Arrogance on Display
Watch this video of U.S. President George W. Bush’s reception at the G20 talks on the global economic crisis. As you will see, Bush was ignored by every other leader, including Gordon Brown (Britain) and Angela Merkel (Germany). He walked with his head down, ignoring most, no one shook his hand or welcomed him to the meeting.
Although there has been some talk on mostly progressive blogs about this action, some making fun of it, others finding it ’sad’ that this has happened to ‘America,’ I’d like to offer a slightly different perspective. That from a European:
Whether they personally like him or not, Bush was elected by the American people. Twice. They may not like him very much, but he represents his country and his people. Even if you don’t respect the man himself, at least respect his country and his office.
Instead, these leaders (most of whom Europeans) acted like spoiled brats, coming from rich families, who were educated at the best private schools and then got a degree from the best universities in the world (which describes most of them quite well incidentally), who do not want to ‘mingle with common folk’ like Bush. European leaders have always considered Bush a retard – a true American cowboy and ‘new money’ – but were afraid to show their disrespect because of his power. Now that he will almost step down, however, they suddenly feel it is perfectly OK to ‘put him back in his place.’ They are basically telling him to go to the kitchen where he can eat with the other servants while the elite eat in the gorgeous dining room.
Some may call this ’sad,’ believing that Bush deserves such treatment. It is sad, indeed. But for an entirely different reason; because it shows what kind of people these G20 leaders are. One hopes that especially the Europeans among the group will be shunned in a similar way once. Lord knows quite some of them deserve it, especially Gordon Brown who brought his country to the brink of economic collapse – far worse than America’s situation.
I don’t feel the need to defend Bush, but honestly I would like to see some context to this video before jumping to conclusions. There could be other explanations.
For example, since the conference was hosted in Washington, it’s possible Bush had already greeted all of the guests, both the other guests had not had the chance to greet each other. It’s also not quite accurate to say everyone was shaking hands with everyone. Clearly not everyone did (otherwise the staging would have taken a lot longer), and perhaps it was not even supposed to be part of the photo-op.
I’m not saying your wrong, but I just think this video is too short to know for sure. Honestly it’s hard to believe that world leaders would purposely snub him like that, even if they didn’t like him.
Mike, I hear you, but your take is nonsense.
The only context you need is the other leaders going through the line. All politicians know they’re being filmed. Why only shake hands once, just because a little while ago you already did it? That’s preposterous.
These leaders shmooze all the time, relentlessly, that’s what glad handing means. To say Bush used up his handshake quota for the day is just laughable.
I suppose by your reasoning all the others in the receiving line hadn’t already shook hands that day/week/occassion? Give me a BREAK!
For no other reason than they all know this is a historic occassion, all these leaders on such an important topic – they should give Bush the respect his office deserves.
Think about it – Bush is a ‘bully’ so they won’t shake his hand? Wtf? What country doesn’t throw its weight around? Are those who support this snub actually trying to portray Bush as the only leader with sharp elbows, that the rest of the richest countries in the world, the G20, humble little fellows that are scared of the prez?
They’re ALL arrogant, elitists. They’re the most powerful people in the world, how did they get to their station, by begging?
No, they should’ve shook Bush’s hand, period. What they did was a disgrace, for all the aristocratic bullshit about civilitas and nobility, they were petulant children, and Bush was the greater of them.
That’s why Americans despise aristocracy – because they aren’t an elite. They just have money and some title. But the content of their character is there in the video for all to see. True nobility is manifested in character and behavior, not tacked-on, ascribed categories. No class, at all.
And I HATE Bush!
Joe G at TMV has this valid point, the reaction from Euro leaders could be to avoid a ‘bully’ beaten by a new kid on the block – Obama.
Really? Bush is part of the ‘common folk’? He didn’t go to the pest private schools and did not graduate from one of the best universities in the world? Just because he wears the hat doesn’t mean that’s who he is. They know that and so should you.
Notice also that the greetings almost all seem to be initiated by the people walking in. They look up to the person standing on stage and offer their hand first. Bush looked at his feet except on two occasions and did not offer his hand to anyone. I think people are reading their own prejudices into the video.
Gregwills: of course he did. But he’s not one of them (old money). He’s new money and, above all, American new money. His family was a nobody in Europe, became rich and prominent in the U.S. He behaves like a cowboy, a rogue American. He’s not one of the cognac sipping, Plato reading ‘old European rich.’
Michael,
The Bush family was not particularly wealthy until late in the 19th century so their money is not as old as some European money, but neither is the money of many he was sharing the stage with. For examples neither Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel come from old money. Both are the children of pastors and neither went to as prestigious a high school or university as Bush. Neither of their families was wealthy and they certainly weren’t from old money. They are in fact self made and so from newer money, less prestigious families, and are definitely not from the cognac sipping old European rich. Merkel was from East Germany where that did not even exist outside of party bosses, which her parents were not. I think you are reading far more into this than there is.
Again watch the video closely. The greetings were almost universally initiated by the entering party. The entering party looked up and reached out. Bush was staring at his feet. If I wanted to read something into it, it would be that Bush didn’t really want to be there and was maybe being a bit glum. He did look up at Gordon Brown but did not reach out. I doubt Brown (or any of them) would have left him hanging if he had made the first move as others before and after him did.
magoo,
I knew my response would be looked upon as “nonsense” by some. In my defense I noted that it was just one possibility, and I’m not saying that those who think otherwise are wrong, just that we can’t be sure.
If you were hosting a party at your house, and greeted everyone as they entered. As people are mingling later, they might greet each other if they hadn’t seen each other before that night. But you wouldn’t go up to people who had already greeted and greet them again. Not that you would consciously avoid them. It’s just a social thing. It’s not a matter of “using up” your greetings.
Now, I know the comparison isn’t completely valid. A world summit certainly isn’t a house party. And Bush should have realized it would look bad if he didn’t shake hands. But I stand by my statement that 10 seconds of video is not enough context to know what was going on the minds of the poeple on the stage. If you showed me multiple pieces of videos with multiple groups of people going out of their way to avoid him, that would be different.
I just have a feeling if you asked any world leaders about this, they would probably have no idea what you were talking about. I think they have more important things to think about then plotting not to shake Bush’s hand.
Anyway, I’m sure some still think I’m just in the tank for Bush, so I’ll move on.
Redemption: http://donklephant.com/2008/11/21/bushs-handshake-snub-wasnt-a-snub-at-all/
I hope the blogosphere takes this opportunity to remind itself of the virtue of skepticism. I doubt it.
and Mike got it right on the first try.
I’m sure the update will follow soon.