How many gaffes can President Obama - the man once dubbed by a Newsweek cover as "god of all things" - make in one day?
By all counts, at least two.
One would think that the President would be familiar with protocol surrounding toasts to the Queen of England, but one could be wrong.
President Obama is apparently taking his royal etiquette cues from the movie King Ralph. During a reception with the queen, the president violated protocol by offering his toast before the band played "God Save the Queen." The end of his toast was cut off by the band who, we should note, INTERRUPTED THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WITH A SONG. Earlier, the president signed the Westminster Abbey's distinguished visitor book with the date, "24 May 2008." Whoops. Maybe it's his Kenyan anti-colonial sympathies?
According to ABC News' Jake Tapper:
When the president toasted the Queen the orchestra misunderstood a pause and what seemed to be a cue from the president for “God Save the Queen” to begin playing.
“Ladies and gentlemen please stand with me and raise your glasses as I propose a toast,” the president said, putting down his note cards and grabbing his glass. “To her majesty the Queen.”
“The vitality –" Obama said as the orchestra began playing a tune Americans would recognize as "My Country 'Tis of Thee."
Instead of remaining silent, the President continued:
“ -- of the special relationship between our peoples and for the words of Shakespeare to this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,” the president said as the awkward moment played out.
The Queen looked ahead as the UK anthem played.
“To the Queen,” the president finally said.
He lifted his glass to her, she smiled a bit uncomfortably.
Following protocol, no one raised their glass or took a drink. Finally, the President set his glass down until the song was finished.
While such matters of etiquette may be somewhat unfamiliar to Americans, one would think the President of the United States would have staff on hand to advise him of such things. Or maybe a special teleprompter.
One cannot wait to see how certain media personalities spin this royal faux pas.
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