The Telegraph commissioned a poll, and gee, Europeans don’t like America (via Glenn). I know, readers. You’re all shocked to hear this news. But Europeans don’t get us, haven’t gotten us in well over 200 years, and don’t seem about to get us yet—not even those that are relatively positive about America. For instance, the Telegraph editorial opines:
Nor is the poll particularly good news for John McCain, showing as it does overwhelming European and Russian support for his Democrat rival Mr Obama.
It is to laugh. Americans have never given a damn what Europeans think about our presidential choices. Wait, that’s not true. We get very contrary when Europe tries to mess with us. Does anyone remember the Guardian’s attempt to defeat George W. Bush in the last election? The backlash was so high, it may actually have helped Bush win in the Guardian’s chosen battleground. The Brits still haven’t gotten it: We’re not their colony any longer.
Even the director of Clark County’s board of elections got into the debate. She was widely quoted as saying: “The American Revolution was fought for a reason.”
The Telegraph goes on:
Regardless of who wins, there will be a need to project a more positive light of the United States in Europe, but without ditching America’s vital global role.
Well, in order to do that, the European media would have to stop slanting so many stories anti-American. Sorry, boys and girls, but we have no control over what Europeans think. Nor do we want to have that kind of control. This isn’t a matter of Americans cozying up to Europeans. It doesn’t matter if our president is Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton or George W. Bush. Europeans have never really cared for Americans, overall. Well, the ones that stay in Europe, anyway. The ones that come here like us just fine, and so do their children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren….
What I find most strange about that fact is that so many Americans have European ancestry. It’s like Europe hates its own descendants.
There’s a longer essay in there. I think I’ll work on it for July 4th.