He’d already made a mockery of the U.S. presidency and the Nobel Peace Prize, but Barack Obama outdid himself when he arrived on a state visit to Japan the other day.

Now, one could almost understand how a Kenyan-Indonesian Muslim masquerading as an American Christian would betray himself by genuflecting in front of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdoullah, but when Barack Obama kowtowed to Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, he betrayed 230 years of American tradition that holds all people to be equal.

It won’t be long before people will start bowing to King Obama and kissing his ring to plead for blessings when visiting the White House. Oh, but first, they have to pass that amendment thing about royalty in America. It should come sometime after health care reform.

Anyway, even an ur-socialist like FDR had the good sense to drive the King and Queen of England to his Hyde Park manse, where he served them hot dogs without ever bowing. Of course, being in a wheelchair did make genuflexion a bit out of the question. So Obama, I assume, felt constrained to make up for his predecessor’s gaffe.