Japan expert to ABC : Yes, Obama’s bow made him look like an idiot

[DebbieDett]

YouTube - Obama Bows to Japanese Emperor Akihito

The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms....The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part.

[2boys4me]

Such an embarassment!!!!

[MamaBear]

I'm wondering if Britney Spears' "Oops, I did it AGAIN!" is Obama's theme song? He is a freaking embarrassment. The POTUS bows to NO ONE. Do you hear me Obamess???? NO ONE!!!! Seriously......does he not think at all????

[OzMel]

Fox goes on the warpath over a bow
The loons at Fox are beating up on President Obama after his bow while meeting the Emperor of Japan...but apparently they forgot their history, because President Obama is not the first President to make such a bow.

Watch a montage of Fox's absurd attacks, along with the video and images they ignored:



As noted in the video, not only did Presidents Nixon and Eisenhower bow to foreign leaders (Nixon to the Emperor of Japan, Eisenhower to Charles De Gaulle), but President Bush actually held hands with and kissed Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.

Of course, those simple facts didn't stop Fox (including Karl Rove) from jumping in on the Obama-bashing action, once again proving that when it comes to Fox, news has nothing to do with it.

Daily Kos: Fox goes on the warpath over a bow

Sorry but I don't know how to add video but if you want to see the actions of previous POTUS's it's there.

Petty, knee-jerk reactions without checking relevant details? Ooops, you did it again......

[DebbieDett]

Nixon did not do a deep bow, a slight arch from the waist hands at his side. Eisenhowers bow of the head in no way compares with OB's deep bow.
I did not do it again! Check your facts!

Obama’s silent bow is yet another way of apologizing for America’s misperceived arrogance and superiority. Our president has found yet another way to pander and apologize without ever uttering a single word.

This was NOT protocol for three reasons:

1. The President's bow actually breaks protocol. Prior protocol has been that American dignitaries shake hands and occasionally offer a very slight bow. Not a deep one that breaks eye contact and suggests subservience. The L.A. Times blog post includes pictures supporting this.

2. Emperor Akihito is the first Japanese emperor not to be considered divine, his father having renounced the Emperor’s divinity in a declaration on January 1, 1946.

3. The video shows Emperor Akihito approaching President Obama with his arm extended for a handshake. Our President breaks protocol by bowing and shaking simultaneously, abnormal in Japanese culture.

Plus, Emperor Akihito did not return the bow. Had he returned the bow, this would have been a positive display of mutual respect. Because he did not, this becomes a disturbing show of one-sided deference inappropriate for our President in the face of a foreign leader.

America has nothing to apologize for. We are the most generous, compassionate nation on the planet. We are willing to sacrifice our people and treasure to come to the aid of those oppressed or in need. We have crossed oceans to free Continents from brutal dictators. We are the first to respond to disasters that befall our friends and allies or for that matter, our enemies too. We have sent millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for the people of North Korea in spite of the unlawful actions of a rogue regime that calls for our destruction.

When we have fought on foreign soil we never did it to stake a claim to more land for our country. We fought for principle. The only foreign land we took as our own was land that was needed to bury our fallen.

When the president bows to heads of state, various representatives of foreign governments or any other “leader” he sends a message that America is weak and subservient.

[intheknow]

Originally Posted by OzMel

Daily Kos: Fox goes on the warpath over a bow

Sorry but I don't know how to add video but if you want to see the actions of previous POTUS's it's there.

Petty, knee-jerk reactions without checking relevant details? Ooops, you did it again......

Is holding hands and kissing an act of subservience? No.

[OzMel]

If ya say so...

Shall invoke the 'ITK Defence' and leave ya to it

[DebbieDett]

OzMel,
What is so wrong to want this country to be the shining example of individual freedom, and a source of prosperity? Why are we the country to which people have gone to great efforts, sometimes risking life and limb, to emigrate? Should we not be proud that over the last 100 years we have fought for and shed blood for the freedom of the people of the world.
Haven’t you noticed, that only this nation stood up and sent aid to the people of Africa suffering from the ravages of Aids, while other nations stood by? Haven’t you noticed that 31,000,000 people in Iraq are free to vote and prosper, without the yoke of Sadam’s tyranny.
Haven’t you noticed that women in Afghanistan are going to school?
While we take action, other nations dither. To this day, the Germans depend on the U.S. for their defense. While we spend nearly 4% of our GDP on defense, including the defense of Germany, they spend barely 1.5%.
I am proud of what this country stands for and I do not feel that we need to bow to any other national leader or dip our flag to any nation. I was disheartened to see that our President does not understand that we have been the strongest nation for good in the world over the last century. No other nation comes close.

[OzMel]

Originally Posted by DebbieDett

OzMel,
What is so wrong to want this country to be the shining example of individual freedom, and a source of prosperity? Why are we the country to which people have gone to great efforts, sometimes risking life and limb, to emigrate? Should we not be proud that over the last 100 years we have fought for and shed blood for the freedom of the people of the world.
Haven’t you noticed, that only this nation stood up and sent aid to the people of Africa suffering from the ravages of Aids, while other nations stood by? Haven’t you noticed that 31,000,000 people in Iraq are free to vote and prosper, without the yoke of Sadam’s tyranny.
Haven’t you noticed that women in Afghanistan are going to school?
While we take action, other nations dither. To this day, the Germans depend on the U.S. for their defense. While we spend nearly 4% of our GDP on defense, including the defense of Germany, they spend barely 1.5%.
I am proud of what this country stands for and I do not feel that we need to bow to any other national leader or dip our flag to any nation. I was disheartened to see that our President does not understand that we have been the strongest nation for good in the world over the last century. No other nation comes close.

What's with the speech?
Must every issue become someones personal grandstand? I find your original post to be not as straightforward as you do, obviously. I saw some video too and formed an opinion of my own. Cos I can do that

[robine]

Originally Posted by MamaBear

I'm wondering if Britney Spears' "Oops, I did it AGAIN!" is Obama's theme song? He is a freaking embarrassment. The POTUS bows to NO ONE. Do you hear me [B]Obamess?[/B]??? NO ONE!!!! Seriously......does he not think at all????

THAT is a great name for him