Photo from the Associated Press prior to tonight's State of the Union.
Barack Obama apparently can't find the decency to say hello.
Note it is the Associated Press describing how Obama turns away.
"Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., greets Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., back to camera, as fellow hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. turns away before President Bush's the State of the Union address ..."
This is the full AP photo caption:
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., greets Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., back to camera, as fellow hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. turns away before President Bush's the State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, Monday Jan. 28, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Is this the leader who is going to negotiate not only with our friends but with our enemies?
For those keeping score at home, Obama has now hollered - more than once - at Hillary during their last debate, gave an impolite "You're likeable enough Hillary" after the former first lady of the United States complimented him ("He's very likeable"), and has now turned his back in a professional setting, deciding not to shake hands on a day when Kennedy endorsed Obama and Hillary still has the grace to go shake Kennedy's hand.
Classy Barack!
This story is now front page news on the Drudge Report, though they conveniently used another photo of Obama and Kennedy glaring at Hillary.
Additionally it has been mentioned on CNN and MSNBC, where Pat Buchanan called it "ungracious".
Even Chris Matthews called it stunning before immediately deviating to another topic.
Here is a recount of what happened from the Baltimore Sun;
Sen. Barack Obama refused to make himself available to greet Sen. Hillary Clinton before the speech.
When members of the Senate entered the chamber, Obama came in before Clinton. He went out of his way to greet as many House members as possible and walked halfway across the chamber to greet members of the Supreme Court, the president’s cabinet, the military joint chiefs.
That made what happened next even more striking.
"As Clinton approached, Kennedy made sure to make eye contact and indicated he wanted to shake her hand. Clinton leaned towards Kennedy over a row of seats and Kennedy leaned in towards her. They shook hands.
Obama stood icily staring at Clinton during this, then turned his back and stepped a few feet away. Kennedy may've wanted to make peace with Clinton but Obama clearly wanted no part of that."