Get Ready For Bow-gate II (But This Time, Obama Really Did Mess Up)

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by Steve Krakauer | 9:13 am, November 16th, 2009

» 16 comments

Pres. Barack Obama‘s trip to Asia already has a big media moment, and it’s about the Commander-in-Chief bowing…again.

But this time, is the reaction warranted? Get ready to hear a lot about Bow-gate II.

Pres. Obama’s bow upon his meeting with Japanese Emperor Akihito Saturday was so blatant, there’s no discussion about it not being a bow, like there was last time the issue came about during a Saudi related bow in April. Check out the bow at the end of the post.

The bow caused the Los Angeles Times to go with a very tabloid-like headline, “How low will he go?” and had the Drudge Report splashing the photo as the lead story for a large portion of Sunday. It got the Fox Nation, as expected, up in arms, and got Liz Cheney comparing the bow to her father’s bow a few years ago. Commentators on Fox News and MSNBC spent time this morning debating what it means for Obama – and whether it’s a story at all.

But one of the most measured, researched takes came from ABC News White House correspondent Jake Tapper. Or rather, a friend of his who is an “academic with expertise about the Japanese Empire.” Here’s part of his conclusion about Bow-gate:

His bow is neither (1) unprecedented nor (2) a sign of cultural understanding…Obama’s handshake/forward lurch was so jarring and inappropriate it recalls Bush’s back-rub of Merkel…The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms….The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part.

So, he got it wrong – but not to the degree that some on the right are making it out to be. Of course, this now opens up the entire Presidential bowing can of worms. One of the bows mentioned in Tapper’s blog was former Pres. Nixon’s, who bowed to the Japanese Emperor but in a notably slighter way. Meanwhile, Pres. Clinton’s bow to the Japanese Emperor, which also was not nearly as blatant, got major attention – even by the New York Times – in 1994 (via).

Where do we stand? Well Press Secretary Gibbs is likely to be asked about it at the next opportunity, and there’s a new soundbite. But we have the video – and so do the cable news networks. Get ready to see a lot of bowing, and Bow-gate to last…at least until we get some juicy Sarah Palin clips to focus on incessantly.

Watch the bow:

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m

Read Jake Tapper’s blog entry and all I have to say is that, well – when Obama bowed he made a stereotypical western novice mistake. Beyond that this is pretty much a manufactured controversy.

At least he bowed though! It’d been harder to explain if he did a gassho or shaolin greeting, but funnier!
StewartIII

Hot Air — Video: 46 handshakes, one bow
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/15/video-46-handshakes-one-bow/
ImNotBlue

Maybe next time he’ll curtsey.
Rhys Boyd-Farrell

Yay. Another story no one will care about in two weeks. Guess what? No one watching Obama bow improperly is going to “Oh my god! The US is weak! Now is the time to attack!” Clearly, this is the worst thing to happen to the Obama Administration since they lost the war with Fox News that no one cared/cares about.
Ceek

Yes, this is “protocol” per the WH! LOL, and yet, as StewartIII shows us, there was only one bow….so now we have O-bow-ma, I guess.

I wonder what Sarah has to say about this?
TfT

It appears, that according to Newsbusters, this morning the new anchor of the ABC Nightly news (that would be Dianne) did a report on the big bow — BUT she didn’t report on Tapper’s piece like Steve did here. So, ABC is now spiking their own reporter’s stories. Dianne will fit right in when she replaces Charlie as yet another media anchor who is not to be trusted.
MartiniShark

@ Steve “So, he got it wrong – but not to the degree that some on the right are making it out to be.”

You do realize that this sentence follows two sentences that underscored how this was a sign of weakness not only here but in the home of the very culture that employs the bow?

I can only imagine the vitriol that would be flowing had Bush, or even Palin bowed in this manner. “Those IDIOTS!”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

There was no real debate about the Saudi bow either. He bowed then just like he bowed now.
Nachi

The Little People & their absurditiesof ignorance once more. Obama’s bow was/is absolutely correct. If you are going to partake of Japan, you’d damned well best bow. It is HIGHLY considered a token of respect and an offering of friendship. Nothing whatever concerning subservience. It is cultural. It is expected. It is “proper.” You simply/strictly do not NOT bow. If there was a “mistake,” it was that he bent over a bit too far. Because he is tall – and trying to reach a more meaningful physical level with his host. He should have been “advised” of that ahead of time. I lived in Japan for 5 years, am 6’3″, and it took me awhile to learn NOT to bend too far in my bow. The only people on Earth who find a “problem” with this situation – is the typical “Ugly American.” Loud, obnoxious, uneducated, untutored, totally uncultured, uncouth, dressed-like-a-slob, unmannered, w/o Social Graces of any kind, always an embarrassment. For these reasons & many more – despised properly throughout the civilized world. Meanwhile, our right-wing again scream forth their vomitous mass. Repugnant.
ImNotBlue

And yet, Nachi… Tapper seems to say the exact opposite (minus the nasty crazy stuff that’s your trademark)… who am I to believe.

Tapper… or Nachi… Tapper… or Nach…

Hmmmm

“His bow is neither (1) unprecedented nor (2) a sign of cultural understanding…”

Hmmm… tough choice…
libra blue

@Chris Jones, I agree. I guess it just depends on what the meaning of “bow” is. Only the left wing Obama excuse makers debated whether or not the “Saudi Bow,” was a bow. Everyone else just believed their own eyes.
Sunnyr

This Rookie Dip-S*** really did step in it. First the Bow was totally stupid and made him look like a real WUSS and secondly, you never use BOTH the handshake and the bow! This Amateur Hour Oracle is such a humiliation to this country. Don’t let him outside the borders again! Ignorant fool!
Jim Treacher

“Read Jake Tapper’s blog entry and all I have to say is that, well – when Obama bowed he made a stereotypical western novice mistake.”

If only he had someone to advise him on how to behave in front of leaders of other countries. Apparently that job wasn’t created or saved.
sarainitaly

“If only he had someone to advise him on how to behave in front of leaders of other countries. Apparently that job wasn’t created or saved.”

LOL!

World Leaders don’t bow to each other. Obviously Obama is not a world leader.
ImNotBlue

Jim Treacher says:
November 16, 2009 at 9:52 pm

HA!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Francisco-Fisher/15926263 Francisco Fisher

The media has been pretty much united in their Obama-bashing this time. One thing that can be said, is that this goof was “not unprecedented.” To hear more about what the opinion leaders are saying, check out this video: http://bit.ly/2BsodC