The Party On the Right

The Republican convention sparked considerable interest abroad, and not just because of media-darling Sarah Palin. From Rudy Giuliani to Ron Paul to Cindy McCain, the Republicans who spoke received wide attention. And of course there were opinions about the candidate himself, who is generally out of favor (see the BBC’s piece Obama win preferred in world poll.

In terms of overall impressions, most foreign papers appeared impressed with Sarah Palin. Views on McCain were more muted, or worse. The Arab Dar Al-Hayat says “The Republican Party Convention was not as exciting as the Democratic Party Convention” in US Republican Party Rejuvenates its Policies. “It lacked the element of making history and the vitality of the newcomer.”

Spain’s El Pais was disparaging of McCain’s speech in Republican Pride, saying “the final speech of the White House hopeful… was confusing, poorly read, even more poorly put together and flat out impossible to believe in some key parts.”

And Germany’s Der Spiegel thinks that Palin eclipses her commander-in-chief: “The obvious question went unspoken: Can McCain keep up with [Palin’s] energy? Following McCain’s speech on Thursday night it is now clear: McCain cannot.” (McCain Speaks but Says Little)

But Die Welt describes John McCain as a heroic frontiersman in John McCain Plays John Wayne: “John McCain has positioned himself as the John Wayne of politics. He’ll ride out to take on Washington as an independent man with gun-toting Sarah from the frontier at his side.”

France’s Le Monde devoted an entire column to McCain’s wife, Cindy, in Cindy is No Barbie. While giving her credit for her strength character, they could not resist a few jabs: “at the opening of the convention on Monday, the Republican candidate’s wife was dressed with her usual elegance, in a saffron silk outfit with princess collar and a single row of pearls. Apparently nobody had dared to tell her that the campaign style this year is to dress down.”

Ron Paul was perhaps the most talked-about Republican who is not actually running. Al Jazeera described Ron Paul’s ‘counter-convention’, saying “Call it the real Republican convention. At least that is how Ron Paul… and his supporters billed their campaign’s Tuesday night ‘rally for the republic.’”

Meanwhile, Iran accused the American media of censoring Giuliani in Republicans Insult Muslims Again: “As the electoral competition between the Republicans and the Democrats is going through difficulties, the American media, especially those on the side of the Republicans, censored parts of Republican Rudy Giuliani’s speech against Muslims.”

While the Middle East Times is careful to point out that Arab governments are not in the habit of showing preferences in U.S. elections, in McCain-Palin Ticket Chills Arabs, Muslims they give voice to what many abroad are thinking – that McCain is the inferior candidate. “While talking heads have said they did not expect either administration to be more sympathetic to the Arab and Muslim causes, many are now saying that Obama would be the ‘lesser of two evils.’”

Finally, Dutch De Telegraaf brings up race in A White Convention: “Not only was the Republican Convention indeed much whiter than the Democrats’ was, but also when compared to previous Republican gatherings, the attendees have become considerably “one-sided.””

Other coverage of the Republican National Convention below:

Die Tageszeitung, Germany

The Patriot as Reformer

Le Journal du Dimanche au Quotidien, France

John McCain: American First

Le Figaro, France

CNN at the Conventions, It’s Like an Army