Full text:
The British have begun to worry about the “special relationship” in the Anglosphere since the election of Barack Obama. First, the visit from Gordon Brown failed to get the usual Rose Garden joint-presser treatment from the White House this week. Now the Daily Mail reports that Obama cheaped out on the traditional gift exchange, rustling up some DVDs in exchange for a thoughtful gift from Brown:
Gordon Brown has been given a collection of 25 classic American films on DVD as his official gift from Barack Obama.
The Prime Minister flew home from his successful trip to Washington this morning with the ’special collector’s box’ of films hidden in his luggage.
No 10 had tried to keep the present a secret, refusing to answer reporters who asked what President Obama had given to mark the reaffirmation of the special relationship.
Wow. You know, Amazon often sells collections like that at steep discounts, even in Blu-Ray. Thankfully, Obama saved the US taxpayers a few bucks. I’m sure that Brown put a similarly negligent amount of thought into his gift, right? Right?
Er …
Mr Brown’s gifts included an ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President.
Mr Obama was so delighted he has already put it in pride of place in the Oval Office on the Resolute desk which was carved from timbers of Gannet’s sister ship, HMS Resolute.
Another treasure given to the U.S. President was the framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to symbolise Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria.
Finally, Mr Brown gave a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.
Brown also brought gifts for Obama’s daughters, a rather gracious act, especially considering the reciprocity. The Daily Mail also notes that Brown isn’t a film buff anyway, which makes the DVD set rather pointless.
People objected when Obama returned the bust of Winston Churchill to the British Embassy, which had loaned it to George Bush eight years ago. I didn’t find that surprising, especially given the history of Obama’s grandfather, or at least how Obama understands it. I’d not likely keep a bust of Oliver Cromwell in the West Wing if I were President, gift or not, for similar reasons. (I’m an admirer of Churchill, though.)
However, this seems like a rather deliberate insult, or at best diplomatic incompetence. It’s one thing to cheap out on a gift for a friend or relative at Christmas, but the British have stood by the US for many long decades, through some very dark times. Despite unpopularity at home, they remained at our side in Iraq and Afghanistan. They deserve a little more effort from this administration, and a hell of a lot more appreciation.
Update: Ace and Moe Lane have more thoughts about the thoughtlessness, which extends to the First Lady as well. Two plastic replicas of Marine One from the White House gift store? Wow. Don’t strain a biceps with that effort, Mrs. Obama
First the slam of returning the Churchill bust, now a slam in their face.
hope and change, yeah. Piss off our closest ally — good change there buddy.
Wasn’t it England that was leaking they wanted Obama as president?
To all the Brits on our board:
We apologize for the poor treatment given to the Brown family this week. Please bear with us until we can correct the situation in 2012. We (not I, mind you) appear to have elected a redneck urban trailer park trash.
This guy is really embarrassing us.
This is satire, right?
Please tell me it’s satire!!
...and it was all Susan Saradon crap, wasn’t it?
Gordon, kiss my butt.
Hope you enjoy your DVDs. That is more than I would give you, you idiot.
He has just as much “class and grace” as his wife! (sarc.)
More on the idiot backing of Obama by Brown prior to OUT election:
Guess Vince Offer was all out of Sham Wows and Slap Chop choppers.
I’m sure this was not an intentional insult. It’s just that he’s got no class at all. It’s the best he can do.
Imagine the Beveley Hillbillies, except a different cultural group which cannot be made fun of.
The Messiah didn’t know there would be an exchange of gifts.
He had to send Joe Biden to WalMart at the last minute, and this is the best he could come up with.
Y’all will get a kick out of this. I told my kids about this just now. My older child says, “Gee thanks, I’ll be able to watch those in all my SPARE TIME as Prime Minister.” My 6 year old just sighed a big sigh, shook his head and said, “Sometimes I think I could do a better job as President.” I kid you not!!!
This is a deliberate slap at America’s history. For the Obamas, England is not the Motherland. Africa is.
Ah, Africa. That wondrous land that spawned democracy, and the rule of law, and all the institutions that have created freedom and prosperity for generations of mankind.
This is just the Kenyan’s thinly veiled protest of former British Colonial Rule.
Next time there is trouble in the world an 0bambi cries out for help, the Brits can send the helicopters back and call it air support! What the world calls karma...
25 dvd’s?
What, was Costco all out of Red Lobster gift cards? ;)
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(disclaimer: I shop at Costco and enjoy Red Lobster.)
Anyone know the list of movies?
My guess:
“I’m Gonna Git You, Sucka”
“Malcom X”
“The Color Purple”
“The Nutty Professor” (Eddie Murphy’s)
“Soul Sister”
“Men in Black”
Just wow!