If we had a Special Olympics for people who can’t function without committing grave social gaffes at every turn, the Obamas would surely compete. Examples:
Obama bows deeply to the Saudi king here. American Thinker calls it “unbecoming” an American presisdent. I would say so. And would add that it’s more than a little creepy.
Although it is reported that the Queen of England was actually agreeable to receiving a hug from Michelle Obama, I wonder what Her Majesty thought of the iPod the Obamas gave her as a gift? Granted: it contained footage and photographs from her 2007 US visit, but so what? Do the Obamas think no one in the Queen’s huge entourage – including the British press – was in possession of a camera during her trip? Or that she cannot afford her own iPod? (It’s been reported that she already owns one.)
After the British prime minister presented Obama with a pen holder crafted from the timbers of the 19th century British war ship HMS President (whose sister ship, HMS Resolute, provided the wood for the Oval Office’s desk) AND a first edition of the seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert…Obama gave the British prime minister 25 DVDs of classic American movies. The package could be purchased anywhere for about $200. And the discs that were given don’t even work across the Atlantic (different formatting).
Is there no one on Obama’s staff with a clue about international diplomacy and etiquette? Or, for that matter, with a lick of common sense? I’m pretty sure my thirteen year old son could come up with better gift choices for world leaders.
