Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteEU  First off.. Berlin Gears Up for Obama Visit | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 18.07.2008
So not at the Brandenburg gate. The controversy was an old one.
Secondly Brandenburg Gate Controversy: Obama Reacts to Debate in Berlin - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
Has always been what the Obama camp has said. It is in fact right wing hags that have been going up in arms over one of the sites being considered being the Brandenburg gate and using the internet have promoted the illusion that this was the place he had chosen, when in fact no such call on where was taken until yesterday.
And it did not help that it seems that the Bush administration was playing surrogate for the McCain campaign by bringing up the issue at the G8 and attempting to "influence" the German government, who by the way have no influence in choosing the site. That was up to the Berlin Mayor. Bush blamed for Merkel opposition to Brandenburg date for Obama - Europe, World - The Independent
As for using the Brandenburg gate as a back drop for a speech. I dont like it, as it has good and bad memories. Sure Reagan standing there saying "Bring down this wall" was iconic for many of my generation, but for even more the picture of Hitler driving in is Mercedes in the various victory parades under and around the gate is just as powerful symbol of evil. And JFK never spoke at the gate.. he visited, but did not speak there.
As for "who does he think he is"... hello.. he is a BLACK presidential candidate from the US, a country that 40 years ago still had apartheid like laws and traditions in large parts of the country. So yes his a "special one" (to quote a famous football managers view of himself), like it or not.
On top of that, he is the first serious presidential candidate that is truly multi ethnical both religious and socially. He has lived among Muslims and raised by Christians, lived among Asians, born into a black family and raised by white people. You can not say that this not totaly different than the usual standard middle to late aged white guy that the US has been electing since forever? America claims to be a melting pot, but this is the first serious candidate that is a true melting pot, and so yes he will attract far more media glare than McCain and sorry if that pisses you and the right off. |
No, I think Krauthammer captured the chutzpah of Obama in this fine, fine article.
When the Berlin Wall fell, President Bush refused to go to Germany to join in the celebrating as he felt it would be imprudent, even though NO ONE would have blamed him. The Cold War was long and costly in blood and fortune, and for the wall, which was symbolic of the Soviet ideology, to be torn down in our lifetime, it was a moment everyone who loved freedom could rejoice.
But for this 143 Day Senator to bring his presidential "road show" campaign to Germany shows an audacity that even a Jihadist could admire.
If the Koran commands the expansion of the religion to the world by any means necessary or possible, Obama is very subtly signaling his intention, if elected, to do more to expand Americana to the world than McCain would ever DREAM of!
Are you all aware that Obama is putting his community organizing experience to work and by introducing legislation to cut WORLD POVERTY BY HALF, (using US tax dollars as well as other methods), he intends to 'organize' the poor people of the World?
Be astonished. Be VERY astonished!
The last time Progressives did this was in the 1960's.
Now imagine a world filled with millions of angry, dysfunctional poor people and all of them wanting a handout.
Hey, maybe some parts of the world will be designated the ghettos.
Let's say that Germany will be like South Central L.A. and parts of Africa can be like East St. Louis and so on.