Quora question: What do people who don't live in the US think of Obama?

[teach1st]

What do people who don't live in the US think of Obama?

Quora discussions are usually well-attended by intelligent, reasonable people. This one is no different. There are great answers from around the world.

I picked one from a poster who says he is from Mexico:

I'm a lawyer, and I find that listening to this cool-headed University of Chicago law professor is more often than not a lesson in law and public policy. His seasoned, level-headed opinions on everything from school shootings to religious freedom to Merrick Garland come as a relief and a breath of fresh air to many foreigners who (after Bush and now with the looming threat of Trump) had become accustomed to thinking of U.S. politics like a relatively mature five-year-old, holding a loaded gun, in a crowded zoo, just as all the chimpanzees from the chimp exhibit next to him was somehow broken open: Everything will go wrong, and people will get hurt, for no reason at all.

Most foreigners also view much of his domestic policy proposals like Obamacare, his ideas on gun control and energy reform as a voice of reason among voices from both sides of the U.S. aisle.

He seems to lead with example and with appeals to reason, as opposed to either chest-beating or tear-jerking.

But more than anything, he's just cool. He was gracious, witty and yet not subservient with the whole Invictus Challenge with the U.K.'s royal family, sensible with respect to the Europe immigrant crisis, reasonable and friendly to a hero cop who made a serious judgment mistake with respect to a former Obama colleague, and does this while maintaining an impressive image.

Full discussion on Quora

[jamese777]

1. How Obama Is Viewed Internationally

From Pew Research Foundation:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/06/24/7-charts-on-how-the-world-views-president-obama/

Excerpt: "Globally, Obama’s image is mostly positive. Across the 40 countries polled, a median of 65% say they have confidence in Obama to do the right thing in world affairs. A median of just 27% lack confidence in the American leader. Overall, Obama remains much more popular globally than his predecessor, but opinions vary significantly across nations and regions."

President Obama's International Confidence ratings range from highs of 94% positive in the Philippines, 88% positive in South Korea, 84% in France and 81% positive in Australia to lows of 11% positive in The Russian Federation, 15% positive in the Palestinian Territories and 14% positive in Jordan and Pakistan.

[teach1st]

2. Very interesting

It's nice to see the numbers. Thanks for posting the link, jamese777!

[jamese777]

3. My Pleasure!

I'm glad you found that intersting/helpful.

Conservatives would try to have folks believe that President Obama has been an abysmal failure at home and abroad. Barack Obama's current Gallup Poll job aporoval rating is 24 points higher than George W. Bush's was in late May of 2008 (52% vs 28%).
The Republican led Congress currently has a 14% approval/77% disapproval rating.