Gordon Brown Faces Humiliation After Obama 'Snub'

Downing Street is looking to avoid potential humiliation after the White House scaled down the profile of Gordon Brown's first formal meeting with Barack Obama.

While the Prime Minister is expected to hold nearly two hours of talks with the US president, the White House has categorically ruled out a traditional joint press conference before the White House media. After overnight protests from British diplomats, the White House agreed to allow journalists into the Oval Office later for a brief round of questions after the talks.

Gordon Brown's officials have played down the significance of the decision and deny the Prime Minister is being snubbed. However, the move will distinctly lessen the prestige of the PM's coup of becoming the first European leader invited to Washington for talks with Obama since his inauguration in January.

That Obama will find time to meet with the Boy Scouts of America later this afternoon is sure to add to the embarrassment.

The trip is in marked contrast to the hospitality lavished on Tony Blair by George Bush when they met for the first time.

Related article: Brown takes gift to Obama and hopes for finance pact

Read more from the Independent.

Comments

[foresight]

G20 What a Joke Your on your own as far a American Loyalist are concerned.

[foresight]

British Imperialists Stay out of US affairs. "DON'T TREAD ON ME"

[NewHampshireUSA]

On the Contrary, many of us US citizens are also insulted by Obama's actions to Mr Brown and the UK. I don't think it is proper to treat your guest the way Obama did, Mr Brown was not just a guest to Obama, but to the American People. The gift that was given back, Churchhill's bust was also an insult to the American people, Obama had no right to give it back, it was given to the American people and should have remained. I thank you for the gift. I also think it was rather dumb of Obama to give DVD's as a gift to Mr. Brown ( how cheap) I really hope Obama will not remain that simple minded in the future...or were all in trouble.

I also want to thank all those who have stood by the US through the years. Our Nation is in termoil and we hope your still their when and if we come out of it, and remember, not all Americans support the actions to the UK by Obama. You have been our allie, our friend when no one else was their and more important..."Our Mother" .

So to the UK, from our family to yours, were sorry about the Rude behavior and we condemn such actions by Obama.

[foresight]

Since you are apparently historically Ignorant I suggest you go to: http//www.rense.com

Are you a left over Tory hiding out in New Hampshire. You can always love America or go back to your roots. Quite frankly my ancestors left those roots and defended their land at lexington and concord to keep from being exploited by the parasitic British who have unfortunately left their bad habits here and continue to hound us.

[Avigdor]

It's all over the British press. They whole country's so offended.

[MsIrisMG]

I was taught that when you're invited to someone's house you take a small gift, and you accept what's given to you with grace whether you like it or not. Apparently, the Brits were never taught this.

[garystartswithg]

the british are a great bunch that we inherited a lot of our culture from. snide comments about the host are just a small part of british culture. americans never do that - do they? maybe the pm will regift the dvds back to obama for christmas.

i think if you are going to get pissy about getting dvds you should at least release the titles.

[MsIrisMG]

I'm sure I don't understand the hubbub. Unless Gordon Brown's two sons are gay, why wouldn't they enjoy a model of Marine One to play with? Are British boys THAT different?!

I say don't give the Brits doodly squat, or even invite them back, if they're going to be that petty about it. I want to hear from Mr. and Mrs. Brown themselves that they were disappointed in the gifts their kids received. Otherwise, I feel the Obamas did the right thing. THEY'RE CHILDREN and you don't give kids expensive things, especially in these economic times!

Doesn't anybody have common sense anymore?!

[TribunusPlebis]

Barack Obama paid Gordon Brown the ultimate compliment: He engaged him in serious talks, and did not insult the intelligence of the British people by engaging him in ostentatious, public relations-oriented, national ego-flattering activities. This whole flap about a "snub" is a deliberate concoction of The Daily Telegraph and other conservative newspapers in London to damage both Brown and Obama. It's also no doubt satisfying to Angophiliacs among conservative Republicans, who believe that every conceivable foreign-policy decision by an American president should channel Churchill at the moment he damned Chamberlain's Munich agreement. Right though Churchill was on that occasion, that and later Churchill wartime speeches have been trumpeted and re-celebrated by conservative Republicans for 60 years in part to help subordinate the memory of the Western leader without whose leadership World War II most definitely would not have been won: Franklin Roosevelt. Anyone who thinks that Obama snubbed Brown is succumbing to yet another right-wing attempt to trash leaders such as Obama who won't play by their ideological rules as either incompetent or treasonous.

[Radarman]

Did anyone mention the Brits use a different TV standard than we do. Those DVDs won't even play over there.

[foresight]

Apparently you are uaware of who is zooming who. look at: The final Trump over America at
http//www.rense.com

[kkvh4026]

I'm from Britain, and whilst I don't particulary like Brown, or opposition leader Cameron, or Blair (mostly because of their foreign policy in allowing it to be dictated by America to drag us into pointless wars), Obama was simply rude to Brown.
I don't take any offense to the gifts exchanged, but it was the way they had been against the traditional talk at the podium and refusing to be associated with the British falg that was insulting. Britain's been nothing more than accomodating to America when it's been the most unpopular country in the last decade, and our leaders have foolishy been prepared to sacrifice their political careers for the sake of uncoditionally supporting America.
Yet Obama is behaving as if Britain dragged America into the war, and is expecting Britain to again be the biggest contributer to his Afghanistan and Pakistan war on terror. What arrogance. He's as bad as Bush when it comes to taking Britain for granted.

This will hopefully make it easier for Brown to be pressured to be less accomodating to the american people and listen to the British people for a change who don't want the economy and lives to be lost in their pointless war.

[kkvh4026]

I know there are more important things than hospitality. And I'm glad there wasn't such a biog lavish dinner etc. but Obama was enthusiastic about visiting the Queen at Buckingham Palace and large crowds in Britain to welcome him which is hardley a serious event on the same day as the G20 summit.
I'm just not happy at how he seemed to go out of his way to humilate Brown and Britain, yet still expect our economy and national security to be dammaged in their pointless war. Although the British leaders desire to be liked by the US President is in itself embarrassing as most Brits will say.

[antaeus]

If the 51st state means to go on whining, then we should take away its vote.

[Gunga-Din]

The UK newspapers are furious. Fact: Obama despise England and the Churchill traditions.

[MS]

Obama did NOT Snub Brown!
Obama did not arrange a blowhard press conference with Brown, as Bush used to do -- and that is a SNUB??
Come on, guys! This is silly trivia.

The LA Times also concludes there is no snub:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/03/obama-britain.html

WHEE: Another Enquirer-HuffPost headline that has no basis in the story!!

[K-Dog76]

MS maybe you should read a British paper, they sure feel like Obama snubbed Brown.

[Cinnamongyrl]

Why do you guys like to make a mountain out of a mole hill?

[Cinnamongyrl]

Brown is not even liked in the UK.

[eva belle]

Payback is indeed a female dog..

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obama-is-uninspiring-says-british-ambassador-to-america-949853.html

[AKJM]

Thanks.
I was wondering, after saying that D.C. should get Chicago tough about snow, what was going on.