Foreign influence:How many John Kerry supporters on ATS are actually non-americans?

Over and over and over again....


We see people on ATS talking about how horrible things are in america. We hear them talk about how life in america is going downhill and how it's all Bush's fault and...

...how John Kerry can fix all that.

But... when you take the time to look at other posts these 'America is falling apart' members make, you realize that many of the most vocal ones are actually foreigners who have little understanding of the united states. They keep talking about how 'bad' things are in the Us... but have apparently never gone further east than an airport terminal in NYC.

At best this is just uninformed foreigners getting worked up and shouting about what they think is best for america. At worst this is a situation where american votes are being influenced by non-americans who are passing off bad, biased information for the sake of their own national agendas.

It's sad to think that Americans might be tricked into voting a certain way by the propaganda of foreign agents with their own hidden agendas.

So... inorder to maintain credibility... would the vocal foreign supporters of john Kerry please confess their nationality? When an American reads a post on ATS where the author claims that this or that thing in America is failing... the American has the right to know if this is just BS being pushed by guys who don't know what they are talking about.

What do you define as non American?

Somebody from another country that do not vote in US.

Somebody from another country no born in US but it can vote.?

Somebody born in US but live outside of the US in another country?

Somebody born on a territory outside of US but part of the US?

I am spanish born in PR I was not born in US mainland, will you consider me a non-American?

As far as I know, this isn't a msg board limited to just Americans. So "foreigners" can give their input the same way we Americans would comment on China, or Russia, or wherever. They are allowed to voice their opinion on the candidates too, ya know.

I've never made a secret of my nationality. And actually, I've never seen the airport terminal in NYC... I've seen the one in San Jose, CA, where my girlfriend lives, I've seen the one in Chicago, as well as the one in Atlanta... as for my trips to Washington D.C. and New York city, I drove.

Seriously, I have the utmost respect for the fact that this is an American election, and that the American electorate will decide. However... what you must realize is that you live in the country that has the most influence in the world, and that American issues have repercussions elsewhere. For example, in Canada we currently have a minority government which could fall in the coming days on the simple issue of Canada's participation to Bush's missile defense initiative. And obviously, being just North of the United States we know very well that another September 11 would affect us as well - when the WTC was attacked, Canada became a big parking lot for the airplanes being diverted from American skies. And in the aftermath, we, like the US, have had to increase border security.

In my view, one can come from another country and have an opinion on American politics if those politics will influence his or her own country. It's not a matter of geography in that case, it's a matter of how well one states his or her opinion.

Oat that is the best answer so far to this thread, I applaud you for it, most people do not understand that the decisions of a powerful country like US are going to impact the rest of the world, Occurs people from other countries should be very much aware and looking for to see who is going to be the next president.

Originally posted by onlyinmydreams
It's sad to think that Americans might be tricked into voting a certain way by the propaganda of foreign agents with their own hidden agendas.

'Foreign agents with their own hidden agendas'? Is that the republican definition of a non-US citizen critizising the Bush Administration? Wow, then they've really done a number on you .

Oh, by the way; I'm not a US citizen, so feel free to ignore my posts if it makes you feel better .

[edit on 9-10-2004 by Durden]

What I believe the meaning of this was, the ATS is 75%+ for Kerry, but of that % , 50% Might not be from the US. So we know that the europeans hate the US, we know that. We know they hate GW BUSH, We know that the Press in Europe is even MORE liberal than the US Press.

I though it does give some insight to the board though. That is why I post here, so some can at least be presented wiht the other side. You dont have to believe it, but it is your choice.

And just so the Non-US folks know, Bush will win. This doesnt mean the AMericans are stupid or are war mongerers. It just means that we take the war more seriuosly the the Appeasment ruote the French are so found of.


Actually it is to your benifit that we do, that will keep the killers off your backs and that is what you want right?


Thanks to our Alllies and their support. It will be remember as well as who caved to pressure when the need arose

I think this thread is important. Of course I want to HEAR the input of every one and there is NO reason why a non U.S citizen cannot post their opinions, but I am curious to know how many people that are voicing their opinions are actually eligible to vote.

Just so we are clear, I am not saying that anyone's opinion is LESS valuable and I appreciate EVERYONES contribution regardless of nationality or ability to vote.

Jemison

Originally posted by edsinger
What I believe the meaning of this was, the ATS is 75%+ for Kerry, but of that % , 50% Might not be from the US.

You know, IMO those numbers are highly unlikely, considering the vast majority of US members on ATS.

So we know that the europeans hate the US, we know that.

You know the europeans hate the US?? I'll just have to repeat what I said in my previous post; wow, they've really done a number on you Try and deny ignorance; don't embrace it.

And just so the Non-US folks know, Bush will win.

I think roughly half of the US voters would disagree on that one. But hey, that's probably because of all of us 'foreign agents with our hidden agendas tricking americans into voting a certain way', huh? Gimme a break .

Originally posted by edsinger
So we know that the europeans hate the US, we know that.

Ignorance at its best!!

I think the only reason non US citizens give an opinion on the US administration is because more often than not US policies affect other countries around the world.

If they didn't , why would they care?

Paranoid Xenophobia.

We cannot vote for Kerry but we do have a good grasp of the issues, you'll be shocked to find that many foreigners know more of American history than most high school Americans.

It's sad to think that Americans might be tricked into voting a certain way by the propaganda of foreign agents with their own hidden agendas.

I think you need to take a better view of your voters. Singlehandedly you've labelled most of them as pig ignorant suggestible morons.

Oh...

would the vocal foreign supporters of john Kerry please confess their nationality

Do you know what McCarthyism is?

I love the irony of a basher projecting what he is bashing.

I'm a Gay French Muslim Mason!

I wish that this thread wasn't getting ugly. I really did want to know who was eligible to vote and who wasn't and my reasoning for wanting this info was not malicious in nature by any stretch of the imagination.

Jemison

Im half American living in Australia, despite what you may think, your countries decisions have quite an impact on other countries and their decisions

My grandfather served in the airforce in WW2 before becomming a baptist minister in the army then moving here to open up churches.
My uncle was a green barrette who served in vietnam and i have other relatives who have served in the past and currently serve in the US millitary

[edit on 9-10-2004 by electric squid carpet]

I think it's irrelevant to gauge the dynamics of the U.S. Presidential Election by ATS participation regardless of the citizenship of any member. The assertion that the majority of members support Kerry over Bush is no more credible than the ridiculous results of some of the online polls that show Edwards and Kerry winning their last two debates in the 70+ percentile range (I personally see the ATS distribution to be roughly 58-60 percent Kerry, 42-40 percent Bush, maybe RANT knows better, it is his profession) . The election will be close, probably no more than two million votes separating the popular vote and maybe ten (twenty max) Electoral College votes separating the actual victor (Bush of course).

Originally posted by Jemison
I wish that this thread wasn't getting ugly. I really did want to know who was eligible to vote and who wasn't and my reasoning for wanting this info was not malicious in nature by any stretch of the imagination.

Jemison

Well, if there has been any misinterpretation as to the purpose of this thread, then IMO it would be a good idea that the author explain his actual intention for starting it. Because as far as I'm concerned, thus far this smells like b.s.

Wow, did this get the foreign posters worked up�.however I have to agree with folks like ott, as a win by Kerry will probably result in an increase in costs on things like medicine. so they do have a stake in this years election�..however, I noticed after stating superior knowledge on American affairs one poster seemed to link McCarthyism to finding out national affiliation which is just incorrect....kind of illustrating one of the original points of the thread.

[edit on 9-10-2004 by keholmes]

Originally posted by Mirthful Me
I think it's irrelevant to gauge the dynamics of the U.S. Presidential Election by ATS participation regardless of the citizenship of any member. The assertion that the majority of members support Kerry over Bush is no more credible than the ridiculous results of some of the online polls that show Edwards and Kerry winning their last two debates in the 70+ percentile range (I personally see the ATS distribution to be roughly 58-60 percent Kerry, 42-40 percent Bush, maybe RANT knows better, it is his profession) . The election will be close, probably no more than two million votes separating the popular vote and maybe ten (twenty max) Electoral College votes separating the actual victor (Bush of course).

Mirth ya big meanie, I'd never presume to quantify ATS as a whole. It's a never ending focus group where the M&M's never run out and nothing is at it seems. Having said that, we do have directional qualitative support from a structured "State your State, Age and Vote" thread that lends credence to an even split for Bush and Kerry with a disproportional swelling of third party support you only see in on-line worlds.

But that was a while ago. I've seen votes change here. Sometimes more than once. But you're right that those minor skirmishes in and of themselves are meaningless unless you observe the consequences off line. Which we sometimes get whiffs of in various posts, but I shall not comment on or name directly. Though I keep exhaustive lists.

It's just interesting is all, and if "hot spots" and "opinion leaders" exist as political analysts claim they do... ATS is one, and we have several.

Our Internet rock stars have their opine sent to the top of Google requests daily. It's just a good place to make a difference, for anyone with something to say.

Even if it's just rumors on the Internets.

I will not put a name to as who is for who in ATS but rather I see as the anti-sentiments toward the war and the Iraqi conflict, that is why ATS may seem like more leaning to Kerry than bush.

But it may not be like that at all. Perhaps is just the Iraqi issue alone.

for some reason talking about the Iraqi conflict brings very strong response from the ATS members that are not from US, and adding them to the US born members it makes the majority seem like bush haters and kerry lovers.

But again it may not be like that at all.