July 31, 2008

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Last week Barack Obama took a trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and several countries in Europe. What do you think he accomplished? Why do you think John McCain is downplaying the trip? (Asked at the Almaden Branch Library/Community Center)


“Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being popular in Europe. John McCain’s comments sound like sour grapes. American’s standing is very low around the world right now and anything that improves it is important.”

John Francis, 59
Blossom Valley
Software


“No, I don’t think he accomplished anything with his trip, All the people in the countries he visited have other things on their mind than our presidential election. I don’t like mud slinging. We need these candidates to talk about the basic issues, which is why Barack Obama should have been here instead of there.”

Matt Welch, 48
Santa Teresa
Construction company estimator


“He’s the first candidate for president that went to Europe and he brought out 200,000 people in Germany to see him. His trip wasn’t necessary because they are not voting for him, but politically it gave him exposure. It was positive because the United States has had so many negatives against it lately. I think John McCain showed sour grapes because Obama is getting more press than McCain is.”

Sandy Gordon
Almaden
Retired


“I hope he got a good feel of what is happening over there. I don’t think that John McCain was showing sour grapes, I think he was trying to couch it that a quick trip like that doesn’t provide that much information. I think Obama did need to go and take a look at what is happening over there [Iraq and Afghanistan].”

Elaine Kaye, 40ish
Almaden
Engineer


“I think he did accomplish something with his trip, the fact that he has a good personality. The world needs to see him; they like to see him show he has an open mind. John McCain can do the same thing instead of staying in America and going to a German restaurant.”

Gaitane Thibaudeau, 42
Almaden
Homemaker


“Hopefully he accomplished showing a friendly face and letting the people of those countries know that we don’t want war. It seems like sour grapes to me. McCain wants us to be at war for the next 100 or 1,000 years. That’s ridiculous.”

Christine Clecak, 40
Almaden
Homemaker


“I don’t know if the trip accomplished anything more than a symbolic outlining of Barack Obama’s priorities on the world. I think John McCain sees himself with more experience in foreign affairs and will take any opportunity to highlight his experience and minimize that of Obama.”

Pam Crider, 48
Alamaden
Almaden Library branch manager


“I think his trip will help build bridges between the United States and the rest of the world. He’s [John McCain] giving his own feedback. He has to say something.”

Tracy Gregory
Los Gatos
Homemaker