Elections, Part 1

For the most part I’m avoiding online discussions about the elections, but several people have asked about what people in Spain are saying about the election.

Spaniards are typically much more aware of what is going on in the USA than Americans are of what is happening in Spain. They are following the election, and several have joked that really people outside the States should be able to vote in our elections too since whoever is elected affects their lives too–though some have then commented that really that wouldn’t be a good idea.

Most people over here who have talked with me/us about the election would like to see Obama elected and have strong reservations about Palin’s selection as McCain’s VP. The Spaniards can typically give you concrete reasons for their support of Obama. One of their concerns is McCain’s age/health and Palin’s conservative views and lack of experience–including a lack of a passport until fairly recently and the lack of a broader world view. They are also aware that Obama has spoken more favorably of Spain as an ally while McCain in an interview refused to say that he would meet with the Spanish prime minister and seemed to think that Spain was part of Latin America. While that didn’t win McCain any points, most Spaniards don’t specifically mention it. They are also curious about the role racism might play in the elections, and some recently have expressed concerns about Obama being assassinated–especially after the recently revealed plot to kill him.

I just met an American over here who will be meeting at the Democratic party headquarters here in Spain on election day to watch the results come in. Apparently, there is a fairly large group here in Spain. I never would have thought to find our political parties organized in other countries where Americans are living.