We Are Not Amused: The First Family Gives IPod to Queen

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.

For the full story, click here and here.