BERLIN, Nov. 4, 2008
Leaning Obama, But Happy With Any Change
World Citizens Transfixed By U.S. Election; The Consensus: So Long Bush Administration
-
Photo
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama waves to a crowd, just before speaking in front of the Victory Column in Berlin in July. Many Europeans are rooting for Obama in the Nov. 4 election. Many Israelis support McCain. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
-
E-MAIL US
Share Your Election Story
Send CBS News your election story, video, or describe problem you had voting.
From Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to the small town of Obama, Japan, the globe geared up to celebrate a fresh start for America after eight wearisome years of George W. Bush.
In Germany, where more than 200,000 flocked to see Obama this summer as he moved to burnish his foreign policy credentials during a trip to the Middle East and Europe, the election dominated television ticker crawls, newspaper headlines and Web sites.
Hundreds of thousands prepared to party through the night to watch the outcome of an election having an impact far beyond America's shores. Among the more irreverent festivities planned in Paris: a "Goodbye George" party to bid farewell to Bush.
"Like many French people, I would like Obama to win because it would really be a sign of change," said Vanessa Doubine, shopping Tuesday on the Champs-Elysees. "I deeply hope for America's image that it will be Obama."
Europeans had a sense of the momentous change that was about to unfold.
"America is electing a new president, but for the Germans, for Europeans, it is electing the next world leader," said Alexander Rahr, director of the German Council on Foreign Relations.
"We see new challenges coming up, not only Islamic extremism, but a newly resurgent Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea - everywhere there are fires," he said. "And we, as Europeans, can't solve these problems without America. A world without American leadership is, for most Europeans, a world of chaos."
Obama-mania was evident not only across Europe but also in much of the Islamic world, where Muslims expressed hope that the Democrat would seek compromise rather than confrontation.
Quote
director of the German Council on Foreign Relations
The Bush administration alienated Muslims by mistreating prisoners at its detention center for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and inmates at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison - human rights violations also condemned worldwide.America is electing a new president, but for the Germans, for Europeans, it is electing the next world leader. ... A world without American leadership is, for most Europeans, a world of chaos.
Alexander Rahrdirector of the German Council on Foreign Relations
"I hope Obama wins (because) of the need of the world to see the U.S. represent a more cosmopolitan or universal political attitude," said Rais Yatim, the foreign minister of mostly Muslim Malaysia.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai pledged that Afghanistan "will remain a close friend of the United States" regardless of who wins.
"The new president will have an impact on the economic and political situation in my country," said Muhammad al-Thaheri, 48, a civil servant in Saudi Arabia. Like so many around the world, he was rooting for Obama "because he will change the path the U.S. is on under Bush."
Nizar al-Kortas, a columnist for Kuwait's Al-Anbaa newspaper, saw an Obama victory as "a historic step to change the image of the arrogant American administration to one that is more acceptable in the world."
Yet John McCain enjoyed a strong current of support in countries such as Israel, where he is perceived as tougher on Iran.
Israeli leaders, who consider the U.S. their closest and most important ally, have not openly declared a preference. But privately, they have expressed concern about Obama, who has alarmed some by saying he would be ready to hold a dialogue with Tehran.
Taking a cigarette break on a Jerusalem street corner, bank employee Leah Nizri, 53, said Obama represented potentially frightening change.
"I think he'll be pleasant to Israel, but he will make changes," she said. "He's too young. I think that especially in a situation of a world recession, where things are so unclear in the world, McCain would be better than Obama."
Even in Europe, McCain got some grudging respect: Germany's mass-circulation daily Bild lionized the Republican as "the War Hero" and running mate Sarah Palin as "the Beautiful Unknown."
In Berlin, Republicans Abroad organized a "November Surprise Election Party" to watch live "how the Republican ticket McCain/Palin comes from behind and leaves the 'liberal elite media' in Europe and the United States puzzled."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown clung to convention by refusing to say which candidate he wants to see win. Regardless of the outcome, he told Al-Arabiya television while on a tour of the Gulf, "history has been made in this campaign."
London Mayor Boris Johnson - a Conservative - felt less constrained about rooting for the liberal Obama.
"For those who have become disenchanted with America - including many Americans - (Obama) offers the hope of re-igniting the love affair," he said.
And other Europeans made much of Obama's ethnicity. "It's a sort of pardon of America for its slave past," said Alain Barret, a bank teller in Paris. "It lets America turn an important page in its history."
"It would be fantastic to have a non-white president," added Letisha Brown, a Londoner.
In Baghdad, a jaded Mohammed al-Tamimi said he didn't think U.S. policy on Iraq would change. Even so, "we hope that the new American president will open a new page with our country."
Kenyans made their allegiances clear: Scores packed churches on Tuesday to pray for Obama, whose late father was born in the East African nation, and hailed the candidate - himself born in Hawaii - as a "son of the soil."
"Tonight we are not going to sleep," said Valentine Wambi, 23, a student at the University of Nairobi. "It will be celebrations throughout."
Kenyans believe an Obama victory wouldn't change their lives much, but that hasn't stopped them from splashing his picture on minibuses and selling T-shirts with his name and likeness. Kenyans were planning to gather around radios and TV sets starting Tuesday night as the results come in.
In the sleepy Japanese coastal town of Obama - which translates as "little beach" - images of him adorned banners along a main shopping street, and preparations for an election day victory party were in full swing.
Election fever also ran high in Vietnam, where McCain was held as a prisoner of war for more than five years after being shot down in Hanoi during a 1967 bombing run.
"He's patriotic," said Le Lan Anh, a Vietnamese novelist and real estate tycoon. "As a soldier, he came here to destroy my country, but I admire his dignity."
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
----
Are you challenging it''s accuracy.
The pay-off for the US is that if the American president is widely popular with the people in a country, that country''s leadership will be very slow to clash with him. However, I suspect the honeymoon period overseas wouldn''t last any longer than it will here. US presidents just have to do things that annoy non-US citizens. It comes with the job. He will be the American president, not the world president.
I wish I had done more, campaigned, demonstrated, given to opposing political parties, or whatever to have prevented this disaster.
I will unfortunately like with this the remainder of my life.
I can only, in my most fleeting optimistic state hope that this election will see the complete, final and utter destruction of the republican party.
Republicans are concerned only with POWER for the purpose of making the elite rich, even richer, an for using any means, primarily FEAR and WARS as the means to achieve their ends.
Posted by eric-914
Instead of always thinking the media and the rest of the world is in the tank for Obama, why not look at it from another perspective? The world is turned off by a republican party who only seems to look out for the powerful and connected. They are selfish, greedy, hypocritical, delusional, shallow (I could go on and on on why EVERYBODY seems to be against the GOP).
I am glad to see the rest of the world is just as relieved as I am that this disaster is finally coming to an end.I am pulling for Obama all the way because I believe he is the right man to restore the image the USA represents to the rest of the world.
blaming liberal media elites, the non-patriotic parts of America as opposed to the real America, urban areas as opposed to small towns, people of faith other than the candidates, ... well blaming just about everything except their own political philosophy.
______________
See, it''s not just the so called ''libs'' that are tired of GWB, it is the rest of the world also.
Way to go GWB. While I have menewged to really pi55 a fes people off on several occasisions, You have managed to turn everyone in the world against you in just 8 short years. Congratulations are in order.
Just the comment we would expect from an arrogant, ignorant, inward looking American, thankfully your type are a minority.
With that pair of greedy useless warmongering self interested traitors [Bush and Cheney[, gone with their GOP, the world will be a much better place.
The whole world welcomes President Obama, for a safer and less hate filled world.
My last was with reference to:-
Posted by d7767w at 02:49 PM : Nov 04, 2008
Lets say you have three children and you are on your death bed. You have $100,000 to give to your children as an inheritance.
One child worked his a** off and became a lawyer. The second child worked his a** off and became a doctor. The third child decided to party in college and ended far less successful than your other children.
Would you punish the success of your two children who made the right decisions in life and worked hard to earn thier success by awarding the $100,000 dollars to the child that made bad decisions, but needs the money the most.
I still would gift the money equally, but evidentally if you are a Obama supporter you would give the full inheritance to the child who screwed up in life.
Really sad that America will turn into a country that will punish the hardworking and reward the people who choose not to educate themselves and make bad life decisions.
Really Sad day in American History
You got that right!!! All the world sees is dollar signs from America.
Posted by d7767w at 03:23 PM : Nov 04, 20
You are in part correct, the world does not really give a d-am-n about America, however the money grubbing materialistic greed of America affects the whole world, as does America''s propping up altra right wing governments in coumtries against the will of the people in those countries.
Also America''s willingness to wage war in countries, in order to line the pockets of a few, irregardless of the loss of life concerned. Thereby destabilising the security and safety of many other counties throughout the World.
Incidentally, my country does not recieve aid in any form from America, however we were among the first of many to help on 9/11
You appear to be such a bitter person. I''m sorry to say that I''m proud to be American. It''s my guess you hang with other bitter anti American people. In my country wwe live pretty well and don''t hate each other over religion, or don''t insist our women cover-up, allow women to drive and are comfortable with different races to marry. I travel the world and have never run into such a bitter anti American person. I happen to particularly love France, the Netherlands, and recently vacationed in Athens, never anyone rude, or disrespectful. I teach everyone in my family to live within our means, and NEVER use credit cards. Guess what I voted for McCain, but think Obama would also be a good leader. Please get over your hate, we are hard working, but certainly not money grubbing. We also don''t want gifts from our government, just let us work and improve our lives. Peace out.
Posted by bigeye9 at 04:25 PM : Nov 04, 2008
You certainly got that wrong.
Iam not a bitter person, but am very disappointed in seeing the mess around the world, particuarly at present with the financial meltdown, caused in large part by America''s materialistic greed.
If you are insinuating that I am from a muslim country, then again you are wrong, in fact I abhor the rules of sharia law, and the blind stupid behaviour of some muslims.
My country is in many ways like yours, we strive for and have as many freedoms as do you, in fact more.
My country appears as though it shall weather the financial meltdown better than any other country. maybe with the exception of some oil rich arab nations, and we have a government elected by the majority of our population by popular vote by our entire population, not just by some of them.
I suspect you may have a guilt complex, caused by the irresponsible actions of your government.
I also realize that akin to many people, I very easily and wrongly generalize, I do know that there are many many great Americans, as well as I do also know, that many in my country are far from perfect.
I am truly looking forward to a change in direction by your government, with the election of Barrack Obama, after the totally disasterous years of Bush and Cheney.
Have a good day.
Posted by libluv2spit at 04:57 PM : Nov 04, 2008
Dear Bigeye
The postings of the person above, more closely represent a bitter hateful person surely??
Posted by libluv2spit at 05:07 PM : Nov 04, 2008
Just have a look across the Pacific old fellow.
Have a great day.
Posted by bigeye9 at 05:46 PM : Nov 04, 2008
My country also fought in Sth Korea, again also against Japan, and in both world wars, unfortunately we are in Iraq, but are on the way out, which is one of the reasons we recently had a change of government.
Irregardless of what you say, my feelings remain the same.
Have a great day.
Posted by bigeye9 at 06:06 PM : Nov 04, 2008
We in fact have a lot in common, I agree entirely with your feelings on renewable energy, I would also include coal as one we have to dispense with the use of, even though one of our major exports is coal.
As for today, may the best man win.
I must be off now as I have an engagement elsewhere.
Enjoy your evening.
but I bet businesses in your country depends on this country for sales. When this country is in trouble all of you are in trouble, just look at the present financial crisis. If American would cut their purchasing by just 10% it would be felt world wide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by d7767w at 09:58 PM : Nov 04, 2008
Actually America is but a tiny export nation for us, and we have seen over the past 12 mths just how proficient America is economically, further, our economy is not dependant at all in any way on America, we have over the past few years run a surplus, and are among very few countries, likely to weather this present financial meltdown successfully.
Further our most recent monthly balance of trade figure show a record surplus..
Wrong again old fellow.
Hope you are as pleased, as the majority [76%] in this country are with your new President.
-
by rheola-2009
November 5, 2008 2:57 PM PST
-
Reply to this comment
-
See all 33 CommentsPosted by CQUNI at 07:36 AM : Nov 05, 2008
I hope you will see this.
THANK YOU,VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
Yes I am proud of my country, as should you of yours, presuming of course, that you are an American.
We in Australia are elated with Barrck Obama''s election, and feel he was the only way for America to go forward, and thereby contributing to a greater improvement in many ways for the world.
He appears not to have the arrogant, ignorant attitudes of Bush and Cheney.
I can not comment on Joe Biden, as I know little of him, however I and so very many of us, feel the world will become a much safer place.
I wish you all the best.