Which presidential candidate can best restore America's image in the world?

Few people will argue that there has been tremendous damage done to America's image in the eyes of much of the world in the past several years. From just after 9/11, when the entire world was in shock and sympathy with the United States, the years since then have seen a complete turnabout as a result of the actions and arrogance of the present administration. Many Americans, myself included, believe that Bush policies have greatly increased hostility toward the U.S. and created an atmosphere in many countries which actually aids terrorists and their recruiting efforts.

So who among the present contenders for the U.S. Presidency would be best able to undo the damage done by Bush/Cheney? I believe that person is Barack Obama. Why? For several reasons. First and foremost, he is, among all the candidates, the most unlike George W. Bush--the 'anti-Bush' if you will. If you are looking at the United States from most countries of the world, you see a country of people who are not much like you. They are mostly white, and you are not. They live differently than you, and seem to be only interested in themselves and pushing their products and policies on you. The arrogance, isolationism and what some call 'cowboy diplomacy' of Bush only exacerbates this view. Barack Obama looks more like most people in the rest of the world--people of color. Being also on the opposite political spectrum from Bush, Obama has championed dialogue where Bush has stubbornly resisted, inclusion instead of isolationism, and unity instead of unilateralism. These qualities, I believe, would be instrumental in effecting the quickest possible turnaround in how America is currently viewed in the rest of the world. If we are to make progress on truly preventing terror, we must change policies which serve to motivate it. If we are to speed action on preventing global warming and its potentially disastrous consequences, we must lead by example, not arrogantly thumbing our noses at the rest of the world.

If those in third-world countries see that we in America can rid ourselves of a George W. Bush and replace him with a man of color, a man of unity and a man of vision, it will give great hope to them and build good will toward us, and will go farther toward advancing the cause of democracy worldwide than any military invasion or 'nation building' will ever do.

I believe any of the Democratic presidential candidates-Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Kucinich--will be able to do much to repair the unfortunate results of the Bush presidency, and I will support whichever one of them gets nominated. As for the GOP candidates, all you need to do is listen to their debates and positions to see that they will simply extend the Bush administration's policies for four more years. This will not help us either at home or abroad. Mr. Obama truly does offer hope--hope for change from the failures and excesses of the GOP and restoring the Constitutional America we know and love--one that stands for honor, integrity and personal freedoms.