By Michael S. Johnson
Foreign Dignitaries Who Should Brush up on Their Manners
Mexican President Felipe Calderon came to the United states on May 21st, stepped up to the podium on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, and condemned the people of Arizona.
It is one thing for the President of the United States to criticize the Arizonans. It is yet another for a foreign head of state. It is yet another for a foreign head of state to do it in the United States. It is yet another for a foreign head of state to do it while exercising a rare privilege afforded to only a very few Americans, let alone foreigners–to speak before the Congress of the United States from the podium of the people’s House.
Rock legend Paul McCartney was awarded the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Award at the White House a week or so ago. Standing in our White House, accepting an award from our President McCartney, I guess emboldened by Calderon, took the opportunity to insult former President Bush, saying at least he was getting the award from a President who knew what a library was. He could have at least waited until he got outside.
More on Arizona
President Calderon’s impertinence paled in comparison to the impenitence of Assistant Secretary of State Mike Posner, who repeatedly described the Arizona legislation as a “troubling trend in our society” to none other than the Chinese, at none other than a human rights conference. Why does he still have his job?
Joe Biden
Our Vice President continued the slaps at the U.S. in Belgium a couple of weeks ago. He said in prepared remarks that “Brussels probably now qualified for the capital of the free world,” a title Americans have assumed and taken pride in for a long time. Prepared remarks. Think about it.