Will the rest of the world soften to us with Barak Obama as president?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

I heard a show on NPR while I was doing the dishes last night and there was a conservative writer (Andrew Sullivan) saying that a person with such a diverse lineage and a person so unlike the usual old white man as president would do much to soften the outside world's stance towards opening dialogue with us after we have so butchered our standing in the world. This is poor paraphrasing, of course.

What do you think?

edit: I found a link to the show. It was On Point http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2007/11/20071106_a_main.asp

[goclark]

1. That is exactly why I am supporting Obama

He is,in my view, the only candidate that can reach out to people all over the world and bring back the glory of our once great country.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

3. An african man called in and said that he supports him and feels like

he would do very well as a head of state in African relations and that he feels that Barak truly cares.

[goclark]

13. He reminds me of JFK

his personality is magnetic!

He is intelligent and would easily understand how to appoint the right people to the right positions.

He is the President for the 21st Century ~ not someone lost in the 60's or the 70's or the 80's but right here, right now.

I can understand why many don't have my same vision but that's my opinion.

Please don't say he doesn't have "enough experience." After the clown that we have in office that has "fake experience" the bar for experience is so low you can stick a toothpick under it.

He is the only candidate that has "universal appeal and speaks with authority yet good will for all."

And if we ever want to regain our good will around the world, that is what we need.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

15. I think he may be winning my vote

I can't get truly excited over anyone else. However Kucinich speaks to my politics the most. But I know he willn ot win, as I did when I voted for him last time.

[goclark]

20. I love Dennis! Just love his brave and honest approach

to all issues.

He is a Drum Major for JUSTICE!

[redqueen]

2. If so it will be superficial and possibly shortlived,

depending on the actions he takes once he's in office.

A few neo-liberal missteps, and his diversity will be forgotten by most.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. I agree but I would feel comfortable taking that chance

It is better than what we've got now.

I voted for Kucinich last time and have planned on it again but I'm starting to think that I'd rather see Obama than Hillary.

[redqueen]

11. I voted for Kucinich too...

however, this time around, I'm increasinly inclined to vote strategically for whichever candidate poses the best challenge to Hillary for the nod. I don't think I'll know for sure till the day I go vote. I'd really prefer Kucinich.

[cali]

8. please explain the widespread fondness for Bill Clinton

that seems to contradict your claim.

[redqueen]

10. People are more easily misled

when they are fat and happy.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

17. I think the poster meant people outside America

[redqueen]

22. When he was in office the rising tide was still lifting

lots of boats... not just our boats.

Also, he was careful with his attacks on Iraq... that didn't bother so many people.

Now the tide is leveling off for many, dropping for most. And it remains to be seen how the next president decides who they'll attack.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

4. Frankly, I think that will happen somewhat

if we just kick the Republican's asses.

[Bullet1987]

7. I think it could possibly

if he's serious about changing things in Washington and reform. If this is all campaign talk and we keep doing to same-ole stuff...then no.

[AngryAmish]

6. Of course not. To think otherwise would be deeply silly.

Nations support the US because it is in their interest to do so, and vice versa.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

12. You don't think trust comes into play?

Or do you feel that they would see anyone as a face for a sinister nation?

[AngryAmish]

21. That they'll trust Obama because he is black?

No.

If they think he is more homest than Bush then they would. But nothing will change unless policies change.

This isn't junior high with popular and unpopular kids. Nations pursue their interests. Period.

[redqueen]

23. I thought the OP was including the opinions of the people...

of various countries... not just their leaders and those who view foreign policy as nothing more than a $.

[AngryAmish]

25. OK, so people in different countries would change because our president is black?

Dream on.

[redqueen]

27. People would change?

How?

Would their opinion and expectations of this country change? You're damn right they would.

We are seen as being VERY racist. Electing Obama would turn that around.

I guess that glaringly obvious point escaped you.

[AngryAmish]

28. We are seen as racists? The world is full of racists.

The Chinese have no sense of racial superiority?

Nor the Russians?

Or the French?

Or Indian folks?

Racism is the default position of humankind.

[redqueen]

29. We are seen as being worse, then.

How's that?

Do you disagree?

(pssst. Katrina)

[AngryAmish]

30. Hell yes I disagree

People are aggrieved against the US for several reasons.

Most commonly we are resented because people think we want to be the world hegemon. They think we make up international rules to benefit the US to the detriment of other nations. For example the US seeks enforcement of intellectual property rights, which people think is just a way to enrich the US while keeping other folks poor and ignorant.

Other folks think they are ignored by the US since they think they don't matter.

Still others think the US culture is evil (Muslim world).

None of these things will change just because our president is black, a woman or made out of cheese. These attitudes will only change with changes with policy.

[redqueen]

31. Yes, many reasons.

I disagree with you that hegemony is top of the list though.

Most people, it seems to me, dislike / resent the encroachment of our culture & our cultural arrogance / ignorance. McDonalds, NFL "world champions", Coca Cola, the "world series", etc. etc. etc.

Another target of ire, the one that would change with Obama as president, is the impressions *ahem* that most people in this country are racist as fuck. Yes, racists exist everywhere. Shit like Katrina, on the scale of it, and managed as it was by the 'first world' culprits, in my view, made a lot of people absolutely sick to their stomachs. IMO we are seen as much worse, and this, as opposed to all the other stuff you bring up, is what would in fact change if we elected a non-white president. So no, a lot of things wouldn't change... but that very real (and very significant) thing would. Again, in my opinion. :)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

33. I agree

I don't think the world is going to love us again - trust takes a time and work to bebuild - but I think much of the world would be more receptive when they see us living up to the principles of equality that we espouse. Same goes for a woman president.

[redqueen]

36. Sorry for sort of taking over the thread a bit.

:blush:

Glad I wasn't so off base at least... this time anyway. :P

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

37. no sweat - mi thread, su thread

:)

[redqueen]

42. Cool.

:)

:kick:

[saltpoint]

9. Speaking strictly to Obama, or a potential Obama presidency, yes -- I believe

other nations would look favorably toward the United States if he were in the White House.

I am ashamed that Bush is our public international face. I believe all our Democrats would be infinitely superior ambassadors of who we are as a culture, as a country.

[Ganja Ninja]

14. I think the world will be so relieved and happy to see Bush go

that it won't matter who his replacement is. Hilliary would be just as likely to get a warm reception if not more so. Bill was pretty popular overseas while he was in office and I'm sure Bush has only made the memory Bill Clinton fonder.

[Midlodemocrat]

16. I think the same thing. I think the entire world will breathe

a huge sigh of relief when that administration is out of office. They are beyond hated.

[NewJeffCT]

19. I just posted the same thoughts below

you were just a few minutes faster than me.

[redqueen]

24. I disagree.

I think that many in other countries are even more cynical than we are. They'll expect better, but I think that for most, "better" just means less wars of choice / torture.

Seems to me that those in other countries subscribe even more to that "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" mentality.

Politics is vile everywhere.

[NewJeffCT]

18. To be honest, I think most of the world will see any Democrat

as a welcome change from Bush. Bill Clinton was well-liked outside the US, so that even applies to Hillary.

Al Qaeda will be disappointed to lose their #1 recruiting tool, though, if and when Bush leaves office.

[Ino]

26. Absolutely

I think there'd be a huge outpouring of good will toward us if Obama became president.

[aikoaiko]

32. anyone but a republican would do the trick.

[XemaSab]

34. I think that's a good possibility.

That is part of why I am supporting Obama. :)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

35. I urge everyone to listen to the piece. I have linked it

in the op

[progressoid]

38. We could elect a bag of potting soil and the world would see it as an improvement.

Well, except for Ghouoliani...or Trancredo...or Huckabee...or Romney... or ...

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

39. point well taken

:thumbsup:

[Orsino]

40. Yes. For a while, at least...

...until the world realizes that very little changes under an Obama presidency.

[flashl]

41. My feelings are mixed ...

I believe that Obama will restore goodwill towards the U.S.

My personal experience with organizational behaviors, strongly suggests that a postivie change at the top will in turn change the climate of a group.

On the other hand, * promise that he will "fix it" so his policies lives after his administration is troubling. The U.S. government is literally outsourced.

I am saying that to say, the same people who are making regulations, policy, and budget decisions today, will be the same people who will be making these decisions for corporations a year from now. This government is riddled with * contractors and appointees.