Caveat Emptor

Wingers are jumping on this poll that says the US has lost international standing under Obama.

A majority of Americans say the United States is less respected in the world than it was two years ago and think President Obama and other Democrats fall short of Republicans on the issue of national security, a new poll finds.

The Democracy Corps-Third Way survey released Monday finds that by a 10-point margin -- 51 percent to 41 percent -- Americans think the standing of the U.S. dropped during the first 13 months of Mr. Obama's presidency.

"This is surprising, given the global acclaim and Nobel peace prize that flowed to the new president after he took office," said pollsters for the liberal-leaning organizations. 

Please note the wording there.   "Americans think the standing of the U.S. dropped..."  What a ridiculous poll.  If you want to know how the US is perceived internationally by non-Americans, why are you asking Americans?

Why not actually ask people in other countries?

Oh, and it's a Third Way poll...natch.  Gee, if you wanted to give the Wingers an "even the liberal Third Way says..." moment to attack Obama, there you go.

[UPDATE 11:57 AM]  Betty Cracker helpfully answers my question.

As it turns out, Gallup released a poll last month that actually did gauge non-American perceptions of American leadership and presents data from 2006-2009:

So yes, international citizens have a MUCH higher opinion of Obama than Bush.