Mr. Manners: What Obama Teaches Us About Excellent Etiquette (SLIDESHOW)

Most public figures learn to dread what photographs might reveal about them, but President and Mrs. Obama make the grade as ambassadors for our country. Their exemplary manners are caught on camera repeatedly enough to clearly be habit and not just for show. After all, manners aren't just for special occasions--though the Obamas attend plenty of those. The best manners come through seamlessly in the little things that make up everyday life, as shown in the many examples below.

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Men don’t hold chairs for women because they're helpless; they do it as a sign of respect and to be attentive—both signs of a good leader.

Comments

[Formeralaskangal]

Okay, I have to say I find the last photo of him with the napkin under his chin completely adorable! He's gearing up to enjoy a big bowl of some kind of soup/stew/gumbo, and not wanting to mess his shirt and tie. He looks a bit like a kid. Very cute! The Obamas are gracious, classy, and really down to earth.

As for the other napkin shot, yes, he was raised well. My child has excellent manners, but try to get a 4-year old to ditch the sleeve and use a napkin is a battle I have not won.

[samilli3]

Trolls trolls trolls....can't accept the fact that there is actually a man 10 times better than what they can ever be....what amazes me is why do they read anything about the Presient if they don't like him? I don't watch fox news, i don't read conservative blogs and i don't care about anythng a republican has to say..unless he /she is educated and open minded...because i don't care so why are they here?

Love you President Obama....

[roshni]

Co-sign.

[tokitori]

He's wonderful.

[shimari]

My favorite picture of Mr Obama is by Callie Shell for Time Magazine. He is on the campaign trail, in a diner, with some press waiting for him outside. While finishing up an ice cream cone, he absent-mindedly cleans up a dribble of ice cream on the diner's counter with his napkin. This is the sort of thing that cannot be faked. Others in politics have people to clean up after them -- Mr Obama cleans up his own messes. We are so lucky to have this man as our representative to the world.

[JeanUK]

I HAVE TO SEE THIS.

Can he get any better?

[Alicia Edwards]

Nobody is saying that Obama is perfect. Ms. Post is saying(quite correctly) that Obama exudes style and grace.

[Mark99]

Finally, we have a president who isn't a colossal suffocating embarrassment to us all. The cretins who snipe at these photos provide a stark contrast to Obama's class and finesse -- a contrast that shows how badly some parts of our society has decayed.

[heamck]

In my 56 years on this earth, I have constantly been reminded that......... if something looks too good to be true, it probably (and usually) is.......

[roshni]

How sad........

[sasidechick]

Sheesh...the man has manners. That's it. I would hate to have lived your 56 years if you can't even read an article and look at pictures of someone demonstrating social skills without having something to whine about it.

[faithnj]

roflol. here, we see picture after picture of a man pulling out chairs for various women, shaking hands, and carrying flowers to his wife, and you can't believe he has good manners? to me that says you've lived 56 years and basically what you've learned is that you can't believe your own two eyes. get thee to an optometrist.

[Wiseup2Day]

Syle and class and etiquette? He has given the Prime Minister of Britain the wrong gift dvd's that don't work in england..the Queen a ridiculous, ipod..and Michelle did not follow ettiquett when she touched the Queen..Nope..they need more schooling.

[stimpy]

Whoa! Obama's protocol people don't understand the region code issues with DVD's? That is tragic!

Also, the Queen touched Mrs. Obama first, so Mrs. Obama was following protocol. And the Queen asked for the iPod.

Now where's that video of Bush running around looking drunk with a roll stuffed in his mouth and giving the German Chancellor a shoulder rub? It's probably next to the one of his dad throwing up in the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister.

[stimpy]

"The US State Department has published a list of all the gifts given by foreigners in 2007 to George Bush. As Alexander Chancellor noted in The Guardian, the list doesn't say much for the intelligence and imagination of world leaders."

"Says Chancellor: "It is difficult to imagine what either British prime minister intended with these gifts; it is even harder to guess what was in the mind of Vladimir Putin when he gave Bush a book of English sonnets, 16th to 19th century, which he obviously would never read, and utterly mystifying why the president of Vietnam gave him an electric harp, which he most definitely would never play.""

http://www.moneyweek.com/spending-it/blowing-it/421-dress-for-success-but-dont-look-too-professional-42138.aspx

[JanineMarie]

You obviously only read rethug talking points. Otherwise you would know that the President got ALL of the Queen's favorite songs on that Ipod, which very few people know about. He did his research.

But that's what happens when you suck wind from a cesspool.

[escapee]

Style and class.... what a refreshing change! Thank you sir, you do us proud!

[ywcachieve]

I love my president.

[Frenchy9]

I love your President!
Intelligence and good manners.
Finesse.
Control over himself --in a natural way.
Creative: thinking out of the box.
Persistent.
Super charming, because he loves humanity.
Waou! Even he is President, he is like a friend!

[1laingirl]

I just returned from league bowling and was feeling quite low as one woman on the opposing team, out of nowhere, starting spewing S$$t about our President Obama. I couldn't believe it and was at a complete loss for words as I would never speak as she did. When I came home, the first thing I wanted to do was to read something nice and surround myself with others who love our President. He is a class act and I'm very proud of him and his lovely wife and children. I appreciate this article.

[johndoug]

I've been struggling with this same situation for 8 years! Here in Kentucky people just assume everyone is a Republican and don't hesitate in a group to talk trash about Obama or Dems generally. It is completely rude. My advice is to calmly state "I think Obama's terrific" and leave it at that. Democrats shouldn't shy away from letting bafoonish Republicans know that we are proud of our president, but we should do it without being confrontational. You don;t have to stoop to defending garbage attacks directly.

[Frenchy9]

Very good advice.
Stand but but not confront: some one might shoot you.

[jham710]

Excellent advice. I sometimes have a tough time keeping my mouth shut when I hear people bad mouth the President with only talking points and no real grasp of anything. I'll try to remember your advice and use it in the future. Thank you!

http://www.thehamandlegsshow.com

[MysticMichael]

Some people just can't grasp how much better we've got it now. Apparently they'd prefer to go back to the dark old days of GWB. Oh well, there's no accounting for taste. Or lack thereof...

[Confused1]

Proper etiquette? Are you serious? The man gave the Prime Minister of Great Britain a basket of CD's. He gave the Queen of England an Ipod. He grovelled before the King of Saudi Arabia. He apologized for the country while overseas saying WE were arrogant. He needs to take a long look in the mirror to see the epitome of arrogance. He hasn't a clue as to proper etiquette. He is a rube.

[yorkriver1]

Those stories were oversimplified, then became the generally accepted take on the gifts, which were actually well thought out and received. Here is Fox News expanding the story, that the ipod was actually requested by the queen, and contained video and recordings that are meaningful to her.
Fox:
BRET BAIER (host): Major, my wife tells me I'm not the best gift giver, but after President Obama gave Prime Minister Brown the set of DVDs that didn't work in Great Britain, we hear that he gave the queen an iPod?

MAJOR GARRETT (Fox News senior White House correspondent): Yes, a video iPod, which we are told by White House staff the queen requested. She has an audio iPod, but not a video iPod.

What's on it? A video of her 2007 trip to the United States -- meaning Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Plus, also, on the audio side of that iPod, composer Richard Rogers, some of his famous American hits. And it's signed. And we're told it went over pretty well with the queen. Bret.

[yorkriver1]

Listening carefully to the actual speeches, Obama has told every country where apologies have been made that while we have done some things that may require apology, we won't be accepting entire responsibility, or tolerate being bullied over these things. He has mentioned our own unfair treatment by other countries. He is showing respect and asking for it in return, along with making appeals for dialogue. Granted, some countries may not be capable of that, but it will have to play out a bit first. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it seems to me that bristling with antagonism isn't the ideal approach on the world stage. I am aware that radical elements are perhaps beyond talking to, but the threat is there whether we rattle our sabers first, or attempt to find at least some common ground.

[FPElitist]

Obama is a true gentleman. What a refreshing change from someone who gave an uninvited shoulder rub to a head of state.

[babina]

How about when he cleaned his glasses with the producer's dress at Late Show with David Letterman? Classic Bush class....none.

[Annoula]

And how about when he told Tony Blair with his mouth full of food something about "...if Syria could stop this s__t..." while Lebanon was being bombed by the Israeli army...????

[babina]

What a class act our president is. I am so filled with pride. It feels great.

Ms. Post, I am especially grateful for the napkin photo and caption. My biggest pet peeve is when people lick their fingers while eating. It truly is an revolting habit. Then they grab the ketchup, mustard, stick their hands in a bowl of chips, etc. and make it worse. Why can't people use napkins? When did this disgusting habit become acceptable?

Please fellow Americans, use your napkins! Your unsanitary way of cleaning your fingers while eating is disgusting to others. Have some class!

[stimpy]

In defense of American's, unless one is eating ribs or chicken wings (messy finger food), it isn't considered polite here to lick one's fingers.

It IS considered okay to lick you dinner companion's fingers. But only if they offer them first and ask you to do so.

[LadyBeryl]

I love MY President and his family. In the mist of these horrific economic times, every time I read or hear something about them, I find myself smiling broadly. I can't get enough. They are better than Shirley Temple during the Great Depression.