Whole Wide World Wants Obama
Putting yesterday's Pennsylvania primary in the correct perspective: Obama is the one who "closed" his deal by narrowing the big margin Hillary had going into the state. Hillary blew half her point lead. She lost even if she won. Even Republican caricature Bill Bennett applauded Hillary on her campaign -- which she ran like a Republican, he said on CNN. The Democratic commentators let that one go by without comment. What was up with them? Isn't this the ultimate insult, or is it a badge of honor for Leibercrat (thank you, Bob Cesca) Clinton?
Bennett gave Hillary high marks on her fear-provoking, mean-spirited campaign of making non-issues important and lies sound like truth for those who don't "get" that she's using the famous Republican inspired M.O. to throw a net over her citizen prey. This worked for George Bush, and we all know how it's been to live with the tragic results of that. Bennett's comment should be a veil of shame for Mrs. Clinton, though she wears it like a blushing bride. Maybe she'll go out and shoot a duck to celebrate, or down some shots with her good ole Northern boys. After that, they could head out to a Whiffenpoof sing-a-long.
The world is watching this election with great interest. I live in Paris, which is an extremely diverse culture as well as a crossroads for Europe and other continents. Everyone I talk to -- without exception -- says they are excited about Obama being elected president of the United States. That he would make a huge difference in how the world sees us and in our reputation. No one mentions Hillary. Most people don't even understand how she has as much support as she does, given that the bulk of her governmental experience is having been a First Lady--in Arkansas and then The White House -- for a total of 20 years. People from our Turkish tailor to an English actress friend bring the subject up, and are baffled.
Before you start saying that you don't care what anyone from any other country thinks, remember that this is exactly the attitude of George W. and VP Dick. This is the attitude of insular Americans who have shut down their hearts, their optimism, their experience, and their brains and let our country go down the tubes. They harm our country far more than they could ever help. This nationalist attitude has a bit of a fascist feel.
Check out The World Wants Obama Coalition. People from around the globe have submitted videos to say how they feel. For example,
Khaya from South Africa gives a very careful view of America's strengths and weakness, concluding that if it elects Barack Obama it will send the message to the world "that America has its mojo back:"
Beth Arnold lives and writes in Paris. You can see more of her work at www.betharnold.com.
Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to the Pennsylvania Primary results
Follow Beth Arnold on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BethArnold
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Living in Vancouver (Canada), I was witness to a Global Democratic Convention that took place here of expat Americans who were less ambivalent about who they would like to see as the leader of their homeland - there were an overwhelming number of Obama t-shirts. Too bad CNN wasn't covering these Americans abroad (though news from New Zealand covered it http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425822/1707144 as did a number of Canadian outlets) - but it is interesting to see the choice of people who are subject to the world's opinion of Amerca. It definitely makes a difference to the way they are perceived - whether it is fair or not. The reputation and integrity of their country's leader reflects on them, and it is very clear that they rather have the badge of Obama representing their character - which says quite a lot.
I would suggest that the opinion of ex-pats is somewhat held in contempt by their countryment for obvious reasons, no?
No one is stopping Sen. Obama from running for president of the EU or UN or any other 'international' type organization. I would prefer it. These same creatures that 'prefer' Sen Obama also would like to rat through our bill of rights and rewrite it more to their liking. Go ahead and try - the Democrats are willing to assist.
It would be nice if these same beings would demand that we remove all our troops and stop handing out free military assistance - all of it - and start reimbursing us for what we have provided since WWII. With interest. These parasites won't even reimburse us for what we provide on a year to year basis - they should on a cost-plus basis and if not why not?
Ingrates.
If it wasn't for us they would be stupid in either German, Russian or Japanese.
Stinky you do more stinking than thinking. Calling European folks parasites ... well that's real class!
Why are we giving money to Europe while borrowing money from the Chinese? STINKY you must be a troll GOP, because Dems do not think like you do. You are one of those arrogant people the young man in the video was talking about. You think America is the savior of the world that we can do no wrong -- at the same time Idiot Bush is planning to take over more of the West Bank with Israel. We create monsters around the world or we help put them on their thrown and then act surprise when the y commit genocide. We sanction apartheid both in SA and in USA. We trade drugs for arms and hostages and steal and deceive and then climb up on some moral high ground. We're HYPOCRITES. We talk about civil rights and yet we don't even treat people of color at home equally!!! We have the audacity to try and boycott China opening games and at the same time acquit terrorists who shoot unarmed civilians 50 TIMES!!! So go crawl back in your hole and continue taking your blue pills maybe one of these days you'll have the balls to take the red pill.
I live in Paris as well. People here think that Obama and Clinton are running against each other in a general election and the French Press has been extremely poor in their coverage. You mention that Paris is diverse, and I agree. I happen to live in a predominately Arab neighborhood and I can tell you one thing-they are dying for a Clinton in office. They see the way Obama has handled the so-called Muslim "smear" (not being reported in France's papers but apparently in the local French-Arabic language news) as terrible and mean-spirited. Let's not forget that the French have enough problems with own incompetent President and they LOVED Kerry arguably more than Obama. So first Obama people can generalize about the working class and now about the whole world...fantastic.
What Muslim smear?
I am appalled at the small-mindedness shown in many of these comments. Perhaps America really is over.
People, the two biggest problems we have to address are global warming and nuclear proliferation. Either one could wipe out our species in the fairly near future. Both will require worldwide cooperation. We MUST elect a president who is not a "fighter" but a unifier, a president that people in those pesky other countries will like and trust. Senator Clinton in this campaign has shown herself to be both fundamentally dishonest and reckless. Those who are not looking through the lens of our MSM can see this clearly, and they aren't just writing it off to "politics" and clinging to warm, fuzzy memories of Bill.
Israel is neither a member if IAEA nor a signatory of the NPT. Rest assured, neither Sens Clinton nor Obama would expect Israel to do either.
the 'whole wide world' can HAVE him! i'd gladly max out my credit card for a 1 way ticket anywhere
I'll chip in if you buy a ticket to go to HELL.
ZING!
Many Americans including me are great fans of Europe. However, the Europeans certainly have their own enormous struggles right now. Many young (especially northern) Europeans are simply voting with their feet and emigrating. And England has its hands full with all of their own internal strife caused by racial tension. Furthermore, much of the world's displeasure with America comes from our constant vociferous self-criticism. I'm glad there is a Europe (for many reasons) and I'm glad there is a richly diverse world community but I don't think it makes sense to make any political decisions simply to try and effect the world's opinion of us or to try and emulate nations that are having incredible problems themselves. If anything we should try and learn from their mistakes because for whatever reasons, they historically, often (not always) seem to make them first.
The world is not just Europe. Europe is a very small portion of the planet. The guy in the video is African
So now the Democratic party has to abandon the rules of nominee election because "nobody mentions Hillary" and "the whole wide world" or at least "people you are talking to" wants Obama? How juvenile are these arguments?
That's it for me. If the French want Obama, then we have to elect HRC. What an elitist and ignorant article by this woman. Nothing about substance, nothing about issues, just a whim. Nothing about Obama's pandering or his negative ads, just HRC's. She wins by 10 but she loses in her eyes because of POLLS???? How ignorant is that? Covering some idiotic spread doesn't equate to a WIN...... When are these left wing bleeding hearts going to start listening to the entire party, not just the sect with whom holds there noses up in the air at people they believe are beneath them?
Very good editorial. I am a "old white guy" (54 engineer) but don't feel I have ever been biased racially or sexually. I would be happy to vote for a black (red,yellow whatever) man or white (or black) woman. I want the best person for our country and for how our country approaches the world. Right now the fresheness, the change, etc. that Obama represents is what I want. I don't hate Hilary and if she gets the nomination I will gladly vote for her over Bush Jr., McCain (who I also like somewhat at one time before he crossed over the dark side). But the way Hilary has turned is repulsive to me. All the innuendo she questions Obama with is disgusting. Something like you know you have to look at the relationships he has with these people kind of questions. Then the I am a duck hunter and I can chug a slug of whiskey with the boys! Even worse actually is her triangulation on so many things like the war, didn't have time to read the NIE report prior to giving Bush his blessing to go to war. What did she think he was up to at the time? So if I end up having her as the democratic nominee I will vote for her, but Obama certainly appeals to my higher hopes than Hilary does.
These chants of "the worlds opinion doesn't matter", "the world doesn't vote we do", "I don't care what the world thinks" are just scary stupid.
It's like living in a neighborhood and not even listening to you neighbors advice about anything. You don't have to take the advice, but if you're not an self-righteous close-minded idiot, you'll listen.
"Secret trip to San Francisco?" How do YOU know about it? He didn't tell ME!
Oh yeah. He closed the deal by getting the black vote in Philly and losing the rest of the state.Even his "base" of upper middle class suburbanites failed him. Who the world thinks ought to our president is of no interest to me. w
We need to do what's best for US right now, then the rest of the world follows in order of priority.
Hey,
Obama doesn't just pull the African American vote. He does very well in all white states also. This is one of the most bewildering characteristics of the Obama campaign. Iowa-Utah-Washington etc.
I care what the world thinks. I want the world to like us again. The way our economy is tanking we are going to need international goodwill to help us through the hard times that lie ahead.
You want the rest of the world to like us? It sounds as if you have a self respect issue. I could care less who likes us, as long as we are respected. That's what our focus needs to be on.
And well we should have a National "self respect issue'. How in hell can the rest of the world respect us when we have gone to war on a credit card (issued by, among others, China). No wonder Bush can't boycott the Olympics in China. Doesn't make sense to spit in the bankers face. You don't demand respect . . . you earn it. And it appears right now we're bankrupt in more ways than one.
Thanks so much Beth! Always enjoy your writing and POV.
It doesn't matter what the whole wide world wants. They don't vote. It is only relevant that about half of the Democratic Party prefers Clinton and another significant amount of Clinton supporters won't vote for him in November.
"It doesn't matter what the whole wide world wants."
Yep, just like the article said. EXACTLY the mentality of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
So you are suggesting that we hold some primaries in France? Maybe expand to England, Russia and China?? Do you think any of there people give a rats ass what we think in terms of who they should elect? Many view this as a Big American Idol contest. And if you really care what the FEW people that THIS woman has spoken to, then what does that say about you? Would you listen to those who have a different opinion or would you only listen to those who help your argument?
I don't believe that part about a significant number of her supporters will not vote for him - they will turn around after Hillary goes away (on an extended vacation).
There are a certain number of racists who will never vote for him, but we don't want these people's support anyway.
It there are sufficient number of racists in the country to swing the November elections than this country is doomed anyway.
Maybe you should believe it. Billary's campaign was in the habit of reminding everyone how uneducated and ignorant her base is in those memos so they probably are dumb enough not to vote for him. Think about it. You are arguing that the least educated, least informed, most politically ignorant segment of the democratic party is too smart to vote against their best interest. Really? That is what that segment of the entire American population has done consistently since 1980 so you must have evidence that there have been mass brain lobotomies in 2007 or something.
I find it interesting that "the world" you mention notes only Hillary's experience as first lady, ignoring the fact that she is also a U.S. Senator, and that she was elected to that body a full four years before Obama. Senator Obama did serve in the Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004, but I'm not sure his three extra years in a state senate (relative to Hillary) is the kind of "experience" that makes a President. I think people are people, and the cult of personality affects them, no matter where they live. It's the image of a smart black man they're reacting to -- which, while very positive, doesn't reflect any actual assessment regarding said man's ability to help solve the problems we're facing.
It could be the image of that hypocritical white woman that they are equally responding to. For some reason, there is a large number of Americans that seem insensitive to character of strength and intimidated by wisdom (i.e. what the call with some small measure of repugnance - elitism). The rest of the world seem to gravitate towards that can of leader, where in America, it is now a liability. This "experience" issue is bullocks - can any experience prepare for the kind of travesty that the current "experienced" administration has wrought on the world? Clinton (times two) have been a major part of the mess - if not accessory to the crime. An ounce of that man's (Obama's) character and acuity far outweighs Clinton's so-called experience - which hasn't helped her lead an effective campaign nor endeared her to good foreign policy initiatives (she said she will refer to McCain's "experience" on that matter - for pete's sake! some people are awfully slow learners).
I agree with everything you say - except - not "hypocritical white woman" - her whiteness and womanhood have nothing to do with it! Change that to "hypocritical, conniving, calculating, immoral, unethical, dishonest, win-at-any-cost individual" and I'm with you 10-0%.
To discerning people, all over the world, it must look like a "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" SIGN has been pasted on America and everybody is just waiting for the "RUMMAGE SALE" sign to soon take it's place. Whether we like it or not, most of us know that "The Golden Rule" is in total effect. and it works like this, the ones who have the gold ,rule! At least temporarily, and until, the Real RULER comes back to make the Golden Rulers ante up for their transgressions, to the delight of those who have been transgressed against.
I'll take community organizer experience over getting-rapists-off-scott-free-by-blaming-the-victim experience any day. I guess I'm just feminist like that.
The 'world' knows as well as the Americans the importance of experience and judgement.
The 'world' hears that Clinton voted for the war in Iraq - and the more informed know that she voted against an amendment requesting that GWB should obtain the agreement of the Senate before actually starting the war. The world knows that when she says she was 'mislead' by GWB she either lies or admits to total incompetence on the direst issue of her senate term.
The world knows that BO opposed the war from the start and has consistently done so ever since.
The world knows that, after realizing that her initial position on the war was a (electoral) mistake, HRC declared she was going to end the war and had the cheek of accusing BO of not being serious about it.
And now the world hears HRC improvizing a new deterrence policy (the kind of things which usually takes months of brainstorming by hundreds of experts), and saying she's going to win the war in Iraq.
The 'world', if asked, would rather not have a 'misleadee' become the 'misleader' of the world...
But, of course, as the world doesn't vote on this, the 'world' just respects the American voters, and hopes...
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