by John M. Curtis
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Copyright April 2, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

        U.S. voters got more than they bargained for electing 47-year-old Barack Obama.  His appearance in London at the G-20 summit delivered a much-needed shot of American adrenalin, spreading his copious optimism on the world stage.  Hosted by the Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, feted at No. 10 Downing Street by U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, talking brass tacks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and breaking the ice with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Barack had a whirlwind day before the G-20 gets started.  Dealing his critics a blow, a dashing American president has become a big hit with America’s friends and foes, all captivated by Obama’s undeniable charisma.  Barack even met with Tory Party leader David Cameron, Brown’s inevitable heir apparent.  Brown only hopes that Barack’s ferry-dust rubs off on him, keeping Cameron at bay.

           Apart from the formalities and predigested communiqué from Thursday’s event, Barack exceeded all expectations, living up to his billing as America’s “best-and-brightest.”  Whether admitted to or not, that hasn’t’ happened for many years, certainly not the last eight.  Brown said Barack “renewed hope” during a time of economic upheaval.  Even the ever-suspicious Russian president admitted to feeling “far more optimistic” about improved U.S.-Russian relations.  One man can make a difference and Barack showed he could.  “We believe that the time has come to reset our relations, as it was said, and to open a new page,” said Medvedev, speaking warmly at Barack’s side.  Last summer U.S.-Russian relations hit rock bottom, with Russia invading Georgia and Medvedev warning the U.S. to back off from installing missile defense systems in Poland and Czech Republic.

            Medvedev sounded an optimistic note because he could see Obama listening to Russian concerns, rather than spewing anti-Soviet rhetoric.  U.S. conservatives frequently credit former President Ronald Reagan with setting in motion the resolve that ended the Soviet Union.  Reagan, and other U.S. conservatives, reminded the Russians too frequently about their totalitarian past, calling Russia the “evil empire” March 8, 1983.  Medvedev welcomed Obama’s show of respect and sincerity in resolving loose ends with Bush’s more unilateral foreign policy.  Whether or not Obama gets help with Iran, North Korea or Afghanistan, he opened a dialogue with Europe based on mutual respect, not condescension.  Obama spoke eloquently about the unshakable tie between the U.S and Great Britain.  Whatever the differences, he reminded Brown that the U.K. has no better friend than the U.S.

            World leaders will try to deal collectively with a global recession sparking unemployment and misery around the globe.  Barack took responsibility for the U.S. role in the current global economic meltdown.  He advocated the same message as French President Nicholas Sarkozy, calling for the summiteers to agree on better global safety checks to prevent a future crisis.  Barack acknowledged that several international banks lost their shirts with derivative investing.  He promised to tighten U.S. regulations to prevent another boom-bust cycle.  “The United States and the United Kingdom have stood together through thick and thin, through war and peace, through hard times and prosperity, and we’ve always emerged stronger by standing together,” said Brown, reaffirming and letting old Europe know that there’s nothing that can get between the Britain and the United States.

            Growing skepticism about America quickly melted away, watching Obama charm world leaders.  He and Michelle are the talk of the town, while anarchists get more violent protesting anything that brings them attention.  Obama’s presence proves that substance and form matter on the world stage.  World leaders respect well-spoken speechmakers, of which Barack is second to none.  His European tour during the campaign hinted at the world’s excitement for new leadership at the White House.  Getting along well with Russian and China has been already spun in right wing talk circles as proof of Barack’s ingratiation.  Another more sober appraisal indicates that charm offensives really do work, disarming otherwise standoffish adversaries.  Only the sour grapes right can complain about an American president, once again, well-received by world leaders.

            Whatever happens at tomorrow’s summit, Barack was just what the doctor ordered to heal world opinion about America.  Europeans have an inherent curiosity in how, in America, it’s possible for a man of humble beginnings to rise to the top.  They see in Barack the fulfillment of a dream embodied in the nation’s most sacred documents, telling of a society in which the real “best-and-brightest” make it to the top.  Pedigree and family lineage take a backseat to talent and motivation, proving the inherent superiority of a system that rewards success.  No one at tomorrow’s summit will have all the answers to pull the world economy out of recession.  What world leaders see in Obama is a genuine passion to improve the lives of the world community.  Gone are the days when ideology trumped finding real solutions to real problems.  Obama brings that breath of fresh air.

 About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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