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An American Senator in Paris
The French population and media are keen on the man dubbed “le John Kennedy noir” (the black JFK). Their government is more cautious.
Differing from Le Figaro, the editorial writes that, while the people of Europe love Obama, their governments may be less keen. Obama, it notes, has made worrying protectionist noises and may make heavier demands than McCain concerning Afghanistan. It concludes with a quote from Reginald Dale (Director of the CSIS Transatlantic Media Network) concerning Obama’s flip-flopping. “If he senses criticism he changes but he never repudiates his initial position.”
On the small screen a similar pattern of coverage emerges. France 2&3 (the state-run channels) reflects Le Monde’s view that the tour is just a show for the folks back home, but it doesn’t really say anything nasty about him. Meanwhile, TF1, like Le Figaro and AFP, is more positive, using the same images of a Europe already conquered and also drawing parallels with JFK.
It may be that the two approaches are different sides of the same coin. France desperately wants to love Obama but secretly (or not so secretly) fears that Obama doesn’t love it back in return. However, it could also be that Le Monde and France 2&3 are reflecting the French government’s more nuanced viewpoint, while TF1, Le Figaro etc. reflect the views of the population at large. Certainly it makes sense for the French leadership (and other European governments) to hedge their bets somewhat and not insult McCain in case he ends up becoming president.
Indeed, both President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are in many ways more attuned to the McCain message, as are, for that matter, Berlusconi in Italy and a number of Eastern Europeans. Only in the unpopular Gordon Brown is Obama likely to find a leader who shares much of his political preferences.
Furthermore, with Obama’s somewhat contradictory positions on issues such as world trade, Afghanistan, and Iran (the latter a closer and greater threat to Europe than the U.S.), a wise European leader will not offer support without seeking clarification. Indeed, while Obama’s recently stated position on Iraq –that the troops and money spent on occupying it would be better used elsewhere– is one that Europe’s leaders agree with, they may not appreciate such pragmatism in other areas.
Europe needs the U.S. to be open to its exports and willing to not push for international actions that hurt Europe even if they benefit America. Obama’s focus on internal U.S. factors and his apparent disinterest in both foreign affairs and the effects of U.S. policies on other nations (such as troop withdrawal in Iraq) are definitely worrying for European leaders. In the 19th century Lord Palmerston famously said that Britain has no permanent friends, merely permanent interests.
One suspects that Sarkozy and his European colleagues hope that an Obama administration does not act the same way but fear that it might.
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Francis Turner blogs at L’Ombre de L’Olivier
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21 Comments
1. STIII:I just hope that some of the other world power brokers don’t feel slighted after being passed over by the Messiah. Even if you just go regionally, Italy, Other Middle Eastern countries including Iran( that he is so eager to meet with and show them those bigger carrots and sticks) and isn’t Africa getting snubbed? Then you’ve got the whole Pacific Rim and of course the Russians and let’s not forget South America. He could of upstaged the Olympics! But- it’s inappropriate to visit wounded troops. He really needs to do a world tour since he is apparently running for World President.
Jul 25, 2008 - 5:43 am 2. Bob:What will the Frogs and Krauts think(?) when Obama gets only 35% of the popular vote, and the Dems lose control of the House?
Jul 25, 2008 - 6:18 am 3. David P:America will punish the media & the world for their biases by voting in McCain, you just watch.
Jul 25, 2008 - 7:01 am 4. Vinny Vidivici:” . . . the embodiment of the famous American dream.”
You mean the European version, wherein America hobbles herself with all of the ancient European pathologies in order to preserve Europe’s superiority complex.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:26 am 5. shana sfo:But the real question we should all be asking is:
Did Obama speak French while in France?
AND, if he is such a citizen of the world, why didn’t he speak to the German people in German?
Jul 25, 2008 - 9:04 am 6. Jarhead:The American Dream: “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.” Diego
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:40 am 7. Brad:Nice one, shana–why, he didn’t even say “merci beaucoup” when he finished!
This guy is astonishingly weak–it is stunning that he is actually a viable candidate for president.
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:41 am 8. rotwang:Hey, John McCain was at the Fudge Haus in Columbus eating good ole AMERICAN schnitzel!
That man is frickin’ genius at political theater, I tell ya. No wonder you grouse about the Evil Mandinka Man who’s stealing your country. Johhny Mac’s doing all the right things — AND he’s got fudge! But where’s the love? Where’s the justice?
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:43 am 9. RedShep:Obama’s world tour, crowds, and the media…in 60 seconds.
Jul 25, 2008 - 11:01 am 10. ic:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA29Rn4cRdI
The problem with calling Obama the black JFK is people begin to make comparisions between the original and the wannabe. A real leader does not bask in residual glory of a historic figure. Lets see: whom did George Washington remind us of? How about Lincoln, Reagan, Churchill, Kennedy, FDR, or Martin Luther King? A real leader is unique, an original. A fascimile is a fascimile, a copy, a fake.
Jul 25, 2008 - 11:41 am 11. JKB:Nope, Obama is not going to have poor showing in the general election…unless it is by write-in vote. If you listen closely, you can hear Hillary lacing up her running shoes. She’s on the phone to the super delegates right now telling them to win the Presidency you have to play well in Peoria not Cannes.
Being popular with the French and the Germans isn’t a plus for a presidential candidate. Joe six-pack, the bitter and the clingy put America first and the hopes and dreams of the Germans and the French, well, they don’t make the no matter how far down you go. Obama should have waited until he had gotten past the American people before he started running for king of the world.
Jul 25, 2008 - 2:09 pm 12. Xixi:Thanks RedShep. I’m sending that link to everybody I know.
Jul 25, 2008 - 5:02 pm 13. AJ:“What will the Frogs and Krauts think(?) when Obama gets only 35% of the popular vote, and the Dems lose control of the House?”
Theyll CONTINUE to be jealous of America and hate us. They hated us under Clinton just as they have under Bush. They’re arrogant, ungrateful socialists. They call Obama racial names, i’m sure too. It’s TYPICAL and sad that the American left is SO concerned with being liked by the Frogs, not realizing we ARE LOVED by nations that matter and who embody the US spirit, or closer to it: Colombia, most of Suda Americana, the Far East, Africa, Eastern Eurabia, etc.
I do admit Sarkozy is a breath of fresh air.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:22 pm 14. always right:Trust the fwench to get everything wrong.
Obama as the black JFK? How so substance-wise?
Jul 26, 2008 - 8:35 am 15. bernie:Yes AJ they hate us and this goes back a long way just read L’enemi Americain which has been translated in English everything is there,despite what Barnier used to write in November 2004 in the WS they are not our friends.By going to France Obama went to the country which according to De Villepin stabbed the USA in the back,the same De Villepin who wished that America would lose the Iraq war.Intead Obama should have gone to visit the true friends,Poland,Italy,Holland Danemark etc etc how these people are feeling? But this is Obama.The reverend right affair was not a mistake.In Berlin he got a standing ovation by denigrating is own country but a deafening silence when he urged the Germans to join him in the war on terror.
Jul 26, 2008 - 7:50 pm 16. ronan:Bernie,
Jul 27, 2008 - 9:18 am 17. John Samford:A lot of french people could not stand that Chirac /De Villepin crowd. As for Obama i’m pretty sure lots of french can see he’s a fake and to finish , i’m french and like very much americans: french people on average do not hate americans , the stupid main stream media does.
“What will the Frogs and Krauts think(?) when Obama gets only 35% of the popular vote, and the Dems lose control of the House?”
They will whine, of course. If you want the details of the whining, just drag out the media ‘reports’ from December ‘04.
If they want to vote in the US election, there is a process in place that would allow them to do so. It is called ’statehood’ and ANY nation can petition Congress for admission to the union. If there is some hang-up about going past 50 states, Vermont wants to secede from the Union. Let France or Germany make us an offer to replace Vermont. Or any other State that feels it can do better.
“The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.”
Jul 27, 2008 - 1:32 pm 18. John Samford:Hannah Arendt
US (German-born) historian & social philosopher (1906 – 1975)
“. . . the embodiment of the famous American dream.””
Which was to get he puck out of Europe and away from it’s goofy dictators, tyrants, kings and despots.
Jul 27, 2008 - 1:42 pm 19. Believer:I always wonder why certain Americans want the USA to be a bigger Europe. Are they racists? Or just ignorant about what Europe is really like?
If they love Europe so much, move there. Turn in your Social security number so a European that wants freedom can take your place here in the States.
Has Alec Baldwin left yet?
I think Outlaw Mike should get his spot.
Europe ought to wake up just like America should.
“…it wonders whether Obama likes, or even cares about, Europe…” and France wants to love him but worries he doesn’t love them back.
Don’t you know Barry only cares about Barry? And any psychologist will tell you he’s incapable of love. It’s called narcissism. Of the malignant variety, I’m afraid.
Sorry to break it to you.
Jul 27, 2008 - 2:12 pm 20. Believer:No worries regarding Barry’s limited knowledge of French. He knows just enough.
It’s his practice to make sure he’s only accompanied by those that require this reply: “Merci beaucoup.”
Or whatever language is appropriate to the adoring audience of the moment.
Jul 27, 2008 - 2:34 pm 21. Night Owl:Europeans will always resent a strong USA. We are their upstart offspring. Therefore Europeans will only love Barry as long as they think he will kowtow to their view of how a humbled US should behave.
And Barry’s people are kidding themselves if they think his magical mystery tour will win him votes from the undecided and independents at home. Who but the far left “america is evil” crowd gets a truly warm feeling seeing multitudes of non-Americans cheering on a narcissistic wanna-be President, who is not even officially nominated yet? Given the Europeans’ historical penchant for choosing charismatic tyrants as leaders, it is more disturbing than encouraging.
Jul 28, 2008 - 12:07 pm