Remember the furor over Teen Talk Barbie, ‘way back in the early ’90s? A small number of the dolls shipped with programming that had the doll say, “Math class is tough!” That morphed into “Math is hard!” as the story went nationwide – even though that isn’t what the dolls said. Well, the Obama administration IS saying that “being President is hard!” as an explanation for Barack Obama’s insulting of Gordon Brown and, by extension, Britain. No, like, really they are.
Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been “overwhelmed” by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.
British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister.
But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama’s inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.
Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president’s surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.
A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama’s inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to “even fake an interest in foreign policy”.
You have got to be kidding me. It comes as a surprise to Obama and his administration that being president is actually a full-time job and then some? He’s so overwhelmed by the job that he is spending an awful lot of time in permanent campaign mode, flitting about for photo-ops? So he’s too tired to even fake an interest in foreign policy?
This is the President of the United States? Too tired to even pretend to be a gracious host to an ally? Too tired to assign a staffer to get a decent gift for the leader of an important ally? To tired to offer anything like a grown-up excuse for his thoughtlessness?
Gosh. Math IS hard.
UPDATE: This story is now up at Memeorandum. Some others blogging: Pajamas Media, Flopping Aces, Power Line, JustOneMinute, QandO, Wizbang, Hot Air,
Waiting for the Messiah doll complete with phrases like:
“That’s not the man I knew.”
“That’s above my pay grade.”
“Those statements are a distraction from Real Issues.”
“I have a funny name, and don’t look like the other Presidents on the dollar bills.”
“I have always said that the troop surge in Iraq would not reduce violence.”
“I have always said that the troop surge in Iraq would reduce violence.”
“Small nations like Iran pose no threat to the USA.”
“We won.”
“I won.”
I seem to recall he got tired on the campaign trail.
Buried in the story is the quote from the Obama staffer telling the UK that they are just one of 190 countries we must deal with and not to expect there to be any special relationship. The UK an ally? Really? After that comment by the staffer, I am not sure the gift was a gaffe. Memo to Mwalimu Daudi: How about adding ‘present’ to your list? The Lightworker is there….. most days.