AP Polls: Many Europeans Cool Toward Americans as Well as Bush Re-Election

The Tampa Tribune ^ | December 13, 2004 | Will Lester [Associated Press]

[quidnunc]

International resentment of the Bush administration has spilled over to include bad feelings for the American people, too — at least in three European countries that opposed U.S. policies in Iraq.

People in France, Germany and Spain are more likely to have an unfavorable than favorable view of Americans, Associated Press polling found.

Just over half in France and Germany said they viewed Americans unfavorably. Almost half in Spain felt that way, while a third of Spaniards viewed Americans favorably.

The U.S. rift with longtime allies France and Germany is the most serious in years, and relations with Spain have been particularly frosty since Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq last April.

President Bush pledged soon after his re-election victory on Nov. 2 that he would work to "deepen our trans-Atlantic ties with the nations of Europe." He plans a trip to Europe in February.

But the president, and Americans generally, have plenty of work to do to win over Europeans, according to international AP-Ipsos polls.

The polling suggests an increasing lack of European understanding of Americans rather than a surge of anti-Americanism, said Gilles Corman, the director of public affairs for Ipsos-Inra of Belgium.

-snip-

[MikefromOhio]

Let'em rot.....

[hinckley buzzard]

"But the president, and Americans generally, have plenty of work to do to win over Europeans,"

But the Spaniard president, and Europeans generally, have plenty of work to do to win over Americans.

[Waco]

But they'll never hate us so much that they won't take our money." (Will Rogers)

[paul51]

Just over half in France and Germany said they viewed Americans unfavorably. Almost half in Spain felt that way, while a third of Spaniards viewed Americans favorably.

The feeling is mutual

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

The American people need to do something to these Europeans that will really P!$$ them off. Something along the lines of using our Navy to stop oil shipments to them?

[Angry Enough]

Take a really good look at my face. Do I look like I care??

[Koblenz]

I don't approve of European leaders. Schroeder, Chirac, etc. Berlusconi is ok.

Maybe the Europeans ought to get their own house in order before turning up their noses at us. To wit:

• Hey Europeans, have some babies already. Your population is dropping like a rock.

• You've got to decide if you want to integrate your immigrants or not let immigrants in. But this current scheme of letting them in and then making sure they don't assimilate is just a recipe for disaster. Here we have a bunch of immigrants too, and liberals don't want to force their kids to speak English at school, but even still, most immigrants' kids want to speak English and become part of the country. Your immigrants live in third world ghettos.

• Our economy is growing. Yours is not.

• We don't have stratospheric tax rates. Most of you do.

• We have jobs being created. You for the most part don't.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Archetypal European:

We don't hate you because you're Americans, we simply hate you because you elected the evil "BOOOOOOSH!" Oh yes, and because you're Americans! We hate Americans.

[vpintheak]

I care less and less about "world opinion" as each day passes. As they are rotting in their socialist hells, euthenizing babies, destroying peoples rights by government interference, we alone continue to be a beacon of freedom, growth, and prosperity. I believe they have their opinions mixed up with jealousy.

[lowbridge]

Hey Europeans....

‹^› ‹(•¿•)› ‹^›

[HarryCaul]

When did Europeans in general approve of Americans? Maybe for a couple years after WW2, but that's pretty much it.

So...who cares?

[CasearianDaoist]

It is "more than mutual." This is the most underreported story of the year: Complete disillusionment with Europe by then a great mass of Americans. I do not think that even the FOP understands this given how Bush is trying to placate the Euros. Unlike the juvenile Anti-Americanism of the EUros, this disdain has real consequences. The sad thing is is that a stringer stance against the EUros would cause them to face. I believe that the American public craves a stronger hand with them. I am amazed that the administration had allowed them to go ahead with the Galileo system. This is just one example. Now, we have the real threat of China using this system to target strategic weapon on our soil.

There is a growing disconnect between the people and Washington on this issue and it is emboldening our enemies in the EU,

[A6M3]

Who cares what a lousy european or canadian pig thinks.

[EGPWS]

People in France, Germany and Spain are more likely to have an unfavorable than favorable view of Americans, Associated Press polling found.

An optimistic turn of events.

We must be doing something right!

[Clint N. Suhks]

27 days until I can leave Iraq for good....

God Bless you and thank you for your service to our country...

I agree, let them rot!

[CasearianDaoist]

Complete disillusionment with Europe by then a great mass of Americans. I do not think that even the FOP ...

I meant to say

Complete disillusionment with Europe by a great mass of Americans. I do not think that even the GOP ...

Just got up, sorry.

[This Just In]

"....And American's generally, have plenty of work to do to win over European's."

I'll get right on it.

Note to self: Must get busy workin' on winning over euroPEONS. Begin by setting aside the practice of good oral hygiene.

[Billthedrill]

The polling suggests an increasing lack of European understanding of Americans rather than a surge of anti-Americanism, said Gilles Corman, the director of public affairs for Ipsos-Inra of Belgium.

He's probably right - they have a worse situation there with respect to a monolithic, didactic media than we had here before Rush, Fox, and FR came along. I'm told that a good many of them are taking advantage of the exchange rates to come here on tour. That is a good thing. After half a lifetime of travel and living abroad I've come to the conclusion that you wouldn't believe the United States, much less understand it, unless you've been here.