Using a column by David Brooks as a jumping-off point, Pat Lang has posted an outstanding piece on Sen. Barack Obama’s speech in Berlin:
Obama is clearly Europe’s man in the contest to become president of the United States next year, but the sale is not made to those who will elect the president. I think it is likely that Obama will be elected but the outcome is still in doubt.
Few Europeans understand the complexities of American politics or political culture. They think they do, but they do not. They tend to think that Americans are unsophisticated Europeans who would do better if they knew how. This view is largely self deception and based on a mistaken belief that the US is a cultural extension of Europe.
That’s just a snippet. Read the whole thing.
DS
Funny how commenters in the States seem to know what Europeans are thinking and feeling. I have yet to meet an Obamaniac myself here in Germany. People here aren t dancing in the streets holding banners or worshipping graven images of BHO at improvised altars. So, go easy on the hype, Sir.
Neither do we think much aboute the complexities of US politics – does the good Colonel imagine we have nothing better to do ?
Just a hint – slowing economy, catastrophic birth rate, confiscatory tax system, growing underclass.
Naturally, given the importance of the US in the global economy people are interested in what is going to happen. And, of course, BHO is a rare bird as first “coloured” candidate but that is it.
Those who like myself work with, for or against Americans as colleagues, employers or competitors may just wish to know a little more but that is it.
What hype? Please show me hype in my post. If you disagree with Col. Lang, I’m sure he would welcome your comments at his blog.
I’ve lived and worked in Germany albeit a long time ago and what Col. Lang has to say certainly confirms my experience. Perhaps things have changed.
The news reports we’re getting here both in American and German newspapers suggest that Sen. Obama was received quite positively in Germany. I notice that your post on the subject doesn’t have a single quotation in it—just your opinion. If there are contradicting reports in German papers I’d certainly welcome links to them.
DS,
I like Col. Langs blog but I visit yours more frequently, so I commented here. If you think my commenting here was inapropriate I will bear that in mind.
As you seemed to quote the Colonel`s blog with a 100% approval I wrote “go easy” and not “beware of ” the hype.
When were you in Germany ? Pre – reunification ? Before GWB ? Probably, if it was a long time ago. Changes (a subject for a PhD, really): The strongly pro-US element on the right has more or less vanished. The political landscape has changed: at present the left is far stronger. Germany is more central European, more neutralist, less free-market oriented. I regret that but there it is.
To get back to Obama: Of course he was positively received in Berlin. He is an important foreign visitor and a global celebrity, following in the footsteps of Kennedy. I did not doubt that. I do doubt the supposed mad enthusiasm sweeping the whole of Germany, though. Maybe I am too far away from Berlin to sense it. Or maybe it is just a phenomenon in the capital.
Naturally what I wrote is my personal opinion. What else ? I did not claim to speak for the whole German nation. And I am possibly not “typical” either. However, I happen to live in Germany and voilà : I get to talk about Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae, Iraq, Afghanistan, the EU, Sarkozy etc. with my friends and colleagues quite often and just no one here (in the conservative south) said anything about BHO or his visit these last two weeks.
I did not claim what are asking to get data on but I have a nice survey and a press roundup: Survey below from the FAZ (as you probably know a mainstream conservative paper so its readers may be more critical of BHO). The press roundup is from the ftd (Financial Times) which is quite neutral and not as conservative as a business paper may be supposed to be.
http://www.faz.net/f30/common/Umfrage.aspx?doc={4A5D8D96-4635-4F8D-92E0-D600C9BA5C30}&rub={A24ECD63-0CAE-40E4-8384-1DB7D16F4211}&novote=1
http://www.ftd.de/meinung/kommentare/:Pressestimmen_Obama_%FCberaus_d%FCrftig_und_entt%E4uschend_flach/390141.html
Finally, I have considerable doubts as to the positive effect of the visit on the “race” back home – what is your take on that ?
Never posted a link directly before, sorry about the lentgh.
Survey link was problematic. It is on the main page today as well:
http://www.faz.net/s/homepage.html
Long, long before re-unification. I lived and worked in Germany more than 30 years ago. Where I was (Westphalia) there wasn’t any notable pro-American sentiment. The opposite, if anything.
I think it’s completely appropriate for you to comment on my blog but, when the comments are mostly directed against the contents of a quote, I think it’s most appropriate to direct the comments to the originator of the quote, in this case Col. Lang.
And, since I wasn’t there, I can only garner my impressions of the reaction from our stateside newspapers, the wire services, or Stern or Der Spiegel.
Thanks for the links. I’ll take a look at them.
I think the speech will have little effect on the race other than to provide some nice graphics for use in future campaign ads. Unfortunately, most of my countrymen really don’t care what goes on outside this country. I’m something of an exception in that respect.
DS
Fully agree in retrospect that Col. Lang ought to have received my feedback. Error on my part caused by his not being on my “look in daily” shortlist.
Btw. I ve posted the results of the FAZ reader blog in my place, too.
My interest / experience goes back to the mid-80s when I was a teenager. Cruise were the hot topic. Antiamerican sentiment was obvious in some circles and expressed rather loudly.
But so was the “hawkish”, pro-american one which actually grew louder over time (my impression, as a very vocal debater, maybe a bit subjective). Generally of course it was the “conservative” voice. That was in Bavaria, a conservative state where the conservatives were and are at 60 % in some state elections.
Personally I do not trust Stern or Spiegel much and rely more on the FAZ, ftd.de, handelsblatt.com and sueddeutsche.de.
Thx for yr take on the effect of the visit. I often hear that one about your contrymen from expat, internationally minded Americans so I guess that is so. I really could not say whether it is better in Germany or France however.