Posts with the tag obama abroad

Cheering Crowds & Happy Troops

BobJones — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:10:03 EDT

I just finished watching the first round of video clips from Afganistan showing Senator Obama's arrival at Kabul and meeting with US troops. The cheering crowds of people waiting to greet him were not unlike the crowds that we see here. What a contrast to the visits from President Bush. No demonstrations, burning flags, angry mobs. The service men and women were not hostile to the candidate as the Republicans might hope. The troops were gleeful as he met with them and shot hoops (nice shot by the way Barack). His messages were substanative and reflective. This is a great beginning to his trip. For once we have a leader in whom we can be proud.

A fruit market in France

Kate Otting — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:59:02 EDT

25 years ago when I first visited France, I recall feeling welcomed -- almost admired -- as an American tourist by most of the French people I encountered outside of Paris. (Paris, like many large US cities, has an entirely different culture in my experience. What big city resident cares to welcome MORE visitors, really?)

The climate for Americans in France has changed, as we all know. Nevertheless, I've not felt any of the hostility we'd expect from people who have strong disdain for our current president. Then again, I'm also doing all I can to blend in and not look like an American either!

My husband and I are spending 5 weeks this summer in Europe, mostly France. I try to hit the markets at least a couple times each week, if only to experience the diversity of cultures represented by the merchants, all of whom claim French citizenship.

Last week, a vendor was selling fruit with aromas so delicious I couldn't just walk by. He offered me a taste of some miniature melons. I responded, "Oui, merci." He detected my accent (less American and more from my Peace Corps days in the former French colony of Togo). He replied in Spanish -- a guess, apparently. I asked him (in French) if he was from Spain and he said he was of Albanian origin, but adamantly added that he's French. He then continued to guess my nationality, now in English, "Dutch? German? English?" To the latter, I answered, "Close enough." With a big smile, he said, "You're American!" I jokingly held my finger to my lip, "Shhh." Seriously, who wants to advertise their Americanness these days? This larger-than-life man with a jolly smile threw his hands up in the air, pointed down to me and said to all around, "She's American!!" He then said boisterously, "Look, we like you, we still love America, we just hate your president." I tried my hardest to convince him, "He's not my president." He and others around me said, "Yes he is." As correct as he may be, I contemplated defending that I didn't vote for him, I worked hard for the last two Democratic campaigns, and no -- he's not the president I chose!

As I was about to bring up the subject of Barack Obama, he said, "And that new guy, Obama, we like him." I responded, "Everybody here does. Now let's just hope that Americans wake up and smell the coffee this time!" He laughed, handed me the melons and said, "Good luck! We hope you can make it happen!"

It's got to happen. I've got hope. Barack Obama is not only going to make a world of difference at home. We need to renew old friendships back here in Europe.

Democrats Abroad

harobamason — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:56:14 EST

Obama Wins Democrats Abroad Primary

Obama Results Center

Clinton Adds a Half Delegate

Sen. Barack Obama won the Democrats Abroad global primary in results announced Thursday, giving him 11 straight victories in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Illinois senator won the primary in which Democrats living in more than 30 countries voted by Internet, mail and in person. The voting took place over the course of a week, beginning Feb. 5. Hillary Rodham Clinton has not won a nominating contest since Super Tuesday, more than two weeks ago.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's half delegate has a new friend _ one of equal stature no less.The Democrats Abroad, a group sanctioned by the national party, has confounded delegate counters, graphic artists and political journalists since it awarded Clinton 1.5 delegates from its global primary last week.

How do you explain that Clinton has 1,276.5 delegates?Explain no more. Clinton picked up a half superdelegate on Wednesday, increasing her overall total to 1,277.The anomaly happened because the Democrats Abroad will send 22 delegates to the Democratic National Convention, each with a half vote. The system is designed to enable the group to send more people to the convention, without inflating its voting power.

The global primary, in which expatriates voted by mail, fax and the Internet, awarded nine delegates, with a total of 4.5 votes. Sen. Barack Obama won three delegate votes and Clinton won 1.5.Democratic parties in U.S. territories use similar systems, in which they send twice the number of delegates, giving them each a half vote. But their systems are designed to ensure that that candidates do not end up with fractions of delegates.

The Democrats Abroad take it a step further. They also have twice the number of superdelegates _ eight _ and they each get a half vote. Superdelegates are elected and party officials who can vote for whomever they choose at the convention, regardless of the outcome of the primaries.

The Associated Press surveyed the Democrats Abroad superdelegates this week and found that four supported Obama and one supported Clinton. That's two votes for Obama, and a half vote for Clinton. The other three had not responded.Clinton lost a superdelegate to Obama on Wednesday when Rep. John Lewis of Georgia became the fourth one to switch from Clinton to Obama. None have gone the other way, according to the AP tally.

But Clinton replaced Lewis with superdelegate Elizabeth Smith of Washington, who confirmed Wednesday that she will support the New York senator.

That gives Obama 1,375 delegates, to 1,277 for Clinton.

The breakdown: Pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses: Obama, 1,187; Clinton, 1,035.5.

Superdelegates: Obama, 188; Clinton, 241.5.

It takes 2,025 delegates to claim the Democratic nomination.Robert Bell, the new half superdelegate for Clinton who lives in Toronto, said he has no problem getting only half a vote at the convention."We're not discriminated against in any way," Bell said in a telephone interview.

Bell's endorsement of Clinton, however, is only a temporary solution to the half delegate issue.

The Democrats Abroad are scheduled to hold their global convention April 12, when they will award their final 2.5 delegate votes.

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