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Obama Echoes Bush— But Does It Better

Why? 'He is decidedly not' his predecessor

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2009 1:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama’s speech in Cairo sounded a lot like President Bush’s 2006 speech to Muslims—yet Obama’s manages to carry far more weight, writes Michael Crowley in the New Republic. Both spoke of respect for “the history and traditions of the Muslim world”; both suggested governmental systems can’t be “imposed.” But Bush’s speech was “forgotten,” while Obama’s “seems to offer the potential of making millions of Muslims reconsider their view of America,” Crowley writes.

“There is no novel way to restate the obvious reason for this,” Crowley writes: “Obama is not Bush.” Obama doesn’t have Iraq to answer for, he’s got a “reputation for honesty," and he's just plain smarter. “Above all, he is a black man with Muslim heritage,” which he discussed. “To see him unfold his biography,” Crowley observes, “is to appreciate how much America will benefit from presenting this new face to the world.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Unidentified Bahraini reading newspapers at a Manama, Bahrain, coffee shop as U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a speech aired live Thursday, June 4, 2009, reaching out to the Muslim world from Cairo... (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Hassan Roudani, 73, gestures while listening to a live broadcast from Cairo of a speech by U.S. President Barack Obama at a cafe in Casablanca, Morocco, Thursday, June 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, June 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Even if Obama is saying many things that Bush has said before, he is decidedly not Bush. And for that reason, the world is listening. - Michael Crowley

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

prowlerzee

Jun 5, 2009 6:16 AM CDT

“Above all, he is a black man with Muslim heritage,” which he discussed. ========== Oh, realllllllllly? So now he admits his Muslim heritage and uses his middle name! Remember all the SHRIEKING and accusations of racism when this was brought up during the election? Well, many of us DO remember.

prowlerzee

Jun 5, 2009 6:14 AM CDT

Are you Hopium Huffers in for a surprise when the hangover wears off. Have you heard Brand Zerobama when he has no teleprompter? uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uhhhhhh. u-u-u-u-uhhhhhh It's hard to follow his spasmotic drivel there are so many uhs and stutters.

prowlerzee

Jun 5, 2009 6:11 AM CDT

leave it to a Hopium Huffer to miss the fact it's OBAMA'S war now. He a-oked rendition, indefiniite detention and is giving the torturers a free pass. The blood's on YOUR DOPEY HANDS now.

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Barack Obama • Islam • Middle East • Muslims • Cairo • speech • George W. Bush • President Obama

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Obama Echoes Bush— But Does It Better