Latest update: 11/12/2008 

- Barack Obama - US election 2008 - USA


Can Obama live up to the hype?
According to a widely read editorial in the International Herald Tribune, European enthusiasm for the Democratic presidential candidate may prove premature. We debate how well Europeans really know Barack Obama. (Part 1 of 2)
By FRANCE 24 (text)

Click here to watch Part 2 of our Debate.

 

Do Europeans really know Barack Obama? Well, according to a widely read editorial in the International Herald Tribune -- the international edition of the New York Times -- European enthusiasm for the Democratic presidential candidate may prove premature.

 

Basically, columnist John Vinocur believes Barack Obama is a bit more of a hawk than Europeans realize. If elected president, Obama's priorities will be clear -- the United States will remain the most powerful country on earth, and US interests will come first.

 

Vinocur goes on to say Obama would not fulfill dreams of a capitulating, apologetic United States. Whether that was ever really expected is another question, and one which we'll debate tonight as we discuss whether Obama's European fans are in for a big surprise if he takes office.

 

Andrea Sanke's guests are:

 

Marc Porter, a Member of Republicans Abroad France and Professor of Marketing and Communication at the Paris-based

business school, IPAG.

 

Zachary Miller, Chairman of the Minocity Caucus for Democrats Abroad France.

 

Dr. Paul Vallet, Assistant Professor at Sciences-Po Paris and the American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy in Paris.
 

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