I understand why John McCain's campaign is desperately looking for negatives in Obama's overseas trip. But why have so many in the media internalized the McCain campaign's claptrap?
Here is the McCain line on Europe, delivered via Politico by a nameless campaign aide: "I don't know that people in Missouri are going to like seeing tens of thousands of Europeans screaming for The One."
And here was Gloria Borger on CNN, responding to Wolf Blitzer's assertion that Obama seemed to be on top of his game by pulling out the Straight Talk talking points (and leaving logic and rational thinking in a pile on the studio floor):
...as the McCain campaign points out, he can't appear to be seen as running for the president of Europe. He's going to be really cheered in Europe, he's going to give a huge speech. He's going to have a lot of support there. But he's running for the president of the United States. And so they have to walk a very, very fine line here because they don't want to be seen having too many adoring people after him in Europe because he's running for president of the United States.
What do Borger and the McCain campaign think would play better in Missouri, Obama getting off the plane in Germany and having the locals throw tomatoes at him? Would that endear him to the people in Middle America -- who, in McCain World, are like an insecure girlfriend, panicked by just the thought of someone else finding their guy attractive?
Sadly, this absurd line of thinking is spreading fast. Here is the L.A. Times' Michael Finnegan:
In Europe, where he is highly popular, Obama plans a speech in Berlin on U.S. relations with allies. He will probably find a warm, even rapturous, reception -- which poses its own challenges. 'There's such a thing as being too popular overseas,' said [William] Galston, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. 'And that may create some misgivings here at home.'
The Baltimore Sun's Washington bureau chief Paul West ominously warns: "European adulation for Obama will make him the continent's poodle."
And even Maureen Dowd appears to have bought into the McCainites' Euro-phobia, suggesting Obama "can't be seen as too insidery with the Euro-crats" lest Obama-wary Americans "wonder what he's doing there, when they can't pay for gas, when the dollar is the Euro's chew toy, when Bud is going Belgian and when the Chrysler Building has Arab landlords." And don't forget all those German cars on our roads. Which we can't afford to drive because gas is too expensive (for which, according to McCain, we can blame Obama).
Of course, at no point does the McCain campaign or anyone in the media point out what, exactly, is the danger to America if our closest allies actually, you know, don't hate us.
They also fail to mention that along with being our allies, the European countries Obama is visiting are also democracies -- so it's a lot easier for their leaders to make nice with us if their constituents don't view our president as an object of disdain and ridicule.
And, as Jason Linkins points out, George Bush keeps giving them reasons for ongoing disdain and ridicule. As does McCain. Is it really better for America's standing in the world to have a president who doesn't know that Czechoslovakia no longer exists and who thinks there is a border between Iraq and Pakistan?
Iraq has shown us what an essentially go-it-alone war looks like.
And the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan -- resulting in more U.S. troop fatalities there in May and June than in Iraq -- is a tragic reminder of the consequences of a U.S. military spread too thin, and of not having our allies fully backing our efforts.
Given a recent poll showing the German public prefers Obama to McCain 67 percent to 6 percent, it's no surprise that McCain would try to spin his opponent's popularity there as a black mark on his record. It's also no surprise that McCain isn't willing to admit that our allies' antipathy toward Bush and his policies -- exacerbated by the contempt the Bushies always seemed to delight in directing at them (see Rummy on "Old Europe") -- has cost us dearly in blood, treasure, and goodwill. But it is a surprise that the media are so eagerly parroting the "popular is a problem" meme.
Thankfully, most Americans understand that having a president who is lauded around the world is infinitely better than having one who is loathed.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
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I personally think people are very worried about this country. That is why they are questionin
The unspoken question is, "Can we afford Obama and a training wheel presidency
Congress to Dems. Presidency to McCain.
McCain has no reason to be ahead today in CO, within 4 points in Ohio, labeled Obama's to lose in PA, slipping in VA.
I think the public is saying, Obama isn't the one.
serving experience
in and then complain!
We have real enemies. Europe isn't one of them. And neither is Obama. It isn't in American's basic nature to be aloof and dismissive
The danger is that now that Obama is a real choice and has a real chance at the presidency
That's scary because how do counter RACIAL PREJUDICE with substantiv
You don't. And if the majority of Americans vote AGAINST OBAMA'S (black) SUBSTANCE by voting for McCain in November, I'm moving to Canada. I will know then ---for sure--- that we, as a nation, have gone to hell in a hand basket!
As usual, you are the essence of calm, astute reasoning.
But what I'm mostly seeing is all the weird media backlash against Obama's trip, is the virtiolic stuff I'm reading on websites.
By the comments by anonymous posters on Huff and other so-called liberal sites I visit regularly, i looks like most Americans are rabid Republican
The man largely can't do right, by Fox, CBS and CNN, or by Huff and Nation posters.
Sadly, I'm feeling like this netroots movement is succombing to internal sabotage. Or it just brings out the absolute worst in people.
It's McCain or Obama. One promises more Bush, which the planet can't afford. The other won't be a panacea, will piss us off sometimes, but is a poised, intelligen
Maybe this netroots "experimen
This ideal, which like in Pinochet's Chile, states that it's OK to spy on, torture and even kill, yes, even your own citizens if needed, to SHOCK people and make them fall in line with fear.
Reagan imposed scant traces of these ideals with deruglatio
Very much of the educated world thinks otherwise. They know torture. they know what this corrupt administra
Small wonder it is so refreshing for them to see a candidate like Obama, who they can see does not espouse these ideals, and like him so much.
Get a clue, people. It's not necessaril
That "patriotis
Like those of the Admiral's son (and grandson)?
Its about time we have president who is worthy of being respected around the world.
For the past eight years we've been the village idiot of the internatio
Over the last 75 years, we've seen elections dealing with a terrible economy and/or an unpopular war.
In 1932, it was Great Depression
In all five of those elections—
So all this is greatly interestin
—CoolBlue7
It's just hype.
Doesn't mean much when voting time comes.
You may be seriously disappoint
There are no rock bands.
You just show up to a small place in your neighborho
It's not sexy.
Well, go to this link and check out the REAL members of the committe if you doubt me: http://ban
http://pol