Obama Gives The Queen an iPod
This article is from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
LONDON — The geek-in-chief (I find this disrespectul/incredibly lame…but that’s just me) didn’t miss a chance to give technology to new friends.
Obama gave Queen Elizabeth II an engraved iPod during his visit to Buckingham Palace. The portable music device came with headphones and already loaded with songs. He and first lady Michelle Obama also gave the queen a rare book of songs signed by “The King and I” composer Richard Rodgers.
It’s not the first time Obama has given a British leader a tech-based gift. When Brown visited the United States, Obama gave his peer 25 of his favorite movies on DVD. (Never mind the DVDs didn’t work when Brown took them home because they were meant for use only in North American players.)
Obama is a known technology geek. He successfully fought to keep his mobile e-mail device and aides keep his iPod updated.
In return, the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, gave the Obamas a signed portrait.
Obama says his favorite part of England is its people. Oh, and the queen isn’t too bad, either.
“There is just an extraordinary affinity and kinship that we have. We owe so much to England; that when you come here there’s that sense of familiarity, as well as difference, that makes it just a special place,” Obama said, seeking to repair a perceived slight against the United States’ close ally.
During Brown’s visit to the United States, the British press suggested Obama didn’t give their leader proper respect; Obama opted for a familiar Oval Office chat instead of the kind of formal news conference afforded some leaders.
In recent weeks, the White House has made a concerted effort to repair that perception.
“There’s one last thing that I should mention that I love about Great Britain, and that is the queen,” a smiling Obama said. “I’m very much looking forward to meeting her for the first time later this evening. And as you might imagine, Michelle has been really thinking that through because I think in the imagination of people throughout America, I think what the queen stands for and her decency and her civility, what she represents, that’s very important.”
Brown kept pace: “Well, I know the queen is looking forward to welcoming you and she’s very much looking forward to her discussion with you.”
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