Obama is culturally sort of an Indonesian. Howard is an Australian Rightwinger. Nuff said.
Actually, best comment so far. This should be on the international forum, not here. It's actually quite interesting - within the context of Australian politics. It's irrelevant, as far as US politics is concerned.
Remember, Australia is a country that had a long history of institutionalized racism, and had it for a reason. This sort of a comment is very astute: even most "urbane" Australians would take it for an odd-ball foreign policy shot of little significance. But the target audience of "mates and blokes" would get it right. Howard has been a virtuoso using racist inuendo throughout his long career in politics, while remaining within confines of respectability. This is just another occasion to marvel the artistry of the old SOB.