Joe Conason: The World Prefers Obama’s America

[marmar]

from Truthdig:



The World Prefers Obama’s America
Posted on Apr 21, 2010

By Joe Conason


As approval ratings for Barack Obama decline at home, world opinion of the United States is rising steadily under his stewardship.

A new international survey by the British Broadcasting Co. reveals that views of the U.S. around the world “improved sharply” during the first year of the Obama presidency, with positive opinion outweighing negative for the first time since 2005, when the BBC first polled this question.

Whether the improvement helps him politically or not, Obama’s popularity abroad—and the contrast between his policies and those of the preceding administration—will enhance American influence and advance American interests.

The BBC’s findings, derived from a four-month survey that reached nearly 30,000 people in 28 nations, clearly demonstrate the significance of what pollsters call “the Obama effect.”

In half of the nations surveyed, positive views of the U.S. had fallen to a record-low average of 28 percent in 2007, from 38 percent in 2005, but began to recover to 35 percent in 2009 and 40 percent this year. Of all 28 countries surveyed—which ranged from Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Italy and Portugal to Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia and China—only six now show a negative view of the United States, with two neutral and 20 favorable. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_world_prefers_obamas_america_20100421/

[samplegirl]

1. Thanks Media

No credit where credit is due!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Captain Hilts]

2. Oddly enough, the same thing happened to Nixon. GWBush thoroughly alienated the world. nt