McCain, Obama and America’s ‘Exception’: Liberation, France
American ‘Exceptionalism’ is the idea that the United States is the greatest country in the world, and that given this, it should be allowed to do things that others cannot. It might not come as a surprise that this grates on many people abroad.
According to Francois Sergent of Liberation:
“John McCain embodies this exceptionalism, which so appeals to Republicans, but if one believes the polls – also half of America. Sarah Palin, with her crass and assertive ignorance, represents the extreme version of this learning-disabled America – without a passport and alone in the world, in regard to its position on guns, religion, capital punishment, and even now, the Almighty market.”
Sergent also touches on Obama and his burden – which he says is to:
“Offer a new image and a new direction to this country in crisis.”
By François Sergent
Translated By Sandrine Ageorges
September 27, 2008
France – Libération – Original Artisl (English)
In a very lucid article in The New York Times, Roger Cohen wondered about American exceptionalism . This messianic idea, so annoying to outsiders, according to which the United States is above all nations, a beacon on a hill and a model for the world. Different from the rest of the developed world, in regard to its position on guns, religion, capital punishment, and even now, the Almighty market.
John McCain, with a surname out of the Wild West, embodies this exceptionalism, which so appeals to Republicans, but if one believes the polls – also half of America. Sarah Palin, with her crass and assertive ignorance, represents the extreme version of this learning-disabled America – without a passport and alone in the world. On global markets and in the real-world economy, one now measures the consequences of this hegemony without reference to that uncontested ideology.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated and English-language foreign press coverage of the U.S. election, and global reaction to last night’s debate.
2 Responses to “McCain, Obama and America’s ‘Exception’: Liberation, France”
I believe this embodiment of “exceptionalism” Sergent describes was quite evident throughout the debate. When sharing the stage with Obama you can sense McCain's resentment and dislike of Obama – perhaps he feels the job is one he is entitled to somehow; if this is true than he must be feeling rather angry about the high level of support Obama is experiencing.
Also, this refusal to address Obama directly, to look him in the eye – even when prompted several times by Jim Lehrer, strikes me as a fair gauge of how ruled this man is by his temperment. Frankly, after watching his performance in the same room with Obama, I think the the contrast will drive a greater proportion of “undecideds” into the Obama camp – to stay.
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