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Brit Pol Lashes 'Unreachable' Obama Team

'You have a bunch of people who haven't been in government before,' official gripes

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 11, 2009 4:32 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A British government official has ripped Barack Obama's "unreachable" team as leaders scramble to make arrangements with the White House to organize next month's G20 summit in London, reports the Independent. "There is nobody there. You cannot believe how difficult it is," said the Cabinet secretary. "You get to a certain point, and you can't go any further. A whole new bunch of people come in who probably haven't been in government before."

Though relations between Obama and Prime Minister Gordon Brown appear collegial, the British press has been filled with reports of Obama snubs and Brown's hurt feelings. The most notable instance came over an exchange of gifts—DVDs from the first family and Marine One models for Brown's sons—which suggested a "last-minute dash to the White House gift shop," sniffed the Telegraph. "Give me strength," quipped another writer. "We do have DVDs stores this side of the Atlantic."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Barack Obama appear collegial in public, but the British press has been filled with reports of Obama snubs and Brown's hurt feelings.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Barack Obama appear collegial in public, but the British press has been filled with reports of Obama snubs and Brown's hurt feelings.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
The British press has been filled with reports of tensions between President Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The British press has been filled with reports of tensions between President Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Obama have brough in a bunch of people who probably haven't been in government before, said Britain's frustrated Cabinet secretary.
President Obama "have brough in a bunch of people who probably haven't been in government before," said Britain's frustrated Cabinet secretary.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
The British Cabinet secretary has complained about the difficulty of reaching President Obama's team as the two nations organize the upcoming G20 summit in London.
The British Cabinet secretary has complained about the difficulty of reaching President Obama's team as the two nations organize the upcoming G20 summit in London.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Mar 11, 2009 7:33 AM CDT
Sorry, we're kind of busy right now preventing Bush's armageddonn.
BackAgain
Mar 11, 2009 6:43 AM CDT
Hop, Change and transparency. Where?
Telecide
Mar 11, 2009 6:01 AM CDT
The US when it needs the support of other countries when invading for OIL.

Obama's foreign protocol gaffes
Fox News

British tabs fume over 'cheap swag'
homemediamagazine.com

British newspapers howling over first family gifts
New York Daily News

Even Michelle has 'gift for the gaffe'
Times (UK)

Obama 'too tired' for proper welcome
Telegraph (UK)

Deconstructing Obama's gifts
Telegraph (UK)

 
Barack Obama • diplomacy • London • Gordon Brown • Britain • protocol • G20

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