Folks
There is a reason the world was holding its collective breath during the recent healthcare saga. They want him to succeed so much with his domestic agenda, so that he can turn his attention back on global affairs. President Obama was interviewed by the Indonesian TV station RCTI, and you can tell by how giddy the interviewer is that the whole country was really really really anticipating President Obama's arrival there this week until it had to be rescheduled at the last minute. Watch him speak Bahasa Indonesia so effortlessly.
Ladies and gentlemen I present to you your global President...
PART I
In this pre-interview segment the Indonesian TV (RCTI) journalist presents a photo montage of the inaugural days of President Obama's administration, complete with magazine covers of the time. Then follows "man-in-street" pulse-check interviews with Americans in the DC area about whether they know where Indonesia is located.
Only one out of the four persons had any clue about Indonesia, and its importance to the United States, and the reason why the President was going there. The first interviewee had no idea what the details of the healthcare bill are, while the third interviewee did acknowledge the difficult political and economic environment within which the president has had to operate. The last woman interviewed had no idea President Obama had lived in Indonesia as a child.
PART II
In this segment of the official interview with RCTI, the interviewer expresses his dismay at the acrid political atmosphere in Washington DC. You could tell from the journalist's wan smile that of course he could not say exactly what was on his mind about the poisonous atmosphere in DC that he smelled since arriving to conduct the interview.
President Obama is in his element here, almost feeling relieved that there was someone to talk to besides the DC beltway piranhas and teabaggers. He waxed nostalgic about his childhood in Indonesia, complete with sentences in Bahasa indonesia.
The interviewer sadly intones that "I don't know how they are gonna take it"[President Obama's not coming]
The emotion. This folks, is why the wingnuts in this country will never understand the global appeal of President Obama
PART III
President Obama here details the reason for his bilateral interest in Indonesia as a critical strategic partner in the G-20. He praised the enormous progress Indonesia had made economically since his childhood there. The interviewer asked about where the follow up on the Cairo speech was headed. president Obama had to admit that the Middle East process was difficult and intractable, yet was committed to shepherding it through to a resolution aggreable to the parties. He did not indicate a timetable for that. This was the weakest part of the discussion
Part V
The final segments returned to President Obama's childhood in Indonesia, which was also the part where he was his most animated. He really is looking forward to vising his old neighborhood, the street food, and jaunts.
In trip down memory lane, the interviewer also tried to clarify rumors and myths that have been swirling about his childhood days:
- Were the Mahabharata and Ramayana his favorite texts as a child? President Obama says yes, and names other texts as well.
- Did he really memorize Pancasila. Answer: No
- Is it true he likes Nasi goreng and bakso (Indonesian foods). This is where President Obama lights up like a Christmas tree reminiscing about the street foods he loved as a child, as well as the chants of food vendors roaming the streets.
- Is it true he teased his female classmates to get their attention? President Obama dodges that one saying he denies that (Of course this is Michelle alert plus not to give any wingnuts new fodder to ruminate over.)
- Did he remember breaking somebody's arm? yes it was a biking accident. President Obama is still concerned about whether that person is alright.
- Did he write a poem stating his ambition to become president as a kindergartner? President Obama says no, even though a teacher said that was the case. He remembers wanting to become a fireman.
This interview will easily be dismissed by the cynical beltway denizens as fluff propaganda by "furriners" who do not matter to "real Amurricans." Yet the value of this kind of diplomacy cannot be discounted, particularly when it is developed with a country, Indonesia, that has strategic role in our outreach to people in the Muslim world. Also a country that has itself seen its share of religious extremism and political mayhem. What could be better than nursing friendships and making fewer enemies. The Krauthammers and Romneys see these linkages as an "apology agenda." It's a shame but as usual President Obama will ignore their pearl-clutching antics.
When President Obama arrives in Indonesia in June, this time with his family and a major domestic win or two under his belt, I will be excitedly waiting to see Rush Limbaugh et al rend their garments and gnash their teeth at the "homecoming" celebration that will await President Obama. It will be like what happened in Ghana last year July, which I was privileged to experience firsthand.