Pew: Obama Inherits Lackluster U.S. Image Abroad
EmailWhen Barack Obama is sworn into office next month, he and his Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, will face "a world that has grown highly critical of the United States," according to the latest Pew report.
The Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project has been tracking global public opinion of the U.S. since 2001, and finds that George W. Bush’s presidency has coincided with mounting discontent with American foreign policy.
The reasons? The report finds the sweeping global financial crisis, ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and numerous tensions between Muslim and Western publics have all contributed to sliding favorability rates of the United States.
Middle Eastern countries roundly view U.S. foreign policy as biased toward Israel, and opposition to U.S. foreign policy is widespread in Western European.
However the picture isn’t bleak everywhere.
The United States has earned favorable ratings in several Latin American and Asian countries, but less and less so every year. Only in sub-Saharan Africa does America score uniformly favorable marks, the poll finds. Obama has said he want to make bolstering America’s image abroad a key priority for his administration. Indeed, some say a fresh face in the White House — one that is young, African-American, and who has lived abroad as a child — is a good start. But it’s clear from this report that Obama will have his work cut out for him. –George Stephanopoulos
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We should not be overly concerned about how the rest of the world feels about us. In fact, they take us for granted.
They have a sudden change in how they feel when they need rescuing, like during each World War. They felt good about us then and during reconstruction.
Americans have been more proactive in stopping trouble spots before they get out of hand. Similar to treating cancer when it is still beginning.
The history of the rest of the world is to ignore problems until they are not able to control it or until a massive effort is required to combat it. Their alarm level is slow and faulty.
Want the world to feel good about us? Wait until the next emergency and they ask us to help solve their problem.
Posted by: egret57 | December 18, 2008, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Indeed, some say a fresh face in the White House — one that is young, African-American, and who has lived abroad as a child — is a good start.
—————————————A fresh face I agree with, the rest of that statement is bolony! Its like you would have us believe only an AA can bring us dignity, give me a break, that’s racist.
Posted by: dilligaf | December 18, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Will Hillary really tap into the dual global appreciation for Bill Clinton along with the jubilation over Obama? Or does she just cloud Obama’s “newness” with an old legacy?
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 18, 2008, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
How much of this is media and obama propaganda
His time spent living over seas a child was a very small amount of time and he was to young to realize anything. Besides getting accustom to new surroundings, a new language and a new sister. In reality that does not mean squat, only to him.
Sometimes he acts like he wants to be Leader of the world. We will have to watch his goals do not get to lofty.
Posted by: seah | December 18, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Well, Obama has sure given a boost already to our image in terrorist countries and repressive regimes. He’s quite the man-about-town in Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, to name a few.
Posted by: Don | December 18, 2008, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
This is another gloss article tilted toward Obama. Do you not remember how popular abroad the Clinton administration was? These countries’ beefs are with the present POTUS. Are you insinuating that any negatives will be Ms. C’s burden? PEBO is an adult and he doesn’t or shouldn’t expect an easy ride. Let’s have some realistic bottom lines, not a fluff piece. What’s young?
Posted by: Vivi | December 18, 2008, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
The Borgen Project has informative statistics on addressing global poverty.
$30 billion ends world hunger
$550 billion is the US Defense budget
This organization has the ability, resources, and policy-makers to suppress the threat of global poverty by enacting legislation here in the US, which is tied to the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. Please support organizations such as The Borgen Project so that we may rid the world of poverty.
Posted by: Abel Tsegga | December 18, 2008, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Without justice–demonstrating that the US is ruled by laws and not by men–”bolstering America’s image” will be a failed PR campaign.
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/forgive-and-forgetforget/
Posted by: dragon | December 19, 2008, 7:31 am 7:31 am
Liberals created the image by traveling around the world bashing our country, michael style (remember Americans are stupid?). Kerry’s daughter traveled to Australia during that election to bash America.
One thing that Liberals do exceedingly well is bash the country. The claim they will make things better, but history does not support their claim.
Posted by: Dave | December 21, 2008, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
Obamaganda: ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause ; also : a public action having such an effect
Posted by: SolydTruth | January 10, 2009, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm