The Obama assault on English sensibilities continued yesterday with another bizarre gift of an IPod to the Queen — leaving many in that country wondering if the Obamas are trying to be insulting. If you have been following this impressive and growing litany of social faux pas, the Obamas shocked both Americans and English citizens with remarkably cheap and thoughtless gifts to the family of Prime Minister Brown on his recent visit. Then the White House distributed hundreds of briefings on England for the current trip that read like England for Anglophobes. Previously, the Obamas refused to accept an offer of a famous bust of Winston Churchill from the English government (which extended the loan of the piece after the Bush Administration).
Just for the record, the Queen has an IPod (though there are reports that she wanted a replacement). And, as for the box of DVDs dumped on the Browns, they don’t even work on European machines.
President Obama did include a book of songs signed by composer Richard Rodgers, but the IPod was the focus of the exchange and the focus of the ire of the press.
Frankly, I am less critical of Michele Obama’s mistake in touching the Queen in violation of protocol. While one must respect such customs, I find the whole untouchable royalty thing to be a bit much. However, the lack of tact shown in these gifts is really becoming a terrible embarrassment and the treatment of our English friends is bizarre. Clearly, with the sizable staff at the White House and copious budget to airlift 500 people on this trip, we probably could have come up with something a bit more significant and symbolic from the United States of America. I have to agree with the English reaction again.
This just gets strangerer and strangerer …
Not only were the original DVDs given to Brown in poor taste, they weren’t even in the proper PAL format?
As Woody Allen’s joke goes: (paraphrasing)
1#: “The chicken at this restaurant is terrible.”
2#: “Yes, and they serve it in such small portions.”
And after that fiasco they give an iPod to the Queen?!!
Who is making these decisions?!!!!
Sad, but also kind of hilarious …
Well, no, just sad.
What do you give to a Queen who has everything? An IPOD sounds like something she wouldn’t already have! She could fit alot of 1940′s tunes on there.
I’ll take an honest bumpkin over a war criminal bumpkin every time.
mespo,
You don’t really believe Obama is an honest bumpkin, do you?
This is from The Guardian. Judge for yourself but there is something very wrong with all of this in my opinion. We are approaching the world as an imperial power. Our president is acting like a tinpot dictator. Surrounding yourself with military might and minions has no place in a democracy. Yes, Obama does need extra protection due to racial hatred in the US, but this goes way beyond necessary protection into a very ugly hubris. I don’t want another vain, out of touch president who plays with being a military leader.
Here’s a clip and a link:
With an entourage of 500 staff, an armour-plated limousine and a fleet of decoy helicopters, America’s new president will arrive for his first visit to Britain amid huge razzmatazz on Tuesday for the G20 summit. But it will be his closed-door meetings with world leaders that are likely to prove the most significant of the trip
Britain will get its first chance to see Barack Obama this week when a White House cavalcade – complete with armoured limousines, helicopters, 200 US secret service staff and a six-doctor medical team – sweeps into the UK…
More than 500 officials and staff will accompany the president on his tour this week – along with a mass of high-tech security equipment, including the $300,000 presidential limousine, known as The Beast. Fitted with night-vision camera, reinforced steel plating, tear- gas cannon and oxygen tanks, the vehicle is the ultimate in heavy armoured transport.
In addition, a team from the White House kitchen will travel with the president to prepare his food. As one official put it: “When the president travels, the White House travels with him, right down to the car he drives, the water he drinks, the gasoline he uses, the food he eats. America is still the sole superpower and the president must have the ability to handle any crisis, anywhere, any time.”
http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gmg/op/sZS1zjdXz50r9CuuCukyCgg/view.m?id=49555&tid=34&cat=most-read
And if you ask me, loading the downloaded video of Naked Gun, where a brainwashed Reggie Jackson attempts to kill her majesty, onto the iPod before giving it to her, was just adding insult to injury.
First, Obama is chastised for being cheap and un-presidential as exemplified by his gift giving. Then he is considered too imperial-like because of his entourage. Hmmmmm.
U.S. Presidents always travel with their own vehicles and entourage, btw. It is my understanding that our president, when in office, is the only world leader who travels like this. At least that is what the National Geographic Channel told me.
P.S. I like that President Obama gave the Queen an Ipod loaded with videos. Ipods are a great example of American ingenuity and the videos were a personal touch.
doglover,
You’re equating things that don’t equate. Spending the time to find a gift that fits the recipiant, even if that gift doesn’t cost much, is an act of having concern for others. Spending gobs of taxpayer money on imperial hubris is quite another. Leaders who were never in battle and who romanticize war are dangerous because they don’t care about the consequences of war to those who bear them. I guess they do equate in this way–each action shows a lack of concern/respect for others.
“you have been following this impressive and growing litany of social faux pas, the Obamas shocked both Americans and English citizens…”
*********
I think “shocked,” might be too strong a word. Amused at the situation might be more like it. I suspect our “special relationship” with our former overlords, and current friends can take a little slight here and there. Look, the British did give us Benny Hill, you know.
Queen Elizabeth II: Talk about a person who has everything!
You guys think a lousy I-pod compares to this:
the Queen requested the iPod and that her former spokesman said the Obamas “scored a hit”
She wanted to replace her 2005 mini with a 2007. And Michael is not the first to touch the Queen–former PMs have done it. As someone of irish, as well as English ancestory I would have preferred a real insult to this silly and mostly irrelevant royal family.
So to summarize:
1) This was a video ipod that replaced her ipod mini, which has no video capability. Loaded with video of her tour of US.
2) The other (real) gift was some rare book of plays signed by the author. Can’t be bothered to look it up.
I have to admit these gifts have been kind of cheesy. What kind of stuff did Bush (and other presidents) give the queen?
I agree with foo, almost nobody is mentioning the book of rare plays that is something the Queen most certainly will enjoy. The ipod gift also came as a request, considering it was loaded with the footage of her 2007 visit.
The DVD gifts were a complete flop but I think there is some genuine thought that went into it this time. Most republicans are howling about how uncouth it is to spend so little money on gifts for heads of state, but to me that’s a positive. If they want better swag they can call Bush back, but if the want a competent hand on the other side of the pond then I think they will settle for Obama
From what I have been reading it was the Queen who reached out and touched Mrs. Obama after which they exchanged a hug. Why don’t you find out before spouting off?
What would you folks have had her do? Recoil in horror at being touched by the Queen.
As for gifts, who cares. The Queen has enough money to provide five years of food for every hungry person on the face of the earth. This gift thing if foolish.
I for one am sick and tired of all the the down right stupid complaints against the Obamas. We all know the real reason for the complaints.
How many of you are complaining for the millions of dead Iraqi citizens and the four and one-half million are are without homes, clean water, medical care, schools and jobs all bemefits of George W. Bush.
So why dony you just shut the f**k up and talk about something of importance.
The Queen touched HER FIRST so where is the Issue?
Slow news day or what?
Sammy,
The one mention of what you’re ranting about in the Professor’s article:
“Frankly, I am less critical of Michele Obama’s mistake in touching the Queen in violation of protocol. While one must respect such customs, I find the whole untouchable royalty thing to be a bit much.”
You’re the only one who seems to be bringing it up.
Buckingham Palace weighs in on first lady’s touching moment – Posted: 03:33 PM ET
(CNN) – First lady Michelle Obama did not breach protocol by touching Queen Elizabeth II at a reception for world leaders attending the G-20 summit, Buckingham Palace told CNN Thursday.
“It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation between the Queen and Michelle Obama,” the Royal Press Office said in a statement Thursday. “The London Summit reception at Buckingham Palace was an informal occasion,” the statement also said.
No breach of protocol occurred, according to the Royal Press Office, because Buckingham Palace does not issue instructions about how to address the Queen.
The Queen Mum is not the stick-in-the-mud you may imagine her to be. She is an ex-mechanic, she is known to roam the grounds with curlers and no make-up, and she has an earthy sense of humor.
These may have been personal gifts from the Obamas to the recipients, intended to be used by the recipients. ALL formal gifts exchanged between and funded by countries do not belong to the individuals; they belong to the state/people, and as soon as they are received, they are turned over to the agencies that manage these assets.
I suggest people get off their high horses here, especially you Mr Turley, and stop assuming the worst/tackiest. The Obamas are incredibly caring and sensitive people, and to assume that they intended to snub or insult anybody is just more political bullcrap.
Winston Churchill helped goad the United States into World War II. If Obama didn’t want his bust around, that is entirely Obama’s decision to make. I wouldn’t want the thing “on loan” either.
Jill, not sure what you’re talking about; I’ve missed some point you are trying to make.
I guess the Queen and the Browns needed more Steuben.
I agree with Sammy on this:
I for one am sick and tired of all the the down right stupid complaints against the Obamas. We all know the real reason for the complaints.
I think the Queen would find a Wii or an XBox 360 much more enjoyable.
The gift issue is a non-issue. The IPOD was actually a very nice gift with alot of thought put into it. The book was also a very nice book so I don’t get the outrage? The large number of Secret Service and the rest of the entourage are normal for the President.
doglover,
What are the real reasons for all the complaints against Obama?
rafflaw,
Did you have a chance to read the entire Guardian story? There is a lot there to think about. Do we really want our president this divorced from reality and this into military might and imperialism? For my part, I do not.
Jill,
Are you suggesting that the secret service should cease to do their jobs because Obama is on an overseas diplomatic mission? Much is being made of the 500 person entourage accompanying him without taking into consideration how much really goes on at G-20 summits. The heads of state aren’t the only ones conducting business.
As for the imperialism charge, I’m not sure you have a leg to stand on.
Jill,
I did read the entire Guardian article. All I saw was normal craziness to protect and take care of a President. If this is imperialism, it has been going on for decades.
An Ipod?
Why not give the Queen a Pac-Man t-shirt while you’re at it?
LOL
Yes, an Ipod with showtunes on it, and a rare, valuable autographed item from a Broadway legend.
It is infuriating to read Mr. Turley start out a sentence with “The Obama assault on English sensibilities…”
It’s too bad that the professor didn’t do his homework before writing this drivel. Here are some clues as to why President Obama is anything but thoughtless:
1. The Queen has visited the sets of a number of British soap operas including Coronation Street, East Enders and Emmerdale.
2. As a young girl, the Queen acted in a number of Pantomimes during World War Two including playing the part of Prince Florizel in Cinderella in 1941. These pantomimes took place every year in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle.
3. In November 2004, the Queen invited the cast of Les Miserables in the West End to perform for French President Jacques Chirac at Windsor Castle. It was the first time the cast of a West End musical had performed at a Royal residence.
4. During her reign, the Queen has received many unusual gifts including live animals. The more unusual animals have been placed in the care of the London zoo, among them jaguars and sloths from Brazil, and two black beavers from Canada. The Queen has also received gifts of pineapples, eggs, a box of snail shells, a grove of maple trees and 7kg of prawns.
Source: Buckingham Palace
The Queen can buy or have anything she wants. I doubt she has much use for beavers from Canada, but I guarantee she adored the gifts President Obama gave her, and I guarantee that his gifts reminded her that she was once (and forever) Cinderella.
So much for thoughtlessness, Professor and others.
There are those of us who think that the exchange of gifts between nations should have some more ‘elegance’ or ‘historic significance’ behind them. I doubt the president spends much time thinking about gifts he will be giving to foreign dignitaries (at least I hope he doesn’t) and that this is just evidence of some goofy choices made by his own protocol/PR people.
However, if we looked back through history it’s also quite possible we would discover that there were many gifts exchanged throughout the centuries which were considered to be ‘cutting edge’ for their time. There was a time, after all, when a player-piano or a telescope was considered high-tech for the era, so perhaps the iPod gift is our day’s version of the now historic player-piano.
This gift-thing really is no big deal. I sort of like the idea of the Queen of England whispering to one of her people that she’s surrounded by all this old stuff which people keep giving her that really doesn’t ‘do’ anything, and that what she’d really like is one of those iPods she’s been hearing about …
Am I the only one who thinks the whole idea of gifts is stupid in the first place? These people have everything. If they lack something they want, they can easily get it. Tradition, blah, blah, blah… Just do your job. Is it your birthday? Christmas? No? Then buy your own crap.
For crying out loud, the Queen is just an ordinary human being! She’s not better than anyone else just because she was born into royalty.
I don’t see what all the fuss is about! I don’t see why people think she deserves more respect than the next person. I personally have no reason to respect her. Especially if she thinks her backside should always be kissed and pampered.
I’ll tell you who I do have respect for, those men and women who are in Ken Burn’s movie, “The War”. Now those are people who deserve the upmost respect….way before the Queen of England does.
Jill,
As I’ve said before you certainly have a right to be critical of President Obama and his policies. Your initial comment on this through though is totally unfair and I must say reflects your personal bias (not bigotry but political bias). I’m sure you are not old enough to have lived through the assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK and Malcolm X to name the most prominent ones, as an adult. Medgar Evers and Fred Hampton also come to mind.
Yes this President travels within a wide security bubble, as did the Presidents before him after 1964. Personal chefs to cook his own food? Right on. Poisoning is one of the oldest methods used to assassinate heads of State. I want this man protected because the likelihood of an assassination attempt in unfortunately high. This is not the trappings of imperialism, this is the reality of a world where fanatics of both a political and religious stripes want this man dead. One only has to see clips of quotes from the likes of Rush, Beck and O’Reilly to get an idea of the hate that is festering out there from Americans. That doesn’t even begin to address the coup that killing him would be for Islamic
Militants.
I believe this comment is beneath your usually sharp and measured viewpoint, even though you and I disagree on some things Obama, I respect your usual common sense. This whole “controversy” is indicative of the lack of real journalism by the MSM and we certainly don’t have to dignify its’ insignificance in the face of the problems average human beings encounter.
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