Foreign Press: All Obama, All The Time

Politico: European Media Is Experiencing Its Own Version Of Obama-Mania

(The Politico)  This story was written by Michael Calderone.

---

Christoph von Marschall, the Washington bureau chief of the Berlin-based newspaper, Der Tagesspiegel, wrote in Sunday’s Washington Post about the “dirty little secret” of the Barack Obama campaign: snubbing the foreign press.

But lack of access hasn’t stopped the ink from flowing world-wide, where Barack Obama’s face adorns newspaper and magazine covers, as reporters flock to foreign capitals for this week’s five-country tour.

Marschall, for one, said that he’s written several Obama-related pieces already this past week, and will continue over the next few days, focusing on the trip’s impact on the U.S. election. Back in Berlin, he estimated that about 10-15 reporters will cover Obama’s upcoming speech from various angles, filling up column inches in the newspaper’s national, local and cultural pages.

Last week, a Pew Global Attitudes study on “Obamamania Abroad” found that while the Middle East remains skeptical-including Jordan, the candidate’s first stop-Europe is another story altogether.

Toby Harnden, U.S. editor of the Daily Telegraph, told Politico that it’s almost as if the overwhelmingly popular Obama had been “designed by a committee of Europeans” with the goal of creating their ideal American presidential candidate.

On the surface, there’s an obvious contrast in style between Obama and President Bush, who’s had low opinion numbers across the pond long before that trend hit U.S. shores. As a result of the electorate’s disapproval of Bush, Europeans largely view Obama as a shoo-in. Wishful thinking has become conventional wisdom.

That said, Obama’s policy positions actually put him to the right of mainstream opinion in the European capitals of Berlin, Paris, and London. Indeed, Obama’s positions on hot-button issues like gun ownership, the death penalty, and increased troops in Afghanistan could slightly tarnish the nearly-perfect media persona.

After visits to Jordan and Israel, where Obama walks a tightrope in fielding questions about the Middle East piece process, the candidate meets with European leaders, and will take part in the trip’s only large-scale event watched by a world-wide audience. In front of Berlin’s famous Victory Column on Thursday, Obama will address crowd of anywhere from the tens of thousands to upwards of a million-according to press reports with wildly varying estimates.

“It seems that there are no other news stories in Germany than the Obama visit,” said Cordula Meyer, a senior correspondent at Der Speigel, who’s based in Washington.

Der Spiegel, in an effort to satisfy voracious reader appetites for all things Obama, published a 6,300-word story, with the candidate adorning the cover. The font was nabbed from Germany’s version of “American Idol.”

“Europeans have fallen in love with the Democrat, mostly because he’s not Bush,” Meyer, and several Der Speigel colleagues wrote. “But they may not like what they hear this week.”

It is accompanied by the almost inevitable hagiography: “Obama is the hope of a Western world filled with concerns.”

But the magazine also devotes a section to the “foreign policy similarities between Obama and McCain”- a foreign concept to some foreign readers. And one that could, perhaps, bring Obama a little closer to the ground.

Besides glowing, rock star coverage, Meyer said that “stories are emerging slowly” on how Obama’s positions might not be in line with Europe. For instance, when Obama spoke out in favor of the death penalty, following the Supreme Court’s ruling against capital punishment in cases of child rape, Meyer said it made the front pages in Germany. And although Meyer dubbed it the “first souring of the love affair” with Obama, the general feeling I still one of great enthusiasm for the speech, what he will do as President, and for his capacity to restore the trans-Atlantic partnership.

That’s because many believe it’s not a question of if, but when he is elected.

“The German press, looking from Berlin, behaves as if the election of Obama is a foregone conclusion,” said Josef Joffe, publisher-editor of Die Zeit, a weekly German newspaper. “He’s being celebrated like a victorious Roman general who comes back from the conquest of Gaul or something.”

Joffe said that there isn’t enough “sober analysis” of Obama’s political positions, with the candidate more likely depicted more as “redeemer” than “intelligent pol.” Still, despite his criticism of the press coverage, Joffe said that Die Zeit will be running an editorial this week that notes “Obama is the right thing for America.”

Harnden agreed that there’s an expectation for Obama to win in November. So besides the Obamamania storyline - one not all that dissimilar from tabloid coverage of the latest Brangelina baby - there will be an effort to look at how political leaders interact with the one expected to become the next U.S. president.

“Basically, every single thing he does will be put under a microscope by the British press-particularly in London, but everywhere as well,” Harnden said, adding Obama will likely get, by a “conservative estimate,” about 10 times the coverage McCain received when he visited London in May.

Obama’s body language, Harnden said, will be studied through the prism of British politics, such as how he meets and greets Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Conservative party leader David Cameron. Since those three meetings are private, the public will likely pile onto the street for a Saturday morning press avail outside 10 Downing Street - camera phones raised high above reporters.

David Munk, deputy foreign editor of the Guardian, said there is a “real fascination factor” among readers, who’ve seen Obama on television and will now get to view him in person.

Beyond that, Munk said that the Guardian will also have to “spell out where the candidates stand in their own words” on key issues, such as foreign policy, the environment, and immigration. For instance, on foreign policy, Munk said Obama could be considered “right-of-center” to Guardian readers, and in the “center” on social issues.

“They will be very surprised that he is an American politician working for American interests,” Marschall said, who like other European journalists mentioned the death penalty and increasing troops in Afghanistan as major sticking points.

Clearly, Marschall is aware of Obama’s positions, having written a sympathetic, widely read book in Germany, titled “The Black Kennedy.” So his criticism on Sunday, that the campaign “has almost completely refused to answer questions from foreign journalists,” likely struck a nerve.

That night, foreign reporters received an email from the Obama campaign inviting them to an “on-the-record conference call” on Monday morning, with senior foreign policy advisors Susan Rice and Gregory Craig, and press secretary Bill Burton. (Burton did not respond to a request for comment on the timing of the conference call, or questions about foreign press access to the candidate).

When asked about lack of access, Burton mentioned that one foreign reporter, from wire service Agence France-Presse is on the overseas trip. The campaign had “literally hundreds of requests for travel,” he said, and couldn’t accommodate everyone. During the trip, Burton said that “along the way, we will be speaking with some foreign media.”

A few times during the conference call, the campaign emphasized that Obama has not yet won the election, with Rice telling foreign reporters, “America only has one president at a time.”

But judging from the foreign press coverage this week, that’s hard to believe.

[likeitis5050]

Has he raised the dead, healed the sick, or walked on water, yet? Ohhhhhhhh....this is sooooooo exciting!!!!

[dnsallday]

Has he raised the dead, healed the sick, or walked on water, yet? Ohhhhhhhh....this is sooooooo exciting!!!! Posted by likeitis5050
********************************************************
No he hasn''t nor has he claimed he would.
But it is extremely exciting to have the possibility of an intelligent, reasonable person as the next president of the United States.
Our actions affect the world over and for the past 7 years we have had an administration who cared nothing about our country or any of its people. Their only concerns have been how they can transfer the wealth of our country into the hands of private enterprise as rapidly as possible and how could they hold onto power to ensure that the Rebulicons had dominance over us for as far into the future as possible.

[labrat9999]

It sure is nice for a change when the our European friends speak nicely of us for a change! I know this is hard for Republicans to understand because you generally don''t travel outside of Texas or Florida but the rest of the US citizens would like to have a President that is respected in other countries other than Texas and Florida (by the way they really aren''t countries...you just think so).

[chika6]

Whether he (Obama) heals the sick or raise the dead (which he has not claimed), lets accept the fact that he is intelligent, right on the spot, charming and presidential. Why do we cry when we see people doing better than we can? When we accept and appreciate the good in others, we get better. Lets stop these whining and petty jealousy and accept the fact that this young man is what America needs at least for now.

[ariel133]

No SANE person would ever remotely consider Barack Obama until the media suggested it in such a manner where those who don''t think for themselves have something to cling to- a contrived and despicable media that could have been gleaned directly from a promotion for a movie- that will die quietly when the fizzle ends- ZOMBIE zealots like the media that have polarized this nation with irrational lies and distortions of the political philosophies with certain news personalities and their insane programs. MCCAIN 2008. The ONLY CHOICE.

[ariel133]

Dems think they are being brave by supporting a liberal who wants to change everything , and yet, does not define anything, that is being stupid. Dems are not brave by thinking this way, they are naive to think that someone will magically change all the bad and make it good- How is that possible with someone so inexperianced and ego driven? How is that possible with someone who does not want to win the war on terror but win only the election because of race? How is change possible if Dems do not accept they are wrong,too? Bottom line, nothing will change, with Obama, that is fact. MCCAIN will win in spite of all the media''s blantant self righteous attention it is giving to the wrong man. Come fall, it will all change- drastically, Watch & learn.

[ariel133]

"I''d rather be a Conservative nut job than a Liberal with no nuts and no job."

Amen!

[husein_pasha]

Obama is supported by the whole world

[ariel133]

We''ve become a country that continually chooses the sizzle over the steak. McCain may not be as "popular" but he gets my admiration and vote for offering substance and new ideas when he speaks. Obama, meanwhile, is like the rock star who''s realized that he can just scream unintelligible words into the microphone between songs, and the entire stadium will still scream. When your fans already love you, there''s no reason to risk it by offering anything that might be controversial. Remember the Dixie Chicks?

As candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain are ironically a lot like the way the media treats them: Obama is the glitzy magazine cover that screams for people to buy the issue, and McCain is the fact-filled article buried inside that makes you glad you did.

[ariel133]

Has anyone else noticed that a great majority of the "followers" of Barack Obama cannot get through a post without childishly and rudely referring to Sen. John McCain, a man who has devoted his entire adult life to the service of his country mind you, as [in no particular order]; McShame, McBush, McLoser, McWho, McCreep, McOldMan, etc. etc. etc.]. Barack''''s arrogance has attracted his own brand of arrogant and rude cult like "followers" who seem to have not only no respect for others, but no respect for themselves. This is not an American election; it is "American Idol". I want no part of Barack''s false mantra of "Change". I am voting for REAL change this November. Sen. John McCain!

[jonesforch]

Two Likeable Guys

Both Obama and McCain are viewed positively by voters. A 58 percent majority has a favorable opinion of Obama and 33 percent unfavorable. For McCain, 54 percent view him favorably and 38 percent unfavorably.