Report: Bush Officials Not Happy About Possible Obama Speech At Brandenburg Gate

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Report: Bush Officials Not Happy About Possible Obama Speech At Brandenburg Gate
By Greg Sargent - July 10, 2008, 3:48PM


There's been an interesting twist in the ongoing behind-the-scenes discussions over whether Barack Obama will deliver a speech on July 24th at Berlin's historically-charged Brandenburg Gate.

A new report in the German press says that Bush administration officials are unhappy with the idea and privately said as much to representatives of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The whole thing started when Der Spiegel reported the other day that Obama would be visiting Berlin on July 24th, stirring speculation that he wanted to speak before the Gate, a place that's associated with JFK and Ronald Reagan, symbolizes the end of the Cold War, and would give Obama's speech a great deal of historical resonance.

The Obama campaign has been tight-lipped about his plans, saying that he has "considered several sites for a possible speech." Meanwhile, Merkel has reacted with coolness to the idea.

Now Der Spiegel has added a new twist to the tale.

From the mag...



The report is unconfirmed, and the paper cited here doesn't have an English translation, but Der Spiegel describes it as "respected." If Bush officials are privately trying to nix a speech that would give Obama a major boost it's an interesting development and raises more questions, such as whether the administration is possibly letting efforts to help McCain intrude on back-channel diplomacy in other areas.

I would be very pleased if Germany invites Obama to speak.

After that little bit of unexpected groping, I would think she'd JUMP at the chance to put the Fratboy-in-Chief in his place.

That's just strange.

I've also read Merkel isn't happy. I can't figure it out either.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6471134

You never know when he's going to wake up and decide to bomb somebody.

She's a stupid conservative twit anyways.

The majority of Germans love Obama and would be thrilled wherever he spoke. He's gonna get bigger crowds than that other old fuck Reagan...and this old fuck may get a few homeless people and a bunch of protesters and hecklers.

:shrug:

It's a little silly since interacting with people requires the same skill set no matter where you go. lol

sought out venues in Europe? I searched JK04 and found nothing. AG00 and found nothing. The first question I fielded from one of my ESL students today was, "Why is he speaking here? WE don't vote for him."

I think another poster was correct; he's introducing himself, in Europe and Iraq. The difference is Kerry had been around awhile, people knew him. And times are different now. The entire world is fed up with the dim one.

that it would probably be very beneficial for the rest of the world to see him and learn who he is now, because he's going to have to depend on a good bit of goodwill from the rest of the world to help sort out the mess here at home. The rest of the world needs to know that he's far-flung from Bush and his maladministration, and maybe some nations will see this and want to help.

At least one speech overseas during the campaign is clearly necessary.

wielding a brush that broad makes you look as bad as those you criticize.

from our Hitlers party. Better yet we should follow Germany's lead. Outlaw the republican party and any display of their symbols. I just don't understand the back peddeling. If Bush is Hitler part II. Then McCain is Hitler part III.

There's a new leader in the fascist world, and it ain't Germany.

shoulder to Obama or the democrats. Especially when it was her that branded Bush with "Hitler." She was right. You would think that she would want to bend over backwards to help the Democrats defeat our Hitler's party. Who are just promoting change as more of the same. Look it's a different guy doing the same things. That's change as far as the conservatives are concerned. But then again Bush is a vendictive son of a bitch from the get go. Maybe she's afraid Bush would nuke Germany if they got too cozy with Obama. Who knows. But this will interesting to watch as it devolpes.

Well, maybe he was just old enough to join Hitler Youth.

I hope when Merkel makes her decision she remembers that attempted backrub our Idiot in Chief tried to give her.

After he is elected, if he likes - then he would be "following in the footsteps" of Reagan and Kennedy, who were both duly elected Presidents.

Obama is the presumptive nominee of the Democratic party. He hasn't been elected yet and he doesn't speak for the United States in any official capacity (beyond his role as a senator) until he is elected.

Beats the hell out of going to Columbia. And the world is curious. I don't see how this could be detrimental.

I said I didn't think it was appropriate.

going to a North American country - was it Columbia? Ironic McCain new about the 5 month rescue operation before it happened....

This is the * admin trying to poisen the world against Obama...

I was simply stating my opinion of this situation. Full stop.

With any other politician doing this I would say, he has a bad habit of comming out of the starting gate too soon. But that really seems to work for Obama. As they say, If it ain't broke you don't fix it. Besides rallying international support will over come that inexperience crap and build up his diplomatic credibility.

number of high-level government officials in Berlin."

Well, can you get more right-wing than that?

Sich Heil!

Funny that.

So of course, the WH will try to sabotage this.

If Bush knows anything, he knows that women just LUUUUUV a shoulder massage. Heh heh heh heh! Heh heh heh heh!

(Oh, lord, that was sarcasm but the concept made me puke a little in the back of my throat.)

That's the place where Jesse Owens embarassed Hitler in 1936 then made a triumphant return and did a victory lap in the 50's. The place holds more than the Brandenburg Gate would...plus what's the use of doing a speech in front of a wall that isn't there anymore?