What exactly does an endorsement mean anyways...just because XYZ person endorses ABC candidate menas that the particular one will win...it's just like anything else..it's an opinion of who is 'better'.

Well, a whole lotta "yes" actually. ;)
There was logic there?

I didn't say it was Earth-logic.

I think this is the part where you're veering into the "making it up" territory. At the time, it was seen mainly as a middle-finger to Carter, not fear of Reagan.

Eh, it's completely irrelevant to my opinion of the candidate. I just think it raises interesting questions about what a group like Hamas thinks it's accomplishing -- maybe they want Clinton and are hoping their endorsement will turn people to her.

Where are we going? And why am I in this handbasket? LOL :rolleyes:

As long as you realize you're reading into it only what you put there. Their endorsement might mean that they think he has the best chance of working out a deal where Israel and Palestine live together without shooting each other or blowing up discos. It might mean that they think he'll be the weakest president and the easiest to manipulate. It might mean they'd like to see a brown guy in office. It might mean they discovered he forgets to put the butter away sometimes and they can really relate to that.

It goes on and on. Without them stating why they endorse, and you being able to trust that statement, you're only taking out what you put in.

Yeah, bu the important thing is: has Jimmy Carter given Obama his support?

He's not endorsing til the convention.

I know I know, you were making a funny.

I was thinking more along the lines of this. I wonder if a minority president will change the way the international community views the United States.

I think his proposed actions will have a much greater influence on how we are viewed by the international community rather than his skin color.

I've read stories from reporters in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. that include the comment that Obama does give the people there hope that America practices what it preaches. Average everyday people, btw, who may or may not be thrilled with the US but aren't on a jihad against it.

And I think that's the difference between the "international community" that macallan speaks of and Mohammed, John, Ivan, etc. on the street.

From what i've been told, a lot of the "admiration" (for a lack of a better term) for Obama is mainly because his father was/is Muslim.

But, I think any president that doesn't have a George W. Bush mentality might be able to change the way the int'l community views us.

Exactly! Everytime I watch international news reports, I am astounded by the Anti-American sentiment on various political issues. EVERY American obviously does not share the same views nor feel superior to the rest of the world.

I don't think it's simply because his father's Muslim, but what it means that America could elect a President with that heritage. There is certainly a tendancy to support the person "like" you, especially when you don't have as much of a stake in the winner.

*nod*
There are some people who should get the lesson from that and apply it to their own perceptions. Like those who think that all Muslims think the same way *cough hint cough*

And as for the media, as much as I like the BBC for example, they have their own bias too.