Barack Obama ‘too tired’ to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown
Telegraph.co.uk
Barack Obama’s offhand approach to Gordon Brown’s Washington visit last week came about because the president was facing exhaustion over America’s economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.
Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been “overwhelmed” by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.
British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister.
But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama’s inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.
Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president’s surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.
A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama’s inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to “even fake an interest in foreign policy”.
A British official conceded that the furore surrounding the apparent snub to Mr Brown had come as a shock to the White House. “I think it’s right to say that their focus is elsewhere, on domestic affairs. A number of our US interlocutors said they couldn’t quite understand the British concerns and didn’t get what that was all about.”
The American source said: “Obama is overwhelmed. There is a zero sum tension between his ability to attend to the economic issues and his ability to be a proactive sculptor of the national security agenda.
A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama’s inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to “even fake an interest in foreign policy”.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
Never send a Community Organizer to do a President’s job!
Obama is an embarrassment. This isn’t about being tired, too many hours, or anything else except an effort to show disrespect to England.
Ubanga’s philosophy is: Get America on the fast track to communism and the rest of the world will take care of itself.
President Reagan could have run this guys butt into the ground at twice his age. Obama on the other hand spends his evening wining and dining with celebrities, and he spends his days whining about everything else
With all the vacations this guy takes how could he be tired?
Does this mean that obama is too tired to have his Wednesday night parties at the White House?
It’s called Gravitas Gordon, I do recall that with a stiff upper lip you Brits lauded our first Afrikan-Amerikan president. How do you like the black fox now? Tally Ho you communist wanker!!!
Perhaps Dear Leader still harbors resentment toward Britain over “mistreatment” of his grandfather, one of the founders of the Mau-Mau in Kenya some 60 years ago. This adds to the list of insults to the U.K. not limited to: unceremoniusly returning the bust of Churchill that had been on display in the White House, presenting P.M. Brown a collection of DVDs that will not play in a UK DVD player,and presenting the Queen an I-POD loaded with the Dear Leader’s speeches. The “Citizen of the World” has his heart somewhere but not where Anglo-American and Judeo-Christian values live. I am no Gordon Brown acolyte but this is not good. And you ask why the world STILL does not like us….
Willy has that right. He’s been disrespecting the British since he’s gotten in office.
He’s been dissing our last great Ally. To the point of dissention. The whole world thinks obama’s a putz and we are down to one friend and he’s pissing down Britains back and telling PM Brown its raining.
C’mon November.
I wonder how many (if any) other presidents bypassed protocol because they were too tired. I’ve never seen a president that whines so much, it’s like having little kid in the white house. What did you think this job was going to be “sit on your throne all day and shout out orders to your serfs?” C’mon, man up a little bit… grow a pair!
Mr Happy, LOL good point and true too.
Tom, hahaha it should, like as a kid to be told, if too sick to go to school then how can the child feel good enough to play outside that day. Obama is so full of himself. grrrrrrrr
Jack, heh heh they did too, oh how wonderful, oh the best thing to ever happen BS from them.
Willy, I bet there is that in his head too, like you said. Obama is loaded with so much resentment for so many things and he shows us so much how he wants to get even with each thing in his sick head. Like hsi hate for our Constitution too, he proves it in his agenda how he wants it gone, not paid attention too, ignored etc.
BobF., yes he sure has. The thing that gets me too, is there is a procedure that is to be followed for heads of State and Obama has yet to respect that as well, He is such a low life, no class thug. NO thug would be a higher form then Obama is, he is worse.
Mark,your right, oh man oh man it is horrible. Yes November cannnot arrive fast enough. Then the next election too and kick his ugly butt out of there. I wish we could kick him out of our country.
RAC, ditto all you said. I don’t remember any other president doing such a thing either.