PrintMarch 25, 2009
Hallmark Card Diplomacy
One of Barack Obama’s biggest advantages during the campaign was the perception that his message of hope and change would finally get the world to like us. Warmed by the glow of the President’s personal charisma, world leaders who really wanted to just get along all along would finally come to their collective senses and extend enough olive branches to defoliate a large grove.
Love may be a many splendored and mysterious thing, but it requires more work than just being elected prom king.
So far, fellow leftist Hugo Chavez has called Mr. Obama an “ignoramus”. Vladimir Putin has rebuked our President with a fatherly lecture on the dangers of socialism. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is still trying to get his DVD gift set of Barack Obama’s favorite movies to play. You never get a second chance at making a first impression, but perhaps the President could demonstrate his mastery of etiquette by sending Mr. Brown a thoughtful follow-up gift, like a pair of his favorite socks.
European Union President Mirek Topolanek has stated that Obama’s plans are the “way to hell”. Kim Jong-Il has flipped the President the North Korean version of the bird before ever being asked out to dinner. And Obama’s internet dating service video message to Iran fell flat. If only he would have thrown in a box of chocolates, and a couple of tickets to Jay Leno, he could have had the Ayatollah at hello.
But let’s face it, Mr. President: they’re just not that into you.
