In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
OK, so this White House hasn't fared well with diplomacy. There was the time President Obama gave visiting English prime minister Gordon Brown, who is legally blind, a set of DVDs that don't play on U.K. DVD players. I'm not sure if that was better or worse than loading up an iPod for the Queen with President Obama's speeches on it.
Obama returned the bust of Winston Churchill, confusing Brits about what in the heck they'd done to anger Americans so much. The First Lady broke protocol by putting her hand on the Queen's back and the president accidentally messed up the traditional toast to the Queen.
And that doesn't even count the copious bowing to any head of state Obama comes across, or the accidental mistranslation for the "reset" button Hilary Clinton gave to the Russians. It's a veritable goat rodeo in our diplomatic shop.
But now we learn that President Obama offended the French by teasing president Nicolas Sarkozy. He congratulated Sarkozy on the birth of his new little daughter and said he was informed that, thankfully, the baby got her mother's looks.
And some Frenchmen are taking offense. Reportedly Sarkozy isn't too happy about it either.
I suppose that President Obama should have been more careful not to offend his host.
But ... it's the French and it's kind of funny to be boorish around them, isn't it? I love Paris and have always had the most pleasant times in France. But they're so easily bothered that it's difficult to resist the urge to provoke them sometimes.
Also, Sarkozy is, objectively speaking, not a looker. God blessed him richly when he gave him the lovely Carla Bruni as a wife.
So what do you think? Do you put this incident in the pile of embarrassing diplomatic mistakes? Or let it slide?
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Aug '11
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
"Humor. It is a difficult concept. It is not logical."
May '11
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
I had not thought about this before your post but Obama does seem to possess the worst sense of humor of any President since Carter. Even the scripted jokes at the press corespondent's dinners make people groan.
Sep '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Obama's lack of humor does concur with Dr. Charles Krauthammer's psychiatric prognostications on President Dorian Gray's inability to empathize with the little rulers of the world. And of course he's a Western leader so the latest iteration of ObamaSoft 2.0 - Re-election edition says "must insult Gallic warrior who led from the front on Libya while I whined about mean Republicans back home".
What's that cruel saying? Ugly is only skin deep, but stupid goes right down to the bone.
Mar '11
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Actually, this story makes me like Obama MORE. If Sarkozy cannot freely admit that his wife is gorgeous, then there is something wrong with him. Any man worth his salt would be delighted to hear that his daughter takes after his wife. And any man who is sensitive about his looks despite being the elected leader of a country is pathetic.
I don't say it often, but good for Obama!
Edited on Nov 4, 2011 at 7:25amRe: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
I can't find any evidence that this is in any way a big deal--the website that claimed Sarkozy was offended is a minor celebrity gossip-rag; the mainstream press noted the congratulations and the joke in passing, appreciating Obama's "humor," and it barely made the news at all. No evidence that anyone was genuinely offended.
Jun '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
I've been the subject of that particular line many times (in my case, it was a blessing my daughters got their mother's looks), and have used it many times more. It's virtually a cliche, not particularly funny, and not the worst insult in the world.
On the other hand, I've never used on a really short, low-in-the-polls, de Gaullish French president, whose trophy wife just had his child.
Obama has many sins for which he should repent by resigning,* but this isn't one of them.
----
* Which reminds me of something the late, great Fred Imus said to his brother Don a couple of years ago. Don asked him about some speech Obama had made and Fred said he'd only listened to the first minute. Don asked why? Fred: "Once it became clear the [blankety-blank] was not resigning, I turned it off."
Edited on Nov 4, 2011 at 7:27amJul '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
It's a good line (Obama's had a few), but you have to have the right type of relationship with someone to pull it off. Obama doesn't.
And, as is the tired old custom with anything Obama does, imagine the howls if George W. Bush had done it. But it seems W was smart enough not to.
Funny, that.
Sep '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Oh, Claire. There you go again: insisting on facts, facts and more facts when I just wanted to create a Starbucks Grande induced splenetic trash talk screed in 90 words or less. In defense of celebrity gossip rags, besides their useful properties as litter box and bird cage liners, they were much quicker on the John Edwards story here in America, so I don't discount them entirely, though I wouldn't advocate an American or French Revolution on their uncorroborated contents nor would I expect the Spanish Inquisition (though, of course, these days who doesn't expect one?)
Where was I going with this? I have no idea, but I've had a lot of coffee and some times it just feels good to talk.
Dec '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Pseudodionysius
I've had a lot of coffee and some times it just feels good to talk. · Nov 4 at 7:30am
After a lot of coffee, I need to do something in private. OUTTA MY WAY
Sep '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
But it seems W was smart enough not to.
Anyone I've read about who's met GWB and talked to him behind close doors (including some enemies) always remarked on what an exceptional kinesthetic sense he had to exude warmth and friendship. I'm not saying that sense was infallible (remember his cringe inducing comments on Putin) or that he would have been able to thaw the Gallic heart, but he was above average in that department and was a smart enough executive to know how to use it in most situations.
Don't forget also that he was quite a history buff and would never have made the kind of gaffes the A Priori A Historical President Obama routinely makes. Smart and wise are two different things.
Edited on Nov 4, 2011 at 7:42amAug '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
double poste
Edited on Nov 4, 2011 at 7:44amSep '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Foxman
Pseudodionysius
I've had a lot of coffee and some times it just feels good to talk. · Nov 4 at 7:30am
After a lot of coffee, I need to do something in private. OUTTA MY WAY · Nov 4 at 7:33am
I think LBJ handled it differently if I remember the quotes from former secret service agents.
Aug '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Let's not forget.
But I do hope they keep the better restaurants open and not stop serving pigs trotters at Pied au Cochon. · Nov 4 at 7:38am
Dec '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Actually, I would classify this as a "Daily Double" - twisting the tail of a Frenchman while simultaneously making himself look socially inept. What's not to like?
Sep '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
I'm getting quite envious of those of you on Ricochet who always seem to have a bevy of great images to splatter up in the comments.
Sep '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Its a twofer. All that's left is for a disparaging remark by the first lady that French food is too fatty and the Spaniards have been a more profound influence on America than the French (which is technically true if you look at the sheer size of South and Central America, rather than North) and I think we're all set for another prize winning TeleHoof-In-Mouth-Ter speech.
Dec '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
A good burn is a good burn. I am all for it.
May '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Obama has made more than his share of diplomatic mistakes, not to mention the execrable policy decisions.
But this isn't one of them. If Sarkozy is offended that someone notices that his wife is more physically appealing than he is, he can take his whatever and ramrod it up his whatever. This may be the first time that Obama has gotten something right in three years.
Sep '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
Duane Oyen: Obama has made more than his share of diplomatic mistakes, not to mention the execrable policy decisions.
But this isn't one of them. If Sarkozy is offended that someone notices that his wife is more physically appealing than he is, he can take his whatever and ramrod it up his whatever. This may be the first time that Obama has gotten something right in three years. · Nov 4 at 8:22am
When the French were cheese eating surrender monkeys (is the French pronounced minque?) then I would have been all for it, but I suspect Sarkozy's Gallic war tub thumping has the Predator in Chief a mite envious, so he whipped out a can of whoop-crass and hit the wrong target. I don't think he'd make the same crack to the new Telly Savalas styled Chavez.
Dec '10
Re: In Which I Defend Obama's Latest Diplomatic Faux Pas
He cannot express presumptuousness for it would require a measure of self-awareness a slightly less demented narcissist would need to recognize he was in fact comparing his own stature to someone else’s. Our historic first Islamic apostate president is above all of that, of course.
While DSK is the nonpareil for leering, if scolding Michelle were not constantly by her husband’s side, who knows what would satisfy his appetites.