You have to go back to the Beatles' first US tour to find a transatlantic trip
freighted with the sort of pregnant excitement that attends the one Barack
Obama is about to make next week.
The faces of the crowds expected in Berlin when he arrives on Thursday will be
portraits of the same devotional ecstasy that greeted the Liverpool quartet
on their way from JFK to Manhattan that February day in 1964. In London next
weekend Gordon Brown will play Ed Sullivan to the Fab One, hoping to borrow,
just for a day, a little of the superstar charisma to bolster his own
ratings.
The parallels between the former Quarrymen and the son of the Kenyan goatherd
don't stop there. Both built their success on a pleasing facility for the
harmonious marriage of words and cadence. (“We have a righteous wind at our
backs and we stand on the crossroads of history”, says the Senator. “Please
please me, whoa yeah, like I please you!” sang John and Paul.)
Just like the Beatles, Mr Obama is a prodigiously talented revolutionary, the
tribune of a rising generation, whose evident talent is only slightly
compromised by an unsettling precocity. He hasn't claimed to be more popular
than Jesus yet, but looking at the latest opinion polls in secular Europe,
it might just be plausible.
The Beatles were invested with such mystical significance that they were the
repeated object of conspiracy theories and so is Mr Obama. (I'm told, that
if you play his victory speech last month backwards you will hear the first
half dozen chapters of the Koran. Go on. Check it out.)
It's easy to be cynical about the global hysteria for the Democratic
presidential candidate, as I fear I may have just demonstrated. To wizened
hacks, next week's roadshow (which starts in the Middle East) will offer
mostly another opportunity to marvel at the perennial victory of the
public's hope over experience.
It's already the new consensus, in fact, that Mr Obama is not quite the
messiah he was once thought to be. The diplomatic substance of the trip will
surely underscore this.
He will be sure, for starters, not to offer direct public criticism of
President Bush. The unprecedented foreign campaign swing is already
generating enough criticism in the US that to breach the longstanding
protocol that you don't attack your country while you're overseas will be
especially carefully adhered to.
And he will go further. He will remind Europeans that they have obligations as
noisy supporters of multilateralism as well as rights. In Afghanistan, over
Iran's nuclear programme and in the broader war on terrorism, he will tell
weak-willed European publics (and some governments) that the soft power they
value so highly is not enough, and that a bit more hardware is needed.
Of course, he will do his utmost to emphasise his affinity with European
values on the great defining cultural issue of our times - global warming.
But it will be impossible to ignore the fact that the senator himself, and
even his political opponents, seem to be going out of their way to emphasise
convergence in the US over the big foreign policy questions.
A couple of weeks ago in this space I
noted that Mr Obama had quickly dropped whole chunks of his political
programme overboard - from pro-Palestinian rhetoric to votes on the Bush
Administration's domestic wiretapping of suspected terrorists.
In the interests of fairness it behoves me to point out that the despised Bush
Administration is clearly doing its best to meet him half way. A few weeks
ago it struck a deal with North Korea that would have brought tears to the
eyes of any diplomacy-loving Democrat, even bringing Pyongyang in from the
cold by taking it off the official list of terrorist-sponsoring states.
The Administration has begun to suggest that, as the situation on the ground
in Iraq continues to improve, it's possible that a significant reduction in
US troops there could occur even before a putative Obama presidency. And
this week, it stole a page straight from the Obama foreign policy playbook
by opening a diplomatic channel with Iran, sending the number three official
at the State Department to sit down with the Iranian nuclear negotiator for
the first time in Geneva this weekend.
And so everything suggests that continuity will guide US foreign policy after
January 20, 2009, even if, as seems likely, the world's prayers are answered
and the Democrats take charge.
So what's all the excitement about? Is it just European ignorance about the
realities of American politics and the challenges the world faces? Is it the
ultimate victory of image over substance: grown human beings swooning like
teenage Beatles fans for a fresh, attractive new face?
Perhaps. But there's something a bit deeper, a bit more meaningful about the
enthusiasm that will be on display next week. Part of it is doubtless that
Europeans simply think they recognise one of their own - the closest thing
America can produce to a social democrat. They may be right about that. For
all his recent flip-flops there remains a reasonable and persistent question
mark over the widening gap between his rhetoric and legislative record of
his distant past - which would put him to the left of even the European
political centre - and the rapidly evolving promises of his present
campaign. And in this respect, too much European enthusiasm may not play so
well back home.
But there is something else in the enthusiasm for the Illinois senator that
should not be lightly disdained by Americans, even those of a conservative
mind.
As even his opponent, John McCain, graciously put it this week, it suggests
there is still something about America that can inspire the rest of the
world. I've never really bought the argument that the hostility of the past
eight years was simply anti-Bush, rather than, anti-American sentiment. And
I still don't believe it. What people dislike about President Bush is what
they think they know about America - its ignorance, its arrogance, its
narrow-mindedness - all caricatures duly fed by the media coverage of the
country and its culture and its politics. But there was, it's true, always
the other side to the ambivalence of the world's thoughts about America. The
rise of Senator Obama is a reminder of what the rest of the world still
admires - sometimes very grudgingly - about America: a constant capacity to
renew itself.
And when you think about it, if, as seems quite likely, America under the next
president is going to proceed in a direction that is not markedly different
from what it has done in the past few years, is it really such a bad thing
if the world actually quite likes the man leading it?
Why are Europeans so interested in the USA? I personally don't give a 2nd thought to your Celebrities and Politicians. USA is the greatest country in the world! Despite our faults, I am proud to be an American! Obama is a Socialist to the core! He will not have my vote. I belive in Capitalism.
bossbomb, Ozark, USA
The problem most Republicans have with Obama is that he's not their candidate for the big chair.
Charles, Birmingham, England
I love reading Europeans' criticisms of the U.S. They predictably revert to insults, self-righteousness and a counterproductive approach to solving the world's problems. And yet I still love you guys, and we'd go the depths of hell for you. Criticism is warranted, but humility is welcomed.
Luke, New York City, USA
Barak Obama reprsents the best of what America has to offer. He's smart, articulate, forward-looking and an all-around decent, patriotic man. In short: he's agreat American. The fact that the American right seeks to vilify him in the name of partisan advantage shows how demented the GOP has become.
Bill Thompson, Nashville,
Is Obama really a Muslim? Can we afford to take the chance?
Dimslie, Atlanta, USA
To Roger Jackson in Woodside:
McCain may have some confusion about Eastern Europe but, your candidate thinks there are 57 states!
Dimslie, Atlanta, USA
Every website I visit has a tirade of anti-obama rubbish. Strangely enough, they are all variations of the same conservative talking points. It wouldn't surprise me if the GOP is involved in organized internet smear campaign. After all how many conservative rednecks possibly read the Times of London
Jesse, New York, United States
Obama reminds me of Bush. Yes, he is the more likeable candidate - as was Bush. He is the most inexperienced candidate - as was Bush. He is the most charming candidate - as was Bush.
Ivy-league pedikry, arrogance and lots of lobbyist money. Obama is everything wrong with USA.
Sylvia Johnsen, Oslo, Norway
To Jan in San Antonio: George W. Bush had plenty of "experience" as a two-term governor of your state of Texas -- and look where it got us. John McCain apparently has forgotten that Czechoslovakia split into two countries 15 years ago. I'll take my chances on Senator Obama's record, thank you.
Roger Jackson, Woodside, United States
I am not an Obama fan. However, I think that the majority of Americans want "change". I don't believe he has enough experience for the Office of President. But Americans are looking to him because he exudes youthfullness and promise, something that has been intwined in the "American Dream".
Jan, San Antonio, USA
Wow it would be really nice if we could read European views on the US race and not a bunch of ideological Americans.
Lamar, Arlanta, USA
I am surprised at the level of cynicism by the European bloggers on this thread. You would think Britian was well-pleased to be lead into Iraq, and that they wish such leadership would continue! Well, if that's the case, sorry. We've found our new Abraham Lincoln, and we're going with him!
Margaret, La Mirada, USA
For people, specifically Europeans confused at some of the rhetoric on this post let me explain. Many republicans spend their day, filling posts about Obama with negativity and anger. They don't understand that most Americans would vote for a giraffe before a Republican.
Johnson, Los Angeles, USA
The idea that left wing in Europe is in love with Obama is quite preposterous. During the run between Clinton and Obama Dutch Socialist Party leader Jan Marijnissen was interviewed for his opinion on the candidates. He was extremely sceptical on Obama, merely seeing rethoric.
The press is in love!
Peter Halferding, Laren NH, Netherlands
Bush is the devil and Obama is Christ...can no one see the extreme lack of thinking here? I am very worried about the lack of rational thought in the world today....my God people ...this is scary! pray for the rebirth of common sense!
margaret, tampa,
Lee from San Diego must be young. Reagan was not loved in Europe. And any historian (or tim) will tell you that JFK was a mediocre president.
This is why we Americans tend to reject the conventional wisdom in Europe. We are deeply suspicious of blind Europhiles like Lee, not so much Europeans.
Steve, Plymouth, MN, USA
Yes the great Obama will glide in on his flying carpet. He will heal the sick. Turn water into wine. Raise the dead. Feed the masses with one basket of bread. Yes the great messiah will grace the people of Europe with his holy presence.
Jeff, Cape Coral, USA
When Obama gets over to Europe, will you please, please keep him there forever! He has the biggest head on a politician that I have ever seen! All the fawning and adoration has clearly gone to that man's head. IThe planet really does have a fever thanks to Obama and Al Gore and all their hot air
Sharon, Maryland, USA
Crowds that cheer Obama as soon as he enters the room will do his campaign more harm then good. America wants to see if he can get other countries to agree with our policies, not just a smile. Crowds that listen to specific, pro-America policies and then cheer in response would help Obama very much.
Joseph, New York City, USA
"He has the same difficulty as most americans, he can't talk properly. "
M Wilson, Bidache, france
I'm only an ignorant, barefoot hayseed from the plains, but I believe that would be "speak properly".
Gerald Joyce, Chicago, USA
Obama reminds me very much of JFK. He was the first TV savvy politician, some say stole the election in Chicago, and I endured the Bay of Pigs fiasco, Cuban missile crisis, his embarrasing dress down from Cruschev, race riots and committed trops to Viet Nam. By the way, the Europeans loved him too.
tim, St.Louis, USA
The American ideal is bottom up not top down. We improve internatioal ties through millions of everyday interactions via free trade, tourism, cultural exchanges, and contact with our homelands. My grandparents and parents visited their homelands several times. A celebrity tour shorts this process.
Joseph, New York City, USA
I'm happy that others see the similarity with 1976, hating Bush more won't get us out of Iraq quicker and neither will electing Obama. A combo with Obama, Pelosi & Reid ..... oh boy and we thought the late seventies were bad! It can always be worse.
David, North Carolina, US
In Obama we have what we only rarely see - in JFK, Reagan and to some extent, Clinton - a leader that BOTH America and the rest of the world can be proud of. That's a total opposite of what we have in the White House now and exciting as the thought is, it is also a bit mind-boggling.
Lee, San Diego,
Obama will show the European continent the future of things to come. He will make all of your so-called leaders (Brown, Sarkozy, Merkel and Berlusconi) wither in comparison. They look like a group of school board members compared to him.
He will bring leadership and credibility back. GO OBAMA!
Mark Holloway, Eugene, USA
Wow, most Americans posting here seem to pretty cynical and angry. Chill out guys, and don't feel you need to educate us on the "truth" about Barack Obama. We can read perfectly well and we can form our own opinions, thanks.
Jennifer, Dundee, Scotland
Don't worry, we Americans want Obama and will indeed vote for him. It could even be a landslide. There's just a lot of jaded people, who didn't quite get what they wanted in Bush and can't seem to get past Obama's charisma. Charismatic leaders inspire hate as much as they do folllowers.
Olga, fishkill, ny,
Spot on - who needs another Carter?
Prudence Eely Bond McGuire, London, England UK.
Obama is the embodiment of all arrogance you can possibly find in America, and then a dozen times over. Look at the way he presents himself and talks.
John McCain was far from my #1 pick, but he's well on his way to get my vote to help ensure that Obama arrogance doesn't represent the U.S.
Nick, Chicago, IL, US
what U.S. voters and "hysterical" Europeans should remember that last time America was on the rebound it got Carter.
haralambos, joburg,
Well said, particularly about American "caricatures" reinforced by media coverage of the US and its culture and politics.
I think that's why so many ignorant statements about the US routinely appear in forums such as these. Might also explain the foreign appeal of a gassy lightweight like Obama.
Andrew, London, UK
Hey if you Americans don't want Obama, may we please keep him? You're welcome to have Gordon Brown in return!!
Michelle, Sussex, England
Obama's book is a cleverly worded work of fiction.
Adjectives and Adverbs can hide much and put into disrepute even the most respectable Noun!
Prudence Eely Bond McGuire, London, England, UK
the fascination of the obomanation
haralambos, joburg,
Well done Mr Baker. An objective article from a European Journalist. Iv,e just printed it out , and Iam going into town to buy a frame for it. Well done. Despite the ravings of the Euro-Left Bush has only made one mistake in the past eight years.
He should have sent 160k troops to Iraq, not 120k.
Joseph Caulfield, Tullamore, Ireland
Experience? What experience? Flying (doing ur job) and failing in it (being shut down and taken a prisoner of war). Nonsense! America beware! Europe is simply jealous of what we have. They have recently started searching for an Obama. Thats what makes USA tick, presenting the best to the world.
OB
Rawlings, Arizona, USA
Jss, Palm Springs, USA so that's why you guys voted in Bush. He could have a joke with the press.
jite, London, England
Senator Obama is popular over here because he is an intelligent as well as eloquent candidate. A person that is thoughtful, well-informed and who knows that to get the best results one needs to sit down and talk with the ones that disagree with you. And I am informed about his ideas and plans.
Hans-Erik Iken, Roosendaal, Netherlands
I grew up in Europe and if most of the blokes here did some research on Obama and were not caught like deer blinded by the headlights they would drop him faster than you could say Lesbon treaty. Do they know he will keep a "residual" (not combat but in combat) force in Iraq numbering 40-50k?
BarryO, Chicago, USA
We have all been saturated with Obama's so called change rhetoric ,
I didn't mind it so much as it was meant for America .
However , I have heard Obama say on several occasion that he will change the world .
This man is an arrogant and ego driven shyster and is not fit to be the next President
Melina, Vancouver, Canada
If I were an american citizen I would be appalled at Obama's hyped up plans for travels to Europe.
Your country is at war and this empty airhead is more interested in political ralleys and grand standing.
The german chancellor was right to rebuke him and not let him speak at the Brandenburg Gate.
Karina, Essen, Germany
Barack's a huge disappointment to many of us here in the US. Which is probably why when he should be double digits ahead of JM in the polls, he's at a meagre 4.1 (realclearpolitics.com). But anyway, it'll be nice to not have him talking at us for a few days.
Christine, California, USA
Let the Europeans have the spectacle of an American Idol candidate. Americans will take substance over style, and they will vote for the honorable and experienced person, John McCain.
Juju, Southern California, USA
wonder if he will take his faux Presidential Seal with him on his world tour?
I am sure all the Hillary Supporters would like to remind Europe he is NOT the nomanee until AFTER Denver.
And it is more and more looking like he WONT be the nomanee ....
Kimmaree, USA, USA
Finally, after 8 long and lawless years America will get the chance to restore a sense of order to a world that has been left without leadership for so long. McCain is deeply worried because if Obama's trip is successful he will have taken away McCain's most potent weapon - foreign policy.
Eric Esquire, New York, New York
Obama, U.K, Europe, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it! Hope over Experience. I went out with "Hope" once, a real pill. Went out with "Experience", a winner!
jim, framingham, USA
Sorry Europe, Obama is not going to win the general election.
He's arrogant, inexperienced and has no sense of humor.
A candidate that can't joke with the American Press will never make it to the White House. There was one exception, Richard Nixon. But he was qualified and still got impeached!
Jss, Palm Springs, USA
Why are those who most despise the U.S so enchanted with Obama? Could it be because you sense that you have an anti-American soul mate in Obama. After all he thinks the average working American is a bitter, gun toting, bible thumping, bigot. Will Americans elect a man who despises them? Standby!
valwayne, Denver, Colorado
What exactly is it about Obama that Europe is so in love with, other than the fact he is not George Bush? He has never actually said or done anything substantive. The only thing an educated voter can really know for sure, is that he will say or do anything to get elected. Empty ambition is scary.
tim edmon, newport beach, usa
I wonder how much Obamamania would have happened were not the US and the world so desperately tired of Bush and the snarling face that he and Dick Cheney projected.
Anyone half-intelligent and articulate Democratic nominee would be embraced after what has been endured over the last 7 years.
billp, alameda, US
M Wilson, Bidache, france -- Most words in English are less than
six letters. It was designed that way to save space on the hard
drive. I am joking. We, Americans, want our politicians to get to
the point without a lot extra words.
John, Placentia, Republic of California
Some of the comments on this board are hilarious. Europeans are not ignorant of the challenges the world faces -they are merely tired of the US' pious moralising on issues that they have helped to propogate, e.g. high oil prices, the credit crunch and growing inequality in the global economy
Jon W, Shanghai,
Most ex-pats living in the U.S. can clearly see how Europe has become infatuated, nay have a love affair with Obama. This has all been made possible by the influence of the liberal Yank press that has in turn influenced the European press. Ex-pats, I think, are more objective, & see through him.
Bob Evans, Anaheim, California
The world is yearning for something or someone to redeem the greatly tarnished image of the US. Something that would help us believe that the Bush pheneomenon was nothing more than a once in a lifetime nightmare. Obama could be the fulfilment of that worlwide yearning.The US would stand to gain.
Brian Musah, Hertford, UK
I see the GOP has its global smearing machine fully oiled and operational.
Jock Riley, London,
Be warned: What you will see on TV is a huge orchestrated rock star tour.
Dr. Dave, NYC, USA
Hasn't that been the case with every US election for the past 50 years? Without doubt, Obama is the lesser of two evils. Young, charismatic and inspiring. The US now has a chance to grow up, at last.
Rod, London, England
Obama is America's founding fathers gift to the world.....what Lincoln called "the last best hope"...for America and the world. We are young at heart, gritty, showy, but benevolent and capable of change.......I present exhibit A: Mr. Obama
kevin jackson, sherman, texas-usa
Finally a brilliant and honest candidate. Just read his book and you will know what I'm talking about.
Sean, ny,
The danger for Obama is that he might be over-exposed by the time the election finally arrives. This US election tour of Europe is as risky as it is bizarre. Many in America are uneasy at what seems to be his hubris. It suggests all sorts of thing about him, including primping immaturity.
David Allen, Marietta, USA
Wrongola Doc- Barack Obama is very special and now the rest of the world (or parts of it) gets to see a once-in-a-generation leader.
Brookside, KCMO, USA
"Is it just European ignorance about the realities of American politics and the challenges the world faces?"
A bit in the UK. Overwhelmingly so on the Continent.
Joe, New York, US
"it stole a page straight from the Obama foreign policy playbook by opening a diplomatic channel with Iran,"
Actually Obama wanted direct "head of state talks" without anything preliminary like this.
BO is the most unqualified candidate in many decades, simple as that.
Stan, USA, usa
Obama's camp followers just announced that to vote for McCain and not Obama is racism. The fact that Obama is Muslim born, inexperienced, can't talk without a teleprompter, and has and will contue to make serious blunders is why I won't vote for him.
Please keep Obama in England..
Reis R. Kash, Springfield, Oregon, USA
What will you say, Gerard, if McCain wins? Already we know that the balloon of Obama's candidacy campaign was full of hot air. What's all this about Berlin? What's all this about Obama's accepting the nomination in a sport stadium? No no no. It won't work.
Ernest Werner, Trumansburg NY, USA
He has the same difficulty as most americans, he can't talk properly. His grammar is miles ahead of George Bush but he talks in sound bites. Words of more than six letters are probably beyond him. Either that, or he recognises that his audiences in the US won't understand him.
M Wilson, Bidache, france
Be it known in Europe that Barak Obama is not about "change" but about POWER. He is a seasoned, slick, charismatic, skillful politician from Chicago; America's nerve center of political abuse and corruption.
Be warned: What you will see on TV is a huge orchestrated rock star tour.
Dr. Dave, NYC, USA