You want arrogant, dismissive, and derisive? I’ll give you Obama Press Secretary Gibbs
At the outset I ignored this business about Obama’s Saudi bow. No, I didn’t like it and yes, I thought it was just another sign of Obama’s inattention to American traditions and history, including the precedent of not bending low to foreign royalty.
But I didn’t think it important enough to write about until an anonymous White House aide made an excuse for the bow that was patently absurd on its face (in other words, a baldfaced lie): that it wasn’t a bow, but instead a dip in order to equalize height during a two-handed handshake. I forgive mistakes much more easily than lies, you see, especially lies that insult the intelligence of the listener.
But even then I figured that there was a possibility that this was a rogue statement by an anonymous White House aide. Now that reservation has been removed—unless, of course, you would like to claim that Obama’s Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is not an official spokesperson for the President himself.
Not only did Gibbs lie about Obama’s bow at a recent press conference by telling the same tale, but he did it with a smile that was—dare I say it?—as arrogant and derisive as they come, and added some dismissive comments, as well:
Here’s a transcript, just in case you didn’t catch it (although the text fails to capture the all-important tone of Gibbs’s remarks):
QUESTION: And then one unrelated question. When the president met with King Abdullah, there was something that took place which I believe the White House explained as just the president being taller than the king. We took a look at the video, and it does appear that the president actually bowed to King Abdullah. Did he bow or didn’t he?
GIBBS: No, I think he bent over with both to shake ”” with both hands to shake his hand, so I don’t”¦
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) one hand, that he ”” he was just”¦
GIBBS: Well I ”” I ”” I ”” this is”¦
QUESTION: Did he bow or didn’t he?
GIBBS: No, but I think this meeting was like a week ago, right?
QUESTION: That’s right, but this is something that a lot of people are still talking about today.
GIBBS: I can only imagine it is of great cause and concern for many people struggling with the economy.
As usual, it’s not the original act so much as the coverup. This particular coverup is somewhat like trying to hide something under a piece of Saran wrap. The truth is obvious to any person who objectively studies the tape; therefore the lie is also obvious.
I cannot recall another administration so willing to offer lies that are so unconvincing and so easily identified as such (when Clinton denied his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, for example, the American people hadn’t yet seen the evidence, and I assume he was hoping they never would). The closest I can come is Richard Nixon, the “Rose Mary stretch,” and the erased audiotape. But at least that happened during Watergate, when Nixon was fighting for his political life.
In contrast, the Obama administration tells obvious lies over events that seem relatively unimportant; why not just say the bow was an error? I can only conclude that this administration’s behavior stems not only from an amoral disregard for truth and falsehood (not all that unusual in politicians, sad to say), but from a concomitant arrogance so deeply ingrained as to be reflexive, and a profound contempt for the American people’s judgment. I can only hope that events will prove Obama and Gibbs wrong in that last assessment.
There’s a problem with the video. A figure to Obama’s right obscures the view. Don’t get me wrong – I think it was a bow but the full impact of the bow is blunted by not having a clear view of it.
I just saw a liberal panelist on Fox News Watch, after watching the video, declare that it was obviously Obama only bending over to shake hands. The lucky happenstance of the figure on Obama’s right gives Obamites a little wiggle room – and a little is all they need.
Robert Gibbs is a real liability to the White House – I wonder how much longer he’ll last? The dude has a mean streak a mile wide, in addition to being evasive, sarcastic, and dismissive. I’ve been watching the press briefings over the past several weeks and it’s not just Jake Tappert who’s wise to this guy – the feeling in the room is definitely chilly.
I stick by my comment on another thread – Obama’s brain and his body had a disagreement, and he did something he shouldn’t have done. A press secretary who’s on the ball would know how to spin that with a little rueful humor. Gibbs has a tin ear, unfortunately, and can’t do any better than to demean the questioner and dismiss the question.
As my teenaged sons say, “he’s doing it wrong!”
Get ready to be lied to, a lot.
grackle: of course it would be better if the video were completely clear. But it’s clear enough to show it’s a bow. Obama’s head goes so much lower than King Abdullah’s that there is no plausible deniability whatsoever.
Seems that every administration in recent history has had its “clunkers.” McClellan was a negative for President Bush. Clinton replaced an excellent one (McCurry) with an idiot (Lockhart).
And God bless you, and the family (and country) you left far too early, Tony Snow.
E, I agree, it takes quite a guy to make Scott Mclellan look competent, how long Gibbs last will be a real sign of if they are in tune with how they appear.
Wasn’t there a story pre-election of how a wealthy Saudi assisted Obama with getting into the high priced schools? Could explain the bow, he may owe Saudi Arabia a lot.
Here it is:
http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2008/08/obamas-saudi-connection.html
Olderandwheezier, I agree on Tony Snow. A smart guy, a fine public servant, and a very good man. I miss him too.
Tony wasn’t a bad flute player either. Good all around guy and family man.
It continues to be that the Obama administration just CANNOT BELIEVE that anyone would question their word when they deny something. Gibby “He was just bending over to shake with both hands”. Then he got irritated when the reporter told him the video clearly showed Obama only used one hand.
Gibby has no handle on the facts, never seems prepared, and hems and haws more than anyone I have seen. I think he must be smoking dope instead of getting ready for the press briefings.
Incredible arrogance. but again – they got away with it during the campaign so they are taken aback that they are finally getting called on things.
Perhaps he took notes from Dana and her predecessors?
But, yes, he was dodging the issue. That’s what Press Secretaries do, these days.
Evidence about Dana doing that, Bill? Relevance?
Now the initials “BO” not only stand for Barack Obama but also bending over. This guy is a joke.
I can’t help but saying again…he got away with “I never heard Wright say those things”, so I expect he thinks he can get away with anything.Until he suffers in the polls, I can only conclude that he is right.
QUESTION: That’s right, but this is something that a lot of people are still talking about today.
GIBBS: I can only imagine it is of great cause and concern for many people struggling with the economy.
Oh, I get it now! The reason Obama is throwing a pizza party for 140 of his staffers, complete with chef, sauce, and dough flown in from halfway across the country, is that he’s so sensitive to the economic struggles of the little people. That Gibbs is one terrific press secretary!
I pin the lies on someone considerably higher up than Gibbs. Nothing goes and comes from the president’s attention unless it is first given the look over by Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod.
Gibbs is just a highly paid errand boy. He’s not the one making shit up as he goes along. These things are almost always discussed ahead of time.
The spokesman gives the president’s message.
The president is a liar.
This is such a stupid issue though.
1) the man does not understand macro-economics
2) the man does not understand how other countries are going to act in their interest whether he is the American President or not.
Squealer in Orwell’s Animal Farm.
Well, they say lust makes you stupid. I guess the press’s Obama lust is no different.
Did he bow? We all saw it. Unless Abdullah had 5 foot arms, or Obama had something more intimate than a hand shake in mind, he bowed. I saw it. You saw it.
Next the press can take up the question: Did we land on Omaha Beach?
Did we have a Civil War?
Did we fight a revolution?
Tastes Great or Less Filling?
Great Video., lol the remix. ha.
I agree with Neo that Obama’s bow to the Saudi king isn’t really as major a deal as a few people make it out to be. But, I’m also not offended at the lie the administration is putting out about it either (you can take my non offense as a reflection of how I view modern politics and those who practice it.)
The thing that I noticed is that Obama thinks that this is something that needs to be countered. This incident has a lot of similarities with last September(?) when he said, during the campaign, that if every American inflated their tires properly we could save as much oil as we could get in offshore exploration (or some sort). A.K.A. the “Tire Gauge” flap. In both cases Obama said (or did) something inanely stupid and when his critics started having fun with the screw up, Obama started to fight them (in the former case, he tried to argue that we was essentially correct, and in this later case, he’s trying to argue that what looks like a bow isn’t really a bow.) and he keeps the issue alive several weeks after the event’s shelf life has expired. The biggest thing these two events have in common is that they are insanely trivial.
What I’m seeing is that if Obama has an achilles heel it’s that he cannot tolerate embarrassment. it’s almost like he has an honor/shame mentality.
For anyone who thinks Obonga’s deference to the Saudi prince is no big deal, please read Raymond Ibrahim’s article over at Pajamasmedia:
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obamas-abominable-obeisance-cultural-perspectives/
He certainly can’t tolerate criticism. That’s been established beyond all doubt.
Which is utterly foreign to American culture.
Is this the worse thing we have to worry about? Let’s think back to the previous administration.
May I add my personal opinion of incompetent to Gibbs’ qualifications?
“Is this the worse thing we have to worry about?”
When it indicates that the person who is the leader of our country has no clue that his role is to represent American interests, yes, it’s something to worry about. Obama doesn’t seem to understand (this is just one indicator) that that’s his job. He’s like a little fifth grader playing Model UN…and he’s not very good at it.
Happy Easter everyone. Just wanted to say that, but if you are Jewish or non-religious please overlook the perceived offense.
Fred, my greeting today is “Alleluia! Or Aloha, whichever suits you best.” I figure that covers all the bases.
We’re headed down to the Cathedral to sing the 11:00 service this morning – MacMillan’s “Christus Vincit.” YouTube it if you’ve never heard it – it’s stunning.
E,
I just went over to youtube and played the “Christus Vincit” by the Regensberger choir that performed for Joseph Ratzinger, Cardinal and Bishop of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI. It was beautiful.
And even though I am not from Hawai’i, Monica and I have enjoyed our six visits to your state, four to the Big Island, our favorite place. Aloha!
P.S. The best Catholic parish and choir in your state has to be the one in Lahaina, on Maui.
Let’s think back to the previous administration.
Just when, please, will you people start judging Obama relative to his words, lies, actions, and broken promises? Are we to endure four or eight years of “so what if he’s a lying incompetent. So was Bush.” It’s all so distracting, you see. Or is that your goal?
Comparisons to anyone or anything other than the mighty Obama himself and his presumptive all-healing, all-unifying powers are a mighty low standard to judge the performance of the man who was going to end a war, cause the oceans to recede, close Gitmo, heal the economy, yada. And more yada. And yada evermore.
I am a tall man – 6’3″ – and I have yet to bend nearly in half when shaking hands with anyone over 4′ tall…
…and it seems to me that Mr. Obama’s “slip-ups” — the Joe the Plumber incident and the bow, for two — tell us more about his character than all his carefully-scripted, Teleprompter-delivered addresses…
Fred, thanks for the Easter greetings. I’m afraid my “Aloha” confused you – that was me being multi-cultural for the benefit of those who don’t celebrate Easter. I’m not actually from Hawaii, although my husband was born there and we did spend last Easter at the Episcopal Church on Front Street in Lahaina. It was glorious!
We did our singing today at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis, which is also nice but a tad chillier than Maui!
“I can only conclude that this administration’s behavior stems not only from an amoral disregard for truth and falsehood (not all that unusual in politicians, sad to say), but from a concomitant arrogance so deeply ingrained as to be reflexive, and a profound contempt for the American people’s judgement.”
You’ve nailed it, Neo. And Gibbs is always snide.
Also, they’re just not used to being called on stuff by the media. In the past, the media just reported their lies are if they were truth…
Baklava Says:
“This is such a stupid issue though.”
Heh, not really. Its another big part of the American identity that Obama ‘just doesn’t get’… also it reminds me of the first and only political-esq argument I had with my mom… I asked why the Americans were bowing to the Queen during Wimbledon (I was 11 or 12)… She thought it was ok… and I said I never would… it seemed unseemly to me then (re: pre Obama by far)…
Standing in the Shadows Says:
I agree. I remember most of the blows that actually caused Obama damage during the election involved him trying to defend himself. We were calling him glass jaw Obama over them. So yeah, you have a point about his character but also, the guy can be rope a doped / set up easily.
This is the Narcissist in Chief all right. Or Our Big Ass Mistake America.
As for thinking about the previous administration, that assumes you had any original thoughts about the previous admin in the first place.
Standing in the Shadows Says @ 12:11 am:
“…it’s almost like he has an honor/shame mentality.”
Let’s see, where do those come from? China? Nope. US? Nope. Africa? Yep. Saudi Arabia? Yep. Muslims? Yep. Not saying he is a muslim or anything that could get me branded as a domestic terrorist.
Will we even be able to un-do in 4 years? Will those of us who wish for an un-do still be around? I am beginning to wonder.