Flooding The Memory Hole

Fresh from their triumphant non-coverage of Obama's inappropriate "shout-out" to Dr. Joe Medicine Crow before addressing the nation about the Fort Hood shooting, the MSM (and especially the NY Times) can now not-cover Obama's comical, culturally insensitive bowing handshake to the Japanese emperor.

There have been exceptions, of course - NBC News Chicago, Fox News, and the Boston Globe picked up on the shout-out.  ABC News is pushing the bow on Jake Tapper's blog, as is the LA Times on Andrew Malcolm's blog.

LABEL AND IGNORE:  The Times nods to the bow:

Mr. Obama drew some fire from conservative American bloggers who accused him of going too far to reassure Asian leaders: they complained that he should not have bowed to Emperor Akihito of Japan when he went to the emperor’s residence for lunch.

“During his meetings and his speech in Tokyo, the president observed protocol and enhanced the status of American interests in Japan and across Asia,” said an administration official traveling with the president, who spoke on the condition of anonymity according to protocol. “Those who suggest otherwise are way off base and only looking to score political points.”

Well, it is just partisan right wing hacks, so ignore them.  Evidently Jake Tapper of ABC News is now an honorary "conservative American blogger", and we are delighted to welcome him aboard. 

As to the Times cheerful reliance on "Administration officials" while ignoring outside experts, the behavior of other world leaders, and their own past coverage of Bill Clinton's excellent Asian adventures, well, they are just liberal hacks so ignore them.

The Politico presented a longer version of the same Admin apologia:

“I think that those who try to politicize those things are just way, way, way off base,” the official said. “He observes protocol. But I don’t think anybody who was in Japan – who saw his speech and the reaction to it, certainly those who witnesses his bilateral meetings there – would say anything other than that he enhanced both the position and the status of the U.S., relative to Japan. It was a good, positive visit at an important time, because there’s a lot going on in Japan.”

I certainly agree that the Japanese are far too polite to criticize a visiting President.  But as to the bow being favorably received, well, it was swept under the rug in the Japan Times Online:

Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama met with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko over lunch on Saturday.

The Emperor and Empress greeted Obama with handshakes at the entrance to the residence in the Imperial Palace before the three had lunch with only an interpreter attending, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

The Kyodo News also went with the whitewash, running a photo of Obama giving a slight bow to the Empress.

News On Japan says that "The emperor and empress greeted Obama with handshakes", which is supported by a photo, but they include a link to a Japanese news video that shows the full bow.

Whitewash it is, then!

Well.  Obama has a trillion in Treasuries to sell.  He is probably figuring that if he bends over now he can persuade the Japaneses to bend... oh, never mind.

Comments

[bgates]

OK, if it gets its own thread, I'm moving this from the Sunday Morning one:

Bow low, sweet Obama
Goin' apologizin' for his home
Bow low, sweet Obama
Goin' apologizin' for his home

I looked out at Riyadh and what did I see
Goin' apologizin' for his home
The American President down on one knee
Goin' apologizin' for his home

(chorus)

I turn on the news from Tokyo and what did I see
Goin' apologizin' for his home
Obama with less backbone than nigiri sushi
Goin' apologizin' for his home

(chorus)

The brightest day that I will know
Goin' apologizin' for his home
When Sarah Palin sends that douchebag back to Chicago
He'll be done apologizin' for his home

[BR]

Oh, yeah!!!!

And here's one as he's leaving:

DC proved too much for the man,
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know,
He said he's goin' back to find
Ooh, what's left of his world,
The world he left behind
Not so long ago.
He's leaving,
On that midnight train to Chicago,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And she'll be with him
On that midnight train to Chicago,
She'd rather go to Bali
Than live with him, but anyway...
He kept dreamin'
That someday he'd be a star.
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true.
So he pawned all his hopes
and he even sold his soul
Bought a one way ticket
To the life he once knew,
Oh yes he did,
He said he would
Be leavin
On that midnight train to Chicago,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And she may not be with him
On that midnight train to Chicago,
She's gonna look for a better offer
To live without him somehow.
Go, gonna board, gonna board,
Gonna board the midnight train.
Gotta go, gonna board
Gonna board
Gonna board the midnight train

[BR]

FBI, investigate that man, he's bought a one-way ticket!

[daddy]

Nicely done bgates. Hee hee hee. So I'll repost also.

I may be misreading folks, but over here I am getting the impression that of the locals I hang out with, when they mention Obama, behind their customary politeness they too are beginning to scratch their head about what the hecks going on with this guy. He still gets a lot of Kudo's simply because he's The Prez of America and in general they like or admire or at least still have positive feelings about the necessity of a strong America, but I sense an underlying twinge of an unfavorable opinion, as in "What the heck is it with that Bow?", etc. May be simply me projecting, but thats my gut feeling and I'll keep my eyes open.

[daddy]

This Hot Air/Tapper relay has the Headline ">http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/15/japan-expert-to-abc-yes-obamas-bow-made-him-look-like-an-idiot/"> Japan expert to ABC: Yes, Obama’s bow made him look like an idiot.

[Dave (in MA)]

The Huffies and other 'bat blogs have been digging up photos of Ike with his neck tilted forward slightly while meeting and religious leaders.

[BR]

Once his supporters have had enough of being made ridiculous by the embarrassing behavior of their leader, the backlash could be tremendous. Next, we'll see an ACORN whistleblower confess to massive rigging of the voting machines, to pull the plug on him. That phrase, "Let's pull the plug on him," was recently mentioned by either Bill Clinton and/or Rahm Immanuel, my radar tells me.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Okay, I'll repost this link:

46 Handshakes and 1 Bow

[peter]

Now zero is sending letters to a terrorist group in the Pacific. H/T Ace of Spades blog at LUN

[Pagar]

I have nothing to repost, my question is: Do we really need an Expert to tell us that Obama's bow made him look like an idiot?

[BR]

Wow, Peter. What the hell is this! If he's doing it as a private love letter to fellow terrorists, he should not be using the Asst. State Secy' to deliver it. If it's govt business, he's acting on behalf of me, you and every American and its contents must be disclosed and explained, because it smells to high heaven to be corresponding with terrorists. He's not the State Dept. and he's not the CIA, so what is it about? What American interest does it serve? Did he send a courtesy copy to the Philippine govt?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Via Gateway Pundit:

Free Republic translated the Japanese guide to manners and finds that Obama’s waiter’s bow was not only subservient and apologetic but it was mean.

We can say that to only lower your head is not so good for a Japanese bow. You will give the impression that your bow falls short. There are also the cases of somebody bowing their head repeatedly. In doing this, one might think you are paying the deepest respect and consideration, are being polite, etc., but the sentiment which should be expressed in the Japanese bow fails to be expressed doing this. When bowing while standing, their is the “highest respectful bow” (saikeirei), which is executed from a position of standing straight upward, and then bending 45-degrees or more. “Respectful bow” is at 30-to-40 degrees, and everyday “eshaku” around 15-degrees.

“Saikeirei” is not seen on a regular basis, but is used in order to offer an apology, or when one is extremely grateful for something received, as well as performed before the altar of Shinto shrines and Bhuddist temples. In case of a handshake, straighten the back, and by all means one must look directly into the face (eyes) of the recipient of one’s handshake. It is not to be too strong and not too light. Too strong will reflect an insult and too weak will not reflect good will. In America, such a weak handshake is called a “dead fish handshake”, with the feeling being that the person wielding a dead fish. And, shaking a hand while performing a bow will be seen as subservient (”servile”, “supple”, “mean”), and is not to be done.

[alanstorm]

"During his meetings and his speech in Tokyo, the president observed protocol and enhanced the status of American interests in Japan and across Asia,” said an administration official traveling with the president"

Well, THERE's a completely unbiased opinion. I'm sold.

[Extraneus]

I don't think Obama is subservient to Emperor Akihito. This bow was intended to obscure his subservience to King Abdullah, by providing the opportunity for Gibbs to say what he did - that this is just another example of Obama's cultural sensitivity.

Remember Gibbs' blatant lie about the Abdullah bow:

LOTHIAN: When the President met with King Abdullah, there was something that took place which I believe the White House explained was just the president being taller than the king. We took a look at the video, and it does appear that the president actually bowed to King Abdullah. Did he bow or didn't he?

GIBBS: No, I think he bent over with both, to shake -- with both hands to shake his hand, so I don't--

LOTHIAN: -- one hand --

GIBBS: Well I... [laughter]

LOTHIAN: Did he bow or didn't he?

GIBBS: No. But I think this meeting was like a week ago, right?

[Pagar]

" What American interest does it serve?"

I believe one could ask the same question about every one of his actions.

Here's a comment from the Ace of Spades link showing the goals of the MILF.

""The MILF is the largest of the Muslim rebel groups fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao. It first entered into peace talks the government in 1997." They are Muslims, they will not stop until they have the whole damn island and every non-Muslim is either converted, dead, or been moved to Luzon. Treaties are to be negotiated only to the benefit of Muslims and to allow them time to gain strength for the next offensive. Mindanao now, then Luzon."

Posted by: Pelayo at November 15, 2009 07:52 PM"

LUN

Given that those goals are probably accurately stated, it may be that one of Obama's advisers suggested that it would not be a good idea for the President to show support for them in the same way John Kerry did for the North Vietnamese in the late 1960s/early 70s, by leading street demonstrations on their behalf. Now a private letter of (support/encouragement?), who would object?

[BumperStickerist]

My lone hope that Obama isn't, at heart, a hick from the sticks, is "The Manolo Option": Obama was looking at the shoes.

The Obama, he did not bow. The Obama was admiring the Emperor's Tanino Crisci's, as does The Manolo."

Otherwise, we dig up Emily Post, bury her again, and just start drinking from the fingerbowls.

-

[peter]

Maybe the First Lady should start wearing Reeboks. LUN h/t Tigerhawk

[Jane]

Oh dear, another italics thread....

[Jane]

Oh dear, another italics thread....

[boris]

Italiacto

[Neo]

Come on, the emperor was just admiring Obama's shoes ... the picture should have been labeled ..

Those are nice shoes, aren't they ?

[Amphipolis]

I'd like some more information on the bow.

I for one wouldn't call the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii a world leader, as the College Republicans video does. A photo of a handshake does not prove there was no bow. And a selection of some world leaders does not prove that others did not bow.

Don't get me wrong - Obama is the President of the United States. He should not have bowed. I just wouldn't draw conclusions from a series of carefully selected photos.

[BumperStickerist]

Let's try once more withe feeling:

Italiacto

-

[BumperStickerist]

Let's try once more withe feeling:

Italiacto

-

[clarice]

Then why are the Japanese laughing and the Kyodo press (the equivalent of our AP) making an issue of it? Thank Axelrod for us--he's been ignoring us lately . Good to see he's reassigned a troll to JOM.

[Cecil Turner]

I just wouldn't draw conclusions from a series of carefully selected photos.

I don't see why not. The contrast was rather stark. (And the "hey, they might've bowed, too" or "others might've bowed" theories leave me a bit cold.) Besides, we now have a trend.

[BumperStickerist]

I'd love to see TradeSports run a line on whether President Obama will instruct the US Olympic Team to dip the flag during the opening ceremony for both the Winter and Summer Olympics.

... or have one of his advisors do the instructing for him.

.

[MayBee]

It's the wrong kind of bow. There is simply no doubt about it. It would have embarrassed the Emperor, like someone who won't release you from a hug.

[Jane]

I was looking for you to chime in Maybee. Any word on how the people in Japan are reacting?

[fdcol63]

One of 3 things has happened:

1) Obama's protocol advisers are ignorant, and giving Obama the wrong advice.

2) Obama is ignoring the advice from his protocol advisers, because he believes he knows better then they do how he should greet other world leaders.

3) Obama is too stupid to follow directions.

None of these is reassuring.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

I have nothing to repost, my question is: Do we really need an Expert to tell us that Obama's bow made him look like an idiot?

Yes, because of the many people who think that bowing in Japan is a silly foreign custom and that doing it wrong is of no importance.

[Jack is Back!]

He was making up for MacArthur's refusal to bow to the Emperor's father (Hirohito) during the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri.

[snark]

[Porchlight]

fdcol63,

I think it's number 2. And yes, not reassuring.

Still, as far as this trip goes, I think I'm more offended by his reluctant defense of the first amendment in his remarks to Chinese students.

Seemingly making an attempt at humor that didn't necessarily translate well into Mandarin, Mr. Obama said that "I should be honest, as President of the United States, there are times where I wish information didn't flow so freely because then I wouldn't have to listen to people criticizing me all the time."

He then turned to a more serious point, saying, "I think people naturally,...when they're in positions of power sometimes think, 'Oh, how could that person say that about me,' or 'That's irresponsible.'…But the truth is that because in the United States information is free, and I have a lot of critics in the United States who can say all kinds of things about me, I actually think that that makes our democracy stronger and it makes me a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don't want to hear. It forces me to examine what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis to see, am I really doing the very best that I could be doing for the people of the United States."

He doesn't like hearing people criticize him all the time...but it makes him a better leader to hear things he doesn't want to hear.

All about him. Not about the right of the people to speak freely.

If you get a chance to listen to the audio, do. He is his usual petulant self.

[MayBee]

I was looking for you to chime in Maybee. Any word on how the people in Japan are reacting?

No. I don't talk politics with my American friends who are still there because I got tired of being the object of their Bush-bashing fetish. And I don't talk politics with my Japanese friends.
My guess would be they wouldn't talk about it much, because not embarrassing someone is a key component of Japanese culture, and they wouldn't want to embarrass Obama for having embarrassed himself.

My cute (Dem) husband only said: Someone must have told him to bow like that. It doesn't make sense.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Amphipolis, there's no lack of stuff around, eg, Jake Tapper's academic friend. But the point isn't that other Presidents and world leaders might have bowed — Nixon managed a keirei bow in good form when Showa visited during his term — but that Obama did a bow that can't be interpreted in any sense as being correct: not in Japanese customs, and not in American customs.

[fdcol63]

Porchlight,

Seems like whenever Obama speaks, he uses the pronouns "I", "me", "my", and "mine" way too much.

It's ALWAYS about him, as far as he's concerned.

Sickening.

[Jane]

My guess would be they wouldn't talk about it much, because not embarrassing someone is a key component of Japanese culture, and they wouldn't want to embarrass Obama for having embarrassed himself.

Clearly they are far too circumspect.

[PD]

4) HIllary has a mole in the protocol office, there to feed bad info to Obama to make him look like a fool.

But actually I'd go with 2), because Obama does think he knows better than everyone, about everything.

[Old Lurker]

4) All of the above.

Fixed.

[MayBee]

That's it, Charlie.

People think Obama *honored* the Japanese by bowing because bowing is part of Japanese culture. They don't get that doing it wrong doesn't honor the culture, it just shows that you don't appreciate how nuanced it is.

For the most part, I find the Japanese to be very good sports about this kind of thing from Westerners. But people have to realize they know their culture, even if you don't.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

This explains it all.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

By the way, the italics-off above worked in Google Chrome browser. I'm getting to be very fond of Chrome.

[Thomas Collins]

I think Obama is going to have to press the reset button on his hand shaking technique.

Extraneus's explanation makes the most sense to me. Obama bowing to royals other than the Saudi King dilutes the dhimminess of the Saudi bow (at least in the mind of the Obama brain trust).

I myself would have attempted a fourth down pass to Kevin Faulk over the Emperor's head.

[MayBee]

When we were staying at a traditional Japanese Inn, my son accidentally wore the bathroom slippers into the lobby of the hotel, rather than the regular slippers. I am not kidding, everyone in the lobby cracked up to see a little Western boy make such a mistake. It was Borat-like hilarious to them.

It's a very nuanced culture, but they know the nuances.

[fdcol63]

Obama, in his desire to assuage whatever guilt HE feels about the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bowed deeply to the Emporer ... while ignoring such inconvenient Japanese offenses like the invasion of Manchuria, the Rape of Nanking, Pearl Harbor, the Bataan Death March, Unit 731, and other Japanese atrocities.

[Porchlight]

Abe Greenwald has a good take on the remarks to Chinese students at Contentions. A peek:

There is an Obama teaching-moment methodology. He has employed it to teach us mortals about America’s founding documents, to teach the International Olympic Committee why it should choose Chicago, and to teach Europeans why the fall of the Berlin Wall was so great: Look at what has worked so well to make me who I am. Follow that road and you shall be set free.

How many times have we seen this theme? "X is good because X has contributed to Barack Obama's rise to the Presidency." That is the yardstick by which he measures all things.

[Jane]

Obama bowing to royals other than the Saudi King dilutes the dhimminess of the Saudi bow (at least in the mind of the Obama brain trust).

That's a pretty pathetic strategy since it only serves to remind us that he hasn't learned a damn thing.

I think at the time the excuse was he hadn't had time to stock the protocol office with the appropriate Obamabots.

[Porchlight]

OT,

Rasmussen has been interesting the last couple of days. The passion index has been holding steady at 29-38 or 28-38 for over a week, but the overall approval has inched up. It's been 50-49 for three days when it previously hadn't hit 50 in over a month.

Beats me what's going on. Maybe people like Barry better when he's out of the country?

[DebinNC]

I wonder how Obama would have handled the Bush I "throwing up" incident in Japan? Bush felt ill on his way into the state dinner, rushed to the bathroom, felt better, and rejoined folks going into the room. At dinner he collapsed to the floor, threw up on himself, and the Japanese leader cradled his head in his lap...with Bush quipping to him, "Just roll me under the table and finish eating" (paraphrase). I bet Bush continued into dinner out of respect for the occasion and the hosts who'd gone to much trouble on his account. I don't think Obama would have done the same, since everything is about him, never others. He'd certainly never reassure his host with a joke at his own expense.

[hit and run]

"Few would have foreseen on that day ... that their American ally would be led by the proudly self-proclaimed first Pacific president who would glaringly exhibit that he knew jack squat about the customs and culture of this Pacific nation."

[MayBee]

Jane:Clearly they are far too circumspect.

Ha! Well, the flip side is that they expect people to buck up and own their mistakes.

[narciso]

I don't get it, the economy's in the crapper, he's in denial on the latest terrorist attack, he can't make up his mind on Afghanistan he's giving the Gitmo
guys a 'get out of jail' free card, the rating should be lower.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

For the most part, I find the Japanese to be very good sports about this kind of thing from Westerners.

Oh, yeah. Now, sometimes it does feel a little like they're figuring we're all just big kids....

But one of my favorite laugh lines when I taught in Japan was "Yame da! Yahari gaijin da!" — "I can't help it! I really am a foreigner!"

The fact that I'm a foot taller and about 100 lbs heavier than the average Japanese helped.

[Rick Ballard]

"Maybe people like Barry better when he's out of the country?"

Porchlight,

I look at weekly retail gas prices and the DJIA before I begin interpreting Presidential polling numbers. I haven't seen a formal statiscal analysis (and I don't know how to perform one) but my UWAG is that those two indices account for at least 10% of any movement in polling with gas getting about twice the weight of the DJIA.

[MayBee]

I'd guess the Ft Hood shooting has people feeling patriotic, as well.

[Jane]

I just got an email from a moonbat friend outlining all the incredible accomplishments of Ibama.

"A Grade for Obama by Robert Watson"

It has 90 accomplishments on it.

Do you want me to post them, or should I throw up by myself?

[Porchlight]

Good thinking, Rick. There must be something behind the Muddle's approval (or lack of disapproval).

[narciso]

I think put down the bong, is the only proper retort to that

[fdcol63]

I accept 90 accomplishments by Obama.

But they all benefit our enemies, not us.

[anduril]

Here's a blog and a long op-ed about Chimerica--the symbiotic relationship between China and America that we "enjoyed" during the wonderful Bush years:

China Poses A Grave Threat To The World Economy

Yes, I know AE-P specializes in doom and gloom. However, what he's saying is in line with the reflections of the more sober Niall Ferguson (I changed the title):

Chimerica

Presumably, adjustments to this relationship is what Obama will be discussing in China.

And apropos of his trip to China, it occurs to me how unimpressed the Chinese must have been by an American president bowing like that to the Japanese emperor. It's just unbelievable to me that there appear to be zero serious people in this administration who could offer Obama some advice. I mean, you'd think the law of averages would dictate that some halfway sensible person would slip through their vetting?

[MayBee]

Jane- are any of the listed accomplishments post office namings?

[fdcol63]

That's the really sickening aspect of O's presidency:

All the schools, post offices, streets, etc. that will be named for this worthless douchebag.

[DebinNC]

90 accomplishments....includes things like Obama "announced his intention to...". I guess to Obami intentions are accomplishments.

[PaulL]

Rasmussen thinks that Ibama's polling is not going to change much for the rest of 2009 because of the support of his base.

[fdcol63]

To Obama and his worshipers.

Actual deeds and results mean nothing. It's all about feel-good intentions.

[DebinNC]

I think the focus on Palin at the moment has reanimated his base and others who just viscerally despise her, seemingly without good reason.

[Rick Ballard]

How would one approach a culturally insensitve (bred and raised to ridicule bourgeois sensibilities), ignorant buffoon of limited intelligence? His puppetmasters really don't care what he does as long as he parrots the party line and continues to push programs designed to destroy America. If you grade him as an Ayers/Soros commie puppet, he's not doing too badly at all.

[fdcol63]

The Weather Undeground .... accomplishing today what they failed to do in 1972.

[BelieveWatUwant]

Maybe, it matters to you, but the Japanese are always bowing. Hello. Goodbye. Even their kids in school do it.

As to Obama, he's the tall guy. And, if he didn't bend down, the emperor of Japan would have been about as high as his belt buckle. Better than 'custom' it prevented a different type of awkward moment.

Plus, let's mention General Douglas MacArthur. Without his hard work Japan would have been a "trophy of war" just like Poland. China and Russia would have grabbed pieces. It was MacArthur's work that gave the Japanese peace of mind. And, I'd bet they're in awe of Obama! You're not in Saudi Arabia, here.

[MayBee]

BelieveWatUwantMaybe, it matters to you, but the Japanese are always bowing. Hello. Goodbye. Even their kids in school do it.

Yes, and I bowed about a million times a day when I lived there. And saw other people bow. That's how I know there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to bow.

How condescending is it for people not to realize that just bowing however the hell you want isn't respectful?
Americans understand that there are proper and improper ways to shake hands, hug, and even wave. It isn't culturally sensitive to not recognize that the Japanese have defined ways of doing things, too.

[hit and run]

I think I agree with BelieveWatUwant,after listening to a powerpoint presentation with the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yetTg4EqI0&feature=player_embedded>official talking points.

Convincing.

[Tom Bowler]

If you grade him as an Ayers/Soros commie puppet, he's not doing too badly at all.

Rick Ballard,

I'm not sure he's a puppet, but he's certainly on board with the program. It's so easy to make the mistake of thinking that Obama is failing. For instance, failing to protect America by conducting the KSM show trial in a civilian court in Manhattan. That would presume that Obama is trying to protect America, and I for one am not ready to concede that point.

Presonally, I think the reason KSM is going to trial in New York is to give Democrats the oppportunity to campaign against torture as they cling desperately to their senate and congressional seats.

[Jane]

Jane- are any of the listed accomplishments post office namings?

That would be substantive in comparison. Debin NC has got the list.

I returned the email by refuting the top 10 off the top of my head. That "professor" should be fired.

[matt]

My computer wouldn't allow me to post at home yesterday for some reason. I wrote out this long, beautiful, rant criticizing Dear Leader and it got sucked down its own memory hole.

Anyway, the bow Obama made was reminiscent of a Meiji era vassal, not a modern political leader. The Japanese calculate the bow in microns, for cripes sake, and anyone in the Protocol office should have known this.

So much for frickin Penny Pritzker's jet set influence unless the Cringer in Chief is symbolizing the most craven change in American foreign policy in history.

Now, that felt better....

[sylvia]

Yes another example of Obama not getting it. It's more humiliating than respectful to imitate others customs when you are not a part of their group. It's like some major waspy guy trying to talk black and getting it wrong. Countless sitcoms, especially from the 70's, are based on that. It looks ridiculous and it makes the person trying to attempt it seem vain, clueless, and patronizing. Didn't Obama watch any Different Strokes when he was growing up?

[cathyf]

I think that a plausible explanation is that Obama doesn't actually know what a 30-degree angle or a 45-degree angle is.

[Rob Crawford]

Ya know, we can take some solace from Obama's bow: he hasn't yet licked anyone's boots.

In public.

[anduril]

Let me expand slightly re China and the Obama Bow.

Japanese nationalism of the variety that led to the Japanese push for a "Co-prosperity Sphere" (events surrounding which we like to call World War II) centers on the divine Emperor. Americans, naturally, don't think much about Chinese casualties in World War II at the hands of the Japanese. However, in addition to the massive military casualties and incredible physical destruction, something like 17 million Chinese civilians died at the hands of the Japanese--"were butchered" better communicates what occurred. The scale of this butchery and the unspeakable cruelty that was routinized by the Japanese would make the Bataan Death March look almost like a Sunday School outing.

Anyone who has followed Chinese and Japanese relations--and I presume there are a few such people in Obama's Department of State and his National Security apparatus--will know that current Japanese attitudes toward this relatively recent past continues to regularly inflame relations between the two countries, and that the Chinese, understandable, feel passionately about all this.

Therefore, for Obama to bow before the Emperor in whose name these unspeakable atrocities were committed on such a mind-numbing scale must surely incense Chinese sentiment--no matter what their public demeanor. To think, as most of our liberal media apparently does, that this flap is much ado about very little, is a big mistake, IMO. It is not the right way to establish good relations with China or the many other Asians who have not and will not forget or forgive the Japanese for what they did.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Anyway, the bow Obama made was reminiscent of a Meiji era vassal, not a modern political leader. The Japanese calculate the bow in microns, for cripes sake, and anyone in the Protocol office should have known this.

No, actually, it wasn't. If that was his intention, he did it incompetently.

[Jack is Back!]

The more I see and read the more I am convinced he is one of those guys who thinks he knows everything and rejects anyone willing to give him lessons (i.e. protocol and etiquette in Japan). This is telling. It may explain his dithering since it is based on all the various briefings and scenarios he is given. He knows exactly what to do and all this other stuff is just confusing him. He really wants to cut and run - that is his tendency on any issue (voting present). The prior stuff was just that -stuff to get elected.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Anduril, I think you've got a point, but Akihito is the Mikado who has been apologizing all over for what Japan did during the war. I agree that the Chinese are going to look a litttle askance at this, although they're sophisticated people too, so they'll also just think "Jeez he's an idiot."

[anduril]

Jack, I really suspect that a lot of Obama's behavior toward foreign leaders is driven by Obama's belief that he is the One who, because he is part of a persecuted ethnic minority, will be able to immediately establish a rapport that will almost as immediately blossom into a beautiful relationship with all nations that have suffered at the hands of the evil West--the kinship of victimhood you could call it.

To say that this attitude is naive barely begins to express how foolish he is being. For starters, while many of these countries undoubtedly have grievances, they probably have no attraction toward this idea of a kinship of victimhood and instead are single mindedly pursuing their own national interests.

If this attitude were based on ignorance, that would be one thing--he might be able to learn from experience. Unfortunately, I believe it is based on ideological conviction that cannot be altered by new information or by experience--he will blame others for his failures rather than question his flawed ideology.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

The more I see and read the more I am convinced he is one of those guys who thinks he knows everything and rejects anyone willing to give him lessons (i.e. protocol and etiquette in Japan).

I think that is very probable.

[jimmyk]

I think it's of a piece with his annoying and pretentious "Pockistahn" and "Salat" and other attempts at pronunciation of foreign words. NPR reporters do this too, to show how sophisticated they are. (Ok, I admit I once listened to NPR.) It's become hardwired into him to defer to anything and anyone foreign that he can't help himself, even if it's completely inappropriate.

[Rick Ballard]

Tom Bowler,

I use "puppet" in deference chiefly to Emil "Cliff, I''m gonna make me a U.S. Senator." Jones, to 'Uncle' Tony "Let me help you with buying that house." Rezco, to The Right Reverend "Goddamn Amerikkka" Wright and to 'Bomber Bill' "Sure, I'll be happy to gin up something from your notes." Ayers. They all hold stainless steel wires which can control our Bobble Doll in Chief as needed. I give Ayers the strongest wire because he is the one most capable of destroying the golem known as Barrack Obama.

Interpret the puppet's dance using "Would Bomber Bill approve?" and his actions become more understandable. It's much more than just likemindedness, it's fear of exposure and destruction of the cheap facade.

[anduril]

True Charlie. But it remains that the institution of the Emperor, if not the person of the current Emperor, may be associated with Japanese militarism. The current Emperor may be apologetic, but there are many Japanese, including some very high officials, who haven't been nearly so apologetic. And there's the whole business of Japanese textbooks...

The Chinese are, indeed, sophisticated, but they are also very proud of their culture and sensitive to the indignities that were inflicted upon them by foreigners from the mid 19th century onward. It's a very real feeling, and now with China's economic rise a sense that China should flex its muscles is growing. China's rulers play on this rising Chinese nationalism regularly, often cynically, but it's a very real thing. It would be interesting to know what's being said on some of the Chinese forums.

[Jane]

it's fear of exposure

The Manchurian candidate.

The country will never come first - ever!

[Jane]

OT:

NRO has just launched a new Sarah Palin blog called "Rogue"

LUN

[Porchlight]

I think it's of a piece with his annoying and pretentious "Pockistahn" and "Salat" and other attempts at pronunciation of foreign words. NPR reporters do this too, to show how sophisticated they are.

I get a kick out of listening to libs (they are always libs and always NPR listeners) go out of their way to use the correct Spanish pronunciation for certain local street and town names. But then you ask them what country is south of us and they say Mex-i-co (not Me-hi-co) just like the rednecks they think they're trying to rise above. It's so affected.

[Dave (in MA)]

It would be interesting to know what's being said on some of the Chinese forums.

"Ching">http://www.weaselzippers.net/.a/6a00e008c6b4e588340120a6688da5970c-pi">"Ching chong,
ching chong,
Obama, ching chong
chong chong chong."

[Dave (in MA)]

The NPR pronunciation thing only extends to certain places and names. They never try to put on a phony German, Polish or Japanese accent, for instance.

[PD]

To say that this attitude is naive barely begins to express how foolish he is being. For starters, while many of these countries undoubtedly have grievances, they probably have no attraction toward this idea of a kinship of victimhood and instead are single mindedly pursuing their own national interests.

There you go. Every country *should* aggressively pursue its own interests and its leaders are charged with doing so.

Our leader pursues his own interests, not those of our country. I want a leader who is a cheerleader for our country and advances its interests. Our leader doesn't like our country, so what he's left with is advancing himself, bowing and scraping as necessary.

"Barack Obama: Projecting weakness the world over."

What a disaster.

[Neo]

Something new .. Fabricated news stories .. in Alaska.

[sylvia]

I saw some interesting programs recently on Jonestown and East Germany. The ability of people to follow groupthink is unbelievable. In the case of Jonestown they actually committed mass suicide at the commands of their dear leader. One thing I didn't know before about Jonestown was that they were a commie cult, admiring N. Korea and the USSR.

Also in East Germany I read an article in the London Times about how enthusiastic so many people there were to become spies and harrass and torture fellow citizens. Also the article said that many of the people who were in power before, the Stasi, are still there, as policemen and judges and councilors, and still loving Russia deep down. It wasn't that long ago actually. So Europe might not have changed as much as people think.

Anyway, this kind of reminds me of what family Obama probably grew up in. and what still exists in the West. A lot of sympathy for communism and socialism. And as Jonestown shows, the danger of that ideaology. People like Rand and Beck have a point. The leap from sharing everything to groupthink is not far, and it can be dangerous.

[Dave (in MA)]

Neo, anti-SP spin in 5,4,3...

[peter]

Sylvia, not only were the Jonesies leftists, but they were from San Fran-sicko, and had the Acornesque habit of getting government money for their temple's projects.

And, Rick Ballard, your theory about Bill Ayers having the strongest puppeteer's string is a good one. The once and he met in the eighties. All kinds of things could show up, like photos, videos, Columbia term papers, the original notes, etc.

[narciso]

She was at the other end of the state, when these events were 'supposedly' happening. Sylvia you don't have to go that far, with
Venezuela they call it the Bolivarian circles, in my native Cuba, it's the Committees for the Defense of the REvolution, and it operates exactly the same way.

[Dave (in MA)]

Saint Harvey Milk wrote to Jimmy Carter on behalf of Jones to try to interfere with the government investigation into the cult and to interfere with groups working on behalf of families trying to get their relatives out of the cult.

[Jane]

I'm about to watch Oprah - something I have never done before.

[Extraneus]

Would it be fair to run ads showing Obama bowing to Abdullah now, unless the same ads show the Japanese bow? Nope. Checkmate.

This new bow surely dilutes the impact of the first bow. The only question I have is why he wouldn't have used the same form. I'd bet money the Abdullah bow was a lot more culturally proper, down to the angle of the bent head and knee.

Check out the difference here. I looked around for Muslims bowing to Abdullah to compare, but didn't find any pics.