GER-Infratest dimap/ARD: Germany's 140 EV solidly in the Obama column

[Tidus]

This confirms the 'Forsa' poll taken just about 2 weeks ago. Interesting that even most conservatives in Germany would vote for Obama

[Tidus]

I think part of the reason Europeans tend to favor the Democrats over the Republicans is the Republicans' constant demonizing of "failed European socialism" or whatever.

The problem here is that european or german politics has nothing to do with socialism - but that´s not the way the Republicans want to see it... and if even german conservatives are scared of the Republican party and their so-called "beliefs" that tells the whole story...

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There is no kind of 'idea' that both american parties are rightleaning compared to other democracies in Europe, Japan or Australia.

It´s just the truth.

For instance we can take the conservative party of Germany (Angela Merkels CDU) . Their main political views are the following:

1. Minimum wage and social security:

Employees that don´t get enough money in their job should be guaranteed a minimum wage - not in all kinds of jobs, but in some of them where employees don´t earn enough money it makes sense to introduce a minimum wage. The CDU also belives in the social market economy. This is in fact a CDU-model from the Adenauer- and Erhard-era and it should balance the forces of the capitalistic free market and the needs of the weaker parts in society.

2. Climate change:

Climate change is for real and because of that we have to invest in new wind and solar technologies to lower Co₂ Emission. Also we need to get out of the atomic-era. (And to make this clear: I remember very well when Angela Merkel spoke in the US house of representatives just a few years ago... she talked about civil rights and climate change and her (conservative!!!) views about this problems - and the need to to something to solve these problems, like lowering the emission - but the only fraction applauding were the DEMOCATS, while the Republicans just sat there and did nothing.)

3. Gay rights:

Germany nowadays allows legalized partnerships including some (but not all) tax benefits. There is still some rumour but again even the CDU supports legalized partnerships. And a lot of members of the CDU also approve the idea of marriage equality (meaning to allow gays to marry and to get all kinds of tax benefits). Just a few weeks ago 13  delegates and CDU members of the parliament started a proposal to improve marriage equality. And I can only point this out: This is coming from the conservative party of Germany. I could never imagine a group of prominent Republicans or republican members of the House or the Senate drafting gay rights. And this was not only coming from the CDU base it also was approved by the german minister for familiy affairs and women Christina Schroeder (also a CDU member) who said this: "Two homosexual men or women who want to share their whole life together are role models for the society and they are living conservative values. These conservative values include truth, loyality and helping each other in all siuations." Impossible to get such a statement from a Republican in the USA... they don´t even acknowledge that men or women in permanent gay relationships do live christian values.

4. Universal health care:

This problem is not really dicussed in Germany right now, because there is a big consensus amog all parties (including the right wing CDU) that universal health care is a human right. The CDU explains this by christian values and their moral views, bacause anyone ill or sick should get free access to healtcare... it´s the kind of conservative value exemplified in the bible.


And there are a lot of other political views I can think of where the CDU is closer to the Democrats than the Republicans... those subjects include the view on international politics (for example the role of the United nations), the view on the whole national security issue and so on...

So, all in all for me as a German conservative and a proud member of the cristian democratic alliance (CDU) the Democrats are the conservative party of America while the Republicnas are just the joke party of America.

Period.

And I know for sure, I´m not the only conservative in Germany who thinks like this... I have to correct myself... I am VERY sure...

[Tidus]

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No, I don´t think this has to do anything with Obamas personality.

I suppose an "Average Republican" against an "Average Democrat" poll would lead to similar numbers in Germany. It´s just the so-called "conservative" party of the Republicans that sucks... no matter whom they nominate... most people here think what te Republican party wants doesn´t have to do anything with conservatism but with insanity.

And I pointed out the reasons for this in an earlier comment here. You can read it in my comment above.

[Tidus]

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Sorry, but this has nothing to do with the topic and the fact that nearly 90% of Germans would vote for Obama - neither has racism to do with it... (in fact 80-90% of the Germans are just boring white people, no blacks, no hispanics or whatever - maybe just 5% immigrants for Turkey or other countries).

It´s just that the political views of German conservatives (and a lot of other conservative parties in modern democracies) are much closer to the democrats than the republicans.

And again: These conservative, white german voters wouldn´t vote for Obama because of his personality over his political, moral und social views. German conservatives are supportive of gay rights (because gays in a permanent relationship do live christian and conservative values like loyalty), minimum wage and minimizing CO₂ emission for preventing climate change. But the CDU is a modern conservative party - unlike the republicans.

And I would add that in my opinion in a race between a random democrat and a random republican, Germans would also break with around 90% for the Democrats. But we will probably see if this is true in about 4 years when we will have a new race with new persons.

[Tidus]

File this under "who give a damn".   Europe is a destroyed continent.  Why do we care a damn what they think

In fact Europe is still the richest continent in the world.

And the problems there are at least partly due to the US made finacial meltdown (thanks Mr. W. Bush)...

But Europe is not that homogeneous - and we are talking here just about Germany... and Germany nowadays is in a very good shape.