Did Obama bow to Saudi king? See video

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | April 8, 2009 | MATTHEW NICKERSON

[Plutarch]

A photo of President Obama apparently bowing in front of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is stirring a royal-size controversy.

The photo and a video were largely ignored by mainstream media outlets but created outrage in some quarters.

“Such an act is a traditional obeisance befitting a king's subjects, not his peer. There is no precedent for U.S. presidents bowing to Saudi or any other royals,” said the conservative Washington Times.

An Obama aide speaking anonymously denied that the president was bowing.

“It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah,” the aide was quoted as saying by Politco.com Wednesday.

That explanation was “absurd,” the conservative Weekly Standard said. And the caption attached to the Getty Images photo said the president was bowing.

The setting was world leaders mingling before their official photo at the G-20 economic summit in London on April 1.

The heads of state were being photographed with Queen Elizabeth II — to whom Obama did not bow, online commenters said.

Some on the Hot Air Web site had fun with the whole affair, offering:

— “That is how they do it in Chicago . . .”

— “He wasn’t bowing . . . he was ducking in case someone threw a shoe.”

[Plutarch]

At long last, MSM coverage of the Obama Bow.

[Mr. Mojo]

“It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah,”

When Obama was bowing he was about four feet shorter than Abdullah.

[bluejay]

Hmmm. Looked like a bow to me.

[ken21]

yes.

[edcoil]

“It wasn’t a bow”

It was gas. Sorry.

[Ann Archy]

WHO is the STUPID aide??? Actually they think WE are that stupid to not believe our own eyes.

[SandRat]

nope.. just bowing to Mecca.

[DBrow]

“It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah,”

Obama was trying to kiss King Abdullah's ring!

[what's up]

“It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah,” the aide was quoted as saying by Politco.com Wednesday.

That explanation was “absurd,” the conservative Weekly Standard said

This is their idea of covering.

To report what everyone else us saying without investigating and reporting themselves that the explanation given by the WH was a lie.

[BigFinn]

A definite bow... bet you he kissed his hand too... and an Allah Akbar to boot.

[ALASKA]

.....”Forgive us father for we have sinned.........”

[elkfersupper]

“That is how they do it in Chicago . . .”

Unfortunately, he isn't in Chicago anymore.

Also unfortunately, he needs to learn to act like the President of the United States.

[Michael.SF.]

The fact that they are lying and trying to cover it up indicates that they know the zero, F'd up........... Big time!

[GSP.FAN]

From a earlier post..

[sscoots969]

Of course he did - this is from who he takes his orders. We aren’t a Christian nation or anything anymore. He just forgot he was having his picture taken (his arrogance tends to get the best of him sometimes).

[Always Right]

This is silly. Obama was not bowing! Obama was just demonstrating bowling techniques.

[Cyber Ninja]

That was not a bow, no, no bow, there was not bow...

[usmcobra]

It’s not a bow, it’s a form of curtsy only true Muslims can render to the King of Saudi Arabia and the Ruler of Mecca.

But it isn’t a bow.

[April Lexington]

Maybe he was trying to outdo GHW Bush by puking in the head of state’s lap while standing up!

[Veto!]

Does anyone have a still photo from the Spanish tv station that offers a profile of this scene? It was even more telling than this one.