Is President Obama ever going to learn that making comments like this one Sublog pointed to make him sound small in so many ways? That is especially so considering the way George Bush and Condi Rice have chosen to refrain from any criticism of the new administration. Enough said, here are the quotes (reported by the AP):
In his opening remarks, he underscored European and American ties and appeared intent on improving the U.S. image abroad, which suffered under George W. Bush. “I’ve come to Europe this week to renew our partnership,” Obama said, bluntly claiming that the relationship between the United States and Europe had gone adrift, with blame on both sides.
“In America, there’s a failure to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world,” Obama said.
Instead of celebrating Europe’s dynamic union and seeking to work with you, Obama said, “there have been times where America’s shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.”He went on to say:
“But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual, but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans chose to blame America for much of what’s bad,” Obama said.
He added: “On both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common. They are not wise. They do not represent the truth.” I am glad he said the good America does should be recognized by Europe, but does he not realize how so many of the things he and Democrats have said over the past eight years have contributed to the way those in Europe and the rest of the world see us? All those in Europe and the rest of the world have done is agree with what Democrats have been telling them to believe about America. Maybe if they had been less interested to telling the world that George Bush and his administration were lying murderous criminals, those in Europe and the rest of the world might have thought somewhat differently of us.
He also said: “I think it is important for Europe to understand that even though I am president and George Bush is not president, al-Qaida is still a threat.” I don’t know why he is bothering to remind them of that considering he doesn’t act like he much believes it.
Obama is the one who needs to realize he is President now. He is still acting like a candidate running a race against George Bush (who is, after all, who he ran against, not McCain).
