Obama In Berlin: New Walls Must Fall

Democrat Urges Transatlantic Unity, Cites NATO's Defeat Of Communism In Call To Combat Terror

(CBS/AP)  Cheered by an enormous international crowd, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Thursday summoned Europeans and Americans together to "defeat terror and dry up the well of extremism that supports it" as surely as they conquered communism a generation ago.

Obama said he was speaking as a citizen, not as a president, but the evening was awash in politics as the first-term U.S. senator sought to burnish his international credentials for the fall campaign at home. His remarks before a crowd estimated at more than 200,000 inevitably invited comparison to historic speeches in the same city by Presidents Kennedy and Reagan.

Despite talk in the German media that Obama's speech would draw a crowd of up to one million, it was more 200,000 - a massive crowd, regardless - that came to hear the presumptive Democratic nominee, reports CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic. A local band warmed the crowd up for over an hour before the much anticipated speech.
(Click here to read Gavrilovic's post on Obama's speech in the "From The Road" blog).

Now a presidential candidate himself, Obama borrowed rhetoric from his own appeals to campaign audiences this year in the likes of Berlin, N.H., as he spoke in one of the great cities of Europe.

"People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment. This is our time," he declared.

"The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand," Obama said, speaking not far from where the Berlin Wall once divided the city.

"The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand," he said.

Obama's speech was the centerpiece of a fast-paced tour through Europe designed to reassure skeptical voters in the U.S. about his ability to lead the country and take a frayed cross-Atlantic alliance in a new direction after eight years of the Bush administration.

Although Obama isn't running for president in Europe, surveys on the continent show he would out-poll John McCain by as much as four to one, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.

Republicans chafed at the media attention Obama's campaign-season trip has drawn. Presidential rival John McCain went to a German restaurant in swing-state Ohio, and said he'd like to deliver a speech in Germany, but as president not candidate.

In Die Welt, the German publication, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., wrote scathingly of the Democratic candidate and his views on Iraq and the rest of the world: "No one knows which Obama will show. Will it be the ideological, left-wing Democratic primary candidate who vowed to 'end' the war rather than win it, or the Democratic nominee who dismisses the progressing coalition victory as a 'distraction'? Will it be the American populist who has told supporters in the United States that he will demand more from our allies in Europe and get it, or the liberal internationalist hell-bent on being liked in Europe's salons?"

Obama met earlier in the day with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for a discussion that ranged across the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, climate change, energy issues and more.

Knots of bystanders waited along Obama's motorcade route for him to pass. One man yelled out in English, "Yes, we can," the senator's campaign refrain, when he emerged from his car to enter his hotel.

For his speech, Obama drew loud applause as he strode confidently across a large podium erected at the base of the Victory Column in Tiergarten Park in the heart of Berlin.

The crowd spilled away from the Column for blocks. Police spokesman Bernhard Schodrowski said there were more than 200,000 people, nearly three times the 75,000 Obama drew in Oregon this spring in his largest previous audience.

He drew loud applause when he talked of a world without nuclear weapons and again when he called for steps to counter climate change.

Obama mentioned Iraq, a war he has opposed from the start, only in passing. But in discussing Afghanistan, he said, "no one welcomes war. ... But my country and yours have a stake in seeing that NATO's first mission beyond Europe's borders is a success."

He referred repeatedly to the Berlin airlift, launched by the Allies 60 years ago when the Russians sought to isolate the Western part of the city. If they had succeeded, he said, communism would have marched across Europe.

"Where the last war had ended, another World War could have easily begun," the presidential candidate said.

Now, he said, the enemy is different but the need for an alliance is the same as the world stares down terrorism and the extremism that supports it. "This threat is real and we cannot shrink from our responsibility to combat it," he said.

He said Europeans sometimes view America as "part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right. ..." And in America, "there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe's role in our security and our future."

He said both views miss the truth, "that Europeans today are bearing new burdens and taking more responsibility in critical parts of the world; and that just as American bases built in the last century still help to defend the security of this continent, so does our country still sacrifice greatly for freedom around the globe."

In any event, he said, there will always be differences.

"But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more, not less."

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by gameoverdems at 05:32 AM : Jul 24, 2008

Your name indicates that you''re not too in touch with reality.

The neocon policies of Bush (which are McCain''s policies BTW), received an approval rating of just 13% in an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released yesterday.

Good luck with that....

[brianbwb-2009]

" Out of the five interviews with Israelis on the street, only one said they trust Obama and take him for his word. Not a good average, I''''d say. Hollywood is waiting Obama!'' Posted by gameoverdems

If Europe and Israel both could vote, your side would still lose.

Be glad that only Americans can choose, because there is a slim chance you could still have one or two seats left in Congress and the senate by the time the repudiation of the Bush/Cheney/McCain doctrine is over.

[skyk-2009]

I''''ll be glued to the tube after work this morning just to count how many times he changes positions on issues to appease the crowd he''''s playing to, like he tried to do yesterday in Israel. He shouldn''''t have stopped in Israel with his mid-east rhetoric. Out of the five interviews with Israelis on the street, only one said they trust Obama and take him for his word. Not a good average, I''''d say. Hollywood is waiting Obama!

Posted by gameoverdems at 05:32 AM : Jul 24, 2008

You know I''ve heard this from a lot of Neocon''s and have yet to hear anything of substance! Maybe YOU can tell me exactly what has Mr. Obama changed positions on?? It seems funny that ANY American would not be proud of the way this very intelligent young senator has handled himself during this trip. In just a short period he has managed to repair some of the bad relations we have seen from the Bush Administration and he most certainly is impressing our neighbors throughout the world. I just do not understand some people.

[donnie1050]

"Maybe YOU can tell me exactly what has Mr. Obama changed positions on??"

I think that in a sense people feel betrayed by any foreign policy by a democrat. Traditionally, they''ve been more domestically oriented.

[donnie1050]

A lot of it though isn''t democrats complaining, but them multi-million dollar republican spin teams that pray on peoples fears to get votes.

But yah, the democratic handle isn''t one of foreign policies at all.

[donnie1050]

Foreign policy isn''t a thing anymore thats about peace and prosperity. Its about money and power. And the more time a presidential candidate for ''change'' abstains from it, the better.

[donnie1050]

Obama represents to me a candidate who doesn''t care about foreign policy. In fact, the democratic party itself represents this to me. They''re a change in the attitude of the constituency. One of a more inward perspective.. Foreign policy? Leave that to the ''extroverts''..

[donnie1050]

Those.. shining guiding lights of character and charisma we call ''the republican party''..

[donnie1050]

Those beacons..

[greeneyes222]

Obama may give what he calls a "substantive" speech, but he''s talking to the wrong people. Duh.

Just another stupid photo op.

[bill517]

This is a taller, ear-ier Bill Clinton. All splash, no ker-plunk.

[ariel133]

No SANE person would ever remotely consider Barack Obama until the media suggested it in such a manner where those who don''t think for themselves have something to cling to- a contrived and despicable media that could have been gleaned directly from a promotion for a movie- that will die quietly when the fizzle ends- ZOMBIE zealots like the media that have polarized this nation with irrational lies and distortions of the political philosophies of certain news personalities and their insane programs. MCCAIN 2008. The ONLY CHOICE.

[anotherview2-2009]

Obama is hoping to look "Kennedy like", period. That was why the push for the Bradenburg Gate, and for settling on Victory Column, a symbol of German military domination. The sight was chosen by the Obama campaign because Bradenburg Gate is a backdrop. "It was the best we could do to get as close to the setting where Kennedy delivered his famous "Isch bin ein Berliner" speech." said an informed source wishing anonymity.

The German Chancellor "expressed doubts about an Obama appearance, reminding everyone that this was principally a political, not a diplomatic, visit by a man who is not yet president. "Newsweek, July 18, 2008

Unprecedented is Obama''s handling of the media and information output. NBC''s Andrea Mitchell was the one journalist with the courage to name what she was actually seeing happen: Obama faking even being interviewed by the press.

"Let me say something about the message management. He didn''t have reporters with him, he didn''t have a press pool, he didn''t do a press conference," either in Afghanistan or Iraq, noted Mitchell on the air. Instead Obama manufactured "what some would call ''fake interviews,'' because they are not interviews from a journalist," Mitchell went on. What is discouraging here is not that Obama is doing it, but that the rest of the media is letting him.

Now we get to see the kind of coverage our media came along to give Obama. Middle East...boring. Europe...Headline News.

[bill517]

Who cares what the Germans think -- aren''t these the folks who elected Hitler?

[shazam112]

obama is high flying in the world stage ,and maccain fries are rotting in the fridge....sidvicious

[perceptions5]

What we see is not what we get with Obama...plain and simple....he is a PR extravaganza..... a media HYPE!

Wake up America, there is still time to prevent one of the greatest disasters of our country in nominating an narcissistic personality disorder (look it up).....with all the earmarks of a dictator!

PS. Did you hear him brag to Israelis about some successful legislation he passed in "...MY U.S. Banking Committee"????

OBAMA IS NOT EVEN A MEMBER OF THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE.

[navyretired2]

"Posted by Ariel133 at 07:38 AM : Jul 24, 2008"

Take it a step further. NO sane person would ever consider leaving this country to a corrupt, self-serving two-party system that DOESN''T exude this country''s founding values, but here we are...stuck with it...cuz we refuse to change it...cuz we''re stupid.

History will not look kindly on the American public.

[shazam112]

Posted by Ariel133 at 07:38 AM : Jul 24, 2008"

Take it a step further. NO sane person would ever consider leaving this country to a corrupt, self-serving two-party system that DOESN''''T exude this country''''s founding values, but here we are...stuck with it...cuz we refuse to change it...cuz we''''re stupid.

History will not look kindly on the American public.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by NavyRetired2 at 07:49 AM : Jul 24, 2008
+ report abuse


Exactly...

[wardoglrs]

When I see this I cant help but ponder what is really going on here. Hes got ABC/NBC/CBS flying around with him all around the world.

One has to wonder just where did all that money come from?. Certainly not the little guy, So The Big wigs buy him for favors and promises to elect this trader
that voted for the FISA bill and stole are 4th Amendment rights, After that secrete meeting a few weeks back. He also has the worst voting attendance in congress along with Hillary & McCain.

The Elites have paid for a 757 Jet and along for the ride are the big 3 media bought and paid for to make sure he gets good coverage and good editing & publicity Unflipping believable. So how did this Nation''s voting process go from here at home to around the world. They cant vote for him so there must be an agenda...
Like avoiding the tough questions/Killing time/ making new freinds. Just another Smooth Talking Neo Con.
Wake Up America Should of listen To Dr Paul

[wardoglrs]

I dont think Bush is going to leave office. With all the laws he has broke,,, Would you?

[lib_crusher]

I dont think Bush is going to leave office. With all the laws he has broke,,, Would you?

Posted by WarDogLRS at 08:10 AM : Jul 24, 2008

I wish Bush would leave office. Then Cheney could take over!

A few months of him would have all you ***** libs screaming for W to come back.

LOL!!!!!

[navyretired2]

"Wake Up America Should of listen To Dr Paul

Posted by WarDogLRS at 08:03 AM : Jul 24, 2008"

Amen.

[dchu76]

McCain has lost this election already. Mccain has to campaign in his home state of Arizona today, Obama''s 50 state strategy has spread him. McCain also went negative too early, all his ad buys have lost him points. Not to mention McCain not knowing policy, making stuff up and just beind stupid.

[ajaxtheleast]

In math terms Obama''s popularity with
Europeans varies directly with Bush''s
destruction of America''s worldwide image.

80 percent !!!

100,000 to hear Obama''s speach!!!

Wouldn''t be surprised if Bush
stayed in bed all day today.

"Here dear, a few slices of bread
to soak up a little of the RonRico?"

Something "HUGH" is needed for George
and his worshipers to pull this off.
And since all they know is bombing,
did they already start? Turkish war
planes bombing inside of Iraq today.

[dchu76]

"Wake Up America Should of listen To Dr Paul

Posted by WarDogLRS at 08:03 AM : Jul 24, 2008"
Amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by NavyRetired2 at 08:20 AM : Jul 24, 2008

If only we could get a candidate with Pauls policy and Obama''s dignity and leadership.

[shazam112]

A few months of him would have all you ***** libs screaming for W to come back.

LOL!!!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by lib_crusher at 08:18 AM : Jul 24, 2008


you mean orangutan bushy and hoggy cheney blimp who can''t even walk and needs a pacer like the darth wader of the dar side ....no thanks keep it in the south with the hagee clans....

[lib_crusher]

As for your example of Obama''''s changing positions, the one that stuck in my mind the most was the first question that was asked yesterday in Israel. When asked about his position on the peace process between Palestine and Israel, he stated that it is not the position of the US to be involved in the process, peace shoud be negotiated without the help or opinion of the US government. I agree. Then in the same sentence and later in the day he said that the US is "committed" to the security of the Israelis. What about Palestine, how soon he forgets. I guess he must have just forgotten what he basically said a few minutes earlier that it''''s not our part to favor either side.

Posted by gameoverdems at 08:05 AM : Jul 24, 2008

Don''t forget, two weeks ago Barry''s official website was cleansed of any derogatory statements about the war in Iraq. Barry Sadam even now admits that the surge IS working and the war is not lost, as Reid and Pelosi STILL spew.

However, before that, his site was chock full of "I voted against the war from the very beginning."

*** happened to all that? Is it bad PR to admit you were completely wrong on the GWoT, Barry Sadam?

Power being correct. Just ask Hillary.

[irliberal]

I wish Bush would leave office. Then Cheney could take over!

A few months of him would have all you ***** libs screaming for W to come back.

LOL!!!!!

Posted by lib_crusher at 08:18 AM

Oh... look. A republican bigot, first thing in the morning. What a way to start the day!

Typical. Not surprising. But the republicans disappoint - as always.

[navyretired2]

"Posted by dchu76 at 08:22 AM : Jul 24, 2008"

That would cure the nation...can''t have that!!

:)

[six-six-seis]

Obama''s Excellent Adventure, continues.

[shazam112]

Obama''''s Excellent Adventure, continues.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by six-six-seis at 08:28 AM : Jul 24, 2008
+
with bill and ted...666

[lib_crusher]

So how do you libs like the candidate that Rush Limbaugh picked for you?

[dchu76]

McCain voted against increasing the minimum salary.
McCain and co and cost america apx 10000 jobs and atleast 100 billion dollars. McCain first campainged for Airbus to win the 50$ billion army contract that cost america 40000 jobs and then his wife part of the AnhauserBush family allowed them to be sold to Belgium InBev for 60 billion. And the McCain family made a fortune from the sale.

[lib_crusher]

McCain voted against increasing the minimum salary.
McCain and co and cost america apx 10000 jobs and atleast 100 billion dollars. McCain first campainged for Airbus to win the 50$ billion army contract that cost america 40000 jobs and then his wife part of the AnhauserBush family allowed them to be sold to Belgium InBev for 60 billion. And the McCain family made a fortune from the sale.

Posted by dchu76 at 08:30 AM : Jul 24, 2008

Awesome! Down with unions!...no more minimum wage!

[lib_crusher]

Does Rush know how to get you dirty hippies out of bed, or what?

You libs have probably done more in the past 6 months than you''ve done in your entire lives...living in your parents'' basements.

[shazam112]

So how do you libs like the candidate that Rush Limbaugh picked for you?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by lib_crusher at 08:29 AM : Jul 24, 2008
+ report abuse

you mean mad mad america....who is rush linguini

[whitemale08]

Germans are waiting with baited breath to see a leader like Barrack Obama who is unwavering in his decisions to reverse the disastrous and failed policies of George W. Bush.

A breath of fresh air is sweeping accross the world at this moment and now Europeans are taking it all in.

Sounds FANTASTIC; looks EXCITING!!!!

[ariel133]

Dems think they are being brave by supporting a liberal who wants to change everything , and yet, does not define anything, that is being stupid. Dems are not brave by thinking this way, they are naive to think that someone will magically change all the bad and make it good- How is that possible with someone soinexperianced and ego driven? How is that possible with someone who does not want to win the war on terror but win only the election because of race? How is change possible if Dems do not accept they are wrong,too. Bottom line, nothing will change, with Obama, that is fact. MCCAIN will win in spite of all the media''s blantant self righteous attention it is giving to the wrong man. Come fall, it will all change- drastically, Watch & learn.

[irliberal]

Heh... the world is already cheering Obama on. Way to go Senator! Show the neocons how it''s done. The blight of the neocons is already beginning to fade, and it isn''t even election day yet. 8-)

[shazam112]

Dems think they are being brave by supporting a liberal who wants to change everything , and yet, does not define anything, that is being stupid. Dems are not brave by thinking this way, they are naive to think that someone will magically change all the bad and make it good- How is that possible with someone soinexperianced and ego driven? How is that possible with someone who does not want to win the war on terror but win only the election because of race? How is change possible if Dems do not accept they are wrong,too. Bottom line, nothing will change, with Obama, that is fact. MCCAIN will win in spite of all the media''''s blantant self righteous attention it is giving to the wrong man. Come fall, it will all change- drastically, Watch & learn.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Ariel133 at 08:35 AM : Jul 24, 2008
+ report

GOOd change in you with no racial tones good girl you can fight your fight without being racial.....

[lib_crusher]

Germans are waiting with baited breath to see a leader like Barrack Obama who is unwavering in his decisions to reverse the disastrous and failed policies of George W. Bush.

A breath of fresh air is sweeping accross the world at this moment and now Europeans are taking it all in.

Sounds FANTASTIC; looks EXCITING!!!!

Posted by whitemale08 at 08:35 AM : Jul 24, 2008

So 20k libs are slated to show up in Berlin for Obama''s speech? LOL! Who gives a *** already.

I hope they enjoy the 300k Euros they paid for it.

[shazam112]

jealous boy

[whitemale08]

The fact that his humble experiences as a "community organizer" who knows what working stiffs are most worried about and knows how to do it is also a glowing component to this story.

Who would ever dream that someone like Barrack Hussein Obama would turn out to be more intelligent, more qualified, and more experienced to lead this nation out of the misery and malaise that 8 long years of failure have wrought upon us?

Who would of ever thought?

It''s THRILLING to see for peace lovers around the world!!!

[shazam112]

mccain is long retired girl ,its time for new generations to change the thugery that has been going on for eight years....

[willymack]

Obama expected to be "entitled" to speak at the Brandenburg Gate. He is over impressed with himself. he is not a JFK or a Ronald Regan both of whom were
entitled to do so, Regan more so because he brought down the Berlin Wall. Most of the younger generation who love the bama boy do not even know the history of the wall or the fact that there are actually two walls.

Worse, Obama is a liar of oportunity.....it is a fact he told the israle prime minister "his committee was respoonsible for imposing financial restrictions on Iran that would impede their development of nuclear weapons. He does not have that committee nor is he on it and never voted on the bill that passed.

What a schmuck ! Lets hope the only votes he gets are from the uneducated college students who worship him, the misguided blacks that think he cares about him and the hollwood coke laiden brain dead

[hasher471]

Good Morning Ladies, Gentlemen, and Ariel,

It is hard to believe that Obama is going to draw 100,000 people to listen to him.

Mc Cain should go over to Germany, hold a "Dorf Halle" meeting and draw his usual 150.

[lib_crusher]

Good Morning Ladies, Gentlemen, and Ariel,

It is hard to believe that Obama is going to draw 100,000 people to listen to him.

Mc Cain should go over to Germany, hold a "Dorf Halle" meeting and draw his usual 150.

Posted by hasher471 at 08:48 AM : Jul 24, 2008

Hard to believe because it''s not true. If Barry draws more than 20k, it''s going to be a shock.

Barry should stick to what he does best, planning the destruction of America and smoking crack.

[shazam112]

Obama expected to be "entitled" to speak at the Brandenburg Gate. He is over impressed with himself. he is not a JFK or a Ronald Regan both of whom were
entitled to do so, Regan more so because he brought down the Berlin Wall. Most of the younger generation who love the bama boy do not even know the history of the wall or the fact that there are actually two walls.

Worse, Obama is a liar of oportunity.....it is a fact he told the israle prime minister "his committee was respoonsible for imposing financial restrictions on Iran that would impede their development of nuclear weapons. He does not have that committee nor is he on it and never voted on the bill that passed.

What a schmuck ! Lets hope the only votes he gets are from the uneducated college students who worship him, the misguided blacks that think he cares about him and the hollwood coke laiden brain dead


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by willymack4 at 08:46 AM
your delusions are dead wrong with mean spirited over tones ,you are dying with jealously keep burning boy ...reagan could''nt even remember his name ...hoowie

[six-six-seis]

Barry should stick to what he does best, planning the destruction of America and smoking crack.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by lib_crusher at ..

Youre too Late SHRUB and his toe tapping Evangenitals have already done that.

[citizenusa-2009]

It has often been said that our news is "filtered" and we are "fed" what the powers that be, want us to know. The current John Edwards scandal makes me shudder as the lack of coverage seems to confirm that. I am a Democrat and like Edwards but am finding the media''s "selected reporting" really really scary.