Obama’s handshake with Marine raises eyebrows

[unhappycamper]

Obama’s handshake with Marine raises eyebrows
Staff report
Posted : Sunday Feb 15, 2009 12:53:49 EST

When President Barack Obama stepped aboard a Marine One helicopter for the first time, he raised eyebrows with a simple gesture: shaking the hand of the junior enlisted Marine on duty.

Hopping a Feb. 5 flight from the South Lawn of the White House to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., where a ride on Air Force One awaited, Obama crisply saluted a private first class working security guard duty, according to news accounts and photographs. Then, Obama offered his hand to the Marine, who shook it before quickly returning to his salute.

The interaction has prompted a variety of reactions in the media and on blogs by watchful observers.

The New York Times, for example, described it on its blog “The Caucus” as “almost certainly not scripted in any protocol manuals, offer a window into the new trappings of office.”

Fox News described it as an “unscripted gesture” that “forced the Marine to break his stance and shake the president’s hand.”


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/marine_handshake_021509w/%2e

[barbtries]

1. was this a breech of protocol?

was it in poor taste? right up there with gw giving the german chancellor a massage, or chest bumping an airman? how is it this makes the news? "president shakes marine's hand" is on the news?!


eek.

edited because i have almost mercifully forgotten the former CIC's initials.

[elleng]

2. DItto!

WHAT's his name?????

[Hekate]

3. Our CIC is a civilian -- always. Regardless of prior military service or not, the CIC is a civilian

Oy yoy yoy.

I think it's damn decent of President Obama to make such a human and personal gesture. Did The Chimp ever do that, or was it all just sloppy salutes and bow-legged walk due to his royal entitlement?

Boby oh boy let's have some more faux raised eyebrows.

Hekate

[izzie]

4. Why do we want to wrap our leaders into uniforms any how?

I swear it is a carry over from the 'royals' who had an uniform for every thing. And I lived in the middle of the service life for most of my life. It is so 19th cen. Let these crazy people get back to building things on 'the mall' and they will be happy and leave Obama alone.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. He acknowledged him as a Marine on duty, as per protocol.

Then, he acknowledged him as a human being and fellow citizen.

Remarkable what some will do to pick at nits. If the nits are bothering them so bad, I suggest they immerse themselves in a bathtub full of Quell.

[Locrian]

6. bring it

THATS the best they got? Man - they are getting desperate!

Great gesture - and I bet 90% of the people in the US like it. The GOP propaganda machine is running on empty - but thanks for the publicity and digging the hole deeper for yourself faux.

[liberal N proud]

7. Is this all these sad examples of reporters have to worry about?

Fuck the economy, lets worry about weather the President shook the hand of a Marine. :wtf:

[ixion]

8. big whoop... it's NOT news...

geez... given that all hell is breaking loose around us, that's the best they can do? :eyes:

[stray cat]

9. He recognized the soldier as a person instead of a nameless cog

[TahitiNut]

10. After my years in the military (in the 60s), I would have done the exact same thing.

It annoyed the HELL out of me that the Smirking Turd treated military personnel like shit ... like toy soldiers decorating his throne room with no mind to their welfare or needs. I'd be absolutely certain to give "carry on" and insist that troops not "brace" interminably. There is NOTHING that enhances or enables any military person's ability to perform duties when standing in a brace. It reminds me of the mindlessness of monarchies ... and the bearskin cap topped tourist attractions (curiosities) scattered around London. Total and utter objectification of human beings.