American exceptionalism

Belief in "American exceptionalism"???that unique blend of ideals, ideas, and love of liberty made so powerful by great technical and economic accomplishments???is alive and well. Even President Obama, a reluctant endorser to begin with, has come around. Early in his presidency (in April 2009), he affirmed his belief by essentially denying it: "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism." By May of 2014, he had relented: "I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being."