By Carter Clews
Something has gone wrong, terribly wrong, for the self-declared “citizen of the world” and savior of mankind. From the Caribbean Sea to the Blue Danube, former supplicants are now beginning to question not only the infallibility of the El Caudillo Obameister, but even his integrity and demeanor, as well.
Here’s how the Associated Press reported on the Cubano reaction to Barack Obama’s much-applauded (by Barack Obama) performance at the Copenhagen Hot Eartherfest:
Top Cuban Official Says Obama Lied in Copenhagen
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 21, 2009
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s foreign minister called President Barack Obama an ”imperial and arrogant” liar Monday for his conduct at the U.N. climate conference, a reflection of the communist island’s increasingly fiery verbal attacks on the U.S. government.
Bruno Rodriguez spent an hour and a half lambasting Obama’s behavior in Copenhagen, telling a news conference, ”at this summit, there was only imperial, arrogant Obama, who does not listen; who imposes his positions and even threatens developing countries.”
He called the summit ”a fallacy, a farce” and said Washington used back-room deals and strong-arm tactics to foist on the world a deal that he labeled ”undemocratic” and ”suicidal” because it urges — but does not require — major polluters to make deeper emissions cuts.
Rodriguez also said Cuba and other poor nations have refused to recognize the agreement because they weren’t permitted to participate in its development.
He singled out comments Obama made during a news conference in Copenhagen, when the U.S. president said no agreement had yet been reached but he was confident one would before the summit ended. ”Obama knew he was lying, that he was deceiving public opinion,” the foreign minister said.
Whew, not good. Not good at all for the man Hugo Chavez once said he and Fidel Castro had embraced as “Comrade Obama.”
But, the bad news doesn’t stop there. Several thousands miles away, in the land that prides itself on lockstep decorum, the Obermeister has also offended the sensibilities of those who once gathered at the Brandenburg Gate to salute his every pose. Here’s how Die Welt described the man they now consider … well, let’s face it, something of a rube:
Von D. Wetzel und G. Lachmann 19. Dezember 2009, 13:17 Uhr
The collapse of the climate negotiations in Copenhagen is a serious defeat for US President Barack Obama at the international level. He and Chancellor Angela Merkel left before achieving a serious result. Worse, he let the Chinese make him look like a fool…
Instead a fiasco had begun making itself visible and felt. It began during the night of Friday and Saturday. A small group of negotiators assembled from among the 30 important and representative countries, among them Germany, were still discussing the main features and principles to be included in a twelve-point document. It was titled “The Copenhagen Accord” and consisted of a three-page collection of vague aims, without specific legally-binding goals that were to be achieved…
According to rumors in the Bella Center, US President Barack Obama at about 11 PM, had impatiently asked to speak with Wen Jiabao in order to advance the discussion. But Obama had to wait. Wen, who, it was rumored, had rarely left his hotel room, could not be found. Finally, the US delegation located him in a room set aside for negotiations. A visibly furious Obama, according to reports, stormed into the room. “Are you now ready to talk with me, Premier Wen?” he was reported to have shouted. “Are you now ready? Premier Wen, are you now ready to talk with me?” What a scene for a US president.
Ouch! Schlechte Manieren (bad manners). Very schlechte Manieren.
Perhaps the next time Mr. Obama pulls on his overcoat, scarf, gloves, and long underwear to save the day at a global warming conference, the First Lady might want to stitch this easy-to-remember rhyme on the inside of his cuff: “Always tell the truth/And never be uncouth.”
Happy to be of help, El Caudillo Obameister.
Carter Clews is the Executive Editor of ALG News.
