Israeli TV newscasters Tuesday night interpreted a photo taken Monday in the Oval Office of President Obama talking on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an "insult" to Israel. They saw the incident as somewhat akin to an incident last year, when the Iraqi reporter threw a shoe at President Bush in Baghdad. It is considered an insult in the Arab world to show the sole of your shoe to someone. It is not a Jewish custom necessarily, but Israel feels enough a part of the Middle East after 60 years to be insulted too.
Digusting Presidential Manners
What's the definition of hypocrisy? http://tinyurl.com/a7grzq
110pct
Doesn't this sort of thing fall under the notion of being politcally incorrect? And isn't needing to constantly PC one of the things that piss you red types off? You make issues up just so you can make more issues up?
coach
Respect..give me a break. This man knows no such word!! After all...he believes he is the answer to the worlds problems.. Kum-by-ya..ya'll!
June Ochu
How disrespectful to the office of the President of the United States. No other President, Republican or Demorat would have done this to the position.
110pct
Ummm, you might think you're always right, but that's part of the problem...you just don't realize it yet...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/kskiska/BushFeetDesk.jpg
Fill
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/kskiska/BushFeetDesk.jpg
PRICELESS
u r a lier
Its a phony picture, doctored up.
Doctor this
From the Economist: http://tinyurl.com/a7grzq
110pct
Ummm, liar with an A for one thing, and doctored up? The truth is right in front of your face but still denial...who has the mental issues here?
4evaTrill
What???? So even if he's on the other side of the Globe, he's not supposed to sit in his own chair and kick his feet up because he's on the phone with someone from Isreal?? Ok.........that just goes to show how they often over-react to things. We need to Rethink our relationship with these people because of this. They are getting out of control. Offended because of this picture?? Let's be Real!!
did you hear
Aides: Netanyahu 'Likely' To Endorse Palestinian State.
Must not be too insulted.
Estrangeiro
Hey another left wing nut job like myself!! Yeah!! Where are you locked up at. I'm in Bellevue. Wish I could get my meds!! Guard? Guard?
k2
Those who should really be insulted is the Americans who have stood by Israel forever and now get this annoying press over a picture of our President. And... when did Israel become Arabs?
truth
then tell to act like a president his feet belong on the floor not on a desk or table
Give it a rest why don't you
Check this president: http://tinyurl.com/a7grzq
NWLeftie
What?! You must be joking! This is a headline while there is still little to no coverage of yesterday's shooter? You people are f'd up!
My Mission
If you want to see MSM report on the shooter that dates back to the 1980’s---You won’t see it here! But, if you want to gobble up the MSM propaganda on why it’s tied to conservatives, than move on to Huff post and take your hate with you! As always, I give ACORN the finger.
NWLeftie
The shooter that dates back to the 1980's is not important? Now what kind of logic is that? Hater? Why am I a hater? I said nothing that could be taken as "hate." Please elaborate.
cappietilist
Here's the thing:
1) If he knew and put his feet up on purpose (which I believe is the case) then he he "spitting in Israel's face".
2) If he did not realize the photo would insult the Israelis then he is not worldly enough to hold the position.
3) The solution: SIT UP STRAIGHT WHEN YOU TALK TO ANOTHER COUNTRY'S LEADER. SHOW SOME RESPECT!
simon
I did not read the story that went with the picture.It is not as important to me as this "man" sitting in the highest office in the land with his feet on the desk.What did his mother teach him about respect? Dem or Rep,you don't put your feet on the desk! Period!!! This picture is going on my frig and my family will again get the message from mom about respect.And you are right,sit up straight and show your respect.My B/P went sky high this morning and will be there all day.This is not about shoes but the character of our President who is not setting a good example to his daughters,and how he handles himself to the world.You can not have respect for other people,places and things if you don't have respect for yourself first.
BHO
It's good to be KING....
Knoxvkid
IT doesn't matter about his shoes in this country. There are more important issues than that.
It was a gas can with a match
The soles of your shoes are the equivalent of giving the finger thoughout the Middle East with a gas can and a match. The Prez knows foreign cultural insults and he knows when he's being photographed. He knew. It's important. We expect smarter and better from the White House. Grow some common sense.
Bob
The election of BHO just shows how ignorant our country has become.
itsaboy
Agreed. I knew the country was lost when I saw the lines of strange looking people lined up at the mall to vote; obviously, having never voted before because they had no neighborhood voting station. Disgusting.
foxgirl
Someone please give this man an etiquette book, or a diplomacy manual, and another on how not to show weakness to dictators so that Americans don't get nuked, oh, and how not to ruin the economy any further.
f
Hey give the dem's a break. they have come a long way from Adeli Stevenson. (if your old enough you will get it. if not your young and know how to google.)
Rollo
This is an OUTRAGE! He should be IMPEACHED! I'm OUTRAGED!!!
k2
Those who should really be insulted is the Americans who have stood by Israel forever and now get this annoying press over a picture of our President. He didn't show anyone the sole of his shoe, they were on the phone! And when did Israel become Arabs?
ronnie
he sit's on the toilet when he's speaking to the german prime minister
Teddy
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/kskiska/BushFeetDesk.jpg
You are all stupid.
Bring it on
Teddy, stop eating and pull your head out of that bucket of sh^t you're living in long enough to get a real grasp of what's going on with the country. If you have any intelligence at all, which is in doubt, you will see it is not as you perceive it to be. When finished crawl back into your acorn hole.
INDIANA
IT'S NOT THE FEET ON THE DECK, IT WAS WHO HE'S TALKING TO WITH HIS FEET ON THE DECK. DISRESPECTFUL....... ALSO, STOP CALLING PEOPLE STUPID. IT MAKES YOU SOUND IMMATURE.
grizzly
how do you know who bush is talking to in that picture?
david
Good god, you right-wingers are insane.
John The Barber
I used to peruse the left-wing sites when Bush was in office. Compared to what I saw, these right-wingers are very, very tame. You don't know insane until you have spent a couple of years looking at lefty blogs.
cappietilist
Whereas you are just IGNORANT.
Beth A
In the Middle East, this is one of the worst possible insults -- showing the bottom of the foot. With his background, he knows it, and you bet this was deliberate. He's insulting anyone and everyone who sees this photo.
Arrogant.
Been There
Official White House photos are captioned and cleared through channels before being released. The meaning is not lost on the Arabs or on the Jews in Israel. And by the way, not all citizens of Israel are Jews. Some are Arabs.
John Stuart Mill
Yes, he knew Netanyahu would be able to see the soles of his feet right over the phone.
Apparently, though, he didn't know that the Jews are not Arabs and so would not take offense at his cleverly calculated faux pas.
Demosthenes
@John- Please go somewhere else to do your "post-doc". Your stupidity is showing again!!
Teddy
Well he's not in the Middle East, he's an American in his office in America so why should he have to follow Middle Eastern customs? You're dumb.
Scottish Woman
He seems to go to great lengths respecting customs of Arab leaders in other parts of the Middle East region.
rocky12000
Clearly ignorance is on your side
Jill
Why don't you just focus on running this country, its in terrible shape....oh yeah, thats right......you already did that!
Non- Issue
As an Independent who voted for McCain, I believe this is a non-issue. Everyone knew he had no experience whne they voted for him. Should BO learn to be more culturally sensitive, maybe. But he has far more pressing problems he needs to be concentrating on besides having his feet on a desk. Like figuring out how we are ever going to pay back the over 10 trillion in debt he spent, how to run government motors, how to reduce unemployment from 9.4% after spending billions in stimulus money. But it wouldn't hurt if he had both feet planted firmly on the ground.
foxgirl
HIs main concern is to be popular and liked. He could care less if our Kids and Grandkids have to pay this off. His family will have plenty of money to live on, no matter where he lets the chips fall. They could even go live in Kenya and live like Kings, so he really doesn't care where the chips fall as long as his ratings continue to be high.
God Bless Israel
I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:14-15)
Robert "Doc" Laity
Amen and Shalom!
Rebekah
I apologize to Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who deserves our highest respect! "God take care of them".... because America no longer will.