GOP accuses Obama of ‘groveling’ to Saudi King

GOP accuses Obama of ‘groveling’ to Saudi King

From CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

The NRSC has unveiled an ad that accuses the president of bowing before the Saudis.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The campaign arm for Republican senators is soliciting donations in a new national Web ad that accuses President Barack Obama of bowing to Saudi Arabia King Abdullah during the recent G-20 Summit.

The ad, which appeared on the Drudge Report Friday and scheduled to run for several days, shows a picture of Obama greeting Abdullah at the summit with the headline: Should America Bow to a King?

Readers are asked to click on the “Yes” or “No” button on the ad and it directs them to a Web page where they are then asked to contribute or provide a name and e-mail address to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“Should the president of the world’s pre-eminent superpower be groveling at the feet of a Saudi King,” the NRSC asks visitors, who are also able to watch a short FOX News clip of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich knocking the White House for denying that Obama bowed to Abdullah.
“Well, I think he bent over with both – to shake with both hands to shake his hand,” Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Thursday. When asked again if Obama bowed, Gibbs answered “No.”

In addition to the Web ad, the NRSC e-mailed political supporters Thursday stating the same criticism.
"In light of the bizarre denial from the White House, the NRSC is simply presenting two questions to the American people: Do they believe the White House's explanation that this was not a bow? And if they don't, do they think it's appropriate for the leader of the free world to be bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia?” NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said to CNN. “It's not an attack ad - it's simply raising a fair question."

Walsh also told CNN that in just a few hours of the Web ad appearing on the Drudge Report more than 4,000 people have provided the NRSC with their email addresses.