They are laughing at Barack Obama and the United States down in Brazil, but with no mirth.  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has just delivered a diplomatic slap in the face. Dave Boyer of the Washington Times reports:

In an unprecedented snub to President Obama, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has canceled her official state visit to the White House scheduled for next month, angered by revelations of U.S. spying on her and on major Brazilian state institutions.

The White House released a statement Tuesday saying that both presidents "agreed to postpone" Ms. Rousseff's visit, scheduled for Oct. 23. But it is the Brazilian leader who is incensed about the National Security Agency's surveillance of her and her top aides and a Brazilian energy company.

The two presidents spoke by phone for 20 minutes Monday night, but Mr. Obama's explanations to Ms. Rousseff about the spying were not enough to prevent her from canceling the trip.

No doubt to his surprise, Barack Obama is finding out that just being his wonderful, brilliant self does not lead to diplomatic triumphs. Nor does simply not being George W. Bush mean that the foreign relations of the United States run smoothly. Smooth talking the Brazilian president turns out to be ineffective.  The White House may claim that the decision was mutual, but Brazil's most influential newspaper says otherwise:

The Brazilian newspaper O Globo said Mr. Obama failed in an attempt to "salvage" the state visit. The White House portrayed it as a mutual decision.

The vast and growing gap between what Obama promised and what he has delivered would be hilarious, were it not for the fact that America's prosperity and power are diminishing with every day he remains in office.