Barack Obama shook the hand of Cuban President Raul Castro on his way to speak at Nelson Mandela's memorial service.
The moment is special and unprecedented since the U.S. has held an economic embargo on Cuba since 1953, and Mandela was praised for his ability to unite enemies across political and racial divides.
During a powerful speech praising Mandela's life, Obama included a line that many thought was aimed at Castro, among others.
"There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people," Obama said.
Yeah but that little jab is not going to be enough to keep the Right Wing from losing their minds over the fact that Obama has shown civility to the brother of a man who Americans are supposed to hate. (And just like Mandela he is a "gasp" communist!)
Yep right now there are Tea Party conservatives stroking their hate inspired little erections getting ready to ejaculate vitriol and anger all over the Right Wing news sites.
P.S. You can watch the President's entire memorial speech here.
Update: Here is President Obama taking a selfie with other world leaders at the Mandela memorial.
I recall John McCain tweeting from a barbecue atQadafi's home. Donald Rumsfield with Sadsm Hussein. Nixon with Mao...nerve and hypocrites. What....They aren't complaining about Obamacare! So I guess this is their outrage du jour.
ReplyDeleteAbout President Obama Shaking Raul Castro’s Hand
DeleteSome hand shakes and other hair raising associations through the years.
Margaret Thatcher and Robert Mugabe
Newt Gingrich, shaking hands with Yasser Arafat
Richard Nixon shaking hands with Mao Zedong
Ronald Reagan shaking hands with Mikhail Gorbachev
Ronald Reagan meets with the Mujahideen
Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein
Henry Kissenger shaking hands with Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet
Winston Churchill shaking hands with Joseph Stalin
George H.W. Bush shaking hands with Hugo Chavez
John McCain shaking and bowing to Gaddafi.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/42855_About_President_Obama_Shaking_Raul_Castros_Hand
Obama's Handshake With Raul Castro Is Only Offensive If You Ignore 75 Years Of History
DeleteThe Twittersphere went wild Tuesday morning, when President Barack Obama exchanged a brief handshake with Cuban President Raúl Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, at the memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela.
The gesture was unplanned, according to the White House, but substantial nonetheless. Fifty years after the Communist revolution that placed Fidel Castro in power, the U.S. and Cuba still share no formal diplomatic relations. And the last time an American president shook hands with a Cuban leader was in 2000, when former President Bill Clinton exchanged greetings with Fidel Castro at a United Nations gathering in New York.
While some viewed Obama's handshake as a symbol of hope for reconciliation with Cuba, and others viewed the exchange as nothing more than diplomatic civility, there were, of course, those that chose to portray it as the latest traitorous act by our socialist commander-in-chief.
But if a handshake is truly an endorsement of every (or any) action undertaken by the other party, the United States really has a lot of explaining to do:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/10/obama-castro-handshake-history_n_4420411.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
President Obama shakes hands with President Castro at Mandela service. Right wing has memory lapse
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/10/1261625/-President-Obama-shakes-hands-with-President-Castro-at-Mandela-service-Right-wing-has-memory-lapse
Once again, our president makes us proud. How deeply fortunate we were in 2008 and again in 2012 to choose this man to lead us:
ReplyDeletePresident Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama received quite the welcome Tuesday at a memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
The crowd inside FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa erupted after the Obamas were shown on the video screens, an ovation that was described as a "deafening roar" in a pool report of the event. The cheering lasted nearly 30 seconds.
The President also drew a thunderous ovation when he approached the podium to deliver remarks in honor of the late South African leader.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obamas-greeted-by-deafening-roar-at-mandela-memorial
Obama's Remarks At Nelson Mandela Memorial As Prepared For Delivery
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/read-obama-s-remarks-at-nelson-mandela-memorial-as-prepared-for-delivery
President Obama’s eulogy of Nelson Mandela was personal. moving, and provided a surprising look inside the president’s soul.
http://www.politicususa.com/2013/12/10/president-obama-peek-soul-eulogy-nelson-mandela.html
President Obama’s Speech at Nelson Mandela Memorial (Full Video and Transcript)
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/full-video-and-prepared-transcript-of-president-obamas-speech-at-nelson-mandela-memorial/
Can't wait to see how the excuses for media in this country covers the reception the President Obama received.
DeleteThey and the republicans are always saying how much the world hates us since Pres was elected.
This photo is BEGGING for a Michelle Obama thought-bubble caption contest...
ReplyDeleteI read some of the wingnut rants earlier at Freakout Nation and AATTP. It seems that republicans are most outraged by the seeming act of Obama "bowing" down to Castro; you know how he is-- always demurring and apologizing to subservient nations and whatnot.
For added perspective, one site included a photo of GWB Jr. getting kissy-faced (literally) with a Middle Eastern leader. Tee-hee. It was kind of hot.
Oh my! Gee, what did the republicans say when Reagan shook the hand of Mobutu Sese Seko:
ReplyDelete"Reagan and the Zairian president met in 1983 over a variety of Central African-related pieces of intrigue. Reagan praised the ruthless dictator for extending amnesty to his political opponents; Mobutu thanked Reagan for Western support. The Zairian dictator was responsible for thousands upon thousands of deaths."
And Donald Rumsfeld (although not president) made friends with Saddam Hussein...
http://www.mediaite.com/online/here-are-all-the-presidential-handshakes-with-murderous-dictators/#2
And Bush kissed the Saudi Prince and held hands with him.
DeleteReagan shook hands with Gorbachev. Reagan visited Russia, the Evil Empire.
DeleteI'm glad President Obama shook hands with Raul Castro. To ignore Castro would have been so ridiculously juvenile (which is what many in the GOP would have done - to ignore Castro). I'm sure the RWNJs will be screaming impeachment after this simple act of civility.
ReplyDeleteI won't watch, but Hannity will be frothing at the mouth tonight.
ReplyDeleteOur President Obama is one class act - something the Republicans in our U.S. Congress NEVER reflect!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I watched his entire eulogy of Nelson Mandela. It was one of his best!
He gives me great pride and I'm thankful I voted for him both times! Too bad the Republicans don't take lessons from the man.
It was especially wonderful hearing the applause President Obama received while at the stadium in South Africa. He is loved and respected in other parts of the world even though the Republicans and some of the media love to state otherwise!
Did you notice that the constant yapper Sarah Palin has been totally silent on the passing of Mandela? Guess she never got over that fling with Glenn Rice
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't even know who Mandela was.
DeleteAccording to Palin's sense of geography, Africa is a country. So, South Africa must be like Mississippi or another southern state. What's the big deal?
DeleteRWNJ's want you to not pay attention to the president's beautiful and moving remarks.
ReplyDeleteJohn McCain should be in the STFU hall of fame after inflicting Sarah Palin on us.
Even the International Media thinks Sarah is a traitor
Delete...Ms Palin’s particular brand of tabloid patriotism leaves out anyone who disagrees with her, beats her in a contest, dares to question her, or has the temerity to actually read and debate important issues. She’s become an international embarrassment:
“If Sarah Palin is not some kind of a massive political joke in the USA, wheeled out to liven up the political scene from time to time with nonsensical and pastiche (one hopes) displays of sheer and utter ignorance, then it is worrying.”
Sarah Palin is the figurehead for an unpatriotic movement here in the United States of America. A movement so bereft of love for this country that they would go to any means to see it fail, in order to elevate themselves into power. A movement which just yesterday met with the democratically elected President of this fine country and then immediately stabbed him in the back in their post-game press conference.
And nestled into this web of traitors is one particularly odious senator, Senator John McCain, upon whose shoulders the blame for this national embarrassment rests. Ms Palin is the front-runner of this group for Presidential candidate in 2012 according to polls. This makes sense, given the Republican Party’s current gamesmanship of our political system, wherein their only goal is to destroy the President – not to lead, not to govern – but to destroy. At any cost necessary.
more...
http://sarahpalinhasaserpentsheart.blogspot.com/2013/12/even-international-media-thinks-sarah.html
Yes, McCain should just shut the fuck up already. Country first, my ass.
DeleteThey're going to try and 'get him' for 'bowing down to Communism' also, too...just watch as see.
ReplyDeleteForget that President Obama is very tall and most of those other guys seem to be rather short...
Oh oh Sarah, they love President Obama when he spoke at Mandela Memorial.
ReplyDeleteBarack Obama shook the hand of Cuban President Raul Castro on his way to speak at Nelson Mandela's memorial service.
ReplyDelete3, 2, 1 Time for Sarah Palin's rhetoric
It's great President Obama shook his hand. It says he's willing to be the diplomat and humble ambassador of peaceful resolutions, and reforge relationships rather than tear and divide and tear down.
DeleteHe does what the "reason for the season" is all about, and doesn't care what the bullies say. Phhhtt to you McCain and Palin.
Hey, what happened to BENGHAZI?
DeleteThe righties are losing it over Obama's "selfie" at the memorial. Seems he showed a lack of respect for that communist terrorist's memory.
ReplyDeleteThey really don't need an excuse to get their panties in a wad do they? Its really getting old and boring!
DeleteThis was as a result of Cameron and another foreign leader asking the Obama if the would mind taking the photo, which they did not.
DeleteThis was as a result of Cameron and another foreign leader asking the Obama if the would mind taking the photo, which they did not.
DeleteWe can always count on the GOP to react with astounding stupidity. This was a funeral, for God's sake, and it was entirely appropriate for President Obama to shake Raoul Castro's hand. I am so glad that President Obama prevailed in both the 2008 and the 2012 elections!
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Hey, I'VE shaken hands with both Fidel and Raul Castro when visiting Cuba on a trade mission in 1977!
ReplyDeleteFidel, at that point, was drop-dead gorgeous and incredibly charming. Loved the ladies and spoke almost perfect English. I chatted for a few minutes one-on-one with him.
Raul, on the other hand, was less good looking and a whole lot less charming! And Raul is short.
...countdown to Rethuglicans calling Obama a communist....
ReplyDelete~Canuck~
Yeah so much for the tempest in the teapot.
ReplyDeletePew: Approval Of Obama, Obamacare Back To Pre-Rollout Levels
The political damage absorbed by President Obama and his signature legislative achievement appears to have subsided, a poll released Tuesday found.
According to the latest Pew Research Center/USA Today poll, Obama's approval rating has finally ended what's been a five-month dip, although his standing is still considerably lower than where it was at the start of the year. The poll showed 45 percent of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing, compared with 49 percent who disapprove.
While that's lower than the 55 percent approval rating Obama boasted in a Pew poll a year ago, it's essentially the same as where it stood before the Affordable Care Act's flawed rollout took a huge political toll.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pew-obama-approval-obamacare-popularity-back-to-pre-rollout-levels
No doubt it will continue to increase as the ACA goes into full effect and more people start realizing the benefits.
DeleteObama Smacks Down The Republican Hysteria Over the Castro Handshake
ReplyDelete...After Republicans like John McCain embarrassed themselves with outrage over the Castro handshake, the White House put out a statement that made them look like even bigger fools.
...The White House had a simple explanation for the handshake that has whipped the right into a frenzy, “Nothing was planned in terms of the president’s role other than his remarks,” Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with Obama. “He really didn’t do more than exchange greetings with those leaders on his way to speak, it wasn’t a substantive discussion.”
Republicans are outraged because President Obama was too polite to Raul Castro at a memorial service. I guess the appropriate response in the Republican mind would have been to ignore the lessons of Mandela, and treat Cuba like a lifetime enemy.
It is silly that the White House had to put out a statement about this, but the media and Republicans ran with it. Republicans went ballistic, because to them this handshake was proof of Obama’s communism. (McCain’s motive was different. He is still bitter over 2008, so he goes out of his way to criticize the president’s foreign policy leadership.) Republicans are petty children who will use anything in their endless attempts to delegitimize this president’s leadership.
Sometimes a handshake is just a handshake, but the Republican barbarians don’t understand manners, so be prepared for lots of talk of this being proof of Obama’s 'commie ways'.
http://www.politicususa.com/2013/12/10/obama-smacks-republican-hysteria-castro-handshake.html
Plus, go back in history and see who McCain has bowed to and shook hands with...on TV MNBC today! Plus, President Bush (the most recent one) did the same thing too!!
DeleteMcCain a total ass and idiot - no different than his previous running mate, Sarah Palin! No wonder he/they lost!
Obama acted like a gentleman. The Republicans act like brats. They aware brats.
DeletePresident Barack Obama's handshake with Cuban leader Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial in South Africa was a spontaneous gesture of greeting and went no further than pleasantries, a White House aide said on Tuesday.
ReplyDelete"Nothing was planned in terms of the president's role other than his remarks," Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with Obama. "He really didn't do more than exchange greetings with those leaders on his way to speak, it wasn't a substantive discussion."
The rare gesture between the leaders of two ideological opponents at the memorial seemed to reflect anti-apartheid hero Mandela's spirit of reconciliation.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-nelson-mandela-memorial-service-20131210,0,703766.story
Okay, that selfie is too cute!
ReplyDeleteHere's what I think. Raul has been watching what has been going on with Iran's president and President Obama and he sees that President Obama is a reasonable man and he positioned himself EXACTLY where he was to make SURE that he shook President Obama's hand and made eye contact and made SURE the President Obama knew who he was. It was a very concerted move on Raul's part, no doubt about it. All the bluster that comes out of that regime has softened over the years and Raul is seeing a possible way 'in', just like Iran. This is the age of diplomacy upon us, ushered in by Barack Obama, the Peace Prize recipient. Raul wants on that train.
ReplyDeleteThis makes complete sense.
DeleteAnd why not, wouldn't it be a great thing to have a thaw in that relationship, and bring more peace and commity to our hemisphere?
DeleteSo just who exactly does the GOP think Raul would impress with this "propaganda coup"?
ReplyDeleteLeave it to republicans to be upset that our President missed an opportunity to make an arrogant political gesture in front of the entire world at a solemn event recognizing the life of a historic leader.
McCain forgets his name was "Song Bird." John McCain forgets most of his life.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/12/10/john-mccain-al-qaeda-fighters/
Photos of George W. Bush and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia walking around holding hands and GWB kissing the Prince.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/search?q=George+Bush+photo+Crown+Prince+of+Saudi+Arabia.&rlz=1T4GGRP_enUS503US505&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=QLGnUqKwEcrgqAHWzIBI&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1078&bih=333&dpr=1.25
Typical day for Barry Obama
ReplyDeleteHanging out with terrorists and communists
Are you including George and Laura Bush in that group of terrorists and communists?
DeleteAbout President Obama Shaking Raul Castro's Hand... http://lgf.bz/1cnpNFh
ReplyDeleteOther U.S. Presidents and Political Leaders Shaking Hands With Commies and Evildoers http://thedailybanter.com/2013/12/other-u-s-presidents-and-political-leaders-shaking-hands-with-evildoers/#.UqfSImKEh8k.twitter
Includes Gerald Ford, Newt Gingrich, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Donald Rumsfeld, George H.W. Bush, John McCain, Gorge W. Bush.
If this is all that the right wing has, they are in very bad shape.
ReplyDeleteIf the President had refused to shake Castro's hand, the right would be screaming about how he embarrassed us in front of the world. There's just no way he can win with those asshats.
ReplyDeleteThis was a celebration of an extraordinary man who dedicated his life to bringing equality to people and forgiving even the most egregious of sins against him.
ReplyDeleteRefusing to shake Castro's hand on that public stage, in front of the entire world, would have been an unforgivable insult to Mandela's memory and everything he'd dedicated his life to achieving.
But I don't expect people who have the emotional maturity of a spoiled 2-year-old (AKA Republicans) to understand that.
I'm surprised Sarah Lou hasn't had something to say about this. I guess she will eventually.....once she's been faxed the talking points!
ReplyDelete