Why is McCain's popularity in Israel an asset and Obama's popularity in Germany a liability?

[Hippo_Tron]

Cause that's what I've been hearing from the pundits. Can anybody give me a reasonable argument that this is true or are they just full of shit as usual?

[book_worm]

1. Is he popular in Israel among the masses or just with certain hard line politicians?

[mcctatas]

2. Because the "liberal media" loves McCain more than free drinks

or nicknames from der Chimperor? :shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Scapegoating at its finest.

The MSM is notorious for it.

[Boojatta]

4. There's a lot of dust in Germany.

Enthusiastic crowds of people are simply going to make Obama dusty. When he gets home, he could sneeze. One sneeze could easily ruin the US economy.

Meanwhile, Israel has developed a secret anti-sneezing vaccine. McCain got a free injection. He's not going to sneeze.

[kevinmc]

5. New Poll: Israelis Prefer Obama

Huffington Post

Even more positive news from Barack Obama's trip to the Middle East: a new poll by Israel Radio shows, for perhaps the first time, Israelis preferring Obama to John McCain.

When asked "who would you rather see elected as the next president of the United States," Obama bested John McCain by a 37-28 margin. While far from a decisive advantage -- 35 percent of Israelis chose "no preference" or some other answer -- the poll reflects a notably different state of affairs from previous surveys, which generally showed McCain with a large advantage over Obama.

Obama's competitiveness spanned the political spectrum across Israel's top three parties. The Illinois Democrat trounced McCain among Israel's most liberal voters, who belong to the Labor Party (44-6), tied among more right-wing Likud voters (28-28), and held a slight edge among sympathizers of the Kadima Party, which is led by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (40-32).

The survey of 600 respondents taken this week, likely before Obama landed in Israel, also found that more Israelis believe Obama would be a better president for the Jewish state, 31-27. (Forty-two percent registered other responses.)

These latest numbers contrast sharply with other recent polls, one of which gave McCain a 36-27 edge, while another showed 46 percent of Israelis believed that McCain would be a better president for Israel.

[Gabi Hayes]

11. Katie Couric, citing the above story: Tonight we focus on Barack Obama's shameless pandering

to the Jews.

[AtomicKitten]

6. Fuzzy GOP math.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

7. Because most Americans like Israel, and many dislike Europe

From what I've seen of polls, most Americans think of Israel as "our ally in the fight against Islam"; far too many think of Germany as "Liberal commie pinko socialist cheese-eating surrender-monkeys" - I suspect not enough to make popularity there an actual disadvantage, but certainly enough that it's less of an advantage than it might be.

Essentially, it's one manifestation of the disadvantage Obama, or any other Democrat, is going to have to have to overcome all along the line - he's a left-wing candidate in an extremely right-wing country.

[Hippo_Tron]

8. Do you have sound statistical data to support those assertions

Or did you just hear that from pundits who say that "Most Americans think of Israel as our ally and Germany as a pinko commie socialist state"?

[Thothmes]

16. You are the only person that I have heard

refer to Germany as pinko commie socialist state. As far as statistics go. No I dont. Just my experience with some Jewish folks I know. When it comes to political discussion the candidates position on the state of Isreal and the situation in Palestine. Probably should not have made a broad generalization on that point.

[Thothmes]

9. Which will translate to more votes in the election in this Country?

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Well, since neither Israelis nor Germans can vote...

I don't think there is a net gain or loss in either direction.

[Thothmes]

13. Not my point

Strong support for Israel normally bodes well among American Jewish voters.

[Hippo_Tron]

15. Really, do you have any good statistical evidence of that?

And do all Jewish voters tend to vote based on their views about Israel or only some?

[muntrv]

10. 'Cuz them Yooropeeins are furiners while Israel is as Amurkin as apple pie.

:sarcasm:

[AnnieBW]

14. Because Israel is the 51st State

Didn't you realize that?