Obamateurism of the Day

posted at 8:05 am on November 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey

Jules Crittenden spotted this doozy from Barack Obama’s attempt to ingratiate himself with his hosts during his first tour of Asia as President:

Trying to reassure allies and rivals, President Barack Obama billed himself Saturday as “America’s first Pacific president,” promising the nations of Asia “a new era of engagement with the world based on mutual interests and mutual respect.”

Er … Barack Obama, meet Richard Nixon and his birthplace:

Location: 18061 Yorba Linda Boulevard
Nearest city: Yorba Linda, Orange County, California, USA

Last I saw, California also qualifies as a Pacific state.  Ronald Reagan spent far more time in California than Obama did in Hawaii, although the Gipper was born in the Midwest.  As Jules concludes, Obama appears to consider himself the Alpha and Omega of … well, just about everything.  If anything, Obama has shown himself to be much more of an Ivy League ivory-tower President — as his knowledge of Japanese customs in greetings amply demonstrated.

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.

Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!

Tags: , ,

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

maybe we should start a big lie and keep repeating it like the left does.

Blarg the Destroyer on November 17, 2009 at 8:25 AM

Why lie? There’s enough authentic material to work with for generations to come.

Oldnuke on November 17, 2009 at 9:41 AM

mmm mmm mmm.

khacha on November 17, 2009 at 9:48 AM

Krauthammer’s comments are here. A righteous takedown as usual.

apostic, you beat me to the Trek reference! I was going to say, even Spock knew better.

Rosmerta on November 17, 2009 at 9:50 AM

Obama appears to consider himself the Alpha and Omega of … well, just about everything.

Not Alpha…He’s a Beta…male that is.

Nalea on November 17, 2009 at 10:11 AM

Sweet Jesus – I mean the real One – help us!

redwhiteblue on November 17, 2009 at 10:19 AM

One word …. idjit Not even a useful idjit, just a plain old idjit. (Yes I know I spelled it wrong, shades of Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam)

Duncan Khuver on November 17, 2009 at 8:12 AM

It’s a valid word if you’re in the South, or Texas…just sayin’

bikermailman on November 17, 2009 at 10:20 AM

What is America’s First One-term African-American President? (Clinton served two terms.)

Christien on November 17, 2009 at 10:42 AM

Oh, you guys! Don’t you know, Nixon was a disgrace! He doesn’t count as a president! Shame on you for trying to usurp another accolade from Obama the Fab!

I snickered when I read that statement as well. And the whole deal about the big meet-up in 2011 where everyone will wear “Flowered shirts and hula skirts” had me cackling so loud the dog freaked out.

On occasion I find myself feeling a little sorry for Obama. Only someone who is completely insecure seeks to get pats on the back for any and everything they can. Then I remember this dude is applauded for stuff that others did on a regular basis while the left makes mookiestinks on the names of others who HAVE done great things and that sympathy goes away.

This is just more evidence of this man’s need to be in the spotlight. Should the current trend continue, I suspect we’re going to see the man melt down pretty strongly as time goes by. I hope we have some folks who can keep him contained when things get real bad. Because it is well-known that extreme narcissists can get pretty dangerous when their need for attention and love is thwarted. And with his finger on the button (even though he doesn’t want that button to actually work) that could get dicey.

Mad Mad Monica on November 17, 2009 at 10:55 AM

By all rights, FDR was the first American President to engage himself in the Pacific–he sent troops and ships to fight a war there.

Truman dropped two atomic bombs on Japan (as a Japanese reporter reminded him), and sent troops to Korea, as did Eisenhower.

JFK, as a young man had fought in the Pacific, and Nixon was not only born in California, he also was the first President to engage in “Pacific” diplomacy with mainland China.

And, by the way, if Obama was really born in Hawaii, where’s the birth certificate?

Unless Obama is the first Indian Ocean President…

Steve Z on November 17, 2009 at 12:19 PM

He’s the post-U.S.American precedent.

Schadenfreude on November 17, 2009 at 12:52 PM

A bow? I thought it was a curtsey.

MarkTheGreat on November 17, 2009 at 2:15 PM

Anyone catch this cute little nugget. An internet question on Taiwan that sounds like one o’ them “Why do people hate you?” plants Bammy is oh so used to.

But the best part about it is this:

there’s something about when people think that they can do business and make money that makes them think very clearly and not worry as much about ideology.

What the F is that supposed to mean?

Q I will be reading a question selected on the Internet to you, and this question is from somebody from Taiwan. In his question, he said: I come from Taiwan. Now I am doing business on the mainland. And due to improved cross-straits relations in recent years, my business in China is doing quite well. So when I heard the news that some people in America would like to propose — continue selling arms and weapons to Taiwan, I begin to get pretty worried. I worry that this may make our cross-straits relations suffer.

So I would like to know if, Mr. President, are you supportive of improved cross-straits relations? And although this question is from a businessman, actually, it’s a question of keen concern to all of us young Chinese students, so we’d really like to know your position on this question. Thank you. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. Well, I have been clear in the past that my administration fully supports a one-China policy, as reflected in the three joint communiqués that date back several decades, in terms of our relations with Taiwan as well as our relations with the People’s Republic of China. We don’t want to change that policy and that approach.

I am very pleased with the reduction of tensions and the improvement in cross-straits relations, and it is my deep desire and hope that we will continue to see great improvement between Taiwan and the rest of — and the People’s Republic in resolving many of these issues.

One of the things that I think that the United States, in terms of its foreign policy and its policy with respect to China, is always seeking is ways that through dialogue and negotiations, problems can be solved. We always think that’s the better course. And I think that economic ties and commercial ties that are taking place in this region are helping to lower a lot of the tensions that date back before you were born or even before I was born.

Now, there are some people who still look towards the past when it comes to these issues, as opposed to looking towards the future. I prefer to look towards the future. And as I said, I think the commercial ties that are taking place — there’s something about when people think that they can do business and make money that makes them think very clearly and not worry as much about ideology. And I think that that’s starting to happen in this region, and we are very supportive of that process. OK?

I.M. Shatner on November 17, 2009 at 5:54 PM

What a turd…there’s really nothing more to say about this imbecile!

jgdp on November 17, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Ronald Reagan spent far more time in California than Obama did in Hawaii

Well, are you including the time spent in Indonesia?

malclave on November 18, 2009 at 12:13 AM

Comment pages: 1 2