Is there any doubt that Obama’s trip to Europe has been a monumental PR success? In a 900-word exposition on his week in Europe, Olivier Jay and Pierre-Laurent Mazers of France’s Le Journal du Dimanche au Quotidie write in part:
“In five days, more than just a new leader, it is the face of a new America that has been offered to Europe. Self-assured and charismatic but without a hint of arrogance, Barack Obama has achieved a perfect score in winning the confidence and respect of European leaders and public opinion. A real challenge, after the eight Bush years.”
Remarking on President Obama’s town hall meeting with French and German students, Jay and Mazers go as far as to compare President Obama to the late Pope John Paul II:
“If you only think about yourself – how much money can I make, what can I buy, how nice is my house, what kind of fancy car do I have – over the long term I think you get bored.” What leader since the death of [Pope] John Paul II can excite a room full of young people by extolling the virtues of family and calling a generation to give of themselves and exhibit generosity?”
By Olivier Jay and Pierre-Laurent Mazers
Translated By Mary Kenney
April 5, 2009
France – Le Journal du Dimanche au Quotidien – Original Article (French)
In five days, more than just a new leader, it is the face of a new America that has been offered to Europe. Self-assured and charismatic but without a hint of arrogance, Barack Obama has achieved a perfect score in winning the confidence and respect of European leaders and public opinion. A real challenge, after the eight Bush years.
There were a few dark stains on the happy family photos. Yesterday afternoon during the NATO summit, a few kilometers from the Palais des Congres in Strasbourg where NATO heads of state and government were gathered, rioters set fire to a pharmacy, the Office of Tourism and the Hotel Ibis near the Pont de l’Europe [the European bridge]. There were over 10,000 demonstrators, including about 1,000 who were particularly violent [Black-Blockers]. Although it was under the smoke of tear gas and flames that Barack Obama left Strasbourg last night for Prague, where the U.S.-E.U. Summit reconvenes today, the president’s sojourn in Europe has been flawless since his arrival in London on Wednesday.
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