| 29.06.2008 |
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| While Barack Obama continues to be Europe's favorite presidential candidate, his stated support for the death penalty gave Europeans an important reality check. Obama disagreed with a recent supreme court decision to prohibit the death penalty for child rape. Apparently suprised by the presumed Democratic nominee's hard-line stance toward the death penalty, German politicians unanimously condemned his remarks. The fact that so many high level German politicians were surprised by his position, speaks to the continued Obama fascination in Europe, but also to a certain lack of insight or naivete about American politics. To win the election, Obama needs to woo independents and moderate conservatives. By demanding the abolition of the death penalty, as suggested by German politicians, he would make liberals happy, but alienate independents and conservatives. The Obama campaign figures since liberals have nowhere else to go in this election anyway, their candidate can only win with his pro-death penalty stance. They are probably right. You can read a good exploration of Obama's political strategy here. Interestingly enough, another high profile issue for Europeans on which Obama has chosen to take a more hard-line approach didn't get much attention across the pond: gun control. Obama, in response to a supreme court decision, stated that he supports an individual's right to possess guns. Surprisingly his remark didn't trigger the same political outrage in Germany as his statement about the death penalty. Maybe because of Euro 2008. What is politically interesting is that Obama has arguably switched to the right on two key issues for conservatives in the last week: gun control and the death penalty. Which brings up the old issue of flip-flopping again. Does this make him a flip-flopper or a savy politician? That probably depends on whether Obama can argue his switch convincingly. What do you think? |
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| 11 Comments |
| Great article. I linked it to my blog, Called Barbara's Journey Toward Justice. at barbarasblogspot.blogspot.com | ||
| Barbara's Journey Toward Justice | Homepage | E-Mail | 12.07.2008, 15:43 | ||
| *yawn* get real we all know who Obama is, and my friends from Europe love Obama. Obama is coming to the center because he knows how to win!! He will NOT be portrayed a Dukakis or McGovern. GOP sounds pretty afraid to me, and you should be afraid. Your turnout sucks, and your policies are hurting the middle class Americans. Voters will be voting for pocket book issues, and Republicans have burned us. Even my republican boyfriend is an Obama supporter!!! | ||
| Jenn | E-Mail | 03.07.2008, 07:21 | ||
| I think it's funny that some people have suggested that American differences from Europe stem from our 200-year old break with Europe, when in reality the death penalty and gun ownership are remnants FROM our European heritage. 200 years ago when we broke our ties with Europe, all of Europe had the death penalty, and people in Europe could own guns and go hunting whenever they felt like it. So it makes no sense to say that America's differences with modern Europe stem from our independence from the UK. The problem is that we Americans have inherited a lot of old-fashioned European arrogance, racism, and a colonizer attitude, meanwhile Europe has moved forward, but because we severed our ties we didn't move forward with Europe and now we're stuck with the outdated values of centuries ago. Even though I'm criticizing my country, I'm still a proud American and I feel that we need to be more critical of our country in order to improve it. The main political problem we face is that Americans tend to vote on stupid divisive 'benchmark' issues like abortion, gun control, gay marriage, while ignoring all the things that politicans actually do in Washington, the way they spend our tax money, the legislation relating to taxes and big corporations and big finance - the nitty gritty stuff that actually affects us all yet most Americans don't understand. |
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| Trevor | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.07.2008, 22:41 | ||
| ...until Senator Obama's recent position on Kennedy v. Louisiana, the child rape/capital punishment case, I was unabashed obamaniac....not so any more....what berough the public to Senator Obama was his courage to ally himself publicy with the exciting possibilities of change - that is, not just cosmetic changes but fundamental structural changes....as Senator Obama has retreated, excitement about a classy and independent guy in classy suits has become eroded by statements from someone who is articulating rather safe and tepid positions in metaphorically grey flannel attire....obamaniacs want the old/new Obama back - i. e., a person who dares to be different and who is proud of how being different can catalyse political movement toward the fulfillment of dreams....in peace.... | ||
| K. Bandell | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.07.2008, 01:41 | ||
| To my mind, being in favor of gun ownership and supporting the death penalty has nothing to do with "leaning to the right" but rather, supporting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Europeans, please try to understand. We are not like you. Our country is not like yours. We made a very purposeful break with Europe over 200 years ago and made the foundation of our county the rights of its people, not power and construction of our government. The current administration has done so very much to damage to that foundation, but I think it can be fixed. I own guns. I hunt and target shoot with them and keep them locked up. I'm pro death penalty, because I feel that some crimes (the most heinous ones) deserve it. I am also what most folks would consider "liberal" or leaning to the left. I will most likely vote for Mr. Obama. I certainly won't be voting for Mr. McCain, at any rate. Americans often don't understand Europeans and I believe that more of us should try. Honestly though, most Europeans don't understand Americans either. If you don't agree with something like these two topics, then try to work out why so many of us over here do. We both will likely learn something and even if we don't come to a consensus, at least we can better understand the others view point, and that is progress. |
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| Matt B. | Homepage | E-Mail | 30.06.2008, 14:44 | ||
| "Surprisingly his remark didn't trigger the same political outrage in Germany as his statement about the death penalty." Such arrogance. Let Germans worry about German laws and Americans will worry about American laws. |
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| Beam | Homepage | E-Mail | 30.06.2008, 14:32 | ||
| The european press and some politicians have twisted Obama's statement. He did not say he supported the death penalty. He only said that states should have the right to determine what the penalty should be for such crimes. | ||
| Bill Hayman | Homepage | E-Mail | 30.06.2008, 03:22 | ||
| how lucky are we who live in australia,we abolished the death penality many,many years ago,and the one good thing john howard (last prime minister) did was to outlaw guns,great move. having said that,i still believe that barak obama is our only hope of calming down the world,which is red hot at the moment.anyway thats how i see it.theres a whole lot of talking needs to go on. |
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| kay clayton | Homepage | E-Mail | 29.06.2008, 23:28 | ||
| Both of these issues are purely domestic and purely the business of Americans. Europeans should take their own advice, when they often complain about America interfering in the internal issues of other countries, by minding their own business. The right for Americans to own guns and the right for American states to choose the death penalty does not in any way affect Europeans! Once again, Europeans need to learn to mind their own business and practice what they preach. | ||
| T. Allen | Homepage | E-Mail | 29.06.2008, 21:48 | ||
| The main issues are Iraq, the economy and health care. No one is going to change their mind on the economy or Iraq. This leaves the only major issue that of health care. The other issues are relatively minor. Europeans find it difficult to understand the American health care system. I must be part European. The insurance industry controls the pursestrings now, and they do not want to part with this lucrative business. They are responsible for the mess, and the Clinton plan appears to be the only workable plan now. Obama embraces the Clinton plan. | ||
| John Brown | Homepage | E-Mail | 29.06.2008, 21:20 | ||
| Hahaahahahahaaa....the Darling of Europe isn't so Darling anymore....get over it. | ||
| G. W. | E-Mail | 29.06.2008, 16:02 | ||