The American press largely ignored President Obama’s snub(s) of the British Prime Minister, but the British press certainly has not. In the latest development, the White House now says that the President was “too tired”:
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.
(Via LGF.)
Does the “too tired” excuse make even a bit of sense? Doesn’t the President of the United States have a staff to organize state visits by key foreign allies? A much better explanation is that Obama cannot “even fake an interest in foreign policy.” That sort of attitude does not go unnoticed by the political staff.
Also, President Obama is surprised at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk? What job did he think he was campaigning for? Other presidents have managed the workload without insulting our most important ally; why can’t Obama?
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