Obama mulling speech in Berlin?

[Bann]

This from a blog in Obama's hometown paper...

WASHINGTON--A German friend passed along the news Saturday that local sources in Berlin are confirming that the Obama campaign was in contact with city authorities to discuss the possibility of presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) delivering an outdoor address in front of the Brandenburg gate. The thinking is Obama would follow in the footsteps of two very famous Cold War-era speeches of U.S. presidents speaking in Germany: JFK "Ich bin ein Berliner" and Reagan "tear down this wall." It would probably be Obama's only public speech during upcoming visits to Germany, France and England on a swing to include stops in Israel and Jordan. There is still no date for the trip. German news sources are reporting the Obama team is working on a visit during the "second half of this month".

Ooh, maybe he'll be using his presidential-like seal?

Lynn Sweet: Obama mulling major speech in front of Berlin's Brandenburg gate; to evoke, Reagan, Kennedy. "Ich bin ein Obama"

 

[chernmax]

Well when you have no Foriegn policy experience, you hope your election team does their best at making something up or squeeze something in!!!

 

[Lenny]

Well when you have no Foriegn policy experience, you hope your election team does their best at making something up or squeeze something in!!!

That is exactly his reason for this trip, to feign a foreign policy experience by seeing the capitals of these countries. That's all it takes these days, donchaknow?

 

[chernmax]

That is exactly his reason for this trip, to feign a foreign policy experience by seeing the capitals of these countries. That's all it takes these days, donchaknow?

I think he's just doing it because Newports are cheaper at Duty Free shops...

I wonder if he could get me a shot glass from England for my collection!!!

 

[Bann]

Well, even the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel has "slammed his request as inappropriate"...

The conservative leader said that while she would be pleased to meet the US Democratic presidential hopeful, it would be wrong for him to hold a "campaign rally" at the historic symbol of German unity.

"It is unusual to do electioneering abroad," spokesman Thomas Steg told reporters.

"It is unusual to hold election rallies abroad. No German candidate for high office would even think of using the National Mall (in Washington) or Red Square in Moscow for a rally because it would not be seen as appropriate."

Merkel warns Obama not to use landmark for 'electioneering' - Yahoo! News

 

[MMDad]

"Ich bin ein Berliner, homes!"

"I knew Jack Kennedy, and frankly Barack, you are a jackass!"

 

[PulseStart]

"Ich bin ein Berliner, homes!"

"I knew Jack Kennedy, and frankly Barack, you are a jackass!"

What does Toppicks siggy mean!

 

[Nonno]

Well, even the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel has "slammed his request as inappropriate"...

Then there's this part of the article

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier sharply contradicted Merkel's views in an interview to be published Thursday, saying they could be interpreted in the United States as an affront to Obama.

"The Americans contributed decisively to saving the city of Berlin that is why we should make historic sites such as the Brandenburg Gate available to them," Steinmeier, who is also vice chancellor, told the daily Frankfurter Rundschau.
"If Barack Obama decides to take a trip to Europe and to visit Berlin as well as Britain and France then we should warmly welcome it. We should see his desire to visit as a sign of the importance that transatlantic ties have for him -- and react positively."

Foreign ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, was eager to meet Obama after speaking with him on the phone in April.
"The foreign minister does not find it odd," he said, adding that an Obama speech at or near the site would be "an expression of the vital German-American friendship" just days after Washington opened a new embassy next to the gate.


And this part

The left-leaning government of the city-state, which has the sole right to approve such a request, has not yet made a formal decision but Mayor Klaus Wowereit gave his backing Tuesday.

 

[Bann]

Well, even the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel has "slammed his request as inappropriate"...

Then there's this part of the article

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier sharply contradicted Merkel's views in an interview to be published Thursday, saying they could be interpreted in the United States as an affront to Obama.

"The Americans contributed decisively to saving the city of Berlin that is why we should make historic sites such as the Brandenburg Gate available to them," Steinmeier, who is also vice chancellor, told the daily Frankfurter Rundschau.
"If Barack Obama decides to take a trip to Europe and to visit Berlin as well as Britain and France then we should warmly welcome it. We should see his desire to visit as a sign of the importance that transatlantic ties have for him -- and react positively."

Foreign ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, was eager to meet Obama after speaking with him on the phone in April.
"The foreign minister does not find it odd," he said, adding that an Obama speech at or near the site would be "an expression of the vital German-American friendship" just days after Washington opened a new embassy next to the gate.


And this part

The left-leaning government of the city-state, which has the sole right to approve such a request, has not yet made a formal decision but Mayor Klaus Wowereit gave his backing Tuesday.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - I get that. But she's the Chancellor of Germany and that does carry weight and that was what I was commmenting on. Not everyone in the world is all ga-ga for Obama.

 

[ImnoMensa]

Ich Bin Ein Black Berliner. LMAO.