty boot polish ya got there. Can I ask you what brand that is? Whatever you’re using, that’s what I want Michelle to use on her dominatrix boots.”
innominatus on April 3, 2009 at 1:03 PM
It’s their progressive social agenda, particularly the way the treat women and homosexuals.
Don’t forget that it’s those nasty christians who are the real threat to tolerance in the world.
gwelf on April 3, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Come on cons.
Let’s not be hypocrites.
Do you remember when w winked at the Queen or held hands with the King?
Were you outraged then?
Didn’t think so?
Next.
getalife on April 3, 2009 at 1:05 PM
When I caught her (between eating her Krispy Kremes) with a quote from a known liberal website…her answer was…get this…they stole it from me.
That’s right, she thinks that major websites are stealing her material.
shhhhh…don’t tell her, but they have tapped into her computer and are snatching her posts right off cyber-space…
right2bright on April 3, 2009 at 1:05 PM
I see I’m not the first to ask that question.
Count to 10 on April 3, 2009 at 1:06 PM
There are plenty of occasions when it is proper to bow, even for Americans. After a performance, for instance. I was taught to bow as a child. no biggie. But the American head of state isnb’t supposed to bow to other heads of state, not in the uncouth way Obooba bowed anyway.
I can see a mutual bow with the Japanese PM, but not from the waist. Good grief.
Akzed on April 3, 2009 at 1:06 PM
That quote from ABC News can’t be right.
If King Abdullah really disapproves of people bowing before anyone but God, then why are the King and his assistant smiling down at Obama while he is bowing?
It’s almost like their laughing at the President.
Loxodonta on April 3, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Barack Hussein Ali Babba binBama: Please Highness, please please please buy our bonds.
Saudi prince: Away! fool. Yech, groveling makes me take monthly shower.
james23 on April 3, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Neither are signs of submission.
Count to 10 on April 3, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Uh…. you do know he spent some of his very formative years in Indonesia?
He’s just out of practice…
As to the Bow itself? If memory serves the Full Salaam of submission uses both hands to kiss the ring… on both knees… with eyes downcast…
Its was so they could see both hands (no weapons), on both knees (harder to rise than on one knee), and can’t see your target (eyes down)…
Romeo13 on April 3, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Yes. I recall Mr. Miyagi saying “Look eye. Always look eye.” Or you will get karate chopped in the neck.
Proud Rino on April 3, 2009 at 1:08 PM
I wonder. He had to know what he was doing, yet he does it as smoothly as if he’d done it numerous times (or else had a great deal of practice).
That’s one thing I want to know.
INC on April 3, 2009 at 1:08 PM
For all of you who do not understand how to use the internet, and who would rather post lies then truth.
right2bright on April 3, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Exactly.
…though, aren’t Japanese stile bows always from the waste? Or is there more terminology here than I am aware of?
Count to 10 on April 3, 2009 at 1:09 PM
I’m glad you could restrain yourself to only spiting on Obama.
I will make sure I never get near him as I could not be so restrained. I guess I am Muslim in that respect. I know a true enemy when I see one and Obama is Hitler circa 2008.
This proved beyond a doubt Obama is Muslim. His pastor was and he is. By his own Islamic belief he is commanded to deny this. But he is 100% Muslim. He may be the AntiChrist only time will tell for sure. One thing for sure he is not in any way christian.
Steveangell on April 3, 2009 at 1:10 PM
getalife, can you at least pretend you are reading what others are saying? Then you would know the difference between bowing and holding hands. Why even post here if not to respond to what others write?
Speedwagon82 on April 3, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Perhaps you need to hear it from the King himself:
But don’t let the facts get in your way. Carry on.
Guardian on April 3, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Yep… Saudi is truly a progressive Kingdom…. soon they will progress all the way to the 9th Century!
/sarc… put the tag on for my little stalker buddy… don’t want him confused, or to be asked for a reference…
Romeo13 on April 3, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Yes I did mean to a “superior person” The bows on stage are acknowledgment of the gracious aplause… And a mutal head nod is not a formal hand behind your back bow.
There really is a difference between subservience and respect. This was a subserveint act. Disgusting.
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 1:12 PM
So let me get this straight from our enlightened lib friends:
1. Michelle Obama breaches major protocol and touches the Queen Elizabeth.
2. Barack Obama barely nods his head at Queen Elizabeth and gives her an iPod with his own speeches on them.
3. These are considered “charming” and totes okay as being their own spin on protocol.
4. Within a couple of days, Barack Obama bows deeply to the Saudi King and appears to kiss his hand.
5. When people wonder about that, the response is that he needs to be respectful to the man and his culture (repressive though it may be).
Yeah, that’s not a complete contradiction and completely hypocritical AT ALL.
mjk on April 3, 2009 at 1:12 PM
He didn’t call him Godfather did he?
RobCon on April 3, 2009 at 1:14 PM
“I guess the next time, the Saudis expect a lower bow, and perhaps a kiss on the feet.”
No, they’ll expect him to kiss their asses. After a couple more months of this, maybe the kid from Chicago will wise up and start drilling for oil HERE.
GarandFan on April 3, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Not almost…
It has been stated many times…After JFK met with Khrushchev, and they saw how “green” he was, how naive, all hell broke loose. They saw there chance to expand, within weeks the Berlin Wall was being built, and another couple of decades of imprisonment, torture, and death awaited millions.
All because one meeting assured the Russian’s that we were too weak.
It doesn’t take much to show you are weak…and it takes a huge effort to show your strength.
Under Bush, the world knew we weren’t weak…and they knew we were strong…and that bothered them.
right2bright on April 3, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Actually–yes. I was quite appalled at that back rub as well. The difference is the press covered it prominately. Part of my outrage is the complete silence in the press. It is so frustrateing to watch them keep cheerleading when he is so obviously a dufus!
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 1:15 PM
No but he did ask “What is thy bidding sire?”
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Sitting & spinning while groveling also gets the job done, so I’ve seen from my dog, anyhow.
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 1:17 PM
No but I have seen video of the wink. Did I care, no,as an American Bush considered himself the queens equal. Obama as an American is bowing before the king of Saud. Since you are such an independent thinker then think of this-why would I or anyone in this room agree with your call to collectivism. Each one of us can object or support this president using their own thought processes. You dear are one who is obviously scared of venturing away from the collective meme of bots supporting Obama. You dare not make a statement against him even when he has obviously screwed up. Until you are able to break away and really begin to think for yourself, you will only find agreement with your thoughts among your lefty brethren and no one here will think anything more of your opinions. You are just not worth the time and energy to explain anything too,because you dare not think “independently”.
canditaylor68 on April 3, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Obambi is kowtowing to the Saudi king. Imagine what he would do to his real hero bin laden when the two meet. :(
poxoma on April 3, 2009 at 1:17 PM
We should have a contest of what Obama whispered to him…but then you may have won.
right2bright on April 3, 2009 at 1:18 PM
all better
james23 on April 3, 2009 at 1:18 PM
So now Obama was not actually bowing but merely cleaning the floor? How, by licking the bottom of the king’s shoes?
Watching the servile Obama bow and scrape like a serf before the ludicrous Saudi king made me sick. Obama is a disgrace to the office of the presidency.
AZCoyote on April 3, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Are you really suggesting that the King of Saudi Arabia, as enlightened as he is about human rights, might take advantage of the President’s display of naive immaturity and submission?
Or, are you trying to suggest that some Causers of Human Disasters might be emboldened by the President’s display of naive immaturity and submission?
Loxodonta on April 3, 2009 at 1:25 PM
They actually have a lot in common with “progressives” in our own country. Our Progressives would like to progress all the way back to caveman social norms.
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 1:25 PM
LOL
gwelf on April 3, 2009 at 1:26 PM
No! Noone here would suggest that Obama was anything but brilliant! And a credit to his countrymen in everyway. This is such a nice change afterall.
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 1:27 PM
“Trillions for tribute, but not one cent for defense!”
-Present B. Obama
Blacksmith on April 3, 2009 at 1:27 PM
That was obviously someone else’s left hand at his side. He clearly was picking something up using his telekenis powers as the Messiah. Mr. Obama would never bow and scrape to anyone. No way.
BTW, My meme on this yesterday was that King Abdullahsshole told Obama his shoelaces was untied, in order to get Mr. Obama to look down and appear to be bowing. I am waiting for my truth to be reflected at DKos and Huffpo. Maybe I’ll post it there so that I get the koolaid going strong there.
eaglewingz08 on April 3, 2009 at 1:29 PM
The Saudis and libtards in our own country also probably both think the Stock Market is evil.
Speedwagon82 on April 3, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Gasp! I can’t imagine a liberal would engage in delusions of grandeur!
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Do it. I wanna see what happens.
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 1:33 PM
That is such a sweet ‘quote’!
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 1:34 PM
If only King Abdullah were an AIG executive, I wouldn’t be experiencing Journolist narrative whiplash today.
Loxodonta on April 3, 2009 at 1:34 PM
That is funny to me these folks post & run.
And if they stick around to argue, it ain’t long, or it degrades into personal attacks.
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Here are a couple of more examples of original “getaclue” thinking:
1. Posting an O’bama job approval “poll” that sampled 35% more Democrats than Republicans, in order to achieve the result the “pollsters” wanted.
2. Trying to convince us that Enron “happened on Bush’s watch”. Even former Enron advisor Paul Krugman admits it started 5 years before Bush took office.
And as for “It’s all good”? That only describes your stash of Jamaican cigarettes. Nothing more.
Del Dolemonte on April 3, 2009 at 1:35 PM
My entry???
Alah Ackbar… the plan continues… and you’re sure I get to trade Michelle in on 72 virgins… right?… RIGHT????
Romeo13 on April 3, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Silence now translates to “swift boating” in 2012.
Media malpractice cuts both ways – if only there were a Republican worth supporting. : (
Angry Dumbo on April 3, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Here’s the latest White House spin:
“President Obama was not bowing! He was actually challenging the Saudi King to a full rut, (ala two stags going at it during mating season). Because the Saudi King refused to accept the president’s challenge to rut, President Obama clearly established himself as the dominant male. This is a magnificent victory for US foreign policy.” There you have it. It’s all very clear now that I’ve seen the WH version.
sdd on April 3, 2009 at 1:39 PM
I was saying yesterday that I wish they would come up with an oops Obama tripped story.
Wiping the floor? That’s better than tripping? Come on! Clumsy is better than janitorial right? Oh well–
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 1:42 PM
sdd on April 3, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Rutting is better than clumsy or janitor. You win. It is also better than a curtsy. Much better. Now what is that Whitehouse email address again?
petunia on April 3, 2009 at 1:45 PM
I listened to Glenn Beck. I’m listening to Rush. I watched Fox & Friends (that one I understand, a bit). Nothing. I know the obots will say, ‘it’s nothing, move along, nothing to see here’, but I expect more from Rush and Glenn. And it’s “Open Line Friday”. So, if someone is calling about it, it’s not making it past the screeners. Why? What am I missing here?
dish on April 3, 2009 at 1:45 PM
It’s obviously a bow.
I’m usually the last to credit the idiot with anything, but I have to say it could be just another example of the Ghetto Thug not understanding any more protocal than a 7-year old boy.
Since he doesn’t value our country, why would he think he should honor the office by remaining dignified when greeting foreign rulers?
notagool on April 3, 2009 at 1:45 PM
I’m thinking this is a winner.
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 1:47 PM
“Theres a new game
We like to play you see
A game with added reality
You treat me like a dog
Get me down on my knees
We call it master and servant”
jcrue on April 3, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Hey that’s how he greeted his “friend” Frank Marshall Davis. Why are there no other girlfriends? Don’t you think Orca Winfrey or the MSM would have found an old girlfriend to interview? None? Barry the player? None? Not one? Manly wife, but no other girls? Is Barry on the downlow?
marklmail on April 3, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Maybe we now know who his puppet masters are…
NTWR on April 3, 2009 at 1:54 PM
UGH. That could be called something else in San Francisco.
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Well looking past the whole “Leader-of-the-free-world-and-the-only-remaining-superpower” bowing to Queen Elizabeth and the Saudis…which of course as a citizen of this great sovereign nation, burns me up. The fact that he bowed lower to the Saudis really ticks me off. Really? The head of state of one our most staunch and loyal allies gets LESS respect that the Saudis who have been playing both sides since 2001? Since when have the Saudis sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq? Helped us in the GWOT? Hello? Anyone?
Rightwingguy on April 3, 2009 at 1:57 PM
I think I saw the Three Stooges do this in some movie
It gets more bizarre all the time
I cannot cipher the big ‘O’ except to guess he thought he was buying points by giving the big bend over to the leader of the anti-Jews. Sending a message? Send them Israel if you want to show you mean it, Pres. O.
On my now lost old hard drive I saved an article about a higher up in the Saudi echelon laughing about getting the blue eyed blond slaves to fight his wars. Soldiers have to fight where they are sent. What was Obama’s excuse for his voluntary exercise?
entagor on April 3, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Rightwingguy on April 3, 2009 at 1:57 PM
The majority of the perps indulging in the 9/11 ‘man made disaster’ were from where again? Yep. Subjects of the man the POTUS just groveled in front of.
And not worthy of notice by anyone beyond the blogosphere.
dish on April 3, 2009 at 2:01 PM
…or some other body part.
uncivilized on April 3, 2009 at 2:06 PM
That action would not involve the ‘kissing’ action…..
Badger40 on April 3, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Yes…
right2bright on April 3, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Just a proud Independent
AmericanDouche.getalife on April 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
FIFY
ammon_of_cs on April 3, 2009 at 2:15 PM
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