Mixed Reaction In U.S. To Obama's Trip

Voters Greet Democrat's Overseas Journey With Praise, Skepticism

(AP)  Calculated political ploy. Timely foreign outreach. A dash of each? Ask voters across the country about Barack Obama's image-packed week of foreign travel and you'll get a mix of admiration, suspicion, even a couple of bored shrugs.

"I didn't know they could vote in our elections," Phil Wadlind, 62, deadpanned as he worked the children's train at The Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester, N.H.

Interviewed this week in bus stops and coffee shops, bookstores and shopping malls in six battleground states, these voters ranged from wide-eyed enthusiasts to gimlet-eyed skeptics and many viewed the trip through their own ideological lens.

Ronald Loring, a Miami Beach eye doctor, spoke for many when he observed that Obama had no choice, politically, to make a trip to counter Republican rival John McCain's perceived strength on foreign policy and national security.

"I'm impressed with his ability to communicate," he said. "I don't think that (the trip) will particularly make him a better president." Will he vote for Obama? "I'm sort of torn."

As a media event, Obama's trip has been a political coup. He's been photographed with troops in Afghanistan, flying virtual shotgun in the sky over Baghdad with Gen. David Petraeus, bowing his head in prayer at Jerusalem's Western Wall, and addressing a throng in the streets of Berlin.

No doubt, Obama's trip is politically motivated. His main challenge in his campaign for the presidency is to assure U.S. voters that he can be a commander in chief who can manage two armed conflicts and build alliances overseas.

What's more, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have elevated the status of international affairs in American politics.

"By him going overseas and talking with the Israeli government and the people who mean the most to the United States ... I think what he's doing is great," said 50-year-old Robert Lindenbusch, pausing as he rode his bicycle down a Miami Beach sidewalk. "What he's showing now is that he has the experience to go out and reach out to these people and to say to them 'Hey, this is Barack Obama. I'm here. Let's work together.'"

"It's important for us to see him interact and to see how people respond," added Meghan Gilliss, 25-year-old bookstore owner in the college town of Columbia, Mo.

Dale Whitesell, a teacher and registered Democrat in Washington's northern Virginia suburbs, was delighted to see Obama spend time with U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"I like the fact that he was around people in the military," Whitesell, 54, said as she finished running errands at a local strip mall. "I think he made an effort, as much as possible, to see what was really going on."

That Obama needs to fortify his credentials is not lost even on his supporters.

"He didn't serve in the military, so it's still important for him to touch base with the military and let them know his views on it," said James Hough, a 51-year-old nursing home dishwasher, as he waited at a downtown Pittsburgh bus stop on his way to work Thursday.

Yet others worry the exposure could backfire.

"It's showing his inexperience, which is a concern for a lot of people, especially Democrats like myself who liked Hillary Clinton," said George Londono, 42, from Merrimack, N.H., who said he now backs Obama.

If Obama was seeking to reassure doubting voters, among the more skeptical blocs have been American Jews. His Democratic primary rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, had 66 percent support among Jews and Obama has been trying to rally them to his side since he secured the Democratic nomination last month.

It has not been an easy task. Jews, who vote heavily Democratic, do support Obama and he is well ahead of McCain, according to public opinion polls. But his support is not as strong as that enjoyed in 2004 by John Kerry, then the Democratic presidential nominee.

Ahron Leichtman, a Jewish writer and film producer from suburban Cincinnati, supports Obama, but wondered how well the senator knows the history and sources of strife for Israel and the Middle East.

"Does he really understand the hatred that exists there?" said Leichtman, 65, as he visited the new Jewish community center in Amberley Village on the Cincinnati outskirts. "I don't know if he's naive enough to believe that he can be the catalyst to make peace, but he's a charismatic person."

Obama may have had an answer to Leichtman this week, when he cautioned that it is "unrealistic to expect that a U.S. president alone can suddenly snap his fingers and bring about peace in this region."

While some may harbor doubts, others are downright suspicious.

Bobbi Lopez-Albright, a 75-year-old independent attending a political affairs discussion at the Jewish community Center in Philadelphia, said she was disturbed by Obama's friendship with Rashid Khalidi, an advocate of Palestinian rights and the director of the Middle East Institute at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

"I think this is just a political move on his part," Lopez-Albright said of Obama's trip. "He has shown nothing in my eyes that says that he cares anything about Israel."

Brian Jaffee, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, pointed out that McCain also visited Israel earlier this year. That shows that pro-Israel American Jews maintain an effective voice in the political process, he said.

"It excites me that both are over there," said Jaffee, 34. "I feel blessed, as an American and a member of the Jewish community, that we have two presidential candidates who are so supportive of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship."

But some voters expressed frustration with the media frenzy that they said has infected Obama's trip and said they didn't plan to vote on the basis of Obama's foreign policy experience anyway.

"What concerns me is what's going on inside the country. That's the first thing that has to be fixed," said Azzy Ram, who owns a Miami Beach toy store. "Foreign policy, he won't be able to change much anyway."

"I can't deal with all the hype," added Laura Caldwell, a 47-year-old registered Republican from Herndon, Va. Still, she's considering voting for Obama and doesn't worry about his lack of experience.

"I'm not sure any president ever has enough experience," she said. "We should expect that they are smart enough to hire good advisers."

[minnick8-2009]

Obama certainly doesn''t have any reservations about presenting himself as an official spokesman of the U.S. even though he is only a presumptive nominee for the President and not yet elected. Could that be called arrogant? So, his appeal has more to do with rock star status. If the world wants to bow down and worship him, then, oh well. The world also bows down and worships Buddha (idols) and Rod Steward. I heard Obama stopped in Bethlehem to visit his birth place.

[david1737]

Yet more McCain-isms:


-In Phoenix earlier this month, McCain referred to "Czechoslovakia,%u201D which has been divided since Jan. 1, 1993, into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He also referred to Czechoslovakia during a debate in November and a radio show in April.

[david1737]

McCain doesn''t know Islam 101:


-Also this spring, McCain twice appeared to mistake Sunnis and Shiites, two branches of Islam that split violently.

[david1737]

It''s both sad and dangerous.

Old man McCain makes more mistakes on foreign policy, this time on Iraq:


-This spring, McCain said troops in Iraq were %u201Cdown to pre-surge levels%u201D when in fact there were 20,000 more troops than when the surge policy began.

McCain''s just not up to the job.

[david1737]

McCain''s mistakes on foreign policy don''t end there:


-%u201CGermany%u201D for %u201CRussia%u201D - A YouTube clip from last year memorializes McCain referring to Vladimir Putin of Russia - following a trip to Germany - as %u201CPresident Putin of Germany.%u201D

[david1737]

McCain''s weakness on foreign policy only gets worse:


-%u201CSomalia%u201D for %u201CSudan%u201D - As recounted in a reporter%u2019s pool report from McCain%u2019s Straight Talk Express bus on June 30, the senator said while discussing Darfur, a region of Sudan: "How can we bring pressure on the government of Somalia?"

Senior adviser Mark Salter corrected him: %u201CSudan.%u201D

[david1737]

At least Obama knows where Iraq is!

McCain quote:

%u201CI''m afraid it''s a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border."

McCain isn''t Able!

[david1737]

Just in the past three weeks, McCain has mixed up:

Iraq and Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan, and even football%u2019s Packers and Steelers.

Obama''s a better candidate for President!

[david1737]

Obama has a few passionate cult followers. That is about all.

Posted by johnbush2


Another lying Conservative!

[libh8er]

Maybe, you should try taking your own advice. All I see from you are cherry-picked news tidbits, HATE for all things not Liberal, and outright fabrications. Posted by DemWatcher at 09:20 PM : Jul 26, 2008

It conveniently overlooked the ''bitter folks clinging to their religion and guns'' comment from the king of arrogance.....B. Hussain Ubama.

[kmccliment]

I disagree with you, can you give any example (some direct evidence) where McCain shows he is better than Obama with foreign policy?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by truthmatterz

Sure we can. But just like an Obamian. You want a specific date and time. Well pal, Have Obama come back after he has completed his first term as a US senator. Then we''ll see what he really has done.

[wilco105]

Vision, gifted statesmanship, charisma, excitement, energy, remarkable intelligence and phenomenal leadership skills are qualities that the world and a majority of U.S. citizens see in Barack Obama. Yet, there is a %u201Cclose-minded conservative establishment" in America that labels Barack Obama a terrorist, traitor, racist, rookie, Nazi, arrogant, presumptuous, and anything else to detract from the phenomenon.

In the middle, there is a more open-minded-conservative establishment that just can%u2019t see what all the hype is all about.

To the open-minded middle, please try, once again, to listen to what the world and the majority of American citizens are saying. They are saying that Barack Obama loves America and is convincing Americans to once again believe in the American dream.

All due respect to the longevity of John McCain''s Senate and military service, John McCain is not endowed with that same %u201Cje ne sais quoi%u201D as Obama. The selfish ambition of the closed-minded establishment is the only reason that this race is even close. Didn''t they learn anything from the last 7 1/2 years? Fortunately for America, the entire world and the majority of Americans did learn! And fortunately, because the majority of Americans are open minded, and are registering to vote in record numbers, we won%u2019t need the vote of the close-minded conservative this time.

[johnbush2-2009]

The overseas trip was a complete waste of time and money. The only thing Obama accomplished was organising a free rock concert for German teenagers.

[johnbush2-2009]

Obama has a few passionate cult followers. That is about all.

[demwatcher]

"So many people on this blog, taking their cues from McCain. Angry, bitter, insecure, jealous and making up a bunch of stupid stories, that aren''''t even logical.
Some of you should should try to educate themselves before commenting on these posts instead of being so anxious to put your ignorance on display.

Posted by truthmatterz at 10:01 AM : Jul 26, 2008"

Maybe, you should try taking your own advice. All I see from you are cherry-picked news tidbits, HATE for all things not Liberal, and outright fabrications.

[nirak2-2009]

WOW WHAT A LOT OF SOUR GRAPES DISPLAYED HERE!!!!!!
MCain was the one suggesting to go on a trip with Obama and since Obama turned him down it''s nothing but *** *** ***.
GO OBAMA!!!!!

[liberty_1776]

Message to journalists:

Americans don''t give a d@mn what foreigners think of Obama. As a matter of fact, WE DON''T TRUST FOREIGNERS, so why would we let them choose OUR president??? When will France or Germany let us choose their next president?

This whole "Obama European Tour" bullsh*t is just a huge attempt by US Democrats and the media to promote Obama as the next JFK - WHAT A JOKE! This is 2008, not 1963! We don''t even WANT another JFK, so why the hard sell??? Just sit back and let US choose our next president, OK?

[dnsallday]

March 2008
McCain will travel to Iraq this month.

March 2008
ABC News'' Bret Hovel Reports: The Senate office of John McCain announced Monday that the Republican nominee-in-waiting will travel overseas during the week of March 17,2008 to Israel, Great Britain and France.

He is expected to meet with the prime ministers of Israel and Britain, and the president of France, and will be leading a Congressional delegation that includes Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-CT.

McCain aides privately admit they are looking forward to the photo opportunities with McCain and world leaders while the Democrats are fighting with one another.

June 2008
McCain to travel to Canada to give Speech on foreign soil

June 2008
John McCain announced Tuesday that he will travel to Colombia and Mexico next week, firming up plans that have been the subject of media speculation in recent weeks.

The Canada, Columbia, and Mexico trips are considered campaign events and will be paid for with funds from the McCain Campaign.
The tab for the travels to Iraq and Europe will be picked up by the taxpayer.

[minnick8-2009]

The Presidential race was so much more interesting when Hillary was still in it; I never liked her, yet I''m really missing her.

The whole Obama worship culture that has emerged is getting rather tiresome. But win, lose or draw, Obama isn''t going away. He''ll be like Al Gore, he''ll be a key player in American Politics forever more. I wish that wasn''t the truth.

[minnick8-2009]

I heard he went to Bethlehem to visit his birth place.