Obama Returns Churchill Bust To England: British Press Sees Snub

Newsweek:

Has America's even- tempered new president already ruffled feathers in the land that spawned Borat and Benny Hill? That's certainly how the spiky British press responded after the White House sent back to the British Embassy a bust of Sir Winston Churchill that had occupied a cherished spot in President Bush's Oval Office. Intended as a symbol of transatlantic solidarity, the bust was a loaner from former British prime minister Tony Blair following the September 11 attacks. A bust of Abraham Lincoln--Obama's historical hero--now sits in its place. A White House spokesperson says the Churchill bust was removed before Obama's inauguration as part of the usual changeover operations, adding that every president puts his own stamp on the Oval Office.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[MocksNix]

Obama is simply trying to insert himself into the "Holy Trinity" of Lincoln, Churchill and Bush.
Move on folks, there is nothing to see here.

[AndThenOneDay]

Lincoln, Churchill, and Bush are a trinity? Where? You seem to be trying to give Obama a dig. Why don't you start by having a point and proceed from there.

[FanofPaine]

Don't sully Lincoln's good name in your supposed Trinity. He actually did something good for this country.

[MRb1000]

They need to get over it we won along time ago! How quickly they forget! This is America! This is our country last time I check.

[ZimboChick]

Ar r r ia n n u need to check r ppl

d a m n!

[lmnop13]

Where was the uproar? I read it, and most of the article was a brush off. Sometimes the headlines here are...weird.

[Tim303]

How typically pretentious and poodle-ish of Blair. Good riddance to it I say.

[Seattlelite]

What's the big deal, every President has the right to display "their" role model. President Obama made it known on many occasions which leader is his role model and it wasn't Churchill.

[SouthPrairie]

Much ado about nothing.

[wonkguy]

Ok, moving on...

[LeftLeanWing]

Just give the head to Prince Harry so he can put a funny hat on it and some sunglasses

[Girl28]

I'm sure there's at least one portrait of George W. Bush in the White House. The president should send it to England in order to assuage any hurt feelings. Put a big red bow on it and tell them they can keep it. Cheerio!

[mayan2012]

don't forget THE shoe!

[kareemachan]

Shoes.

[zizi]

Well, the article says it was removed before the inauguration. But even if it wasn't, President Obama has every right to send it back. Churchill presided over the worst British atrocities in Kenya during the colonial era, which directly had an adverse impact on President Obama's grandfather. Read about it in _Dreams from My Father_. The British should know that their actions have consequences. They did not know that the descendants of those they subjugated during their era of imperial expansion would one day pay them back. What goes around comes around

[Viper]

Actually they did, starting with ther Boston Tea party... just slow learners

Regards

[JZ735]

Pure BS...take a hike.

[Tim303]

Why do you Republibans think Churchill was so cool? The Brits voted him out in a massive landslide at the end of WWII, ushering in National Health.

[coachcharles]

"What goes around comes around"??? zizi, your post presented some interesting points. but the final sentence reminded me of the "type" of people who voted for our current President. Imperial expansion, and subjugeted descendants are no longer an issue. "If" O's grandfather suffered under Churchill, his suffering is over. It's about time that citizens address the now. It's about time for Americans to do what Americans do best. History has shown our great country has rebounded from every challenge (whether domestic or abroad) and have become stronger because of it. It's time for "We the People" to look forward. Learn from our past but don't muddle in it. Work towards a better tomorrow for our country, our children, and generations to come. "What comes around goes around???" Our country will "come around" again!

[OverIt]

It's one thing to BE "over it", and quite another to display a bust of the man in a place of honor! Given the circumstances, I think President Obama made an honest call.

[Ajegunle]

CHURCHILL IS W. BUSH'S HERO, NOT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S.



PRESIDENT OBAMA PREFERS A TRUE AMERICAN GROWN HERO TO IDOLIZE.

[Viper]

It was loaner, not a gift in the first place.... Your suppose to return what you borrow.

Regards

[dadw5boys]

Churchhill needs to be home !!!!

[hortonhearsawho2]

tea is getting cold...

[JZ735]

NOPE! Maybe Obama needs to be if he can't get what a great man is...Lincoln was great, but Obama's affinity to him is non-existent.

[Tim303]

Churchill gassed the Kurds before Saddam did.

[bjammin]

Oh, get over it, English gutter-press.

Where was your red-faced outrage over Bush constantly invoking "Churchillian' resolve as an excuse not to admit he was engaged in the wrong course of action? To constantly proclaim himself to be just like Churchill when invading Iraq?

Churchill was an inspiring leader, and for his ability to enable Britian to endure the Blitz alone, he is one of the great world figures of history. But he was a complete disaster when involved in military affairs. Gallipoli was probably the best example of this. He was also drunk a lot of the time, and held some pretty ugly views on race. He was no saint.

And Obama can put whoever he wants in the White House. You don't get a say.

[JZ735]

Slap Obama upside the head, British press...go to it!

[Tim303]

British conservative press, that is. Others are embarrassed of Churchill.