双语新闻：如果全世界都来投票(图)

　　The U.S. Presidential election may be the most undemocratic in the world. Only some 126 million Americans vote, yet the result is felt by 6.6 billion people. Indeed, in some ways it matters even more to non-Americans. The president is constrained domestically by many constitutional checks and balances, but this is far less true in foreign affairs.

　　Nevertheless, the world has yet to pick its favorite. It is clear, however, whose election would have the most dramatic effect: Barack Obama's. In one fell swoop, an Obama victory would eliminate at least half the massive anti-Americanism now felt around the world. Eight hundred million Africans would get a tremendous boost to their self-esteem and cultural pride. A son of their soil would, for the first time, occupy the White House, and many would whisper, approvingly, "Only in America."

　　Obama is not a Muslim, but the 1.2 billion Muslims around the world would take great interest in his middle name: Hussein. Indeed, the election of "H" would immediately undo much of the damage "W" has wrought.

　　Of course, not everyone would be overjoyed. The Europeans would be the most cynical. For ages, they've believed that the world pays the price for American inexperience, and many would thus rather Hillary Clinton became president (and they'd be happy to accept Bill as part of the package). She is careful, cold and calculating; Europeans like that. She would also be well received by Latin Americans, who still love Bill and who would note the interesting parallel with Argentina and the Kirchners.

　　美国的总统选举也许是世界上最不民主的。只有1.26亿美国人投票，但是结果会影响到66亿人。的确，某种意义上，选举结果影响更多的是“非美国人”。总统在国内事务上会因宪法规定的分权制度而受到束缚，但是在外交事务上远不是那么一回事。

　　然而，世界还是要选择它所喜欢的人。但是，谁的竞选最富有戏剧性已经明确了。经过一场激烈的争夺，奥巴马的胜利至少将会消除一半世界上广泛存在的反美主义。8亿非洲人将大大增强他们的自尊和文化自豪感。从他们土地上产生的儿子将第一次占据白宫。许多人都将窃窃私语：“只有在美国。”

　　奥巴马不是一名穆斯林。但是，全世界12亿穆斯林将对他中间的名字“侯赛因”特别感兴趣。的确，选“H”将马上化解“W” (乔治·W·布什的中间名字的缩写字母)造成的许多损害。

　　当然，也不是人人都会狂喜。欧洲人对此最不屑一顾。许多年来，他们一直认为美国缺乏经验，但是世界为它埋了单。许多欧洲人更希望希拉里·克林顿当总统(他们也乐意接受比尔参与其中)。她细心、冷峻并精打细算。欧洲人喜欢那样的人。她也会受到拉丁美洲人的欢迎，他们仍然喜欢比尔，并很有兴趣拿阿根廷和基什内尔夫妇来作比较。