British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
by Frank James
The British media (all right, two newspapers, the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph) are upset on behalf of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, because of the gift the head of the British government received from President Barack Obama.
Either Obama sent someone to Borders or Best Buy to purchase a boxed DVD set of classic American movies or he was regifting.
Brown, meanwhile, gave Obama, some really smashing items one might expect in a relationship between nations that's often described as "special."
A Daily Mail excerpt:
As he headed back home from Washington, Gordon Brown must have rummaged through his party bag with disappointment.Because all he got was a set of DVDs. Barack Obama, the leader of the world's richest country, gave the Prime Minister a box set of 25 classic American films - a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks.
Mr Brown is not thought to be a film buff, and his reaction to the box set is unknown. But it didn't really compare to the thoughtful presents he had brought along with him.
The Prime Minister gave Mr Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet.The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that has sat in the Oval Office in the White House since 1880.
Mr Brown also handed over a framed commission for HMS Resolute and a first edition of the seven-volume biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.
In addition, Mr Brown and his wife showered gifts on the Obama children giving Sasha and Malia an outfit each from Topshop and six children's books by British authors which are shortly to be published in America.
In return, the Obamas gave the Browns two models of the presidential helicopter, Marine One, to take home to sons Fraser and John.
A quibble. The Oval Office didn't exist in 1880. It dates back to 1909 and the administration of William Howard Taft. So the Resolute Desk hasn't been in the Oval since 1880.
Obama clearly made out better on the gift front than Brown. But weren't we taught that it's not the gift but the thought that counts?
And we did give the British all that war materiel under Lend-Lease during the 1940s. That's got to count for something.
Of course, Obama's greatest supporters might say O himself is the gift.
Comments
Don't tell me you ran this to out scoop John (scoop) D?
I guess you can follow up on the western beavers migration habits.
Posted by: bill r. | March 6, 2009 2:58 PM
Obama's diplomatic ineptitude is simply breathtaking.
Hope and change, baby.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | March 6, 2009 3:00 PM
Yes, it is the thought that counts. Seems that there wasn't much thought on the Obama side, but what do you expect from people who think its all about them.
Posted by: vla | March 6, 2009 3:01 PM
Obama's diplomatic ineptitude is simply breathtaking.
Hope and change, baby.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | March 6, 2009 3:00 PM
Do you ever get diaper rash?
Posted by: bill r. | March 6, 2009 3:09 PM
"Smashing?"
"Quibble?"
Frank, have you gone native?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | March 6, 2009 3:10 PM
Get used to it Britain!
Bush and the Repuglicans went on a wild credit card spending spree the last eight years and tanked our economy. We can't afford the kind of gifts that Bush and Cheney were handing out anymore because we still haven't paid for them.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | March 6, 2009 3:24 PM
Vast Right Wing Conspirator, but I thought we wanted Europe to like us, we wanted a better reputation with those overseas? Wasn't that a big deal during the campaign to win the hearts and minds of the world. So his first act is to snub the Brits and hand over a cheesy gift. I'll bet those DVDs were regifted and that they weren't even new. Mrs. O probably got them off the shelf.
Posted by: vla | March 6, 2009 3:53 PM
No, your posts are "breathtaking" Vast Right Wing Idiot. And you guys are talking about tea parties... you know who that insults??
Posted by: mort | March 6, 2009 4:19 PM
Is there some anti-British sentiment coming from Obama due to Kenya's history as a British Colony? Some grudge there?
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I couldn't believe he shipped-back that bust of Churchill, and now this. Couldn't all be by accident.
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Sorry Mr Brown, I know you were a supporter of Obama, but else to expect? He'll use anyone, if you let him. But if you're no longer politically benefitial, Obama will treat you like yesterday's garbage
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This arrogant montebank now even approaches the press, who lick his posterior, with contempt... hectoring them with "don't waste your question" and telling them they've "got enough pictures".
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Just ask Khalidi, Ayers, Wright, Rezko, Blagojevich, or any other former ally he now treats like a leper.
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Rule #1 is Barack takes care of Barack... first and foremost... and he's really not what you'd call a nice guy.
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http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | March 6, 2009 4:22 PM
.........
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | March 6, 2009 4:22 PM
.......
Shouldn't you be off somewhere kissing your Ronny Raygun blow-up doll?
Posted by: Dean Victorino | March 6, 2009 4:47 PM
We can't afford fancy gifts now that Boy George Jr and Darth have finished raiding the US treasury for their rich big business cronies and their phony war.
No one likes the Repuglican party anymore, in fact the Congressional Republicans are less popular now than the Communist Chinese are:
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http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/2009/03/hu-jintao-or-sarah-palin.html
Posted by: Herding the Republican elephant off stage | March 6, 2009 4:54 PM
The President's gift was practitcal and cost-effective for the times. I'm glad he gave something that's entertaining, while being modern such as DVD's, something a real person would enjoy. Now as for disrespecting the Firt Lady, that was uncalled for, she's a self-educated successful mother, wife, and public figure for all women across the world. Let not your heart be harden by hatred simply because you can not dream to be half the woman that she is.
Posted by: Haitiana4Obama | March 6, 2009 5:01 PM
They should have gotten Brown something from Circuit City. It's closing on Sunday. I just got the new Ray Lamontagne cd for 3 bucks yesterday. It's twenty dollars at Borders.
Besides, those so-called smashing gifts were kind of lame as well.
Posted by: Rob | March 6, 2009 5:15 PM
RR Bruce has completely lost it. Not a peep about the former president that oversaw the collapse of the world economy, but a gift from O to the British P.M.?, that's something to freak about. Is it any wonder these knuckle-draggers are in the minority?
Posted by: dt☢ | March 6, 2009 5:22 PM
RR Bruce has completely lost it. Not a peep about the former president that oversaw the collapse of the world economy, but a gift from O to the British P.M.?, that's something to freak about. Is it any wonder these knuckle-draggers are in the minority?
Posted by: dt☢ | March 6, 2009 5:22 PM
"Is there some anti-British sentiment coming from Obama due to Kenya's history as a British Colony? Some grudge there? I couldn't believe he shipped-back that bust of Churchill, and now this."
Quite an imagination you have there reaganite history revisioner. A grudge because of Kenya?? You probably think Obama was born there, eh?
The Churchill bust was on loan to Bush; it was sent back went Bush left; not by Obama. You need to get a life.
Posted by: mort | March 6, 2009 5:43 PM
Darn it. I was hoping President Obama had said to PM Brown before giving the box set, "After 8 years of George Bush, this is all our nation can afford to give you". That would have been a hoot.....and true!
Posted by: KayInMaine | March 6, 2009 7:59 PM
Frank,
Or you could say that while we dithered, the British held off the most fearsome militaristic state in history....alone.
That counts for something too, hey?
Posted by: C.Morris✈ | March 6, 2009 9:17 PM
With all the billions that the Dems are putting us in more debt, I would think that Obama could afford something that is a little more appropriate.
I’m surprised to see so many comments supporting such a faux pas in diplomatic customs.
Posted by: Jay Kay | March 6, 2009 10:04 PM
Bill R.,
Please, give it a rest. We all know what you would be saying if the former occupant of the White House had committed an error of decorum like this. I know you're upset that your job application to the Obama White House hasn't yet landed you a spot in the administration, but trolling these boards as the great defender of every one of the current occupant's decisions is not likely to help your cause. I can't understand why you just can't be happy that your guy won the election and is implementing everything you've ever wanted. It's like Christmas for you, and your grousing, why, because the candy canes are not minty enough? There's only three inches of snow instead of a foot? The family is serving turkey and you wanted ham? Pretty sad, this obsession you have with the Righties.
Posted by: JB | March 7, 2009 12:41 AM
I wish people would stop saying Lend Lease was a gift, it was all paid back.
Posted by: PWH | March 7, 2009 7:00 AM
Photo capt contest:
Brown (thinking to self) "Just for that, you're getting a boxed set of HOUSE OF CARDS".
Posted by: ornery | March 7, 2009 10:12 AM
These are grown adults we're talking about here, right? Not children. Just so I'm certain...
Posted by: Mark F | March 7, 2009 5:29 PM
Cost effective gifts because of the economy???Well, what about Obama boarding Airforce almost daily and throwing expensive parties????? Yes, it is all about him...no class
Posted by: Beryl Jones | March 8, 2009 2:53 PM