His Royal Majesty - The Chauffer
Barack Obama’s motorcade raced across the tarmac at Amman’s airport, bringing the candidate, his staffers and his “protective press pool” to Obama’s chartered 757. A sleek gray Mercedes 600 led the way, confidently coming to a stop just feet from the steps leading up to Obama’s first class cabin.
The presumptive Democratic nominee is typically driven by the Secret Service, but his driver tonight was none other than King Abdullah. Obama rode shotgun and the duo were the car’s only passengers.
The two emerged and chatted amicably for a couple minutes on the tarmac as cameras rolled, shook hands, and then the candidate turned and waved before he strode up the stairs into his plane. King Abdullah stood and watched his pal until he was out of sight.
done
While the press did get a chance to see the two chat plane side, it’s unclear what they discussed over their dinner. The King and hopeful president, along with Queen Rania, several Jordanian officials, Senators Reed and Hagel, and an Obama advisor spent the evening discussing issues at a dinner hosted by Abdullah at the King’s palace.
As the campaign plane began its descent into Tel Aviv after a quick 25-minute flight, two Obama advisors ventured back to the cramped press section of the plane to brief the press on the dinner. When the campaign informed reporters it would be a session “on background,” meaning it cannot be for attribution, the press revolted.
Television, newspaper, and wire reporters all refused the briefing unless it was “on the record,” but the campaign would not acquiesce. One of the advisors, a former high-ranking official in the Clinton White House, said the briefing had to be on background because “in all my years with the White House I never read-out a meeting on the record.”
Press reminded the advisor that Obama was not the President, nor was this a White House trip. The pair left without divulging details on the dinner.
But, rewarding “bad” behavior, the campaign agreed to hold an on the record briefing tomorrow morning, with senior advisor Susan Rice. Stay tuned.
Read the Jordanian Embassy’s take of their meeting below the jump.
Amman (22 July 2008) - His Majesty King Abdullah II stressed during talks this evening with US Senator Barack Obama (Democrat, Illinois) that ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and achieving a just settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict tops the priorities of the people of the Middle East.
During the meeting, King Abdullah reasserted the need to establish an independent Palestinian state on all Palestinian land in the West Bank and Gaza, saying it is the key to a final settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Obama, a US presidential candidate, is in Amman as part of a tour of the Middle East and Europe. He is accompanied by Senator Jack Reed (Democrat, Rhode Island) and Senator Chuck Hagel (Republican, Nebraska).
The King told Obama that continued American support for a Middle East peace process that leads to a just and comprehensive peace would help foster Arab-US relations and bolster US credibility in the region. The King said that the US Congress also can play an important role in regional peace-making.
During the meeting, King Abdullah outlined Jordan’s position in support of the rights of the Palestinian people to liberation and independence through the establishment of an ind ependent state that preserves the Palestinian identity. He also emphasized Jordan’s support for the Palestinians in negotiations with Israel on final status issues.
The King also said the support of the US Congress is central to alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people and to strengthening Palestinian national institutions. Such support, he said, would reflect positively on the entire peace process.
He warned that the Israeli settlement policy and Israel’s imposition of new realities on the ground, along with the siege on the Palestinian people would exacerbate conflict and undermine peace efforts.
During the meeting with Senator Obama which was followed by a dinner hosted by Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania for Senator Obama and the accompanying delegation, the King also addressed the situation in Iraq. He emphasized Jordan’s support for Iraq’s security and stability and said there recently had been positive indications of opportunities to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation that would have a positive bearing on the reconstruction and development of Iraq.
King Abdullah and the US senators also discussed developments elsewhere in the region, including in Lebanon, as well as ways of strengthening Jordan-US ties. He expressed appreciation for US assistance to Jordan that has support ed development in several sectors and that has helped advance the national economy.
King Abdullah met with the Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, in March, during McCain’s tour of the region.
Tags: obama, press, jordan, king abdullah
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OK is anyone sick of Obama and his hype? Can we move on to issues or are we going to keep on with the same stuff he has said from the begining? I personally an sick of seeing and hearing his name. And I really did not like when the man said as Comander and Chief, um I mean if I am elected as President…. like he already won. God let the DNC crown him and let’s move on to what is really the problems.
It’s a cute headline - but don’t you mean “chaffeur?”
Why should we expect Fox News to be able to spell chauffeur correctly?
FYI, you might want to use spell check on your headlines. It’s spelled c-h-a-u-f-f-e-u-r.
OBAMA IS A GREAT YOUNG STATESMAN &THERE WILL BE NOT ONE LIKE HIM FOR ANOTHER CENTURY.AMERICANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF HIM.I am on outsider from UK but I can see him impartially.Obama will breathe new life in American politics
you sick low lcass trash,this is how you do reporting? call the king a shoffer?its aprt fo culture from that part of world,that you go out of your way to treat your guests,with respect and take care of there every need.the king drive all the head of the states who come to viset his country.
but what you know about culture,class and values.low class trash,war mongers,oil theives.go to hell.
Is Obama crazy? What on earth is he doing?
Comment by Ishmail Kareem Afahsied
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Obama is the great redeemer of America as well as the geatest peacemaker of the middle east he is worthy of all praise in the name of Allah! he will restore America to Allah!
Jewish Americans please keep this quote in mind during the election.
This crowning of Obama is making me quite queasy. If i have to look at his nose in the
air in pictures much more I’m going to puke
Obama is a puppet just doing what he is told by the puppet masters. He looks like a fool overseas. I guess the king does not remember that Obama said that Jerusalem should be one state under the control of Israel.
What a fuer over nothing. God only made one perfect person.
This oversees trip proves that Obama will represent America well and bring back the trust and stability America so desperately need. John McCain should be credit for recommending the surge and now he can be credit for forcing Obama to prove to the American People how well he will do when he becomes President with handling foriegn Policies.
So he tells the Isreali people that Jerusalem should be their capital undivided. Then he tells the Jordanians and Palistinians that the territory will be 100% part of Palistine when it becomes a state. He is the most two-faced piece of garbage I have ever seen. He is an absoloute fool if he thinks the American people can’t see all his two-faced flip-flopping.
jood….dude, you need to take a remedial spelling class….or better yet, spelling 101….that was an atrocious little blog….so many misspelled words it was really hard to read much less understand…try again some time…the moderators should cut out non spellers period…..
You can see that that people around the world like Obama, we should all be proud. People are looking for a change, they are tired of the old!!!! Go, Obama!!!
Mike: Speaking of Obama. . .
“He is an absoloute fool if he thinks the American people can’t see all his two-faced flip-flopping.”
Naw. . .he (along with his overseas friends) knows exactly how stupid the American people have become. Remember the “Dumbing Down of America”??? Well folks, we are witnessing the end result (and to think, there are generations coming up behind them. . .raising even more. . .).
They are having quite a belly-shaking laugh at us all.
Mike…..
He is an absoloute fool if he thinks the American people can’t see all his two-faced flip-flopping.
I totally agree with you. Are there enough American people that haven’t been spell bound by this liberal pied piper to vote against him….the more I read and listen to blogs and news and such, the more I feel like he has millions snookered into voting him into office….the day he is put into office will be one of the worst and saddest days in our short and wonderful history…you don’t change things just for the sake of change…if it ain’t broke….don’t fix it or meddle with it….wake up America before it is to late….
I hope I dont have don’t have to listen to all these whiney butts after he gets elected….
Why is that every accomplishment that Barrack Obama achieves he has to be quickly discredited by fox news. This is clearly the most bias news channel in the world. McCain pushed Obama into his trip overseas and now he’s mad about it.
McCain and his supporters have alot of nerve calling Obama a flip flooper McCain is the king of fliping his postions look at his record. He once reversed his postion three times in a week, give me a break
If we could get our heads out of our “political affiliations” for a second, we would see that yes, this man Obama is certainly not perfect but he sure is a hell of a lot better than the other guy who just cant seem to get the geography, the different tribes, cultures or events in the middle east correct.
For God sakes, imagine McCain in the middle east telling Iraqis that their country borders Pakistan (instead of Afghanistan)…. can you imagine the shock in their eyes and their dismissive attitudes about Americans basic knowledge of the region…. how much more that we can help them with their issues….
Come on people, don’t be stupid… we’ve had stupid for the last 8 years….. no more stupid.
What a demeaning headline. But what else is to be expected from “Fair and Balanced?” Since when is it against our national interests for a potential president of our country to be liked and respected outside of our borders? Surely, the international disgrace of the Bush presidency can best be overcome by a man who starts out on positive international ground.
Nerakami
“Come on people, don’t be stupid… we’ve had stupid for the last 8 years….. no more stupid”.
Seems it is to late for you. The last time I checked, Iraq borders neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan.
But hey. I have come to realize that facts shall never stand in the way of a true believer in “change”.
And then is jood who states, and I quote in all his eloquence “the king drive all the head of the states who come to viset his country.”
Please enlighten me as to which country Mr. Obama is currently the head of..
FOX news its nice you dont have Obama video, it helps me not to bother about the 3mins per day time I usually devote to your inferior media. We want change hence OBAMA. Surprised your contract with McBush is about to end? Seriously. Look for alternative source of income cos we will CHANGE it.
you don’t change things just for the sake of change…if it ain’t broke….don’t fix it or meddle with it….wake up America before it is to late….
I hope I dont have don’t have to listen to all these whiney butts after he gets elected
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And Dubya is a whopping success?
My friend, what color is the sky on your planet? George Bush will go down in history as one of the worst, if not THE WORST, president in American history.
We are talking about a populace that was so foolish as to put Slick Willy in office for eight l-o-n-g years. I am scared that the American public will again be distracted by the press hood winking them into putting this newest socialist into office. God save America…
What a shame that Obama has to be constantly reminded that he is not the President. I think he looks very foolish and immature while on this trip. He is merely using it as a photo op and trying to appear what he is not, Presidential. He has to have that huge entourage as though he were a rock star, his ego is almost embarassing. When he loses in November he is going to need serious counseling. He did not support the surge even though he wants us to live in la la land with him and believe that he did. John McCain supported the surge when others were against it, including Obama. Now that McCain was right Obama wants to claim it as his own. McCain went on a number of trips to the Middle East because he was truly interested in what was happening there and in our troops. I have to vote for McCain, Obama would be a mistake.
Comment by Ishmail Kareem Afahsied
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Obama is the great redeemer of America as well as the geatest peacemaker of the middle east he is worthy of all praise in the name of Allah! he will restore America to Allah!
I AM SICK OF READING THIS.
STOP OBAMA,
HE IS A BIG FAT EVIL!
NO TO OBAMA!
08′
I HATE MEDIA EXCEPT FOX.
the king’s term of office will be 10 years over and for our 57 states
our flag is now a round O on his plane
at least he telling the start of his changes
some might even wait untill he’s elected
Ann, honey, you’ll be all right. There’s a “quack” out there somewhere who can help you find your french fry. You are one fry short of a happy meal, right?
With reference to Obama; Allah to you.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR NATURAL STUPIDITY.
Fool’s names and fool’s faces are frequently seen in public places.
Artificial intelligence is no substitute for natural stupidity.
Comment by Ishmail Kareem Afahsied
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Obama is the great redeemer of America as well as the geatest peacemaker of the middle east he is worthy of all praise in the name of Allah! he will restore America to Allah!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you Mr. Afahsied. . .you have just effectively confirmed without a doubt what many people have been suspecting all along, and the Democrats have been denying. . .we can now rest assured that our suspicions were right all along.
Thank God we were never taken in by all the little lemmings (dressed in media clothes) and their trying to paint an entirely different picture of him.
People should wake up from this right-left paradigm and realize our country is being robbed by both sides. For those who worship at the altar of Senator McSame, please consider this man graduated 894 out of 899 from the academy and then proceeded to crash 5 planes in his short career (In short, he shouldn’t have been flying at all). I guess it’s good to be the Admiral’s son. And don’t forget his family values…ditching his wife who waited for him all through the war for a pretty young rich thing that had the purse strings to launch his political career. It’s amazing that C students or worse are good enough for a party that once stood for excellence. Buck the system, join no party and think for yourself.
Why would you expect President Obama, or The White House to report on their first diplomatic mission of their term with details?
Obviously the newly elected President has to have some secrecy and privacy for his diplomatic meetings and dealings with other world leaders. Why would anyone expect otherwise of Obama on this trip?
I mean, you’re acting like the election never happened and he hasn’t already been elected and sworn in or something. It’s just weird to watch you rant like this in clear denial of reality.