Video: 46 handshakes, one bow
posted at 1:00 pm on November 15, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
It didn’t take too long for the Left to defend Barack Obama’s bow to Emperor Akihito yesterday by claiming that the President was merely showing cultural sensitivity to the Japanese emperor by deeply bowing. There’s a couple of problems with that argument. First, American Presidents do not bow to monarchs, or at least they didn’t through the first 43 Presidents and the 220 years they served as the US head of state. Perhaps a few of them might have done so out of cultural sensitivity when traveling to foreign nations as private citizens, either before or after their terms in office, but not when they represented the United States of America. Even the New York Times knew better than that in 1994.
For those arguing that such a policy merely propagates American arrogance and that Obama wants to “change perceptions,” this video by the UConn College Republicans points out the second problem. Heads of state do not bow and show obeisance to one another, regardless of whether either one is an American President. The UConn group reviews 47 different greetings to Emperor Akihito and various heads of state, including a few from fellow Pacific Rim countries with similar cultural sensitivities, and doesn’t find a bow among them:
I can’t wait to see the Left chastising these world leaders for their cultural insensitivity. They’d better include Akihito in that condemnation, too. As yesterday’s video clearly showed, Akihito knew better than to return Obama’s bow.
Maybe some of those rushing to offer apologias for bows should have taken their cue from the White House last April, when they attempted to deny that Obama had bowed to Saudi King Abdullah at all.
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
Comment pages: 1 2 3 … 5 Next »
as the first “pacific” president Obama sure doesn’t get the region.
rob verdi on November 15, 2009 at 1:06 PM
That’s change all right, change we didn’t need!
FireBlogger on November 15, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Un-American.
publiuspen on November 15, 2009 at 1:06 PM
How dare those evil Rethuglicans do something to this to the savior and messiah? Half-black Jesus isn’t bound to the same rules as the silly mortals that preceded him in the White House.
White House, thats racist.
Blarg the Destroyer on November 15, 2009 at 1:07 PM
And yet Dear Liar did not bow to the English queen. How is that for cultural sensitivity. Or is it mere racism?
rbj on November 15, 2009 at 1:07 PM
What a worthless embarrassment to the office he holds and the country he represents. I only hope we can keep the damage to our country to a minimum before he’s thrown out on his ass in 2012.
KSgop on November 15, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Change you better believe in.
jay12 on November 15, 2009 at 1:08 PM
I’m confused; Do muslims bow?
Cybergeezer on November 15, 2009 at 1:09 PM
william wallace: never in my whole life have i sworn allegiance to him.
judge: matters not, he is still your king. on the morrow you shall receive your purification.
moonbatkiller on November 15, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Nice editing.
The repeated “presentation of hindquarters” transition is quite telling indeed.
Gilda on November 15, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Wasn`t that Revolutionary War event back in the 1770s and the Declaration of Independence and Constitution things all done to say to the King of England that the United States of America would no longer bow down to anyone?
Did Obama miss another lesson in American history?
albill on November 15, 2009 at 1:10 PM
To the king of Mecca and Medina they do.
Blarg the Destroyer on November 15, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Obama knows multiculture better than anybody else. He’s such a fake.
the_nile on November 15, 2009 at 1:11 PM
This man is quickly becoming a global laughingstock.
Connie on November 15, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Let’s just say Benedict Arnold and zer0bama would’ve been best friends.
SouthernGent on November 15, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Sexism and it wouldn’t be the first or last time lipstick was put on that pig.
Cindy Munford on November 15, 2009 at 1:12 PM
But But But none of these countries dropped an atom bomb on Japan /sarc off
The decorum and dignity of the US is in the hands of a two year old that never learned American traditions and shows every day why he is unfit to lead.
He wants to be a citizen of the world please go and and let someone that actually loves America be President because you sure don’t.
Gracelynn on November 15, 2009 at 1:12 PM
The new protocol czar….. Ben Dover.
txag92 on November 15, 2009 at 1:13 PM
We don’t dip our flag to heads of state, but our president grovels.
American asseptionalism.
Akzed on November 15, 2009 at 1:13 PM
I already expressed my opinion on this subject on another thread and received some criticism for it. As I said there, in Japan, and some other Asian countries, a bow is like a handshake and refusal to bow is regarded as impolite, if not insulting-despite past presidential protocol not to do so.
Of course, Obama’s low, sweeping bow was inappropriate-the type of bow an inferior gives to a superior. More appropriate would be a slight, forward head nod.
Personally, compared to the atrocities Obama has committed already, bowing is not on my top 1000 list of priorities. Personally, if Jug Ears would give up socialism,PC’ing the Army and reckless spending, I could care less whether Obama give Akihito a bj.
MaiDee on November 15, 2009 at 1:14 PM
He looks like such a buffoon. I’m embarrassed.
marmaran on November 15, 2009 at 1:15 PM
ON AMERICAN SOIL!!!
Americans don’t make the rules for protocol in other countries. Shouldn’t conservative American common sense apply here: when in Rome, do as the Romans?
Norman Blizter on November 15, 2009 at 1:15 PM
He is worse than Jimmy Carter.
mizflame98 on November 15, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Obama= Made in Japan
fourdeucer on November 15, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Obama = Maid in Japan
ICBM on November 15, 2009 at 1:17 PM
President Obama’s like 2 feet taller than the emperor. This is much ado about nothing. The real embarrassment here is that American conservatives are making jackasses of themselves over this.
Norman Blizter on November 15, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Apparently it’s only the boy-king who follows this “protocol”.
Watch the video .
the_nile on November 15, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Then why did no other head of state bow? Heads of state are equal, they do not bow to each other. Dear Liar is the diplomatic equal of the emperor.
Also, The Whine did not bow to the queen of England. Why one and not the other?
And as an American citizen I bow to no royalty.
rbj on November 15, 2009 at 1:20 PM
You all got it wrong. Obama was just showing the Emperor what a great job the White House barber did on his hair.
AaronGuzman on November 15, 2009 at 1:20 PM
You are a special kind of stupid, aren’t you?
Blarg the Destroyer on November 15, 2009 at 1:21 PM
My question to the “lefties”, if he was only showing “cultural sensitivity” why didn’t he bow to his wife? He shook her hand and nodded his head to her. Just asking.
milwife88 on November 15, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Uh huh. Thanks for clearing that all up for us. I think you can close this thread now Mr. Morrisey
angryed on November 15, 2009 at 1:22 PM
My sides are killing me now.
fourdeucer on November 15, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Could be something in the kool-aid.
the_nile on November 15, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Meh, I really don’t care… it was a mistake but people shouldn’t harp on it too much…
ninjapirate on November 15, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Did you forget about him bowing to the kind of Saudi Arabia?
Blarg the Destroyer on November 15, 2009 at 1:24 PM
I’m not the first to notice this- but “Hawai’ian born” Obama bows to the son of Emperor Hirohito here?
Now that’s Apologetic to the extreme~
localmalcontent on November 15, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Errrr and Zero can’t speak Spanish either. What kind of President do we have anyway?
iam7545 on November 15, 2009 at 1:26 PM
An incredibly embarrassing representative of this country and he compounds the errors in protocol so often they’re now expected. The current President of the United States is a total FRAUD. I don’t care what the explanation is from Gibbs; this is just totally WRONG. He needs a good ass kicking, followed by a few years of formal “education”. This is what you get when you elect an On-The-Job-Trainee.
GoldenEagle4444 on November 15, 2009 at 1:26 PM
T
HAHAAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!
What a tool!
John the Libertarian on November 15, 2009 at 1:26 PM
The United States conquered Japan back in 1945. By protocol, the Emperor should be bowing to the President.
AaronGuzman on November 15, 2009 at 1:28 PM
This bow is less offensive than when he bowed to the nation that outlawed slavery in the 1970s, has informal coercive labor and is one of the racist and bigoted countries in all the world. A country that exports jihadists that kill people because they happen to be (in their view) part of the wrong religion and where sex slavery still occurs. THAT is more offensive than a thousand bows to a thousand other foreign leaders.
nyx on November 15, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Yeah, ummm, wasn’t it the Left that basically accused President George W. Bush of latent homosexuality for kissing the Saudi king on the cheek and then holding his hand while greeting him in Crawford, Texas?
I don’t remember George Bush getting the benefit of “cultural sensitivity” from the Left.
David2.0 on November 15, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Racist!
Del Dolemonte on November 15, 2009 at 1:29 PM
He did the same thing in Saudi Arabia. This was not a mistake, this was a message.
AaronGuzman on November 15, 2009 at 1:30 PM
The Indonesian president of the USA is a cultural moron. He’s a complete pushover and it’s just a matter of time before there’s blood on his hands for no reason other than his complete ignorance. It could be ours from an attack to test his response or it could be others in his total over compensated response in a futile attempt to recoup the reputation he lost forever a long time ago. The fool is the biggest WIMP to ever occupy the office. God help us survive this fool’s reign.
Griz on November 15, 2009 at 1:31 PM
He’d better not try that in front of Barney Frank.
Drained Brain on November 15, 2009 at 1:31 PM
If Obama was just showing cultural sensitivity why didn’t he bow to the Prime Minister of Japan? Or anyone else for in Japan for that matter?
Rocks on November 15, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Then why defensive and bitter?
Shouldn’t you be celebrating?
David2.0 on November 15, 2009 at 1:32 PM
So because he’s two feet taller is the reason he bent over so far, right?
Then explain to me why he didn’t bow to the Queen of England.
His greeting with the Queen of England is appropriate. His greeting of the King of Saudi Arabia and the Emperor of Japan, not so much.
Enoxo on November 15, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Oh only if it weren’t true.
Brat4life on November 15, 2009 at 1:33 PM
To late , obama got his new bowow stance.
the_nile on November 15, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Did you bother to read the post before commenting? HEADS OF STATE DO NOT BOW TO OTHER HEADS OF STATE, MORON.
Liberals don’t seem to understand: You can have your own opinion, but you cannot have your own facts.
misterpeasea on November 15, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Five times a day, faced more or less east.
:)
Bob's Kid on November 15, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Ha. I’m glad Blitzer showed up here. I didn’t really believe any leftists were excusing this. Ed is vindicated.
Spirit of 1776 on November 15, 2009 at 1:40 PM
If he’s so concerned about “cultural sensitivity, why didn’t he bow to the Queen of England?
ProfessorMiao on November 15, 2009 at 1:41 PM
What a dangerous joke we have for president
deedtrader on November 15, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Every time he Bows he sticks out his Stern.
What? No prayer rug? Where am I? Where is Mecca?
No Telepromter? WTF am I supposed to do?
Geochelone on November 15, 2009 at 1:44 PM
When you get right down to it all the idiots that are defending the moronic President say is “it’s okay because it’s Obama and he’s the One and he makes the rules and he’s never wrong.”
Paradox Drive on November 15, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Allow me to remind folks like Blitzer; if George W. Bush had pulled these protocol stunts it would be headline news on every network and every paper and magazine in the country. The fact that it isn’t – or won’t be – is proof positive that they’re ALL in the Obama tank. Liberal gets a pass; Conservative gets his nuts cut off. Simple as that, friends and neighbors….and you, too, Blitzer. Thanks for playing; we have lovely parting gifts for you!
GoldenEagle4444 on November 15, 2009 at 1:46 PM
IDIOT, read the passage again. That’s not a rule or law, that was the UConn College Republicans conclusion after examining videos of heads of state greeting one another.
Norman Blizter on November 15, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Totally misses the point. International diplomacy has its own language and customs that are apparently unknown to the above writer. Our participation in this protocol, developed over 200+ years, is quite clear. We, through our president, do not bow to anyone, either literally or figuratively. We do not present ourselves as anything but equals among nations. This “major gaffe” by our president (and rest assured, this is indeed seen as “major” by the rest of the world: not only does Messiah bow to a former enemy that we beat in the last world war, but he doesn’t even bow correctly!) is not seen as a nation trying to make amends for so-called past indiscretions but rather as a nation led by an uncertain, incompetent “leader” who is ignorant of the ways that nations communicate with each other at the highest levels – and, therefore, a leader and a nation who can be ignored or taken advantage of. The rest of the world understands the nuances of diplomacy, unlike the liberals in the U.S., and won’t hesitate to take this as reinforcement of their belief that Messiah is a true lightweight.
Or to put it in a way that may be better understood by a liberal: Messiah is trying to play a pro game with grade-school ability.
n0doz on November 15, 2009 at 1:47 PM
In Obama’s mind, bowing and deference are effective.
It got him an undeserved Nobel Peace Prize to hang in his presidential library.
The jug-eared jesus will no doubt be the most internationally beloved one-term president in American history.
David2.0 on November 15, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Had George Bush done this as President, he would have been chastised for months for being “too stupid to know protocol.”
Enoxo on November 15, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Maybe Obama lost his contact….
dangitt on November 15, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Why didn’t he bow to the Queen of England?
jgapinoy on November 15, 2009 at 1:50 PM
so where is the NYT on this, they thought it was damned important that Big Dawg tipped his frakkin head to the guy in 94, now nothing?
ginaswo on November 15, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Go read MaiDee on November 15, 2009 at 1:14 PM.
Norman Blizter on November 15, 2009 at 1:53 PM
If he is going to bow he should at least do it correctly. You do not shake hands while bowing. You always look upward while bowing. He needs to stick to a fist bump, or a high five.
This was disrespectful even by Japanese protocol.
Sanmon on November 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
No, it doesn’t, but thanks for making a jackass of yourself.
Norman Blizter on November 15, 2009 at 1:56 PM
I don’t know if he was born in America, but there sure doesn’t seem to be much America in him.
mredly on November 15, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Glad to see you are admitting the election of Obowmao was a mistake.
canditaylor68 on November 15, 2009 at 1:58 PM
The bloom is off the rose. The “One” is now a worldwide laughingstock. Bow your a$$ off Mr. President, the more you do the dumber you look. Community organizing isn’t presidential apprenticeship.
donh525 on November 15, 2009 at 1:59 PM
If I remember my party logos correctly there is only one party in the US that claims any affiliation with jackasses and its not conservatives.
canditaylor68 on November 15, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Dance all you like, but you can’t defend what your girlfriend Barry is doing to our country. Does stupid run in the Blitzer family, Jeopardy Boy?
Tom_OC on November 15, 2009 at 2:04 PM
The jackasses who blindly profess loyalty to this SNL skit president are the embarrassment.
donh525 on November 15, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Guys, why are you arguing with the lefty spinner?
Norman Blizter knows that it’s inappropriate for American presidents to bow to foreign figureheads. But he can’t admit it because that would be conceding that the Messiah did something wrong.
You can’t convince a spinner that he’s wrong. He knows he is; he’d be blasting the opposition for doing the same thing. He’s going to spin no matter what you say or present for your argument.
He’s not ignorant or confused. He’s spinning and lying.
amerpundit on November 15, 2009 at 2:07 PM
obama could’ve bowed low and performed fellatio on Akihito and NORMIE BOY would defend it as the latest in progressive greetings amongst world leaders.
Reality, if it ever catches up to our trolls, is gonna be a gob-smacking and very painful concession.
Ris4victory on November 15, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Because that would have been overkill! He already gave her an ipod and region 1 DVDs!
redzap on November 15, 2009 at 2:08 PM
He has a streak in him that likes to goad people. It’s interesting to watch.
It’s like he toys with Americans.
AnninCA on November 15, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Exactly. Obama could tell an inappropriate joke, put a whoopie cushion on his chair, and pants the emperor. Blizter would be spinning it as just showing a sign of respect for Japanese game shows.
He’s not ignorant. He’s spinning and lying.
amerpundit on November 15, 2009 at 2:10 PM
“Obama=Made in Japan”
I just bought a Nikon L100 camera. When I first started photography as a hobby about 40 years ago, I wanted a NIKON 35mm SLR. Don’t get me wrong but my Minoltas are good cameras, but there was that Nikon mystique. This Nikon L100 was made in Vietnam!!!! I wonder where Leica cameras are made now? When Obama was born, Japan was just begining to start their resurgence. Obama is not of Japanese quality.
Holger on November 15, 2009 at 2:12 PM
If it was indeed protocol in Japan to bow to the emperor, then why didn’t the other heads of state do so? You’d think if the protocol was that well known the issue would have been brought up before. You are showing your ignorance. Moreover, if what you say is accurate then Barry blew it by not properly bowing, and in fact showed more disrespect to the Emperor by not looking into the Emperor’s eyes when bowing.
The fact remains, the United States is the world’s foremost republic. It is utterly inappropriate for our head of state to make a gesture of submission to any kind of foreign ruler.
So, no matter how you look at it, Barry shows his amateurism in this move. But, what else is new? The guy hasn’t a clue what is involved in actually DOING the job of President of the United States. All he knows is how to read a speech.
Fed45 on November 15, 2009 at 2:12 PM
What a turd.
LASue on November 15, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Before Barry, I think the only bowing precedent we had was a US President bowing to General Zod. But, General Zod had superpowers that could have easily destroyed the country, so that was probably a good idea.
Fed45 on November 15, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Holger on November 15, 2009 at 2:12 PM
err, Pelayo
Pelayo on November 15, 2009 at 2:16 PM
We’ll rectify the mistake in 2012.
donh525 on November 15, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I think he was just admiring his reflection in the emperor’s shoes.
Ronnie on November 15, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Just a slight clarification. I didn’t want you to understate his specific oratorical skills.
Tom_OC on November 15, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Like a child.
Like a child.
baldilocks on November 15, 2009 at 2:18 PM
The new protocol czar…..President Ben DoverFIFY
Josiah on November 15, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Akihito should have smacked him on the head, Mr. Miyagi-style, when he bowed down.
Anyone remember that scene from Karate Kid?
foucaultsvac on November 15, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I don’t think he’s even that clever. I don’t give him that much credit. I think it’s merely the fact he hasn’t a friggin’ clue what he supposed to be doing as U.S. President. He doesn’t know how to lead or govern. He’s simply making it up as he goes along.
I will give him credit for being too arrogant and too much of a narcissist to be humble enough to learn from history.
Fed45 on November 15, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Ben D’Oveur, there ya go.
Pelayo on November 15, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Then why didn’t Akihito bow?
Jim Treacher on November 15, 2009 at 2:24 PM
I was at a bar yesterday watching college football — full of Obama voters — and they were laughing and red-faced over the bow stunt. They all know he was a big mistake. But at least they can laugh about it.
John the Libertarian on November 15, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 3 … 5 Next »