President gives unwelcome massage to Chancellor of Germany

[BonosSaint]

http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=24262

 

[BVS]

This man runs our country...

 

[BonosSaint]

Schmuck.

 

[joyfulgirl]

Here's John Stewart's hilarious bit on it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE3QDQI4NBo&search=chancellor

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

I know, his demeanor lately is so bizarre. Was he at the G8 summit or a fraternity party? But he's just a good ole Texas boy, bein friendly and all..


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/bush-on-the-world-stage-_b_25066.html

There were some other good articles there, I can't find them now

 

[shart1780]

He was just trying to make her comfortable, but still, that's weird.

Maybe it's a Texas thing.

 

[80sU2isBest]

"Grope". Since when is massaging someone's shoulder "groping"?

 

[Bono's shades]

He was just trying to make her comfortable, but still, that's weird.

Maybe it's a Texas thing.

I think it's more of an asshole thing.

It's not like these are two people who know each other really well and are goofing around at a party. If some guy I was just getting to know did that to me - especially in a business setting - I'd give him the withering stare of death.

 

[nathan1977]

 

[BVS]

"Grope". Since when is massaging someone's shoulder "groping"?

Who said "grope"?

 

[BVS]

He was just trying to make her comfortable, but still, that's weird.

Maybe it's a Texas thing.

You can't be serious. You don't give someone a suprise massage in an office meeting to make them comfortable, do you?

About the only person you give a suprise massage is your significant other...

And it's definately not a TX thing, it's a moron thing.

 

[WildHoneyAlways]

"Grope". Since when is massaging someone's shoulder "groping"?

The massage qualifies as sexual harassment where I work.

 

[Irvine511]

"Grope". Since when is massaging someone's shoulder "groping"?

do you work with any women?

 

[nathan1977]

Huffington makes the grope point repeatedly.

In my work situation, when we're on retreats, there's a certain casualness to the interaction -- massages or quick shoulder rubs are not uncommon when there is massive amounts of stress.

 

[anitram]

He was just trying to make her comfortable

Just so people can see why women still haven't made it as far as we should in this society. Is it any wonder when you have attitudes like this?

 

[BVS]

Huffington makes the grope point repeatedly.

Gotcha, I didn't read the article...

In my work situation, when we're on retreats, there's a certain casualness to the interaction -- massages or quick shoulder rubs are not uncommon when there is massive amounts of stress.

But do they know it's coming?

 

[shart1780]

Just so people can see why women still haven't made it as far as we should in this society. Is it any wonder when you have attitudes like this?

If a woman tried to give me a massage I wouldn't complain.

 

[anitram]

If a woman tried to give me a massage I wouldn't complain.

 

[melon]

If a woman tried to give me a massage I wouldn't complain.

In case you haven't figured it out, this entire outrage is because it gives the impression that women are weak and cannot handle the same stress as men. It is patronizing and condescending, at best.

If Angela Merkel had been giving Bush an impromptu massage, it would give the impression that he's a moron who cannot keep up with women.

Melon

 

[nbcrusader]

No one has seen this before done in a non-sexual or hostile manner?

 

[Earnie Shavers]

I'd love to have seen the reaction if Chirac had given Bush an impromptu massage. "How dare he!!! Condescending French fuck!!"

 

[melon]

No one has seen this before done in a non-sexual or hostile manner?

It is generally not behavior one would expect out of politicians, world leaders, or business management/executives.

Melon

 

[BVS]

No one has seen this before done in a non-sexual or hostile manner?

You do this in office meetings?

 

[DrTeeth]

What a Boris Jeltsin thing to do

 

[nbcrusader]

You do this in office meetings?

I'm sorry, I missed your answer.

And this thread has nothing to do with me.

 

[shart1780]

So now it's a sexist thing to do...?

 

[BVS]

I'm sorry, I missed your answer.

And this thread has nothing to do with me.

I know it isn't, but I'm trying to figure out why some think it's appropriate.

Can a massage be non-sexual or hostile? Yes.

But the place and the fact that's it nonconsentual plays a HUGE part...

 

[BVS]

So now it's a sexist thing to do...?

I'll quote myself:

But the place and the fact that's it nonconsentual plays a HUGE part...

Yes this action implies sexism.

 

[VintagePunk]

I can't believe that even the staunchest Bush apologist wouldn't see how bizarre and inappropriate this behaviour is.

 

[nbcrusader]

I know it isn't, but I'm trying to figure out why some think it's appropriate.

Can a massage be non-sexual or hostile? Yes.

But the place and the fact that's it nonconsentual plays a HUGE part...

So we are going to judge Bush and people posting in the thread too?

I see politicians walk into a room full of seated individuals and touch others on the shoulders in a similar way. Many times.