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Tell Me Again, Why Is Obama Being Popular With Our Allies a Bad Thing?
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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because many Americans have been brainwashed especially by the GOP that hating everyone, within our own borders and the rest of the world is a good thing...
My opinion is that the trip will be a wash with the American public, for just the reason McCain points out. The good is that obviously, Obama is accepted by heads of states. That's a definite plus. The bad news is that the trip appeared to many Americans as American Innocent Idol goes to Europe. The gushing crowds are nothing new with Obama, and it continues to fail to win voters who are looking for something more than a marketing campaign in a president.
I personally think people are very worried about this country. That is why they are questioning Obama's lack of experience as too big of a risk to take.
The unspoken question is, "Can we afford Obama and a training wheel presidency?"
The question is, "Can we afford another George Bush who has NO CLUE what the hell he's talking about, or even remembers what the hell is going on!"
I agree and hear you. But I think this may be a time when the public splits the power.
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.
He has a good head on his shoulders. He studied the poverty in this country. He himself experienced much of it during his lean college years. I take him any day over those rotten, self-
serving experienced people who have never done anything for us at all, yet we keep voting them
in and then complain!
I predict Obama will drop in the polls due to the redneck backlash that is being drummed up my McCain. Kerry was criticized for speaking French. Having a world view is not viewed by the majority of sheep in the hinterlands as a good thing. USA right or wrong, our way or the highway, we saved the world in WWII etc. etc. etc. The more Europe and other receive Obama the more he will be painted as a liberal elitist. Hillary won by drinking a beer and downing a shot. Americans like their leaders simple. Europe liking Obama is going to hurt him.
We have an elitist corporate msm media. They will carry the fight for Mccain. The type of media we have now do not work to inform the American people. These people do not care what the world thinks of America, so long as they can make their money and stay in power. When all working people start to realize that Republicans are only out to help big business, not the average working person then maybe we can put this country back on course.
It's a mindset that's been fostered by the Bush administration - to see the whole world as our enemy. Even allies are to be viewed with suspicion. It's almost cult like in technique: Make the outside world seem cold and scary, tell us we have no real friends out there, and mentally isolate. It's one way of keeping people meek and compliant. And it stinks.
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. We're a friendly people. It's like Obama just went over to Europe and hollered "Howdy Neighbor! America said to tell you hello." And I'm so goshdarned proud of him.
Thanks Arianna; I believe you've captured the crux of the current primary season: Too many Americans will vote for what THEY WANT TO SEE, NOT THE SUBSTANCE.
The danger is that now that Obama is a real choice and has a real chance at the presidency, some Americans are looking for any distortion, alibi, spin or excuse NOT TO VOTE FOR HIM.
That's scary because how do counter RACIAL PREJUDICE with substantive information? How do you counter the charge today that the fact that Obama was welcomed all over Europe and the Middle East this week is evidence of Obama's ARROGANCE?
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!
When 90% of the civilized, industrialized world think you’re on the wrong track, and 75 % of the American people think you’re on the wrong track, that’s the time to shoot for that 25 % who think everything is great and we need a president who represents their interests first and foremost.
Arianna:
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 Republicans or nihilistic Democrats who despise Obama, find everything he does and says abhorrent, hate his wife, and believe he's too cozy withEuropean/Mideast allies, or a foreign policy bucaneer like Bush and Cheney.
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, intelligent man who cares about the fate of the globe-- not just his friends' hedge funds.
Maybe this netroots "experiment in democracy" is just bringing kooks out of the woodwork, and doesn't reflect broad opinion. Because if we elect McCain not just the rest of the world, but many of us who care deeply about our country, are going to throw up our hands and be asking: what is this nation anymore? What does it believe in, except greed and jingoism, or deological purity? And can we ever get along again?
The past 8 years are a perfect example of why Free-Market economics that began with Milton Friedman's Chicago school of economics and that so many republicans and right-wingers have espoused and touted, practically as their "bible" to save capitalism and advance their idea of the American ideal, have been absolutely wrong and disastrous for this country.
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 deruglation, but since then, it has become fully loosed by the Bush administration in their grandiose War on Terror, where Doug Feith stated that the Geneva Convention laws should not apply to our prisoners in this war.
Very much of the educated world thinks otherwise. They know torture. they know what this corrupt administration is up to, and are rightly disgusted with it. They know when that when all the veil is removed, the prime motivator behind all this is GREED. Greed from a facsist government with ideals this administration arrogantly links itself to that wants to control people.
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 necessarily Obama these people look up to and love so much, it's America.
Right on point. They are looking forwards to American leadership, not just Obama. It just happens that out of the two candidates for president presently, Obama appears to have a better shot at remedying a lot of problems we either find ourselves in or have dug one for ourselves. If the voting this period is not based on sound judgment but on RACE, America will have taken a couple of 100 steps backwards into history and those who are using "patriotism" (as if it is an attribute of only white people) as a yard stick for voting would have gotten a real bad deal for this country.
That "patriotism" that they are using as excuses will have eluded this country in a period where we all need to stand together. If we actually create one, there is nothing as harmful to the survival of a nation as some of its citizens who feel they owe nothing in terms of security and otherwise because a section of the population rejected them. I shudder at the thought of living with the "enemy" within.
Barack Obama presents himself both as Barack the Baptist and the Obamessiah. Nevertheless, Americans naturally root for for the underdog to prevail. For pride to take a fall. Don't we naturally seek to puncture the grandiose pretensions of a blowhard? It seems to me that this is the question that Obama's speech elicits.
"Don't we naturally seek to puncture the grandiose pretensions of a blowhard"?
Like those of the Admiral's son (and grandson)?
Why do you bloviators accuse those you don't like to be exactly what you are yourself.
Well, we haven't punctured Bush's grandiose pretentions, and he's a big a blowhard as they come.
Are you certain that this is the way Barack Obama "presents himself," or are you merely projecting your own discomfort with him onto his presentation. Senator Obama is an intelligent, gifted and inspirational candidate, and he presents himself as who he is, nothing more and nothing less. Yet, many Americans are threatened by this, perhaps because it reminds them of their own intellectual and elocution inadequacies or the inadequacies of his opponent or our current president; and they are particularly threatened because it is a black man who is doing this. After all, blacks are supposed to be inferior! So they rationalize or explain away this contradiction, and rather than examining their own thinking, they project their misgivings onto the Senator, saying things like he presents himself as a messiah, diminishing him into a ridiculous caricature to refute the reality of who he is. Ironically, the only ones who see him as "Barack the Baptist" or "Obamessiah" are those who refuse to accept this reality, but they are seeing him through the lens of their own minds and hearts, and it is not Senator Obama's challenge to adjust their lens; it's up to them to make that adjustment. In lieu of this adjustment however, rather than to see their own thinking as flawed, they choose instead to see Senator Obama as flawed - because he's intelligent, knowledgable, speaks well, is confident and inspirational - attributes one would think we would seek in our president.
God bless America!!!!!!!! Did you hear Obamas' speech in Berlin ? For the first time in eight years, I too am proud to call myself an American.
Great article! I agree with you 100%, Ms. Huffington!
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 international community, and it's time for that to change! Enough is enough!
If anyone is doubting this year's presidential election, look to the past.
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/Prohibition. In 1952, it was Korean War. In 1968, the Vietnam War. In 1980, it was Inflation. In 1992, it was Recession.
In all five of those elections—spanning 60 years—U.S. voters did not once reward the incumbent political party with the White House for the following four years.
So all this is greatly interesting, Ms. Huffington. And I agree with you: Mr. Obama is in action mold—doing what leaders should do. So get ready for it—and in November we'll see if John McCain can even muster 200 electoral votes. (I don't believe he will.)
—CoolBlue71
I'm doing the math and your guys best bet is a tie with 269 electoral votes, which will go to the house and Obama would of course win. You have to protect Michigan, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Iowa, and New Mexico. Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Missouri should hold red and Colorado seems to be coming back home. Therefore, if we pick off any of those first states I just mentioned we win the election. You dems have a little too much hubris in relation to this election.
The fact that we're discussing the idea that he might be president (McCain) is a sad commentary on our society. What has to happen to this country for us to see we need someone with clarity as president (Obama).
He's not "popular."
It's just hype.
Dream on 200,000 people come out to see some hype. You McCain types are so envious of Obama you're getting silly.
Good golly, people Love to come out to events.
Doesn't mean much when voting time comes.
You may be seriously disappointed. Voting is private. It's a matter of conscience.
There are no rock bands.
You just show up to a small place in your neighborhood, pull the curtain, and pull the lever.
It's not sexy.
Obama lied to the Israelis. He clearly stated that he was on the US Senate Banking Committee, in fact he said it is "my committee" as he tapped on his chest.. Now don't tell me he "forgot" one cannot, or in his case if he wants to be the President, shouldn't forget an important fact like that. He was obviously trying to embellish his very thin resume..
Well, go to this link and check out the REAL members of the committe if you doubt me: http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Information.Membership
An Obama spokesman tells CNN "it was his bill, not his committee," referring to the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act that the Illinois senator sponsored and introduced in May 2007. The measure was then referred to the Banking Committee, and passed a vote of 19-2 on July 17.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/23/obama-incorrectly-claims-membership-of-senate-committee/
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