Barack Obama's foreign tour loses him ground back home

Times of London ^ | 07/26/08 | Tim Reid

[TigerLikesRooster]

Barack Obama's foreign tour loses him ground back home

Tim Reid in Washington

Barack Obama denied yesterday that he was ignoring the concerns of ordinary Americans while he tours the world, amid signs that the adulation he is receiving abroad has alienated some US voters.

After the Democratic presidential candidate holds meetings with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron in London today, the last leg of his nine-day international tour, he returns home to a general election campaign with new polls showing him in a tightening race against John McCain, the Republican candidate.

Mr McCain and his surrogates have spent the week seeking to build the impression that Mr Obama’s trip – and particularly his speech to 200,000 in Berlin on Thursday – shows an arrogance and presumptuousness that is disconnected from voters back home, who are most concerned with the faltering US economy.

“I’d love to give a speech in Germany. But I’d much prefer to do it as president of the United States, rather than as a candidate for the office of presidency,” Mr McCain said in the battleground state of Ohio. An aide to the Arizona senator called Mr Obama’s speech “a premature victory lap in the heart of Berlin”.

[TigerLikesRooster]

When you are cheered by rabidly anti-American Germans in Berlin, people may view him more as a representative of "them" rather than "us." It would not help boost his credibility.

[Jeff Head]

Americans with any shred of commitment to this nations and the values that have made her what she is are getting sick and tired of Hussein's bloviating.

CHOOSING THE NEXT PRESIDENT

[goldstategop]

Obama's real problem isn't his ideology. It goes to his character. There's his arrogance on the one hand and his lack of personal credibility on the other hand. Obama in his mind thinks he knows all the answer and he doesn't play straight with people just to gain a political advantage. And I have not even gotten around to his leftist views yet! Its all about comfort and trust. The way Obama comes across as a human being scares me about who he'll be like if he gets into the White House. I could live with a Democratic President and I even voted the first time for Bill Clinton. But I won't be voting for Obama.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Thinkin]

I could not have said it better than you.

[stainlessbanner]

This trip was about "looking" presidential for Hussein. It was all to improve his image and counter his claims of too little experience.

He got an audience, met with foreign leaders, and gave his lame "change" speech everywhere. I hope Americans see the arrogance of running the campaign overseas and not visiting American troops.

[max americana]

Well said.

I also said the same thing about Kerry and his “global poll” nonsense, and the same idiotic act is being perpetrated by a fellow Dumocrat. People should learn from past mistakes but these lefties are just clueless...in a world of their own.

[Darkwolf377]

“I’d love to give a speech in Germany. But I’d much prefer to do it as president of the United States, rather than as a candidate for the office of presidency,” Mr McCain said in the battleground state of Ohio.

I didn't think this trip would do anything but help Obama, but it's always the ones you don't see coming that trip you up.

I think this only accents Obama's Kerry-like "haughtiness" and gives more fuel for those polls showing more Americans think McCain has values closer to their own.

I think it comes down to something very simple--people are just sick of seeing and hearing about this guy ALL the TIME on the tube.

[fightinJAG]

Ha ha: while Obambi was giving his oracle in Berlin, John McCain was in OHIO eating bratwurst with the locals.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

Most Americans get mighty ornery when someone-—ANYONE-—outside the U.S. of A. (but especially those in a habit of undermining our efforts to defend ourselves) try to say they know best who we should vote for.

NOT.

[fightinJAG]

Also, did Obambi not find it highly embarrassing that he went abroad and expected everyone to speak English? That he did not speak German or even French?

I don’t care who you are: that’s funny.

[elhombrelibre]

Several posters after the article say that Americans are racists, yet it was Obama that attended a racist church and only quit when he thought it would cost him the presidency. However, the media and Obama’s worshiping mobs can forgive his association with racists since he shares their disdain for America.

[pepsionice]

If I went to folks in Alabama, or Texas, or Idaho...no one got anything out of these speeches back in Europe. It was all chatter about “them”. I think most folks are voting for the President of the United States....not President of the World. So I would say that the tour did nothing...and these pictures we’ll see in October on ad’s....are basically worthless. In fact...if the Republicans combine Hitler pictures with the Obama in Berlin pictures...it’ll be a very negative ad for the Obama campaign to face up to.

[rdl6989]

[oprahstheantichrist]

OMG, McCain was a BABE!!!

[ex-Texan]

Bravo ! . . . *BUMP*!

[MamaB]

Well, I live in one of those states and we think it was outrageous what he did to our military people by not going to visit them. By going to that gym, it showed just what he thought of those who are really serving this country.

[goldstategop]

He stiffed the troops on both occasions because he couldn't use them as political props. Obama could have visited them as a private citizen. But if he can't use people to further himself, he has no use for them. He's a completely self-absorbed SOB narcissist.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Names Ash Housewares]

Obama went too far.
He thinks he is running for President of the world, and he sounds as such.
Such is his monstrous ever growing ego.

[sofaman]

Hitchens called him a narcissistic megalomaniac ...