General Discussion

bigtree

(94,375 posts) Wed Jan 28, 2015, 02:58 PM Jan 2015

Criticism of First Lady for Not Wearing Head Scarf; Shaking Hands With Saudi King [View all]

from CNN:

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama made a quick stop in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pay respects to the late King Abdullah, and to hold meetings with the new leader, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. But one aspect of the encounter stood out to reporters covering the receiving line at the palace: the first lady shook hands with the king.

Obama also did not cover her head, eschewing strict religious and cultural customs in Saudi Arabia...

bennydiego ‏@bennydiego 2h2 hours ago
Maybe conservatives are so upset at #MichelleObama because she's not white?

63 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Criticism of First Lady for Not Wearing Head Scarf; Shaking Hands With Saudi King [View all] bigtree Jan 2015 OP

Dan Quayle didnt bow to the new Japanese emperor either Telcontar Jan 2015 #1

Fox Gonna Criticize This Too? billhicks76 Jan 2015 #49

and if Michelle had covered her head Terra Alta Jan 2015 #2

agree! yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #7

If she covered her head, they'd be saying she's a secret Muslim CanonRay Jan 2015 #38

Exactly nxylas Jan 2015 #46

I remember that very well. Terra Alta Jan 2015 #57

Re: They'd be broadcasting it as evidence that Michelle is, also, a "secret Muslim." leveymg Jan 2015 #58

On Ed Schultz I also watched that she did not reach out to shake hands but waited for the Saudis jwirr Jan 2015 #3

Something I learned interacting with Orthodox men of any persuasion is to wait for them ... Hekate Jan 2015 #27

Who exactly is criticizing her? B2G Jan 2015 #4

People who were going to criticize her Aerows Jan 2015 #8

The criticism is coming from Saudi Arabia, not the US B2G Jan 2015 #10

Also, conservatives on social media. JaneyVee Jan 2015 #45

Nope B2G Jan 2015 #47

Lucky you. I have. JaneyVee Jan 2015 #48

What hashtag? B2G Jan 2015 #50

You don't need a hashtag to write on social media. JaneyVee Jan 2015 #52

Well do you have any links? B2G Jan 2015 #53

It's not really worth my time to go back and... JaneyVee Jan 2015 #54

Oh, OK. nt B2G Jan 2015 #55

Yeah, not sure about that either. Nobody directly involved has complained, so closeupready Jan 2015 #11

Wait, I think I get it - yet another non-story that can be exploited to bash Islam. closeupready Jan 2015 #13

Probably the same people who are upset with critics of Chris Kyle tenderfoot Jan 2015 #35

"Critics took issue when he bowed in front of Saudi King Abdullah at a G20 meeting in 2009" Takket Jan 2015 #5

apparently, it was wrong for Obama to bow to King Abdullah Terra Alta Jan 2015 #15

Yeah, it was wrong to bow Telcontar Jan 2015 #24

Did you forget the sarcasm smiley? Hekate Jan 2015 #30

No, why? Telcontar Jan 2015 #36

In some cultures it's considered polite to bow to each other. Lochloosa Jan 2015 #41

In some. Not in Saudi Arabia Telcontar Jan 2015 #51

American Presidents are not royalty Terra Alta Jan 2015 #59

Americans bow to no one Telcontar Jan 2015 #60

I bow to elderly Japanese. It's only good manners. POTUS is very tall; in order to shake hands... Hekate Jan 2015 #61

she's not a muslim so screw them. nt m-lekktor Jan 2015 #6

I'm fine with what she did. She's fine with what she did. The Saudi's are fine with what she did. closeupready Jan 2015 #9

Exactly. HappyMe Jan 2015 #12

conservatives have a problem with it Terra Alta Jan 2015 #17

Meh. No matter what she did HappyMe Jan 2015 #18

The really don't, this is made up bullshit B2G Jan 2015 #20

No they don't. I challenge you to find anywhere on the net that shows they do. Demit Jan 2015 #21

Yeah, the hashtag all of these reporters are referrencing B2G Jan 2015 #23

Even TWITCHY is giving her props. Demit Jan 2015 #39

Yep, one issue we finally all agree on B2G Jan 2015 #42

They can keep their damn Dark Ages morality that women are inferior and unclean. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2015 #14

I am proud of her choice. Baitball Blogger Jan 2015 #16

shame SHAME NightWatcher Jan 2015 #19

That guy next to Condi Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2015 #32

The critics can hifiguy Jan 2015 #22

given how sensitive Republicans are about respecting Islamic culture - criticism should be expected. Douglas Carpenter Jan 2015 #25

Uh, you forgot the sarcasm tag, right? B2G Jan 2015 #26

I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary this time Douglas Carpenter Jan 2015 #28

Lol. You just never know these days. nt B2G Jan 2015 #29

Saudis themselves surely don't expect foreign women treestar Jan 2015 #31

This message was self-deleted by its author benld74 Jan 2015 #33

Who is the woman standing behind Michelle Obama, truebluegreen Jan 2015 #34

She is there with her husband the POTUS and has more elegance in her pinky toe Rex Jan 2015 #37

CNN's copy is misleading... gregcrawford Jan 2015 #40

An even bigger shocking shock! Barack Obama did not kiss the Saudis! tclambert Jan 2015 #43

BBC: Michelle Obama headscarf controversy - do Saudis really care? muriel_volestrangler Jan 2015 #44

Just as I thought - this is a non-story being exploited by Islamophobes in order closeupready Jan 2015 #56

It seems that all that criticism is from abroad or from Muslims bluestateguy Jan 2015 #62

you're right. Glad to wake up (night worker) and see her constant critics backed off bigtree Jan 2015 #63