Boston Globe: Obama Lovefest Won’t Last

An interesting editorial over at the Boston Globe about the love affair with Barack Obama.

THE STORYLINE goes something like this: America’s onetime popularity in the world was squandered by George W. Bush, whose belligerence and unilateralism after Sept. 11, 2001, alienated allies and engendered widespread anti-Americanism. But now, with the election of Barack Obama, America can restore its good name and regain the world’s goodwill.

One vigorous exponent of this narrative has been Obama himself. “The single most important issue that we’re facing in this election,” he said during the campaign, is choosing a leader “to repair all the damage that’s been done to America’s reputation overseas.” When I become president, he often told voters, “the world will look at America differently.”

Sure enough, much of the international reaction to Obama’s election has been ecstatic. “Legions of jubilant supporters set off firecrackers in El Salvador, danced in Liberia, and drank shots in Japan,” the Los Angeles Times reported. Kenya declared a national holiday. South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu exulted: “We have a new spring in our walk and our shoulders are straighter.” The Sun, Britain’s most popular newspaper, headlined its story “One Giant Leap for Mankind.”

For Obama, such worldwide jubilation must be gratifying. He should take it all with a healthy shake of salt, however. Because it isn’t going to last.

Antagonism to the United States is as old as the United States. It didn’t begin with the current president, unpopular though he is, or in response to American military action in Iraq. Nor is it going to vanish Jan. 20.

The worry we should all have is that Barack Obama, the “messiah,” will be treated a little too kindly because 52% of the voters felt the ultimate sigh of relief last week, and much like during the campaign trail, major goofs and blunders will be brushed under the rug. When it comes to the presidency, Affirmative Action has no place.

Popularity is nice, but it isn’t the goal of US foreign policy. Great nations have great interests in the world – interests that cannot always be secured through patient negotiation or Security Council resolutions. As the foremost military power, the United States must at times be “the world’s reluctant sheriff,” using force to maintain order or defend liberty. President Obama may speak more softly than his predecessor, but he will still be carrying a very big stick. Like other presidents, he will be loudly condemned when he uses it. As George W. Bush can tell him, the abuse goes with the job.

If we truly want to be a society that views everyone as equal, then the Obama Administration  needs to be criticized when criticism is rightfully deserved. If we ignore his mistakes, and rest assured there will be plenty, Obama’s legacy as it will be recorded in history will be viewed upon less favorably than President Bush is now.

Aaron Margolis is a life long resident of the Bay State, and works at an architectural firm north of Boston. Aaron has a Master of Architecture Degree from Boston Architectural College and is currently in the process of becoming of a Registered Architect.