ScreamingEagle
Gold Member
- Jul 5, 2004
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Euros still like Obama but the glitter is gone....
April 1
Obama remains nearly as popular as he was during his last European visit, as a presidential candidate, when hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to hear him speak. Referring to this week's visit, one newspaper declared the return of "Obamania."
But the initial love affair may be cooling somewhat. Obama is still seen as the antithesis of Bush, but he is no longer a fresh-faced candidate. Rather, he is the representative of a country and an economic system that many Europeans blame for leading them into the financial crisis.
"There's been a fundamental shift in attitudes," said Robin Shepherd, director of international affairs and an expert on transatlantic relations at the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based think tank. "Obama was a symbol and an idol at a time when people were looking for symbols and idols. He has to deliver now."
The global economy's nose dive has changed the backdrop for Obama's first visit to Europe as president. In the run-up to Thursday's gathering of the Group of 20 nations, many European policymakers have disagreed with Obama's free-spending prescription for getting out of the economic ditch. And other differences are becoming apparent as well.
Obama has disappointed war-weary Europeans with his calls for NATO countries to send more combat troops to Afghanistan, as well as with support for other long-standing American positions such as the death penalty.
"I think some of the glitter has gone off Obama's original shine as Europeans grapple with a crisis that they think originated in the United States and which they don't yet believe Obama is solving," said Reginald Dale, director of the Transatlantic Media Network and a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies. "But in general I believe that Europeans will still give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being. They want to like him, they want to respect him."
Demonstrations certainly are being planned in London, although early protests surrounding the summit centered on environmental, economic and foreign policy issues, in contrast with the enraged, highly personal demonstrations that greeted Bush.
"Nobody's interested anymore in grand speeches," Shepherd said. "What people need are results. That's what he's going to be judged on."
Obama popular, but Europe seeks results - Los Angeles Times