Barack Obama 'too tired' to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown

The London Telegraph ^ | March 7, 2009 | Tim Shipman

[2ndDivisionVet]

Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president has facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.

Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been "overwhelmed" by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.

British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister.

But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama's inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.

Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president's surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.

A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama's inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to "even fake an interest in foreign policy".

A British official conceded that the furore surrounding the apparent snub to Mr Brown had come as a shock to the White House. "I think it's right to say that their focus is elsewhere, on domestic affairs. A number of our US interlocutors said they couldn't quite understand the British concerns and didn't get what that was all about."

[cfrels]

I understand that he has some 1200 white house staff...plus all the state dept. people...NO ONE KNEW THE "protocall" for an important visitor???

I suspect what we have here is that our "dear leader" is a megalomaniac and doesn't take direction or even suggestions too well....

[jonno]

"There's nothing special about Britain. You're just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn't expect special treatment."

I just saw this quote. Is it possible that this is accurate? If so, I have truly overestimated the intelligence of this crowd...

[AfterManyASummer]

I wonder if polio-ridden FDR was “too tired” to treat Churchill’s office with the respect it deserves.

He has a chip on his shoulder because his father and paternal grandfather were communist Kenyans. Not even Hillary Clinton would stoop this low.