Obama has, at least:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/opinion/06obama.html

Fun footnote:

Barack Obama is the president of the United States.

Even after researching the definition of burnish, I'm not sure if you meant that he makes his reputation better or made it worse by his statements.

Better. Think "polish".

I believe you mean, "how commonplace it is for major heads of state to commission PR firms to advance their interests in US media."

WTF,

- If they express view point it's, "advance their interest"

- If they don't, they are arrogant or indecisive

What you are saying is,

- If your view is not same as my opinion, I will find an excuse to insult you.

This double standard is what makes America an exceptional nation. ;)

There's a whole spectrum in there, you can't just say that all choices imply extreme perceptions.

I would not insult Putin for not doing this, but your summary would seem to apply to your own comment.

Don't worry, the richness of Vladimir Putin saying that "the law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not" is not lost on me.

Well, al Assad has been active in the onion recently....

lol, good one!