Global view of the United States

[BlackTerrel]

http://www.rferl.org/content/Despit...f_United_States_Remains_Positive/2075374.html

Over the past year, the Muslim publics that we sampled have grown more critical of President Obama and animosity toward the United States more generally continues unabated in Turkey and Pakistan, for example, where only 17 percent hold a positive view of the United States," Pew Center President Andrew Kohut told journalists in announcing the findings in Washington.

In Egypt, U.S. favorability also dropped to a five-year low of 17 percent. Over the past year confidence in Obama fell by 10 points in Turkey, considered the United States' closest Muslim ally. (Polling in that country was conducted before the U.S.-led passage of UN sanctions against Iran, a move that Turkey opposed.)....

...In Germany, 90 percent of those surveyed expressed confidence in Obama, along with 76 percent in Japan and 84 percent in Nigeria.

The findings show that Obama is more popular outside the U.S. than at home, where his approval ratings hover around 44 percent, according to a June 4-6 Gallup poll.

"President Obama remains highly popular in most parts of the world, even though his job approval rating has slipped considerably in the United States," Kohut said, "and this continued popularity around the world benefits the image of the U.S. Opinions of the United States remain far more positive in 2010 than they were for much of the [George W. Bush] years."

The one nice thing about Obama is that he gives a positive view of the US among some of our more traditional allies. Though I'm not entirely sure why. The 90% number in Germany is incredible - how often do you get 90% of a population to agree on anything.

 

[fatjohn]

It's ridiculous. I'm in belgium and whenever I see Obama mentioned, the journalists get all fuzzy and say that some of the average americans (read rednecks) just do not seem to understand all the goodness obama is trying to do. And that the republicans just say no all the time and that we should feel very sorry for obama. It makes me sick. Ow and we had our own elections, socialist party won, says it needs to spend more. yay!

 

[LibertarianfromGermany]

http://www.rferl.org/content/Despit...f_United_States_Remains_Positive/2075374.html



The one nice thing about Obama is that he gives a positive view of the US among some of our more traditional allies. Though I'm not entirely sure why. The 90% number in Germany is incredible - how often do you get 90% of a population to agree on anything.

I'm so ashamed

But to Germany's defense: It's mostly because of the wars and foreign policy. The average German is not really informed about the fact that Obama actually expanded the wars and they think he did all that he possibly could have. And then Obama also brings the U.S.'s economic policy closer to "ours". People here just really, really hated Bush (which is a good thing) so I think if they were more informed, they'd also hate Obama just as much.

 

[noxagol]

I'm so ashamed

But to Germany's defense: It's mostly because of the wars and foreign policy. The average German is not really informed about the fact that Obama actually expanded the wars and they think he did all that he possibly could have. And then Obama also brings the U.S.'s economic policy closer to "ours". People here just really, really hated Bush (which is a good thing) so I think if they were more informed, they'd also hate Obama just as much.

As they should, since he is Bush's third term!

 

[LibertarianfromGermany]

As they should, since he is Bush's third term!

Exactly, and I think they will notice that fact in the next few years. Obama still has in the minds of many the excuse of having taken over Bush's mess going for him. It's not gonna last forever though.

 

[BlackTerrel]

I'm so ashamed

But to Germany's defense: It's mostly because of the wars and foreign policy. The average German is not really informed about the fact that Obama actually expanded the wars and they think he did all that he possibly could have. And then Obama also brings the U.S.'s economic policy closer to "ours". People here just really, really hated Bush (which is a good thing) so I think if they were more informed, they'd also hate Obama just as much.

Thanks for your perspective.

I will say from my point of view I like it. I think it's important that we are viewed positively around the world. To Obama's credit - that's one thing he has delivered. At least among some countries. Less so among other countries.

 

[dean.engelhardt]

The 90% number in Germany is inc...are defending Germany from these days though.

 

[TinCanToNA]

I believe we have a standing army of 62,000 troops in Germany. We pretty much provide all defense for Germany free of charge. They ought to like Obama.

We borrow money from Germany so we can spend it to defend their country. I can't figure want we are defending Germany from these days though.

Ostensibly that's for ease of forward deployment to respond to real threats.

Unofficially, it's a staging ground for the empire abroad.

 

[JohnEngland]

Well I'm British and can't stand Obama. We just had 13 years of his policies!

Ron Paul's 2008 campaign inspired me to seek the truth and learn about America's incredible history and founders.

Anyway, I can't write any more right now... England just drew 0-0 to Algeria in the World Cup... *shakes head*

 

[eOs]

http://www.rferl.org/content/Despit...f_United_States_Remains_Positive/2075374.html



The one nice thing about Obama is that he gives a positive view of the US among some of our more traditional allies. Though I'm not entirely sure why. The 90% number in Germany is incredible - how often do you get 90% of a population to agree on anything.

Leave it to Germany to fully support a tyrant.

 

[BlackTerrel]

I believe we have a standing army of 62,000 troops in Germany. We pretty much provide all defense for Germany free of charge. They ought to like Obama.

We borrow money from Germany so we can spend it to defend their country. I can't figure want we are defending Germany from these days though.

I don't think it's just that. I believe Bush's approval rating in Germany was considerably below 50%. To go from that to 90% is quite remarkable.

Anyway I guess I'm in the minority that don't see it as a bad thing. While I have many issues with Obama I think the fact that he has improved our standing among many key allies is a good thing.

 

[Corto_Maltese]

Generally europe is still in the euforia that was in the states over a year ago. First black president, here to set everything right. As pointed out many here dont know what he really is doing now. Also a lot of liking comes from the health care program i guess. Here all the countries have government health care, so many think he is doing a good thing for you.
Most importantly, we disliked bush a lot. We just want to belive that this one is better.
Sure hope ppl wise up.

 

[RM918]

Good as it may be (I tend to agree with people that his rating is just so high because, being they're in foreign countries, their focus is obviously not nearly as much on keeping up with what his administration is doing), he continues to piss off people in the Middle East. The more he does, the more terrorists will pop up and the more of a mess we'll be in.

 

[aravoth]

http://www.rferl.org/content/Despit...f_United_States_Remains_Positive/2075374.html



The one nice thing about Obama is that he gives a positive view of the US among some of our more traditional allies. Though I'm not entirely sure why. The 90% number in Germany is incredible - how often do you get 90% of a population to agree on anything.

Not the first time Germany agreed with someone over 90% of the time..

 

[Andrew-Austin]

I'm so ashamed

But to Germany's defense: It's mostly because of the wars and foreign policy. The average German is not really informed about the fact that Obama actually expanded the wars and they think he did all that he possibly could have. And then Obama also brings the U.S.'s economic policy closer to "ours". People here just really, really hated Bush (which is a good thing) so I think if they were more informed, they'd also hate Obama just as much.

As they should, since he is Bush's third term!

Even some liberals over here in the states seem to be figuring out he is in many ways a Bush third term.

 

[BlackTerrel]

Not the first time Germany agreed with someone over 90% of the time..

David Hasselhoff? I think he was closer to 99%

 

[Andy_MIT]

Obama worthy of worship and mass adulation

http://www.rferl.org/content/Despit...f_United_States_Remains_Positive/2075374.html

hough I'm not entirely sure why. The 90% number in Germany is incredible - how often do you get 90% of a population to agree on anything.

Public Opinion is shaped by Corporate media. It has been well documented how Obama administration's policies are merely a continuation of bush's policies yet Obama has a 90% positive ratings compared to bush's 20%.

Since corporate media in germany and europe is controlled by international banking cartels generally hostile to europeans, whichever way they spin Obama's image to indoctrinate the europeans, the public opinion will follow.

On the other hand in islamic countries people get their info not only from corporate media but from madrassas and other islamic seminaries, and from their senior family members (since islam has strong family structures which favor patriotism and loyaly to islam), this makes their opinion more resistant to internationalist and globalist propaganda.

Europeans on the contrary are fed a diet of citizen of humanity, world government, and they see obama as the president of the whole humanity, a philosopher king worthy of homage and divine enough to be served and worshiped.