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We’re Restored! The World Likes Us Again!
This has been bugging me all day.
“I think that we’ve restored America’s standing in the world, and that’s confirmed by polls,” [Obama] told CNN’s Ed Henry in a wide-ranging interview this week during his trip to China.
“I think a recent one indicated that around the world, before my election, less than half the people — maybe less than 40 percent of the people — thought that you could count on America to do to the right thing. Now it’s up to 75 percent.”
He may be right that 75% of the world’s population count on us to “do the right thing”. I haven’t a clue since I haven’t seen such a poll.
I do think, though, that the way this is phrased comes off as pretty darned arrogant.
Not only that, but after only 11 months in office, I think it’s possibly premature as well. In fact, I’m strongly reminded of another president and a certain “Mission Accomplished” sign…
20 Responses to “We’re Restored! The World Likes Us Again!”
Or naive.
He is talking about the Pew Poll from the below Voice Of America article.
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-07/…
Pew Poll below.
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?Report…
Thanks for the link, Magical. Guess I should mention that my other approach for this post was something along the lines of, “Dang. We're popular again already? That was pretty quick — Maybe things weren't quite as messed up as they seemed, eh?”
Looks like France was the country that went from 42 to 75% approval rating. Maybe Obama considers them as a proxy for the world.
It actually could be the opposite, Polimom. The enormity of the world's relief is in proportion to the depth of its alienation from the U.S. over the past eight years.
Then I stand fully on my initial impression, Kathy: Obama's version of a premature “Mission Accomplished”
I don't really understand the criticism. Much of the world has been at odds with the U.S. for a host of reasons, real and perceptual. Many of these same people like Obama for personal reasons and they prefer his take on things such as the environment, the U.N., and the general way he tries to do diplomacy. As such, the poll ratings have shot up. Probably they are artificially high somewhat as the current admin is still in a “honeymoon” period, but still. The world's opinion of the U.S. is indeed greatly improved. Surely, this is a good thing?
I have friends and family spread out all over the globe. I can personally attest to the fact that the world views us in a completely different manner. Things really went bad when we re-elected Bush. The world was shocked that we put him back in office. Every country has bad elections and they usually self-correct when things turn bad. We didn't…we doubled down on every terrible Bush policy. That is when they figured we were nuts.
Then we elect a minority President with roots in an African country. Someonr intelligent and thoughtful. Someone who cared about the world. We went so far away from Bush that it seemed as if it were some sort of repentance for past sins.
So in a way…it was not only Obama that changed how the world viewed America, but it was our own votes that also made a difference.
Things were truly terrible. Now things are truly much better.
Yes, of course I'm relieved that some parts of the world are less hostile to us. FWIW (and to forestall any confusion) — one of the reasons I voted for Obama was on the basis of foreign relations.
My objections here are exactly as I laid them out: I dislike the implicit arrogance, and I think it's premature to claim a victory here.
Well, Polimom, I will say that I would have been happier if Obama had said, “I think that we are well on our way to restoring America's standing in the world, and that's confirmed by polls,” but with that caveat, I really don't see much similarity between his statement and GWB's “Mission Accomplished” claim. For one thing, Obama's statement is much closer to being objectively true than GWB's was. For another, although you refer to Obama making this claim after only 11 months in office as an indication of arrogance and speaking too soon, the fact is that GWB made *his* statement that the Iraq mission was accomplished not even two months after the initial invasion.
“We didn't…we doubled down on every terrible Bush policy. That is when they figured we were nuts.”
And they were right to think we were nutz.
“Every country has bad elections and they usually self-correct when things turn bad.”
Don't ever forget that there is a significant percentage that thinks Obama is the Anti-Christ and they are hoping you are right about the self-correction. They think his election made things turn bad.
Danforth's statement puts the gushing into perspective…….what country has actually done something that demonstrates it is more than just lipservice?
I think what the report reflects is that the rest of the world stopped holding its collective breath under Bush………….Real change in opinion will need to occur over time……..How the war issues are resolved, and especially the Palestinian issue.
Surely, this is a good thing?
I don't think anyone believes that it's not a 'good thing' to be liked and respected in the international community. But those of us who didn't believe that 'restoring America's reputation' was all important believe that anti-American sentiment had little to do with the reasons that other nations weren't necessarily being as cooperative as we'd like them to be. Obama supporters seem to feel that a rise in polling for America to be well-liked again would affect our foreign policy- while his detractors think that that's mostly baloney. Nations will all do what they feel is in their best interest, and the fact is that a lot of our traditional allies no longer see their interests as closely aligned to ours as they did in the past. And all the more so for nations that are not our allies.
So, I do agree with PM that these statements have the ring of 'mission accomplished', as though the change toward 'liking' us more is an objective unto itself. The real question is whether that will translate into changes in cooperation between nations, and so far there's little to no evidence of that. Perhaps it will come in time, and people like myself may be proven wrong- but that is far from inevitable at this point.
Hopelessly naive and unrealistic, as well (in many cases of these people) as being radical retreads and anti-Bush retrogressives (retardates).
“Maybe Obama considers them as a proxy for the world.”
Whoever is the loudest at the moment at expressing displeasure, disdain, or outrage at the USA, maybe.
I suspect it's not merely coincidental, if the President is expressing such left-silliness, that we're being treated also to that PR show trial stunt with the terrorists, to be given a civilian trial in New York Ciry (of all places).
” I dislike the implicit arrogance, and I think it's premature to claim a victory here.”
Maybe they don't see it as premature, especially after that Nobel Peace Prize for Improved Feeling.
Perhaps, by expressing his view, O hopes it will come true. And, if you say something enough times, some people will believe it. Power of Positive Thinking? Maybe, not a bad idea, but substance trumps wishful thinking.
“substance trumps wishful thinking”
Or Hope [tm] [chuckle].
Of course, Change [tm] isn't the same as, and doesn't inherently promise, improvement, either.
But that's lost on the faithful Herd, too.
At this point, I'm waiting to see if Obama or Holder get next year's Nobel Peace or new “Justice” Prize.