# Does it look like President Obama bowed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 9, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529 "2009-04-09T17:15:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529/81 "2009-04-13T20:13:20Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > As it is, it’s like he’s running around the world with a “Kick me” sign on his back. No, it’s people like you who are painting “Kick Me” on his back as part of a political agenda- you’d rather he fail so that it looks like \*your \*side won. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529/82 "2009-04-13T20:26:44Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If that was a bow it was the worst bow I’ve ever seen. He didn’t look like he was bowing, he looked like he was trying to find something he’d dropped on the floor. Yes that was my impression also. I don’t think the bowing gesture was intended as one. What it was I am not sure. If Obama had intended to bow, it wouldn’t have been nearly as deep. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529/83 "2009-04-13T20:31:29Z")
> [@Lightnin'](#): > > No, it’s people like you who are painting “Kick Me” on his back as part of a political agenda- you’d rather he fail so that it looks like your side won. You couldn’t be more wrong. There are elements within the conservative population who are deliberately trying to paint him that way for political purposes, but they are not me. I have thus far been relatively benign in my posts about Obama, and it has been my hope…and I’ve said so here several times going back to the primaries…that he would truly be a uniter and good for the country, and that he would govern effectively (and more to the center once in office). And despite the fact that I am pretty unhappy about the stimulous package (and the way it was handled, i.e., foisted upon us) and his difficulties coming up with cabinet members that can pass scrutiny, I have continued to do so. But given the way he and his secretary of state have been running around projecting a “we’re not worthy” image of the U.S., and the protocol gaffes he’s been making with foreign leaders, it’s getting harder and harder for me to do so. Still, by the time I was in junior high school I had observed that it was obvious that you don’t gain respect by being obsequious. My feeling that he’s been running around with a “Kick me” sign on his back is utterly genuine and based upon that foundatioin. My guess is that many foreign leaders are coming to regard him as being out of his league, and I’m genuinely sorry to say that I’m coming to feel the same way. It’s always possible, and perhaps even likely, that he will turn that around and I sincerely hope that he does. But for now I’m much more surprised and disappointed in him than I expected to be. And **lalenin** , this forum is for honest opinions, and that is what I’m giving. Perhaps you meant ‘OP’ rather than forum, and in that case I would point out that many of us have been discussing sidebar issues related to the bow and it isn’t at all unusual for threads to meander into sidebar issues not strictly answering just the OP. In fact, I’d say it’s the norm. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529/84 "2009-04-14T00:18:45Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Do gestures have any meaning beyond what people perceive them to have? Well, yes. And no. The gesture has meaning to the two people involved, moreso than the bunch of folks who really know nothing of such matters. Just the fact that people think that heads of state, whom have great understanding of what it takes to lead even a fledgling country, let alone a ‘super power’, would subtract points of respect based on a bow, leads me to believe that the perceptions of the ‘people’ are way off of the reality of the situation. Like I said before, these kinds of rules and gestures are meant as a guide for those that want to appear respected to the people. Sort of like the Pharisees, putting on pomp and airs to gain respect from the people, while a man like Jesus rode a donkey and hung out with the tax collectors.\* But, hey, I believe he bowed, and meant to. \*_Triple fucking score for the messiah/Obama reference!_ ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529/85 "2009-04-14T01:12:58Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > You couldn’t be more wrong. There are elements within the conservative population who are deliberately trying to paint him that way for political purposes, but they are not me. I have a great deal of difficulty believing that. > [@Starving Artist](#): > > and his difficulties coming up with cabinet members that can pass scrutiny, You mean most of them? Nobody said shit about Shinseki, Napolitano, Chu, LaHood, Donovan, Salazar, Locke, Vilsack, or Duncan. > [@Starving Artist](#): > > Still, by the time I was in junior high school I had observed that it was obvious that you don’t gain respect by being obsequious. Yes, being arrogant and dismissive is much better than being respectful. I don’t think bowing counts as being obsequious. > [@Starving Artist](#): > > (I refer to Hillary declaring that Mexico’s criminal drug problem is largely our fault because we have so many addicts, and that their gun problem is largely our fault because we have so many guns that can be smuggled in, etc.) That’s not what she said. > [@Starving Artist](#): > > I can only imagine the reaction around here had Bush or Reagan made such a gesture to the leader of such a misogynistic country As I recall, nobody said much of anything when Bush kissed the prince. > [@Starving Artist](#): > > He needs to show strength and honesty and shrewdness, and he needs to develop a track record of having made the right choices and governing in an effective and honorable way. And to everyone who isn’t a conservative Republican, that’s exactly what he’s doing. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529/86 "2009-04-15T01:09:28Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > My take? He DID bow, he shouldn’t have, and somebody on his staff who knows the protocol should have told him firmly (and privately) “Sir, don’t do that again.” > > Presumably, he DOES know that now, and won’t do it again. Not THAT big a story here. I’m ready to forget it and move on, even if some of my friends on the Right aren’t. I entirely agree. Ours is a republic established, in large part, because of our rejection of the divine right of kings. There are several "don’t"s that all American leaders should know: - don’t dip the American flag to any foreign potentate (see any Olympic opening ceremony) - don’t serve pork to the Israeli prime minister - don’t bow to any foreign king or queen Now Obama knows. I doubt he’ll be doing it again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-look-like-president-obama-bowed/492529.md?page=4)