Thomas Crampton has a good post and video on how policy leaders believe China would vote for Obama. Why:

China would vote for Obama in part because he is from a minority ethnic group, said Shen Dingli of Shanghai’s Fudan University.

Of course rightly notes the irony:

Somewhat ironic to poll people living in countries with varying levels of electoral and dictatorial governments about how they feel about the US elections. Wonder how Myanmar would vote? Imagine Vietnam is pro-McCain. Anyone know?

His post reminds me of something I forgot to mention when I went to the Asia Foundation’s talk back in February on the role of governance. One of the many hopes for the world, and even those who live under dictatorships, is for America to right itself after this administration and once again show why America is often seen as the best hope for humanity and for the rights of anyone.

All the panelists agreed how the current administration has reduced our standing in the world to the lowest ever with such vitriol dislike, but that, with just the election of Barack Obama, America would make up half of the harm it has done. The semi-joke being Africa is happy and with a middle name of ‘Hussein’ Middle Easterners are then impressed as well seeing how America really does stand up to its unique and moral values every so often.