Barack Ob(sequious)bama
Proudly genuflecting across the globe. First the king of Saudi Arabia, now Ob(sequious)bama bows again to the emperor of Japan. Ed Morrisey:
Both Allahpundit and I referenced this blast from the past at the time Barack Obama bowed to Abdullah earlier this year. It’s worth posting again, not just because Obama pulled another boneheaded protocol violation and bowed to an emperor, but in this case bowed to the same emperor with whom Bill Clinton almost committed the same protocol violation. Douglas Jehr, in a 1994 New York Times report, made it clear that had Clinton actually executed a full bow, it would have destroyed a precedent dating to the founding of the Republic:
Go over to Hot Air to read the quote they have up.
American presidents do not – ever – bow to foreign kings, emporers or anything else. Hell, Americans do not bow to them. We settled that a long, long time ago. We are not subjects, we do not bow.
What’s next, kneeling? Who does Ob(sequious)bama prostrate himself to?
Why do I think a complete kow tow to the Chinese is coming up? That’s the full monty, including kneeling and touching his forehead to the ground.
Obamantics | Gaius November 14, 2009
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By Maggie, November 14, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
Gaius -
I’m starting to see these “bows” by Barry as sexual teases for Chris “tingle” Matthews.
By Gaius, November 14, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
That’s an image I just did not need, Maggie!
By ropelight, November 15, 2009 @ 9:25 am
Refusing to bow to the British King was a proud show of independence for a new nation, it confirmed we were no longer subjects, but free men. It made an important point and became a source of national pride, and lives on in our traditions.
However, it’s a different matter in Japan. The bow there isn’t a display of abject subservience, it’s more of a mutual show of respect. You can think of it as somewhat similar to the salute soldiers employ in recognition of their profession of arms. The salute is initiated by the junior ranker and is returned by the senior. Even when a PFC takes an enemy officer captive, he’s expected to salute and render his captive the respect his rank commands, all the while holding him at gun point.
That’s not a fully satisfying explanation for the bow in Japan, or a perfect analogy, but it’s close enough to show there’s another side of the issue.
I’m no fan of Obama, quite the contrary, but bowing to the Emperor of Japan is no stain on the honor of America. Obama is a guest in their country and their rules of proper conduct apply.
Certainly, Americans are free to show respect for the Japanese custom or not. Obama chose to bow, it was his choice, it doesn’t diminish our national honor, it reassures the people of Japan that we regard them as equals, and I won’t fault him for it.
By Gaius, November 15, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
It is against US protocol for the president to bow to a foreign head of state.
By ropelight, November 15, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
Not even when the head of state also happens to be the Pope?