Official: Reaction to Japan Bow Left Obama "Speechless"

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News

President Obama's bow to Japan's Emperor Akihito in Tokyo earlier this month ignited anger from some conservatives who complained, in the words of blogger Donald Douglass, that the United States "now willingly prostrates itself before the rest of the world."

Now the president is responding – kind of. The Atlantic quotes "a US government official who was on the trip" who says the president was left "speechless" by the controversy.

"Obama's attitude was, this is an elderly gentleman in a country where this kind of greeting is customary," said the official. "It does not seem extraordinary to show this kind of gesture to him."

"The Fox News poll said that 67 percent of Americans thought was a good thing for him to have done," the official continued. "When the president heard that some people had complained, I'd characterize his reaction as: The notion that the United States is somehow humbling or humiliating itself by showing respect for a local custom, when it is transparently the most powerful country in the world, leaves me speechless."



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/23/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5749826.shtml?tag=stack

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I have no problem with the bow, but if Obama was suprised by the reaction of the RW then he is still naive.

[superconnected]

1. The RW would have attacked him if he didn't bow. They'll attack him for anything.

Basically, the real problem with them is, he's black, and he's a dem.

[Newsjock]

2. 'he's black, and he's a dem'

... and he's smarter than they are. They really don't like that part.

[superconnected]

Yes, he is far smarter than them.

I notice the Dems keep picking really bright candidates for prez. and the Republicans keep picking way less because they want someone who "thinks just like them".

Anyway, I think Obama is by far the brightest president I've seen in my life-time.

[24601]

13. His advance people may not be that smart, however. I've been

to Japan approx 20 times since 2001 and you either bow or shake hands. The two are never combined into a single move. After that, never put your customer's business in your back pocket - it's like saying "kiss my ass."

But as I say, this is just poor staff work. I'm not piling on because of the USA bowing to a foreign power bullshit. The right can have their own tempest without me.

Asia is different with a much longer history than most of us grasp. And steeped in tradition - for example my next door neighbors - raking the leaves or shoveling the snow - the wife (an MD) and grandparents are out doing all the work. The kids (12 & 15) are too busy doing homework and the "man" of the house - well, he is just too busy thinking man thoughts....

[SemperEadem]

18. for real, though

you are exactly right--he's black, he's a dem, he's smarter than they'll ever be---and HE WON BY A LARGE MARGIN.

[marmar]

25. self delete, responded to wrong post

nt

[tblue]

3. "Leaves me speechless" is polite speak for "What the F*$& is wrong with these idiots???"

[Nay]

22. Exactly, blue. He's telling those dumbasses that they're low-class morons.

[aquart]

4. If he hadn't bowed they would have attacked him for boorish manners.

There is no point in placating him because they will always insist he is in the wrong.

[excess_3]

5. what have previous presidents done? nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. The gap in intellect between Obama and right wingers would leave anyone speechless.

I don't think it is easy for Obama - or any of us here - to fully accept how apathetic, intellectually lazy - and, yes, perhaps ignorant - a big slug of our population is or has become through years of Faux news or other mindless TV brain rotting.

Bush was their boy. Obama? He is in a whole other league. And they neither get it, nor want to.

[bigworld]

8. George HW Bush bowed to Hirohito's casket.

You'd think would have fired up some of the wingnuts. I'm convinced that they'll get upset at Obama for anything he does.

[NRaleighLiberal]

9. and he tossed his cookies in his lap!

[impik]

11. The gap in intellect between Obama and most American leaves ME speechless.

How was stunned to read the NYT column the other day, actually telling Obama that he should be more like Palin.

[AngryOldDem]

7. He should know by now that he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

In the eyes of some, the man can do nothing right.

I had no problem with the bow, either. It's showing respect in a customary manner while in a certain culture. Sadly, the U.S. has forgotten what that means.

[man4allcats]

10. I agree with President Obama here.

What can anyone say to people so boorish as those who would criticize a gesture of customary respect shown to the leader of a world power with whose country we have been at peace for over six decades now? It is truly beyond words.

[impik]

12. Honestly, i begin to think that

the man won't run for re-election. He'll just say 'fuck this crap, you deserve Palin', and take his family back to Chicago. How long can one man tolerate so much hate and idiocy?

[Oldtimeralso]

14. A Bow Is Better Than Kissing a Saudi Prince. n/t

[impik]

15. There's a lot more inside juice here:

http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/11/manufactured_failure_3_inside.php

[agentS]

16. I'm pretty speechless too

There are 2 active wars, 4 inactive/low intensity wars, a global economic crisis, a health care crisis, a damn FLU epidemic, and New England not punting on 4th and 2, and these fucktards are COMPLAINING ABOUT A BOW!

This is why I never respect reich-wingers.

For the record, I don't recall complaining about this kiss when it happened. I might've mentioned it on here or a blog somewhere else but I have only learned about it recently. Darth Bush and Cheney did far more (and less) serious things to piss me off than kissing or bowing to emperors.

[optimator]

17. it is disturbing that he was surprised

its time to stop playing around with repubs.
I want their party in shambles and out of power for the rest of my life and the Dem party should want the same thing.

[mbperrin]

19. More dignified than Daddy Bush giving oral sex to the minister.

Oh, I know the cover story was that he threw up in his lap!

Take a look, though, knowing the truth.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. The outrage is that there is a Democrat in the White House.

Pure and simple.

[malaise]

21. Fugg the fugging stupid

fools.

[ecstatic]

23. The RW continues to stun me and everyone here on a daily basis

So I had to unrec because of your faulty conclusion: "if Obama was suprised by the reaction of the RW then he is still naive."

[FatDave]

24. Everybody knows the proper way to show respect to a foreign leader is...

...to walk up behind them while they're seated at a table and rub their shoulders.

[spanone]

26. can Obama be naive about how evil the fucking republiks truly are?

[anigbrowl]

30. Yep. He's a lot less streetwise than the average DU reader, after all.

:eyes:

[marmar]

27. Didn't George H.W. Bush throw up on a Japanese leader?

Perhaps that's what they wanted to see....

[HughMoran]

28. Your commentary is somewhat simplistic

Was he expressing surprise or disgust? How do you know?

[ShamelessHussy]

29. the reaction by some here left me practically speechless

but not by the loony tune RW whackos, who are pretty predictable nowadays :evilgrin: