Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on July 28, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
How long has Barack Obama been President? Six month and four days on Saturday, more than long enough to figure out protocol for ceremonies involving the military and color guards. As Politico reports from the Marine Corps Evening Parade, that’s apparently not long enough for training:
There were drill routines and more tunes from the Commandant’s Own Marine Band. And, a cameo from Lance Corporal Chesty XIII – the English bulldog mascot of the barracks.
At 10:03 POTUS walked out to the center walk with Colonel Smith and Commandant Conway for the Commandant’s review. The band played the National Anthem. POTUS put his hand on his heart.
During the review POTUS seemed to struggle to figure out if he should salute when the Commandant and Colonel did. At first he went to lift his right hand but stopped. The next time the Commandant and Colonel saluted POTUS saluted quickly, like he does when boarding Marine One, while the Commandant and Colonel held theirs. At one point the Commandant and Colonel saluted, and POTUS did quickly. But this time the Commandant and Colonel held their salute for a long time. POTUS kept his hand at his side for a bit. Then at one point he put his hand on his heart. Then it was back by his side.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the White House had a protocol office who could walk the rookie through his paces at public events? Oh, wait … they already have one.
Addendum: Normally I’d put a link to Chris Muir’s Day by Day site here, but today I want to do more than that. Chris has a fundraising drive to keep his excellent cartoon alive. Be sure to drop a few dollars in his collection to keep one of the Rightosphere’s most talented warriors in the fight!
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
how embarrassing….just plain sad…
cmsinaz on July 28, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Pathetic.
ladyingray on July 28, 2009 at 8:09 AM
You are assuming that the protocol office knows what the official party at a military ceremony should do. Democrats like the filthy liar loathe the military and so do the people they hire. I’m glad he looked like a fool in front of the troops he “commands.” Just one more example why this man is unfit for any office.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 8:12 AM
he doesn’t want to salute our military. that’s all there is to it.
kelley in virginia on July 28, 2009 at 8:13 AM
………………..
blatantblue on July 28, 2009 at 8:13 AM
I know it’s only Tuesday – beers on Thursday – but I smell a winner.
And it stinks!
gopmom on July 28, 2009 at 8:15 AM
That creep shouldn’t be allowed to put his hand over his heart for our anthem — or did he somehow magically discover his patriotism (like wifey suddenly discovered her pride in her country) only after he was elected to the nation’s highest office? Those two frauds make me sick.
AZCoyote on July 28, 2009 at 8:16 AM
Good lord, there are literally thousands of Navy Captains, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps Colonels, who pay strict attention to details like this and have them nailed far ahead of time.
Any of them would make a better president than this guy.
This is a little thing, but he can’t get the big things right either.
It’s a tragedy how the media foisted this guy on us. Big mistake.
NoDonkey on July 28, 2009 at 8:17 AM
I’d just about pay good money to know what was going through the minds of the Commandant and Colonel. And if they’re good Marines, they won’t embarrass the POTUS by saying.
At least Chesty didn’t bite the POTUS.
apostic on July 28, 2009 at 8:17 AM
The kids are running the country…you ever heard of a 14 yr old who pays attention in his “protocal” class? Of course not.
jbh45 on July 28, 2009 at 8:18 AM
B… but… BUSH!!!
crazy_legs on July 28, 2009 at 8:19 AM
This just makes me sad for our military.
sherry on July 28, 2009 at 8:20 AM
What they don’t have is even a passing acquaitance with anyone who has ever served in the military. Hey, shouldn’t their favorite rear-guard general Colon Powell be able to help them?
Jaibones on July 28, 2009 at 8:20 AM
I don’t think protocol is important to him.How could it be????He is ashamed of this country,we are a bunch of racial profilers in his eyes and he is out to REMAKE it.Hopefully not if us conservatives have anything to do w/it!
ohiobabe on July 28, 2009 at 8:21 AM
It could have been worse…. he could have bowed.
Hog Wild on July 28, 2009 at 8:24 AM
It would be nice if The President of the United States was actually an Advocate for this country and its’ military. Oh, well. I can dream.
kingsjester on July 28, 2009 at 8:24 AM
I just think it’s the height of arrogance that instead of “Hail to the Cheif”, he makes them play “Oh come Let Us Adore Him.”
trubble on July 28, 2009 at 8:27 AM
He doesn’t salute because he doesn’t respect anyone, let alone soldiers. If he was half-debating a salute, it was only so he’d look better in the public eye, therefore increasing his ego-inflation.
Thunderstorm129 on July 28, 2009 at 8:27 AM
I like Obamateurisms
I’ll tell you why
Sometimes I have nightmares. Some are recurring and some are just freaky
But when i wake up, pull open my phone and check out the home page of HotAir, and see the Obamateurism of the day
I realize I could have dreamed about worse
blatantblue on July 28, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Surprised POTUS (Putz of the United States) didn’t moon ‘em.
Idiot.
TXUS on July 28, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Just another case of the President acting stupidly.
yoda on July 28, 2009 at 8:29 AM
He’s always been more show than substance. Then when the show fails, he’s just a child in a big boy’s suit.
genso on July 28, 2009 at 8:29 AM
Lucky he didn’t give them the “black power” salute.
‘Cause he’s all ’bout keepin’ it real.
NoDonkey on July 28, 2009 at 8:30 AM
blatantblue on July 28, 2009 at 8:28 AM
LOL.. :)
I have never met an ultra Liberal who didn’t have the utmost disdain for any human in uniform that is allowed to carry a weapon. Why the American people would vote into office, a CIC that is Liberal is beyond me. It’s like putting a known child molester in charge of K thru 6th grades…
Keemo on July 28, 2009 at 8:33 AM
protocol, we don’t need no stinkin protocol…
SHARPTOOTH on July 28, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Sigh…. this is actually kind of embarrassing. Since President Obama is, and always has been a civilian, protocol dictates that “He” not salute our Military, literally he isn’t suppose to.
doriangrey on July 28, 2009 at 8:34 AM
i’m with ya there…sure winner unless he does something even more craptastic, which I have no doubt
cmsinaz on July 28, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Especially since he’s perfected the Mussolini-chin-lift-thingy to show everyone his authority.
genso on July 28, 2009 at 8:37 AM
PRESENT!
FeFe on July 28, 2009 at 8:38 AM
I agree with Kelley in Virginia that it shows his true feelings. It reminds me of the time he was at the World Trade Center with George & Laura Bush. After they respectfully placed their flowers in the pool, he tossed his in like he was making a wish with a penny. Now he is going to have a teachable moment with the bigot and the police officer. Priceless. All sparkle but no substance.
sh221b on July 28, 2009 at 8:39 AM
So many liberals have always told me how the military just turns you into a killer.
Sh!t yea it does — everyone is capable of murdering his enemy — the military teaches you to do it better. What is wrong with that?
Furthermore, many guys I know who went in came out the other side stronger and focused.
blatantblue on July 28, 2009 at 8:40 AM
The military is an inconvenience for the One. I think doriangrey is wrong @8:34 AM. If you are the Commander-in-Chief of the entire military, a salute in return shows the respect of the office for those he commands.
volsense on July 28, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Barry nominated Capricia Marshall for the position of Protocol Chief. I believe the Senate has yet to confirm her. The reason you might ask? Surprise! Like most of Barry’s nominees, she neglected to pay her taxes two years in a row. Also, she’s another retread from the Clinton camp. We all know how much respect they had for the military.
Can’t this fool get ANYTHING right?
Barb Dwyer on July 28, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Very telling….He’s comfortable bowing to the Saudis but uncomfortable around the U.S. Military!!
120pages on July 28, 2009 at 8:46 AM
You can think I am wrong all you want, it doesnt change the facts. The President of the United States is a Civilian, period end of Story… Civilians Do not have the right to Salute, it is an earned status. Even as Commander-in-Chief of the entire military he is still a civilian. He is saluted by the Military but it is a breach of protocol for any President who was never in the Military to return the salute.
doriangrey on July 28, 2009 at 8:46 AM
barb: the senate is getting ready to announce a “bi-partisan” healthcare bill. obama will gladly sign it. bambi enslaving us further.
so barb, from bambi’s perspective, he’s getting alot of things right.
protocol is just for whitey.
kelley in virginia on July 28, 2009 at 8:46 AM
ok, dorian, then what is bambi supposed to do? just stand there?
can bambi stand quietly?
kelley in virginia on July 28, 2009 at 8:47 AM
BTW, saluting in return is optional, although the action/inaction would best look deliberate. See Snopes.
apostic on July 28, 2009 at 8:48 AM
We should be glad that at least Obama didn’t give the military his classic nose scratching flip the bird trick.
jwolf on July 28, 2009 at 8:48 AM
blatantblue on July 28, 2009 at 8:40 AM
My nephew was a 20 year old troubled young man when he entered the Navy. This fine young man is now a 33 year old success story, and an officer in the worlds greatest Navy. The turn around in this mans life was a thing of beauty to watch. He struggled for the first 4-5 months, then we all could start to see the positive change occur rapidly. Life as a military brat is not perfect, as is the case with any establishment and or career, but the positive’s far out weigh the negative’s. Problem is, our media only wants to tell the tragic stories.
Keemo on July 28, 2009 at 8:50 AM
I haven’t seen the video. I’m wondering….did he walk out there with that cool hitch in his gait like he does for the pressers?
genso on July 28, 2009 at 8:51 AM
genso on July 28, 2009 at 8:51 AM
First president to perfect the pimp roll, nicely done.
NoDonkey on July 28, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Thanks….I didn’t know what they called that these days.
genso on July 28, 2009 at 8:55 AM
The WH can’t be bothered with such trivial matters as protocols of patriotism. The have too mush on their plate as it is. /s
HoustonRight on July 28, 2009 at 8:56 AM
no doubt some fall through the cracks
as much as lefty cluster f*ck my school is, they have a very strong veterans affairs department. I’ve met many through events and organizing, and they are really upstanding people
this myth that the military spits out unstable people is bunk IMO
I mean, I became close with one marine who had been stabbed in Afghanistan, and shot and IED’d in Iraq. He was part of the invasion forces in both wars, and did a second tour in Iraq. He made it clear to me he had demons, but he handled them very well, and his drive to succeed was clear — now he’s going to a great grad school next month.
blatantblue on July 28, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Thank him for us.
HoustonRight on July 28, 2009 at 8:57 AM
He is suppose to stand there and be HUMBLED at the responsibility entrusted to him, so ya, were basically screwed on that…
doriangrey on July 28, 2009 at 9:00 AM
This has nothing to do w/ Birtherism, but…
…these are the tell-tale signs that Mr. Elite has no idea what being an American is actually like…and no interest in learning.
bluelightbrigade on July 28, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Soldiers, airmen, seamen, and Marines see this, and understand what it means.
Akzed on July 28, 2009 at 9:01 AM
The change in my son since he joined the Air Force has been remarkable. It’s hard to believe his focus and drive now.
ladyingray on July 28, 2009 at 9:03 AM
It would depend on what is going on. That half-assed salute he gives at Marine One is appropriate for acknowledging the salute of the Marine at the doorway but if he’s part of the official party, uniformed military would salute during the national anthem and when colors were being posted or passed but the filthy liar at that point should have hand over heart.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 9:04 AM
It’d be nice if he also had several military aides that go wherever he does who could tell him this stuff…oh wait, he has those too.
CP on July 28, 2009 at 9:09 AM
ladyingray on July 28, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Please tell your son how much we appreciate his service!
Godspeed…
Keemo on July 28, 2009 at 9:16 AM
I stand corrected and please forgive me for being so stupid. How could I have forgotten that he’s “The Won”…beyond reproach and perfect in every way.
Barb Dwyer on July 28, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Raaaccciiisssttt!!!!
mizflame98 on July 28, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Which is the part I find most curious. Did his aide try to tell how to do this stuff and got brushed off with the typical arrogance that the filthy liar shows or did they just let him fail.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 9:18 AM
HoustonRight on July 28, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Thanks for that! I just sent him a copy of this post.
Keemo on July 28, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Sounds much like a non-church going person having to go to the Catholic funeral service of a friend. When to kneel, when to stand, when to sit, when to kneel again. Oh’ Lord…
Yoop on July 28, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Good analogy.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 9:25 AM
He doesn’t have time for protocol, he’s busy, well, doing something I guess.
When you think about it, the only thing he’s good at is reading speeches. He doesn’t write legislation, he seems to be uninterested in foreign affairs (beyond issuing apologies for his country), his administration is an uncoordinated fiasco.
So I guess when you’re busy gaffing off important things, it seems kind of silly to spend a lot of time on protocol.
NoDonkey on July 28, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Well, at least he has learned to put his hand over his heart when the national anthem is played (apparently any national anthem). That’s progress. It’s too much to hope for him to become an America lover, but maybe we will get an America liker by 2012.
Kafir on July 28, 2009 at 9:34 AM
And therein lies the problem.
Kowboy on July 28, 2009 at 9:43 AM
He was probably trying to think which was more appropriate;
Spitting on the military men in front of him
or
Flipping the middle finger to our flag
or
saluting, and when, and if he should use just his middle finger or all of them.
Of course, them playing the American national anthem probably confused the heck out of the pig, he was probably expecting the Venezuelan, Iranian, or Chinese national anthem.
Spiritk9 on July 28, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Wouldn’t it be nice if the White House had a protocol office who could walk the rookie through his paces at public events? Oh, wait … they already have one.
You think he would pay attention to someone as lowly as a protocol advisor? He’s “the One” after all. What he doesn’t know, doesn’t need to be known.
SKYFOX on July 28, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Something’s strange here. When saluting a superior officer, you hold the salute until the officer returns your salute, and then you post. In the case of POTUS, I think the protocol is to make and hold salute as he approaches your station, hold until he either passes (i.e., he doesn’t return it, which is an option available to him if he chooses) or returns the salute, and then post.
Of course, in formation, as would have been the case for a substantial number of Marines in the barracks review, the rules are slightly different. You don’t salute individually, but as a unit.
Given all that, I’m sort of at a loss as to why the General and Colonel would hold their salute long after Obama returned it. Maybe they got lost in their own reveries, or the story is not quite right…
Here’s the relevant Snopes article on a supposed affront by Marines to President Clinton, which describes some of the rules.
unclesmrgol on July 28, 2009 at 9:54 AM
He sure knew the protocol when it came to bowing to the leader of Islam from Saudi Arabia.
Boom~ kowtow!
profitsbeard on July 28, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Not true, not factual. The President of the United States, at his option, may salute or not as he wishes. As President, he/she is Commander in Chief, and yet, at the same time, is a civilian. Which position the President chooses to emphasize is up to him/her. Note that discharged members of the military (or, rather, any non-uniformed person) are not entitled to a salute, unless they hold the MOH (or are President of the United States), in which case they are entitled to a salute no matter what they are wearing.
Here’s President Reagan’s take on saluting.
unclesmrgol on July 28, 2009 at 10:04 AM
As unlikely as I am to defend this President on anything, he may have received mixed messages about protocol. Prior to President Reagan, the president did not return salutes (although I have heard JFK did, I am uncertain as to whether that is true). Reagan sought advice as to whether he should return the salute, and was informed that if he wished to, he should. Since that time, presidents have returned salutes. According to military protocol, the president does not return salutes; according to tradition since Reagan, it is the president’s prerogative. If we’re being fair, not many of us complained about President Reagan or either Presidents Bush saluting, perhaps because we recognize they truly respect the military (however, that isn’t the same argument as “protocol”).
What President Obama must do, however, is make up his mind so he doesn’t do this ridiculous hesitation/half-salute nonsense. Standing respectfully for our troops would be infinitely preferable to this.
DrMagnolias on July 28, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Salutes should be done with honor and respect. I am not so sure CiC has this.
A hapless nat upon the country~. showing bottom of my shoe!!
hawkman on July 28, 2009 at 10:24 AM
This must be the first time that the Marine Corps evening parade had a clown.
landshark on July 28, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Which reminds us all: hawkdriver and all your com-patriots, we salute you! Thank you for our freedom!
Christian Conservative on July 28, 2009 at 10:28 AM
When I read this a couple days ago my first instinct was to have empathy for the president, like I would for a guy overwhelmed at a new job with so many things to learn and not enough time. But then I realized that neither he nor anyone in his huge, over-paid staff respect our military enough to quickly verse the “cool” president on public protocol for ceremonial event. Arrogance gets no empathy.
RepubChica on July 28, 2009 at 10:29 AM
There are really two issues here. Salutes from military personnel, the filthy liar can do whatever he wants. Clinton pretty much ignored them as if they were potted plants and that is probably the way this President views them too.
The second issue is when at military ceremonies where the national anthem is played and/or the colors pass in review or are posted. The proper response for every American citizen (which may or not apply to Obama! :-0) not in uniform is to place one’s hand over heart until the anthem is over or the colors have passed by. The military is saluting during this same timeframe and that is probably what tripped the filthy liar up.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 10:30 AM
True but the filthy liar loves the trappings of the Presidency even though he clearly has a distate for actually working. He loves jetsetting all over the planet at taxpayer expense, all the perqs of office, all the attention. For that reason alone, you would think that the filthy liar would know the protocol for something like this just to make sure he was getting all the salutes he is supposed to receive.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Can this torrid mess be turned into a new dance sensation?
Maybe a Hockey Pokey dance mixed with the electric slide.
Call it Obumbler hustle.
portlandon on July 28, 2009 at 10:44 AM
One has to wonder, what exactly was going on in that Office of the President Elect before this fool was inaugurated?
I guess they were practicing their beer drinking to prepare for an event such as Gatesgate.
UltimateBob on July 28, 2009 at 10:47 AM
The saddest part of all is that if Obama ever leaves office, he’s going to have a two hour interview with Charlie or Katie or Brian and he’s going to tell them that this stuff witht the military is what he’ll miss most.
myrenovations on July 28, 2009 at 10:48 AM
How about making it a teachable moment where a Kenyan learns how to show proper respect to the flag and military of his adopted country.
P.S. I’m kidding about the birther stuff but not about the teachable moment part.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Hey! It takes time to get a teleprompter in fighting shape.
highhopes on July 28, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Don’t kid yourself – when he leaves office, there’ll be no political gain in pretending he gives a sh*t about the military. He’ll yap about how much more good he could have done if not for all the republicans who wanted to “do nothing” to solve the country’s problems.
landshark on July 28, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Bush’s fault again! He made it look so easy that a legislative rookie could do it.
GarandFan on July 28, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Absolutely. There is protocol for a reason, and sometimes it can be bent (see Reagan, salute, for example). But, POTUS needs to be able to pull it off with confidence and consistency. That’s one of the things that makes me want to bang my head on the desk about Obama- He doesn’t know what he’s doing in situations like this, and it shows.
cs89 on July 28, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Here’s video of the parade. You can see one of Obama’s lame salutes towards the end, around the 1:20 mark.
Nice Deb on July 28, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Hummm?
Could be, after all
“The Cops acted stupidly”
The Military acted stupidly.
Anything other than his Supreme Court pick against Fire Fighters?
Guess ONLY Harvard prof. Deserve respect. Even if they are blatant racist.
DSchoen on July 28, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Oh, but he’s such a genius!!!
Perhaps he was busy formulating his own Drill and Ceremonies manual in his magnificent mind while at the same time working his way through some long unsolved mathematical proof.
Dr. ZhivBlago on July 28, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Maybe they should all review video of Pres. Bush to see how it should be done. Or his dad. Or Pres. Regan. You know, those presidents who really knew/respected the military.
Note this leaves out Clinton. I suppose even Carter knew (as he was former military) but not so sure on the respect side.
Note the political affiliations, but we all knew this.
IrishEyes on July 28, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Ugh,as a young Navy Leaguer,I learned to drill,march,salute
and parade,and as a result,you develope discipline and mann
ers!!
I think a Girl Guide has more experience than Obama!!
This might help Hopey!
http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/
canopfor on July 28, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Just wait til he announces his early education Czar!
M-14 2go on July 28, 2009 at 7:23 PM
At least he isn’t saluting British style (hand vertical, palm out).
Flar on August 2, 2009 at 9:19 PM