The White House is saying that President Obama’s obsequious bow to the inhabitant of the Chrysanthemum Throne was just a matter of protocol:
SINGAPORE – A senior administration official said President Barack Obama was simply observing protocol when he bowed to Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko upon arriving at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday.
“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.”
So, if it’s a matter of protocol, we can expect to find pictures of other world leaders bowing to Akihito, right ?
Hmm, not the Prime Minister of India.
Or the President of South Korea.
Or Vladimir Putin
Maybe it’s just an American thing right, surely other President’s have done it right ?
Hmm, maybe lower-ranking Americans like the Governor of Hawaii and the Commander of American Naval Forces in the Pacific ?
Wow, Obama seems to have invented a whole new form of protocol all by himself.
Sad.
H/T: The Purple Center
I honestly don’t understand what the big deal is over the President showing a traditional sign of respect to a Foreign leader.
Obama bowed. So what. Can we get on to discussing more important topics.
Me too: BFD!
It is not “traditional” and it’s not “protocol.” There are hundreds of photos on the web that prove this — a few of which are posted by Doug here and on my blog.
Is it the most important issue to engage us? No, of course not. But it is more than a little puzzling, even disturbing. It’s not just because we Americans especially prize our republicanism (small r). It is simply not done by anyone from outside Japan and in particular by no head of state.
In fact, it is the opposite of protocol for chiefs of state meeting and greeting each other, which calls for mutual standing, not deference.
Pretty much what one would expect from a “junior” senator from IL. Remember when Clinton took communion in a catholic church he was visiting? These libtards are supposed to be so bright and fresh; one would think they could at least hire competent protocol handlers to make up for their own incompetence. Sure it might seem trivial now compared to everything else that is going on, but just imagine if Bush had done this.
Was it protocol? No. Was it unprecedented? Hardly (yes you can find numerous examples of politicians not bowing to the emperor but you can also find plenty of photos of them doing just that, including of of President Nixon doing so, and you don’t get much more right-wing than that).
All I can say is that if a perhaps ill-advised attempt at showing respect for a fellow world leader is the only thing the right-wing can find to get upset about. The country is in pretty good hands.