Snap Fact #180

The President symbolizes the United States. His high standing is a great asset to American foreign policy and trade policy. Once again, the United States and its President set the world standard, by which every nation’s citizens measure their countries and their leaders.

Such unfortunately was not the case with President Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush. Despite his many personal qualities, President Bush was widely reviled in the world, and the butt of many jokes. His world standing tarnished the image of the United States, and made American initiatives more difficult.

No American President can solve all of this nation’s problems, and certainly not the world’s. But a quality leader like President Obama in the White House makes a difference for us as Americans and for all of the people in the world. The importance of this election can't be overstated. If America's future direction is riding on this election, the future course of the entire world will be affected by how we vote on November 6th.

If there were an election for President of the World, Barack Obama would be elected hands down. Public opinion polls internationally indicate that no one anywhere on the planet commands the appreciation and respect that he does. Of course, there is no such election, but the President’s personal stature adds to the standing of the United States in the eyes of the all the world’s peoples and nations. It is not an issue of “celebrity” status, as Republicans would have us believe. President Obama’s standing is a matter of genuine world leadership. People everywhere hope that as leader of the “indispensable” nation, Obama will advance the causes they care about the most – democracy, economic development, human rights and education for them.

President and Mrs. Obama are the embodiments of the American Dream that people – even people of color – can rise from poor or modest families to the highest positions in the country. Everywhere, people share their local equivalents of that dream, so they identify with the Obamas. The Barack and Michelle give striving Americans hope that by working hard and by obtaining an education, they too can fulfill their dreams. This President’s character and his many personal qualities lift the spirits of people wherever they live.