How (Not) to Win Friends and Influence People

Maybe the Obama administration seeks to milk the AIG bonus non-scandal so so it can distract a sheepishly compliant media away from this bit of news.

The U.K.'s Telegraph confirms the DVDs that Barack Obama gave to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during Brown's recent visit to Washington were in the wrong format, and only work in DVD players made in North America. While Brown was doubtless vexed by the White House's oversight, according to the Telegraph, "he is unlikely to jeopardise the special relationship – or 'special partnership', as we are now supposed to call it – by registering a complaint." (Would that as much could be said for the current occupant of the Oval Office, who seems determined to snub his allies while trying to make kissy-face with Russia and Iran.)

Now here's the kicker, as reported by the Telegraph's Tim Walker:

A Downing Street spokesman said he was "confident" that any gift Obama gave Brown would have been "well thought through," but referred me to the White House for assistance on the "technical aspects".

A White House spokesman sniggered when I put the story to him and he was still looking into the matter when my deadline came last night. (Emphasis added.)

To be sure, the entire White House is now permeated by a sense of arrogant entitlement, an attitude that is reinforced by the near blackout that the American media have imposed on any discussion of this situation.

Is it 2012 yet?