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The Gift That Keeps on Giving… Or Not

Posted by JAZZ SHAW, Assistant Editor in Politics.
Mar 5th, 2009 | Comments

I may not agree with the course being taken by President Obama on the economic crisis, and a couple of his cabinet appointments could have been more thoughtful, but I’ve tried not to pile on him too much and support what he does well. Some news today from our friends in England, however, has truly set my teeth on edge. I’ll let the Daily Mail explain the details of the Great Brit Gift Debacle. (Hat tip to Hot Air.)

He [Britain's Prime Minister] had put clearly great thought into giving the U.S. President lavish gifts to signify Britain’s ’special relationship’ with the U.S.

During his historic trip to Washington, Gordon Brown gave Barack Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet – once called HMS President.

The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet’s sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that already takes its place in the Oval Office in the White House, after being presented by Britain to the US in 1880.

Mr Brown also took to Washington a framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to mark Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria.

He also gave a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.

During their first meeting, you would expect the Obamas to respond in kind to one of our closest historical allies. But… not so much.

For despite being leader of the world’s most bountiful nation, President Obama handed over nothing more thought-provoking than 25 classic American films on DVD.

It was the equivalent of receiving a pair of socks from an unfamiliar aunt at Christmas – and a less-than-glowing affirmation of the UK-US bond.

It seems that the First Lady didn’t fare much better.

Mr Brown and his wife also 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.

I could go on a serious jag here about exactly how embarrassing this was, but I think the press coverage speaks for itself here. Is this the end of the world? No. But the new First Family is going to need to do a lot better than this on the international diplomacy front.

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NewsBee

I have to think this had to be just a little embarrassing for Obama. DVDs? Come on. What is somewhat surprising though is all the media coverage that this has been getting. I bet he didn't think it was such a big deal before now. I'm sure he'll start to put some though into his gifts in the future.

Here is a video I found about the media coverage of Brown's visit to the white house. It brings up the point if it is really newsworthy or not.

http://www.newsy.com/videos/no_party_for_uk/

GeorgeSorwell

Obama's not going to turn the Prime Minister into his poodle.

My guess is everything will be fine on the diplomatic front.

Marlowecan

This is a fascinating story. (Full Disclosure: I am loving it, as Obama lovers on the Left in the UK are crying in their beer. Suckers.)

First, Obama pointedly denying Brown the traditional joint presser with flags and all.
Now, both Obama and his wife giving tacky dollar-store gifts to Brown...after Brown's lavish, and thoughtfully selected, gifts.

I know Obama fans will term this a distraction, saying everyone should focus on the economy (well, and also on Limbaugh).
But the British have been America's only major ally to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the US even when it has been very unpopular at home.

This story has gotten massive coverage in the UK...where it is read by both Left and Right as a calculated snub.
I recall one of Obama's big selling points was that he would restore America's ties with her foreign partners. Hmmmm.....

I must add: I have no love for Brown. Rather, I agree with Jeremy Clarkson's description of him as a "one-eyed Scottish idiot".
(Clarkson later apologized, in Clarkson fashion: "'I'm sorry for calling him one-eyed and Scottish but not the idiot bit')
Brown and Nu-Labour have been a disaster for Britain...and will be replaced by the Conservatives in about a year's time.

Maybe this is why Obama snubbed him? He sees Brown as yesterday's man?
Other theories: Obama hates Britain because of his grandfather and the Mau-Mau Kenyan business (hence Obama sending back the Churchill bust that Bush was given...Churchill being PM during the Mau-Mau business)?
Michelle hates the British because of the slave trade?

Whatever the reason...it was stupid and undiplomatic.

(Again...I am loving this. Only divine intervention could have saved the British Left...and "The One" has toasted that option. There will be a Conservative government in the UK next Spring).

pdx632

"But the new First Family is going to need to do a lot better than this on the international diplomacy front."

Because we all know that international diplomacy is all 'bout the swag. Maybe Iran could be pacified with an slightly used "Mission Accomplished" banner? Or will that be hung outside on the new Bush Library to signify it's completion. At least then it would be true.

pacatrue

Well, if people in the UK are mad about this, then I guess it was a flub. However, when Jazz' article started I thought he was going to be upset about the lavishness of the gifts from Brown. Seemed a little like overkill to me.

Marlowecan

Pacatrue said: "Seemed a little like overkill to me."

Yes, I agree. Partyly, as pdx632 says, swag matters in diplomacy. But some bright sparks at the FO spent a lot of time thinking up gifts that would go with Obama's desk...anti-slavery etc.

Brown was lavish as he wanted some of Obama's shine to rub off. A joint presser to show Obama was listening to him. The Labour government was floating lots of stories prior to the visit about how Brown was going to be the key person Obama relied upon in fixing international finance.

I know...*gag*gag* Total rubbish. To see them together, and Brown hyper-animated and laughing excessively. . .it was gross.

The biggest suck-up from a PM to a President I can remember...and Obama totally blew him off.

This was the last, best hope of the British Left. They are desperate to stop the Conservative onslaught next spring. Despair reigns in the columns of the Guardian.
Maybe Obama is a closet Tory?

AustinRoth

If Chavez or Castro comes to the US, then you will see the President roll out the Red (pun intended) Carpet!

T-Steel

Cute AustinRoth. I'm going to carry the pun another way (socialism is so yesteryear Lenin-ish). We're already in the "red" financially so Obama will just showing them the State Of The Union, carpet style. And since we're all going to be speaking Chinese soon...

Cha cha cha!

rfyork

I'm looking at the comments here and wondering where everyone' sense of proportion went. Yegods, you guys are sounding like this is some sort of huge diplomatic kerfluffle. I'd be willing to bet the the Browns had a more interesting and fun time with the Obamas than the ones the Blairs had with the Bushes. Toadies?

Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe the Browns are movie lovers? I don't know. But I do know that the these DVD's might be welcome.

As for presents for the children, I always loved models. Even today, most 6 and 8 year olds love airplane models. And models of Marine 1 would be very welcome by any self respecting young boy.

From Jazz on down, you are all nit-picking, clueless and seriously disturbed.

The Daily Mail? Definitely, an intelligent, well informed and thoughtful publication. Go look at their homepage.

Boy, this exchange of gifts is clearly going to have a major impact on the "special relationship". The Prime Minister and Mrs. Brown are even now brooding over these gifts and preparing major assaults on the US Capitol.

StockBoySF

I honestly don't know what to make of Obama's gifts and reception to Brown. On the one hand he does appear to have been curt- and perhaps that is an intentional calculation on Obama's part to convey the right tone....

But on the other hand if Obama had lavished gifts on Brown, then what woudl Obama's critics say? I thought there were rules on how much politicians could give and receive in gifts....

Personally if I were a kid again and got a Marine One helicopter from the First Lady of the US I'd be the happiest kid alive. And remmbering what my brother and I did at that age we would probably have blown up Marine One with firecrackers.... :) Though we probably would have kept one intact....

Besides, what ever happened to the idea that it's the thought that counts and not how much you give?

Obama is new at this and is perhaps trying to find the right balance of what to give or not? I'd much rather have Obama appear a little curt to a world leader, than (like Bush did with Putin) declare upon a first meeting that he (Bush) had looked into Putin's eyes and saw a soulmate, someone he could trust (or whatever it was that Bush said).

Going back to my original thought.... I think Obama was quite possibly trying to convey to Brown that this is new relationship and that Brown will have to earn Obama's trust..... I could not help but wonder what, exactly, Obama had learned from his meetings with Bush and whatever other secret intelligence there is on Britain and their support of our international efforts. Bush has said that he thought of himself as being a cheerleader and wanted to keep Americans' spirits up.... I can't help but wonder what Bush might have hidden about Britain.

It is certainly interesting and perhaps nothing more than Obama not quite knowing what to give. I thought the Browns' gifts to the Obama family were charming and well thought out. I also wonder which one of Brown's secretaries came up with the ideas.

Rambie

"I'm looking at the comments here and wondering where everyone' sense of proportion went. "

I think that "sense of proportion" went out the window in 1992 when Clinton was elected. I remember that we were all doomed then. In 2000 when Bush was elected, it started again from the other direction.

CStanley

The gifts themselves seem pretty insignificant but the series of snubs makes it more significant (sending the bust back, OK...but then seriously downplaying Brown's visit, ducking the British press, and THEN the thoughtless gifts.)

I find the gift thing itself pretty odd though because surely it reflects on some staff member, not Obama himself. Who's job is it to pick out these things and was this a case of someone being seriously unaware of protocol?

HemmD

I think this is just an international house warming gift. Are the new occupants required to reciprocate?

IObama tried to give Brown Rush Limbaugh, but the PM turned him down.

Degrance

I can't decide whether this is the silliest "news" story of the week or if that would be the "outrage" over Michelle going sleeveless in February.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009...

elrod

Is this story from the Onion?

StockBoySF

Degrance- thanks for the link the Michelle's bare arms! It didn't bother me when I saw her live and re-watching it doesn't bother me now. Though if it were me (and I was a woman) I would have worn something different. But I think her outfit is still appropriate. It's black (sober), stylish, not outrageous and perfectly presentable.

People have been talking about Michelle leaving her own mark on the WH as First Lady.... I'm not sure how she's supposed to do that if she's expected to act like everyone else.

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