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German Chancellor Tells Obama "Nein" on Speech Location
July 09, 2008 1:46 PM
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, has sought permission to deliver an address at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany later this month, but though Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit has given his approval German Chancellor and unwitting President Bush-massage victim Angela Merkel is inclined to say "nein."
Merkel spox Thomas Steg told reporters that "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."
Ja, wir können, indeed.
The Brandenburg Gate is where President Ronald Reagan told Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" in 1987. Bill Clinton spoke at the Gate in 1994 declaring "Berlin is free!"
(The Gate is NOT where President John F. Kennedy in 1963 declared to the world, "ich bin ein Berliner" (which, despite urban legend, few locals likely interpreted to mean that the president was declaring himself a jelly-filled pastry), but Kennedy visited the Gate during that same German sojourn.*)
Obama spox Bill Burton says the senator "has considered several sites for a possible speech, and he will choose one that makes most sense for him and his German hosts."
- jpt
* Corrected since posting.
July 9, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (53)
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"Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy!"
- Concerned
Posted by: Concerned | Jul 9, 2008 3:03:32 PM
Obama: A show-man and nothing more!
Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jul 9, 2008 3:03:07 PM
Obama has lost his magic. He's fast becoming another ordinary polician. An ordinary politician with no real experience. He's done.
Posted by: BB | Jul 9, 2008 3:01:01 PM
Eric, you don't have to fear that. Obama will never make it that far. Rest easy.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 9, 2008 2:57:08 PM
JFK gave his speech in front of Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall for one of the districts of Berlin), a square now known as JFK-Platz. That square was in West Berlin and not near the wall. He visited the Brandenburg Gate later. It's really the difference between DC city hall, which no one outside the city would be able to find, and the Washington Monument or Lincoln Memorial.
****
JAKE'S NOTE: Since corrected. Thanks, Debbie.
Posted by: Debbie | Jul 9, 2008 2:56:53 PM
Yavo, great point. They were already elected when they spoke. For some reason Obama thinks he's already elected. Remember his presidential seal? Lol.
Arrogance doesn't even begin to describe this clown.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 9, 2008 2:56:13 PM
My greatest fear about obama is ,come jan 20th while he will be taking his oath of office,he might try to laugh or make some nasty gesture at people who didn't vote for him,thats my greated fear
Posted by: eric | Jul 9, 2008 2:54:58 PM
Yes, we'll see you at the inauguration when President McCain is sworn in.
Poor Obama - his little overly choreographed event was given the nein.
Love it!
P.S. Yes, Obama has a message. It goes like this: "I'll say whatever I need to say to get elected."
Wow, how unusual!
Posted by: Jo | Jul 9, 2008 2:54:16 PM
What makes Obama think the Germans want him over there? And having a campaign rally..??? I am happy that the Germans said "nein" Obama is an arrogant, self serving regular "politics as usual" politician. There is no change here. He is just an idiot. His air of superiority disgusts me. He will NEVER EVER EVER get my vote.
Posted by: MJL | Jul 9, 2008 2:53:17 PM
Obama is a person with a message and a person destined to be a world leader and Angela cannot stop that. Let the German people decide.
Posted by: gjkotw01 | Jul 9, 2008 2:52:00 PM
NAT TUNER
im with you all the way!!!!!
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 9, 2008 2:47:55 PM
English =no Chinese=puhow Japanese=da-may,Nigerian=mba In Rwanda (Africa) ubama means no.
Posted by: kevin kimberly kevin (jr) | Jul 9, 2008 2:45:55 PM
This is how it works:
CYNICS continue to whine........
OBAMA continues to WIN
More crow with all the fixins?
SEE YOU AT THE INAUGURATION SWEETIES!
OBAMA 08
Posted by: Nat Turner | Jul 9, 2008 2:41:07 PM
There is no place for Left Radicals in Germany
Posted by: bhrandon | Jul 9, 2008 2:40:55 PM
i have yet to hear obama say he can heal the sick and raise the dead
although i heard that someone named jesus claimed he could do that
Posted by: bhrandon | Jul 9, 2008 2:36:55 PM
With God all things are possible,no powerful man or woman can stop obama,Remember herod ?Pharoah?even hitler,,,,,,,,they are tried God for size, we all know the how they all failed,God is on Obama's side,dare not the annointed !!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Adams | Jul 9, 2008 2:35:02 PM
By the way, who in world does poll ratings overseas of presidential candidates in America?!! And more than that, who in the world CARES what their ratings are in other countries? Oh wait, I already know the answer to that.
LOL.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 9, 2008 2:33:30 PM
If Obama has a 90% approval rating in Germany, then let him move there and run for president.
He won't win here.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 9, 2008 2:32:03 PM
This is how it works:
CYNICS continue to whine........
OBAMA continues to WIN
More crow?
Posted by: Nat Turner | Jul 9, 2008 2:31:49 PM
Obama better get use to the word "Nein" (no)....it'll be what Americans tell him this November.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 9, 2008 2:31:16 PM
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