Obama Arrives in Berlin
(BERLIN, GERMANY) Barack Obama's speech at Tiergarten Park tonight has garnered a lot of attention and some criticism that the presumptive Democratic nominee did not expect to receive.
"Let's tamp down expectations here," Obama told reporters when asked how he prepares to speak to what some reports predict could be a crowd of a million people. "I doubt we are going to have a million screaming Germans," Obama predicted, however.
On the flight to Berlin, Obama chatted with the traveling press, asking them how they are enduring the rigorous schedule.
"I'm doing ok," Obama said of himself adding that he hasn't been getting much sleep. Despite a little chit chat, the conversation quickly turned to questions about the speech, and after a little hesitation, he gave a few nebulous details.
For one, Obama said the speech will not be a "wonkish policy speech" but it's not exactly a campaign stump either. "The people in the crowd aren't voters, so in that sense it's not designed to get them to the polls," he explained.
Will portions be in German? "Probably not," Obama said, "My German is not real good.".
When asked if he looked to the Kennedy or Reagan speeches in Berlin for guidance, Obama replied, "They were presidents and I am a citizen."
How long did it take him to write it? About two weeks, though he spent an extra half hour on the plane after landing in Berlin to tweak his remarks.
So what exactly is the speech about? "A substantive articulation of the relationship I'd like to see between the United States and Europe."
I guess we have to wait until tonight to hear the speech for ourselves