Gordon Brown is so often criticized as dull and distant that
even US President George W. Bush felt he could poke fun at the new
British leader over his reputation as a "dour Scot" during their
joint news conference.
But judging by Brown's rising popularity, the aloofness is
proving to be one of his greatest assets, allowing him to avoid
being cast in the deferential role of "Bush's poodle" - a taunt
that followed former Prime Minister Tony Blair through most of his
10 years in office. A new poll shows Brown's Labor Party well ahead
in a possible race with conservative rivals.
After the US news conference with Bush on Monday- Brown's first
appearance as prime minister on a major world stage - British media
yesterday favored Brown's stolid and solid showing over Bush's
rambling informality.
When Brown took over from Blair, many wondered how his
buttoned-up style would play overseas with leaders accustomed to a
decade of Blair's smiles, casual dress and boyish demeanor. Blair's
agreeable air made him seem likable, yet left him open to
condescension - as when Bush called out "Yo, Blair!" to him at last
year's Group of Eight summit.
By contrast, Bush appeared somewhat overshadowed at Monday's
news conference at Camp David, Maryland, in the view of British
observers.
"PM gives a signal that he's no poodle," the conservative
Daily Telegraph headlined a story about the meeting.
"Even when Bush was trying to act friendly, his shoulders were
slumped," body-language specialist Judi James told the
newspaper.
She said Brown initially appeared discomfited by Bush's breezy
ways, especially when the president did a bit of wild driving with
Brown as a passenger in a golf cart. The British leader at that
point "was holding the fixed grin of someone dreading an afternoon
playing with a boisterous toddler," the left-leaning
Guardian newspaper said.
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Brown also stayed away from Bush's penchant from remarks that many
foreigners see as excessively personal. Brown did not presume to be
on a first-name basis with the US leader, nor to have insights into
his character.
The Independent newspaper sniffed, "George Bush, expert
diviner of global statesmen ... peered into the soul of Gordon
Brown yesterday, and found it very good."
The Guardian suggested that Brown's distance was not
just a matter of personal preference but of strategy aimed at
achieving gravitas and staking out an independent position for his
government, while continuing to pursue close relations with
Washington, which Brown has described as Britain's most important
partner.
Those style decisions underline strong policy statements from
Brown, including his vow that Britain would make decisions about
its troops in Iraq based on its own commanders' assessments.
An opinion poll by the Populus group published in The
Times of London yesterday showed support for Brown's Labor
Party rising to 39 percent - its highest level in 18 months - while
the main opposition Conservative Party has declined to 33
percent.
(China Daily via agencies August 1, 2007)
