British Prime Minister Gordon Brown seemed to break with tradition by writing an effective endorsement of Barack Obama for US President, or at least his housing policies. In an opinion piece, published on Monday in the Parliamentary Monitor magazine, Brown writes:
Around the world, it is progressive politicians who are grappling with these challenges. In the electrifying US Presidential campaign, it is the Democrats who are generating the ideas to help people through more difficult times. To help prevent people from losing their home, Barack Obama has proposed a Foreclosure Prevention Fund to increase emergency pre-foreclosure counselling, and help families facing repossession.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister peddled backward. To see how, read more.
His office released a statement that said: "The Prime Minister is not endorsing any candidate and never would. Presidential elections are a matter for the American people. The Prime Minister looks forward to working closely with whoever is elected."
Either way many Europeans echo Gordon Brown's praise of Obama. A fresh poll shows that 47 percent of Europeans think an Obama victory would lead to better US-European relations, while only 11 percent think McCain would improve transatlantic relations.
Do you consider a candidate's ability to mend relations with Europe, when deciding how to vote?
Nuance
Torrini
Pilgrim
NO actually I don't.
1No -- I don't -- but I think it's a good quality to have in a president.
2Sure I do.
3I don't consider it. I want someone who is going to go to bat for me, and fight for the American people, regardless of what the rest of the world thinks. I understand that we live in a global society, but every other leader in this world are looking out for their respective countries first.
4what dave said.
5I definitely consider how a candidate would interact with other world leaders - we've seen that presidents who refer to evil empires, axises of evil, and who betray the trust of allies like England, Poland and Australia hurt the American cause far more than they help it. We don't need someone who will perpetrate the Ugly American stereotype - that only puts us all at risk.
6um, of course i do - as should everyone else! wake up people - this is a global world we are living in - being nationalist and secluding ourselves away from other large economic powers is just plain stupid. i think its awesome that gordon brown came out and made this statement. i wonder what our president would say in an op-ed? seems weird to think about someone at that high level making a statement in this fashion. i suppose bush would have a hard time considering newspapers don't usually print things fingerpainted in chocolate pudding.
7Obviously a good candidate should have good diplomatic skills and be able to improve relations with other nations. It is an important quality in a leader to be able to do this - so yes it is a consideration.
and I don't think that there is any danger of a president putting other countries before our own...
8I think it's rather important at this stage to have a president who will be able to mend or strengthen relations with our allies, and bring us new ones.
9It's not a huge factor--as in, I'm not going to vote for Obama just because Brown favors him (I've got other reasons for that decision)--but it does help to have a leader who is respected by other countries' leaders.
10...or, what Jude said!
11Its not just Europe. BBC polled 22 countries, including NATO countries, Russia, Far East, Middle East, Europe..all polled voted "Obama" when given a choice. The NATO countries, US allies, actually came in with the highest "Pro-Obama" percentage. Although McCain did not "win" any of the 22 countries, in places like Russia, China, and Egypt, the two candidates were more similar in their resultant support. The countries with the least difference between the candidates also tended to be the ones most likely to believe that "America won't change regardless of who is elected."
While what other countries think of your leader may or may not be a critical reason to vote for them, world opinion on elected leaders when the country in question strives to be a "global leader" should not be discounted. Especially when 22 countries all say the same thing.
12It's definitely important. Its also important to have a President who will stand up to foreign leaders if neccessary.
13I polled all of my family in Norway and they all said "McCain" !!
14all 10 of them......
After 8 year of the gimp.. we definitely need someone who will strengthen our relationships with our allies while taking care of the needs of Americans. Absolutely.
15I agree Ima, thats why I am voting McCain/Palin.
16Agree with yesteryear up until the point that she started talking about chocolate and then I didn't fully understand what was happening.
17Not just Europe but mending relationships world wide as well, you need a president that bas a grea International as well as National base.
18Yes. I definitely consider this when electing an official. But it's not the only thing.
19Yes! Part of looking out for us is keeping us safe and respected the world over. More allies = more help in times of war.
I found this funny pic...it's just a joke so don't jump all over me!
20http://sinkorschwim.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/america-please-dont-screw-t...
*I forgot to add that this blogger is an American living in South Korea.
21"It's not a huge factor--as in, I'm not going to vote for Obama just because Brown favors him (I've got other reasons for that decision)--but it does help to have a leader who is respected by other countries' leaders." - Jude C
This is what I mean to say bout I could never word it so beautifully.
22Thanks
23agree with Jude. Good diplomatic skills are now extremely important for America; we've been far too arrogant diplomatically in the past decade, plus the economy is going down whereas other giants are emerging. Rationality wins over ego right now.
24I agree 100% austerity!
25Um, isn't the ability to place nicely with others as far as international relations go a really good quality for a candidate to have? Of course I think it's important, and I am interested in hearing who Europeans and other foreigners support. That being said, obviously the leader of another nation should NOT be endorsing a candidate before the election!! I mean, just, bad move for him.
26That is great livvy!!
27I think that cartoon summed up with far more eloquence what the rest of the world is feeling than anything that could be written. America please don't screw it up.
28It is the pervading feeling.
Whilst I understand that you don't want to feel lectured to it is important that you see this in a global context.
That said I don't think it changes peoples votes. The voting lines seem to be drawn on very fundamental domestic issues not global ones.
I don't think it was wise of Brown to state his preference so publicly. He'll have to maintain a diplomatic relationship with the US regardless of who wins, and if McCain wins there'll always be awkwardness between them. Diplomacy is not a one-way street.
29"and if McCain wins there'll always be awkwardness between them. Diplomacy is not a one-way street."
IDK -- I think the 2 are grown up enough to not let it get in the way.
30Tony Blair got along fine with Clinton and then with W (of course the second one didn't do his career any good...)
31If McCain would be awkward around Brown because of what he said, McCain's too thin-skinned to be president.
It's only when they write their memoirs that we'll hear what they really think of one another...
32yesteryear has such an inappropriate name. Absolutely not! I don't care much at all about how our leaders interact with the rest of the world. The United States should be every American voters first priority. This whole "global community" and "President of the World" BS is for the dogs. I want a president that considers this country above all others and does what's best for us, not what's popular with the people of Europe. And frankly, I don't care what PM Brown has to say or endorse. Most of Europe, if not all of it, is pretty much Socialist. That's fine for them if that's how they want it but over here it's a different climate and it should stay that way.
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