Flashback: NYT scolded Clinton for almost bowing to royalty
posted at 4:41 pm on April 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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So far, the media has remained entirely silent on Barack Obama’s deep-waist bow to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. They used to defend American protocol a lot more closely, as The Anchoress discovered in doing research on the subject. The New York Times sharply criticized Bill Clinton for a mere inclination of his shoulders towards Japanese Emperor Akihito in 1994:
It wasn’t a bow, exactly. But Mr. Clinton came close. He inclined his head and shoulders forward, he pressed his hands together. It lasted no longer than a snapshot, but the image on the South Lawn was indelible: an obsequent President, and the Emperor of Japan.
Canadians still bow to England’s Queen; so do Australians. Americans shake hands. If not to stand eye-to-eye with royalty, what else were 1776 and all that about? …
Guests invited to a white-tie state dinner at the White House (a Clinton Administration first) were instructed to address the Emperor as “Your Majesty,” not “Your Highness” or, worse, “King.” And in what one Administration aide called “some emperor thing,” an Army general was cautioned that he should not address the Emperor Akihito at all as he escorted him to the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.
But the “thou need not bow” commandment from the State Department’s protocol office maintained a constancy of more than 200 years. Administration officials scurried to insist that the eager-to-please President had not really done the unthinkable.
The media took Clinton to task for even suggesting the unthinkable. Now they remain silent on Obama’s leap to the unthinkable:
When will the New York Times cover this, even to the extent they covered Clinton’s inclined shoulders? Or is the unthinkable in 1994 turned into the unmentionable in 2009, thanks to a national media that has completely sold out to Barack Obama?
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Yes to kissing. Kissing is a sign of friendship and respect, but not subordination.
Yes to holding hands, by no less an authority than the NY Times.
No to bowing, by Wikipedia.
No to bowing, by no less an authority than Miss Manners:
Thank heavens Bush didn’t bow — we’d never hear the end of it from you, would we?
Obama Franks Waters LLC
unclesmrgol on April 4, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Oddly enough the failure of the press to report the truth may acure in our favor in the long run… It is obvious to us what a disaster this European vacation has been but maybe it will fool some of the terrorists into thinking we are still strong.
As much as I want to see Obama shown in the proper light. I think it truly damaged us to always portray Bush as a bumbling fool. It emboldened our enemies. Perspection is reality and we only need Americans to understand what a fool we’ve elected we don’t need to telegraph our weaknesses.
I do realize that is a pretty useless hope but I do want to avoid the inevitable killing feilds.
petunia on April 4, 2009 at 9:00 PM
This is an impeachable offense. He failed to support and defend the constitution when he did that.
platypus on April 4, 2009 at 9:12 PM
I wish I could spell. It never seemed important enough to work on when I was in school… But without spell check I’m a dunce.
petunia on April 4, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Yes. I read your response, and understood it completely, even though some of it was in French, including the knuckle-dragger part. But I did this only after the thread was moved into the vault, so did not respond to you there.
Like you, I too can have brainitis and can be stilted with the humor. So, to be clear, I was kidding with you in the previous two posts to you.
Any time you want a serious discussion, silliness, or both, I always enjoy exchanging posts with you. Just don’t hit me.
Loxodonta on April 4, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Gee, you don’t say?
from wiki, referring to 2004 Democrat “nominee” Jean-Claude Kerri, whose biggest claim to fame came when he sailed to Cambodia one Christmas Eve under orders from a President who hadn’t even taken office:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry#Childhood_years
Ouch! Better put some Grey Poupon on that.
Del Dolemonte on April 4, 2009 at 9:19 PM
I have to believe the video and image of Obama bowing is going to be used a lot over the next few years, and eventually make its way into TV ads. How will the media explain their utter silence when it happened? I think their current silence will benefit conservatives in that it reeks of media bias.
ps: You are NOT a dunce!
I always blame my keyboard.
Loxodonta on April 4, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Sorry, fellow right-thinkers. I think Obama WAS just bending over to deal with some issue with his lame iPod gift. After all Obama is quite aware that he is The One and therefore I think it highly unlikely he wouldmintentionally bow to anyone.
kd6rxl on April 4, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Let’s see if I can do this …
I’ve been a registered Republican for decades and have always supported conservative causes, but now that you guys at Hot Air are ginning up outrage over this phony bowing business, I’m voting …
Nope. Can’t do it.
Loxodonta on April 4, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Gah! Well, considering that there is actually a Mabus in the Obama administration, I’m sufficiently creeped just as it is. It doesn’t identify Mabus as the anti-Christ, just as the one who is killed. And it mentions a navy, too.
But I must heed aengus’ warning – I don’t do the occult thing, and I know these things are usually interpreted as a matter of hindsight, which is always 20/20.
Still…creepy squared.
capitalist piglet on April 4, 2009 at 9:32 PM
I can very much see that. Looking back, parameters beyond birthplace may have been a good thing. (Though they may have thought of it and had their reasons for rejecting it.)
capitalist piglet on April 4, 2009 at 9:33 PM
The thing that burns my ass about Obama is that when he is overseas he is supposed to represent the United States. He is not supposed to apologize for this country. He is not supposed to take cheap shots at Bush about Abu Ghraib or global warming or anything else. He is not supposed to grovel, kiss ass or bow for monarchs. Tacky.
Someone needs to give these people lessons in how to behave.
Imperfect as Bush may be, he never went to Europe just to complain about Clinton.
Terrye on April 4, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Well no, I don’t say. I just quote Thomas Jefferson.
I’m not French btw. I just care what happens to France. It’s possible to be pro-French and pro-American at the same time. At least it is for me.
There used to be a town called Napolean, Arkansas (presumably named due to the US’s alliance with Napolean in 1812) but it got swallowed up the Mississippi. New Orleans in the state of Lousiana also got swallowed up by water more recently.
What lesson can we draw from this? That God doesn’t want France and America to be allies? Perhaps. But I personally care what happens to the West – all the countries in the West.
aengus on April 4, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Thank you! I appreciate that.
capitalist piglet on April 4, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Loxodonta:
I am not all that outraged, just vaguely disgusted that Obama is as usual getting a pass.
Terrye on April 4, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Well, isn’t it nice to see that American arrogance is a thing of the past, and that the elected leader of the world’s greatest democracy can bow and scrape before the petty desert-dwelling “king” of a miserable rabble.
I’m beyond ashamed.
morganfrost on April 4, 2009 at 9:41 PM
http://www.bellaciao.org/en/IMG/jpg/bush-fly_open.jpg
Nuff said.
getalife on April 4, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Lots of people don’t have a clue that Obama is as usual getting a pass. Some of them will be angry when they find out. I am certain it will help in 2010 and 2012. Whether it will help us get a majority depends on many other things.
Loxodonta on April 4, 2009 at 9:51 PM
I hope this kowtow will a banner headline on Drudge soon. It is not on Fox.
Birdseye on April 4, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Jamais!
Maquis on April 4, 2009 at 10:09 PM
You can bet your bottom dollar that the Saudi government, the Iranian government, Al Queda, Hamas, Hezbollah, et. al. noticed it.
jimmy2shoes on April 4, 2009 at 10:19 PM
After referring to my French-English translator (that I now have bookmarked!), whew!
Now, tell me your thoughts on anything, tea parties, Obama, foreign policy, national defense, whether French wines will ever be able to compete with German wines, anything at all. In English, please. Remember, I’m just a typical American, which means that I’m just barely, functionally monolingual.
Loxodonta on April 4, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Followup-
Jean-Claude Kerri also attended a private boarding school in
Switzerland.
Pass the Grey Poupon, along with a bottle of Heinz Ketchup. And I will take some of Mama T’s raisins soaked in gin as a chaser.
Del Dolemonte on April 4, 2009 at 10:19 PM
That’s somewhat disturbing, isn’t it?
Loxodonta on April 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Having your barn door open isn’t the same has having your face in the mud.
Obama Franks Waters LLC
unclesmrgol on April 4, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Yes, it certainly is. Intentional or not, it will be taken as weakness and may very well get innocent Americans killed.
jimmy2shoes on April 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Oh, his face wasn’t even in the mud. It’s more like his tongue was in the cheese… I thought at first it was Bawney “bowing” to the Saudi…
Upstater85 on April 4, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I’m almost starting to wonder if some of these pro-Dear Leader drive-by posters on the Rahm/Axelrod/Carville/Begala payroll aren’t simple paid shills like dropabomb or sesquisomething, but in reality the real thing?
Times are tough, after all. Wolfie Blitzer has to work 7 days a week at C-NN.
Del Dolemonte on April 4, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I hope you mean it.
coldshot on April 4, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Zing!
Loxodonta on April 4, 2009 at 10:41 PM
To get back on topic, I would recommend the web site Sauduction to anyone who has reservations about the alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
aengus on April 4, 2009 at 10:48 PM
B…rock isn’t bow n.
Barney Frank just entered the room and Barry’s assume n the position
roflmao
donabernathy on April 4, 2009 at 11:05 PM
The Presidential Prostration will forever define this presidency.
I bet two dimes to a donut, Palin would have had the instincts to understand protocol in this situation WITHOUT the need for State Department counsel.
Wonder what the foreign policy expert (*rolls eyes*), Biden, has to say about it.
The Prostrate President is an embarrassment to Liberty.
Saltysam on April 4, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Desperation. Nuff said.
[Must resist urge to respond to getalife. But she makes such a good target!]
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on April 4, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Did Michelle Obama leave that guy’s fly open?
IlikedAUH2O on April 4, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Now, tell me your thoughts on anything, tea parties, Obama, foreign policy, national defense, whether French wines will ever be able to compete with German wines, anything at all. In English, please. Remember, I’m just a typical American, which means that I’m just barely, functionally monolingual.
I’ll keep the monolingual thing in mind! I’m not 100% with French yet, but my bride thinks I do really well and that’s what’s important to me. It helps that she has incredible patience and is very forgiving.
I have no thoughts on wine whatsoever, as I’ve never developed a taste for alcohol, nor the fun-n-games that typically accompany it’s consumption (at least in the military world). I am not entirely against it, but I’m not fond of it. They sure made a lot of it where I was stationed in Germany, lots of vineyards, entire river valleys full of vines from the riverside all the way to the top of the near mountain sized hills, very pretty.
I got thoughts on lots of things, but I’m in a bad way right now so I’m gonna go completely in zombie-mode right now… Good to talk with you, see you in the funny pages!
Maquis on April 5, 2009 at 12:09 AM
He did not bow to the Queen of England. Why not? If he’s being so gracious to royalty these days – why is he discriminating?
I never really believed the charges that he was Muslim – now – I’m not so sure. Why else would he bow to the monarch of an Islamic nation while denying the Queen of England the same courtesy.
He should not BOW to ANY monarch. This is the United States of America. Has he not read Thomas Paine?
HondaV65 on April 5, 2009 at 12:15 AM
I’m going to go throw up now.
JeffinOrlando on April 5, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Priceless find!
PC14 on April 5, 2009 at 12:36 AM
And where the fuck is TOTUS when he’s really needed to straighten Teh Tool out.
PC14 on April 5, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Yep. It’s a bow.
President TelePrompter learned from Louis Farakhan and Rev Wright….
Boy, you gotta wonder if anyone is working at the State Dept, Protocol office. I am sure if they called Condi Rice she could give them some pointers….
TN Mom on April 5, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Any time. Until then, my thoughts are with you.
May peace be with you always.
And please take good care of yourself.
Loxodonta on April 5, 2009 at 12:44 AM
By Islamic law he is without doubt a Muslim, by circumstances of his birth, his raising, and his time in a near Madrassa. The repetition of the Shahada alone suffices to make one a Muslim, it is irreversible, and I don’t believe for one moment that in his circumstances he never made that declaration. While in the West we permit one to sever his relation with a faith, Islam does not recognize this as a right or a possibility.
As to practice, who knows. We know only what he has been unable to conceal from us, and he has indeed displayed an extreme deference to Islam and it’s leaders, even to a degree that violates American convention.
He did do a tiny bit of head-bobbing with the queen that probably constituted respect in his book, though clearly his entire bizarre interaction with the UK betrays a lack of respect, possibly deliberately. But wow, his grand genuflection with the Saudi monarch was truly bizarre. It seemed to me that everyone else in the vicinity was looking at him with puzzled expressions.
No puzzlement though in the fact that he is dangerous, regardless of his intent to be so or not.
O/T: We got our base back in Uzbekistan according to Radio France International, apparently by agreeing to drop our concerns about human rights abuses. Coming on the heels of Clinton minimizing human rights concerns with China in favor of continued trade, this appears to be a strong theme of the new administration’s foreign policy.
Maquis on April 5, 2009 at 12:47 AM
Thanks. As you might see I’ve not managed to tear myself away as I know I ought…must be an addiction or something!
Bonne nuit.
Maquis on April 5, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Abdullah said gimme a ShamWow but Zero thought he said gimme a ShamBow.
viking01 on April 5, 2009 at 1:07 AM
Scott at Power Line noticed Washington Post’s Michael A. Fletcher attempt to dodge the issue:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/04/02/DI2009040202712.html
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/04/023251.php
slp on April 5, 2009 at 1:32 AM
Clinton was a conservative Democrat. The NY Times knew that and didn’t love him except when the even more conservative Republicans were mad at him. With Obama, they know he is a socialist.
Speedwagon82 on April 5, 2009 at 1:53 AM
We best starting acting like the scum our President says we are.
dmann on April 5, 2009 at 2:00 AM
And here on Earth, there are two that are crying, one that is saying: “I can’t believe my wife lost to this dolt”. And one that is cheering, hoping he equally suborns himself to Hamas.
Fed45 on April 5, 2009 at 3:08 AM
Hey! How bout that??!!! But we aren’t talking about Rumsfeld and Saddam Obama Hussein, now are we? Another illogical false analogy. Brilliant!
Fed45 on April 5, 2009 at 3:12 AM
If you truly love the U.S., in the name of that is sacred and holy, please refrain from voting in any future elections. You obviously haven’t a clue what it means to be a US citizen and what we represent. It IS a big deal. Read a history book,once.
Fed45 on April 5, 2009 at 3:28 AM
Basilsbest on April 5, 2009 at 6:09 AM
Yeah, but at least he didn’t hold hands with the Saudi king. That would be egregious.
Seixon on April 5, 2009 at 7:37 AM
It appears that years of training (?)caused a reflex action?
hopefloats on April 5, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Uh, I think we’ve already discussed that earlier. Please try again.
Del Dolemonte on April 5, 2009 at 9:27 AM
That’s what is known as “desperately trying to change the subject”. It’s in Saul Alinsky’s book.
And anyway, it’s a fact that the vast majority of Saddam’s toys came from other countries. The US sold him some light helicopters and not much more than that.
Del Dolemonte on April 5, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Who cares – the Saudis own us anyway.
Ares on April 5, 2009 at 10:15 AM
When the media, whether tv or print, is reduced to its current level of rumpswabbery, can you really take them to task for non-reporting of mr. 0gabe’s numerous gaffes, mis-steps and lies?
GeneSmith on April 5, 2009 at 11:52 AM
He wasn’t bowing. He was trying to kiss Abdullah’s manhood.
drjohn on April 5, 2009 at 3:05 PM
President Obama continues to be an enigma to me. The least experienced, least investigated, most leftist president ever elected. I cannot figure out his intentions. So, I am simply trying to determine the consequences of his actions and words, whether symbolic or substantive. With few exceptions, the president seems to be leading our country into bankruptcy and centralized control of vast sectors of the economy at home, and submissiveness abroad.
Yes. Dangerous, very dangerous.
For many, the principal threats to human rights are christianists, capitalists, militarists, and other members of the vast right-wing conspiracy.
Loxodonta on April 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM
It’s less fattening than chocolate.
Look! See how thin my fingers are?
Loxodonta on April 5, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Yup. RFI just is reporting that Obama on his global prostration tour is now pushing for complete global nuclear disarming. I’m sure he intends to show the way that’s done.
Yep, it’s the Sheepdogs and Sheppards that are the problem; the wolves would leave us alone if we weren’t so threatening to them.
Speaking of wolves, Obama is stepping on Sarkozy’s toes by pushing for Turkey to enter the EU. I knew his destructive plans weren’t limited to the US.
Maquis on April 5, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Ah, chocolate, now there is a French specialty that cannot be excelled!
Maquis on April 5, 2009 at 4:54 PM
These politicians always act as if foreign leaders and royalty are somehow superior to us, especially those on the Left despite their Marxist ramblings, and fumble over themselves recalling from years of Hollywood how one acts in such situations.
But, we Citizens do the same over here…we bow and scrape before the police, judges, politicians, bosses…a perpetual peasant/serf mentality I guess is in our genes from our immigrant ancestors.
We need a really good primer on Liberty 101 and the principles of our Revolution based in the Enlightenment. We seem to have regressed.
Dr. ZhivBlago on April 5, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Indeed.
That, I feel, is the most important thing we can and must provide.
Maquis on April 5, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Obama is deferential to certain people, but a bully to others. Who gets which treatment is forming an interesting pattern.
Loxodonta on April 5, 2009 at 5:35 PM
You must be delusional is you think I’m going to believe your French chocolate nonesense.
Everybody knows that chocolate comes from the bunnies that lay those little chocolate eggs in their colorful foil shells. Of course, where the chocolate bunnies come from remains one of the great mysteries of nature.
If only Einstein had addressed this issue instead of physics, we would have a much sweeter world.
Loxodonta on April 5, 2009 at 5:41 PM
You do know that the myth of that chocolate pooping bunny was a German creation to obscure the truth of chocolate don’t you?
Maquis on April 5, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Stop it, or we’re going to have to start our own chocolate blog.
Loxodonta on April 5, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Actually, I’m still hoarding my last couple of tins of Shokakola, a German confection combining chocolate, coffee, and kola nut. My wife won’t send me any more because it makes my brain explode, but it’s so good…
But my favorite is still a French variety that isn’t made anymore, sadly. I discovered it while serving with the AF in the South of France, I kid you not, we were there. It was a blend of chocolates from Africa and South America, very dark, almost bitter, wouldn’t melt at all if you had sipped a soda or such before eating it because the fat content was so low, and had the most stunning taste I’ve ever known. I found some on a subsequent trip to Sicily and bought dozens of bars that I made last for the better part of a year. Then I spent five years in Germany and searched both countries for that chocolate and never found it again, or it’s match. It was called Desir Noir, and could not be more appropriately named.
As far as a blog goes, I’m too inconsistent in my brain-power to do a blog on any subject! So I guess I will desist in mentioning the chocolate bunny conspiracy. Unless provoked.
Maquis on April 6, 2009 at 1:40 AM
he’s a sellout, a puppet
AMERICAN VETERAN on April 6, 2009 at 2:02 AM
makes me sick to my stomach to see this krap, i can’t wait until he is impeached and jailed
AMERICAN VETERAN on April 6, 2009 at 2:02 AM
Confection puzzle, for you:
Hoarding is not very nice.
Only a caring wife would do that to you.
Caffeine & a nameless substance doesn’t go well with a certain nut.
Obsessing over France all the time is so passé.
Lost candy is not something to dwell upon or cry about.
Allemande gets only one mention, I note.
Try telling me again that you’re in any way inconsistent.
Everything, no matter how coincidental, can be a provocation.
If you need help deciphering, here’s your secret decoder ring.
Loxodonta on April 6, 2009 at 2:23 AM
Aren’t you the clever one!
Exactement, you broke the code!
Maquis on April 6, 2009 at 2:33 AM
I still think Obama is a Marxist-Fascist and very dangerous. That he is a buffoon does not change my mind of his intentions for America. Being devious and stupid are not mutually exclusive.
technopeasant on April 6, 2009 at 2:47 AM
Let’s offer a cover-up, he was falling down drunk and was kept from completing his goal half way through the act by alert SS.
My greatest apologies to the Secret Service and the tough job they have to do. But the organizations abbreviation is too illustrative of this Presidency to pass up.
MSGTAS on April 6, 2009 at 10:32 AM
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