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Would any European country have elected Obama?

Clearly there is plenty of support for Obama here in Europe, and rightly so. US foreign policy is such that, however undesirable it may be, the selection of the US President has had dire consequences for the rest of us. I have lived and breathed election coverage for months, culminating in a very tense election night, and I was very keen for Obama to win.

Still, I don't imagine I would feel much enthusiasm for Obama's ideology to be implemented in any of the countries I have lived in here in Europe. I would still greatly admire and respect him as an intelligent, grounded, disciplined individual with sound judgement and an enviable personal life.

However, whilst he might be progressive for the US, but he would be a great step back for social democracy in Europe. The only "values" appeal a politician should make should be to secular ideas on morality and, very occasionally, to culture. Universal healthcare and reproductive rights have been part of legislation for decades. "Liberalism" is not a dirty word, and individuals cannot purchase firearms for "personal defence". Several countries have gender-neutral marriage, or at the very least registered partnerships. Progressive taxation works fine here. Diplomacy is still the cornerstone of our foreign policy, rather than overblown defence spending.

Given that, do you agree? Or do you think that, in a more liberal climate, a man like Obama might have been even more progressive?

Update:

To one response: I don't think that this election proves beyond doubt that America is racially integrated by any means. You might also want to consider that Germany, the UK, Ireland, Finland and Switzerland have all had female presidents/prime ministers.

3 Answers

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  • Lisa S
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I have a lot of friends in the UK...and quite frankly, they were delighted when Obama won. George W. did us some damage in Europe, and its possible that Obama might fix some it. Oh yes...and my friends are Conservatives---not the Labor folks.

  • 1 decade ago

    Hell no. While the Europeans continuously spout about how racist and violent us Americans are, there is not a chance in hell any country in Europe would elect a black man as leader of a country. They talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk. America does both. European countries are, and always have been, a bastion of racism.

    Go ahead and give me thumbs down all you want, the evidence is clear. Show me one place in Europe where a black man has even been considered for the top spot. I won't hold my breath.

    They weren't black women, were they? Sorry, there's a difference between racism and sexism. Never said the Europeans were sexist (although in southern Europe that is pretty much the case), just racist, throughout.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    No, Europe and the rest of the world would have voted for Ron Paul, but he was cast out months ago due to the ignorance of the American people.

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