[The Times, U.K.]

Diario Economico, Portugal

Obama and Huckabee are

'Too Radical for America'

'Obama and Huckabee defend a set of ideas so radically different from mainstream American political ideas that, for some time now, no one has known how to appropriately criticize them.'

By Bruno Maçães

Translated By Brandi Miller

January 9, 2008

Portugal - Diario Economico - Original Article (Portuguese)

Because of our own fragility, for a long time the European question has been whether and to what extent our politics and society should be Americanized. Surprisingly, the same issue has emerged in an opposite sense in the American election campaign, even though so far no one has put it in these terms, chiefly because interest in European ideas is very limited on the other side of the Atlantic. In place of Aznar and Berlusconi, are two politicians whose recent rise demonstrates a powerful desire for a new way of doing politics.

[Editor's Note: Former Spanish President Aznar was replaced by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi was defeated by Romano Prodi. The author is pointing out that Aznar and Berlusconi were voted out of office in favor of a new type of leader. Aznar and Berlusconi were two of President Bush's staunchest European allies].

On the right, it is increasingly difficult to counter the trend of social policy based on religious virtues. Huckabee takes moral positions perfectly aligned with the evangelical churches, but attacks the greed of Wall Street, is against free trade and, as governor of Arkansas, nearly tripled the state’s budget. According to the candidate, any tax is justified if it makes children happy. His victory would presage the end of the conservative coalition, separating the defense of traditional moral values from the promotion of a small government and low taxes. What emerged in its place is nothing but ancient European Christian democracy.

The other candidate of change speaks on behalf of the greatest value of the European left: dialogue. Barack Obama began by criticizing the fierce partisanship of American politics, its taste for conflict and the destruction of adversaries, which is exactly what motivates me to spend three hours a day monitoring this campaign. He stresses a foreign policy as little-dominated by national interest as possible. Above all, he threatens to dissect all economic institutions where the quest for profit overshadows dialogue and rational argument. These are strange and potentially dangerous ideas. It will be important that the requirement for discussion also applies itself to this radical philosophical program.

I don’t think I'm wrong when I say that, as they get to know things better, the voters will reject these new programs, primarily because they are fundamentally opposed to American political culture. Obama and Huckabee defend a set of ideas so radically different from mainstream American political ideas that, for some time now, no one has known how to appropriately criticize them. The other side of the coin is that these same ideas haven't had time to convince anyone beyond the seduction of something new, and because of that they are extremely vulnerable.

Where would I put my money? A general election between Obama and McCain, with McCain the victor.

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