By Abigail Shaha
The latest Gallup poll says Barack Obama’s job approval rating is 59 percent. CNN says it’s 66 percent. Polls from the same day show Americans are unhappy with the economy, border control, the war, healthcare, education and just about every other issue on the docket. In some cases, they even disapprove of Obama’s attempts to remedy the situation. Yet his approval rating has yet to show that disapproval. His reputation hovers above the worsening situations surrounding him. But how?
Somehow, through his campaign rhetoric of “hope” and “change” and his insistence that he understands the real American people, Obama struck a chord with them. Individuals across America have developed a parasocial relationship with Obama, a relationship in which they feel truly connected to someone they’ve never met. They know him, they trust him, they admire him, they respect him. He’s down to earth enough to talk college basketball, but strong enough to call CEOs “shameful” and take their bonuses. He’s not just empty words; he’s trustworthy and caring, and they insist he feels the same way about them. With an image like that, his approval rating has been impervious to everything from the tanking economy to his mediocre gift to the queen.
Americans aren’t the only ones who see this version of him. Obama exports his amiable image when he goes abroad. In settings like the G-20, United Nations and individual meetings, Obama’s just as personable as he is in the states. He goes for the same appeal – trustworthy and empathetic – with friends and foes alike.
Most foreign leaders love the new American style. They’re thrilled to have a change in tone after the Bush administration threw its weight around for eight years. Foreign audiences love it too; they come out in throngs to hear Obama speak. But the problem with Obama’s universal acceptance and graciousness is just that – it’s universal.
Earlier this week, North Korea launched a rocket they claim was attempting to put a satellite into space. U.S. intelligence suggests it was likely a nuclear test, and several other sources agree. Iran is getting ready to speak to the U.S. about their nuclear program. Intelligence reports have yet to verify how advanced this program is, but all sources agree it exists, posing a significant threat to any country, especially one with troops stationed in a neighboring country. Venezuela is another looming threat as Hugo Chavez continues his unapologetically anti-American regime, and tensions with China grow more awkwardly strained every day.
Yet despite the clear threat these countries pose to American safety and prosperity, Obama pitches the same trustworthy, caring case to them. When talking with Russia at the G-20 economic summit, he ignored anti-American sentiments in Russia and the UN security council (rooted partially in Russia’s veto power), sentiments that have arguably endangered American lives. Obama was trying to push them to end their support of Iran’s nuclear program. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev argued that first Obama should remove anti-missile sites from Poland and the Czech Republic. Obama seemed prepared to pay that price, leaving blind faith and trust that Russia would hold up their end after.
At home, Obama’s trustworthy reputation is winning him the love and admiration of the American public. It’s rallying support for his monumental reform efforts and keeping chins up despite glum circumstances. But abroad, his attempts at reaching out and giving people a chance to change may get him into trouble. He’s putting himself and the United States into situations where we could easily be taken advantage of or pushed around. Foreign leaders don’t work by the same approval rating we do, and while they may put on good faces for the cameras, they’ll likely make different decisions behind closed doors – decisions that could prove detrimental to the American people. It’s great to be easy to talk to and deal with, but with North Korea reemerging as a significant threat, Iran on the brink of becoming another threat and Russia unabashedly supporting Iran’s effort to do so, stiff upper lip may be a better strategy than optimistic pal.
Obama doesn’t need to keep his fists up like Bush did, but it’s too early to drop all defenses. He may have cultivated an image of trustworthiness and empathy, but those he’s dealing with haven’t, and they have to be held to their track records. That doesn’t mean all negotiations close because of past hostility, but it doesn’t mean we throw a blind eye to history and give known antagonists the fresh start Obama got. They haven’t earned our trust, and while proceeding with caution may not be as groundbreaking, it’s also less likely to fail the American people in the end. Safety first, smiles second.
Abigail Shaha is an Issues and Ideas Editor at The Daily Universe.
Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Apr 2009
