Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hyeon Een]

I am interested in hearing opinions on which candidate would be the best president for the USA internationally.

I would like people to leave aside domestic matters such as taxation, health care etc. and focus on the wider world. This is not to say that these issues aren't important, they are, however there are enough threads concerning these matters.

I'm only interested in hearing about the international side of things rather than the domestic. Which candidate is best for the USA internationally? I don't mean who would be the most popular (though in my opinion that is important), but who would be best for the US on the world stage.

Here's my long-winded opinion: (and if you want to skip it, my answer is Obama)

There are some people who have a F' the rest of the world's opinion: "America is America, screw what the rest of the world thinks". I believe that this is, at best, ignorant in the modern world. It may have worked wonderfully for Korea for 4,000 years but I don't believe it's the right attitude for America, or Americans, to take nowadays. (Sorry R. Paul)

Despite its military strength, most of the USA's power in the past was 'soft'. People listened to and respected the USA because of what it had achieved and what it stood for, not because of how hard it could smack those who disagreed with it. French, Germans, Italians all loved the idea of the American Dream in the post-war period and had great respect for the nation.

Unfortunately the USA has lost the world's respect. Most of the world has a negative opinion of the USA. This is a sad situation. The reasons as to why this has happened are complex (though they mostly come back to 'The War on Terror') but the result of this is a loss of power for the USA. Its greatest strength was always the soft power brought about by the respect other nations had for it, not its military prowess.

However I believe that with a new leader the US could become immensely more popular, thus influential and thus more powerful than the sad state of affairs that exists now. As unfair or as unlikely as it may seem, the election of Obama would immediately gain the respect of most Europeans and a lot of Asians and Africans. A lot of people who 'hate' the USA right now don't actually hate it as an entity, they just hate the way it is being managed. As silly as the idea of one man being able to change the world's opinion seems, I believe that Obama actually would do it. And when I say he would achieve it, I mean the exact second he was elected the world's opinion of the USA would change. Of course he'd have (at least) four years to ruin this wonderful effect, but upon being elected the US would immediately become respected, and thus powerful again. The rest of the world loves this guy despite opinon being mixed in the US. Obama could become a leader of the world, not just the USA.

I don't see Clinton being able to do this. Despite the warmth felt for her husband in the past, that was 8 years ago and things have changed. Furthermore she's coming across as way too tough from an outside-the-USA-perspective. The rest of the world doesn't like her all that much.

The Republican candidates? Well, whatever their domestic policies, they would be disastrous for the USA on the world stage. The times of even the possibility of isolationism (and when I use this term I'm using it very loosely: not only using it in an economic sense, but also in the sense of ignoring world opinion and feeling when acting) for the USA are over.

Apologies for the long post. If you skipped my thoughts because I lack the ability to write with terseness or coherency I don't blame you. I am still interested in hearing other peoples' thoughts, in particular I'd like to hear Republicans thoughts on America in the world and how the next US president should relate to it.

[bassexpander]

Anyone who thinks Obama would be loved will be in for a short-term surprise. He (and Hillary) are very much against the China trade imbalance, and have both pledged to do something about China trade issues.

There are other international issues that could cause some stress with many countries (including Taiwan, for example).

They also say the same about the Saudis.

Personally, I think it's high time something is done on both of those fronts.

[stillnotking]

Andrew Sullivan had a good post about this:

[Kuros]

[Hyeon Een]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agree with about 95% of your post, Hyeon Een. It looks to me like people in other multiethnic states in the world are already looking at the US and saying, "If there, why not here?" I think Obama's campaign has already started to restore America's moral authority. Further, everyone knows he opposed the War from the start, so he will have leeway in getting us out. Everyone but RP knows the troops can't just drop everything and leave.

You are right that things will change as he governs. He will govern as an American, pushing American interests. What else could he do? But it will be within the normal range of disagreements between countries--not in defiance of international opinion.

People who say they don't care what the rest of the world think are only telling a half-truth. They like it when the world agrees and pretend to not care when the world doesn't. I don't believe it. Only sociopaths disregard their reputation and the respect of others.

[bassexpander]

Non-Americans can say whatever they want about Obama and how much better than Bush he will be. That's fine.

My money is on these same people finding something Obama to complain about within a year or less. Beeatching about America is just too easy for some people from some countries.

[bucheon bum]

[Ya-ta Boy]

That bit was the same part I disagreed with. Mrs. Clinton is well-liked abroad.

[mistermasan]

presidents should preside and not govern. they only get to govern when the elected houses don't sack up.

re: the article on the effect of electing obama on the middle east- do you really think such is enough to stop under-employed illerate folks from hating? as long as their "learned" elders are scapegoating the US the war will continue. if any US president could come up with a way to buy the elders miracles would bloom.

finally, all politics are local. do koreans contemplate the foreign policy's of their candidates? predictably, all three of the remaing viable candidates are pro war so somethings won't change. here's hoping the international community appreciates consistency.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee]

I said Obama, but international goodwill isn't worth that much , and even if he becomes president the US will still be resented by most of the world. The difference will just be a few percentage points.

[wannago]