Great news: Obama fumbled Brown visit because he’s in over his head
Upon heads of state meeting for the first time in official capacity, it is customary to exchange gifts as tokens of friendship between the countries involved. But as he headed back home from Washington, Gordon Brown must have rummaged through his party bag with disappointment.
Because all he got was a set of DVDs. Barack Obama, the leader of the world's richest country, gave the Prime Minister a box set of 25 classic American films - a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks. Obama would have been better off making a mix-tape for Englands PM.
Side note - just imagine if George Bush had done this.
PM Brown gave Obama an ornamental pen holder carved from the timbers of the anti-slavery ship HMS Gannet, once also named HMS President. The HMS Gannet was also the sister ship of the HMS Resolute, from which the desk in the Oval Office was created.
Mr. Brown gave Obama a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Winston Churchill, written by Sir Martin Gilbert.
So after insulting Gordon Brown during the British prime minister’s visit this week by ignoring protocol and cheaping out on the traditional gift exchange, the UK media has erupted in outrage. The Obama White House has now started to recognize the firestorm the new President created with our closest ally, and wants to assure the Brits that he meant no disrespect. Instead, Obama apparently wants to assure them that he’s simply in over his head and floundering (via Radio Equalizer):
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. …
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”. …
The American source said: “Obama is overwhelmed. There is a zero sum tension between his ability to attend to the economic issues and his ability to be a proactive sculptor of the national security agenda.
“That was the gamble these guys made at the front end of this presidency and I think they’re finding it a hard thing to do everything.”
I’m not sure which is worse. At least if he meant to snub Brown, it would suggest a certain competence at this brand of diplomacy. Instead, we’re told that the Obama White House and their staff are just a bunch of incompetents who got in over their heads.
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6 comments:
That doesn't even make sense...the office of protocol most certainly does not work on economic policy. That spin is a ridiculous and the gift was an inexcusable insult to England.
You covered this quite well and provided excellent commentary. I can just add one thing. Our Dear Leader had the audacity to return a gift given by the People of Great Britain to the People of the United States after the 9/11 attacks. He gives back the bust of Winston Churchill given by Tony Blair to President Bush. President Bush had it on display in the Oval Office. Obama doesn’t want it in the White House. So, just before the Premier’s visit, he shipped the Churchill bust back to the British Embassy. How rude. How incredibly rude.
Iain Martin from the Telegraph, who is no fan of Mr. Brown, has been quite vocal on the “diss” by Obama. http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=59418976812&h=hROH7&u=mrcJb
According to Mr. Martin, Michelle Obama's gifts for the Prime Minister Brown’s sons were matching models of Marine One, the President’s helicopter. Such are available at the White House gift.
But wait. Perhaps all is not lost. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has invited the embodiment of Hope and Change to Buckingham Palace for tea when he is attending the G-20 summit in April. He and Michelle want to accept that invitation. As Mr. Martin says, “He might not like the Brits, but he can recognise a global superstar when he encounters one. He wants to be associated with [Her Majesty]. He's shameless.”
This is the nation that has been our closest ally in war and peace. Since the RESOLUTE in 1880, the United States and United Kingdom have enjoyed a “special relationship” that has benefited both great nations immensely. Is it possible that our gift from God can ruin that all within the matter of a few weeks?
Oh well. The saving factor in my mind is that the British loved Obama during the campaign. The UK press people -- the Guardian, in the Telegraph, people in the press over there that loved Obama. The BBC had orgasms over Obama. So, I guess they will understand and not care.
One of the things I have loved growing up is being able to visit a few presidential libraries. One of my favorite parts of these visits is to see the unique gifts that other countries bestow to us in good faith and friendship. It says a lot about the country's culture and the alliances that we share.
Now I don't know if England has such things for their PM's...I am pretty sure they don't but if they did...i would love to see that disc set of "Friends" or "Seinfield" or even better "The Office" (which we stole from them) on display.
Then above it in a loop they have my favorite episode of friends playing...you know the one where they had that misunderstanding...got mad at each other then at they end they realized it was a misunderstanding and made up? That was a great one..then that surprise ending where Ross thought he was finally going to be with Rachel...but something again got in between them. Oh that was a great episode.
Tonight I learned that Prime Minister Brown is blind in one eye and going blind in the other. They say he is very apprehensive about this malady -- as anyone would be. A "gift" of video movies seems somewhat insensitive from the king of the "sensitive and tolerant" ideology. Further embarrassment and shame thanks to our Dear Leader. I hate being ashamed of my country but, this thing we have as our so-called leader has lead me to such. I'm no fan of Gordon Brown's policies. He is a leftist to the same degree as The One. But there is a dignity to the office he hold -- as there is with on one The One is entrusted. Shame. Change you can believe in.
I don't know why everyone is complaining. Box DVD sets are as American as the Costco stores that sell them. The Dali Obama was just showing his shared identity with the "common man" and giving the PM a true piece of Americana.
James, we welcome you and your iPhone back to the CL realm.
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