Too tired to give Gordon Brown a proper welcome

Why must we rely on foreign media to report any news that may shed a bad light on Barack Obama? Members of the media in this country still are still in cheerleading mode.

A report from the UK says:

Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president was facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.

More on Mr. Obama’s shabby treatment of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (pictured) can be found here.

The Sunday Telegraph report continues:

Sources close to the White House say Mr. Obama and his staff have been "overwhelmed" by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.

British officials felt that the Prime Minister should have been granted a full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary.

They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British Prime Minister.

But Washington figures, with access to Mr. Obama's inner circle, explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.

Has any other president complained about being exhausted and how hard the job is?

Allies of Mr. Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president's surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.

A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr. Obama's inner circle, expressed concern that Mr. Obama had failed so far to "even fake an interest in foreign policy".

Could this mean that Mr. Obama is just now finding out that demands more than just voting “present” as he did as a Senator in Illinois. Much of the time he was a Senator in Washington, he was campaigning and making other public appearances.

Snubbing the British Prime Minister was rude. The White House occupants and staff appear to have poor manners and little grasp of protocol.

Joe Biden’s statement referring to Barack Obama during the primary campaign saying “The White House is no place for on-the-job-training” seem very prophetic now.

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