Day By Day© by Chris Muir.

April 08, 2009

Criticizing Obama's Bow is Not Out of Bounds

This post courtesy of husband-dude:

Recently I wrote an article for FSM called "...for no Earthly King" where I took exception to Barack Obama's uncalled for bow to the Saudi King.

Other conservative bloggers, who will remain nameless (and linkless), take exception to this interpretation. They've pointed out, and posted for example, a picture of former President Bush bowing to receive a medal from the Saudis a while back. This is used as "equivalence" and any reaction to Obama's bow is merely "Obama Derangement Syndrome."

First off, I personally do not think the President of the United States should be receiving awards and medals from any other country. This also applies to cabinet members or elected officials - for example, I do not think Caspar Weinberger should have accepted an honorary knighthood for example for his "services" to England back in 1988.

In both cases however, these were official ceremonies with a defined protocol whether we liked them or not.

Obama's bow to the Saudi King was not part of any official ceremony. There was no protocol being observed. The moment was unscripted and done at Barack Obama's initiative. There was no reciprocity returned. George Bush bowed to receive a medal during the course of a ceremony, Barack Obama bowed because he felt like it.

There's a difference. Pointing out the body language used and its context is not "Obama Derangement Syndrome."