| 08.07.2008 |
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| Barack Obama's upcoming visit to Berlin has sparked a debate among German politicians whether to grant the Democratic candidate the privilege of speaking at historic Brandenburg Gate. The mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, supports the idea. Wowereit told the German News Channel N24 that "we would be happy if... Barack Obama would use Berlin as a platform... to send out his messages." Wowereit acknowledged that Brandenburg Gate is of high symbolical value, but added that he doesn't expect any problems with the Chancellory. Earlier, German news site Spiegel Online and Berlin daily Tagespiegel reported that the Chancellory wasn't so keen for Obama to give a major speech at Brandenburg Gate. Brandenburg Gate is the most famous place in Germany and one that is most deeply rooted in history, an unnamed source in the Chancellory told Spiegel Online. In the past, the place was used only for very special occasions and was reserved for elected presidents, the unnamed source added. According to the Tagesspiegel, a government source told the paper, while Brandenburg Gate in fact was not only reserved for elected heads of state, it was never used for a campaign event. Spiegel Online had reported previously that the German government was worried that through an Obama campaign speech at Brandenburg Gate, the historic venue could become a preferred campaign stop for other candidates as well. According to the site, the Chancellory emphasized that John McCain would be very welcome in Berlin as well and that no decisions would be made during talks with the Democratic presidential candidate. While the head of the German Liberal Democratic Party (FDP), Guido Westerwelle, urged officials to let Obama speak at Brandenburg Gate, the head of the German Greens is skeptical about an Obama speech there. "I am not sure whether it is smart by Barack Obama, as an American presidential candidate, to want to speak at Brandenburg Gate," Reinhard Buetikhofer told daily Saarbruecker Zeitung (see my take on a speech there here). Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy came as presidents when they gave their famous speeches, he added. Refering to former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, Buetikhofer said, "it didn't help him at home to show how popular he is in Europe." Meanwhile, all the recent attention Obama has been getting in Germany has ruffled some feathers with the Bush administration. "It would be nice if the German government would intensify the contacts with us again and not already look over our shoulders at our successors," Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt told the German daily Bild. He pointed out that the current administration is still in office until January 20. |
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| 15 Comments |
| As an American, I can assure the rest of the world that many of us on this side of the pond, do not support Mr. Obama. He is not what he seems to be, I am afraid the world will witness another "jimmy Carter" reign. | ||
| David | Homepage | E-Mail | 25.07.2008, 01:24 | ||
| In reality screw die brandenburger Tor. I've been there many times and every time I'm quite disappointed by what should be such a place of freedom. Keep the gate, we got the White House. And oh yeah, like George Clinton predicted, DC will be a chocolate city. | ||
| Ferris J. Anderson, Jr. | Homepage | E-Mail | 25.07.2008, 01:12 | ||
| Agree with Johnny Bryant. The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of Power who deserve it to be. Mr. Obama has to work hard along with his honesty, integrity, and dignity (HID) in order to gain this respect. But, I don't see any thing in him and yet never he will be - the "Illinois corruption" | ||
| Peter Truong | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 01:51 | ||
| "But of course, cultural sensitivity was never an American's strong point, even an ethnically hyphenated one as Obama is... 'Considering that America is obviously the largest and most successfully ethnically integrated country in the world I would say that either you have not traveled much throughout America, or at all, or you are simply and grossly misinformed.' Perhaps you should consider reading posts more carefully next time. What exactly does what you call successful ethnic integration have to do with cultural sensitivity? First of all, your assumption that America is in fact successfully integrated is false, as one can see on the front pages of any American newspaper. Need I mention the Katrina debacle or the raging debate in the states bordering Mexico? That's not to say that any other society has done any better, but America has in fact NOT accomplished what you've claimed for it. And as for travelling in the US, yes, I've encountered the nicest people over there, as well as my share of racism. But when Americans go abroad, more often than not, they look on the world with a gaze which has been whetted on American dreams and weaned on American ideology. Then we hear things like, 'Where's the nearest McDonalds? The local food tastes like crap!' or, 'That's all old Europe.' Come to think of it, one doesn't even need to take Americans out of the US to hear the last phrase. THAT'S what cultural sensitivity is all about: taking the local culture as it is, without first passing judgement on it, as Americans so often do. |
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| Goethicus | Homepage | E-Mail | 16.07.2008, 13:02 | ||
| All Obama and his people were looking for was a way to ride on the coattails of past Presidents like Kennedy and Reagan. All he is is a candidate and yet he feels he is already important enough to use a powerful foreign symbol such as the Brandenburg Gate as if he is somehow going to be the next Kennedy or Reagan. The German people can do what they like but in my opinion such a place should not be used for foreign campaigning. There is also no reason for either candidate to be campaigning outside of the country they wish to serve. Merkel is right and Obama is a fool. |
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| T. Allen | Homepage | E-Mail | 15.07.2008, 05:45 | ||
| "But of course, cultural sensitivity was never an American's strong point, even an ethnically hyphenated one as Obama is... Widukind Goethicus" Considering that America is obviously the largest and most successfully ethnically integrated country in the world I would say that either you have not traveled much throughout America, or at all, or you are simply and grossly misinformed. As for Obama being mentioned in this context I say get back to me when Germany lets someone like him get anywhere near where he has gotten. In fact, all of Europe for that matter. |
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| T. Allen | Homepage | E-Mail | 15.07.2008, 05:22 | ||
| Merkel is Bush's poodle. She knows once Obama is elected in the US, ideologically similar parties in other countries will come into power, which means her CDU (i.e., Republican party) will soon lose power to the SPD (i.e., Germany's version of the US Democratic party). Thus, Merkel has expressed opposition to the Obama speech. I'm sure Bush -- trying to get his other poodle McCain elected -- contacted his German poodle to ensure her voice against Obama's speech. Obama will speak at the Bradenburg Gate! |
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| RHW | Homepage | E-Mail | 11.07.2008, 01:06 | ||
| It will be interesting to see if Obama's blend of soothing and inspirational generalities comes across well in German: Ja, wir können! Wage zu hoffen ändern! Will he say "Ich bin ein Berliner?" |
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| Boris | Homepage | 10.07.2008, 20:52 | ||
| Oh sorry, Steinmeier, I wronged ya. Ya not a wassist after all. I did not read the article, naughty moi. <i>"The Americans contributed decisively to saving the city of Berlin; that is why we should make historic sites such as the Brandenburg Gate available to them," Steinmeier, who has a history of clashing with Merkel, told Frankfurter Rundschau daily. "If Barack Obama decides to take a trip to Europe and to visit Berlin as well as Britain and France then we should warmly welcome it," he said. "We should see his desire to visit as a sign of the importance that trans-Atlantic ties have for him -- and react positively." </i> Good for ya sweetie pie. Ya just made my day. |
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| MinnieB9 | Homepage | E-Mail | 10.07.2008, 15:51 | ||
| Angie's a real right winger plus she is afraid that Barry baby is um ya know, like too tan and all that. Wanna bet she will be all huggie and kissie with Johny Loony. And don't look at Steinmeir either, he is even more anti tan than Angie. Lemme tell ya, the best way to get Americans to rally round Barry is to turn wassist on him, we surge in his support, take bets now. Germans talk the good talk and do the good mea culpa but they wassist as ever. Maybe the Greens chick will come out and hug Barry and maybe the Gabriele Pauli chick, if she is still around. Try and make Barry look good folks, we can't afford a McLoon 3rd Bush term. Bye bye. |
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| MinnieB9 | Homepage | E-Mail | 10.07.2008, 15:47 | ||
| What does Mr. Real's incoherent post have to do with the issue at hand? I'm surprised that he didn't bring up the world wars! Obama's appearance before the Brandenburg Gate would not only be pre-mature, it would be downright arrogant, serving to reinforce the perception that America still controls running of Germany. He's a candidate, for god's sake, and not a head of state! But of course, cultural sensitivity was never an American's strong point, even an ethnically hyphenated one as Obama is... | ||
| Widukind Goethicus | Homepage | 10.07.2008, 11:30 | ||
| i dont understand why he is even going to germany?...germans arent voting for him. so why would anyone even consider a "speech" @ brandenburg gate?...hes said VERY questionable and insulting things in the past. i think hes not worthy of being president of anything let alone a country! | ||
| john | Homepage | 10.07.2008, 04:55 | ||
| The Brandenburg Gate is not the proper ground for political opinion-debate. It is a symbol of Power that has already been given, not to those who seek it! | ||
| Johnny Bryant | Homepage | E-Mail | 09.07.2008, 22:02 | ||
| Let Barack H. Obama have the stage at the Brandenburger Platz. It would seem that the German government is afraid to annoy George W. Bush by allowing Obama to speak from such a German Monument. Bush will be gone in January, so what harm can it do to allow Obama to speak to the world. Why is the German government of Angela Merkel so afraid of the Gorilla in the White House? Get real forget the bum, and do what you must. Germany is supposed to be democracy, yet it fears annoying a foreign power. |
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| Kenneth T. Tellis | Homepage | E-Mail | 09.07.2008, 08:19 | ||
| We've wated too long for this. If the German politikos scrw this up for B? I'm going to lose my friggin' mind! We've waited too long to hear the words ! Don't screw this up fellas. Open up the Gates ! It was bad enough you got outclassed by Spain in the second half. Do you understand the power behind these Gates? |
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| Steve Real | Homepage | E-Mail | 08.07.2008, 22:07 | ||