Obama’s Apology Tour is Making Headlines in Asia
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There are several noticeable differences between Obama and past American presidents. Recall his campaign for the U.S. presidency: Obama flew overseas to campaign. He campaigned to people who could not vote for him. Political analysts wondered if the growing rock-star and international darling image of Obama would actually hurt is support in the only country that really mattered to his campaign, the U.S. This unusual action reveals how Obama views himself.
The President has been very intentional with his words and his actions as to portray himself as a citizen of the world first and foremost, secondly as an American, and thirdly as the President of the United States. Obama believes his approach of showcasing American humility, international concern and focus, open-minded approaches, and portraying America as an equal to every other nation on earth will “enhance” America’s image that was so tainted under the Bush Administration, as claimed by the Obama Administration.
You could say Obama’s speeches and trips are really not as political as they are focused on the American image. It seems the U.S. Government has transformed into a marketing agency aimed at restoring their brand’s image.
The deliberate actions taken by the President on foreign travels have led some to call his trips the “Apology Tour” –referring to Obama’s tendency to apologize for past U.S. actions and downplay American power. In addition to his apologies and semi-apologies, Obama has made the point of portraying the U.S. as a country no longer holding a dominant position or willing to exercise power, as well as trying to portray Americans as internationally embracing as he and culturally diluted.
In Turkey in April of this year, President Obama announced to the world that “we [the U.S.] do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.” Again, reiterating that the U.S. is really a microcosm of the globe, and what was once perceived as American, is not anymore.
On that same tour through the Middle East, Obama found himself in a controversy when it appeared to U.S. citizens that their commander-in-chief had bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
Since Obama has been on his Asia tour, the same sentiment of lessened American prestige has been echoed.
Obama referred to himself as “America’s first Pacific President”, citing his time of living in Indonesia as a boy.
He also hailed the growing strength of Asian nations, including China, saying the U.S. would join alongside them.
“I want every American to know that we have a stake in the future of this region, because what happens here has a direct effect on our lives at home,” Obama said. “The fortunes of America and the Asia Pacific have become more closely linked than ever before.”
The President’s remark seems to hint subtly of American dependence on Asia. In reality, China does hold the majority of America’s debt.
Emperor Akihito of Japan
What captured the most attention, however, was the picture of President Obama clearly bowing to Japan’s Emperor Akihito.
“I don’t know why President Obama thought that was appropriate. Maybe he thought it would play well in Japan. But it’s not appropriate for an American president to bow to a foreign one,” said conservative pundit William Kristol speaking on the Fox News Sunday program, adding that the gesture bespoke a United States that has become weak and overly-deferential under Obama.
“I’ll bet if you look at pictures of world leaders over 20 years meeting the emperor in Japan, they don’t bow,” Kristol added.
Longtime Democratic activist Donna Brazile came to the president’s defense.
“I think it’s a gesture of kindness,” she told CNN, adding that the bow appeared intended to show “goodwill between two nations that respect each other.”
This makes the second Presidential bow to foreign leaders. This is clearly sending a targeted political message by the Obama Administration. What that message is, however, is debatable and depends on perspective.
TheAmericano/Agencies
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Unfortunately William Kristol is wrong when he says that its not appropriate for an American president to bow to a foreign leader, as nearly every president in US history has had an anecdote or two about them in which they gave a bow to someone, somewhere. George Washington himself would traditionally bow to everyone he greeted, foreign and American, out of a preference to not shake hands. There’s photos floating around the internet of presidents from both parties bowing to foreigners, including Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, Bush so on.