Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on February 4, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Remember when Barack Obama promised to restore our standing with our allies? It seems that Europe is less than impressed with Obama:
President Barack Obama’s plan to skip a European Union-U.S. summit in May has led EU leaders to scrap the summit altogether.
The White House signaled this week that Obama was not going to attend the meeting, which was intended to be a highlight of Spain’s six-month hold on the rotating EU presidency.
“The president is committed to a strong U.S.-EU partnership, and with Europe in general,” White House National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said. “There were no plans for the president to travel to Spain for a summit this spring.”
You might say that a European snit doesn’t an Obamateurism make — and normally you’d be right. But how did Spain discover that Obama refused to attend the summit?
Spain claims that it was only through these media reports that it found out Obama would not be attending the Madrid meeting, which was intended to cover a wide range of issues including foreign affairs, climate change, Iran’s nuclear program, success in Afghanistan, and the global economic crisis. …
Spanish newspaper El Pais complained in an editorial Wednesday that Obama’s passing the country over signaled a change in Washington priorities and marginalized the EU. BBC reported that “in Brussels there is growing concern that President Obama is taking Europe for granted and focusing instead on China and Russia.”
What kind of diplomacy is this? Smart power? More like amateurish bumbling.
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!
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 do you say “reset” in Spanish?
redfoxbluestate on February 4, 2010 at 8:08 AM
He’s skipping the winter Olympics in Vancouver, too.
Wethal on February 4, 2010 at 8:08 AM
The more he postures, the more President M.T. Suit\’s clothes resemble Pinocchio\’s.
SeniorD on February 4, 2010 at 8:10 AM
European socialism might be fine, but Marxism is where it’s at.
Wethal on February 4, 2010 at 8:10 AM
And he’s committed to hating America and her children.
TimBuk3 on February 4, 2010 at 8:10 AM
Now why would they do that? Seems to me they’d get a heck of alot more done if they had it without teh 0ne.
4shoes on February 4, 2010 at 8:11 AM
How many times does he have to offend our allies before we say his actions are intentional?
txhsmom on February 4, 2010 at 8:14 AM
Perhaps if Spain bought up a bunch of our T bills, we might be inclined to give them the time of day. But until that happens, our lips are on China’s butt.
myrenovations on February 4, 2010 at 8:14 AM
The sound you just heard was all of europe being thrown under the bus.
rightside on February 4, 2010 at 8:17 AM
They should just go forward with the meeting, without 0bama. They’d probably get a lot more accomplished.
UltimateBob on February 4, 2010 at 8:17 AM
EPIC FAILURE…..again…
lovingmyUSA on February 4, 2010 at 8:18 AM
I’m surprised Michelle is going to let Obama miss this chance to go to Spain on the taxpayer’s dime.
The snub in Copenhagen must really sting.
Disturb the Universe on February 4, 2010 at 8:18 AM
If the Saudi Arabian Prince was invited, then he would come.
kingsjester on February 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM
It’s called “staircase diplomacy.” You see, if Obama doesn’t want to talk to you, you find out through someone else that you’ve been thrown down the stairs. Because “restoring Americas standing in the world” means exactly that—America is now Obama, and Obama is throwing everyone else down the stairs, leaving only Obama standing.
Cliche’s.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM
Europe threw the US under the bus ages ago. My problem is that Obama is doing it now for all the wrong reasons.
Shy Guy on February 4, 2010 at 8:22 AM
Do they miss W yet?
obladioblada on February 4, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Quein es tu papi, perra?
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 8:24 AM
As President he has people who get paid lots of taxpayer money to handel these things. If only he would hire people who knew how to do the job.
Gwillie on February 4, 2010 at 8:24 AM
I think I have to be fair on this one.
So what?
Spain wanted to meet to find out what size check Obama would write for them. That is what they were looking forward to.
The alleged interest in “success in Afghanistan”? Doesn’t anyone remember how fast the Spanish chickened out of the alliance? They are practically ready to change the name of the country back to Andalusia.
Nukes in Iran? What were they going to do, snap castanets in an angry fashion?
Climate change and global economic crisis are both code words for “U.S. give us money!”.
The more events like this he skips the better off we are.
Damn. Shouldn’t have posted this. Now he’s sure to change his mind.
Hyunchback on February 4, 2010 at 8:26 AM
Well he needs to go and smooze Moody’s too. He is going to be too busy for Spain.
Johnnyreb on February 4, 2010 at 8:26 AM
Obama needs a Vegas vacation. he can take his retard chief of staff with him to count cards.
Fletch54 on February 4, 2010 at 8:28 AM
Since when does barry give up on a trip? That’s why he became POTUS for all the free travel.
Did Harry’s jab about spending your vacation time in the US hit a nerve?
deadenders on February 4, 2010 at 8:30 AM
restore = diminish in dear leader’s eyes
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 8:31 AM
The problem is that the EU is still socialist. Obama needs to concentrate on China and Russia because they have strayed off the shining path. If the EU wants Obama’s attention, they need to start cutting taxes and privatizing their health care. He’ll be there in a New York minute.
Kafir on February 4, 2010 at 8:31 AM
Of course he’s propping up Russia and China, eventually he wants the U.S. to be just like them (and Venezuela). He wants the U.S. people to be totally dependent on him and his government. Europe may have socialism, but for the most part people in Europe can still survive on their own.
Obama wants to be like the Venezuelan dictator and show that without him we are nothing and he can take anything away from us at anytime.
MobileVideoEngineer on February 4, 2010 at 8:31 AM
The CEO hangs out with other CEOs and executives, not with the guys in the break room.
/sarc
rockbend on February 4, 2010 at 8:31 AM
dear leader will send them all iPods with his speeches, that should do the trick
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 8:32 AM
I wonder if the secret service lets rahm drive the limo in the driveway. Dad says he’s a great driver…
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 8:32 AM
I think it may have more to do with Obama’s hatred (I mean that word) of America and it’s position as world leader. By snubbing that summit, he is telling the EU to take over as world leader because we have never been worthy of it and are only now recognizing it.
Extrafishy on February 4, 2010 at 8:37 AM
O/T. But it appears the house of cards is going to crash a bit sooner than expected:
http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/108747/next-in-line-for-a-bailout-social-security?mod=fidelity-readytoretire
My understanding was this was not supposed to occur until 2019.
Johnnyreb on February 4, 2010 at 8:38 AM
I-pads. Get with the program, Luddite.
Bishop on February 4, 2010 at 8:39 AM
my bad…
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 8:40 AM
Is it just possible that Obama thinks there might be a terrorism problem in Spain? Maybe the Spanish folks sent the WH some free tickets on their railways and security took it the wrong way? Didn’t Spain basically capitulate to al qeada when they executed their Spanish “9/11″ moment?
Rovin on February 4, 2010 at 8:40 AM
This method of notification is nearly as insulting as the way my friend found out her husband wanted a divorce – she read about the filing in the newspaper!
ladyingray on February 4, 2010 at 8:41 AM
nahh, I think he’s just playing golf that day.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 8:41 AM
not good at all…
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Mmmmmmm, why no Spain?
Dahling can’t you little people see (channeling Ariana voice here), it’s Summertime in Australia of course. And nahturally peasants Barack and Meechelle want to go to Indoneeseeia, for the tropical weather and 5am call to prayer that Meester Obama remembers as a child.
Anyone want to take bets on the chances that when he hears the daily call to prayer from the Mosque that he answers?
PappyD61 on February 4, 2010 at 8:41 AM
The economy’s getting worse.
MarkTheGreat on February 4, 2010 at 8:43 AM
Looks like retarded diplomacy from the Retard In Chief.
Cybergeezer on February 4, 2010 at 8:43 AM
Hey Obama….It ain’t so easy is it? It was a lot easier campaigning then actually doing…
So far you have just about screwed everything up that you have touched…a “retard” could do better running the country then you.
right2bright on February 4, 2010 at 8:43 AM
Well, good news at last. Snubbing the very people (EU) who have taken such great delight in bashing the US for years would be a good thing. Spain bugged out on us to appease Islam.
elclynn on February 4, 2010 at 8:44 AM
Quick, somebody needs to write an article about how intelligent and what a great temperament our dear leader has because right about now I think he a petulant brat. Was he raised by a pack of wolves?
Cindy Munford on February 4, 2010 at 8:45 AM
Too funny Fletch! I can just imagine Obama on a craps table putting all his money on snake-eyes, while Emanuel’s screaming “c’mon seven”.
Rovin on February 4, 2010 at 8:46 AM
I wonder how well the Geico Cavemen would do….?
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 8:46 AM
No they couldn’t because even they would occasionally get things right.
Obama and his string pullers are deliberately destroying the country.
MobileVideoEngineer on February 4, 2010 at 8:47 AM
It is worse than most people expect. Social Security surpluses have been pretty much funding all the fluff and growth in the Federal budget for the last 25 years or so. Now the notes are being called in almost 10 years earlier than projected. No more SS surpluses means doubling of the projected defecits.
Johnnyreb on February 4, 2010 at 8:47 AM
he’th gotta thay it with a drunken lithp, otherwithe it’th not ath funny….
Come on THhhHEVEN!!
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 8:47 AM
AMEN!!
The economy cannot improve until unemployment drops…it is mathematical, not economics.
People working create a healthy economy, working in private enterprise.
The longer we are above 10%, the worse it will get…8% is bad but we could probably maintain a level of stability, 5% and we grow.
This president doesn’t understand the simplest ideas…you have to put the people to work, there is no higher priority.
But there is, his agenda is a doomsday scenario….how long can we hang on.
right2bright on February 4, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Ticking off the Spanish now?
1) Cheap DVD set to the British PM.
2) Bows to Saudi king, Japanese emperor, leader of China, but not queen of England.
3) Does not meet with king of Denmark (Norway?) for the very traditional Nobel Peace Prize dinner.
4) Meets with Chinese & Russians over Afghanistan strategy, but sends aides to meet with Canadian prime minister while only Canada has troops fighting with us & Canada is right next door.
5) Cancels the Polish & Czech missle defense system on the anniversary of the day Poland got invaded to start WWII.
6) Ignores those who stood up against Soviet domination of Eastern Europe on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (Walensa, Thatcher)
7) Now he’s snubbing Europe again?
8) Does crash a meeting between China, India, & Brazil at the Copenfrauden climate change meeting.
Does anyone else see a pattern here? Dear Liar does seem to have a problem with Europeans and European decedents.
(any other European snubs I’ve missed?)
rbj on February 4, 2010 at 8:49 AM
Was he raised by a pack of
wolveskittens?Cindy Munford on February 4, 2010 at 8:45 AM
right2bright on February 4, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Actually, the Administration is not focused on much of anything about now and “chickens with their heads cut off” comes to mind.
What Obama needs now is a bunch more likeminded ideologues steeped in Chicago politics to surround himself with that are especially good at answering “Yes we can!” to anything he says. Yeah, that’ll do it.
Dusty on February 4, 2010 at 8:52 AM
Awesome
Don’t the Obamas have some deep seated animus toward old colonial powers? I remember reading that when M’chelle was patting the queen and Barak was bowing to the Saudi king. The whole global redistributive scheme involves taking money from the west and giving it to the south.
Haunches on February 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
ugh
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 8:57 AM
It looks like Obama snubs just Spain with it’s socialist government but it goes much farther. This time he doesn’t snub just one country he goes for it all. He snubs the whole EU and it’s newly reformed leadership. Here is my post I submitted yesterday for “Obamateurism of the Day”: Why just snub UK or France or Poland if you can snub EU?
ktrelski on February 4, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Actually, it was jackals. And you’re being mighty unfair to wolves.
indypat on February 4, 2010 at 9:05 AM
I think you’re right. All of Obama’s actions on the world stage only begin to make sense if you put them in the context of his animus toward the very idea of American global economic & geopolitical hegemony. He very publicly snubs our Western allies, often insulting them in ways that could only be described as gratuitously petty, yet he inexplicably showers all this nation’s good will on the world’s miscreants by kowtowing to Third World marxist kleptocrats & groveling before bloodthirsty Muslim dictators. So either the man is the most boorish & most feckless dingbat to ever occupy the Oval, or he is deliberately undercutting America’s prestige around the globe in order to diminish her power and destroy her position as leader of the free world.
leilani on February 4, 2010 at 9:13 AM
Rumor has it that he intends never to attend any Olympic Games, ever, because the IOC diminished his self-perceived godlike stature by tossing Chicago under the bus first.
ya2daup on February 4, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Just send them all some DVD’s
RustBelt on February 4, 2010 at 9:18 AM
They all wanted to play “Let’s hold a secret meeting while we’re here, not invite The Unprecedented, and see how long it will take for him to find us!” Can’t do it if the butt of the joke won’t show up to play.
ya2daup on February 4, 2010 at 9:19 AM
It was an easy decision for the O, because:
a) He has bad luck in Copenhagen, and
b) Europe is pretty close to Copenhagen, he thinks.
Patrick S on February 4, 2010 at 9:21 AM
mom, best to assume the slights ARE intentional.
The bird (he flipped Spain) is worth two on the Bush.
(blame game coming as soon as he can figure out ‘W’s role in this screw up).
Yoop on February 4, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Soros.
“This week the Associated Press reported that at a forum in Hong Kong, Soros touted the need for better cooperation between the U.S. and China.”
– Soros Comments Could Offer Clues on His Strategy
Shy Guy on February 4, 2010 at 9:30 AM
Diplomatically speaking, I suppose this can be seen as another in a series of administration blunders, but on the whole I don’t think it’s that big a deal. The EU has shown time and again they aren’t all that interested in partnering with the US on serious international problems. We certainly don’t need nor can we expect any help from Spain. They made that clear years ago after the Madrid bombings.
Not that I have any confidence in this administration’s abilities to accomplish anything significant, but focusing our efforts on the two or three nations that currently account for the bulk of the world’s problems and present very real threats to our national security seems like the smart thing to do.
Let the effete, petulant, Euro-weenies cry in their espressos.
RobertE on February 4, 2010 at 9:31 AM
B-Ho has been holding up Spain as an example
of “green jobs” for a while now.
We’ve all read how for every “green” job created,
something like 2.2 REAL jobs are lost.
Maybe he doesn’t want the scrutiny our media(ha ha)
would give this little fact.
mrt721 on February 4, 2010 at 9:40 AM
He’s signaling to the EU, as he did to Colombia and other democracies, that he prefers to deal with communists. Quite simple.
SilentWatcher on February 4, 2010 at 9:42 AM
Hussein Obama ain’t going to Vegas. Like Rush said yesterday, the Koran forbids gambling.
SilentWatcher on February 4, 2010 at 9:51 AM
Not only is he skipping the Olympics in Vancouver, he is also not attending any “Special Olympic” events.
Is it because none of the sporting events he participates in are on these organizations venues, or is it because if they were he is so terrible at that he could not even qualify.
MSGTAS on February 4, 2010 at 9:54 AM
More madcap antics from our zany and fun-loving president.
mr.blacksheep on February 4, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Why? Hillary will not use the correct words anyway? Might as well say, “Yo Que Quiro Taco Bell?”
barnone on February 4, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Barry’s going to Vegas instead of Spain will be his new plan to reduce the deficit. He is after all the Won and expects to win at the craps table.
Kissmygrits on February 4, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Well of course he would rather hang with bullies, thugs, and violators of human rights. He aspires to those lofty goals himself.
capejasmine on February 4, 2010 at 10:21 AM
It’s “Retard Power”. That’s more powerful than anything.
Hucklebuck on February 4, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Who gives a hoot about Spain. Last spring Spanish prosecutors were threatening to indict six former members of the Bush administration. Another moronic government.
Nalea on February 4, 2010 at 10:52 AM
5 bucks to bet Obama simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bow (repeatedly) to other heads of state.
Sir Napsalot on February 4, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Obama and his administration have been a diplomatic disaster as far as international relations are concerned. And not to have someone from his inner circle of staff/advisors personally call Spain, as current “chair” of the EU, to let them know he wouldn’t be attending the Madrid meeting, is such breathtaking bad form that it’s hard to fathom what Obama’s motives might be.
Something Spain or the EU did ticked Obama off big time, and as is becoming increasingly clear, Obama is a vindictive sort. I’m sure a lot of that has to do with his political upbringing via Chicago politics, plus the fact that his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, is notorious for being vindictive. But this particular instance is so brazen that whatever they did over in Europe must have been a doozy. I just can’t see this snub, and leaving Spain to learn of it via media reports, as a mere moment of forgetfulness.
One thing for sure, at least Obama is consistent. There isn’t one single person, nor group, nor any nationality, where he has hesitated when flipping his now infamous Fickle Finger of D*ss, either figuratively or literally. Um, perhaps except with Big Labor Unions.
KendraWilder on February 4, 2010 at 11:40 AM
I’m glad Obama is failing.
csdeven on February 4, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Bohica.
karl9000 on February 4, 2010 at 11:57 AM
BBC reported that “in Brussels there is growing concern that President Obama is taking Europe for granted and focusing instead on China and Russia.”
Well Duhhh! As anyone who has read the gist of my diatribes in these threads about Obama’s cohort of communists and their sympathizers, this should come as no surprise to bamboozled Euro-fops & American voters.
Russia & China come from the communist/collectivist authoritarian mindset that Team Obama clearly embraces, the western paradigm of liberty, free-markets and self determination do not.
Of course Obama is going to shun European collaboration and shift it’s focus towards those whose framework is closely attuned to their own. What else would you expect?
Archimedes on February 4, 2010 at 12:38 PM
The sound you just heard was all of europe being thrown under the bus.
rightside on February 4, 2010 at 8:17 AM
No that was when Bam-bam abandoned the Missle Sheild in Poland and the Czech Republic, this sound is just the murmuring of the gawkers rubber-necking the carnage left in the middle of the road.
Archimedes on February 4, 2010 at 12:43 PM
OT Here, but has anone else looked at this?
As per Zero Hedge=The Treasury Is Soliciting Your Feedback Regarding The Proposed Annuitization Of 401(k)
Geithener & Co. have already seized these inst’s most have our 401′s in, (possesion 9/10th’s after all) and the verbage the treasury is using here distinctly considers involuntary compliance.
Methinks this is very, very worrisome.
Archimedes on February 4, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Hate to say it, but so damned what?
Who cares what a European thinks, much less and ESPECIALLY a Spaniard? They’re as cowardly and annoying as the French, and known as the most anti-American state in the EU. And even the French didn’t cut and run like the commie Spaniards did, when the going got tough. If Obama’s pretending to get some real work done, good. The EU is useless, and we really need to break down EUCOM and let them fend for themselves, just like they say they can. Turn all their assets over to CENTCOM and AFRICOM.
With friends like Spaniards, who needs enemas?
Virus-X on February 7, 2010 at 6:22 PM