From The Road
By

Maria Gavrilovic /

CNET/ July 28, 2008, 8:01 AM

What Did Obama Learn on His Overseas Trip?

(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(CHICAGO) Barack Obama's whirlwind trip to the Middle East and Europe was full of packed schedules, little sleep, and a cast of captivating international leaders. This was his first time abroad since announcing his run for the presidency. What did he learn?


1.) King Abdullah is a gracious host.

The 46 year old King of Jordan "bent over backwards," according to the campaign, to meet up with Obama during his day trip to Jordan. Abdullah returned early from Aspen in order to attend the one on one meeting with Obama, and even hosted a formal palace dinner at the Beit Al Urdan complex. Obama later arrived at the airport for a flight to Israel in a dark Mercedes Benz driven by the King. "It's a pretty smooth ride," Obama told CNN.


2.) Don't leave a note at the Western Wall if you are running for president.

On just a few hours of sleep, Obama paid a pre-dawn visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall where he placed a written prayer between stones. Thousands of visitors leave similar notes but rarely is one tampered with. Obama's note, on the other hand, was allegedly taken from the wall and published by Israeli newspapers. The campaign would not confirm or deny that the note was legitimate, but Shmeul Rabinovitz, the rabbi in charge of the Western Wall condemned the incident as an intrusion on Obama's relationship with God.


3.) It's hard to go to the gym in Berlin.

After learning that the gym at his Berlin hotel was under partial construction, Obama opted to work out at the nearby Ritz Carlton. But, as word of his whereabouts got out, the German press and onlookers quickly gathered outside the hotel gym. One overzealous German reporter actually posed as a gym-goer in order to catch a first hand account the presumptive nominee's work out. She wrote a minute by minute account of Obama's work out, even noting "wow, he didn't even sweat! WHAT A MAN!"


4.) Sarkozy loves everything American.

When he ran for President of France in 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy had to tone down his pro-American rhetoric in order to be elected. But at press conference in the Elysee Palace, Sarkozy showed nothing but admiration for Obama. He told his guest the French were following the U.S. election "with passion" and even drew similarities between their respective candidacies.

"Not everyone here is called Sarkozy," he said, "I'm fully aware not everyone is called Obama in the United States." Sarko's energy and charisma at the presser even prompted Obama to ask him what he eats "so that I can find out how I can always have as much energy."


5.) Private conversations are not always private.

The press did not see much of Obama's meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who was enduring his own political turmoil, but caught a glimpse of a potential budding relationship with conservative opposition leader, David Cameron. While trading casual advice, the two men appear to "get each other," at least when it comes to the need for rest.

"You should be on the beach... You need a break," Cameron told Obama in an off mic conversation. "You need to be able to keep your head together... Do you have a break at all?"

"The most important thing you need to do is to have big chunks of time during the day when all you're doing is thinking," Obama said. Otherwise, he added, "you start making mistakes or you lose the big picture."

The pair did not realize that their conversation was caught on mic.
© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
72 Comments Add a Comment
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libh8er says:
What Did Obama Learn on His Overseas Trip?

That there''s a whole world full of sychophants and socialists ready to give him a sense of ''belonging''.
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ariel133 says:
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to "The War Zone". I wanted to share with you what happened. He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.

As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn''''t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service.

I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States. I just don''''t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier

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wellhell3 says:
I would hope he learned that you can''t hire three rock bands, bring out 200,000 teeny boppers for a free concert, and claim they came out in support of your freaking campaign!
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ariel133 says:
Making excuses for Obama is what is happening over and over..giving him passes and allowing for him to seem connected to Americans because of his so called "popularity to the masses" is sad. He had time to visit the troops as he had time to play basket ball. Regardless if it seemed "political" that is not the point, it would have showed his true faith in American military, unless of course, it makes him uncomfortable. This is the question people seem to overlook. Would he have written off Rev Wright if he did not win the primary? I really want to know, but hardly guess I ever will. If he loses the GE he will certainly return to him, that is my feeling.
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seah5 says:
Obama learned how to plant people in a German crowd with American Flags to wave.

Makes it look pretty on Video and Pictures.

You have to Love Obama marketing and PR team, selling him overseas.

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liberty_1776 says:
McCain = veteran

Obama = wimp
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larysinclair says:
Great platform the Repugnantcans have laid out for the American Voters this year?





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Posted by Mattcat25 at 05:23 PM : Jul 28, 2008
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You would have to ask a Republican about that!!
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mattcat25 says:
"Fool-Aid!! Get your Fool-Aid here!!
Free Fool-Aid!! Get your Fooooool-Aiiid!!!!
Does your messiah pay you by the letter or word?"
Posted by LARYSINCLAIR

Perpetual War, Mismanaging of Federal Treasury Funds, and Fear Mongering.
Increased Governmental $pending while cutting Taxes to the Wealthy.
Unfair Taxation of the Middle Class.
High prices for GASOLINE, Electricity, and Everything Else!
High Medical Costs and Prescription Drugs.
Pollution.
Invasion of Privacy, and disregard for our Constitution.
Corruption, Corruption, Corruption.
Religious Hypocrisy and Abuse of Tax Laws.
Politicalization of the Justice Department.
Degradation of our Infrastructure.
Continued export of American Jobs to overseas Slave Labor.
Decline in US stature and respect of the World Community.


Great platform the Repugnantcans have laid out for the American Voters this year?


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larysinclair says:
but just wait for the debates....its going to be a fun time and lots of work for you.


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Posted by TruAmericaNJ at 05:03 PM : Jul 28, 2008
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That will be fun!! Watching Obama mumble and fumble,looking for the teleprompter!! It will be lot''s of work for us,...to actually watch this empty suit for more than a sound bite!!LMAO!!
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truamericanj says:
Yea okay, it was the food and music that made 215k people in Berlin. i was there, believe me you have no clue what you were talking about nobody cared about anything but OBAMA! Lets see mccain pull that one off with a few hot-dogs and some beer...hes so done. Talk all you want Republican SpamBots, but just wait for the debates....its going to be a fun time and lots of work for you.
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