[JSanders]

Obama Bows to Saudi King

http://media.washingtontimes.com/med...c8653055db7939

When President Obama met King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the Group of 20 summit in London last week, he made a deep bow from the waist, to which the reaction in conservative blogs was (paraphrased) "We fought a king in 1776, for this."

Jeff Goldstein at Protein Wisdom recalled how New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani "once practically spit in the face of a presumptuous Saudi Prince" before going on to draw an obscenely unfavorable comparison to the regime to whose leader Mr. Obama was bowing.

"Our President? He xxx8230; bowed. He bowed to religious intolerance. He bowed to misogyny. He bowed to anti-semitism. He bowed to homophobia. In short, he surrendered our country's ideals, offering up our principles for sacrifice on the altar of Otherness xxx8230; xxx8230; And by bowing before a Saudi Prince, our President xxx8212; in addition to [ignoring] 200+ years of precedent xxx8212; has shown himself to be as principled as many of us knew him to be. Which is not principled at all."

Also getting conservative dander up was the lack of coverage given to the bow by the American press. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air noted that even former President Bill Clinton once got excoriated for appearing to bow to a foreign monarch.

"The New York Times sharply criticized Bill Clinton for a mere inclination of his shoulders towards Japanese Emperor Akihito in 1994: 'It wasn't a bow, exactly. But Mr. Clinton came close. He inclined his head and shoulders forward, he pressed his hands together. It lasted no longer than a snapshot, but the image on the South Lawn was indelible: an obsequent President, and the Emperor of Japan. Canadians still bow to England's Queen; so do Australians. Americans shake hands. If not to stand eye-to-eye with royalty, what else were 1776 and all that about?'

"The media took Clinton to task for even suggesting the unthinkable. Now they remain silent on Obama's leap to the unthinkable. When will the New York Times cover this, even to the extent [it] covered Clinton's inclined shoulders? Or is the unthinkable in 1994 turned into the unmentionable in 2009, thanks to a national media that has completely sold out to Barack Obama?"

More: Inside Blogotics - Washington Times

[John Clark]

He said he was leaning over to someone short....uh huh.

Obama is big trouble for this country.

[Dawg]

wow. Well, what do you expect from a man who attended a church who cursed america for twenty years. I think his soul purpose is to make this country fail so he can build it back to what he wants.

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

If he fixes the economy, I can overlook certain things

[mriff]

No American President should EVER bow to any Saudi King (or any other king for that matter). Under ANY circumstance.

[JSanders]

There have been other suppositions that this "bow" had more to do for Obama's true religious preferences.

EDITORIAL: Barack takes a bow - Washington Times

Mr. Obama later said in Strasbourg, France, "We have to change our behavior in showing the Muslim world greater respect." Symbolism is important in world affairs. By bending over to show greater respect to Islam, the U.S. president belittled the power and independence of the United States.

[test54]

Don't Care. Many bigger issues than this.

[Dawg]

Originally Posted by test54

Don't Care. Many bigger issues than this.

Are you serious, you give him a pass on this?

[Horizon Wireless]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 11000 Colosol)

Instead of bowing to the saudi prince, he should be bowing to the people. Joe the plumber, where are you when we need you?

[Dubdub]

Originally Posted by mriff

No American President should EVER bow to any Saudi King (or any other king for that matter). Under ANY circumstance.

Totally agree.

The O-man has much to learn about the ways of the world and the ways of the US.

However, my guess is most of the US population could care less., if they even know about it.

[JSanders]

He is no idiot that has much to learn. The bow was not a mistake or accident.

If one says he has much to learn, that is admitting that the Obama White House has failed on protocol and briefing the President as to his place in a group such as the Group of 20.

He knew exactly what he was doing, and defended it. He didn't say "Hey, I forgot!"

Read his reasoning again, the Obama quote, and someone tell me he doesn't know exactly the 'ways of the world' already. Probably, he knows those ways all too well. For crying out loud, he's what, a Harvard grad? And people expect him to behave with less knowledge than who, GWBush?

Sheezzz.. lots to learn, lol.

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by Dawg

Are you serious, you give him a pass on this?

Liberals give him a pass on everything.

[JSanders]

And Dubdub, I am not railing at you, just the thought in general.

[kathrynhr]

Wirelessly posted

I agree 100% with test.

The hoopla over this is every bit as stupid as the British people freaking out when Michelle Obama had her arm around the queen.

A bow is a gesture of respect. That's it. Once upon a time people HAD to bow, but that is ancient history! The whole point of democracy is to give people more choices, not less. Yet among the patriotic, somehow Obama is not allowed to bow to show respect because he's an American. WTF.

[JSanders]

Originally Posted by kathrynhr

A bow is a gesture of respect. That's it.

No, it isn't. It is much more. It is a sign of subservience and recognition of the other person's greater importance.

We can't just go about re-defining the act. It is what it is. Muslims bow to no one but God. Christians (mostly catholic) might bow at an alter.

[Dubdub]

Obama's response is typical political spin. He knew what he was doing and he is/was wrong.

No offense taken. My wife, daughter and best friend are all Democrats so I get it all the time. I have to vote 3 times just to even things out.

[test54]

Originally Posted by John Clark

Liberals give him a pass on everything.

I may give him a pass for a "bow" but people have been giving the Bushes a pass on their ties to the Saudi family. They made the Bushes very rich in return for us building their country. Funny how the Saudis went from hating us in 1970 to one of our biggest allies in 1990. So to me a bow or following Royal protocol in London is something I don't really care about.
And the name calling is very childish even for you JC.

Its just a bow, travel a bit and you will see that bows are used all over the world to show signs of respect, get over it.

[Dawg]

Originally Posted by John Clark

Liberals give him a pass on everything.

True and I really wasn't surprised at all. He has free reign to do what ever he wants with the extreme liberals. I am pretty liberal but to bow to a Muslim King he just lowered his importance to every other muslim out there. If I had any respect for him at all its now completely gone.

[Dawg]

Originally Posted by test54

I may give him a pass for a "bow" but people have been giving the Bushes a pass on their ties to the Saudi family. They made the Bushes very rich in return for us building their country. Funny how the Saudis went from hating us in 1970 to one of our biggest allies in 1990. So to me a bow or following Royal protocol in London is something I don't really care about.
And the name calling is very childish even for you JC.

Its just a bow, travel a bit and you will see that bows are used all over the world to show signs of respect, get over it.

I don't think hes acalling you a name, He is simply commenting on how you have posted in every thread. Its very common knowledge that you are an extreme liberal.

[test54]

No please reread, its childish name calling. Whether its warranted or not, its how it is mentioned.

And dawg how are you Liberal?



The bow is insignificant, same as holding the King's hand.