rssState of Play: Europe Reacts (Curiously) to Obama Victory
Friday, November 07, 2008 at 5:23 pm
- 6 Comments
The overwhelming reaction in Europe to the election of Sen. Barack Obama has been one of enthusiasm and support. Yet a scan of the European press also reveals some peculiar — and some deplorable — responses.
Der Spiegel reports on the shock that has rippled through the German-speaking world after Klaus Emmerich, the “Wolf Blitzer of Austria,” said on a TV talk show, “I wouldn’t want the Western world to be directed by a black man.” Emmerich has refused to apologize, arguing that “blacks aren’t as politically civilized” — but he did call Michelle Obama a “very good-looking woman.”
In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi asserted that Obama would have no problem establishing good relations with Russia because Obama is “handsome, young and sun-tanned.” In response to accusations of racism, Berlusconi called his critics “imbeciles without any sense of humor.”
El Pais, Spain’s leading paper, which has obsessively covered the U.S. presidential election for months, leads its “Estados Unidos” page with a long analysis of Michelle Obama’s election-night outfit.
And Le Monde of France calls Obama the first spammer president under the headline, “With Obama, ‘Yes they spam!’”
Take a look at these and other stories from the Old Continent. Bonus points if you’re bi- or trilingual:
Austrian Journalist Slammed for Racist Obama Rant (Der Spiegel International)
Gaffe su Obama, Berlusconi rilancia “Le critiche? Ci sono tanti imbecilli” (On Obama Gaffe, Berlusconi Retorts, “The Criticisms? They Are All Imbecilic”) (La Stampa)
El vestido de cambio (The Dress of Change) (El Pais)
Avec Obama, “Yes they spam!” (With Obama, “Yes they spam!”) (Le Monde)
Obama’s victory: a change the world should believe in (Financial Times)
Where’s Europe’s Obama? (Der Spiegel International)
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6 Comments
Comment posted November 9, 2008 @ 9:52 am
I wouldn't want this gentleman to be in charge or or an influence in my dog training classes. They are important, let alone be a political commentator/figure.
Generations are usually shamefully embarrassing (a very generous description), especially when they are about race.
Comment posted November 9, 2008 @ 9:53 am
Somebody wake this man up. The nineteenth century is gone.
Comment posted November 9, 2008 @ 10:06 am
Race, religion, the color of ones skin, the guy who has more than you, the guy that has less than you, and all the other irrelevant things small people worry about will never go away. However, at least for this one shining moment in the history of MY country we voted for the best man regardless.
I would suggest to you, our European friends, that you should be grateful you don't have four more years of the same old Rogue nation Bush policies. It would be refreshing if you could overcome your envy/hate problems.
With your help as an equal partner maybe we together could stop terrorism, increase trade, increase the exchange of ideas, and international aid, and aid to the hungry and the poor, and help to places like Darfur etc., etc., ETC.
Comment posted November 10, 2008 @ 6:38 am
Klaus Emmerich is an ignorant man whose comment is grotesquely parochial. Wolf Blitzer you say? Bill O'Reilly, more likely. As it becomes evident that Obama is not only “politically civilized” but cultured and smart, Herr Emmerich will, like O'Reilly, insist that he never said Obama couldn't succeed brilliantly and that his words were taken out of context. (Or maybe he's more like Hannity and Limbaugh, in which case he'll explain Obama's success as due to the white folks in his cabinet.)
Comment posted November 28, 2008 @ 12:57 am
Ok..so this sick old dog is coming from the Nazi era…well i wanna tell (it) something..the world has changed since(Sieg Heil), and there is no place for people like you in todays world let alone todays media, so go eat your Würst,screw your daughter,lock your son in the basement, write (Neger raus) on the walls, elect FPÖ or BZÖ(Neo Nazi parties in Austria), and then go to bed and never wake up again, after all you are over 80 and you have lived enough already…….old Nazi trash
Comment posted November 28, 2008 @ 8:57 am
Ok..so this sick old dog is coming from the Nazi era…well i wanna tell (it) something..the world has changed since(Sieg Heil), and there is no place for people like you in todays world let alone todays media, so go eat your Würst,screw your daughter,lock your son in the basement, write (Neger raus) on the walls, elect FPÖ or BZÖ(Neo Nazi parties in Austria), and then go to bed and never wake up again, after all you are over 80 and you have lived enough already…….old Nazi trash
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