‘An Implicit Insult’: Why Are Some Turks Angry About This Photo of Obama?
- Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:19pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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An official White House photo of President Barack Obama generated some buzz last week, mostly because it invited more questions than answers.
Well, really just one question: what the heck was Obama doing with that baseball bat?

Image source: Official White House photo
The White House offered no information other than the simple caption, “President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey in the Oval Office, July 30, 2012.”
When asked by reporters just what Obama was doing gripping a bat while speaking with a world leader, press secretary Jay Carney said he would look into it.
The Turks, for their part, had plenty to say. From Reuters:
“The photo reveals from whom our Prime Minister receives orders to rule the country,” Metin Lutfi Baydar, a lawmaker with Turkey‘s main opposition party the Republican People’s Party (CHP), said in a statement.
CHP vice president Umut Oran asked through parliament if Erdogan had seen the picture and if he would take action against “an implicit insult to Turkey and its citizens”.
Some newspapers took a more lighthearted view, with columnist Ahmet Hakan of Hurriyet writing: “We need to do something – retaliation seems to be the most reasonable method.”
“Our prime minister needs to hold something in his hand as he’s calling Obama,” he added, suggesting as possible candidates a slipper, a belt or a rolling pin.
A White House spokeswoman responded to the photo inquiries on Friday and said the administration was aware of the international attention. Still, there was no answer to the bat question.
“We released the photo with only one purpose in mind, to highlight the President’s continuing close relationship with Prime Minister Erdogan and draw attention to the important conversation they had about the worsening situation in Syria,” spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement. “The President values his friendship and close partnership with Prime Minister Erdogan on a range of important issues on which the United States cooperates with Turkey.”
Erdogan on Sunday dismissed opposition criticism of the photo, telling Turkey’s A Haber news station that Obama is “a friend who never falls short of respect or politeness,” according to the Associated Press.




















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Comments (252)
barber2
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:02pmTwo thoughts : One, the White House Re-Election Committee aka Republican Character Assassination Committee wants Obama to look strong, but they are forced to hold back on the LEAKS these days . Two, the Turks have that typical chip-on-the-shoulder attitude of insecure men. Always looking for an excuse to get angry and go off on some one . Always one step away from a fist fight.
Report Post »dublinthewagons
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:12pmVoter intimidation for Turkeys votes. Aka new black panthers
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:14pmIt is probably a subtle nudge to get folks to think BO is a strong leader and walks softly but carries a big stick.
I suggest the Turks accept as many of us do – that any picture of BO is insulting and makes us angry
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:49pmPrez Cool…isn’t cool just a fool….The world knows and Prez Un-Cool will know in November when his gets booted out of Washington and on to the “O” Network with Meeshell and her show “Living Under Meeshell Thumb”!
I‘m suprised the Whitehouse staff didn’t take a picture of him holding “the button” to show how “tuff” our bowing prez is! Yeppers, he loves to kiss most dictorators backsides.
Prez Cool we are laughing you not with you!
‘Cause you’re nothing more than the middle school playground bully with your toatees until someone calls you on it….then you bend over!
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:57pmDead Fish, Baseball Bats, Chicago Politics. End of Story.
Report Post »hayesstephen
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:58pmHow about Nobama thinking he’ll look like Teddy Roosevelt. Walk softly but carry a big stick. Man is there no one Nobama won’t copy? Nobama, walk softly on the green but carry a putter. Nobama voted out of office in 2012. Yahweh save our Nation, please do not turn your back on us.
Report Post »muffythetuffy
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 4:02pmBarney the dog was barking and would not shut up. Barney the dog does not bark anymore.
Report Post »Ray2447
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 4:25pmPhoto Caption:
“Dingbat holds bat.”
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 6:23pmIt‘s because he doesn’t have a scepter-at least not yet.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:20pmOkay Mr Prime Minister, we won’t be interrupted by THOSE noisy white house staffers EVER AGAIN!
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:58pmThis a$$ clown wears mama jeans and throws like a girl. I am not worried about his batting abilities. He was playing with a Barbie and staff quickly put this in his hand.
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:58pm@ MuffytheTuffy.
Thanks for making me laugh so hard I nearly wet myself.
Report Post »Ohello
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 8:42pmTalk softly and carry a white hispanic black african bat.
Report Post »rusooperman
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:43pm“After we disarm, I have a new global defense plan.”
Report Post »Jaxx13
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:29pmAnyone remember him throwing a baseball? Someone get that bat away from him…….now.
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 12:46am@KAYDEEBEAU
Speak for yourself.
A REAL AMERICAN stands by his President, especially whilst his nation is at war. You don’t like our President? Then you can get out of my country!
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 6:25amI think it‘s a reminder that he’s from Chicago and very familiar with Mob tactics. “Listen to me, do what I say, or I break your knee caps.”
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:18amYo Votebushin12:
I don’t like this lying person who wants to change the fundamentals of this nation president either.
Report Post »IT”S NOT YOUR COUNTRY >>>>> IT”S OURS !!!!!!
I don’t stand with liers … and THAT MAKES ME AMERICAN …
also … I pray for people I don’t like … and that’s American too …. wippykiya …
Silversmith
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:46amDeniro in Capone — “Enthusiasms, Enthusiasms, Enthusiasms”
Silversmith
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 4:51pm@ Votein…missed the quantifying modified – “many of us” – did you? So that would make you the “some” who don‘t then wouldn’t it.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:36amVotinBush…You get out and take your little Kenyan with you.
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:55pmPOTUS has mocked every single aspect of the worlds’ population in some form or other. There is only one explanation for this behavior…
Report Post »TheArbiter
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:37pmwhat’s the explanation?
Report Post »madasblazes
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:30pmThe explanation is: He wasn’t TALKING to PM Takyip. It’s an old photo!
Report Post »P.S.
Turks, he offends us everyday he sits there. Welcome to the club.
KickinBack
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:53pmSimple explanation. Our President is “batty”. I thought the Turks would’ve figured that out by now.
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:04pmIt’s the “Chicago Way.”
Report Post »Agnes
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 5:27pmThe clown-in chief’s mind is far from where it should be; working for the United States. His “mind” is thinking about fundraisers, vacations, and whatever way to ruin our country. Perhaps he was exercising with the baseball bat!
Report Post »ltemp
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:51pmWhat no halo?????????
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 4:44pmWhat no RAINBOW???????
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:51pmAnybody ever see the movie The Untouchables? My advice: Don’t ever attend a formal sit-down dinner with Barry when he’s holding a bat!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:35pmFunny you mention the film. People from his church did up dead at an alarming rate. It might be simple coincidence since Chicago has a high crime rate.
Then again…
Report Post »strewth_cobber
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:27pmElliot Ness got his man in the end for some type of fraud or evasion.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:49pmOur So-Called NATO ally Turkey, didn’t let our troops stage thru them in the Gulf War. This caused our casualty count to rise. While Barry’s slender, manicured digits have no clue how to swing a Hillerich Bradsby, Turkey should just clam up.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:19pmThe Turkish “Justice and Development Party” won 2/3rds of the seats in the Turkish parliament or whatever. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was unable to be Prime Minister due to some injudicious remarks he had made. So Gül kept the seat warm for him until 2003.
Whatever the reason, by not having a credible northern force it lengthened the Iraq War.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 3:54am“Whatever the reason, by not having a credible northern force it lengthened the Iraq War”.
How convenient.
Report Post »AMENDMENT
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:48pmMan O Man, is there nothin Glenn gets wrong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri4Hu14MDuU LMFAO The Chicago Way….
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 4:05pmALL I can say is WOW!……He was right on!
Report Post »Redwood Elf
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 11:32amMost likely lots of those Turks are joking. I think the Prime Minister of Turkey should hold a pair of mink handcuffs and a riding crop when talking to Obama…
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:47pmWho cares what the Turks think. They have gone off the deep end and should be removed from NATO. We should stop immediately, sending spare parts, weapons and ammo.
Report Post »pdw
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:09amYou want to put our weapons dealers out of work??
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:49pmpdw
Report Post »We don’t want to arm the enemy. Turkey has turned from a secular nation that now is turning to more radical Islam. We can sell the surplus to Israel.
copatriots
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:46pmWho comes up with this crap?
“Hey……let’s say Romney is a bully and picked on a gay guy in school.” HUH…..that didn’t work and was discredited.
Okay…..
“Let’s call Romney a wimp then have a picture taken with him holding a bat in the Oval office.” Yeah…..that’ll work.
Seriously, what percentage of 0bama‘s base aren’t fools?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:06pmIs that that 1% number I keep hearing being repeated by those Lefty parrots ?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:08pm1/32 Percent
Report Post »Goldi
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:13pmZero %
Report Post »zman61
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:43pmThere is a message in everything that this jerk wad does. What he means by this I don’t know. Maybe he means ” listen here you Turks if you don’t listen to what I, the messiah, tell you then I am going to play strike three on your head” but no this president is more likely to bow to the lowest of the low. So more than likely what he means by it is “hey you Turks you know I like to bend over so when I do you can use this bat on me”
Report Post »Ampleforth
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:42pmHe can’t throw a baseball; why would anyone believe he could actually swing a baseball bat?
When I first saw this photo I sort of gasped because it is incongruous to see his girly hands around the handle of a ballbat. It comes across as a wimp trying to look tough. Then, when I read that he was on the phone to Prime Minister Erdogan, I was shocked. Sure, it’s not particularly offensive to any rational people, but I knew it was the wrong image to release from that conversation.
Does the administration believe that this intimidates Turkey, Erdogan, or anyone else in the Muslim world? The photo is actually pathetic. The real measure of Barack Obama’s foreign policy prowess came before he was even sworn into office. In December 2008 he delivered three different statements about Russia invading Georgia (the one in Asia). His first statement all but demanded that the Georgians cease fire in the interest of peace. The next two clarifications were almost as wimpy as the first.
Putin tested the incoming president and got a pretty good read on Obama six weeks before he was innaugurated.
Obama is pathetic, and this photo demonstrates just how pathetic he is. He can’t swing a bat, I’m sure. Swinging a bat well is far more difficult than throwing a baseball. My hunch, judging by his foreign policy, is that he’d step out of the batters box on every pitch.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:14pmExactly correct, AMPLE. The only thing Dictators understand is force, dominance and power. 0bama can’t even get how to become a dictator right. Does anyone really think the Muslim Bros are afraid of a freggin’ baseball bat? They indoctrinate their own children to strap a bomb on themselves and die for the cause.
It’s more likely 0bama was on the phone with Dingy Harry.
Report Post »QuincySmith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:26pmCo;
Was dingy on the mound or did he have a catcher’s mitt?
Report Post »majasdad
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:41pmTypical pointless Blaze article.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:46pmDid the devil make you “left click”?
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:47pmGo away with your typical pointless comments.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:50pmAnd yet you read and commented. Brilliant just Brilliant.
Report Post »The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:50pmBesides Christmas, this is probably one of the slowest news weeks of the year.
News is never fast paced in summer, and we’re directly in the middle of the “dog days” of it.
Plus it’s a Sunday.
But on topic, I think the Turks think too highly of themselves. Some people like to have something in their hands to handle while they talk, I’m guilty of it. I never know what to do with my arms in a standing conversation.
It’s not demeaning if the other person feels awkward talking without having something to absord nervous energy in their hands, like say a stress ball.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:32pmMajasDad
Why do you torture yourself by coming here?
***
Keep going… the better tea party idiots do, the better for the democrats.
So keep doing what you’re doing morons.
Report Post »***
Gag me with a spoon :(
Gonzo
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:57pmGo back to Huffpo then. We won’t miss you.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:08pmJust imagine what maja is going to end up like. Poor little commie.
Report Post »HorseDancer
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 4:22pmGONZO . . . I agree. These trolls should go back to HuffPo. Who needs em? I think we should sic THE NUGE!!! on em. That’ll teach em. He’s rough and tumble, you know? What am I saying, of course you know, because you love Uncle Ted just like I love Uncle Ted. He’s the keenest rock star of all. Been my teen idol forever. I always know when he’s headed my way for a concert, because I can smell him a mile away. What a man! What a patriot! What a good dad! And husband! Yes, he’s everything the Tea Party stands for – right down to that hardened crust of patriotic bio remnants.
Thanks, Gonzo. It’s nice to have a friend on this board who really understand what it means to be a real man – like THE NUGE!!
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 5:46pmYeah, go back to HuffPo then. We won’t miss you. We’re real men.
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:02pmReally Horse! Run out of material so quickly! I hear your just like Obama! Not quite sure which end of your bat you should use! Or in your case, abuse!
Report Post »HorseDancer
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 11:23amZIPPY THE PNHEAD . .. It’s so endearing to watch the bigots circle the wagons to protect their slice of American victimhood. The world could learn from you. After all, you can be a shining example or a horrible warning. Thanks for being the latter.
Run out of material? Hardly. I’m just getting warmed up. And it will only get more exciting and visual and entertaining. Much like you offering your rather prissy vision of a man sinking a bat. How DO you come up with those ideas? I’m not sure Mr. Cathy would approve of such thinking. He’d prefer you to think of Jesus and his close-knit group of male supplicants and not men having sex with bats.
Repent, Zippy. It’s not too late to know the Lord.
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 12:52pmNow that was funny! A little desperate maybe. But nonetheless funny! “prissy version of a man sinking a bat” WOW Horsey. I don’t have any personal experience, but that sounds like the type of language that one could only pick up in the darkest depths of real slimy man bar. We can now venture a guess as to what part of LGBT you fit into. Also, you should seek some help for your anger!
Report Post »HorseDancer
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 3:20pmZIPPITY . . . Draft off me, Z. It’s much easier than having ideas of your own.
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 5:01pmSorry there steed wannabe! Can’t ask my brain to operate at your level!!!! (at half throttle) DOO DA! DOO DA!
Report Post »QuincySmith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:40pmI would guess that oblama has such a hard time ‘pitching’ a baseball, he is working on his hitting.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:47pmSigh! At least his feet aren’t on the desk.
Geez, my parents were very strict about feet off the furniture and all the sports equipment in the front hall closet.
Report Post »MDECKER
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:39pmPresident Obama just returned from the driving range.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:39pmAny picture of Obama is an insult. Mostly to Americans.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:33pmAmen to that!
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:38pmThe thought of obama sickens me, BUT the photo just shows berry having a LTJG Daniel Kaffee moment. There are more important issues to contest with the junior grade president.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:35pmWhat, haven’t Turks ever seen a typical Chicago thug wielding a baseball bat?
Report Post »TheArbiter
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:36pmif he were a typical chicago thug he would have been holding a gun. You obviously are not from the area. it takes a special kind of thug to make it to DC.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:34pmThe Obama policy.. speak Marxistly and carry a big Fungo Bat.
Screw the Turks too. They didn‘t come through when we needed ’em logstically, so they can bark at the moon…
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:34pmLive by the Photo OP.
Report Post ».
Die.
.
By the Photo OP
Twobyfour
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 6:32pmI’d love to see him swing.
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:33pmI bet he swings like a girl.
Report Post »iampraying4u
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 5:54pmI bet he swings
Report Post »Gums
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:33pmHahahah!! He is definitely a little light in the loafers. How many gay males from his church died in the same month again? 3? What’s his face, said he used to do sexual acts with him too, Larry…. something. And let’s face it, Michelle wears the pants in that relationship.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:32pmNo answer for the bat in hand? Sounds like everything else that goes on around D.C. No answer for anything at all. The man could be wearing panties on his head and have a clown nose on, and they wouldn’t have answer for that either.
D.C. is clueless.
Report Post »“Like, whatever!”
whatthecrazy
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:36pmLOL agree
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 8:37pm“The man could be wearing panties on his head and have a clown nose on, ”
I think he only does that with Rahm ..
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:31pmIm surprised he wasn’t holding that thing that the grim reaper carries in his hand all the time,at least it would look more natural.
Report Post »dixie63
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:39pmLOL! Good one. :)
Report Post »Frodo RinosBane
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:30pmOh, I’m sure the photographer and WH staff had no idea he had a bat in his hand. Just forget about it.
Report Post »Zuitsuit
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:29pmSo a baseball bat is offensive to the Turks? Too bad they cant see e holding up both middle fingers to the whole Muslim world
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:50pmThose fingers are reserved for the American people…. remember when he did that to Hillary and again to John McCain…. classless
Report Post »lisalake
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:22pmScrew oBozo and the Turks too.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:34pmAmen sister friend.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:35pmO’B-S ALWAYS does things ON PURPOSE!! eVERY THING HE DOES IS A SLAM AGAINST OUR FRIENDS !! …and a LEAKING-HELP TO OUR ENEMIES!!
Report Post »TheArbiter
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:54pmG-WHIZ : BLARG PARANOIA ALL CAPPPPPSSSS!!!!!!!!111111
how about focusing on getting him out of office without all of the foaming at the mouth nonsense? just makes you look like the whining liberals during bush’s tenure.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:37pmMen of true power never seek positions of power.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:37pmLoL!
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:38pmMoreover, men who should be the farthest away from positions of power will say and do whatever to acquire positions of power.
Report Post »FreedomWitness
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:51pmAre you saying that if Obama took viagra it would make him taller?
Report Post »FreedomWitness
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:54pmI would like to see him swing that bat. I mean since he throws a baseball like a girl, he probably swings like one too (I apologize to all of the girls that know how to swing a bat).
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:55pmYou can clearly see if you have eyes to see that they are trampling the Holy City with lies for four months.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:00pmGog and Magog have went up on the breadth of the beloved city to fill it with lies, and to ensnare the American people in their lies. And the one with no guile Ron Paul walks away.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:20pmI just figured he was holding the bat for Trumka while Trumka was off P-ing on the replica bust of Churchill in the hallway.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:31pmHey John, is Obama holding the bat for Gog [Donald Trump], or for Magog a.k.a [Trumpka]?
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:36pmOr is he holding the bat for the benefit of Mormons or Muslims?
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:41pmSee it’s because Revelation is true.
Report Post »jake-spoon
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:21pmNow it all becomes abundantly clear.
Report Post »HARBlower
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 5:44pmHaving an old brother who still hugs his security blanket, I believe a photographer caught
Report Post »Barry with his politically correct Teddy Bear. With the phone in one hand and the other
gripping the Teddy Bear, he would have a hard time smoking.