Paris welcomes Obama with star treatment on his whirlwind trip to France
July 26, 2008
Sarkozy appearswith Barack Obama in Paris as French press and crowds turn out for Democratic candidate
Crowds in Paris lined the street outside the Elysee Palace on Friday to catch a glimpse of Sen. Barack Obama’s motorcade, chanting “yes we can”, Obama’s campaign slogan, in English. Sarkozy, who has met with John McCain several times, has never officially appeared in public with him. But this time the president of France stood alongside the man who could be the next American president, and treated him like an old friend. The French president called Obama’s promise of more U.S.- European cooperation “good news.” Obama contributed to the mutual-admiration society by calling Sarkozy a “rock star,” thanking and praising him for his positive stance on America, not a popular stance for a politician in France to take in recent years. Obama and Sarkozy met for about 45 minutes in the Elysee Palace. Later, as the two men appeared together ofr a news conference, President Sarkozy said “The French love Americans,” and he repeated this strong support for the U.S. He said Barack Obama’s adventure “rings true to the French and Europeans….” Senator Obama thanked President Sarkozy and praised the French troops serving in Afghanistan, and said the two had also agreed to work together toward resolution of the trouble in Darfur. Obama also said Iran should accept the current international terms to end their nuclear program, adding that Iran should not wait for the next US president.
Obama’s visit to France was short– only a few hours. While he is popular in France — French newspapers waxed rhapsodic over his visit, one with the headline “Obamamania” –he didn’t seem interested in drawing the rock-concert style reception he had had in Berlin, perhaps wary of how such a French welcome would play back home. After all, it is not so long since “Freedom fries” replaced French fries on menus in Washington D.C. and across America, and John Kerry’s French connections did him more harm than good.
Obama’s popularity in France may have to do with his youth, his race or just that he is not President Bush. A recent Pew poll in France found that 68 percent of people in France believed a new American president would improve U.S. foreign policy. In a later poll, 84 percent of French people said they hoped that president would be Obama. African-Americans have long found a haven in France, where performers like Josephine Baker and Louis Armstrong were welcomed at a time when racial prejudices in their own country marred their opportunities there. Now it seems another minority American star has found his spotlight in France.
While Sarkozy is a nominal conservative, who has embraced President Bush and whose views are arguably closer to those of John McCain than Obama’s, he obviously likes Barack Obama’s story and personality. He said his discussion with Obama was as two men who had similar experience in running for office. Still, Sarkozy made it very clear that whoever the US elects as its next President, France would be delighted to work with him. Sarkozy wished Obama luck, but did not endorse him. He said it was up to Americans to choose their president.
When the two men ended their appearance, they left with their arms around each other.
Obama then left for London to meet with Gordon Brown.
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