Michelle Obama Touches Queen Elizabeth

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Get over it already.

The Queen herself apparently isn't bothered by the incident so why is everyone else. For Christ sakes she's a human being not a spirit in transit to the father forbidding human touch.

I applaud the Obama's for their sophisticated yet down to earth approach in requards to meeting with the Queen. Has anyone took the time to think that the Royals themselves may actually enjoy a little normal interaction in their lives periodically, after all they didn't start their fairy tale destiny but they must fulfill it. I can't help but imagine that it's the very people who can't stand the blue bloods or think that the royals are out of touch with reality, who are responsible for the garbage we're reading about in all this. Wake up people the planet is on the verge of catoclysmic kaos, we as a people have a lot more to worry or be concerned about.

Darrin A. Carr of OH 5:30PM June 18, 2009

I WISH THAT THE FIRST LADY PUTTING HER ARM AROUND THE QUEEN IN A DIGNIFIED WAY, WAS THE WORST PROBLEM WE HAD AND ALL WE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT.IF THE QUEEN DIDNT SEEM TO MIND WHY DO YOU ALL MIND? JEALOUS ? OR JUST NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO WRITE ABOUT?

WAKE UP AND WORRY ABOUT THE IMPORTANT STUFF.GOD KNOWS OUR COUNTRY HAS MUCH BIGGER ISSUES.

DEBBIE of FL 12:00PM May 15, 2009

Just another thought.

You guys fought a bloody revolution to throw off the yoke of privelidge and all the trappings that still afflict the UK due to it's monarchical system.

Please don't forsake the memory of your founding fathers and their eloquent and aspirational words contained in your founding documents by worrying about the first lady placing her arm affectionately on another human being's back - as a result of the same gesture being made by the person in question.

I have always admired the US and it's leaders exactly for the fact that you don't bow to royalty and don't readily recognise privelidge or position that is has not been earned.

I for one applaud the Obamas' casual but dignified approach to their meeting with Queen Elizabeth.

And for any Australian Royalists out there, you keep blabbing on about how she's 'my queen' so I'm entitled to express an opinon!!!

Rocket 9:40AM April 15, 2009

Listen folks, I'm Australian and unfortunately, through historical accident or a lack of will to do what the USA did from 1776-1783, we as one of the most tolerant and racially integrated countries in the world with a strong democratic tradition are still lumbered with this particular family at the apex of our constitutional arrangements.

They (the establishment) try to appease the general populace (apart from the old fogy's that still doff the hat and tug the forelock to the British Establishment) several attempts have been made to 'Australianise' the institution by calling her 'the Queen of Australia'.

Let me tell you as a natural born and proud citizen that it's all absolute twaddle. She is a HUMAN BEING for crikey sake... she's NOT annointed of God or personnally blessed by Jesus Christ so she deserves nothing more than the basic cordial treatment befitting her role as Head of State of the UK.

For my part, I am sick to death of hearing about this family. I wish they would permanently stay in the UK and that my country would become a Republic as soon as possible.

Like you (the USA), we have a written Constitution with a Constitutionally entrenched separation of Church and State and yet, we have this woman as Head of the Church of England and required to be protestant as our Head of State despite the fact that our Constitution specifically forbids any religious test for any office under the Commonwealth of Australia - including Head of State.

So, my view.

Get over it. She's not the messiah and in fact, the UK press went into an absolute tizzy a few years back when a former Australian PM (Paul Keating) dared to gently guide her 'Octogenarian Majesty' with a gentle placement of the left arm on her back. The Queen herself said that she was not offended by that act yet the UK (trash) press branded him the 'Lizard of Oz' and other garbage.

Rocket 12:27PM April 13, 2009

I find the Obamas overseas behavior embarrassing. There seems to be a lack of coaching in the protocol department or the Obamas don't find it necessary to listen. Bowing, hugging and generally apologizing for being an American are behaviors inappropriate for the President of our country. A sense of pride should be evident in their dealings with foreign powers. I have serious doubts that the Obamas will stand up for this country when push comes to shove and a show of strength may be required.

Call me old fashioned but I like my presidents strong and forceful and my first ladies well versed in good manners and protocol.

Judy Maclean of OR 2:30AM April 10, 2009

Michelle Obama has a higher protocol which even the Queen gladly submits to ... sincere human affection.

Jeseppi Trade Wilfeather of NY 9:19AM April 08, 2009

Before you condemn other countries for supporting their royal families, take a look in your own backyard. We have many legislative legacies in our own country that amount to an American royal class. Caroline Kennedy running for the NY position is a prime example of entitlement by name. Perhaps we need to put term limits on our legislators and revolt against our own royal class so that we can once again enjoy the benefits of a truly representative republic, and not the current wall street managed puppet regime that exists today.

Agent Opposed to the New World Order of WA 1:52PM April 05, 2009

I think that the two ladies let down their guard down and showed

that they were just being ladies meeting for the first time and

were pleased to be there at the moment. Po

People should just take things as they seem instead of trying to read something into everything.

thelma,Santa Rosa, California

Thelma Fernandes of CA 6:43PM April 04, 2009

ALTHOUGH I'M NOT AN OBAMA FAN CLUB MEMBER I DON'T BELIEVE MICHELLE OBAMA INTENDED TO DO ANYTHING WRONG. THE FACT THAT PROTOCOL WAS BROKEN MAY NOT BE A BAD THING. IT APPEARED THAT BOTH PARTIES WERE GENUINELY FRIENDLY AND CORDIAL TOWARDS EACH OTHER. THE BRITISH ARE STILL OUR ALLIES AND FRIENDS WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

VERNE of FL 6:04PM April 04, 2009

You do realize this site is posting lies, the queen embraced Michelle fist, the right wing slant is strong

Sona Stew of CA 4:53PM April 03, 2009

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Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger is managing editor for opinion at U.S. News and World Report, overseeing all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters. E-mail him at rschlesinger@usnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rschles.

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