Readers of the Moderate Voice and WORLDMEETS.US won’t be surprised to hear that people in Europe find this election to be particularly baffling. But the post-Pennsylvania death-lock that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are presently engaged in has only served to make the apparent chaos even more pronounced.
In describing the perceived advantage now being enjoyed by John McCain, Jean-Claude Kiefer writes for Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace of French Normandy:
“Republican candidate John McCain must be radiating with joy. … From one state to another, millions are spent in a fratricidal struggle that will last until June. Perhaps even longer if the outcome of these primaries ultimately depends on the “super-delegates” and their obscure machinations. What a windfall for John McCain, that atypical Republican, the outsider septuagenarian who is now credibly “presidential!”
But in sizing up the election in general, Kiefer says:
“One has to admit that from this side of the Atlantic, it’s hard to comprehend an American presidential election. The candidate (he or she) matters more than the program. Charisma is more important than political commitment. You “support” one candidate or another as if you were a “fan” of a pop singer or a football star.”
By Jean-Claude Kiefer
Translated By Pascaline Jay
April 24, 2008
France – Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace – Home Page (French)
Republican candidate John McCain must be radiating with joy. Every primary won by Hillary over Obama or Obama over Hillary, bolsters him just a little bit more. With aggressive TV ads and murderous sound bites, both contenders for the Democratic nomination are tearing each other apart to see who will face the Republican candidate in November.
From one state to another, millions are spent in a fratricidal struggle that will last until June. Perhaps even longer if the outcome of these primaries ultimately depends on the “super-delegates” and their obscure machinations. What a windfall for John McCain, that atypical Republican, the outsider septuagenarian who is now credibly “presidential!” The money his party collects can be used for the “real” electoral campaign.
There’s no point in wasting time criticizing his potential adversaries: Obama and Clinton are doing a good job of that themselves. After two mandates of George W. Bush – the second more calamitous than the first – the Republicans had begun to mourn for the White House. But surprise, they now have every reason to hope again.
But one has to admit that from this side of the Atlantic, it’s hard to comprehend an American presidential election. The candidate (he or she) matters more than the program. Charisma is more important than political commitment. You “support” one candidate or another as if you were a “fan” of a pop singer or a football star. And often tradition carries the day: people vote Republican or Democratic because it was always that way in the family …
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S election.
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