White House: Bow? What bow?
posted at 4:40 pm on April 8, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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I really wasn’t going to write about this again, mostly because I was convinced that the national media had let Barack Obama off the hook completely for his tradition- and protocol-breaking bow to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. However, Ben Smith reports that the White House has now been asked about it, thanks to a Washington Times editorial scolding Obama for the move — and that they’re denying it ever happened:
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 it 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.
No bow? You tell me. Obama’s a lot taller than Queen Elizabeth, too, so compare the two greetings for yourself:
Note also that this shows clearly that Obama did not “grasp [Abdullah's] hand with both hands”; Obama’s left hand is in plain view, on his left leg, as he executes the deep-waisted bow.
Will the media finally report this, as Ben Smith did, now that the White House is trying to deny the obvious and rewrite history? Or will they continue to sit silently while Obama tinkles on their heads and calls it rain? (also thanks to HA reader Geoff A)
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RightWinged on April 8, 2009 at 11:07 PM
He was being friendly like w.
getalife on April 8, 2009 at 11:09 PM
I am surprised his hollowness didn’t curtsy.
DeweyWins on April 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
If Obama hadn’t basically bowed into the king’s crotch, his excuse might make some sense.
amkun on April 8, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Actually, I just heard someone explain it… It wasn’t a lie. The White House is batting the question…
Upstater85 on April 8, 2009 at 11:13 PM
The bow was okay.
It was just a little over the top when he fell to the floor, licked his feet and said, “My precioussssss!”
Daggett on April 8, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Hey…little girl…yeah, YOU.
Let me fill you in.
I work in construction.
Normally, in construction, people just work, and they rarely talk politics. Need to get ‘er done…you know?
But something happened the other day that has them talking and they are angry.
Know what it is?
The Presidential Prostration.
You can cry all you want. Won’t change what happened.
Saltysam on April 8, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Do they really think they hit the ball?
Loxodonta on April 8, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Do not touch that dial, we are in control of your television set…
We are in control of your perceptions of reality…
We are in control of truth…
for you have entered, the ObamaZone.
Hawthorne on April 8, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Come on you pu$$y, you’re still not addressing my primary point. Is the White House LYING by saying he was simply using 2 hands to grasp the hand of a shorter man. Is the White House lying? It’s a simple yes or no. That’s been my point I’ve been making over and over. Are you so dishonest that you can’t even admit the obvious here?
RightWinged on April 8, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Thanks for the memory. But may I suggest:
The Obama Limits
Loxodonta on April 8, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Maybe he was checking his zipper?
Trying to figure out why everyone was laughing at him.
LegendHasIt on April 8, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Barack wasn’t bowing.
He was just trying to loosen up a stiff back.
He was just singing I’m a Little Teapot to the King.
He was just admiring the Kings fancy silk slippers with the pointy, curled toes.
He was just looking for his teleprompter to see what to say.
Ummm, yeah, it was one of those.
Hawthorne on April 8, 2009 at 11:22 PM
There is nothing wrong with your coming life. Do not attempt to adjust your income. My teleprompter and I will control your income. If we wish to make you richer, we will lift up your income. If we wish to make you poorer, we will crush you with taxes. Do not attempt to live your own life. We will control your life. If we wish we can reduce your life to a living Hell by selling you and/or your children to Saudi Arabia, or sharpen it to Heavenly wonderfulness. We will control your ups. We will control your downs. For the next
four eight twelve sixteen twenty twenty four twenty eight thirty twothirty six years, sit quietly and obediently and we will control all that you see, hear and feel. You are about to experience theclawawe andmiserymystery which reaches from the innerdeliriummind to THE OBAMA SOCIALIST NATION UNLIMITED.- The Saudi Arabian Slave Butt Boy, but Absolute Ruler of America
MB4 on April 8, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Yeah, you are right. That is better.
Hawthorne on April 8, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Looking at the bright side, maybe we should consider ourselves lucky that Obama wasn’t facing the other direction when he bent over for the king.
FloatingRock on April 8, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Now there is your basic lie right there.
BL@KBIRD on April 8, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Down the Memory Hole…
gridlock2 on April 8, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Come on, “getalife”, where’d you go?
RightWinged on April 8, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Obama: What is thy Bidding, my Master?
GunRunner on April 8, 2009 at 11:31 PM
I nominate the “I’m a Little Teapot” excuse.
Loxodonta on April 8, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Fastest way to get rid of a lib is to back him into a corner to admit an obvious lie.
Daggett on April 8, 2009 at 11:32 PM
I do not engage with name callers.
getalife on April 8, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Then why did you reply to me earlier, when I called you a name?
RightWinged on April 8, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Don’t jinx it. Now you know how to get rid of him. Just call him a doofus or something.
Daggett on April 8, 2009 at 11:37 PM
nevermind the little man behind the curtain
gatorboy on April 8, 2009 at 11:40 PM
He wasnt bowing
he was just showing how cats in heat present themselves in DC.
Sonosam on April 8, 2009 at 11:42 PM
In addition to not being at all willing to help your President in Afghanistan, and maybe Pakistan later, you are becoming utterly incompetent, but then in your heart of hearts I think you know that already. You used to be better. What happened?
You are also now becoming quite whiny. It doesn’t look good but maybe you will realize that on your own.
You are also now becoming at the very least border-line delusional. That, even with help, you will probably not be able to realize as one cannot prove to you that you are delusional, because one never can prove anything to someone who is delusional for that is a part of your delusion and the evidence of it.
Perhaps most abominable of all is that you have gone from somewhat interesting, mostly in a Cat and Mouse sort of way, to becoming a total bore.
MB4 on April 8, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Don’t be fooled… It won’t really get rid of him, he’s just using this to avoid my question. I’ve been calling him names since I noticed him in this thread, and he’s just pulling this BS now to avoid answering a simple question that even the Obama sycophant on Hannity was forced to answer honestly tonight.
RightWinged on April 8, 2009 at 11:43 PM
He wasn’t bowing.
He was blowing chunks.
The Saudi king’s nickname is “Chunks”, isn’t it?
Daggett on April 8, 2009 at 11:45 PM
If we all call him a name, will he go away?
Moron.
GunRunner on April 8, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Right about what? I’m asking you about the obvious lie, from this aide. Obama bowed, and they lied. That’s the topic of this thread, not anything someone thinks or doesn’t think Bush did. What do you think about the lie, getalife?
capitalist piglet on April 8, 2009 at 11:47 PM
For the record, “getalife” has been defeated. Even though I called him names from the beginning of his appearance in this thread, he tried to reply to me, but he actually didn’t reply to the points I made… he just spat out a bunch of BS. After I thoroughly destroyed him, he pulled out the ‘I won’t debate name callers’ crap.
RightWinged 1, getalife 0
As always, I WIN!!!
RightWinged on April 8, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Not much of a victory. I mean, look at who you were up against.
Daggett on April 8, 2009 at 11:57 PM
She sure has…
Saltysam on April 9, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Airing this issue needs to be continued until Obama admits that he bowed and then lied about. If that is for the next almost 4 years then so be it.
It is a killer issue, in part in and of itself, but even more so as it is a veritable metaphor for the man’s serial habit of saying one thing while doing another and all with the straight face of a compulsive and consummate liar.
MB4 on April 9, 2009 at 12:04 AM
RightWinged on April 8, 2009 at 11:07 PM
He was being friendly like w.
getalife on April 8, 2009 at 11:09 PM
The incident in question was during a ceremony where W was receiving a medal. President Bush stood a head taller than the presenter and had to bow is head (from the waist, not the knee, a true sign of deference) to receive the medal.
The United States President is a symbol for America. For the President to bow is a symbol of all of America bowing. This is why the flag never dips nor our president bow.
itsspideyman on April 9, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Oh look everyone! Some of you bad boys have hurt the poor little girls feelings and made her pout. I am sure that the Queen of Hearts will not be amused. Go to your rooms.
Cheshire Cat on April 9, 2009 at 12:11 AM
I submit that “getalife” is a paid operative… Outside of a level of an insanity we don’t comprehend, I know of no other excuse. And rest assured, as with stock message boards, these paid people do exist. Their mission is to mix things up in threads to lower the discourse.
RightWinged on April 9, 2009 at 12:11 AM
I said the same thing a couple weeks ago. I agree 100%. He/she is an astroturfer (fake grass roots), probably working for ACORN.
Daggett on April 9, 2009 at 12:14 AM
You have defeated Idiotsville’s missing idiot.
Cheshire Cat on April 9, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Finally saw the video and the pictures in real time. Sure looked like a bow to me.
One question, though-how tall is O’bama, and how tall is Kingie?
I think the White House made a big mistake here. Not by denying it, but by responding to it. By doing so they admit that there is enough public doubt to make it an issue.
But then, what the getalife do I know? After all, the Clintons and Kennedys are in charge again. It’s gonna be the 1960s and 1990s at the same time any minute.
And after dinner we’ll take a moonlight sail up the river to Cambodia with Dick Nixon..
Del Dolemonte on April 9, 2009 at 12:17 AM
You’re right.
INC on April 9, 2009 at 12:23 AM
MB4 on April 9, 2009 at 12:04 AM
It truly is a caricature of his entire persona, and a defining moment for this presidency.
Saltysam on April 9, 2009 at 12:24 AM
On a positive note, I finally can relate to when the leftists claimed they were ashamed to be an American.
Security Mom on April 9, 2009 at 12:29 AM
That photo is absolutely pathetic.
This poor excuse for a man has no business being president of the most powerful nation on earth.
UltimateBob on April 9, 2009 at 12:30 AM
We have an internet troll running the country. He tells outrageous lies in defiance of facts, misrepresents others and incites conflict and spreads confusion in order to gain attention and control.
INC on April 9, 2009 at 12:31 AM
I guess he wanted to see eye-to-eye with the “head” of state!
jdkchem on April 9, 2009 at 12:31 AM
I’m with you guys. We need to hammer away on this one, and never let the left forget about it.
Of course, they’re probably OK with it anyway.
UltimateBob on April 9, 2009 at 12:33 AM
King Abdullah jokingly told BO that his shoe was untied.{Gotcha}
la.rt.wngr on April 9, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Maybe he was trying to outdo lewensky?
unseen on April 9, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Like your fearful leader you’re lying. Again. If you cannot take the bloody nose then don’t start the fight. A simple rule that apparently you cannot comprehend. If you want to make snide remarks then at least have the stones to deal with the consequences. If that is too much for you then buy a bag of m&m’s, shack up with kos and have a coward pity party.
jdkchem on April 9, 2009 at 12:37 AM
The following goes into his “tic” in some detail. It leaves off the bowing and lying “episode” but probably only as it occurred later than when the article was written.
Obama’s Double-Talk
While the president talks sobriety, his policies take America on an economic bender.
Barack Obama’s revelatory moment may have come in his first week as president. On his first day of work, he signed an executive order prohibiting lobbyists from holding highranking administration jobs, thereby fulfilling a campaign promise to “close the revolving door” between K Street and government via “the most sweeping ethics reform in history.” Two days later, the president granted a “waiver” from the new rules to install Raytheon lobbyist William Lynn as the No. 2 man in the Pentagon.
As offenses go, the move was trivial. But as a signal of a governing pathology, it established a pattern that Obama has repeated serially since being sworn into office: reiterate a high-sounding promise from the campaign, undermine said promise with a concrete act of governance to the contrary, then claim with a straight face that the campaign promise has been and will continue to be fulfilled.
Once you identify the president’s tic of celebrating the very campaign promises that he breaks, you’ll see it everywhere.
MB4 on April 9, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Yeah, but the real effect is to let the “independents”,”moderates”, and “centrists” swallow in what they wallowed.
This is the ice cold shower that they so desperately needed.
Saltysam on April 9, 2009 at 12:48 AM
The man bowed. Period. And now the White House is trying to spin it as something else. That’s where they are screwing up HUGE. Over at Politico Ben’s story has over 2000 comments. The gist of them are “Dude bowed.” Even Obama freaks are admitting it and trying to justify it with Pres. Bush holding hands with the guy a few years ago. Remember how the press were fawning all over how Obama “admitted his mistakes” with his cabinet selections? Yeah.
Babino on April 9, 2009 at 12:51 AM
The problem we have is that this man is the duly elected President of the United States. And he will continue to be so for almost four years, at least.
His behavior in this situation is highly symbolic of his troubling personality and views. The White House denial, so easily proven wrong by the photo and video, is also characteristic of a fundamental problem.
My concern is that we must take care and do what we can to expand the base. This is the only way we can reduce his majorities in Congress in 2010, if not eliminate them, thus reducing his threat. And then we need to work on defeating him in 2012.
We must keep our eyes on the prize. To me this means the fundamental values of our nation. Then, we we must take care that what we say and do expands our numbers so we can restore them in Washington. And in order to that, we must be able to effectively change the minds of many Americans who voted for this man.
This is a “long war.” Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Loxodonta on April 9, 2009 at 12:55 AM
Make sure they are aware of the prostration. Don’t have to be rude about it. President Omega did all the work.
Saltysam on April 9, 2009 at 1:05 AM
Agreed. All that is necessary is for them to view that image and see the video. You don’t even need to say anything about it. If they promptly come back with the talking points, there’s no need to continue. If they seem somewhat confused or disturbed by what they see, tread carefully, you may have a convert. At the very least, you are interacting with an American who has a sense of pride in our country and expects it to be honored.
Loxodonta on April 9, 2009 at 1:11 AM
With that, goodnight all.
Loxodonta on April 9, 2009 at 1:14 AM
Endlessly, like a Coca Cola commercial.
Saltysam on April 9, 2009 at 1:15 AM
G’Night.
Me too.
Saltysam on April 9, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Thanks for the link…
Saltysam on April 9, 2009 at 1:18 AM
True, also it’s pretty much a standard greeting and not a worshipful lowering of one’s self to a superior (like that is done in the west) rather more of mutual respect.
- The Cat
MirCat on April 9, 2009 at 1:19 AM
Obama bowed, and is lying about it.
Bush did not bow, and this guy from LGF is lying when he said he did.
Rebar on April 9, 2009 at 2:12 AM
I’m a lot taller than Obama. I don’t mention this to brag, because there’s no sane reason to be proud of something that’s purely genetics, but just so that anyone reading this knows I’m speaking from personal experience. Being tall can lead to some awkward and unexpected social situations. Having to bend at the waist nearly parallel to the ground in order to shake hands isn’t one of them, unless you’ve got stubby little arms (which Obama doesn’t). For the record: he bowed, so did Bush, and it was disgraceful in both cases.
RightOFLeft on April 9, 2009 at 2:17 AM
Bareck Cat Stevens Obama…give it time.
Did everybody forget his MIDDLE NAME IS HUSSEIN?
HE BOWED!
BillaryMcBush on April 9, 2009 at 2:18 AM
Obama looked like a freakin fool
A fellow muslim could possibly kiss the hand of a muslim potentate, but if they were social equals and of the same sect, they might kiss cheeks. In general he had better not touch unless they gave him the go ahead. Obama is not Saudi and not blood.
The Larry, Moe and Curly style bow tossed by Ichabod Obama came across not as a sign of respect, but a sign of subservience. If they thought Obama was an infidel, it was also a sign of inferiority or slave behaviour. What they think Obama’s faith is, is anyone’s guess since the man has not shown great signs of faith, and does not have the comfort level including ‘god’ in his speech, whether Allah or God Almighty
Again Obama was a freakin fool to pull that stunt
If he wanted to prove he was one with the Saudis, he has to make a public statement against Israel, since the friends of my enemies are my enemy. 700 million to Gaza will not make friends.
entagor on April 9, 2009 at 2:39 AM
Of course they are. I listened to liberals calling in to the radio talk shows, and read them on the blogs today, and they all thought that it was long past time that American Presidents show some humility and acknowledge the superiority of foreign leaders to the evil, arrogant American leaders of the past.
LegendHasIt on April 9, 2009 at 2:44 AM
Yeah I think we all remember how Daily Kos and all the other lefties celebrated Bush’s diplomatic moves with regards to the Saudis…..
Speedwagon82 on April 9, 2009 at 3:31 AM
Cut His A–holiness a break. He was just giving the bandit in a bed sheet the head of State.
MaiDee on April 9, 2009 at 3:58 AM
Get ready to see this a lot.
PaddyJ on April 9, 2009 at 4:28 AM
Now if we could only find Media and Politicos with b*#@s to do it!
sarahpalinfan99 on April 9, 2009 at 4:28 AM
Bow or no bow, that greeting was unnecessarily enthusiastic.
misslizzi on April 9, 2009 at 5:11 AM
Legend, MB4 and so many others, indeed.
Plus, what profitsbeard and venividivici said, here.
Entelechy on April 9, 2009 at 6:37 AM
Isn’t it interesting that it takes so long for the White House to respond to anything?
drjohn on April 9, 2009 at 7:16 AM
The Hussein’s all bow to one another.
drjohn on April 9, 2009 at 7:18 AM
Personally I disagree with the “We need to hammer away on this one, and never let the left forget about it” thinking.
I hope no interviewer asks President Obama about this incident. Let it go, forget about it *for now*…and resurrect it in 2012 and run the videos and photos over and over then ask President Obama “Why did you bow to a Muslim King but not to a Christian Queen ?”
.
philly_nj on April 9, 2009 at 7:20 AM
I don’t know if anyone else has brought this up, but in Muslim countries, the left hand is considered unclean. It’s the hand you’re supposed to wipe your behind with.
For Obama to give the king a two handed hand shake, would have meant he touched the king with his left hand, which would have been highly offensive to the king.
MarkTheGreat on April 9, 2009 at 7:29 AM
Ah, so Obama does get cultural differences and protocol?
misslizzi on April 9, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Well, Barry is left handed. Soooooo…
marklmail on April 9, 2009 at 8:31 AM
W just shook his hand. He didn’t bend at the waist like a $500 hooker… like Obama did. I wonder how much of Obama’s election had Saudi Arabia fingerprints on it.
chunderroad on April 9, 2009 at 8:36 AM
It’s clearly a bow.
The Queen got a “dip”….the Saudi “King” got a bow.
Not a muslim? Yeah…right.
Talismen on April 9, 2009 at 8:38 AM
Eh. It’s now protocol for the POTUS and all his subjects to bow to anyone with a towel draped over their heads.
Change!
Jed1899 on April 9, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Obama was looking for the teleprompter.
Amy Proctor on April 9, 2009 at 8:51 AM
It’s pretty clear on the videos that PREZBO didn’t extend his left hand – it’s visible hanging down. Clearly an example of what he learned in Muslim School.
ALSO – he actually bent his knee during this bow – which clearly indicates he is more than bowing to this Saudi leader.
If you play the video slowly you can see that Obama was preparing for this bow several steps BEFORE he even reached the Saudi King – so this was NOT spontaneous and clearly another example of what learned in his past Muslim School days.
IlonaE on April 9, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Reminds me of the campaign. O gets into trouble? solution: Lie and then keep doing it.
jeanie on April 9, 2009 at 8:52 AM
More Jedi mind tricks. “This is not the bow you thought you saw.”
hogfat on April 9, 2009 at 8:53 AM
lol…just love that. Had to repeat it.
bridgetown on April 9, 2009 at 8:58 AM
So it was a low enough bow that the credulous just might be pursuaded that he could have been picking up something off the floor, but what was really happening was that he was trying to look the Muslim in the eye? Is his eye on his shinbone?
Akzed on April 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Ha!
bridgetown on April 9, 2009 at 9:28 AM
King Abdullah is the keeper of Muslims two holiest places. A true believer would be awed by that, No?
kayo on April 9, 2009 at 9:35 AM
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