Did Barack Obama Snub Gordon Brown?
EmailABC's Alexa Lightner reports from London: As the political climate in the U.K. gets tenser with elections looming this spring and Gordon Brown trailing in the polls, the British press rarely miss an opportunity to badger their prime minister. Browns’ recent trip to New York provided their latest P.M. bashing material, as they all jumped at the chance to question the strength of the “special relationship” between the U.K and the U.S. In the past couple of days, many London headlines claim President Obama “snubbed” Gordon Brown by ignoring five of the Prime Minister’s requests to meet one-on-one in New York. The reason? U.S. pique at the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi.
In an article today entitled, “Barack Obama’s 5 U.N. Snubs for P.M. Gordon Brown,” the Daily Mail reported that “Downing Street had to ‘beg’ for a meeting with Mr. Obama,” and “The White House had rebuffed the requests for joint appearances five times over the past couple of weeks.” In “Barack Obama Rebuffs Gordon Brown as 'Special Relationship' Sinks to New Low,” the Daily Telegraph stated yesterday that, “the White House's refusal to meet Mr. Brown had been a serious embarrassment for the Prime Minister,” and that Downing Street, in “desperation,” had even changed its policy on supplying swine flu vaccines to Africa in order to secure a meeting, unsuccessfully. As an alternative, Brown “had to settle instead for a snatched conversation with the President in a New York kitchen.” Even the Guardian, a much more liberal British paper, went from reporting that Brown “was hailed as a hero for ‘stabilising’ the world economy and showing ‘compassionate leadership’” in the U.S. yesterday to writing today, “Gordon Brown lurched from being hailed as a global statesman to intense embarrassment tonight, after it emerged U.S. President Barack Obama had turned down no fewer than five requests from Downing Street to hold a bilateral meeting.” All three articles cite America’s negative reaction to the Lockerbie Bomber’s recent release as the reason for the supposed “snubs.” But Gordon Brown and the American embassy in London had something else to say. “Any stories that suggest trouble in the bilateral relationship between the United States and U.K. are totally absurd,” said the Office of National Security Council spokesman, Mike Hammer, in a press release today. “The U.S.-U.K. special relationship is strong and doing well… Obama and Prime Minister Brown enjoy a terrific relationship.” "I do say that the special relationship between Britain and America is strong, it continues to strengthen and I think the reason it's strong is that it's based on common values,” said Gordon Brown to diplomatic sources, according to a BBC News article today. Apparently, there are no hard feelings between the nations’ leaders, but as an election approaches in the U.K., the press will only get more vicious. Obama and Brown will meet in Pittsburgh this evening at the G-20 summit. Snub or no snub, the Prime Minister can expect more ‘analysis’ from the British press.
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Re: Pres. Obama and PM Brown
One refusal – it’s understandable
two refusals- it’s regrettable
three refusals- it could happen
fourth and fifth refusals – that’s a downright snub
Does Brown feel blue? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist)
Posted by: ddg | September 24, 2009, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
I think this is more about personality differences between the 2 people, than state policy.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | September 24, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
this guy is an embarr”ass”ment to the Unite States of America!
Posted by: chainpuller | September 24, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Well yeah, the US is ticked about the terrorist release. It’s not worth making a huge issues of, but a subtle message seems appropriate. And there isn’t a need for a meeting beyond giving Brown some election year photo-ops anyway.
“Any stories that suggest trouble in the bilateral relationship between the United States and U.K. are totally absurd.”
Posted by: jhw539 | September 24, 2009, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Obama promised lots of things when he was campaigning. He’d say whatever he thought people wanted to hear. Now he’s in office he’s a different person. First off, even though they have a large population of them, the U.K. is not Muslim. Does that explain things?
Posted by: bamagrammy | September 24, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
Why do you take it as a snub?If US had pardoned any of the prisoners lodged in Spandau,how would Britain have reacted?The so called snub is well deserved, even if Scots, for twisting their arms and the victims’ kin for callous insensitivity forgive Brown and have swallowed this insult.
Well deserved.
Posted by: S.V.Ramanan | September 24, 2009, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Before people jump to conclusions; is it terribly possible that schedules are in conflict. We hold our leaders accountable for their actions, but its easier to say what someone isn’t doing when you aren’t in their shoes. Whether it be Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush or Obama, I’m sure its a challenge to manage all requests to meet with so many important people. I can’t imagine the appointment calendar. I believe this is being blown way out of proportion. When priorities don’t match ours, we typically deem the world is in peril, but as long as desired outcome is achieved, who cares about the direction we took to do so?
Posted by: Darryl | September 24, 2009, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
obama snubbs allies? do you think that poland would agree he would do that? But it’s nothing to be concerned about because the were granted a meeting in a kitchen, and that were most of Chicago’s politics happen!!!
Posted by: antonybro | September 24, 2009, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
Obama DID meet with Brown! Gordon Brown was interviewed by Brian Williams on the NBC Nightly News Wednesday evening. Prime Minister Brown told Williams that he had met with President Obama on Tuesday night in New York, and that he’ll be meeting with Obama again in Pittsburgh. Has the truth of this matter escaped all the idiots who are making a big deal out of this non-issue? Perhaps ABC News needs to do some additional fact checking, such as watching the interview on the NBC Nightly News website, since it’s right there for everyone to see. C’mon, people! At least get your facts straight before posting inaccuracies on the internet!
Posted by: ottomarcos | September 24, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Wow, BabsNJ, I felt the same way about those who voted for Dubya twice, EXCEPT, I wanted to do more than just slap them. What a shame that people are so stupid when it comes to politics. Politicians, from both “sides” say what the people want to hear. How many of them actually accomplish what they promised? Wake up Everybody!!
Posted by: Devin | September 24, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
PM Brown asked five times for an OFFICIAL meeting. This is not Top Chef or Hells Kitchen. Well, maybe it is.
How can you conduct business in a New York kitchen? Come on.
Sous chefs receive a lot more than that.
If a republican did that, you know the democrats would make this into a hellish debate. Be honest.
If Obama could stop for a few minutes in a New York kitchen, why couldn’t he just meet the gentleman in a conference room down the way a wee bit? That would have been more grown-up.
Pres. Obama is very intelligent and deliberate in his words and actions.
He knew what he was doing.
I don’t think the republicans are saying the snub was wrong. Maybe it was the correct thing to do. I don’t know.
However, don’t say it wasn’t planned.
I know a snub when I see one – whether it was deserved or not.
Posted by: it is what it is - deserved or not | September 24, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
POTUS is snubbing his Commander in Afghanistan. In early Aug, the General sent a 66 page report requesting more troops largely because the war is in jeopardy. So what does the POTUS do? Everything but deal with the General’s request. A month later, nothing. This POTUS has a morale obligation to support the General or, fire him. As is, his refusal to provide the needed troops is contributing to more loss of life and that blood is on his hands. This POTUS is showing his true colors more everyday. Instead, he takes to the networks at an unprecedented rate simply because he enjoys lecturing us; he likes to hear himself talk. Disgraceful.
Posted by: fedup_11 | September 24, 2009, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
I’m not a fan of politicians AT ALL, whether they’re the President or not. Imo, they ALL like to hear themselves talk, make promises and hug babies. I’m glad that I don’t put my hope, praise OR trust in any of the, republican, democrat or otherwise.
WAKE UP EVERYBODY!!
Posted by: Devin | September 24, 2009, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
BTW, WHO CARES WHAT THE REPUBLICANS SAY?
Posted by: Devin | September 24, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
Obama snubs. Who cares? He’s like a little baby. “If I don’t get my way, or I don’t like what you say or write about me, well…I’m going to snub you. I can do it, so I will. Snub FOX (I don’t like it that they don’t grovel at my feet. Why don’t they grovel at my feet like all the rest? I’m gonna snub them.) I will snub all who don’t do as I want.
That’s his thinking. What a looser, baby and irritating guy!
Posted by: keipdog | September 24, 2009, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
Bill Clinton snubbed him too! I’m sure Obama did this at Hillary’s behest. This is too childish and sad,especially since England is such a good friend of our country. SHOWS WHAT THESE DEMOCRATS ARE-ADULT BRATTY CHILDREN. SAD TO SAY.
Posted by: David | September 24, 2009, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
Republicans are very unhappy people. Your man controlled the government for eight years. He had very few successes and many screwups including a war that was totally unwarranted. We now have a President who can’t possibly succeed unless he clean up the total destruction of this country that was left by the Bush administration. It’s very apparent that Repubs dont want him to succeed at cleaning up Bush’s mess because you Repubs cry at every decision that’s made. You might as well get over the fact that Obama won the election because he’s going to be around for awhile. You should want him to succeed so that America can succeed.
Posted by: johnnylee | September 24, 2009, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
This sounds like media desperate for a story in search of a cast. If you want it that bad — pitch it to Ann Sweeny’s group — this time, remember to make up the names to protect the innocent. ….. Accurate Reporting
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Posted by: WISDOM | September 24, 2009, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
Bush made a career out of snubbing. I’m not sure if Obama did or didn’t. But somebody should have over the release of the terrorist. Shame on them. I blame them the most in that one.
Posted by: secondlook | September 24, 2009, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
I think the media basically get hold of anything it can and totally fabricates it to sell papers. Lets face it, no one wants to hear that Obama and Brown and the best of friends and the relationship between the USA and United Kingdom is sound. That wouldn’t sell papers …. As humans, we seem to love scandal.
Posted by: Tracey Moore | September 25, 2009, 12:44 am 12:44 am
The point of the story is not if England deserved to be snubbed.
The point was that England WAS snubbed.
It’s not good or bad. It just IS.
Obama snubbed Brown. End of story.
People on both sides are making too much out of this.
You know what the big deal is? When Obama snubbed Poland and sold them out.
Now, THAT’S the story!
Posted by: Poland - home of Pope John Paul | September 25, 2009, 12:46 am 12:46 am
Obama can sense things are about to change in the UK. Brown will soon be out of office and there is little Obama can thank Brown for. Besides Obama is so busy these days he has little time for anyone. Brown should not feel down.
Posted by: kottaras | September 25, 2009, 1:07 am 1:07 am
Barack is too busy being a superstar instead of a United States President. He has time for Jay Leno, but not another world leader…. He is too busy going on vacations, but not meet with another world leader… too busy acting like a canidate instead of realizing he has already won. Wish he loved his country as much as he loves seeing himself on T.V. and magazine covers!
Posted by: Carol | September 25, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am
All the hate displayed in this country since the Nov election is an embarassment to Good ol America.
Posted by: vanessa penney | September 25, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Brown needs to declare himself a dictator,Muslem,then Obama will not only meet with him he will Bow and give him a man hug.
Posted by: marion | September 25, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Am I the only one concerned for the welfare of the world? These educated ?adults? need to get over their happy selves and combine effore to bring peace,prosperity, and a conjoined respect for the God of their choice. They for the most part all discusting( few exceptions of which obama isn’t one of) selfcentered individuals looking out for their own interests at the expense of the worlds population. We must pray the 2010 elections get here before they destroy our part of this world.
Posted by: tootaoo | September 27, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm