World wants Obama as president: poll

[Pigs in Space]

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may be struggling to nudge ahead of his Republican rival in polls at home, but people across the world want him in the White House, a BBC poll said.

All 22 countries covered in the poll would prefer to see Senator Obama elected US president ahead of Republican John McCain.

In 17 of the 22 nations, people expect relations between the US and the rest of the world to improve if Senator Obama wins.

More than 22,000 people were questioned by pollster GlobeScan in countries ranging from Australia to India and across Africa, Europe and South America.

The margin in favour of Senator Obama ranged from 9 per cent in India to 82 per cent in Kenya, while an average of 49 per cent across the 22 countries preferred Senator Obama compared with 12 per cent preferring Senator McCain. Some four in 10 did not take a view.

"Large numbers of people around the world clearly like what Barack Obama represents," GlobeScan chairman Doug Miller said.

"Given how negative America's international image is at present, it is quite striking that only one in five think a McCain presidency would improve on the Bush administration's relations with the world."

In the United States, three polls taken since the Republican party convention ended on Thursday (local time) show Senator McCain with a lead of 1 to 4 percentage points - within the margin of error - and two others show the two neck-and-neck.

The countries most optimistic that an Obama presidency would improve relations were America's NATO allies, including Australia (62 per cent).

A similar BBC/Globescan poll conducted ahead of the 2004 U.S presidential election found that, of 35 countries polled, 30 would have preferred to see Democratic nominee John Kerry, rather than the incumbent George Bush, who was elected.

A total of 23,531 people in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE, Britain and the United States were interviewed face-to-face or by telephone in July and August 2008 for the poll.

From here (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/09/2360240.htm).

So there you go USA.

Do the right thing. Make the rest of the world happy.

[AZRogue]

From here (http://www.kaytastrophe.com/vb/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fn ews%2Fstories%2F2008%2F09%2F09%2F2360240.htm).

So there you go USA.

Do the right thing. Make the rest of the world happy.

Not as a comment on Obama one way or the other--I still haven't decided on who I'm voting for, at the moment--but I don't really see the world's opinion as a factor. When the rest of the world starts wringing their hands together to ask for my opinion on who I think they should elect to office for their own countries, then maybe I'll consider it.

[Merganser]

When the rest of the world starts wringing their hands together to ask for my opinion on who I think they should elect to office for their own countries, then maybe I'll consider it.

A fair number of South American and even some Middle Eastern nations have been, historically, very interested in the opinions of the United States as to whom they should enjoy as their respective heads of state.

[AZRogue]

A fair number of South American and even some Middle Eastern nations have been, historically, very interested in the opinions of the United States as to whom they should enjoy as their respective heads of state.

They never asked me! Not even an opinion poll!

[Pigs in Space]

Not as a comment on Obama one way or the other--I still haven't decided on who I'm voting for, at the moment--but I don't really see the world's opinion as a factor. When the rest of the world starts wringing their hands together to ask for my opinion on who I think they should elect to office for their own countries, then maybe I'll consider it.

I was almost going to organize a sweep for which post it would be in which someone said "who cares" in this thread.

[AZRogue]

I was almost going to organize a sweep for which post it would be in which someone said "who cares" in this thread.

I post quickly. You have to organize the sweep ahead of time. ;)

[Trainz]

Not as a comment on Obama one way or the other--I still haven't decided on who I'm voting for, at the moment--but I don't really see the world's opinion as a factor. When the rest of the world starts wringing their hands together to ask for my opinion on who I think they should elect to office for their own countries, then maybe I'll consider it.

That's the kind of attitude that makes the world view americans the way they do.

Nobody is an island.

[AZRogue]

That's the kind of attitude that makes the world view americans the way they do.

Nobody is an island.

That may be so, but I don't believe that the decision on which candidate I support should be influenced by the opinions of those living outside my country. I vote for someone because I think he's going to best serve my country.

[Random Encounter]

And I said this in another thread. The President of the United State's primary job is maintaining relations with other nations and meeting with their heads of state. This is my primary reason for supporting Obama, he has the best chance of reestablishing diplomatic relations with the rest of the world.
And he is being called naive on foreign policy because he thinks it's a good idea to talk to people BEFORE we bomb them rather than after. :rolleyes:

[Pigs in Space]

That may be so, but I don't believe that the decision on which candidate I support should be influenced by the opinions of those living outside my country. I vote for someone because I think he's going to best serve my country.

I don't think anyone was suggesting that it would be either.

But for christ sake, please stop electing war mongering simpletons, and their oil company friends.

[Name Lips]

Considering the damage Bush did to foreign relations, I think many Americans would like Obama to help patch things up.

But most of those Americans are probably already voting for him.

[Utrecht]

and in other news, the sky is still blue.

When in the past 15 years has the rest of the world favored the republican candidate? In fact, the support for Obama is so overwhelming as to be comical (I have seen upwards of 80%)

I believe that this is mostly due to two elements

1) The more leftist views of the rest of the world - our liberals look like their centrists (and centrists will always get the most appeal)

2) the percieved hawkishness of Republicans (blame Reagan and his missiles for this)

That all being said, I am with AZRogue - until folks end up paying taxes and getting benefits from the US, their opinion while interesting is ultimately irrelevant.

[SpikeyFreak]

Just because the rest of the world wants it doesn't mean that's what would be best for the US.

--Duh! Spikey

[Ascarel]

But, but.. Spider-Man thought me that with great power comes great responsibility! Seems he was wrong all along. :(

[Limper]

I'm deeply suspect of international opinion... 'what do they want' and 'what are they trying to get' are the first questions that come to mind.

[Trainz]

I'm deeply suspect of international opinion... 'what do they want' and 'what are they trying to get' are the first questions that come to mind.

That is true for international heads of states, but those polls are aimed at the general public.

Methinks some people have been living under the Patriot Act for a wee bit too long...

[Limper]

That is true for international heads of states, but those polls are aimed at the general public.

Methinks some people have been living under the Patriot Act for a wee bit too long...

Even the general population is not exempt from my suspision.

[Trainz]

Even the general population is not exempt from my suspision.

The general population want to live happy fruitful safe lives.

They feel their universe threatened by the attitude of the americans.

That said, they now also feel threatened by the growing chinese beast...

[FeatsofClay]

Not as a comment on Obama one way or the other--I still haven't decided on who I'm voting for, at the moment--but I don't really see the world's opinion as a factor.


And this is why the world hates us.

Obama seems much more likely to make us look like decent neighbors again. It is THE strong point of his campaign to me.

[The Winslow]

I think these polls are probably what's going to damage Obama's campaign the most. People don't want to vote for someone who'll be nice to their neighbors, they want to vote for someone who'll be nice to them. And they see this as a dichotomy -- they think it's impossible to be nice to everybody. Obama, as they perceive it, is putting America's best interests behind that of the rest of the world, and for this reason he's not a good choice.

Kerry fell in the same trap, but Obama went even farther on this road.

[Utrecht]

Obama seems much more likely to make us look like decent neighbors again. It is THE strong point of his campaign to me.

Why do they like him? Is it because of his policies (unlikely since foreigners have been supporting him in similar numbers since early in his campaign) is it because of his experience? (I would think that a country like France who is experiencing a resurgence in its influence would welcome a second president who is inexpereinced in international affairs)

or could it simply be the democrat versus republican differences. I would point out that similar polls had Hillary prefered to McCain. Hell, you could probably put just about any Democrat up vs any Republican an the polls will be similar.

Further, how much damage has Bush actually done? Yes, world view is against us - but other than immediately after 9/11 - when has the worldview been particulary up on America. Secondly, not all of the foreign policy meltdown is Bush's fault. For example, the Renewal of Trade Treaties (the elimination tariffs) with Columbia - a strong US ally were rejected by the democrats in Congress (Obama being one of the rejectors).

[AZRogue]

And this is why the world hates us.

Obama seems much more likely to make us look like decent neighbors again. It is THE strong point of his campaign to me.

Understandable. It's just not a priority to me. All things being equal, sure I'd like a President that was more popular around the world than wasn't. But they're not equal. I'd rather my President have a similar position on the issues. If I made a list of what I want in a President, the foreign popularity contest factor would always be at the bottom.

[PWD]

I keep seeing folks post these things as if they'd convince anyone. If anything, it'll drive people away.

[The Winslow]

(I would think that a country like France who is experiencing a resurgence in its influence would welcome a second president who is inexpereinced in international affairs)
1. That's attributing much more cynicism to people than they usually have. Being cynical requires to be a tiny bit smart.

2. A resurgence of influence for France under Sarkozy? Don't make me laugh. He did more to destroy our credibility than any other president we ever had.

[Utrecht]

1. That's attributing much more cynicism to people than they usually have. Being cynical requires to be a tiny bit smart.


Fair enough - and you are right - that is asking alot out of a population :)


2. A resurgence of influence for France under Sarkozy? Don't make me laugh. He did more to destroy our credibility than any other president we ever had.

Not really applying this to Sakozy directly - since alot of the success that you have had started before he became President - I think alot of what France has been able to exploit has been the focus the US has had on Iraq.

[Dacke]

Why do they like him? Is it because of his policies (unlikely since foreigners have been supporting him in similar numbers since early in his campaign) is it because of his experience?
Mostly because of Iraq, I think. Obama has been against the war in Iraq from the beginning, whereas McCain is viewed as a hawk who's likely to continue Bush's policies of pre-emptive war.

[Pigs in Space]

And this is why the world hates us.

Obama seems much more likely to make us look like decent neighbors again. It is THE strong point of his campaign to me.

Australians don't hate you guys.

We think of you kind of like a big, retarded, older sister.

[FeatsofClay]

Australians don't hate you guys.

We think of you kind of like a big, retarded, older sister.

With a big gun? That picks neighbors at random to shoot? And leaves her mess everywhere?

[Sobek]

That is true for international heads of states, but those polls are aimed at the general public.
AFAIK, the general public in China supports the current Chinese regime, and the same is true about other corrupt governments. People tend to want what they believe will raise their tides, in comparisson to others. That can mean lowering others just as much as raising oneself. And this is done on a subconscious level.

Now, I'll grant that I tend to hope the Christian Democrats win in Germany, say, but that doesn't mean the average German should give a shit. And I don't give a shit what the average German thinks about which candidate we should elect.

That's not an antagonistic position. It's just part and parcel of being a sovereign nation. Americans don't, and shouldn't, carry much weight in British, Canadian, French, German, Japanese, or any other first world election. Even in the third world, I think having American (or British, French, UN, etc.) influence in elections indicates a lack of sovereignty.

[Dr_Avalanche]

I think it depends on perspective. Certainly "ROTW think candidate A is better than candidate B" is worthy of a shrug and a "so what". But frame it as "Candidate A is going to make us hostile to a much larger part of the world than candidate B" and I wonder if it isn't a factor that one at least should take into account.

HOW important it is, that's another question entirely.

[Trainz]

Now, I'll grant that I tend to hope the Christian Democrats win in Germany, say, but that doesn't mean the average German should give a shit. And I don't give a shit what the average German thinks about which candidate we should elect.

Germany doesn't go out of it's way to tell (and force) other countries to behave like Germany wants. America does. As long as the US behaves the way it does, you can be damn sure the ROTW should have a say on who is going to run the country that might come in their own country guns blazing to change their way of life, based on false reasons.

[Harry]

Germany doesn't go out of it's way to tell (and force) other countries to behave like Germany wants.

Uh, yeah, and the American South doesn't enslave blacks anymore, and the Mongols stopped harassing eastern Europe, and Japan decided to "live-and-let-live" with the Chinese, and Spain finally decided to cut South American Indians a break....

[Trainz]

Uh, yeah, and the American South doesn't enslave blacks anymore, and the Mongols stopped harassing eastern Europe, and Japan decided to "live-and-let-live" with the Chinese, and Spain finally decided to cut South American Indians a break....

And the US doesn't go into Iraq to destroy it's regime based on false evidence...