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United States and World Opinion
Aired October 23, 2003 - 15:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is harder for President Bush to ignore Iraq critics when they're practically in his face, as they were in Australia. But how are American people likely to react?
Let's bring in our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
Bill, how are these protests, like the ones in Australia, likely to be perceived here in the United States?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Judy, this happened in Australia, a close friend and ally of the U.S., not France. And I think it does bother Americans. They know that, after 9/11, the world seemed to be with the U.S. in the war on terrorism. But the war in Iraq was a different story. Virtually the entire world opposed it.
The war was unpopular even in countries whose governments sided with the U.S., like Australia. Americans believe that, under President Bush, the U.S. has become more isolated in the world. This month, we asked people one of the questions that Ronald Reagan famously posed when he ran against Jimmy Carter in 1980 in the middle of the Iran hostage crisis: Do you think America is as respected in the world as it was three years ago? And the answer could hardly be louder or clearer: No.
WOODRUFF: Well, do you think this is likely to be an issue in the campaign next year?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Democrats have to be very careful how they raise it. Voters are likely to resent it if Democrats sound like they're siding with critics of the U.S. overseas.
Remember how one voter raised the issue in the debate that you moderated earlier this month in Phoenix?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is an alarming, really, horrible degree, of hate that is being expressed in our world, particularly toward the United States at this time. And I'm wondering if you could comment on why you think there is so much hate for the United States right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Now, that questioner was not looking for an attack on Bush. She wanted an explanation of the problem and an answer from Democrats about how they would deal with it. That's really the issue -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: All right, Bill Schneider, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 23, 2003 - 15:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is harder for President Bush to ignore Iraq critics when they're practically in his face, as they were in Australia. But how are American people likely to react?
Let's bring in our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
Bill, how are these protests, like the ones in Australia, likely to be perceived here in the United States?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Judy, this happened in Australia, a close friend and ally of the U.S., not France. And I think it does bother Americans. They know that, after 9/11, the world seemed to be with the U.S. in the war on terrorism. But the war in Iraq was a different story. Virtually the entire world opposed it.
The war was unpopular even in countries whose governments sided with the U.S., like Australia. Americans believe that, under President Bush, the U.S. has become more isolated in the world. This month, we asked people one of the questions that Ronald Reagan famously posed when he ran against Jimmy Carter in 1980 in the middle of the Iran hostage crisis: Do you think America is as respected in the world as it was three years ago? And the answer could hardly be louder or clearer: No.
WOODRUFF: Well, do you think this is likely to be an issue in the campaign next year?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Democrats have to be very careful how they raise it. Voters are likely to resent it if Democrats sound like they're siding with critics of the U.S. overseas.
Remember how one voter raised the issue in the debate that you moderated earlier this month in Phoenix?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is an alarming, really, horrible degree, of hate that is being expressed in our world, particularly toward the United States at this time. And I'm wondering if you could comment on why you think there is so much hate for the United States right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Now, that questioner was not looking for an attack on Bush. She wanted an explanation of the problem and an answer from Democrats about how they would deal with it. That's really the issue -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: All right, Bill Schneider, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
