DISQUS

its just me · 9 months ago

I agree. Had the President given something very expensive they would criticize him for giving expensive gifts during a recession.

They need to get a life.

Janet Shan · 9 months ago

It's Just Me -- Though it is a little embarrassing, it's no big deal.
Michelle Malkin, Drudge Report and others are making a big deal about it,
but had he gone all out and given her something very expensive, as you have
said, people here would be upset and revisit the "elitist" name. There are
way more important things on the president's agenda than worrying about what
he gave the Queen. If the truth be told, this woman is so wealthy, what else
does she need and why should the Obama team take an inventory on what she
has or doesn't own?

The Brits ought to worry about that angry mob breaking into a RBS bank in
London.

Cheri · 9 months ago

I agree with both of you that this is a big deal being made out of nothing. The problem is that Obama is getting the reputation of being tacky. Actually I think that nontraditional would be a better label.

Either way, as silly as this stuff is, it affects public perceptions of him here and abroad. And as we know, perception is everything when it comes to politics...

pelmo · 9 months ago

Janet you miss the whole point here. It's called PROTOCOL. You have people on your staff to make shure you know and follow it. These gifts are not about what they need, rather it's what you think of the person.

Mr. Brown gives a pen that is made of wood from a slave ship and is well thought out. where as a bunch of DVD's and some that don't even work appears as if it was a last minute gift bought at a convenience store.

I know you would have made a big deal if the tables were reversed and Obama received some crap after giving out wonderfull gifts.

Janet Shan · 9 months ago

Pelmo -- Oh you are so wrong on my position. I would not have made a big
deal out of something so superficial given the unrest that is bubbling over
at the G-20 Summit about the global financial meltdown. I find it rather
trivial that they could spend so much energy and time attacking the
President's gift. Did you hear about the angry mob that broke into a RBS
bank in London in reference to the financial quagmire? I suspect a lot of
people haven't even bothered to give that the time of day. Or, wait, did you
hear that the Chinese president and Obama met today and he won't stand in
America's way to protest in the event North Korea tests a missile? I suspect
you are just worried about PROTOCOL as though that makes economic ills go
away.

I said though it is a little embarrassing, nonetheless, it isn't nearly as
big a deal as it is being made out to be. The Queen is bound to get
something she already owns from a head of state at some time in her reign.
Now is no different. Embarrassing, but not a big deal. I would have rather
given the Queen an iPod than had seen the President of the USA throw up in
the lap of another head of state.

Janet

Roman · 9 months ago

Its a ipod ! its a Cool gift for us regular people but this is the queen! He can buy anything and they get her a ipod come on.

Janet Shan · 9 months ago

Roman -- Ahem..... She already has an iPod. The idea is that the Obamas are
a little on the tacky side. Personally, I would have given her something
else, but aren't the Brits tacky too? Look what she gave him. A signed
picture. A lot of thought and effort she put into that now, didn't she?

Steve R. · 9 months ago

This is a real embarrassment and proof that DRM (Digital Rights Management) is an absurdity. If one buys a DVD they should be able to play it anywhere in the world, just like reading a book. But the US is pushing for ever more onerous restrictions on this freedom to view content. So now we have the President of the US giving a gift that can't be played due to onerous restrictions. Time for Obama to rethink how absurd our so-called intellectual property laws really are.

Janet Shan · 9 months ago

Steve R. -- Your argument is very compelling. I never thought of it in those
terms. You are absolutely right.