American Morning
Commentary: Muslim world "likes" Obama's words
President Obama was in Turkey today. It was the last leg of his five-nation European tour and his first trip to a Muslim country since taking office. During the stop he sent a message to the world that the U.S. will never be at war with Islam.
“I am personally committed to a new chapter of American engagement. We can't afford to talk past one another, to focus only on our differences or to let the walls of mistrust go up around us.”
So how is the Muslim community reacting to the president’s visit? Hisham Melhem, Washington Bureau Chief for global Arab language network Al-Arabiya, spoke to Kiran Chetry Tuesday on CNN’s “American Morning.”
Kiran Chetry: In all, how was our president received in the muslim world?
Hisham Melhem: Well, judging by the positive headlines, by the live coverage that my network and others gave his speech yesterday in front of the Turkish parliament, the Muslim world likes what the president has been saying. Not only in Turkey, but since he was elected. And I think his words and, more importantly, his actions, have resonated positively throughout the Arab world and the Muslim world. People realize that there is a new tone, that there is a new content, that there is a new language. Gone are the combustible words that President Bush used to use like Islamo [sic] Fascism. Now the new president talks about engagement, he talks about partnership, he talks about respect, mutual interests. President Bush seemed to many Arabs and Muslims every time he talks to them as if he is talking down to them, as if he is lecturing them. This new president is trying to engage them as potential partners in the fight against the real enemy of the United States and the real enemy of these governments which is al Qaeda. The president doesn't talk about the war on terror in general because the war on terror is a war on a tactic. He has a well-defined enemy called al Qaeda. He doesn't clump like, President Bush, all Islamic groups. He focuses only on al Qaeda. All of these things, they are nuances and people recognizes nuances and they appreciate that.
Gun control dead?
You'd think with a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress, gun control bills would be on their way to the White House for the president's signature.
But times have changed.
And so have Democrats on gun rights. As one southern Democrat recently said, the way the votes are shaping up these days, gun control is "dead on arrival" on Capitol Hill.
What do you think? Why is gun control receiving little attention from lawmakers despite mass shootings across the country?
U.S. not a "Christian nation?" Call our hotline 1-877-MY-AMFIX
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/06/art_obama_mon_gi.jpg caption="President Obama and Turkish President Abdullah Gul hold a joint news conference Monday."]
President Obama visited Turkey Monday where he said that "one of the great strengths of the United States" is that it does not consider itself "a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."
Do you agree with the President's comments?
We want to know what you think. Call our hotline at 1-877-MY-AMFIX and we will play some of your comments on-ar tomorrow.
Ex-Bush speechwriter: Obama achieved little on overseas trip
President Obama visited Turkey today. It's the last leg of a trip that also took him to France, where he got NATO allies to share more responsibility for Afghanistan, and to London, where the leaders from around the world tackled the global financial crisis.
So how did the President do?
David Frum is a former presidential speechwriter and founder of newmajority.com. He joined us live.
What do you think? Was President Obama's trip to Europe successful?
New American image?
As the President travels to a predominantly Muslim country, a new image of America is reaching a side of the world where friends are sorely needed.
After eight years of George W. Bush, President Obama is talking a lot about "mutual respect."
So far, Europe has responded. But some in Washington aren't so sure it's the right message.
What do you think? Is President Obama repairing America's image abroad?
First lady, queen embrace
We are very amused.
There are a few things in this world that you just don’t touch. A hot stove. The third rail of a subway line. The business end of a bee. Oh yes, and the Queen.
Anyone who has ever met Her Royal Majesty knows that it’s not cricket to lay a mitt on the monarch other than to shake her hand when she extends it. Just ask former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, who was branded the “Lizard of Oz” in 1992 after he committed the extraordinary faux pas of putting his hand on the Queen’s back.
“All hell broke loose” when that happened, according to royal watcher Charles Mosley, who spoke with us this morning.
So imagine the surprise of the British press and people when a photo flashed around the world of the Queen and Michelle Obama arm-in-arm! According to royal watcher Robert Jobson (who asked Buckingham Palace about it), the hug-fest was initiated by the Queen, “she embraced her”, says Jobson. “She just pulled her close and Michelle responded.”
The moment was as endearing as it was rare. The newly-minted first lady and the British monarch, in a demonstration of enduring friendship between nations, displayed tenderness between individuals. “The Queen is not known for being touchy-feely”, Mosley told us. “Her son, Prince Charles, complained on one occasion he wasn’t given enough affection when he was a child. She’s obviously a late developer.”
She’s obviously enamored of Michelle Obama, as it seems is most of London. “The First Lady can’t do anything wrong as far as London is concerned”, Jobson told us this morning.
And there’s no question the first lady is a hugger. I was surprised to see her freely doling out hugs at a campaign event in Denver last August, an early indication that at some point, an embrace with a monarch might be in the offing.
The Queen’s ladies-in-waiting were reportedly agog at the incident, as was the British press. At first, it wasn’t clear who initiated the contact, but as the story began to unfold and palace officials confirmed the timeline, royal watcher Mosely was left to jokingly consider “For all I know, this is a breach of White House protocol.”
What do you think of the display of affection between Mrs. Obama and the queen?
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