Europe looks to Obama with awe, wonder

[babylonsister]

http://www.thestar.com/News/USElection/article/443978

Europe looks to Obama with awe, wonder

FRANCIS DEAN/NEWSCOM

U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is featured on the cover of the January 2008 issue of Denmark's Euroman magazine.

Nowhere is adulation more evident than Paris
Jun 16, 2008 04:30 AM
Mitch Potter
EUROPE BUREAU

snip//

The story by numbers is 52 per cent favouring Obama compared to 15 per cent for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, according to respondents to a recent five-country survey of Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Russia. The poll, conducted for the Daily Telegraph, shows the French falling more profoundly for Obama, by a margin of 65-8.

Nowhere is that adulation more apparent than Paris, where "L'effet Obama" – the Obama Effect – is the stuff of animated conversation.

"Obama rings our bells because he is a black man. And also because he was among the first to speak out against the war in Iraq," said Jean-Louis Beltrand, a Paris bookseller.

"It raises my spirits just to know an Obama is possible in America today. It makes me see the United States in a much more familiar light."

snip//

"And now, topping it all, comes this moment of redemption where America provides us all with this profound lesson in democracy through these amazing primaries – and in the end, putting forward a black man who opposed the very war that started all these problems in the first place. Incredible."

French historian Jacques Le Goff, who has written extensively on the glacial pace of reforms that have made Europe what it is today, cannot help but wonder at the sheer fact of Obama's political ascendance. You sense more than a little envy in his voice when he says, simply, "Bravo for American democracy.

"I admit I am surprised," said Le Goff. "The United States is very lucky on this fundamental point of progress and change.

"The Bush presidency was a disaster in every sense. But look at them now."

snip//

"We are fascinated to find out what Americans really want – a father figure to guide them or a prodigal son to take them somewhere else," said a senior French official.

"The father figure is usually what American democracy produces and that is certainly what John McCain represents.

"But with Obama, there is a feeling of new possibilities opening."

[MoonRiver]

1. I know that look!

[Cha]

5. Yes, we all know that look.

:)

[Doctor_J]

2. I guess those 15% are pining for Hitler and Mussolini to make a

comeback.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

3. Obama is going to get phenomenal press

from his overseas trip this summer.

[99th_Monkey]

11. do you think Obama will top his 75,000 crowd (in Portland) in France?

Then we can start calling them Obama fries.

[Cha]

4. "The father figure" from

hell.

Obama is much more complicated than this but his story is the classic American Dream..and the Electric Bolt Out of The Blue.

[rug]

6. Jerry Lewis for Vice President.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Obama is Dean Martin?

I'm thinking more like a Sean Connery of the 21st century myself.

[FrenchieCat]

7. I was saying in a post just yesterday, that the French in France loooove

them so Obama.

Not just the "Black" French....but all of the French.

Here's a beautiful cover here!

[skooooo]

18. You can find tons of videos on YouTube about Obama coverage in Europe...

...not to mention songs and just about anything else.

[Olney Blue]

8. K and R!

[Number23]

10. The world is fascinated by him

Thanks for this. I can attest that the rest of the world is absolutely enamored with the idea of an Obama presidency. Here in Australia, there have been lots of feature articles on his campaign and people are just in absolute awe of him here - at least the people that I know. :)

A few months ago, I was so devastated that I could not be in America when all of this was happening and I felt that I was missing out on a large part of our country's history. Now, after reading DU the last few days, I'm beginning to think it may not be so bad to be away from all of the heat and hysteria surrounding this race.

[uponit7771]

12. The GenX and GenY love afair with Obama is made easy by him cutting against the BushCo grain

[Number23]

16. True

But even my 83-year old mother in law who has never traveled outside of Australia is thrilled by him. People here just look at him as the future, I believe.

[SDJay]

15. That's really interesting...

as is the info from France. To either of you to or anyone else who sees this first-hand: Why do you think the world is so enamored with Obama other than because of his own merit, if there are other reasons? Is it because they despise Bush, they know we despise Bush, they want to feel respect for the US again or perhaps a combination/none of the above? I really miss the days when our country was well-received around the world, and I look forward to the end of feeling shame in that context, so I'd appreciate any response.

[Number23]

17. I think.....

Is it because they despise Bush

I think that's a major part of it, yes. But I also think that the U.S. has such a reputation around the world as a place of such over-arching, well-steeped racism that alot of people think of Obama's candidacy as a sort of redemption for our country's past sins.

Sure, there are lots of people all over the world, hell there are lots of people on DU, who fawn all over him because he's young and/or nice-looking. But I think that people in other countries are excited to see an intelligent, reasonable, well-spoken man who is able to grasp complex issues as president. And the fact that he's not white, I really do believe is a huge selling point as well.

[autorank]

13. They've got the script down. I'm impressed. n/t k*r

[beachmom]

14. Not to be a downer, but Obama actually has some work to do in Europe.

Most Europeans were looking forward to a President Clinton, after the Bush years. Believe me: I have been hearing it from my German relatives. Clinton seemed safe. Her husband was well respected in Europe and viewed as highly competent on managing the economy. Europeans did not follow every minute detail of the primaries. Many of them are worried, because they don't know much about Obama.

Obama needs to wow them in Europe not just with the "rock star" sensation aspect of his candidacy, but also by showing he can be trusted, and understands their point of view. If he does that, then he will bring many skeptical Europeans on board with him, who are very weary of the Bush years.

[FrenchieCat]

19. All of the polls that I have seen, as well as the ExPat vote

during the primaries had Obama way ahead, except for in India, Pakistan and Israel....and India has since embraced Obama.

So your relative in Germany is an outlier.

See here:
German Poll: Which Democrat Would You Prefer to See in the White House?
Barack Obama 43%
Hillary Clinton 39%
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,533449,00.html


Obama wins France, Italy, Germany, & Spain in Poll; Clinton wins England


http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2008/2/18/16127/3421

[Darth_Kitten]

22. Agree to a point but he doesn't have to wow them.

He doesn't owe them anything.

[zulchzulu]

20. I've met quite a few Europeans who LOVE Obama

Every week at the Obama table in Madison, I talk with at least one who is looking forward to an Obama presidency.

K&R!

[Darth_Kitten]

21. So?

Anybody's choice is Obama over McCain.

What scares me is the attitude some are taking because of Obama's race. "Rings our bells because he is a black man?" Give me a break. Proof that "some" people in Europe are getting a little too wrapped up in political correctness, and need to respect Obama because of his beliefs or stances.