You are probably wondering why I have not written about the Harper/Obama meeting in Ottawa. Actually, I had more important things to write about than the future of the economies of Canada and the United States: Cargo city and $1200 per day WEDC CEO fees as an example and student warehousing in the West End.
I also did not do so because, for the most part, nothing happened. I suspect that Harper and Obama did not get along well. I just did not see the warmth between the two of them while watching their press conference. In fact, the President looked rather tired.
The major papers that a US President reads, the New York Times and Washington Post, both panned the visit in their own subtle and not so subtle ways.
We saw Harper talking pro forma about Windsor/Detroit as if he cared. Obama made it clear that no money would be coming here
- “You mentioned a couple of specific issues -- the idea of thickening of borders. One of the things that I would like to see is -- and we -- Prime Minister Harper and I discussed this -- how we can use some of our stimulus and infrastructure spending that is already being planned around potentially easing some of these bottlenecks in our border.”
That means “shovel ready” and DRIC does not fit in.
However, something more may be happening. I must admit I wanted to wait and see if the tabloids picked it up to see if I was right or misjudged.
From reading some news stories subsequently, it looks like the President got along better with the Governor General whom he invited to DC than with the Prime Minister. Perhaps after the minority Government fiasco, he thought that she held all the power in the Canadian system
Here are some of the comments the two of them made as actually reported by the media. I did not make up a word of it. You tell me what is really going on
- “You would never have imagined that you and I could both be here like today, coming from African descent," Jean was quoted as telling the president as they began what insiders described as "soft and warm" exchange.
A Jean aide said the poignancy of the moment was not lost on either of them and may have given the pair "a form of added connection...
An Obama quip had Jean leaning back, laughing and throwing an arm around the president's back as they strode side-by-side into the reception centre for a private chat." - “Governor General Michaëlle Jean discussed the plight of her native Haiti with U.S. President Barack Obama, who invited her to come to Washington – an invitation that was not extended to Prime Minister Stephen Harper...
"President Obama told (Jean) that he'd like to talk further with her on this issue," said Marthe Blouin, an aide to the Governor General.
Obama told Jean he wants to return to Canada with his family. "He told her he would like to see her again," Blouin said.
"And he said to her that he would love to see her in Washington as well." - It was clear Canada's first black governor general and Obama, the first black American president, hit it off. They beamed as they strode down a red carpet together.
At one point, cameras captured Jean tossing back her head in laughter. "At that moment she was telling him that she felt it was like a love affair between him and Canadians," Blouin said later."
Oh my goodness. It gets worse and from reputable newspapers too.
Look how easily nasty rumours can get started. This photo is from a Boston newspaper website. Is that the Governor General's husband behind them?
This very similar one is from the New York Times. Has it been cropped? If you add in this Times headline "Obama Makes Overtures to Canada’s Leader" and throw in some quotes that I mentioned, why you have tabloid material for months.
Of course, there is another photo I saw in the International Herald Tribune that takes away all the fun!
Just check out the tabloids at your local neighbourhood grocery check-out line. This story may just be beginning
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