Via Gateway Pundit's new digs at Rightnetwork, Newsbusters is reporting that our president is upset that no American reporter ever gives the traditional "Thank you, Mr. President" at the end of press conferences.

It could be because it's the senior White House correspondent's job - a position, until recently held by Helen Thomas. But complaining about it is beyond petty and enters the realm of narcissism:

President Barack Obama is peeved with the American press. They never say "thank you," he whined to journalists in Japan on Monday.

According to the pool report from the press conference, one reporter said "Thank you, Mr. President." Someone said the reporter was Australian.

"I knew it must have been an Australian because my folks never say thank you," Obama said.

At that, the entire American pool said in unison - admittedly with a bit of sarcasm - "Thank you, Mr. President."

PM Gillard could be heard chiming in, "There are a few cheeky Australians here."

At first glance, Obama's comment reeks of arrogance. He seems to think that press access is a privilege, not a right, and that he is under no obligation to even speak to reporters.

This is a man obsessed with the trappings of the office, not with the substance of it. We saw it during the campaign with the self-designed Obama seal (that lasted one day after universal ridicule), and his penchant for luxurious travel arrangements and tony vacation spots.

After the summit he had, it's not surprising that Obama would retreat into his little bubble and whine about not getting respect.

Hat Tip: Ed Lasky