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Why Are So Many Germans Crazy About Obama?
August 26, 2008 2:01 PM
By CHRISTEL KUCHARZ, ABC News Germany
German-American relations hit a major bump in the road – to put it diplomatically – after the Iraq war.
And there seems no quick fix to resolve that issue despite German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s many efforts to heal the rift by building a good personal relationship with President George Bush.
For the most part, many Germans are simply disappointed and disillusioned by the present U.S. administration and, more than anything, they’re hoping for change.
That’s where Barack Obama comes in.
A couple of weeks ago, a German newspaper ran a poll in which 74 percent of Germans said they would vote for Barack Obama, if they could cast a ballot in the U.S. elections, while only 11 percent said they would vote for his Republican rival, John McCain.
The presumptive democratic presidential candidate is seen by many observers as a passionate politician, who may lack experience in foreign policies, but who would be able to change things – especially when it comes to German-American relations.
Click here to see more on international coverage of the Democratic National Convention.
August 26, 2008 in Christel Kucharz | Permalink | User Comments (12)
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Maybe they have 'Fuehrer' complex: yearning for charismatic leader
Posted by: TT | Aug 26, 2008 2:31:03 PM
Yes, that is exactly why we should elect The Messiah, I mean Obama: because the Germans like him.
Give me a break.
Posted by: cb | Aug 26, 2008 2:50:31 PM
Not the first time a socialist was popular. Remember Hitler's promises to get elected? And then maybe many of the East Germans remember the good old days under communism after WWII. Lots of cheers when the Berlin Lift was helping them out. And don't forget the cheers when the Berlin Wall came down. Now who did the poll there and who did they poll?
Posted by: egret57 | Aug 26, 2008 2:51:33 PM
Hrmmm...Study your history folks. Neoconservativism is the extension of ideologies developed at the start of the 20th century that formed the basis for what was known as "National Socialism". Point the "Hitler" finger all you want, but so far as ideology and policy is concerned, well, you get where I'm going with this.
Posted by: grr | Aug 26, 2008 3:40:28 PM
Actually, Obama is more closely identified with their own socialist system, therefore he is the "good guy" while any other U.S. candidate would by default be the "bad guy" for being conservative.
As a counter-point to grr's statement. The Nazi's were the NSDAP- Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or the National Socialist German Workers Party. They were socialist, i.e. state control of most state services (education, healthcare, retirement, ect) and heavily controlled industry via legislation and furher directives.
Obama and the current Democratic party can just as easily be tarred with that brush as the Republicans.
Posted by: historymajor | Aug 26, 2008 6:20:24 PM
Obama is for more big government control. "im sorry your so helpless, lets take from thoese who can and simply give their earnings to you".
Sharing is caring but shouldnt the person providing make some of that choice? This welfare type mentality is some of the weakness built into and growing our failing system of government. Obama does not have a clue how the middle class supports this country so how can he manage it.
Posted by: AMERICAN | Aug 26, 2008 8:07:50 PM
Just like Hitler's folowers the so called republicans will follow John McBush down the rode to ultimate ruin. How long will it be until you admit that Bush is disliked the world over? While you support his programs of torture and illegal wiretaps just remember when the liberties you are so willing to give up end, it will be your ass next. You better hope that that knock on the door in the middle of the night isn't for you. Continue to live in the fog since you support the totalitarian Bush regime
Posted by: Tom Schwertscharf | Aug 26, 2008 9:59:15 PM
germans have more historic mind than american
Posted by: esi | Aug 27, 2008 12:32:20 AM
Seig heil!! Omama.
Posted by: bombem | Aug 27, 2008 2:06:50 PM
Does it tell you anything ? Hint: the German had once in the past elected a leader with powerful rhetorics who also drew mass rallies in the hundreds of thousands ... NO wonder Obama is popular there , too bad, that type of leader has no place in the heart of the practical Americans , the majority of whom prefer to look at one's acchievements and experiences rather than buying into flowery but empty rhetorics.
Posted by: alohaone | Aug 29, 2008 12:12:56 AM
of course Germans like Obama. Obama resembles Mussollini, especially with his trademark's "lift up the chin". Hitler was inspired by Mussollini. So of cource the Germans are inspired by Obama.
I'm bittered that after what had happened to the Jews, Germans still are not up to taking responsibility to defend the Jews against those crazy middle easterns. It's always the US taking the responsibility. And here, they come inserting their noses in our country. Did we care about their election??
Posted by: hannah | Aug 29, 2008 2:38:18 AM
I'm sure Germany is not the only country that feels that way.The leadership of our nation has a great impact on the entire world.The American situation would have been entirely different if the leaders of other countries had took resposibility for the plight of their on and valued the lives of all their citizens.Germany should know better than anyone what blind faith and fear tactics can lead to.I cannot believe that in this century that their is more fear of having a leader with an unusual sounding name or a different skin color than someone who has agreed with 8 years of poor decisions, dishonesty and turning a blind eye to those less fortunate while sending our children off to a senseless war in Iraq. Would you feel the same if your son believed he was protecting his country from weapons of mass destructin only to find out he was killed on a hunch which went totally against intelligence. Would you feel the same if your loved ones lived in New Orleans and lost their lives or their entire way of life due to an ineffectual President. I plead with you to listen to the facts,look at their recordsnot the sound of their name or the color of their skin.
Posted by: Donna | Sep 1, 2008 11:43:05 PM
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