Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on November 16, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
A while before people began debating Barack Obama’s obsequious bow to Emperor Akihito, he had created a controversy over the lack of respect demonstrated during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington. Lucianne.com had it on her site last week, and a number of Hot Air readers sent it to me over the weekend:
Presidents do not normally salute except to return a salute, because they do not wear a military uniform. However, they do usually put their hands over their hearts instead, as one can see the other civilian on the dais doing. President Obama appears not to know what to do, which is yet another indication that Obama needs a better protocol office.
Update: Reader Paul A forwards this from FactCheck, which says that the reason Obama was not saluting was because the others on the dais were saluting him while the band played “Hail to the Chief.” Be sure to read it all; it does appear debunked.
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at obamaisms@edmorrissey.com with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.
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There would have to be an assumption that the action was not on purpose.
This IS on purpose.
Yoop on November 16, 2009 at 9:25 AM
On Twitter it is called the “crotch salute”.
ctmom on November 16, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Assuming that Obama is doing this on purpose as part of a grand scheme to undermine America is giving him way too much credit. It’s simply a mixture of arrogance, stupidity, and incompetence.
jic on November 16, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Considering the excoriation that Fmr. Pres. Bush endured at the hands of the media for his “country grammar,” I’m frankly amazed at the sheer weight of screwups the current President endures, pretty much anytime he does anything beyond reading off TOTUS, and that the MSM does absolutely nothing. The least the President can do is read through the script; I’m sure his protocol guys can write “stand at attention, place hand over heart” in the run through. Considering how scripted military events as simple as a chain of command ceremony, surely they can make a walk-through for everyone involved for a Presidential visit.
Spc Steve on November 16, 2009 at 9:33 AM
“Americans should be modest in expressing views with others.”–Obama on free speech in China
How’s that working domestically, Chicago Blowhard?
maverick muse on November 16, 2009 at 9:36 AM
He does whatever he wants to do. He won. He tells us what to do, not vice versa.
He does whatever he happens to feel like doing, in any given situation, because his way, and his judgment, are best.
Alana on November 16, 2009 at 9:36 AM
I wish it was that simple. It would be an easier explanation. But, unfortunately, he knows exactly what he is doing.
He is setting race relations, in this Country, back by decades. Think about the results of that, and the reasons for it, if he is doing it on purpose.
Yoop on November 16, 2009 at 9:37 AM
.
Bow-how-far Czar
dont taze me bro on November 16, 2009 at 9:40 AM
These ate not accidents nor mistakes. His actions are what you watch and never his words. Sadly, Beck was correct when he said Obama hates America…well the white part.
jukin on November 16, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Absolutely correct; Actions speak louder than words; Obama’s actions vocalize his true contempt for the values of the Office and the people and history of the United States.
He shall dishonor these principles, continuously, until he is removed from office.
Cybergeezer on November 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM
To add further insult, look where he did place his hands!
KS Rex on November 16, 2009 at 10:19 AM
You can cover up your guts
But when you cover up your nuts
You’re admitting that there must be something wrong
“The Naked Eye,” The Who
Christien on November 16, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Classless moron.
AZCoyote on November 16, 2009 at 10:47 AM
He was “not putting his hand over his heart” long before he became president. I don’t know if the protocol office can be blamed. A lot of this is Obama.
Mallard T. Drake on November 16, 2009 at 10:57 AM
My entries for the caption contest:
Whew! They’re still there. Michelle hasn’t cut ‘em off yet.
-or-
Where will you be when your hatred for America kicks in?
Left Coast Right Mind on November 16, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Same thought I had, the guy knows what hes doing, he shows disrespect to the military over and over and over, this is no accident.
Rbastid on November 16, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Assuming that Obama is doing this on purpose as part of a grand scheme to undermine America is giving him way too much credit. It’s simply a mixture of arrogance, stupidity, and incompetence. – posted by jic on November 16, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Indeed, Mr. Obama is the triple crown winner of the worst president contest.
allstonian on November 16, 2009 at 11:12 AM
lol
Mulligan on November 16, 2009 at 11:18 AM
You have to have a heart to be able to put your hand over it.
ProfessorMiao on November 16, 2009 at 12:44 PM
A commenter friend of mine reminded me the other day that this is the same guy who had no problem saluting the flag draped coffins of our fallen soldiers at Dover, just recently, as a photo op. He’s a disgusting, useless SOS.
Crimefyter on November 16, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Not any more. Obama also had to purge that office of all those damned Republicans, so all that’s left is the unpatriotic Dems that he put in there.
Susanboo on November 16, 2009 at 1:44 PM
What’s really sad is that this statement is giving Obama as much of the benefit of the doubt as possible.
tom on November 16, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Yeah, on a lot of things.
GarandFan on November 16, 2009 at 2:14 PM
I can’t figure out whether he’s a classless rube, or has some malevolent grand plan at heart, but am starting to come down on the “rube” side. His frequent failure, when speaking sans teleprompter, to be able to put simple concepts into well-constructed English sentences, and his awkward prose in those of his tomes not obviously ghost-written, reveal a pompous, arrogant wannabe who is way out of his depth. It’s increasingly clear to me that he’s a mental midget and a boorish buffoon who advanced to where he is through a diabolical combination of charm, political circumstance, and sheer dumb luck. He’s destined to to be recognized as an abject failure of a President, and, I’m afraid to say, will be righteously blamed for massive damage to America when future historians pore over the wreckage of his single-term Presidency.
But Joe Biden (where is he these days, by the way? No doubt keeping an eagle-eye on corruption, waste and fraud in the Porkulus) says Obama is clean and articulate, so there’s always that.
mr.blacksheep on November 16, 2009 at 2:50 PM
FIFY
jana on November 16, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Obowma…
Seven Percent Solution on November 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
As is Obama’s modus operandi, he is voting “PRESENT!”
Dandapani on November 16, 2009 at 9:14 PM
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