Bono Hearts Obama

Recently, U2 lead singer Bono praised President Obama for “rebranding” the United States in the eyes of the rest of the world. But here at home, the American public remains as deeply divided as it was under the Bush administration and Obama has fallen victim to his own narrative.

Bono, the lead singer from U2, is back. Writing in the op-ed section of the New York Times, the rock musician argues that the Obama administration is leading a (much needed) “rebranding” of the United States. The basis for this renewal? A 36 word quote from Obama’s U.N. speech last month and Obama’s recent Nobel Peace Prize.

Bono writes that, “The president said that he considered the [Nobel] peace prize a call to action. And in the fight against extreme poverty, it’s action, not intentions, that counts.” And,

The Nobel Peace Prize is the rest of the world saying, 'Don’t blow it.'... In the same week that Mr. Obama won the Nobel, the United States was ranked as the most admired country in the world, leapfrogging from seventh to the top of the Nation Brands Index survey — the biggest jump any country has ever made... But an America that’s tired of being the world’s policeman, and is too pinched to be the world’s philanthropist, could still be the world’s partner.

Bono’s fixation with rebranding is not entirely misplaced. What is misplaced is the identification of the whole United States with one particular vision from one particular man. The American public remains as deeply divided as it was under the Bush administration. Obama has fallen victim to his own successful narrative and has become gridlocked in a stymied political culture where the politics of “change” simply has not changed.

Bono, stick to music, not ideological and international hype.