Gibbs Denies the Bow

As bizarre and disturbing as it was to see Barack Obama bow to Saudi King Abdallah, it is certainly true, as White House spokesman Robert Gibbs claimed today, that there are more important issues facing the country.

But how odd it is that the White House — first on background and now on the record — is denying that Obama did what he plainly did?

QUESTION: And then one unrelated question. When the president met with King Abdullah, there was something that took place which I believe the White House explained as just the president being taller than the king. We took a look at the video, and it does appear that the president actually bowed to King Abdullah. Did he bow or didn’t he?

GIBBS: No, I think he bent over with both to shake — with both hands to shake his hand, so I don’t…

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) one hand, that he — he was just…

GIBBS: Well I — I — I — this is…

QUESTION: Did he bow or didn’t he?

GIBBS: No, but I think this meeting was like a week ago, right?

QUESTION: That’s right, but this is something that a lot of people are still talking about today.

GIBBS: I can only imagine it is of great cause and concern for many people struggling with the economy.

With the media spending more time on Sarah Palin’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend, I suppose it is a good sign that someone in the White House press corps actually asked Gibbs why his boss genuflected to the Saudi ruler. But if this had been George W. Bush and Dana Perino would the White House get such a pass?

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