USA the Misunderstood

We were watching the news today and the BBC did a half hour special on the US elections. I think it goes a long way towards understanding why people abroad may have a wrong idea about us. Their interview choices were just bizarre.

First, they gave ten minutes to an interview with the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Nothing against the guy, but he's kind of a marginal player in the election. He wasn't the first person I would think you would interview, especially if he's the main guy.

Second, they interviewed two people with differing views on Iraq. They interviewed one guy who wanted to bring the troops home and, to balance things out, they interviewed someone crazy. The bring home the troops guy was very reasonable, a vet actually. The other guy said he supported the war because we had to fight them over there, or they would fight us over here, and hey, they attacked us first - he clearly didn't get the memo about al-Queda being based out of Afghanistan, not Iraq. The BBC could have found a lot more reasonable people to interview who represent the McCain/Romney type position, but oh well.

Third, they sent their reporter to New York to do all the reporting. Now New York is definitely a quintessential American city, but it's not a place that is particularly decisive at this point in the nomination process.

One thing I did like though - they compared Barack Obama's media image to Hillary Clinton's. Obama is like Apple they said - cool and youthful. But Clinton is like the PC - it's still what you buy when you have work to do.

Otherwise, Grace and I went to see Cloverfield this weekend with some friends - we've discovered theatres on the outskirts of London are a more reasonable £6.30, not the £10+ you get in central London. The movie was intense.

Tonight is the Super Bowl, but it doesn't start till 11 pm tonight. I don't think I'm going to watch it, as I have work tomorrow. Boo.