Barack Obama Has Already Changed Everything

by francine Hardaway on July 28, 2008

Taking a trip overseas to meet world leaders may not look like it helps workers in swing states at home, but Barack Obama’s confident attitude toward talking to the world has already changed everything. For everybody.

This morning on ‘The Today Show" I watched Brian Williams 
interview Iran’s snarky President Ahmadenijad. What a difference in the man’s attitude. The interview is live, from the presidential grounds on Teheran. And he comes to it willing to talk. "If the American approach changes, Iran will have a positive response." Why has this changed? I think it’s because the world thinks Obama will be elected and willing to take a more collaborative stance toward countries that used to be called "The axis of evil."

American statesmen have confronted Iranians for 50 years, says Ahmadenijad. Iranians have learned to work around it. But nuclear weapons are so 20th century. His country is not trying to make a bomb. He said it several times. And after all, America is moving back to nuclear power, so why shouldn’t Iran? Shouldn’t we believe them? Our lack of trust in others has already cost us dearly.

I believe the Bush administration’s change in attitude signals even our own response to Obama’s comments during the primaries. Watching the attitude of the American people toward Obama must have influenced Bush’s willingness to sit down with Iran again and work toward a diplomatic solution.

I think everyone in the world is waiting for Obama to be elected, and depending on us, the citizens, to get it done.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Pamela July 28, 2008 at 11:31 am

…and I hope for our sake (and for our children) that we do. There are so many good lessons to draw from this if we’re all willing to.

Meryl Steinberg July 28, 2008 at 8:33 pm

YES!

Really? July 29, 2008 at 10:23 am

“Barack Obama Has Already Changed Everything”….yes, including his positions on nearly every major issue right now.

Francine hardaway July 29, 2008 at 10:26 am

Yes, I agree with that. But I am not a person who thinks consistency in the face of new information is a plus. Emerson said “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.”

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