Anti-Europeanism in Republican rhetorics

[~ Gheb ~]

In the wake of the next presidental election in the USA, 'Eurobashing' has become increasingly prominent in the rhetorics of right wing and republican politicians, most noticeably Mitt Romney:

In his New Hampshire Primary Victory Speech he [Mitt Romney] said Obama "wants to turn America into a European-style social welfare state society. We want to ensure that we remain a free and prosperous land of opportunity. This President takes his inspiration from the capitals of Europe; we look to the cities and small towns of America." (See video at 6:30 minutes.)

And:

Romney continues at 10:40 min: "I want you to remember when our White House reflected the best of who we are, not the worst of what Europe has become."

source

Of course, Romney is not the only right-wing politician that follows this code of Eurobashing but as the main candidate for the election he's the most prominent person to do so. Other right-wing presidental candidates such as Gingrich chose similar words:

Newt Gingrich in his South Caroline Victoria Speech according to FOX News:
Those two choices, I believe, will give the American people a chance to decide permanently whether we want to remain the historic America that has provided opportunity for more people of more backgrounds than any country in history, or whether in fact, we prefer to become a brand new secular, European-style bureaucratic socialist system.

The anti-European vitriol came not just from Romney, but from all the Republican candidates, said Willem Post, an American politics expert with the Dutch Clingendael Institute of International Relations who returned from New Hampshire on Wednesday.
"It is turning into something dangerous," he said. "The way 'socialism' is used is totally out of place and wrong. Now in Europe, you see a decline of the welfare state and increased privatization, so it is factually wrong."
He was also in New Hampshire eight years ago, when anti-Europe sentiment centered on the Iraq war and France's opposition to the U.S.
"At the time there was a specific reason for Euro-bashing," he said. "Now it is woven into the campaign of every (Republican) presidential candidate. One remark isn't that bad, but now there was something fundamental about the Euro-bashing." (. . . )
Professor Stein Kuhnle of the University of Bergen, Norway, who researches the welfare state, laughed when he heard Romney's comments. "It's amazing that this kind of rhetoric works," he said. "But I think it plays on ignorance to some extent. Most American voters don't know very much about Europe."

source


I'm starting to wonder whether these kind of rhetorics can possibly become dangerous or have a bigger impact on american citizens than it should have. Like most europeans, I support Obama but initially anti-europeanism from the right-wing politicians had nothing to do with it. It only became a prominent factor recently [about the start of they year, as can be seen by the time the sources were published] but it seems to be snowballing and getting bigger - just recently Romney warned the people of the USA falling into the 'european abyss' and that's kind of frightening, when you think how much manipulation and misinformation is included. There are already people here who are downright scared of Romney becoming president because of this and I honestly can't say that I feel completely different. A gun-slinging economy-slave isn't exactly the kind of man most people want to see on top in times like these. I wonder how the 'average' american feels about this.

[here are the complete sources:
http://atlanticreview.org/archives/...ign-with-Anti-European-Rhetoric.html#extended
http://atlanticreview.org/archives/1526-Europe-is-a-Dirty-Word-in-the-United-States.html#extended
http://atlanticreview.org/archives/...ashing-to-define-their-America.html#extended]

 

[Teran]

Americans constantly verbally **** on everyone with factually incorrect nonsense because it makes the people feel better about themselves, also the sense of xenophobia helps to boost a policy you believe in.

"Oh those ****ing foreigners do this socialist stuff we should do the opposite because we're AMERICAN AND WE ARE FREE"

It's dangerous but whatever get onto a platform where a voice can be widely heard and say something about it. That's probably the best you can do as a non politician/celebrity.

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

Well, Europeans aren't known for making pro-American comments themselves

 

[Shorts]

Everyone hates everyone.

 

[GreenKirby]

I don't know why Republicans hate Europeans so much considering they're trying to emulate imperialism and exceptionalism that Europe once embraced.

 

[~ Gheb ~]

Well, Europeans aren't known for making pro-American comments themselves

Amazing counter-argument! This legitimizes every piece of incorrect bull about Europe that Romney spreads among you people!!!

I don't know why Republicans hate Europeans so much considering they're trying to emulate imperialism and exceptionalism that Europe once embraced.

Europe has embraces virtually everything once. It's not about what EU embraces though - it's about the things that we embrace that america rejects.

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

I had more to write, but I decided not to get into it.

However, are you saying that antiamericanism isn't dangerous but antieuropeanism is?

If any American is believing the speeches are for antieuropeanism, and getting riled over it, they probably already have the sentiments themselves. Americans grow up with thoughts and sights of antiamericanism from European society. Europeans generally (Our perception and what we encounter) act as if they believe they are superior and dismiss American beliefs/ way of life.

TBH, the speeches sound more like antisocialism using Europe's failing economy as an example. Whether they are using the example in the right context is on them, but it sounds like your blowing this out of proportion.

 

[Teran]

Any sense of Anti Americanism is usually caused by the sense of jingoism and machismo bravado bull**** that we see from American society, probably the fault of our media outlets being a little selective too, in the way they don't show the full picture.

Basically the reason why Europeans will show a sense of anti American sentiment is because their perception of the country is literally summed up by the lyrics of "America **** Yeah", thought not so much the terrorist part more with the "we invented everything and we are better than everyone at everything"

 

[~ Gheb ~]

Americans grow up with thoughts and sights of antiamericanism from European society. Europeans generally (Our perception and what we encounter) act as if they believe they are superior and dismiss American beliefs/ way of life.

Citation needed.

 

[theeboredone]

Are we really going to be asking for "citations" based on generalities?

 

[Master Xanthan]

Are we really going to be asking for "citations" based on generalities?

I guess Gheb must be a former member of the debate hall.

 

[Jam Stunna]

Basically the reason why Europeans will show a sense of anti American sentiment is because their perception of the country is literally summed up by the lyrics of "America **** Yeah", thought not so much the terrorist part more with the "we invented everything and we are better than everyone at everything"

On topic, what's supremely ironic about attacks on Europe's social democracy is that America helped to create them with the Marshall Plan in post-WW II Europe.

 

[Sizzle]

I think people look to "The Economy" as the big issue plaguing America, even though there are so many other issues. So it is convenient to look at the Eurozone economic problems and use that as a way to further their platform. I don't view these comments as anti-European, but rather as convenient comparison to promote platforms on fixing "The Economy" which is what Americans care about this election.

 

[~ Gheb ~]

Are we really going to be asking for "citations" based on generalities?

Without citation I can't take blanket statements such as "Europeans generally act as if they believe they are superior" any serious.

Europe is not "genreally known" to bash america [esp. compared to countries in Asia and some countries in Africa where US-bashing is a huge part of their propaganda] - the last time an important / successful european politician took a clear anti-american stance in his rhetorics was the former german prime minister Gerhard Schröder - at a time where the Bush administration had started two wars and a lot of - well - Eurobashing. Even a socialist president like Francoise Hollande has gone nowhere near as far as Romney and a lot of american right-wing politicians in general with his 'bashing'. Despite Hollande's clear pro-EU ambitions there was hardly any US-bashing going on in his election campaign, if any at all and he's currently pretty much the most left-wing EU politician in a high position. So yes, if such a statement us made, citation *is* needed.

I guess Gheb must be a former member of the debate hall.

I am indeed a former DH member ... but even without that such a sweeping claim needs something to substantiate it.

 

[theeboredone]

^ But all of your examples are based on politicians, who's words are generally shown on tabloids and in the media. I'm pretty sure Psycho was going on the base of the average person, hence the generality thrown in there.

I mean, google is your friend, and you can find bashing from both sides. All based on stereotypes for the most part anyways rather than politics. So nothing from the people should be taken seriously, even though I do agree that Romney has an influence on the people he speaks too.

 

[~ Gheb ~]

I'm pretty sure Psycho was going on the base of the average person, hence the generality thrown in there.

And he knows the opinion of the 'average person' from ____________________ ?

 

[Shorts]

This thread is a delight.

 

[Master Xanthan]

Without citation I can't take blanket statements such as "Europeans generally act as if they believe they are superior" any serious.

Europe is not "genreally known" to bash america [esp. compared to countries in Asia and some countries in Africa where US-bashing is a huge part of their propaganda] - the last time an important / successful european politician took a clear anti-american stance in his rhetorics was the former german prime minister Gerhard Schröder - at a time where the Bush administration had started two wars and a lot of - well - Eurobashing. Even a socialist president like Francoise Hollande has gone nowhere near as far as Romney and a lot of american right-wing politicians in general with his 'bashing'. Despite Hollande's clear pro-EU ambitions there was hardly any US-bashing going on in his election campaign, if any at all and he's currently pretty much the most left-wing EU politician in a high position. So yes, if such a statement us made, citation *is* needed.





I am indeed a former DH member ... but even without that such a sweeping claim needs something to substantiate it.

Well then I guess you'll need citations for every statement you make now as well.

 

[Jonas]

Does anyone realise that Europe is a continent and that the individual countries are independent of each other and not united like the states of USA? When Romney says "the worst of what Europe has become" he might as well point to Greece and say "LOOK HOW TERRIBLY EUROPE IS DOING!!!" while things are pretty much OK in other parts of Europe.

Ok it wouldn't matter to Romney anyway, since the parts of Europe that are doing best economically (the Scandinavian countries for instance) are on the Republicans' "list of communist regimes that represent everything that good Americans should hate."

 

[Teran]

Does anyone realise that Europe is a continent and that the individual countries are independent of each other and not united like the states of USA?

No, they don't.