TOMORROW THE WORLD

Posted at 7:34 a.m. ET

We must not engage in guilt by association.  We must not raise any question about the people with whom Senator Obama associates, has associated, or is likely to associate.  We must not ask who supports him.  So I caution you that everything said here is completely irrelevant and possibly sinful.  Ignore it.  Move on.  How can we possibly judge Mr. Obama by things like this?  I apologize for even bringing it up: 

There are no "Obama 2008" buttons, banners or T-shirts visible here at U.N. headquarters, but it might be difficult to find a sliver of territory in the United States more enthusiastic over the prospect of the Illinois senator winning the White House.

An informal survey of more than two dozen U.N. staff members and foreign delegates showed that the overwhelming majority would prefer that Sen. Barack Obama win the presidency, saying they think that the Democrat would usher in a new agenda of multilateralism after an era marked by Republican disdain for the world body.

Obama supporters hail from Russia, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Indonesia and elsewhere. One American employee here seemed puzzled that he was being asked whether Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was even a consideration. "Obama was and is unstoppable," the official said. "Please, God, let him win," he added.

There are two news items there:  First, please note that they support Obama not because his policies would be good for the world, but that they think they'd be good for the UN.  Second, at least one person at the UN believes in God.  The second point may create a scandal at the organization, and may lead to an internal investigation. 

Conservatives who are skeptical of the United Nations said they are not surprised by the political tilt. "The fact is that most conservatives, most Republicans don't worship at the altar in New York, and I think that aggravates them more than anything else," said John R. Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "What they want is the bending of the knee, and they'll get it from an Obama administration."

I wish this man would stop telling the truth.  It's so out of style.

"We do not consider him an African American," said Congo's U.N. ambassador, Atoki Ileka. "We consider him an African."

There's a man with a misunderstanding of the United States.  But who will correct him?

"I have not heard a single person who will support McCain; if they do, they are in hiding," said another U.N. Obama booster from an African country. "The majority of people here believe in multilateralism," he said. "The Republicans were constantly questioning the relevance of the United Nations."

Whoops, there's that "UN forever" mantra.  Nothing like a little careerism to start the week.

For the small minority of U.N. officials who have stuck with McCain -- only two of 28 U.N. officials and diplomats questioned said they favored the Arizona senator -- life in Turtle Bay can seem lonely. "I keep my mouth shut," said one American official here who plans to vote for McCain. "Everyone is knocking on wood, counting the days to the elections. Some Americans here are planning to move to Washington," in search of jobs in an Obama administration.

"It will be devastating if Obama loses," the official said. "There has been such an amount of faith placed on the outcome."

Of course, many at the UN come from countries where the outcome of "elections" is assured in advance.  We understand how they feel.  We share their anxiety.

But remember, I caution again:  We can't blame Obama for his supporters.  But we can blame Sarah Palin for hers.

"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what it can do for the UN bureaucracy."

Good line for Obama's inaugural address.

October 27, 2008.