Posted on 09/08/2004 11:05:02 AM PDT by Kaslin
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A majority of people in 30 of 35 countries want Democratic party flagbearer John Kerry (news - web sites) in the White House, according to a survey released showing US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) rebuffed by all of America's traditional allies
On average, Senator Kerry was favored by more than a two-to-one margin -- 46 percent to 20 percent, the survey by GlobeScan Inc, a global research firm, and the local University of Maryland, showed.
"Only one in five want to see Bush reelected," said Steven Kull, the university's program on international policy attitudes. "Though he is not as well known, Kerry would win handily if the people of the world were to elect the US president."
The only countries where Bush was preferred in the poll covering a total of 34,330 people and conducted in July and August were the Philippines, Nigeria and Poland.
India and Thailand were divided.
The margin of error in the survey covering all regions of the world ranged from plus or minus 2.3 to five percent.
Kerry was strongly preferred among all of America's traditional allies, including Norway (74 percent compared with Bush's seven percent), Germany (74 percent to 10 percent), France (64 percent to five percent), the Netherlands (63 percent to six percent), Italy (58 percent to 14 percent) and Spain (45 percent to seven percent).
Even in Britain, where Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) is Bush's closest ally in the war on terror, Kerry trounced the incumbent 47 percent to 16 percent.
Kerry was also greatly favored among Canadians by 61 percent to Bush's 16 percent and among the Japanese by 43 percent to 23 percent.
Even among countries that have contributed troops to Iraq (news - web sites), most favored Kerry, and said that their view of US foreign policy has gotten worse under Bush.
They included Britain, the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Japan, Norway and Spain.
Asked how President Bush (news - web sites)'s foreign policy had affected their feelings towards the United States, a majority of those polled in 31 countries said it made them feel "worse" about America, while those in only three countries said it had made them feel "better."
"Perhaps most sobering for Americans is the strength of the view that US foreign policy is on the wrong track, even in countries contributing troops in Iraq," said GlobeScan President Doug Miller.
In Europe, the exception for Bush was a new ally, Polland, where he was preferred by a narrow majority of 31 percent against Kerry's 26 percent.
Another new European ally, the Czech Republic, however went for Kerry (42 percent to Bush's 18 percent) as did Sweden (58 percent to 10 percent).
Asia was the most mixed region, though Kerry still did better. Aside from enjoying a large margin in Japan, he was preferred by clear majorities in China (52 percent to Bush's 12 percent) and Indonesia (57 percent to 34 percent).
But those polled were divided in India (Kerry 34 percent, Bush 33 percent) and Thailand (Kerry 30 percent, Bush 33 percent).
Latin Americans went for Kerry in all nine countries polled. In only two cases did Kerry win by a large majority -- Brazil (57 percent to 14 percent) and the Dominican Republic (51 percent to 38 percent) -- but in most cases the spread was quite wide.
Bush was preferred in Nigeria with 33 percent as compared to Kerry's 27 percent but the Democratic candidate was favored in five other African states polled -- Kenya (58 percent to 25 percent), Ghana (48 percent to 24 percent), Tanzania (44 percent to 30 percent), South Africa (43 percent to 29 percent) and Zimbabwe (28 percent to six percent).
Strongest negative views on US foreign policy were held in Germany, with 83 percent of those polled saying "worse" followed by France (81 percent), Mexico (78 percent), China (72 percent), Canada (71 percent), Netherlands ( 71 percent), Spain (67 percent), Brazil (66 percent), Italy (66 percent), Argentina (65 percent) and Britain (64 percent).
I don't remember specifically, but did the MSM write about polls in other countries related to Clinton's election? Or Bush 1? Or Reagan? In fact, has there ever been another election where we have been treated to the opinion of the world on who we should elect as OUR president?
I thought not. So STFU.
This "study/poll" is by Steven Kull, who is an anti-GOP schill. He's the same guy who did a "study" on Fox-news watchers being less informed that NPR listeners based on three specific questions -- the answer to one Kull is wrong, the answeer to a second is an issue in dispute and the answer to the third (another "world opinion" question) is not factually supported.
Misery loves company.
-Eric
Well, great gosh, that settles it then. I guess we'll just have to halt the elections, hand over the keys to the White House to Mr. Tah RAY sah, and then bend over for a little global policy from these nations.
Like I and most Americans really give a flying f*&k what they think.
I did a search before posting the article like I always do but have not found it posted
I notice they don't list Israel, which favors Bush to Kerry 49% to 19%, IIRC.
In any event, despite why BJ Bill and the Pampered Prince might think, these countries do not vote in our elections. If we want their opinions, we'll tell them what they are.
They see America as the scape goat for all their failures. Of course they'd love to see Kerry in charge.
Imagine the dancing we'd see in the streets when America fell under John Kerry! They'd be even more thrilled at a Kerry win then they were after the 9/11 attack.
It's not love they have for Kerry. It's motive.
Exactly!
You are both wrong here. We do need to care what the rest of the world thinks. The problem here, however is not what Bush has done, but what he has said (or not said). Dismissing or giving up on the rest of the world quickly is a good way for America to lose its power in a hurry.
W. needs to work on his communication. 50% of the American population does not understand what he says, how can we expect people in foreign countries to do so. Combine this with Rumsfeld's brazen taunting and we have a real image problem.
The task for the second term is to get the world back on our side. Even the British population hates him. Which is to say that Geroge w. Bush is not Ronald Reagan.
We do not want more meetings like the one between Chirac, Schroeder, Putin.
You can dismiss their capacity to weaken America in the short-term, but in the medium and long term, this is a true strategic threat.
A little more honey and little less vinegar would be good advice to a President who has America's best interests at heart.
This is not to say we should give France a veto. Just a plea for clearer, less confrontational communication. Anyone advocating otherwise is a fool.
Our friends the Israelis strongly disagree:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1189659/posts
The "world" elected Kofi Annan....
Look the rest of the world hated Ronald Reagan too, until we won the cold war and saw that Reagan was right (although many wouldn't admit it). I sense history will show President Bush was right as well, and the rest of the world will eventually get it.
Dear Globescan: Try to imagine how little we care.
The United States of America
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