The White House is denying that the president bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at a G-20 meeting in London, a scene that drew criticism on the right and praise from some Arab outlets.
“It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah,” said an Obama aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Washington Times called the alleged bow a “shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate” and said it violated centuries of American tradition of not deferring to royalty. The Weekly Standard, meanwhile, noted that American protocol apparently rules out bowing, or at least it reportedly did on the occasion of a Clinton “near-bow” to the emperor of Japan.
Interestingly, a columnist in the Saudi-backed Arabic paper Asharq Alawsat also took the gesture as a bow and appreciated the move
According to the White House it was all because Obama is tall. Obama is taller than most people he meets how come we have not seen this bow before? And Politico (above) calls the bow “alleged.” Cripes.
Gibbs acting like he didn’t see the video or knew that much. With a snarky remark to top things off.
Protocol. A President bows graciously to a King. A King to an Emperor. It’s called, getting along.
#79 I dunno, Pedro. When you figure out if Obama bowed or not, let us know. That can be your project over the Easter holidays.
In the mean time, I need to get back to work so I can pay my taxes for a seven year trillion dollar elective war and also worry about my family’s future.
How is this important? He flexed his abdominal muscles, so what?!?
This is like thé definition of “real news”.
#80 And how or why are they gonna respect their fgollowers if they’re the first ones making lame excuse to avoid reality.
I guess they’re just saving themselves from such an useless effort.
#82 Well, it’s gonna be real hard to figure if he did bow or not will all this puppy denial on the subject from you blind followers/true believers. I think the whole easter is not gonna be enough to understand why such strong denial from you guys.
The era of showing fealty to “royalty” is long gone.
No one should bow, especially a US president and especially to leaders of medieval governments.
ok guys switch sides looks like he was insulting Abdullah
from that river of information Wikipedia on Bowing
“Bowing to other human beings is frowned upon in Muslim cultures as all human beings are considered equal and bowing is only supposed to be done to God in Islam.”
guess that makes Obama a bad Muslim to those of you silly enough to think he is a Muslim
if it was ring kissing i guess that is a step up from the ass kissing the bush boys would do.
#19, brm,
I hope you’re not an American. If you are, learn the proper protocol or relinquish your citizenship. We do not bow to royalty.
Where do you get “we” asshole?
Proper protocol is to follow local customs. If the local custom is to remove your shoes at the door, then take ‘em off. If local custom is to cover your head, then cover your head. If the local custom is to shake right hands, then you shake hands. If the local custom is to bow to the leader of their country, you bow. If the local custom is to kiss the ring, you kiss the ring.
And if you violate local custom and the locals end up tossing your sorry butt out the door, you were warned.
How many days left? Has the countdown clock restarted?
But, Hey he’s the president… He can do WTF he wants!
Oh, Boo Hoo!
I bet the King got a kick out of it.
<I?# 62 John C Dvorak said, on April 10th, 2009 at 11:37 am
#59 Interesting because I do not see anyone else bowing to this character. AND now I am more convinced than ever that he wasn’t bowing either. He was indeed kissing his ring. Makes more and more sense. It was this guy who may have gotten Obama elected with back door money. Possible? Yes?
Very possible…
Obama isn’t bowing, he bowed to kiss his ring.
Very interesting…
I wonder what that signifies in Islamic circles?
Kissing the Pope’s ring shows him respect and submission to his ecclesiastical authority….
Dvorack and others are right, watch it carefully, Obama kissed the King’s ring and he has ecclesiastical authority…
I think Obama reacted nstinctively…revealing a part of himself he normally hides very well…that’s why this who event is nervously denied by Obama and crew.
Would wonder-boy bow before ME? I doubt it. Why the hell should he bow to a rag head?
Mr Fusion, you are very rude. But then, if you know every-fucking-thing, I guess you can be.
That was it? Looks like he’s doing the Japanese thing. The way the news sounded I had expected him to be kneeling down or something.
It doesn’t make sense an American would think if kissing the ring of a Saudi King…or bow down…
It doesn’t come “natural” to us…
If we did it, it would be forced, “jerky”, not convincing…
What Obama did seemed to be “natural,” something “he really felt was proper.”
I don’t know the particulars…but to a muslim…meeting Saudi Royalty…keeper of the holy land and Mecca…is a special thing.
Kissing the Ring of a Pope or other religious leader…is a special thing…
its not just a matter of courtesy.
Oh no, Obama bowed to an Arab! He bowed to the ENEMY! Arabs are this weeks enemy, right? Or was that last week and its the Korean’s turn to be the enemy. I kinda lose track sometimes.
Oh that’s right, Somali pirates are this weeks enemy. So I guess the bow was Ok after all. I mean, America has been fellating the Saudi’s for years. What’s the big deal?
It is a gaff filled White House. They are having to hire actors to fill positions.
The next movie will be Harold and Kumar go to the White House.
Maybe President Obama should have HELD HIS HAND to the bathroom.
I’d bow too if I was the American president. With all the American debt that the Saudis own. Bush probably kissed his feet (in private) or maybe even something else.
I am just so amazed the right wing nuts have their undies in such a knot over this. Their kind allowed the economy to fall into ruin and they complain about whether or not the President “bowed to a foreign leader”. Last week it was the First Lady “touching the Queen of England”. Next week it will be the President’s Aunt wipes her ass with her right hand.
Instead of trying to get jobs for the 25 million unemployed and underemployed in this country they can only argue about trivial matters. And they want to lead this country?
#95 Another loyal puppy. If it’s not such a big deal, why the denial.
Geez, is it too much to ask for a straight answer from true believers?
#99 Join the club. I’m also amazied at the ammount of denial from true-believers like you.