Inspired by Nigel Farage (he’s just an ordinary bloke) urging Trump supports to go out and campaign harder.
Do you in any way resent non US citizens chipping in and attempting to sway the presidential election?
Simply by asserting their opinions? No. I may disagree with the specific content, but it isn’t categorically inappropriate for a citizen of one state to have something to say about the politics of another.
Considering the US, at times is extremely involved in the politics/elections of other countries, it would be a bit hypocritical for us to take affront to people from other countries weighing in on ours.
This. It’s far too common to read about the high dudgeon of one US department or another (up to the Oval Office) huffing and snorting about “interference” from a foreign country in some more or less internal US matter… the inverse of which is something the US has blithely done for… many decades if not a century or more.
But I voted yes; I think nations should stay out of other nations’ internal politics.
I think after what the USA did in Ukraine I doubt Putin will ever calm down and stop interfering in US elections. Way, way over the line.
Why am I not shocked that you are a Putin fanboy?
Considering who the US elects in a variety of federal offices, but especially president, affects the entire world in one way or another, it only seems logical for me that everyone else in the world should be interested in influencing US elections, one way or another.
As long as it is aboveboard as in publicly expressing for the record their opinion about the election, I have no problem.
Under-the-table funding or digging up and spreading dirt, that I object to.
What did we do in Ukraine?
Opinions are fine. Nigel Farage can say whatever he likes. For most foreigners, I’m going to assume an ulterior motive, but doesn’t every endorser have some kind of ulterior motive? Farage is no worse than the Hollywood crowd, who would mostly be foreigners if they had followed through on their promises to move to Canada. (Though I understand if Canada doesn’t want them either).
Anyway, there are some world leaders that I’d be interested to hear from, mostly in an academic sense. Endorsements are not something I put a lot of stock in, even if it’s someone I respect or generally agree with.
Well, Obama did see fit to give the Brits a good scolding over not leaving the Euro Union. Good for goose/good for gander?
Indeed, though I recall a great many over here opining that the POTUS should’ve minded his own business on that one, so I wanted to see if the feeling is mutual.
Damn right I do! It’s America’s job to influence every other country in the world, not the other way around!
Had something typed up, but this says it as well as I could.
I guess a lot depends so I went for the middle ground. But I really don’t see that its ever been possible to keep foreign money and influence out of US elections; the best we can hope for is some reasonable control.
I’m an American living overseas who frequently opines on local politics, so I’d have to be a super-sized hypocrite to oppose it going the other way.
Common sense, really; it affects me, so damn right I’m going to express an opinion on it.
If they try to influence it legally and ethically, I think it’s fair game. What happens in the United States has a big impact on other countries, so it’s reasonable for them to want to affect the elections.
How many remember the Guardian’s attempt in 2004?
It did not go well. The reaction–
Not an American myself, but I think the question is of general relevance.
Probably there’s a distinction to be made between a private individual foreigner, even a well-known one, expressing views on one side or the other of an election contest, and a foreign state or foreign official doing so. Obama as President of the US opining about the UK’s Brexit vote is probably more problematic than, say, Stephen Fry tweeting about the US presidential election. Farage as an elected representative is not quite as significant an official figure as the President of the United States, but he probably would still do better to shut up.
Here’s one Briton’s view of American interference in our politics:
EU referendum: with respect, Mr Trump…
And Obama.
And what UDS said.