Five reasons Brown is more American than Blair

What should Americans expect from Gordon Brown? Who knows? The Left’s dislike of George Bush is so intense that Mr Brown will be under pressure to distance himself at least from this incumbent.

But it would be a mistake to see Brown as less pro-American than Tony Blair. Brown loves America. It wouldn’t be putting it too strongly to see that our next Prime Minister is obsessed with the United States.

Here are five reasons why Brown is more American than Blair:

1. He is far better read on American politics. Brown likes to spend his leisure time with his nose in the Lyndon Johnson biography by Robert Caro, or reading the speeches of Robert Kennedy.

2. He is more heavily influenced by the neo-cons. Tony Blair has been called a neo-con because he believes in spreading democracy across the globe. But it is Brown who is steeped in the writings of people such as Irving Kristol and Gertrude Himmelfarb. In a brilliant column in the Daily Telegraph, a year or so back, Rachel Sylvester showed how Brown’s domestic agenda has been shaped by neo-conservative thinking.

3. He holidays in America. Almost every summer, Britain’s Prime Minister elect can be found in Cape Cod, a choice which indicates a cultural affinity. Tony Blair does not usually holiday in the United States.

4. He has Bob Shrum in his inner circle. This may suggest other political problems, but indicates his familiarity with the world of American politics. Brown has a network of contacts in the Democratic Party that easily rivals Blair.

5. He initiated the links with the Clinton team. The first contact between thinkers at the Democratic Leadership Council and the New Labour group came when Gordon Brown was the senior partner in the Brown-Blair duo. Brown’s trademark welfare and work policies were heavily influenced by the thinking of writers like Mickey Kaus. Brown’s tax credit policy is based on the earned income tax credit.

Comments

[John Muktananda]

How about publishing
Five reasons why Daniel Finkelstein is more American than any other comment editor?

[Keith Smith]

Surely you don't have to look any further for what Gordon Brown thinks of America than "God's Politics - Why the American Right gets it wrong and the left doesn't get it" by his good friend Jim Wallis. Gordon Brown wrote the introduction of the UK edition.

[Paul Middleton]

There is the world of difference between taking an active interest in major streams of American political thought, on the one hand; and on the other hand, being paralysingly subservient to the current narrow-minded, ignorant and vindictive US administration.

I think you'll find that Gordon Brown can also tell the difference.

[John]

So Brown has more affinity with the US? Wonderful! How about a major British politician thinking about Britain and its future for a change?

[Andrew Rivett]

Is Brown more pro-American and less pro-Bush?

Possible to be pro-US and not pro-Bush.

Blair likes the celebrity

[Adam]

Saying that holidaying in Cape Cod gives one an affinity with American culture is like saying holidaying in Cannes gives one an affinity with French culture.

[TSS]

He's getting help from Bob Shrum? Brown is doomed.

[John Chuckman]

Boy, is this silly stuff.

If holidaying in a place proves something about one's beliefs, then Americans, who go to France in greater numbers than they do to any other place, should be quite a different people than they are.

If Brown is well read in American political literature, as Blair clearly is not, it would provide him with a better understanding and good arguments for not trotting along like Fluffy the poodle. After all, Bush is likely the stupidest man ever to be President.

Does this 'analysis' explain why you're in charge of Comment Central, Daniel?

[Mark]

For the love of...

British subjects: I wish to provide you with a small lesson in current American politics.

In general:
Democrat = Liberal (social, fiscal, etc)
Republican = Conservative (social only...their spending habits rival and sometimes dwarf the other party)
NeoCons = ??? They certainly don't follow "conservativism" all that closely.

President Bush is a Republican. Even with such party affiliation and the reputation of being a "compassionate conservative", for the most part, he is NOT conservative and, therefore, not extremely "Republican".

If you read the article closely, you would notice the following things in the 5 points (I list them by the article's numbers):
1) LBJ and JFK, both were Presidents from the Democratic party.
2) NeoCons - note the reference above.
3) Holidays in Cape Cod - This location is well known throughout the WORLD as a haven for the rich and famous...and populated mostly by DEMOCRATS
4) "Brown has a network of contacts in the Democratic Party that easily rivals Blair." - notice the Party affiliation in this sentence?
5) "He initiated the links with the Clinton team." - hmmm, "the Clinton team"...yes, folks, another DEMOCRATIC President.

So, here's the score:
4 of 5 points reference Democrats
1 of 5 points reference "NeoCons"

Basically, Mr. Brown appears to this American as though, if he were an American, he would be a DEMOCRAT! (and, therefore, Liberal)

In the interest of full disclosure: I am a registered Independant. I am generally 'conservative' in my approach to most things in life. I do hold some 'liberal' positions.

[dave]

Hen Broon has been so desperate to be seen to be English recently that it comes as no shock to us Scots that he really aspires to American citizenship.

God help you lot if he defends your interests in Washington with the passion he has defended ours in Westminster.

Never mind. Chin up chaps. Your history continues as before.. shaped by yet another 'Johnny Foreigner'. Surprised you find it so hard to find a native able to make decisions for you... on the other hand, maybe not.

Gives the rest of us a laugh though.

Dave from Edinburgh

[swagger]

It conclusively is not convinced proving the affinity between the due next prime minister and frivolous US .

One's personal fancy should not be put priority of national benefit and sustainable improvement.not to mention he is reticent and untouchable comparing with the eloquent and handsome Blair.

he has been squashed for quite a long time,the futuristic prosperity before whom seems unwontedly inaccessible immediately ,should he spint to the wire without the arrogrant and vindictive American fellows, not?

undisputedly , alternatives exist that cooperating firmly with the France and Germany ,who has astronomical expectation on the rising and tentative Brown.

[charly]

I think that Brown will turn out to be less pro-american than Bush was.
Being interested in another country' politics and culture gives you sometimes a mean of being more critic.

I wish Blair had done so

[PJ]

I agree with Adam. Gordon Brown does indeed love America, but it is the America of the Democratic political establishment, which vacations at Cape Cod, which has close links with the Labour Party and which talks politics all the time. He is a political obsessive who wouldn't be happy seeing anything of Flyover America between the coasts - drop him in Reno or Denver and his first thought would be to leave unless there's a political convention in town.

[Anthony]

The previous analogy is nonsensical. Perhaps if Brown holidayed in Las Vegas, then Cannes would be an apt parallel. The important issue is whether Brown has the strength of character which Blair surely lacked in being sucked into this war. I would think that if he didn't before, having been a first hand witness to this disaster has insured that he does now.

[Gavin]

This is my first visit to Times Onlnie in a while and I must say it's my last. This is the lamest and dumbest argument I've read in quite some time. I don't even think the writer's ignorant enought to believe it - it's just politics. Reminds me of the half truths put through your door by local councillors. Lame. Bye!

[Johannes]

My comments is that you Brittons should ally yourselfs with Europe, which for the most part are allying them selfs with those who screamed the most and do nothing.
Once a while you discover a daring one like Blair, but if the world comes against you, you are chicken out and put him on the chopping block. Be your self instead of pretending that you are so good.