(photo from Journal Scene)
This is a very curious if not troubling act by President Obama. The bust of Churchill, one of the greatest statesman and wartime leaders in human history, which was given to President Bush by PM Blair following the September 11 attacks and where it sat in the Oval Office proudly among other bust of great men, was formally handed back. British officials insisted that he hang on to the gift as a reminder of the “special relationship” that exists between the U.S. and Great Britain, but the response was ”Thanks, but no thanks.”
Winston Churchill is an American icon who is respected and revered arguably more here in the U.S. than in the U.K. So, certainly there is some uneasiness to President Obama’s brash decision to send Churchill packing. Now, a bust of President Lincoln sits in the Oval Office where Churchill bust once sat. Everyone in the world is now well aware of that Lincoln is Obama’s hero so that part doesn’t exactly come as a surprise.
As for Churchill is there any possible motive to the shun?
Churchill has less happy connotations for Mr Obama than those American politicians who celebrate his wartime leadership. It was during Churchill’s second premiership that Britain suppressed Kenya’s Mau Mau rebellion. Among Kenyans allegedly tortured by the colonial regime included one Hussein Onyango Obama, the President’s grandfather.
The rejection of the bust has left some British officials nervously reading the runes to see how much influence the UK can wield with the new regime in Washington. (Telegraph UK)
Apparently, President Obama has taken his Kenyan roots (if that is the case that would be a stretch considering he never lived there, nor kept up with is family there, and has lived a wonderful American life) over his role as President of the United States as the guarantor of the alliance between the U.S. and Great Britain. In the same breathe, this will hardly hinder the relationship between the two nations, but does reveal Obama’s anti-anglo-old-ways-establishment-view that he clearly talks about in his books and listened to during church services. I hate to stir the coals with the un-American and un-patriotic rants, but this act seems so very…un-American, strange, and unbecoming of a U.S. President when one considers the weight and history behind that connection, which is best symbolized by Sir Winston Churchill.
Nile Gardiner director of Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom had this to say:
Obama’s surprise decision to send Churchill home is both wrong-headed and crassly insensitive towards America’s closest ally, coming at a time when nearly 9,000 British troops are fighting alongside their American counterparts in Afghanistan. With good reason, there are growing doubts in the UK over the new President’s commitment to the Special Relationship. The President has never even mentioned the Anglo-American alliance in a major policy speech, and has little affinity for Britain.
The Special Relationship is vital to American and British interests on many levels, from military, diplomatic, and intelligence cooperation to transatlantic trading ties. If President Obama does not invest in its preservation, the end result will be a weaker United States that is less able to stand up to terrorism and tyranny, and project power and influence on the world stage.
Here is a list that Will Inboden has thrown together advising PM Brown not to bring with him to replace Churchill.
We can hope that Brown will present a bust of an inspiring notable such as a Thatcher, Lloyd George, Gladstone, or Disraeli. But then Brown has not distinguished himself as very politically adroit or attuned to the ingredients of greatness. And he does have at least a few bad options to consider. Here are three former British prime ministers whom I hope Brown will not present to Obama for display in the Oval Office:
1. Jim Callaghan, the British Jimmy Carter, who presided over the disastrous recession, stagflation, labor strife, and all-around misery of the late 1970s, and whose failure to undertake the needed free market reforms paved the way for Thatcher’s rise to power.
2. Lord Frederick North, who led the way in raising taxes on the American people. Yes, on Americans. Lord North governed from 1770-1782.
3. And of course, Neville Chamberlain, who made good on his promise to engage in dialogue without preconditions with the foremost tyrant of the day.
I suppose the reader can make his or her own judgements by President Obama’s prerogative to send the bust back to its rightful owners. Of course, President Obama has not released any sort of statement on the issue so any motive is speculative.
Why are you surprised. He told America that he was going to bring change to Washington. There is not wondering about his motives. Mao Obama just opened the window ever so slightly to reveal a little of his world view and his not so well kept secret of disdain for White History and Order.
You hit on that when you referred to his book and if I had it with me I can give you paragraph and page number in which he said so.
Expect more to come ladies and gentlemen. You asked for it…
Sean, you certainly didn’t mince your words. I don’t own nor have I ever read his books other than excerpts provided by those who have.
However, coming strictly from me, I’m at a lost and still cannot see any good reason for him to return the bust. I still think it was a disrespectful action and a politically stupid gesture.
How many white generations have to blamed for the increasing lack of world order, Sean?
This unamerican moron is ruining our Country faster tan anyone could possibly have ever imagined. This idiot is no more qualified to be President than Miss Piggy!!
May God have mercy on the USA!
Good morning…
I am truly appalled that Obama would return the bust of Winston Churchill. I just cannot understand if he did not want the bust in the Oval Office, why didn’t he just remove it but not return it.
Another thing that concerns me is why has this been such a secret situation? The article is dated February 23, 2009, and today, March 5, 2009, I just heard this, in passing, from some journalist.
I am 72 years old, contributed four times to Obama’s campaign, which I had never done for any candidate, and of course, voted for him. I think I am way too old to be disappointed so badly.
Heffelfinger
Heffelfinger,
I don’t believe you are the only Obama supporter who is growing disappointed. It seems there are few more everyday who regret their choice.
I happen to know someone in my immediate family who feels the same way.
Britain is MORE than just a another country, another friendly neighbor,another ally, another trading partner. The U.S shares a common language, laws, literature, on & on. We are a part of them and they a part of us. Winston Churchill himself was half American (his mother was American) Mr. Barack HUSSEIN Obama is starting to show his true colors. To return a gift as he has done is a deliberate slap in the face.
I really can’t make heads or tales of this. It is obviosly a curious act. One that can’t be taken as beneficial or charmping on the parts of the Brits. Personally, I think this was an overt move to send some kind of “anti” signal as the author of the post pointed out.
If you read how PM Brown was treated during his recent visit, the dots start coming together clearly.
Very strange to say the least…
Britain out to be ashamed of putting up statues to one of the worst war criminals in history.
Heffelfinger, glad you and others are “seeing the light.”
If you truly repent and leave the cult of Obama and join those of us who understand that he is evil, we will forgive you and welcome you in the fight to save this country.
This man is pure evil and seeks to destroy this country!
This action is a tiny glimmer of things to come. Why he couldn’t just have someone store the bust in one of the MANY closets of the Whitehouse so that it would be available for the next president to proudly display is beyond my understanding. Perhaps he never intends to leave the office of POTUS, therefore feels the WH is HIS house and doesn’t want the “offending object” in HIS HOUSE!
To those in the UK who are reading this article. I’m sorry we have such a JERK as pres. Please bear with us for the next 4 years! Some of us did NOT vote for him!
To will not be assimilated…
Please understand that I am certainly not nearly as radical as you appear to be! I certainly do not think this man is evil. I do think that ALL politicians, including Republicans, are corrupt. Thus, that is the reason I am not longer interested in politics in any manner. I voted for the last time when I voted in November, 2008.
You state…’If you truly repent and leave the cult of Obama, etc., etc., I think you should read this again. I truly think you are over the top and full of hatred!
Heffelfinger
Even as an American, I have always considered Sir Winston to be one of my heros.
Obama is not now nor will he ever be 1/1000 of the man or the statesman that Winston Churchill was.
My embarassement over this to Britian in general and my British friends in particular is mitigated only by knowing that WSC did not deserve to be required to spend time in the same room with Obama. I have to think the great man might be happer.
Mike Mc
Sorry. I meant to write “Britain *ought*…”.
Churchill was a barbaric warmonger who managed to destroy the British empire, which perhaps is not a motive for complaints. However he also destroyed most of Europe in the process, and that is unforgivable.
Pafunz,
What on earth are you talking about? You’re going to have to do better than that. Are you trying to make a case or just thinking out loud?
Tell us exactly what you mean by all of that.
Hello again…
Tell me please, since the bust of Sir Winston Churchill was not given to Obama, is it really Obama’s to return to the UK? I personally do not think so!
Regards,
Heffelfinger
I can’t believe the sheer amount of foreign policy blunders that went on this past week. From the letter to Russia asking “please play nice”, returning the bust of Churchill and then giving Brown a crappy set of DVDs. Like Brown could not have just purchased the DVDs if he wanted to at anytime.
I did a post on my blog about it too.
http://www.the6packeconomist.com/2009/03/08/foreign-policy-blunders/
Unfortunately I do not believe that Obama understands that the worst thing to be in this world is not disliked but to be seen as weak and inept. And this past week as shown both.
I added your blog to my link section. My four readers may now come to your website too.
Heffelfinger,
It kind of was Obama’s to return because it was given to President Bush Jr. on loan for the remainder of his presidency, so when his term was up the loan was up. However, when Obama took office the U.K. offered to extend the loan for his presidency. This is when he supposedly snubbed them and said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Hillary should have been the nominee, she has more sense and experience and is a lot smarter. Obama is showing his true colors, and he seems to have no sense of curtesy or displomacy at all. Oh wait, he does, he wants to make friends with the Taliban.
Speaking from UK the significance seems to have been played down and not had much press coverage. This has been a lot of good will here for Obama and the press coverage is positive. He is a symbol of hope.
Here is my personal view:
I am very disappointed, therefore, that he wants to squander this for what seems to be a purely personal grudge. Great men do not, usually, overtly harbour grudges. He will argue, no doubt, that he wants to draw a line under the Bush / Blair relationship. But there are better ways to do this. Action, after all, speaks louder than words. And therein lies the problem. We see very little action from Obama. Like Blair, he seems to be all image and no substance. Ironically it is Hilary Clinton who seems to be actually doing things.
Maybe the democrats made the wrong choice?
Indeed a bust of Lord North would be a mistake – his forehead bulged, his nose was huge and together they made up for a lack of chin.
Apparently at the opera one evening he was sitted next to the king who asked him the “name of the remarkably plain woman” in the box opposite.
“She is my wife” was the reply.
And to cover his embarassment the king replied “no, of course I don’t mean your wife. I am referring to lady she talking to”.
“That sir, is my daughter. We are widely considered to be the three ugliest people in London!”
Julien, thanks for the comments.
As for the Democrats making the wrong choice, I think it is bigger than that, America made the wrong choice. But all the factors and history were on the side of Democrats. So far, all the “hope” and “change” have been just words and Obama’s era that was supposed to offer heaven on earth has only resulted in a resounding thud after it crashed back down to earth.
Special K,
I couldn’t help but notice some spin and justification. The truth is, that is not now how gifts work at that level. Why do you think the White House is full of gifts from leaders all around the world from different times in history? If each incoming president gave back what the outgoing president received there wouldn’t be anything in the WH.
It wasn’t as simple as merely returning a gift that wasn’t his. It is not like the renter before him left a valuable gift behind in a apartment he now rents.
The act was unprecedented and should not have occurred.
Wasn’t trying to spin, I agree with you. Sorry, I guess it did sound that way though. I was just trying to tell Heffelfinger what the history of the bust was.
Following is a link to a current law suit questioning Obama’s birthplace and citizenship. Under item 72, it reads: Obama’s father, Barack Obama, Sr., at the time of his birth was a British subject/citizen subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, and would have handed down British citizenship to his his son, Obama.
This could be a reason why Obama wants to distance himself from the United Kingdom. He may be afraid that someone there would be able to do what no one else has — to finally be able to uncover the fact that he is a British citiizen. That would be political justice at its finest.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/11317148/
This is a tremendous mistake. And it exposes him for the petty little spoiled brat that he is.
Mitzi,
I couldn’t agree more. And I like the way you put it.
Mike
Thats an ugly ass bust, and I wouldn’t want it either. Should have just chucked it and played dumb when asked where it is.
Obama is doing a great job,and none of you could do any better.
Adam,
Thanks for the keen insight and I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that your objectivity and perspective brought a touch of class to the discussion.
The UK tortured Obama’s Grandpappy (that happened while Churchill was PM). With that in consideration I think his response to the UK was most restrained.
It’s not like he declared war on the UK like his predecessor did on a country who had tried to hurt his father. The UK actually DID hurt Obama’s Grandfather. Therefore there is more justification for Obama to go to war with Britain than there ever was for Bush to go to war with Iraq.
Oh, here is another thing that you either done know about, don’t care, about, or actually cheer about regarding Churchill.
It is about the Bengali Famine. Around three million people died from starvation and malnutrition during the period. But when in response to an urgent request by the Secretary of State for India, Leo Amery, and Wavell to release food stocks for India, Churchill responded with a telegram to Wavell asking, if food was so scarce, “why Gandhi hadn’t died yet.”
But I am sure such indifference to the lives of Millions doesn’t change your opinion about the man. Heck, I am sure you cheered when heard about the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004.
Considered it a Christmas gift one day late didn’t you!
Look— Obama should have put the bust in a museum, (as was suggested to him by British officials) if he didn’t want it in his office, instead of stamping his little feet, “I don’t WAAAANT IT! Take it back!” “WAHHHHH!”
At such a dangerous time in history, this is about our good relations with the UK, not about his personal feelings about one man.
Knowing the importance of our relations with the UK, he should have put his personal feelings aside. This is what a president does; this is what a leader does; this is what a mature person does.
Very telling—this presidency will be all about what he wants and his personal feelings about issues—not what is best for this country.
Let’s face it, Churchill was a war-mongering, racist alcoholic. Why would anyone want his “bust” in the White House except Dumbya, the WORST president in US history. President Obama was right to send Churchill back where he came from. Case closed.
Our “president” received a pen set made from the wood of the HMS Resolute. He returned a silly basket of DVDs. Our “first lady” received custom made designer dresses for their two children. She returned a couple cheap plastic hobby models. Returning the honorable gift of the Churchill bust clearly shows how our leadership drops to new depths of ignorance and arrogance with each election. Once again, the US citizens must endure another term of primitive mentality. A president is merely a tiny blip in time for our nation. How dare he dispense with our national treasures as he pleases and slap our great friend and ally in the face! I hang my head in shame, extend my apologies, and hope for genuine reform in 2012.
It wasn’t from the HMS Resolute. It was from 19th century British warship HMS President aka HMS Gannet which served for a time on anti-slavery missions.
So, the British were trying to appeal back to something in their history to their advantage. They are the ones that opened up the “history issue”.
Perhaps they didn’t realize it but Obama’s family were never slaves. On their mom’s side they were slave owners. But Obama’s grandfather was tortured by Churchill’s Britain. So what historical fact would one think would be more significant to Obama?
Also if we want to remember back to the mid 18th century or so as I guess the Brits want us to do, don’t forget they were seriously considering supporting the Confederacy. So if they want to play the “slavery card” shouldn’t this be remembered as well.
Let us also not forget that it wasn’t al Quada that burned Washington DC to the ground. It was the UK. And our national anthem isn’t about an al Quada attack.
“Thomas Jefferson” you know nothing about history. Thomas Jefferson was very anti-British.
And here is one of my favorite songs.
In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
[Chorus:]
We fired our guns and the British kept a’comin.
There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin’ on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
We looked down the river and we see’d the British come.
And there must have been a hundred of’em beatin’ on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring.
We stood by our cotton bales and didn’t say a thing.
[Chorus]
Old Hickory said we could take ‘em by surprise
If we didn’t fire our muskets ’til we looked ‘em in the eye
We held our fire ’til we see’d their faces well.
Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave ‘em … well
[Chorus]
Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch ‘em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.**
We fired our cannon ’til the barrel melted down.
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind.
[Chorus]
Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch ‘em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.**
Thomas Jefferson wanted to support the French over the British when they were at war.
So, it is kind of ironic that you would choose that name.
Because if you ask yourself WWTJD the answer would be probably about the same thing that Obama did.
Hey, if Churchill was such a great political figure for the Brits why did they throw him out of office right after the end of WWII?
I have always found TJ’s fetish with France as bordering on the unpatriotic.
In the end he seemed so focus on the French and the French Revolution that he seemed to lose sight on the best interest of the United States.
Whether it’s Israel or France, no American should become so focused upon others peoples’ interests and their political movements to lose sight of what indeed is in America’s best interests.
An ally is just a country whose interests are currently aligned with ours. That’s it.
With that said, of course what Obama did was wrong. One doesn’t needlessly insult a foreign power. He acted totally in opposition to current American interests.
Well said. Regardless of what W. Churchill did, the move was wrong and deserves the criticism. His decision only opened controversy from sites like this one.
Yeah, but the guy did torture Obamas’ grandfather.
How would you feel about the guy responsible for torturing your grandfather?
Alice, from your comments it appears that you are suggesting that it is okay for a president to put his personal feelings ahead of the interests of the country as long as his grievances are legitimate. I hope you don’t really feel that way.
I have never had a problem with Obama being black (or I should say being perceived as being black).
But I have a significant problem with him being a foreigner.
And I don’t mean this whole birth certificate thing although of course that should be pursued. But even if legally he is a citizen that isn’t what I am talking about.
In his heart, in his mind, he sees himself as a foreigner. He comes from a foreign mindset.
This shows why it isn’t a good idea to elect a defacto foreigner to America’s highest position.
I am an American and I am TOTALLY embarrassed by what America’s new President has done to our British allies. I don’t CARE who did what to who in the past. That’s all history and we LEARN from history — we don’t retaliate or “get even.” The leader of the free world has a duty to act and conduct himself/herself in a totally dignified, tactful, mature, sincere and honest manner when dealing with anyone, especially the other countries of the World.
Shame on Mr. Obama and Mrs. Obama. I notice that the White House Secretary got a jab at not catching the tackiness of the cheap gifts to the Brit’s children. Talk about passing the buck? (Or did they cost THAT much?) Why didn’t she use some of that “porkulus” money the Obamas have been swimming through and purchase something appropriate?
Furthermore, I don’t believe that Obama or his wife have the dignity that this job requires. They are making America look like a laughing stock.
Anyone who wants to defend these actions (returning gifts, snubbing the British guests by not appearing at a “joint” press conference, and giving TACKY gifts to dignitaries — not to mention the Obama SPENDING SPREE and his lackluster attempts to make good on all his campaign promises) should just go join the rest of “sheeple” who are being made to look like total fools by maintaining their membership in the Obama fan club.
If any Brits are reading this — I FORMALLY APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF MR. AND MRS OBAMA! They obviously know NOT what they are doing! (Or do they?)
I would also suggest that the Obama’s gifts be returned — or at least the Brits should ask for a receipt so they can be EXCHANGED for something better and useful!
Agreed, Obama is a foreigner.
And it doesn’t take believing (as Obama’s Kenyan Grandmother has said) that he was born in Kenya instead of Honolulu to even agree with this statement. Because Greg isn’t talking about legalities when he makes that statement. He is talking about Obama’s self-identification. He is talking about Obama’s heart, we are talking about his world view. And its not American.
Are we surprised that he didn’t put his hand over his heart to pledge allegiance to a country he feels no real allegiance to?
And it goes beyond Obama. How Many American citizens today are indeed Foreigners? Yeah, they get their Naturalization paperwork filed, passed the quiz and all of that, so they can obtain the practical benefits being an American, still has but they still despite whatever they might have recited in front of some judge, see their allegiance and loyalty and identity as being towards the country of their birth. And when they vote as legally they could now do as legal US citizens, they vote not what they believe is in the best interest of the United States but indeed what is in the interest of “their country”. After all a piece of paper is just a piece of paper if not backed up by what is in one’s heart.
And, it is even getting worse than just First Generation US citizens. More and more people who were even raised in America, and whose parents were even raised in America still identify themselves more with some foreign country (the country of ethnic origin) than with the country they were born and raised in.
While we suffer through Obama let us not forget that McCain himself was a piece of unpatriotic trash and had on his campaign staff one Dr. Juan Hernandez, an Hispanic who said that American citizens who happen to be Hispanic should not be patriotic to America. He said “I want the third generation, the seventh generation, I want them all to think ‘Mexico first.’ ”
So, the fact is that regardless of whether Obama is an legal native born America, in his heart of hearts he is a foreigner with a foreign outlook. And he is not an exception but part of a rising trend of even Legal US citizens actually being foreigners in their hearts and minds.
And I haven’t even gotten into the issue of illegals voting. That is a great concern but my focus here was upon the “Legal Foreign Voters”. Those who may have gotten US citizenship by legal means or even obtained citizenship by birth but still in their hearts of hearts see themselves a foreigner in their heart, soul and perspective.
Setting aside the legalities whatever they may or may not be for a moment where it counts Obama is FOREIGNER who many, many foreigners (people who might be legally US citizens but in their hearts and minds where it ultimately counts still see their loyalty as being for another county) helped get elected. And he doesn’t represent a rarity but indeed is part of a rising trend of Foreign Americans (or perhaps you can say Americans only by law but not by heart).
Oh and if you can’t tell by my comments, I am a different Steve than a previous “Steve” poster.
Suzanne, why should I apologize to the UK?
Given the polls that were taken at the time and the response he got when he was actually in the UK last year (which I was offended by because why should any Candidate for US President spend such time overseas in the middle of a campaign and McCain did it as well although not to the extent Obama did) the Brits were to an overwhelming degree very pro-Obama.
So, my belief is that okay, you got “Your Guy” so here he is.
In other words poetic justice.
Doesn’t it bother you that it was the British who first tried to for the lack of a better word “appeal to history” by them giving a pen set made of the wood of a ship that for a short period of time fought the slave trade (which Obama’s family’s association with had only to do with the white side of his family owning slaves and perhaps the Kenyan side selling Africans to the slave traitors).
If “history isn’t supposed to matter” then why should that gift matter because whatever that ship was involved with is indeed history. So either that shouldn’t matter or the far more recent history of the Brits torturing Obama’s grandfather should. So it seems like the Brits and their supporters are trying to have it both ways. We are supposed to say great, people of British Citizenship over one hundred years ago helped to stop the slave trade but at the same time we are supposed to say Brits of a generation who still have living members we are just supposed to ignore.
And if we are only supposed to look at a British generation more than 100 years ago and their actions and not look at a British generation with still living members then shouldn’t we also consider that 15 years later or so (so basically the same generation) the same British were in negotiations with the Confederacy thinking very strongly as becoming their allies against the Union?
So, either the pen set was insignificant (since it’s history) or Obama’s grandfather being tortured while Churchill was PM is. It seems like the Brits are trying to have it both ways.
I believe since it was the Brits who first brought up history because of their gifts, it was they who opened up the “History Issue”.
We are supposed to say hip hip hurah British Citizens more than one hundred years ago fought the slave trade.
But, as to British citizens only 50 years ago, a generation where you can still find living members, we are just supposed to say it doesn’t matter that they tortured Obama’s Grandfather.
It’s the Brits who brought up the History Issue. They tried to use it to their advantage. But now when History has bit them on the butt as it often does they go crying.
Either neither of these historical issues should matter (and in that case then the pen set was kind of a lame gift) or they both should.
The Brits are trying to have it both ways.
How Dare Obama slap our friend and ally so rudely in the face?
This truly shows him for the totally crude and classless person that he is.
I apologize for his inexcusable behavior to all the Britons who might read this.
Not all of us voted for him.
I hope this does not end the special UK-US relationship.
I don’t think Obama treats the UK, our long-standing friend, with respect at all. What of the relationship of Roosevelt and Churchill? Is he just throwing that out of the window??
Ned,
You spent a lot of time addressing why history either does or does not matter. That is unfortunate because that not the applicable rebuttle which means you wasted a lot of time. What you needed to do was explain why his personal feelings outway the best interest of the country because as I see it the pen couldn’t have any negative effects on the U.K., whereas the bust has already had negative effects on us by creating a strained relationship. So if you have some explanation as to why his personal feelings are of such dire importance by all means enlighten me.
Pagius, while of course the Brits didn’t vote for Obama, he was treated like a rockstar by them when he was over there last year and in polls asking who one would vote for if they could, overwhelming it was Obama.
So, they got THEIR President. The fact that he just stabbed them in the back is just poetic justice.
So, no I am not going to rush around apologizing to the Brits. I didn’t vote for the guy. I believe he is evil. In fact it’s the Brits that should go around apologizing to me. Sure there are my own fellow citizens who are much more responsible and that’s an issue onto itself, but still the Brits did at least give symbolic support to one of the most evil men in current history.
So, no, they should be the one apologizing. Not I.
I have to say this whole thing has brought up some complicated issues. It has brought up issues about history, world perspectives, etc. I have found it all so compelling.
I have thought over and over about this and haven’t really come to any conclusions over it.
Except for the fact that I have no sympathy for the Brits. They were using history to pander and for that to get turned on it’s head is just poetic justice.
Steve, I agree with Pagius. Perhaps some of the Brits said they would have voted for him, but certainly not all. {I happen to be very fond them of them.}
Besides, no matter who they are, that was a rude thing to do.
Especially when the Brits offered to let him hang onto the bust, he said ‘thanks but no thanks.’
NO matter who he did it to, it was a classless thing to do.
I think we can all agree that he does NOT need a second term..
No matter what the British people have said in the past, they did not deserve this.
And of course all of them didn’t vote for him.
I am sure that some of them hated him.
And don’t those people deserve an apology for our stupid president’s mistakes??
I am glad to say that I didn’t vote for him either, and I agree that he is wicked. {He does not know the meaning of class}
I still think that we should try and keep up our relationship with the UK, and let them know that this was not our idea.
Don’t they deserve that much?
The British (along with the French, Germans, etc, etc) Loved Obama.
Treated him like a Rock Star.
So, no, they got what they deserved.
Americans are going to suffer much, much, much worse before it’s all over.
I just can’t help thinking about that old Lone Ranger Joke.
Yeah, that sleazy PM Brown got exactly what he deserved.
Yeah Mr. Brown. What you you mean “WE” Paleface!
Yeah, my country people elected Hitler. But last year when Hitler came around the UK it was like when the Beatles hit America.
So, let is not let the Brits off the hook. All the UK media were pulling for him. And yeah polls were done. If you could vote for US President who would you vote for.
Overwhelmingly Hitler.
So, now Hitler stabbed them in the back. Or as Greg put it said “what do you mean WE paleface! ” I love it. It is poetic justice. Sometimes those who live by PC die by PC.
Yeah, UK, how do you like your President now!
Brown can take that pen set and shove it up his ass!
That would be a great political cartoon. Brown going up to Obama and saying ‘Congratulations We won.”
And Obama in response saying “what do you mean we Paleface!”
Brown’s gift was very offensive. The reasons behind him giving it I mean. What a sleazoid.
Is anyone surprised at President Obama’s actions? I’m not. The man and his wife have an ax to grind. He insults the British PM, he wouldn’t come out at Camp Lejune during the playing of the national anthem, and he won’t salute the flag. He does not love American and intends to bring it to its knees.
Why should we be surprised, liberals always let their emotions cloud their thinking. B. Hussein Obama took a gift given to the United States, and took it upon himself to be personally offended by it and send it back… on his personal say so. This was not his right… even as president. The gift was given to the United States of America. Perhaps next he’ll be burning all the cotton in the South, and rewriting history for us. This man is pathetic and a disaster to this country.
I think we have the worse president ever or ever will have. He did the worse thing ever returning the gift Britain gave us. He is ruining our USA!
Yea I agree Sara, it was the WORST THING EVER. I mean how can genecides, terrorist attacks, and slavery compare to returning a metal likeness of someone. It was the WORST THING EVER.
Hey there Special K… Let’s mention a few other things that make Obama the worst president ever.
1. Largest bailout the US has ever seen; our children’s-children will be paying his bailout off.
2. Chrysler is no longer an AMERICAN CAR COMPANY; even though we bailed them out… they are now owned by Fiat, a foreign car company… boy who saw that coming…. Me; about 90 days ago.
a. I also see this happening to Ford and GM.
3. Let’s see…. Hmmm… spending close to $400,000 dollars for a few photo shots over NYC of Air Force One…. Scaring the hell out of the people below… and during a recession. Do you thing this could have been done with Photoshop for about $250 bucks…. YES!!!
a. Oh, yeah… and Obama warned no one…. Nice job!
4. Shall I go on… Sure!
5. Let’s go back to the Churchill bust… if the French piss him off, is he going to box up the Statue of Liberty and send it back too?
a. Was the Churchill statue given to Obama, or to the USA? Was it his to return?
6. Oh yes, and he is such an example to our young children by smoking… Joe Camel-Obama smoking in the WHITE HOUSE… that’s a federal building, right?
Yes, I would agree… Obama is shaping up as the WORST president ever to serve in the WHITE HOUSE.
I say…
DON’T IMPEACH HIM…..
ABORT OBAMA!!!
WOW!
Very Glad to have found you… a kindred spirit, Jason.
Keep up the good work.
Feel free to visit my blog, we are still a rather small community of kindred spirits over there but we speak Patriotism and you don’t have to press one for it.
-VotingFemale
Conservative WordPress Blogger
Kicking Socialist Ass on a Daily Basis
Adam? slither back to your rock pile, dear.
Oh, and take that ugly-assed FIGJAM president with ya!
hahahahahahahaha
adam says
Thats an ugly ass bust, and I wouldn’t want it either. Should have just chucked it and played dumb when asked where it is.
Obama is doing a great job,and none of you could do any better.
OUOTE — ADAM: “That’s an ugly ass bust, and I wouldn’t want it either. Should have just chucked it and played dumb when asked where it is. Obama is doing a great job and none of you could do any better. ‘
H-e-l-l-o A-d-a-m:
Must… speak… slowly… so… you… can… understand… me… Your… WHITE… president… who… happens… to… be… ½… Black… is… doing… a… terrible… job. Did you know he had a slightly lower approval rating than George W. Bush after 100-days in office, and Bonzo the Chimp could do a better job in the Oval office swinging on the chandelier than the “smoking man” who calls himself the great global unifier.
Oh and by the way, Obama doesn’t have to pretend to look dumb… he is dumb. He is the worst WHITE president we’ve ever had… Oh yeah… and partly black…
I agree with Jeff. Did anyone realize another BIG mistake he has made??? He has raised the credentials to get into the military making it harder then ever. Now our young men and women who want to serve their country have to go through hoops that they have never had to go through in the past. They no longer accept GEDS; they have raised the abdev scores as well. I hope we do not need to go to war I have no confidence in this president
Lori T.
Not only did the score for the ASVAB increase from 31 to 50 and the new GED requirement change however it is waiverable. The bonuses went away and a lot of the incentive pay like stop loss pay vanished and we are still at war. This wasn’t all due to Obama it’s mostly supply and demand the strength is high right now. I’m preparing for some serious budget cuts in the military soon it is inevitable with a Democratic Presidency. If you are working class be prepared to give it back to.
Voting Female, thanks for stopping by! Glad you found me!
Your site is awesome and will add it to my list.
Thank you dear! And I will also add the link to yours on my blog.
Strength is what we need and strength is measured in numbers… and the clarity and truth of message.
How’s this for a fiscal challenge for state governments is in Massachusetts. Governor Patrick wants to raise state gas tax to recover some funds for big dig defisate. Yet they have lots of pork such as free wheels for welfare recipients. This program takes donated vehicles complete with state funded insurance, AAA coverage, repairs. Excise tax, title, and registration at a cost of approximately $6,000.00 all to encourage them to work. The program is currently funded with $400,000.00. The Patrick administration wants to funnel $30,000.00 more into program. In a time when hard working residents are being laid off or just struggling this is fiscally irresponsible to continue to funnel money into a program that is unnecessary. This program was introduced in 2006 by the state and Good News Garage a Lutheran charity (so called non-profit) who is now on state payroll, they perform all repairs on these welfare chariots and sends the bill to the state. When did we start supporting nonprofit organizations? The big kicker is if the welfare recipient doesn’t complete their part they lose the insurance but keep the car. How’s this for a suggestion stop giving them cars and give them bicycles with a bicycle tool repair kit and!
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1170630
The Bust of Churchill was more than a gift from Great Britain to the United States… It was a representation of solidarity with the United States in the fight against Tyranny during WWII. The Bust belonged to the people of the United States, not Barack Obama! Apparently, he found it to be offensive. Is our President a man caught between loyalties to separate continents!
Denise, thanks and great comment.
It is amazing to me that this post still receives so much traffic and comments. Apparently it is a passionate issue to everyone. I certainly think it is.
Denise,
Obama is an Anti-White Racist. When you view what he does through that perspective, many things come into sharp focus.
Barack barely managed a nod to the Queen of England… and bowed horizontally from the waist before the King of Saudi Arabia.
The Socialists constantly use Anti-White Racism against Conservatives and think nothing of it.
I am blogging more and more on this dispicable “strength” exposing it more and more for the Blatant Racism it is…
You watch… any criticism of Sonya Sotomayor will be false characterized by the Socialists as Conservative Racism… Look back at the behavior of the Socialists who racially bashed Justice Clarence Thomas to a pulp.
Denise // May 27, 2009 at 10:27 pm
The Bust of Churchill was more than a gift from Great Britain to the United States… It was a representation of solidarity with the United States in the fight against Tyranny during WWII. The Bust belonged to the people of the United States, not Barack Obama! Apparently, he found it to be offensive. Is our President a man caught between loyalties to separate continents!
Very intersting move by Obama, but not very good judgement. It is almost like the pot calling the kettle black. No nation is perfect.
I believe to bridge and fix, one must start with a greater love in ones heart called forgiveness. Then that alone can bring any sort of healing.
You see as humans – we are so imperfect. But… forgiveness if perfect.
(opps – spell check version)
Very interesting move by Obama, but I would say not very good judgment. It is almost like the pot calling the kettle black. No nation is perfect.
I believe to bridge and fix, one must start with a greater love in ones heart called forgiveness. Then that alone can bring any sort of healing.
You see as humans – we are so imperfect. But… forgiveness is perfect.
That’s not the actual bust, the actual one doesn’t look so cheap. Also no one has mentioned sending people from guantanamo to Bermuda… A British colony without consulting anyone in Britain.
This is an Obama nation; very disrespectful.
Obama should be building relationship not eroding them; especially key partners. Besides Obama should be focusing on our state of ecomony rather than White House decor.
The end of this term can’t happen fast enough for me, I’m just glad I didn’t vote for him.
I say we send that mulatto back to Kenya where he belongs, along with his ape wife and ape children!
clearly, sdfgsrgetwt is a socialist troll who is not fooling anyone.
sdfgsrgetwt // January 22, 2010 at 11:00 pm
I say we send that mulatto back to Kenya where he belongs, along with his ape wife and ape children!
Agreed, VF!
I think Britain now knows that President O. is no friend of ours. First he sends back the bust of Churchill and now he chooses to ignore the wishes of the Falkland islanders and many UN decisions and says he is ‘neutral’ about who owns the islands. Perhaps we should be ‘neutral’ next time America asks us to back some US venture or he needs a base for US forces to bomb some country or other when everyone else says no. Yes, I think we can quite clearly say that Obama is now friend of the UK.
Let’s face it… Obama is only a friend to himself and to the democratic/progressive party. He is not even a friend to the United States. I chalk him up as the worst paper president this country has ever rented the white house to. What a disaster!!!
I don’t believe Obama should have returned the bust. If he were offended by it because of his grandfather, he would have been better off saying so and moving it to another area until the next president was in office. However, i don’t think Obama ever intends to leave. My biggest concern with Mr. Obama is that he doesn’t realize that Abraham Lincoln did not care about the slaves. The war was over the money that the south was holding from the union. Abraham Lincoln only freed the slaves to cripple the south. He burned all their buildings and freed their slaves so they couldn’t rebuild. It had nothing to do with him liking or caring about the slaves, it had to do with money. Free their slaves so they cannot rebuild and hold money back from the union.
Bravo Anne!!! Finally, someone who understands history and is not persuaded by all the liberal and socialistic rewriting of our nations history. I must say, Lincoln was one of our greatest presidents, he held the Union together the only way he could… he had to cripple the South with strategy. Everyone seems to link slavery with the Civil War… untrue… it was over money, states rights, and secession. Lincoln began the war to keep the Union together as one cohesive unit. If Lincoln felt the slaves were equal, he would have paid them equally as solders in the war, not 3/5 of a soldier’s regular pay (read your history people). In the end, he freed the slaves to cripple the South even further thus keeping the Union together. He did what he had to do to keep America as one country. Yes, over money, but isn’t that what most wars are over? MOST… not all!!!
Im British and im not sure what to think really i dont know much about history but i do know that Sir Winston Churchill was a great leader in a desperate time for most of the world….the bust was given after 9/11 as a symbol that we would unite once again to stop an evil much like we did in WWII so the bust had more than 1 meaning (past and future struggles we both shared and would share) i say im not sure what to make of it because it could mean any number of things…1) he dosent like us
2) he no longer wants our help with anything
3) he no longer wants to fight terrorism
just to name a few…but you can see they all have something in common the word “HE” now its not for me to comment on American politics for obvious reasons (i aint american) so i will stop there on that subject…as for his Grandad and what Sir Winston did to him its not like Churchill himself tortured Mr Obama he can not be held responsible for something his men did if he wasnt there (just my opinion of course)
i dont find this offensive but i can see why others might
its not me,you or Obama dieing side by side its our brothers our children and our fathers i say let them decide what to make of it
obama is a petty little ideologue and will go down in history as such. he is embarrassing as a usa president, only his lemming followers think otherwise. on behalf of all patriotic USA citizens i apologize to britons for obama’s typical unpresidential and uncouth behavior. he pathetically still behaves like a corrupt chicago pol. in the grand scheme he is barely a footnote.
This guy is a moron. Britain is our closest ally. It is just plain disrespectful to return a gift (of any kind).
All of a sudden it could be because of how Britain treated Kenya. He never lived there, never saw his Kenyan father except once. So why the big effinity with Kenya. If he didn’t want the bust in the Oval Office he has a right to have in it what he wants. But why not just move it to a hallway or another prominent place in the White House, not return it. What a classless person.
Anne & Jeff you are ABSOLUTELY correct. Although I think Lincoln was a great president and did what he had to, he didn’t do it because he cared about the slaves. It was a way to keep the country together by destroying the south who couldn’t survive without slaves.
I am a ‘New American’ – an Englishman married to an American woman and now resident in California – unlike many newcomers to this country, my loyalties are not divided. I CHOSE to come to the USA; thus, to my mind, the right and decent course of action is to be consistent with my choice and give my loyalty entirely to my new homeland. Am I alone in seeing President Obama as a weak and insecure man who evidently wishes to believe in his own ‘rightness’ to such an extent that other considerations (e.g. the greater good of the nation) have much less influence upon his policies and decisons than his personal prejudices? Is it going too far to suggest that his rejection of the Churchill bust symbolises his immature, blinkered mentality? Obama’s idea of being an effective statesman is to snub and abandon Great Britain and Israel – nations that have staunchly supported the USA at times when other countries lost their backbones – and embrace hostile Islamic and Communist states. He preaches ‘unity’, but constantly hides behind the race card and packs his administration with people who define themselves by race. All criticism of Obama and his merry band is now routinely dismissed as ‘racist’ and we have been magically transported back to the bad old days when few people were ‘color blind’. I feel that I am already more of a real American than Obama will ever be . I came here because I admired and respected American values and the American way of life – it works and (unlike Obama) I don’t think it needs to be turned inside out, gutted and changed into something entirely different.
Churchill was a racist. His statue has no place in the white house.
This snub to an ally shows how small this President is. After all the gift was to the American people, not to Obama. If he knew anything about etiquette, he would hav put the gift in another location so the next President could place it where it needs to be. Obama is going to offend every ally that we have and bow to every enemy that we have it seems. We will be left standing with the Muslims if he continues, or taken over by the Muslims. Don’t you all like Sharia law? Stoning, death, honor killings when you do something wrong.
I must agree Barbara, it does seem, on the face of it, a snub.
Julien Hofer’s comment above says it nicely: “Great men do not, usually, overtly harbour grudges.”
I would hope one of the first acts of the next president is to ask for the return of the bust.
Perhaps it is because Churchill as MP at the time that Kenya tried to become independent of British Rule, just as America did in 1776. As a result of the independence movement, Obama’s grandfather was tortured by British forces.
Sounds like a good reason to me.
The bust of Winston Churchill was loaned to President Bush by Tony Blair. Tony Blair took it from The British National Treasures which he technically had no right to do. If it had been a gift to the White House then and only then would it have been a slap in the face to the British. It was returned to the British National Treasures as it should have been. Always check with Emily Post in these matters.
I have not read all of the preceding comments but a Democratic website offers the excuse that
it was only on loan from Brit. PM Tony Blair and in any case was returned by minions cleaning
up the oval office for Obama’s entry and not at Obama’s personal order.
The problem with that story is that there is no evidence of Obama sending an e-mail to Blair
regarding the misunderstanding and requesting, if the loan period was not up, that it be
returned.
More Obama Spin. Le’t face it, the man is a boob… and anyone who works under him are spawns of the devil… they could not speak the truth if Fast & Furious depended on it.
I don’t care if he is black, white or yellow… he is the worst president we have ever had… and we have had many. Many people are afraid to admit they won’t vote for him, because they are afraid of being tagged a racist… I am NOT a racist… I am a realist; I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THE MAN. I would rather elect a old pair of socks to the oval office than give Obama a second term. He is incompetent, weak, and dangerous to the United States of America. We really need to send him packing…
ABC NEWS: Says James Barbour, press secretary and head of communications for the British Embassy, “The bust of Sir Winston Churchill, by Sir Jacob Epstein, was lent to the George W. Bush administration from the U.K.’s government art collection, for the duration of the presidency. When that administration came to an end so did the loan; the bust now resides in the British Ambassador’s Residence in Washington D.C. The White House collection has its own Epstein bust of Churchill, which President Obama showed to Prime Minister Cameron when he visited the White House in March.”
THIS IS A BOGUS ISSUE, ANOTHER LIE TO ATTACK THE U.S. PRESIDENT.
And those miserable Brits would not honor his request to extend the loan?
He should have publicized that rejection; but he is too nice a guy to do that
isn’t he? It isn’t too late yet to issue a copy of his request for loan extension.
It would be quite effective in an election year.