« Beyond Moron Nancy Pelosi Says To Drill In protected Areas "A Hoax" | Main | 'Men At Work' Signs To Disappear In Atlanta »
July 11, 2008
German Chancellor Merkel Uneasy Over Obama Speech At Brandenburg Gate
German Chancellor Angela Merkel uneasy over Obama Brandenburg Gate address
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has signaled unease over the prospect of a possible speech by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Merkel has "only limited understanding for using the Brandenburg Gate as an election campaign backdrop, as it were, and has expressed skepticism about pursuing such plans," Thomas Steg, a spokesman for the chancellor, told reporters.
However, Steg stressed that the chancellor is "very happy" for Obama to visit Germany and meet her and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Berlin city officials said this week that members of the Democratic candidate's campaign had contacted them about what permission and security issues would need to be resolved before Obama could speak in front of the monument.
The Obama campaign has refused to provide specifics on his plans during an upcoming visit to Europe and the Middle East, including the candidate's interest in a possible event at the Brandenburg Gate.
"Senator Obama looks forward to his visit to Germany and his opportunity to meet with the chancellor," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. "He has considered several sites for a possible speech, and he will choose one that makes most sense for him and his German hosts."
The gate stood for 28 years behind the Berlin Wall in communist East Germany's heavily fortified border zone. Probably the capital's best-known monument, it was once a symbol of Germany's Cold War division and now stands for its reunification.
Steg noted that the Brandenburg Gate has become "a place with a particular exclusivity, intensity and symbolism" in view of past speeches by sitting U.S. presidents and events such as a large rally in solidarity with the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
As a result, he said Merkel has voiced "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."
Steg said 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."
He stressed that giving permission to use the venue is a matter not for Merkel's government, but for Berlin city authorities. Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit said Tuesday that he would be "delighted" for Obama to appear at the Brandenburg Gate or elsewhere.
In a famous 1987 speech that used the gate as a backdrop, President Reagan urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "open this gate" and "tear down this wall."
In 1994, four years after German reunification, President Clinton spoke on the other, formerly eastern, side of the gate — declaring that "Berlin is free."
Organizers of Obama's campaign have said he is planning two foreign trips this summer, including stops in the Middle East and major European capitals, in an effort to boost his foreign policy credentials as he prepares for the November election against Republican John McCain.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said there had been contacts with the German Embassy in Washington regarding Obama's trip. He said that, while German officials suggested that he could visit landmarks such as Berlin's Holocaust Memorial, the Cold War-era Checkpoint Charlie border crossing and the Brandenburg Gate, they had made no recommendations on any venue for a possible Obama speech.
.
Wild Thing's comment.......
Can you imagine a candidate from Germany or France or any nation to set up shop on the capitol mall for a political rally?
Obama is pathologically arrogant!! He’s delusional, arrogant and ignorant. A very dangerous mix for the position he craves and thinks he deserves. This guy scares me.
....Thank you Cheryl for the article.
Posted by Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 03:54 AM
Comments
Does Obamanation really think he's Jack Kennedy? He's definitely NOT Kennedy! Or does he think he's Hitler? Is he psychotic? And the Brandenburg Gate is NOT a place to give a political speech! I would be uneasy too. A black man with ties to Islam giving a speech to German citizens? I don't think it's going to go over well with the older crowd. Germans tend to be stubborn and very set in their ways and they distrust someone who is a pompous ignoramus. I know, I am German, Bavarian and Prussian on my mother's side. You do not want to see me get upset.
Posted by: Lynn at July 11, 2008 04:49 AM
GUTTE UND WUNDERBAR for ~Angela~ who was from East Germany originally! The Obamanation arrogance of using another COUNTRY for a political photo op disgusts me to no end. Obama bin Laden even bypassed our own U.S. State Department on this deal. Good for Frau Merkel in Deutschland! Hey Obamessiah - go to Mugabeville, Darfur, Somalia, Rawanda or Uganda. Too bad KWANZAA is after Election Day!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at July 11, 2008 05:15 AM
Someone with a brain and I am sure she can see what Obama is trying to do- she seems smart enough! Obama is such a pompass ass-If people in America really want that level of arrogance for our highest office that is very sad indeed! Berlins Mayor needs to STFU and let Merkel handle the sleaze ball I hope she continues to stand up to him!! I would love to see him not get away with this one!
Posted by: Cheryl Zee at July 11, 2008 08:30 AM
Hmmm... The German government is not thrilled to receive obama for a political rally. The left accuses the Republicans alienating the world against us, yet they turn right around and pull this kind of disrespect and arrogant behaivor all for the Messiah...er Obama.
Maybe it is time for a 73rd anniversary reenactment of code name, 'Kolibri'- Hummingbird, or aka, 'Night of the long knives,' and Obama could play the leading character, Ernst Rhoem himself. Then its, Eins, Zwei, Zoufa, Obama... Down the hatch obama.
Posted by: Mark at July 11, 2008 08:45 AM
Politicians and photo-ops. When you think you have suffered through the worst, here comes another self appreciating egomaniac like Obama. I would really be ticked off if some foreign politician wanted to use the Alamo for a political rally.
I hope Chancellor Merkel just says "NO"!
Posted by: TomR at July 11, 2008 12:11 PM
Tom she did, and now the Dems are blaming Bush. The Germans are denying Bush had anything to do with it and that it is a German decisision but of course somehow it will come back and blame the Republicans.
Posted by: Mark at July 11, 2008 12:33 PM
Mark, the final decision as I understand is for the Mayor of Berlin to make the final decision but knowing that he's a left winger and a flaming faggot, O'Possum may get his wish. Anyway, I'm still hoping his plane will crash so we can be done with the big earred fat lipped jerkoff.
Posted by: cuchieddie at July 11, 2008 04:13 PM
Barack Obama's arrogance and over-active ego are a dangerous mix for someone who not only wants to be President but sees himself as the chosen one (aka Messiah) to save the country and the world. It is only appropriate that Obama and his crack foreign policy advisors would choose a historic site in Germany for a major foreign political speech. It reminds me of another dangerous self-absorbed psychotic giving major speeches to large crowds in Germany. Der Führer would be proud.
Barack Obama giving a typical political speech.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l8/Gina-pandas/Obie/02.jpg
Posted by: Les at July 11, 2008 05:36 PM
Lynn, yes, this is not going to go voer well at all in Germany like you said especially with the older people.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:00 PM
Darth, I agree 100%. I am totally disgusted with this and embarassed to the hilt.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:04 PM
Cheryl, I would love that, it would feel sooooo good. A big ole NO way right in his face.
This is a test for her too, she needs to win this one for sure.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:09 PM
Mark, that sounds like a good one to do.
"Maybe it is time for a 73rd anniversary reenactment of code name, 'Kolibri'- Hummingbird, or aka, 'Night of the long knives."
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:18 PM
Tom, oh my gosh if someone tried this there at the Alamo. Horrible!!!!!!!
This is all sickening and the nerve he has to even try to do this.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:22 PM
Mark oh wow, I haven't heard anything today about this at all. I looked at Drudge too and did not see anything.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:24 PM
Cuchieddie, good grief, now they are having an in fight of who says no or yes to this? Sheesh what a mess.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:27 PM
Les, that is perfect thanks for the graphic. I am saving it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 11, 2008 07:30 PM
"Hussein Obama can come to Zimbabwe to speak!" - President Robert Mugabe, A Fair and Equal Opportunity Torturer!
Posted by: The Ethics Cleanser 08 at July 12, 2008 01:05 AM
