Global Radio Listeners Debate US Politics

The United States holds an election and the world holds its breath. Except on world band radio, that is. The leading international broadcasting powerhouses are reporting back to the globe, typically in conjunction with someone actually here in the States. For example, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (Holland), has Europe Goes to the White House weekly podcast; Deutsche Welle (Germany) has its Across the Pond blog, a German-American joint effort.

Pulling out to lead the pack, though, is the BBC World Service with its election tour bus trek, beginning in Los Angeles and ending in New York. This odyssey is titled "Talking America", which launched from Los Angeles with a debate (Listen with your choice of player). Panelists in Los Angeles fielded questions from around the world submitted by HaveYourSay.com The bus then takes to the road to visit Las Vegas, Nevada, next; then Phoenix Arizona; then Albuquerque NM; the complete planned trip is mapped out on its web page, audio feeds from the bus are on a daily basis, and there is also a text blog.

Quoting the BBC's press release, "The debate will be co-hosted by BBC World Service's World Have Your Say presenter Ros Atkins and KPCC radio station's Larry Mantle. Panellists are Tom Campbell (Dean of Haas Business School, UCLA, and former Republican Congressman), Kantathi Supamongkhon (Senior Fellow of International Relations, UCLA, and former Foreign Minister of Thailand), Martha de la Torre (CEO of Latin American newspaper El Clasificado and former Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year), Richard Schiff (Toby in 'The West Wing' and campaigner for Barack Obama) and Steve Grove (Political Editor of YouTube)."

The views expressed by the panel were from both sides of the political aisle (in U.S. terms) and where there was a difference of views, Ros Atkins put it to an audience vote and it sounded like the audience was not much in favor of the Republican-leaning opinions expressed. The major resolved issues coming out of the debate were:

* The next U.S. president should listen more to the rest of the world and then assist in a fair manner; as Kantathi Supamongkhon put it: "listen listen listen listen!"

* The U. S. isn't fair about presenting the problem in Georgia. The U. S. recognition of Kosovo is integral in what happened in Georgia and with Russia's new attitude.

* Consumer confidence is the problem with the economy; global trade, budget, government spending still debatable.

* Neither candidate wants to address the immigration issue although it's still an important one.

With this debate, the bus tour launches, to continue daily until the bus reaches New York, keeping the rest of the globe informed of the U.S. election, in terms the rest of the globe finds important.

One BBC promotion of the event (mp3)

This week OffTheBus is publishing a variety of stories that cover the presidential election from an international perspective.

Comments

[Brittanicus]

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