It is probably also useful to note that some of the German, and broadly European, enthusiasm for Obama may also lie in their hope that he will be a "European" President for the United States. Hopefully, he will be more social democratic, and relieve the Americans of their sad refusal to have state social benefits, which the vast majority of Europeans--even many intellectuals--believe are totally absent in the United States (see Olaf Gersemann's "Cowboy Capitalism"). Also, he will be more environmental, and sign on to European views on global enviromental policy. And, he will focus on the Third World, hopefully contributing many more billions of federal aid to developing countries. In this, his African ancestry provides even more hope. And he will be multilateral, rather than unilateral, hopefully giving Europeans a veto over any use of force by the United States in world affairs. There were similar hopes for John Kerry, referred to by some in the United States as Jean Kerry, but nothing like the enthusiasm for Obama.
Some of these expectations have been modified of late, as more and more Germans, and other Europeans, see that Obama will be elected by Americans, and will clearly represent American interests as President. In his speech, he called for more German troops in Afghanistan. He hopes that they will actually be sent to combat areas, because only then will it make sense to reduce America's own troop commitments, which he hopes also to do. In other words, Obama tried to pour cold water on too ambitious expectations, but they are certainly there.
The German diplomats I know are more sceptical, and they would have come to see him because they do believe that he will be the next President, and because they are anxious to learn anything about him at first hand that they can. Even many of them believe that he will be less confrontational than McCain, and more multilateral.
Gerald R. Kleinfeld
Chandler, AZ
07/27/2008 @ 9:36pm
There is no question that the positive reaction to Barak Obama from Germans, French and other countries citizens is encouraging about the civic/political awakening of many, especially younger people.
However the fact that many American resent his having such popularity--particularly with "foreigners," because these aliens cannot vote here and by extension "don't know about or understand the situations here"--is telling about the disturbing and contradictory political attitudes of Americans.
Even though such gestures by world citizens alleviate the negative reality and fears often expressed by Americans in the rhetorical question, "Why do so many elsewhere hate us?" are answered by this positive outreach, the disconnect of US voters with the rest of the world is frightening.
Wendell Anderson
Hardyston Township, NJ
07/26/2008 @ 5:08pm
RSS