I heard alot of buzz about this picture, but I thought it was probably just the fringe kooks trying to say that the president had "bowed in submission" to the Saudi King. But then I saw this picture. And then I saw the video. And then I heard the president's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, try to expain it away.This is the President of the United States bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia! In the Middle East this is seen as an acknowledgement that one is superior to the other. The president didn't do this for Queen Elizabeth II earlier in the week, nor did he bow to any other foreign leader he met with. Only the Saudi King. And that's not a nod of the head, either. That's a full blown bow of submission. Unbelievable.
I wouldn't be this upset if they just acknowledged it from the White House Press room. But no, Gibbs had to dance around it when asked by reporters. He clearly had no explanation. Did the president see something shiny on the floor? Was there a child peeking out from under the kings robe? No. Here is the official expanation from Gibbs...
"The president did not bow to the king. He was just doing a double handshake to a smaller guy."
Now that pisses me off.
