Election Reaction: We Can Stop Hating America Now

(By Ray D.)

For those of you who don't know him, Karsten Voigt has been the German government's Coordinator for German-American Cooperation since 1999. He is also a member of ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social-Democratic party, which currently controls the German foreign ministry. In a post election interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, Mr. Voigt expressed his hope that German prejudices against the United States would decrease now that the Democrats are in power. He also noted that these prejudices had hardened during the Bush years, the same years that he was tasked with improving German-American relations. The headline accompanying his comments reads: "Interview with Karsten Voigt: I Hope for Reduction of Stereotypes Against America."

Mr. Voigt's comments reflect a telling yet predictable logic pervasive in wide swaths of German media, politics and society. While the Republicans held power in the legislative and executive branch, people like Mr. Voigt were not as keenly interested in reducing the ugly anti-American prejudices rapidly metastasizing in German society (though they would protest that they certainly were). As we reported earlier, high-ranking German diplomats have repeatedly shrugged off shocking manifestations of anti-Americanism. When shown the outrageous May 2005 cover of IG Metall magazine, which depicted Americans as greedy, blood-sucking parasites feeding on German factories, both Dr. Guenter Pleuger, Germany's current Ambassador to the UN in New York, and former German Ambassador to the United States Juergen Chrobog dismissed the caricature as "not a problem." Other German diplomats have been even more open with their sentiments, comparing civil rights in the United States with those in North Korea.

Here's the point: Mr. Voigt and his colleagues in the German government, diplomatic corps and media should not have waited years until the "right people" (i.e. the "left people") were in power to call for greater German-American understanding. They should have been working all along in a very public manner to reduce the growing cancer of German prejudices against Americans instead of allowing them to fester and explode into the enormous national disease that we see today. Here is one very specific example: Mr. Voigt and his Social-Democrat colleagues should have never allowed Guido Westerwelle of the Free-Democrat Party to remain the solitary voice of German political leadership to condemn the outrageous IG Metall "American bloodsuckers" cover. Mr. Voigt should have loudly and publicly condemned this and other specific examples of anti-American prejudice in Germany through his many years on the job.

The sad truth is that Mr. Voigt's party, the Social-Democratic party, has long been the political beneficiary of anti-American sentiment. And let's be honest, Mr. Voigt did not speak out more vehemently or publicly until now about anti-American sentiments because they have helped his party win elections for decades. Anyone who doubts that should read the following passages from President Jimmy Carter's memoir:

"In Europe and elsewhere there were sharp debates about how much the United States should be supported on the crises in Iran and Afghanistan. Germany was being difficult. An election was approaching, and the leftists were opposed to any further criticism of the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan. When Helmut Schmidt came to Washington for a visit, I was sharply critical because he had yielded to this pressure." (Page 500, "Keeping Faith")

"Helmut Schmidt seemed to be torn between the conflicting political forces in his country. In private conversations he was very tough in dealing with the Soviet threat, often the leader among Europeans in proposing strong action. But in German political debates, he emphasized the opposite facet of the same question and seemed reluctant to do anything which might be interpreted as anti-Soviet. At times this conflict made it difficult for Americans to understand him and was the reason for some of our problems. There were many reports from news reporters and others in Europe and in the United States concerning his critical comments about me, Secretaries Vance and Muskie, Dr. Brzezinski, and other officials in our government. These persistent criticisms, often highly publicized, helped to legitimize anti-American sentiments in Germany. Perhaps to compensate for these reports, Schmidt would publicly deplore any negative comments from others in Germany about the United States or its leaders." (Pages 537-538, "Keeping Faith")

The same can be said of certain members of the American left, who have looked the other way or discounted the most strident manifestations of anti-Americanism as anti-Bush sentiments. The rude awakening for America's Democrats will come when they realize that the "Hate America" cancer that has spread through Europe and beyond (while many of them looked the other way because after all it was hurting Bush) is a plague that they will have to contend with directly. The chickens will slowly come home to roost as Democrats assume power in Congress and potentially take the Presidency in 2008 (although that is still a long way off and far from certain.) Democrat leaders, and those seeking to work with them abroad, will soon realize that the anti-American prejudices they have allowed to fester, grow and boil over are far wider and deeper than they could have ever imagined. It is all far more complicated than Hate Bush. They themselves will undoubtedly suffer at the hands of a monster they allowed to grow and thrive (and, to a degree, helped create).

The bottom line is this: We all continue to have a common interest in ending German prejudices against the United States. The plague of "Hate America" that has infected German media, politics and society is something that we should have been working against for years now, not something to be addressed only when a certain political constellation happens to shine upon us. For our part, Davids Medienkritik has worked tirelessly to expose the obvious and many signs of this plague. For years, German media have ignored the diversity of opinion within the United States. For years, German media have spread ugly, stupid stereotypes about the United States for cheap and easy profit. For years, German media have chosen to report shoddy cliches and pet issues instead of explaining the complex fabric of American life. For years, German media have denigrated and dehumanized the American soldier. For years, German media have relied on scare tactics and innuendo to report on social and economic conditions (i.e. amerikanische Verhaeltnisse) in the United States.

Oh by the way, where was Mr. Voigt with his deep and public concern about prejudice as wave after wave of anti-Americanism splashed through German media, politics and society for years on end? Where was he when SPIEGEL was publishing these covers?

Clearly, Mr. Voigt was too afraid of his party's powerful allies in the media and unions to speak out more concretely against the outrageous magazine covers and newspaper articles that we have documented on this site over the past several years. It would seem that fighting anti-American prejudice is a highly selective and somewhat vague act for Mr. Voigt and his Social Democratic friends. It would certainly help if Mr. Voigt were willing to clearly define the prejudices of which he speaks with specific examples. Unfortunately he doesn't, and readers are left to speculate. In that respect, his interview comments are more of the same empty, weak-kneed, feel-good rhetoric going in one ear and coming out the other.

We would also like to address the following: American conservatives have clearly been most interested in this site, there can be no denying that. But this site is and should be for everyone and anyone interested in stronger transatlantic ties, because everyone, regardless of party or political leaning, should be concerned about the problem of anti-American prejudice in Germany and around the world. The opportunity to fight for an end to anti-American prejudice in Germany has long been at hand and did not suddenly materialize with the election of Democrat majorities to Congress as Mr. Voigt implies it has. The fight against anti-American prejudices must be constant and unwavering, and it is in this regard that Mr. Voigt and his Social-Democratic party, along with their friends in the German media and diplomatic corps, have failed us profoundly.

Let us repeat this important point: The fact that some Democrats and members of the American left have chosen to discount or ignore this problem because it was politically convenient to do so in the short-term will undoubtedly come back to haunt them as they assume power. This much we can say: Because "Hate America" has been allowed to fester in German media and politics for so many years without open condemnation or opposition of any significant note on either side of the Atlantic, it will continue to negatively affect German-American cooperation for years to come. We must continue to work against harmful anti-American stereotypes whatever our common political future may hold and whatever political party or parties happen to be in power. There are and can be no politically inconvenient times to stand up against irrational hatred and prejudice.   

Comments

[joe]

Oh Please don't stop how would we know we were doing the right thing.

[Pamela]

And I can tell you that one unintended consequence that these yahoos didn't expect.

After 9/11 Americans started to pay attention to what is being said about us in Europe.

And guess what?

The feeling has become mutual.

And you thought we were nice.

Not to mention stupid.

(btw: dang David! That was one hell of a post on such short notice!)

Note from David: It's Ray's posting. (Of course, I agree 10 percent with him. But all the glory belongs to him.)

[Scott_H]

"The rude awakening for America's Democrats will come..."

They have no idea...literally.

[Commander]

Karsten Voigt talks about stereotypes? Oh yes, I forgot of course only Bush triggered them. How could a culturally superior German ever lose his sense of reality, since we are so well informed and always critical towards imperialism?!
Old Europe's attitudes will wake up the Democrats for sure. Did anybody notice that war supporter Liebermann won in CT against the DP with the votes of Republicans (the GOP candidate got 10 %!). How could this happen if everybody is so fed up with Bush and Iraq?

[Foobarista]

And the tricky thing is that those anti-American stereotypes may well get _stronger_ with Dems running Congress. I'm sure that Eurolefties are drooling at the thought that Bush will be impeached, that the US will enact Kyoto, and the US will pull out of Iraq tomorrow. The reality is that none of these things will happen, because the Dem hold on Congress is weak, and any of these three would be political suicide. They'll sniff around, bills will be put forth that will die quietly in committee, but even Nancy Pelosi is smart enough to know that if the next two years is spent screwing around with Bush, a re-energized group of new Republicans will be in charge in 2008.

In some ways, Dems are in the classic "be careful what you wish for: you may get it!" situation. They appear to be in power, but are so weak that they can't do much of anything but make noise. And since it's a Democratic congress making noise, it will reflect poorly on the Dems. Bush is now in a situation similar to Clinton in 1998 - a nasty Congress that hates him will be dumb and he can quietly act Presidential while they hang themselves.

As for Eurolefties, they'll wonder why the US hasn't committed to Kyoto, why the Iraq War is still going on, and why Bush isn't hanging instead of Saddam. And they'll _really_ hate the US if the Dems lose big in 2008 because they tried to do any of the above.

[Pamela]

And I'm sitting here hearing Chuck Schumer explain to me how Pelosi is really a nice Catholic girl from Baltimore.

/no sarc, no bullshit

[Buckeye Abroad]

Great post Ray.

The only thing I can foresee for certain in the near future is Congress providing the media with political theater to help pave the way for Hillary in the 2008 election. Meaningless investigations and disucssions of an impeachment trial will be whats in store for the next 18 months, all for not in the end, with loads of unfounded acqusations and editorial droppings to keep the circle jerk going.

If the dems stop the support of the iraqi provisional govt. and withdrawl US troops [even giving a deadline], there is going to be a SE Asia 70's style redux in the Middle East as the civil war ensues to fill the vacuum. Pakistan will probably have an attempted, and possibly successful, coup. The Kurds will not achieve an autonomy and will continued to be persecuted and the factional fighting for power will definitely kill more innocent iraqis than the current jihadis blowing them up. The war won't end, it will just intensify. Iran will without fear of reprisials crank up their nuclear arms program as it already has proven how feckless the EU and UN are regardless of their stated intentions. Once US troops are out of the region, the last possible threat of retaliation is removed. I don't think Israel has the capacity to pacify strictly form the air, so we will have another nuclear armed islamic state [which will spread]. The chance for democracy in the Middle East will be extinguished with smug pleasure by all the western elites smiling on assuring another, deadlier conflict in the future.

Here's hoping I'm wrong.

[Pamela]

Buckeye Abroad

Have no fear. What needs to be done will be done.

[joe]

Pamela and Buckeyer Abroad,

But think at the end of the day, there will be stability in the ME and that is what euroland wants more than anything.

[Scott_H]

Just to put a little perspective on this:

1. Bush is still the President of the US and Commander-in Chief of the US Armed Forces (with Congressional authority to do whatever is necessary to win the GWOT) -- nothing has changed there. The rest of the world will still have to deal with Bush and his administration -- not with the Democrats.

2. Assuming Allen loses his VA Senate seat, the Senate will have 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans -- a majority for the Democrats in name only, and not enough to overturn any vetos. They'll get to set the agenda and, to the extent that there is common ground between the Dems and Republicans, may actually get a thing or two done. But, the 49 Republicans are not going to go away, nor rollover (hopefully). This is a classic prescription for gridlock -- which may actually be a good thing.

3. The situation in the House is not much different from the Senate. The Democrats have a majority in name only -- not a "workable" majority.

So, as someone said above, the Democrats are in a "be careful what you wish for" situation. Congratulations, you won! Don't screw it up. There's no where to go but down.

[jane m]

I am so pleased that now that Nancy Pelosi is in charge of America, we will now have culture in our land. Opera, symphonies, theatre will rise spontaneously...gone are Joe and Jane Sixpack, pick-up trucks and trailer parks. No more elderly freeaing in winter and broiling in summer until dead. No more uninsured for health care families, and best of all, no more greedy, blooksucking captalists. No more cat 5 hurricanes with accompaning floods. New Orleans will rise from the ashes and be flood free for evermore. Hallelujah! America has been saved and will become the twin of the European utopia. No doubt our birthrate will fall to European levels and we soon will be dying faster than we can replace ourselves. What a glorius future to look forward to with little or no economic growth and double digit unemployment.

[Rockies]

Ich glaube kaum, dass sich das amerikanisch/deutsche Verhaeltnis nochmal zurechtruecken wird. Niemand von Einfluss macht sich mehr die Muehe, das zerschlagene Porzellan wieder zu kitten.

Die Prioritaeten der heutigen Weltprobleme sind so, dass das deutsch/amerikanische Verhaeltnis noch nicht mal unter "ferner liefen", oder "wenn alle anderen Probleme geloest sind" zu finden ist.

Ob das kollektive Ami-bashing und Bush-bashing mit der in Deutschland voellig misinterpretierten demokratischen Kontrolle des Kongresses in Deutschland weitergeht oder aufhoert, ist ehrlich gesagt irrelevant geworden.

Ich habe das in deutsch (als amerikanischer Staatsbuerger, der in der USA lebt) geschrieben, weil ich das besonders fuer die Deutschen geschrieben habe.

Begrabt jede Hoffnung, dass noch mal etwas aus dem Verhaeltnis wird. Ihr spart Euch damit unnoetige Zeitverschwendung. Frueher eingegangene Verantwortungen werden eingehalten, aber ansonsten versucht man sich hier Deutschland als Land vom Hals zu halten.

Die Amerikaner heissen individuelle Deutsche und deutsche Familien natuerlich wie immer herzlich willkommen. Deutsche Arbeitskraefte aus dem ganzen Sprektrum haben ihren guten Ruf im Ausland keineswegs eingebuesst. Im Gegenteil, sie sind wie schon immer gesucht, ob sie nun Wissenschaftler, Techniker, Facharbeiter oder Handwerker sind . Und deutsche Familien hat man gerne als Nachbarn.

Deutschland's kollektive Solidarmeinungen versucht man zu vermeiden wie die Pest.

Rocky

[mr spock]

@ rocky,

völlig richtig - und ich denke genau dies spüren die eurolefties.

hätte bush getobt über schröders mieses schmierenstück wäre das angegangen aber dieses verbindlich freundlich lächeln hat sie letztlich auf die palme gebracht.

früher war es selbstgerechter selbsthass - heute ist es selbstgerechte angst.

mr spock

p.s.: hast du ne greencard für mich?

[Dan Kauffman]

"As for Eurolefties, they'll wonder why the US hasn't committed to Kyoto,"

They very well may wonder, The Dirty little Secret about Kyoto is that the balance of power in Congress matters not.
Before Gore even went to Japan the US Senate voted unanimously NOT to ratify the Kyoto Treaty

Passed by the Senate

95-0

which stated the Senate would not ratify the Protocol unless rapidly developing countries such as China were included in its requirements to reduce greenhouse gases.

The Clinton Administration announced it would not send the treaty to the Senate for ratification.

I have always wondered how the US not backing Kyoto became Bush's fault, he was the Governor of Texas when this vote was taken, now Ted Kennedy, and John Kerry voted to reject the Treaty maybe someone should ask THEM about this issue?

Check who all voted via the link above.