Barack Obama gave the Queen of England an iPod and a rare songbook signed by Richard Rodgers. Anna Post of the Emily Post Institute said, “For me, the iPod only works if he has some catchy reason why he gave it as a gift.” Perhaps the contents of the iPod made it catchy:
- Photos from the Queen’s 2007 White House State Visit
- Photos from the Queen’s 2007 Jamestown, Va., Visit
- Photos from the Queen’s 2007 Richmond, Va., Visit
- Video from the Queen’s 1957 Jamestown Visit
- Video from the Queen’s 2007 Jamestown Visit
- Video from the Queen’s 2007 Richmond Visit
- Photos from President Obama’s Inauguration
- Audio of then-state senator Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and
- Audio of President Obama 2009 Inauguration Address
Choosing the gift was easier for the Queen. She gave Obama a signed photo of herself and her husband in a silver frame–the same gift she gives everyone. That must really make the holidays easy for her.
The real question is why so much attention is being paid to this. Right wingers will take any opportunity to attack Obama, but his Republican predecessor wasn’t so hot with respect to following protocol. At least Obama didn’t try to give her a massage as Bush did with Angela Merkel.