The day President Barack Obama arrived in London, the broadcast network evening newscasts on Tuesday night noted that he faces some tough challenges from other leaders who are not as enthralled with him as are their citizens, but ABC and CBS went out of their way to point out how Obama is more popular than was former President Bush. From London, ABC anchor Charles Gibson highlighted the American perception, mostly formed by the media, of how those abroad view the U.S.:
The President comes here with firm backing from the American people. According to our ABC News/Washington Post poll, 43 percent of Americans say the country's image abroad is improving under President Obama. That number was just 10 percent under President Bush. And the President continues to get high marks at home, as well: 64 percent say they are confident the President's programs will improve the economy.
Also from London, CBS anchor Katie Couric stressed how foreigners are pleased Obama's not Bush:
What he represents to many countries overseas is a departure from the Bush administration which alienated some foreign governments early on with its rejection of global warming initiatives and its national security positions. It may be a fresh start, but the current President's approval ratings will only take him so far.
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For a look back at how the networks hailed Obama's July trip through Europe, check my July 25 NewsBusters item, “Can't Contain Exhilaration Over 'World Stage' for 'Messiah' Obama,” which recounted:
Barack Obama's Magical Media Tour hit its high point Thursday night as the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts all led with Obama's speech in Berlin, with NBC's Brian Williams and Andrea Mitchell the most giddy, though ABC featured a German man who hailed Obama as “my new messiah.” ABC and NBC saw Obama on a “world stage.” Charles Gibson teased ABC's newscast: “In a city steeped in history, before a massive crowd, the candidate calls on the world to tear down this generation's walls.”
NBC anchor Brian Williams, in Berlin, trumpeted how “the first ever African-American running as presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party brought throngs of people into the center of Berlin, streaming into this city, surging to get close to him, to hear his message. And when it was all over, he talked to us.” Viewers next heard a sycophantic Williams ooze to Obama:
When an American politician comes to Berlin, we've had some iconic utterances in the past. We've had “ich bin ein.” We've had “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Is the phraseology that you would like remembered, “people of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment, this is our time”?Talking with Andrea Mitchell, an impressed Williams marveled over how “I heard one American reporter tonight say it's hard to come up with a list of others who could draw such a crowd, but then again it's hard to know what we witnessed here today.” An equally awed Mitchell gushed: “It's hard to figure out what the comparison is, what do you compare this with?” She soon asserted that in his speech Obama “acknowledged America's flaws.”...
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
Oh, thank God!!!
March 31, 2009 - 19:44 ET by dervishWe might be going to hell in a handbasket, but at least the Europeans like us better. Or, a lot of Americans think maybe they do.
Anyway, it's a new day!
And exactly what did Obama
March 31, 2009 - 20:23 ET by 10ksnookerAnd exactly what did Obama do? End Bush's war, nope, same war, same strategy. Get more support for Afghanistan, nope. Stop Iran, nope.
Use the teleprompter better than Bush? I know, went sleeveless.
So exactly what did Obama do except get Mathews to pee on his leg.
Does Communism count?
Yes, America's image is
April 1, 2009 - 07:22 ET by motherbeltYes, America's image is improved, because it's so important that we have a "cool" President and First Lady.
John Kennedy was "cool" too (as was his wife) and Nikita Kruschev ate his lunch!
Bill Clinton was "cool"....and it's plain what kind of respect that got him from bin Laden and his Islamic Jihadis.....
But that's what Europe apparently cares about.
And to the media, it's important that the Europeans like us!!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
One question a leftie will NEVER answer.
March 31, 2009 - 19:53 ET by supercon"What he represents to many countries overseas is a departure from
the Bush administration which alienated some foreign governments"
Which Governments?
Which countries?Iran?Cuba?North Korea?Syria?
They will never answer that question.
Because with a name like Obama... you know it has to be good.
we all have to remember what's important:
March 31, 2009 - 20:11 ET by puredmashieit's not the stock market, keeping any of your campaign promises, or even making sure that your cabinet members pay their own taxes while you raise the taxes of all of the suckers who voted you into office. no, what's really important is that we're nice to those terrorists. we've got to make sure we don't offend them, or else they'll attack us.
the whole governing the nation by poll results thing just makes me wretch.
swing hard in case you hit it.
Which Governments?
March 31, 2009 - 20:51 ET by needleIn the state of the MSM “minds.” (And, man, that's alien!)
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
And let's keep in mind that
March 31, 2009 - 22:07 ET by Richard RomanoAnd let's keep in mind that many left-leaning countries elected conservatives to high office during Bush's terms in office, Germany, Italy, France, and Denmark to name a few. There are a few exceptions, such as Spain, but what the hell has Spain contributed to the world? Norway? Switzerland? These are self-absorbed countries who could give a rat's arse about suffering in the world.
This idea that Bush alienated countries is a complete myth; he alienated rotten regimes, not civilized countries.
The socialist Europeans
March 31, 2009 - 20:08 ET by MidAmericaThe socialist Europeans have never liked our brand of individualism and a strong freemarket economy. Now that obama is set on destroying our economy and our distinct American character we will be just like them.
One of the reasons Europe is a dying culture is because of their socialist policies. With their 'safety net' of guaranteed government support millions of immigrants do not have to adapt to the European culture. All they have to is become a resident. This is the future obama is preparing for America. He and his ilk are going to rip apart the country into special interest enclaves with none of them loyal to being American. This really could be the start of the end of the dream started by our founding fathers.
Percentage of foreign
March 31, 2009 - 20:09 ET by PeskyDanePercentage of foreign governments taking the United States seriously under President Bush: 99
Percentage of foreign governments taking the United States seriously under President Obama: 0
The Obama foreign policy debacle can be neatly summed up in one word: overcharge. Dolts.
Just don't fall for these
March 31, 2009 - 20:26 ET by MidAmericaJust don't fall for these phony popularity polls. When the media was protecting Bill Clinton there was a new poll out about every other day touting how extremely popular he was. As we know, he never got even 50% of the popular vote running for president, the poll that really counts. But where is that extremely popular former President now? Out on a curb somewhere.
Jealousy
March 31, 2009 - 20:36 ET by BDelaneyOf course they don't like us, they're jealous!
Who gives a crap what other countries think of us? Such nonsense.
That's the beauty of this poll --
March 31, 2009 - 20:39 ET by dervishIt's not what Europeans think -- it's what a selected group of Americans think Europeans think! What could be more meaningful?
And another thing...
March 31, 2009 - 20:38 ET by BDelaneyAre we in highschool or something? Why do we care if we are popular.
This reminds me of a poster that a teacher of mine had in the classroom once, "what is popular is not always right, what is right is usually never popular."
BDelaney... Your post
March 31, 2009 - 20:45 ET by bigtimerBDelaney...
Your post sums it up in a nutshell.
My sentiments exactly.
Always have been.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Meaningless
March 31, 2009 - 20:39 ET by slickwillie2001Popularity comparisons between Obammy and President George W. Bush are irrelevant unless they are taken at the same point in each administration. Other measures like this one, of foreign popularity in this case, are just as meaningless.
At this time in his administration, Obammy's approval ratings are the same as President George W. Bush's were at the same point, and comparable to other Presidents like Clinton and Carter.
Anyway, I don't give a damn what the Europeans think of us. If you look at historical trends, the times when the Europeans dislike us the most is when America is at its most successful and affluent.
Obama
March 31, 2009 - 20:48 ET by WR JonasI know all of you out there feel just as I do when I hear the comforting and accurate reporting on The Presidents popularity. Would the people at ABC CBS and NBC please tell us of what significance that meaningless measure of useless tripe has in a single American taxpayers life ?
They are wasting useful and valuable electrons and spectrum space to pump authenticity into a marionette who likes to dress up and play President.
Obama clearly makes better You Tube videos then Bush did
March 31, 2009 - 20:48 ET by dark_dsObama clearly makes better You Tube videos then Bush did .... oh wait Bush despite what his critics thought wasnt stupid enough to try something that childish .....
"America is on the Short Bus to Socialism"
d_ds... ...and we called
March 31, 2009 - 20:58 ET by bigtimerd_ds...
...and we called the Clintoon WH children at play...
Heck...we hadn't seen anything yet.
Plus we get some of the same kids playing on that same ground once again....as they finally get their prize at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box at our expense with their agenda...as they tear this country apart and possibly bring her to her knees if they succeed.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Even if he actually is more popular now than . . .
March 31, 2009 - 21:07 ET by CKA in Red State USA. . .President Bush, that ain't gonna last long.
Obama knows it.
His puppeteers know it.
The advocacy/adversary media know it.
Obama's mindless minions and followers know it.
And they all know that we know that they know it.
The empty suited Marxist's batteries are growing less energetic.
And as he becomes even more dicatorial and as the Demockacrats/Demetnocrats collude with him, he will become wildly more unliked.
That day cannot come too soon.
Everone here is ... what?
March 31, 2009 - 21:53 ET by Flying_DutchmanWhy do you ALL feel so threatened about your own president's popularity here at home and abroad? Is it because perhaps your own world view is so far out of kilter?
Dutchman I will assume you
March 31, 2009 - 23:26 ET by Dan The Man 2Dutchman I will assume you don't understand what this site is about and give you a short explanation. Short because I am on iPhone. We don't care about polls and popularity, we care about a president's performance. Obama promised much and has delivered squat
What we are concerned with on this thread is the false popularity and prestige Obama says he has. While he is delivering squat. The media at least the USA media is covering for him. Now what we are most concerned with is the media covering his inadequacy
Btw I gave u the benifit of the doubt. But suspect and seem to remember u trolling.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
When we have a president
March 31, 2009 - 21:54 ET by ConservativeRexWhen we have a president and his administration that doesn't even want to use the word terrorist, there is not a whole lot to expect.
Recently, obamas nose was so firmly planted on Amadinijhads backside it was an embarassment to even have this joker represent us to the European powers.
I think we should be courting more of the eastern European country's, but, obama has just about screwed that up now. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands and most of the Scandinavian country's should be allowed to die under their own weight. Maybe they should adopt sharia law, they're all full of turks as it is.
Ya know what else is more
March 31, 2009 - 21:54 ET by dborschjr68Ya know what else is more popular under Obama than it was under Bush?
FOX News.
Obama has done more to help Conservative television and radio than 100 Bushs could have ever done. The more you screw us, Obama, the more our numbers will increase.
"In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." George Orwell
"Brace yourselves for the backlash of your ignorance, liberal puppets." Me
dbor... LOL..that is a
March 31, 2009 - 22:07 ET by bigtimerdbor...
LOL..that is a mighty good point you have there.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I believe they are confusing liking
March 31, 2009 - 22:00 ET by katainkentwith being inconsequential.
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Obama does not perform as advertised. I'd like a refund.
Taxed Enough Already.
Love from those who love to hate us.
March 31, 2009 - 22:43 ET by KHalpernIsn't it just dandy that Obama is so loved by those who love to hate us, blame America for all the world's problems, and at the same time want America to fix all the world's problems. Obama better not turn his back on his new friends, else he'll feel the blade of a knife.
More Data
March 31, 2009 - 22:44 ET by slickwillie2001Here's a few more-relevant accomplishments of the Bamster:
→ Mata Hari Obama
March 31, 2009 - 22:51 ET by Cool ArrowHe's in Europe right now delivering us over to our new masters.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Oh Slick,
March 31, 2009 - 22:52 ET by sherylsimsDidn't you hear? He INHERITED all those problems!!!
slick... Pricless. Of course
March 31, 2009 - 23:02 ET by bigtimerslick...
Pricless.
Of course these silly little facts will be ignored by the msm...after-all he walks on water with a 'D' behind his name.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I'm sure the British view
April 1, 2009 - 01:15 ET by lnthompI'm sure the British view of the US improved greatly when Celebrity-in-Chief Obama returned the bust of Churchill that was a gift to the American people.
I'm sure the British view of the US improved even more when the administration demonstrated its absolute cluelessness regarding diplomatic gifts, not to mention DVD technology, by the afterthought collection of American DVDs given to the PM whose sight is dimming.
I'm sure the French view of the US improved immensely when the administration vowed to work closely for the next four years with the former President of France.
Lee T / USN(ret) / Oregon City, OR
When responsible people make mistakes, responsible people bear the burden. When irresponsible people make mistakes, responsible people bear the burden. -- UserFriendly.org, 2/12/2009
Whenever someone touts a poll, the twelve Obama voters that
April 1, 2009 - 04:03 ET by Rush FanJohn Ziegler interviewed on election day in this shocking video comes to mind.
Don't be fooled by polls. Many people in this country (as well as other countries) are apathetic, illiterate, uninformed, misinformed, uneducated, naive, clueless, ignorant, unintelligent, simple-minded, dense, slow on the uptake and just plain stupid. Don't believe me? Watch the video.
Whether it's the fault of the parent(s), the failed liberal schools, liberal media, liberal policies or a combination of all of them, it's a fact that many of those taking these polls fit into one or more of the above categories.
Scary isn't it? And the quality of those participating in polls, and those voting in elections ain't going to be improving anytime soon.
“The sum of intelligence on the planet is a constant; the population is growing.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
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"They are actively promoting the decline of America." ~ Rush Limbaugh on liberals and Democrats
And so?
April 1, 2009 - 06:35 ET by Red JeepWhat has Barry's popularity done for us? How many starving children has Barry's popularity fed?
I could care less how our image is to the rest of the world. It would not be a bad thing if the rest of the world were scared to death of the U.S.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
April 1, 2009 - 07:03 ET by SickofLibsAmericans say America's image much improved. Huh?
In another survey, Obama says Obama doing super job. (Margin of error: 0%)
delete
April 1, 2009 - 07:21 ET by motherbeltdelete
For a bunch of people so eager
April 1, 2009 - 07:32 ET by Paul AtreidesFor a bunch of people so eager to put the Bush years behind them, they certainly like dragging his name out at every opportunity.
Well
April 1, 2009 - 07:54 ET by IgnatzJFahrquaryou certainly can't expect Comrade Zero and his ilk to take responsibility for their own actions, do you???
And on a side note, seeing your name prompts this question. Wouldn't Barney Frank make an excellent Baron Harkonen if another Dune movie were made? He's so fat and disgusting he'd be perfect. Ehhh, never mind. Why ruin a good story by placing Bawney in it.
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain
With Nancy Pelosi
April 1, 2009 - 10:16 ET by Paul Atreidesas Gaius Helen Mohiam!
Set the controls for the sun.
April 1, 2009 - 07:51 ET by CrashBut ... wasn't the MSM calling Bush a "lame duck" for the past two years of this term!? Which by my count would mean that everyone except Bush had everything to do with our economic collapse. After all he was "lame." By the presses own admission low polling is all the proof we need that the populous state of our lackluster economy was brought about by liberal ideals*, and is bound to worsen under their "control."
*By this I mean the self loathing of our ways (by the left); from AWG, to the west is evil, to "the rich are evil" mantra.
You forgot
April 1, 2009 - 07:56 ET by general companyTheme music
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
"Which one's Pink?"
April 1, 2009 - 08:06 ET by CrashNice!
P.S I had a conversation on another website about the "evils of the west." A liberal was trying to persuade me that capitalism is the cause behind sweatshops. I tore a hole into his argument by pointing out that all of the sweatshops are conveniently located in socialist/communist dictatorships.
Sure, I know
April 1, 2009 - 08:37 ET by general companyThe liberals dont seem to mind sweat shops here in the states, they dont mind hiring workers who cannot be covered under American labor laws. If they really care, why are they not marching in the streets protesting the all of the repressed folks around the world? They dont care, unless it is convenient. A good man try's to help millions, and they ridicule him with every fiber of their worth. Who do they think their kidding?
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
And children prefer candy
April 1, 2009 - 13:21 ET by HockeyKidAnd children prefer candy over nourishing food. So much for popularity.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me