18 July 2008

Obama Abroad

First he joined a Liberation Theology church to gain some street cred. Then he hooked up with the windy city's underbelly to create some political cred. Now Barack Obama is pulling up stakes to take his circus overseas for some foreign policy cred, and every clown in the media is somersaulting in his wake.

According to CNN:

Obama's trip, which includes visits to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, is intended to bolster his foreign policy credentials amid concerns that he has not convinced voters of his suitability to be the next U.S. president.

Well, if he hasn't convinced voters, he has certainly herded the major networks into line as all of them have been rounded up into his posse to go across the pond. Quite a contrast from McCain's trip back in March which was without secret service or a single prime-time network news anchor.

Now, before you moan that this is just a glitz-laden attempt to gild a presidential candidate who has no foreign policy substance, consider what CNN believes we can all gain from this trip.
The trip would offer a more critical opportunity to gauge Obama's suitability for statesmanship, CNN European political editor Robin Oakley said: "People have been saying to me, 'Look, this guy has only been in national politics for three years, let alone international politics.' We don't really know exactly what he is going to do."

Ah, yes. Because everyone knows that a single field trip abroad with the fawning media will be a perfect gauge of how Obama will handle immigration, trade and terrorism. Maybe his next trip will be a stroll down Walgreen's analgesic aisle so we can get a handle on his capability to address health care issues.

The fact is that this is a trip with a two-fold purpose. To, as Susan Estrich told FoxNews, give Obama "a platform to fend off McCain’s foreign policy attacks" and to develop footage of hugs and kisses from Europeans to tell us how much they would love America if Obama was our President. The success of this trip, then, will depend on the gullibility of the American people. Will voters believe that a big-top tour around the globe gives Obama Foreign policy credibility? Will voters believe there is anything that will make Europeans love us?

Personal Note: I lived in Germany during the Clinton years and, despite what you hear from Chris Matthews, they didn't like Americans then either.

9 comments :

  1. Anonymous said...

    I am telling you, this is the worst candidate that the democrat ever produces. No wonder Jesse Jackson is so frustrated. Are you telling us that if we take a trip to Wall Street, we all will be eligible to become the sophisticated investor or yet the CEO of New York stock Exchange? This is laughable. I most certainly hope Americans are not sleeping at the helm, because if not, the WORLD WILL LAUGH US OUT OF THE WATER. "WE ARE KNOWN AS CRAZY AMERICANS" NOW, IF THIS CLOWN GET THROUGH, "WE WILL BE KNOWN AS "STUPID, CRAZY, JUDASSES" THAT ANYONE CAN BUY OUR PRESIDENCY AND TOPPLE OUR COUNTRY IF THEY HAVE A RICH UNCLE OR AUNT LIKE THE HIPPO MS. O AND THE MUSLIM WORLD TO BACK THEM UP. WELL, I DO NOT THINK WE ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO LET THAT HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF US. WE NEED A WELL QUALIFIED CANDIDATE IN THIS JOB. SINCE THE DNC AND SUPERDELEGATES COULD NOT COME UP WITH ONE EXPERIENCE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, WE ALL WILL GO WITH MCCAIN. THIS CIRCUS REALY HAS TO COME TO AN END. AMERICA IS BEING USED AND EVERYONE IN THE WORLD THINKS, WE ARE ALL A JOKE TO LET THIS CLOWN BE OUR DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE. I DO NOT KNOW WHICH WORLD THEY ARE TALKING TO, BECAUSE THE REAL WORLD RIGHT NOW THINKS WE ARE THE MOST GULLIBLE FOOLS THAT THEY EVER SAW IF WE LET THIS CLOWN, CLOWN US.
    NEVER GONNA HAPPEN IN OUR WATCH.

  2. Nikki said...

    Nice post Khaki...Obama is the poster child of Europe because he is Europe. A stuck up elitist that is refined and intellectual. Unlike those redneck cowboy types who kick peoples asses...wine and dine em and they will love you...dumbass :)N

  3. Anonymous said...

    In reply to anonymous

    I am telling you Obama is a very good candidate for your country, I am from Africa and knows what I am talking about...he will be next in the White house. you being known as "crazy Americans " as nothing to do with barack Obama, but with G.W. Bush and with how your country has handled foreign policy so far...and how you use your power to bully other countries. As for you being "stupid americans" this is when you voted for G.W Bush for the second time..no one could believe it. It showed that the majority of americans don't know what happens around the world.
    Just on the contrary the world will not laugh at you if you elect Barack Obama, he has all the quality of a president...I am sure that only american politicians and people out of the USA know the true CLITONS, why do you think John McCain wanted to face Hillary Clinton than Barack Obama? Although it will be very difficult for the US image around the world to be fully restored or rehabilitated but Barack Obama is the one and only one who can change it slightly for the better. I can see that you are not a true democrat, why vote for McCain? if your candidate Hillary R Clinton is now backing Obama why not you? are you going to vote for McCain just to punish Howard Dean and his team? are you willing to go that far and risk tour country? anonymous, please wake up and smell the coffee. barack Obama is not buying your presidency he is deserving it. YES, WE CAN, OUI NOUS LE POUVONS. Obama 08

  4. Anonymous said...

    WHEN DID WE AS DEMOCRATS ELECT A NOMINEE FOR "ON THE JOB TRAINING" FOR THE TOP OFFICE IN THE LAND. OBAMA IS A "JOKE". DEMOCRATS NEED TO STAND UP AND VOTE FOR MCCAIN SO THAT A MESSAGE IS SENT TO THOSE THAT HIGHJACKED OUR PARTY AND PUT THIS PREACHY TALKING, KNOW NOTHING, INADEQUATE PERSON CALLED BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ON THE AMERICAN VOTER. HE IS A CLOWN. nbc and msnbc should be pulled off the airways.

  5. Khaki Elephant said...

    Anon 1,
    Is Obama the worst candidate? Well, there have been plenty who have lacked his charisma, but I think we would be hard pressed to find one with his lack of experience. My opinion is that, frankly, whether you like him or no John Edwards would have been the most qualified. Not to mention that Southern Democrats tend to do well in general elections.

    Anon 2, I don't believe for a second this nonsense that Bush ruined our reputation around the world. America has been loathed by the rest of the world since just after WWII. In fact, the only English Language title I ever saw on the front page of Die Welt in Germany was "Wag The Dog" -- a shot at Bill Clinton's bombing of Baghdad during the Lewinski hearing. The fact is that the world loves to criticize America. And they have that luxuary since they have spent years living under America's protection.

    Nikki, true enough. And don't we all want to be European. High taxes, devastating unemployment, out of control health care, diminishing populations and David Hasslehoff fans . . . what's not to admire about that combination?

  6. DB said...

    Wasn't it McCain idea for Obama to visit the region?

  7. Khaki Elephant said...

    McCain thought that Obama should have visited long ago as part of a Senate junket. However, it is ludicrous to consider that this trip could give Obama foreign policy cred . . . even if he is the messiah . . . and wants change . . . and has hope.

  8. DB said...

    You are right, this trip couldn't/shouldn't give him any foreign policy cred and this message of change and hope is the last thing people in that region want to hear, considering their history. At least he is in the right area to maintain his messiah cred!

  9. Khaki Elephant said...

    LMAO