Filipinos not only ones smarting from Obama 'snub' of GMA

WASHINGTON – Filipinos are not the only ones smarting over a perceived snub by President-elect Barack Obama.

Indians apparently suffered bruised feelings too after it was disclosed Obama had spoken by phone to 15 world leaders including President Asif Zardari of Pakistan, India’s on-again, off-again adversary, but still had not connected with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Washington Post reported.

Newspapers and TV talk shows in India were apparently so incensed that Singh himself had to address the flap over the weekend. He said Obama had tried to call him on Saturday but he could not take the call as he was on his way to Oman and Qatar.

The long-awaited call finally took place on Tuesday.

“In the normal course of events Obama’s call to President Arroyo should also be coming soon,“ a Filipino diplomat said.

There is a world of hurt out there over a perceived Obama slight, the Washington Post said.

Obama’s aides said the president-elect has been spending a lot of time on the phone returning calls from world leaders who have sent their congratulations on his Nov. 4 victory.

Obama is likely to continue making calls as he hunkers down in Chicago for the rest of this week, transition chief John Podesta told reporters

“I think that he’s tried to return those phone calls in due order and particularly to our traditional partners and allies,” Podesta said.

He said leaders who called on Tuesday included Singh, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI, King Abdullah of Jordan and President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya. 

Washington Times columnist James Morrison said US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney has been stuck with the difficult duty of trying to calm Filipinos angered by a perceived snub from Obama who reportedly failed to take two congratulatory phone calls from President Arroyo.  

According to Obama’s transition office, he made his first nine calls to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the United Kingdom on Nov. 6.

He followed this up with six calls on Nov. 7 to Spain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, Poland and Pakistan.