Horserace
July 9, 2008 11:54 AM

Obama At The Brandenburg Gate? Maybe Not.

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Barack Obama
The details of Barack Obama's upcoming foreign journey are still being worked out, but early indications are that the presumptive Democratic nominee will likely visit Israel, Germany, France, and Great Britain, beginning with his arrival in Israel July 22nd. The Obama campaign has also signaled that the candidate could visit Jordan, Afghanistan and Iraq during the trip.

One of the likely stops on the journey is Berlin, a city that holds a particularly appealing landmark for a politician looking for a dramatic backdrop: The Brandenburg Gate. It's where Ronald Reagan in 1987 asked Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" and Bill Clinton in 1994 declared that "Berlin is free." (For those keeping track, John F. Kennedy's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in 1963 took place not at the Gate but in Sch?neberg, the then-seat of the West Berlin government.)

German newspaper Der Spiegel reported over the weekend that "the Berlin Senate has reportedly been asked whether Obama can speak in front of the Brandenburg Gate," prompting speculation about a potential high-profile Obama address from the historic location.

Now, however, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has expressed interest in meeting with Obama while he is in her country, is expressing concern over the prospect of such an address.

The Associated Press is reporting that Merkel's spokesman said the chancellor is expressing "great skepticism as to whether it is appropriate to bring an election campaign being fought not in Germany but in the United States to the Brandenburg Gate."

The spokesman added that "no German (chancellor) candidate would think of using (Washington's) National Mall or Red Square in Moscow for rallies, because it would be considered inappropriate."

Add a Comment
by ariel133 July 10, 2008 11:45 AM EDT
So what is the case for McCain?

No candidate for President since Wendell Wilkie in 1940 has had as little relevant experience before running for President as Barack Obama. The Illinois Senator served for 8 years, in a generally undistinguished fashion, in the Illinois legislature. He was best known for voting present more often than any other State Senator. When the Democrats took over the Legislature the last two years he served, Obama worked out a deal with the Democratic leader, Emil Jones, to get his name on some bills so he could buff up his resume before running for the open US Senate seat.

In the US Senate, Obama missed many votes in his first term even before he launched his Presidential bid, as he traveled the country speaking to Democratic Party events (and positioning himself with activists for a future Presidential run). Since the campaign began, he has missed virtually all Senate votes and failed to hold meetings of his own subcommittee. So the Obama record is very thin.

His major campaign themes have been lofty messages of change and hope and bipartisan unity. This is a smart course to take, when you have little to show for your years in public office. McCain needs to focus on Obama''''s record of scant legislative accomplishment and inexperience. What has Barack Obama done, as opposed to claiming to have done?
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by ariel133 July 10, 2008 10:53 AM EDT
This biased support of a person who has flip flopped and is being excused for doing so is hypocritical when spoken in terms of adjusting his frame of reference according to the times and then not accepting McCains changes as well. It is so obvious and evident the propaganda for this unqualified Democrat just because of the unpopularity of Bush and not because MCCain is actually more experianced and less embarressing as a leader of a nation. People are not that stupid that they can see through the manipulation, media. The general election will prove that after we see more crazy flip flops from the only candidate who is not credible. Obama should accept that he is wrong for the USA and get off the pedastal that does not suit him.
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by rowdywicca July 10, 2008 12:22 AM EDT
Close the borders! Don''t let him back in!!!

ROFL!
Reply to this comment
by greenfun July 9, 2008 11:10 PM EDT
Obama votes for FISA.
What a chump.
Reply to this comment
by ariel133 July 9, 2008 3:59 PM EDT
If Obama actually does that, he will destroy the American Democrats completely.

Go MCCAIN!
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