This is a video clip from the Fox News show the O’Reilly Factor from April 3, 2009. In this clip Bill O’Reilly discusses the good and the bad of Obama’s trip abroad. Obama visited many countries some of which included France, Turkey, and an unannounced trip to Iraq. In this particular clip, O’Reilly praises President Obama for “complimenting the Europeans then scolding them for being anti-American.” O’Reilly was more critical of Obama’s speech in Turkey, however. Bill felt that Obama demonstrated some anti-American tendencies himself by bringing up some of America’s troubled history (specifically treatment of Native Americans and Slavery). O’Reilly claimed that this America bashing was unnecessary serving no overall greater purpose. O’Reilly also discussed the lack of economic or military support given by the European countries following Obama’s trip. Specifically, he sees this fact as somewhat of a failure. At this point only four other countries, Poland, Australia, the UK, and Canada have offered their support in the Middle East. While Bill does compliment some aspects of Obama’s speeches, he scolds him for pandering to the Europeans.
I think President Obama is doing the best he can to repair the European-American relationship post-Bush. We need Europe to take on the challenges of the future. We need their ideas, their resources and their support. Our country's greatest challenges are in fact same as those facing humanity at large - human overpopulation and the resulting environmental and anthropological impact, and religious radicalism. If we have any chance of meeting these challenges effectively, we will need all the help we can get from Europe and the rest of the world. I think Obama's strategy has likely been considered at greater length and in greater depth than O'reilly's criticism.
I agree with Stu's take on the video. I would add that the world is so connected, with the economic crises a good example, we need a president eager to work with the world to try and meet the enormous challenges that we can't solve alone.
Also, why does O'Reilly thinks that Obama mentioning his policies France agrees with is pandering? Seems like good politics to me. And does he really think Bush's problem was only his style? Watching clips like this make me wonder how anyone takes this guy seriously.
I think that it is good that Obama is visiting the countries that he is visiting. We have had a rocky past few years with countries such as France and others that he is visiting. So by visiting them he is making an obvious effort to repair relations with countries that we may not be on the best terms with.
I think that what Obama has done in Europe is both useful to America and to Europe. Rekindling the flame is important to the world as a whole. Obama is just being truthful with his opinions and I believe it rubs O'Reilly and other politicians in the wrong way. I want a person who is going to tell me how it is without giving me a load of crap that sounds good. Yet everyone has their opinions. Overall I hope Obama does utilize Europe's ideas like Stu has said so everyone can help out each other versus everyone looking out for self. When you have two big powers in the British and America in a state of economic recession it doesn't bid well for the world.
I think that what Obama has done in Europe is both useful to America and to Europe. Rekindling the flame is important to the world as a whole. Obama is just being truthful with his opinions and I believe it rubs O'Reilly and other politicians in the wrong way. I want a person who is going to tell me how it is without giving me a load of crap that sounds good. Yet everyone has their opinions. Overall I hope Obama does utilize Europe's ideas like Stu has said so everyone can help out each other versus everyone looking out for self. When you have two big powers in the British and America in a state of economic recession it doesn't bid well for the world.
While O'Reilly is certainly critical of Obama, he does bring some good points into discussion and also informs the American people about the Obama's trip abroad. There is no doubt that the Obamas made a few blunders while abroad, but it is insulting to our current administration to state that the purpose was more for show. He was carrying out his Presidential duty by recruiting European nations as allies and build better ties for the sake of America. It was not as if his intention was to insult the Europeans and embarrass the U.S.
I think its really sad that conservative people in our country want to criticize Obama and what he has done in Europe. The fact that people are willing to get upset over the fact that he may or may not have bowed is ridiculous. In my opinion it is time our country start repairing the relationships ruined by the Bush administration and Obama is attempting to do just that.
I am not surprised that the country and media outlets are criticizing every step Obama takes. As it is a little ignorant to call Austrian a language, we all tend to screw up now and again so I think Obama can just learn from this event and move on.
Obama is making ties stronger though, and that is what we really need right now
This was a very interesting current event. It was informative to hear about what Obama was doing out of the country. I believe that the press is blowing some of his actions out of proportion. When he was bowing, I feel he was merely showing sign of respect. I also feel, that some of the negative language he used towards the US's past was inappropriate.
I think O' Reilley's point's can be his own opinin. I believe the Obama admin is trying their best to pull the United States out of the crisis we're in. Many people, especially the media, will try to downplay or critize what Obama is saying, but at the end of the day, he has so many issues to worry about and i'm sure he's trying to pull us together. Sometimes I think in order to settle differences, we have to put our pride aside.
In my opinion, this whole topic is being completely blown out of proportion. So there are some cultural differences that Obama didn't acknowledge. He didn't do it out of a sign of disrespect, but instead out of respect for every country that he visited. I'll admit he should have done a bit of research about the culture before traveling, but it was a honest mistake that people are taking out of hand.
I thought that all the talk about this trip was blown out of proportion. I think that it is important that Obama does more research and is more careful in the future because the United States has had previous problem as when George Bush had common mistakes. I do not think it is terrible that obama bowed because that is a sign of respect but I do think it is rather embarassing that he thought there was an Austrian language but as long as he does not make these mistakes common I beleive that we should move on from this subject.
I don't think it would be unreasonable for America to forgive Obama for the few blunders he's had since in office. What is unreasonable is to blow these inconsequential mistakes out of proportion. Would have been nice for O'Reilly to concentrate more on Obama's attempts to recruit additional allies to help us fight in Afghanistan and his attempts to build and restore relationships with European nations, instead of focusing on such trivial matters.
I think too much was make of this trip. It seems to me that we are just looking for to question the President. We all mess up sometimes even the President. He went on this trip to and make our relations better between other countries
It is unfair to put a bunch of video cameras on Obama only months after he stepped into office and expect him to fix or destroy any problem we have abroad. Obama is a human being; he's going to make some faux-pas and he's going to make some improvements. If Obama knew everything about every culture and never made mistakes, I feel that people would have a harder time relating to him and trusting him as president. The Austrian language faux-pas was a slip, but anyone who wants to nail Obama on that slip should know enough about Obama already to know that Obama is not a dumb guy.
This is a video clip from the Fox News show the O’Reilly Factor from April 3, 2009. In this clip Bill O’Reilly discusses the good and the bad of Obama’s trip abroad. Obama visited many countries some of which included France, Turkey, and an unannounced trip to Iraq. In this particular clip, O’Reilly praises President Obama for “complimenting the Europeans then scolding them for being anti-American.” O’Reilly was more critical of Obama’s speech in Turkey, however. Bill felt that Obama demonstrated some anti-American tendencies himself by bringing up some of America’s troubled history (specifically treatment of Native Americans and Slavery). O’Reilly claimed that this America bashing was unnecessary serving no overall greater purpose. O’Reilly also discussed the lack of economic or military support given by the European countries following Obama’s trip. Specifically, he sees this fact as somewhat of a failure. At this point only four other countries, Poland, Australia, the UK, and Canada have offered their support in the Middle East. While Bill does compliment some aspects of Obama’s speeches, he scolds him for pandering to the Europeans.
ReplyDeleteI think President Obama is doing the best he can to repair the European-American relationship post-Bush. We need Europe to take on the challenges of the future. We need their ideas, their resources and their support. Our country's greatest challenges are in fact same as those facing humanity at large - human overpopulation and the resulting environmental and anthropological impact, and religious radicalism. If we have any chance of meeting these challenges effectively, we will need all the help we can get from Europe and the rest of the world. I think Obama's strategy has likely been considered at greater length and in greater depth than O'reilly's criticism.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stu's take on the video. I would add that the world is so connected, with the economic crises a good example, we need a president eager to work with the world to try and meet the enormous challenges that we can't solve alone.
ReplyDeleteAlso, why does O'Reilly thinks that Obama mentioning his policies France agrees with is pandering? Seems like good politics to me. And does he really think Bush's problem was only his style? Watching clips like this make me wonder how anyone takes this guy seriously.
I think that it is good that Obama is visiting the countries that he is visiting. We have had a rocky past few years with countries such as France and others that he is visiting. So by visiting them he is making an obvious effort to repair relations with countries that we may not be on the best terms with.
ReplyDeleteI think that what Obama has done in Europe is both useful to America and to Europe. Rekindling the flame is important to the world as a whole. Obama is just being truthful with his opinions and I believe it rubs O'Reilly and other politicians in the wrong way. I want a person who is going to tell me how it is without giving me a load of crap that sounds good. Yet everyone has their opinions. Overall I hope Obama does utilize Europe's ideas like Stu has said so everyone can help out each other versus everyone looking out for self. When you have two big powers in the British and America in a state of economic recession it doesn't bid well for the world.
ReplyDeleteI think that what Obama has done in Europe is both useful to America and to Europe. Rekindling the flame is important to the world as a whole. Obama is just being truthful with his opinions and I believe it rubs O'Reilly and other politicians in the wrong way. I want a person who is going to tell me how it is without giving me a load of crap that sounds good. Yet everyone has their opinions. Overall I hope Obama does utilize Europe's ideas like Stu has said so everyone can help out each other versus everyone looking out for self. When you have two big powers in the British and America in a state of economic recession it doesn't bid well for the world.
ReplyDeleteWhile O'Reilly is certainly critical of Obama, he does bring some good points into discussion and also informs the American people about the Obama's trip abroad. There is no doubt that the Obamas made a few blunders while abroad, but it is insulting to our current administration to state that the purpose was more for show. He was carrying out his Presidential duty by recruiting European nations as allies and build better ties for the sake of America. It was not as if his intention was to insult the Europeans and embarrass the U.S.
ReplyDeleteI think its really sad that conservative people in our country want to criticize Obama and what he has done in Europe. The fact that people are willing to get upset over the fact that he may or may not have bowed is ridiculous. In my opinion it is time our country start repairing the relationships ruined by the Bush administration and Obama is attempting to do just that.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that the country and media outlets are criticizing every step Obama takes.
ReplyDeleteAs it is a little ignorant to call Austrian a language, we all tend to screw up now and again so I think Obama can just learn from this event and move on.
Obama is making ties stronger though, and that is what we really need right now
This was a very interesting current event. It was informative to hear about what Obama was doing out of the country. I believe that the press is blowing some of his actions out of proportion. When he was bowing, I feel he was merely showing sign of respect. I also feel, that some of the negative language he used towards the US's past was inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteI think O' Reilley's point's can be his own opinin. I believe the Obama admin is trying their best to pull the United States out of the crisis we're in. Many people, especially the media, will try to downplay or critize what Obama is saying, but at the end of the day, he has so many issues to worry about and i'm sure he's trying to pull us together. Sometimes I think in order to settle differences, we have to put our pride aside.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, this whole topic is being completely blown out of proportion. So there are some cultural differences that Obama didn't acknowledge. He didn't do it out of a sign of disrespect, but instead out of respect for every country that he visited. I'll admit he should have done a bit of research about the culture before traveling, but it was a honest mistake that people are taking out of hand.
ReplyDeleteI thought that all the talk about this trip was blown out of proportion. I think that it is important that Obama does more research and is more careful in the future because the United States has had previous problem as when George Bush had common mistakes. I do not think it is terrible that obama bowed because that is a sign of respect but I do think it is rather embarassing that he thought there was an Austrian language but as long as he does not make these mistakes common I beleive that we should move on from this subject.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it would be unreasonable for America to forgive Obama for the few blunders he's had since in office. What is unreasonable is to blow these inconsequential mistakes out of proportion. Would have been nice for O'Reilly to concentrate more on Obama's attempts to recruit additional allies to help us fight in Afghanistan and his attempts to build and restore relationships with European nations, instead of focusing on such trivial matters.
ReplyDeleteI think too much was make of this trip. It seems to me that we are just looking for to question the President. We all mess up sometimes even the President. He went on this trip to and make our relations better between other countries
ReplyDeleteIt is unfair to put a bunch of video cameras on Obama only months after he stepped into office and expect him to fix or destroy any problem we have abroad. Obama is a human being; he's going to make some faux-pas and he's going to make some improvements. If Obama knew everything about every culture and never made mistakes, I feel that people would have a harder time relating to him and trusting him as president. The Austrian language faux-pas was a slip, but anyone who wants to nail Obama on that slip should know enough about Obama already to know that Obama is not a dumb guy.
ReplyDelete