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How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow

It was awkward, it is hands to the side, quick bow, then the handshake
 
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It was more likely a lack of communications between the two, or maybe it was bad timing for the camera shot (they had both properly bowed to each other, and Akihito was quicker to rise and was already going to shake Obamas hand before Obama could get back up).
 
He gets a pass on this one. His actions are subject to at least three reasonable interpretations.

He may in fact not be familiar with traditional Presidential Protocol.

Or he may have decided to abandon protocol in favor of courtesy. This is after all the twentieth anniversary of Emperor Akithito (sp) accession.

Or Obama may just be curious as to whether the Emperor had an erection at the time, and wanted to take a closer look. I lean towards the latter possibility.
 
Albert Di Salvo said:
He gets a pass on this one. His actions are subject to at least three reasonable interpretations.

He may in fact not be familiar with traditional Presidential Protocol.

Or he may have decided to abandon protocol in favor of courtesy. This is after all the twentieth anniversary of Emperor Akithito (sp) accession.

Or Obama may just be curious as to whether the Emperor had an erection at the time, and wanted to take a closer look. I lean towards the latter possibility.
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Agreed - I'll give him a pass and I'm a harsh critic. 99 out of 100 people will look just as bad or worse in a situation trying to bow. Nothing he could really do - it's a no win scenario.
 
Whip Comes Down said:
The bow also has many meanings like, excuse me, thank you, I’m sorry, nice to meet you. Bows are also used to kick-off conversations and to acknowledge someone’s presence.
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In PBO's case, it's more, "excuse me", and, "I'm sorry".
 
MrVicchio said:
Yes, that's right, he bows, to kings and emperors. The man disgraces the office of the President, and our country.
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Just like how many other presidents bowed to foreign leaders?

Didn't we have a discussion about this where you (or rev) were thoroughly humiliated and once again shown to be extreme partisan hacks?

Here it is:
http://www.debatepolitics.com/us-po...obama-disgrace-bows-another-leader-wtf-2.html

Bush bowed to Koizumi. Did most people care? No. Clinton bowed to Obuchi. Did rational people care? No.

It's this kind of behavior that gets your 100% accurately labeled a hyperpartisan hack job.

Clearly, you've never been to Japan, much less out of the country.

Grow up for a change.
 
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MrVicchio said:
HE's the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HE BOWS TO NO ONE.
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Reagan bowed the Queen of England.
Bush bowed the PM of Japan.
Clinton bowed to the PM of Japan.

Looks like Mr. V is as wrong as usual. Not exactly news.

Bear poops in woods? Pope lives in Rome? Mr. V is a hyperpartisan hack who's constantly wrong?
 
EpicDude86 said:
lol, this keeps getting better and better.
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Indeed.

"Stop calling me a partisan hack! Meanwhile I'm going to rant about the MOST partisan bull**** item I can find while deliberately ignoring how members of my party did the same thing!"

Really, I'm just glad Obama didn't puke on somebody....unlike a previous president.
 
Bowing is acceptable when dealing with cultures who treat the bow as a polite greeting between equals-- you will notice that in the photograph taken, the Emperor was also bowing. Shall the Japanese now be up in arms over the descendant of Amaterasu Omikami bowing before an elected official, a mere mortal?

The President did bow far too low for the situation; here, he appears to be showing either deep gratitude or deep shame, which is inappropriate. Someone at State should have instructed him properly. As would be expected, the bow the Emperor is returning is respectful and proper and the President should have taken his cue from that-- an extra inch or two would have been appropriate, as a sign of gratitude, reasonable gratitude, at the Emperor's hospitality.
 
Link

capt.a9b065e91c6a4b3cb32ab5b20cd370a5.aptopix_japan_obama_asia_jpnd105.jpg


(UPDATES: 12:22 p.m. A brief news video has been added below, showing the greeting in this photograph. Contrary to some claims, the video shows no reciprocal bow by the emperor, who traditionally bows to no one. And we've added a file photo from 2007 of Vice President Dick Cheney greeting the Japanese Emperor at the same residence in a different fashion.)
How low will the new American president go for the world's royalty?

This photo will get Democrat President Obama a lot of approving nods in Japan this weekend, especially among the older generation of Japanese who still pay attention to the royal family living in its downtown castle. Very low bows like this are a sign of great respect and deference to a superior.
To some in the United States, however, an upright handshake might have looked better. (See Cheney-Akihito photo, right).
Remember Michelle Obama casually patting Britain's Queen Elizabeth on the back during their Buckingham Palace visit? America's royalty tends to make movies and get bad reviews and lots of money as a sign of respect.
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What a clown! He needs Hillary to hold his hand.
 
Gee, I think I put this thread in the wrong forum.
 
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When the URL has the word blog in it, it probably does not belong in BN-mainstream news.
 
what is this thread about? Obama bowed and the Emperor shook his hands both things are equivalent to the same action. No one is saying Japans Emperor is weak for shaking hands I find this thread to be comical. Because our president no matter who it is doesnt control the world. Therefore you present yourself as equal and not superior. Superiority complexes start wars for no reason with no plans to achieve victory.
 
Thought,
Mr. V made one false assumption, then he tried to defend his position, and the Forum Feel Giddy Committee came out of nowhere and slammed him.
 
obvious Child said:
Just like how many other presidents bowed to foreign leaders?

Didn't we have a discussion about this where you (or rev) were thoroughly humiliated and once again shown to be extreme partisan hacks?

Here it is:
http://www.debatepolitics.com/us-po...obama-disgrace-bows-another-leader-wtf-2.html

Bush bowed to Koizumi. Did most people care? No. Clinton bowed to Obuchi. Did rational people care? No.

It's this kind of behavior that gets your 100% accurately labeled a hyperpartisan hack job.

Clearly, you've never been to Japan, much less out of the country.

Grow up for a change.
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Personal attacks, looks like you have nothing to say that defensible on the topic. The Rev isn't even here to give you a lollipop.
 
Consensus of other thread: a bow in Japanese culture is like a handshake in ours. This has been blown out of proportions.
 
This is just left and right nonsense, bush goes through the wrong door, liberals post the picture, and all lol. Obama bows to the king and emperor, and the far right posts the pictures and lol.

We have much bigger fish to fry in both parties, like how they are destroying the wealth of this country, all while spending trillions of dollars they don't have. Or how they are attempting to destroy our fragile free market system, and kill our capitalist system, a system that has been the envy of the world. still another worry, now they want to take over our health system, controlling more and more of our daily lives.

we have real problems people......
 
ScottD said:
Consensus of other thread: a bow in Japanese culture is like a handshake in ours. This has been blown out of proportions.
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No yet, but don't you worry. We'll have this blown out really good soon. He didn't keep his eye on the emporer either, the dope.
 
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Republican Hyperbole.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

edit: im not democrat lover myself.
 
Would you rather he doesn't bow to Akihito, and end up insulting one of our closest allies? Keep in mind a bow is just a form of greeting in Japan.
 
the makeout hobo said:
Would you rather he doesn't bow to Akihito, and end up insulting one of our closest allies? Keep in mind a bow is just a form of greeting in Japan.
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What he wants is an excuse to whine. Facts and realities are not going to get in the way of that.
 
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