German Chancellor Skeptical Of Obama Speech Plan

BERLIN — 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.

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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.

Comments

[globalcitizenlinda]

Chancellor Angela Merkel, the conservative leader of Germany and Bush friend, is clearly showing envy of Obama in her statements since she does not have control over the Gate.

Other leaders on the world stage had better get used to being overshadowed by President Obama so no need to delay the inevitable since the people of Germany and the world difer in opinion from some of their leaders

[demdan07]

Oh good, more American arrogance. Like other countries don't have a bad enough impression of the US now. I thought Obama was going to change that? And why, before he is even elected does he need to make a speech in Germany, anyway? Are they voting in our election?

[ProudLiberalDan]

Angela Merkel may be a conservative, but she's no poodle for Bush.

And a European conservative would be considered too left-wing for the modern Republican Party.

I suspect she will have warmer relations with any Democratic President than the vile arrogance and corruption that is Bush/Cheney.

[Sarahjan]

Edmonsky

great post! Still, Angela Merkel has spoiled this trip to Germany for Obama. That is pity because his PR people should have secured the use of this site before mentioning that theywere going to use. Merkel saw an opportunity to help McCain and she did.

[Steeevyo]

Thats outright bullshit.
Merkel is an elected representative of the german people.
Shes not McCains campaigner.
Anybody suggesting that must be clearly out of their mind.

[NYC07]

One con-servative helping out another.

[JJeff88]

Let me get this straight.

A candidate to become the leader of an important country world wants to travel to your and talk to your leaders to gain better insight into your country's problems and establish ties with your country's leaders.

And this is somehow bad?

Brandenberg/Schmanderberg. Sen. Obama needs to do this - and not just once either. Travel abroad should become a bigger part of his job description. If the US is to regain its status and credibility on the world stage, it might help if our leadership acted as if it really gave a damn.

Let Sen. Obama appear at Fritzi's International House of Strudel if that floats their boat - the important thing is that he visits.

[Steeevyo]

He probably wants to hold a speech at the Brandenburg Gate.
Thats what its about. Not him visiting Germany.
And btw Strudel is a pastry from Austria.

But yes Brandenberg Schmandenberg, that is excactely the kind of arrogance with
historically important sites in allied countries that Obama should avoid if he wants
his trip to become a success. Thank you for highlighting that.

[belief08]

Arrogance, Arrogance; WTF. You have McSame and Bush flying to different countries making stupid speeches and nothing from you people. Obama hasn't even left yet and he's arrogant for even wanting to go.

Both Bush and McSame went to famous areas only to make gaffes there and of course it was covered for one day and nothing since. Do I hear you rattling off at the brain about that?

[Isher]

Geir I know you'll likely not read this but overhyping a title (draws "ire") is something I'd expect of Fox News, not Huff Post. Your own words are "signaled unease" and "expressed skepticism," neither of which reach the level of ire.

Otherwise a good story.

[Edmonsky]

Whatever anybody may think about Senator Obama, but you cannot take away from him such a rare talent as a politician with imagination and vision far superior to his competition. Senator Obama is systematically reducing his competition, the Senator from Arizona, to such mediocrity as political bench-warmer. Senator McCain at the moment is running from pilar to post with no political gravity as well as coherent message capable of laying glove on Obama except blathering such wornout slogans as tax-and-spend liberal and what have you. Who knows if by the fall, Senator McCain will not become politically castrate like an aging lion with no spring in her legs.

[Edmonsky]

If German Chancellor Angela Merkel sees Obama’s coming to make speech at Brandenburg Gate as inappropriate, it is equally inappropriate for the Chancellor to reveal her opinion to the press since it is outside her authority for granting him such request. It is the audacity of usurpation of Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit’s power and authority, which underscores Merkel as an interested party in the partisan act of politiking. It is also a leap of fait to assume that Obama’s speech will be an extension of his political campaign without the privilege of perusing the advance copy of the content of such speech.

It is my opinion that Obama wants to make a speech at Brandesburg Gate in order to elevate his visibility as a world’s statesman with the intention of indirectly influencing his status and standing among the American electorate. Therefore, such speech is not going to come across as partisan political campaign but an all inclusive global import in character and content to underscore common human values and interdependence.

[Steeevyo]

The mayor of Berlin not being interested in bringing his City out of bancruptcy on the other hand is always interested to land a PR-Coup.
Angela Merkel on the other hand has a responsibiltiy handed to her for the german people as a whole and not just a pompous mayor.
So to raise these points was not directed against Obama but it stressed the important point that
the German US relations in general transcend the needs of a hopeful presidential candidate.
She is acting accordingly and as a german i expect nothing less from her.

I know its hard to imagine for the many of you: But what if Obama doesnt get elected?
How does it look like for germany celebrating him at the historically most significant site of the country as the new president (which is what will happen).
We had enough bad and completely unneccessary tensions over the last five years.
Merkel is smart enough to consider that.

My advice: Modesty is what suits him right. He shouldnt let himself get involved with german politics, and simply the aura that he spread in recent months was enough to turn this into a big media and political frenzy in Germany.
Do yourself a favour Obama. Come to Berlin do shake hands with Merkel. Meet the mayor go to Berlin tempelhof the Airport of the famous Berlin airlift. Hold a visionary speech in front of a select audience, have some photos taken. Move on to another country.

[eshalom]

Chancellor Merkel's instincts are exactly right. Obama's handlers are using every show biz technique they can think of to give Obama stature since he has accomplished nothing on the national or international scene. The leader of any country would have reservations about allowing a U.S. "candidate" for the presidency to exploit one of his/her nation's monuments as a backdrop for a campaign.

[mcole]

i'm sorry, but obama has NOT SAID WHAT HIS PLANS ARE.

so this is all pure speculation on everyones part.

sigh

[paganmist]

Accomplished "nothing"? Most of the world wants to see him become President, three times more so than the other guy. How many Nigerian rebel organizations said that they'd consider negotiating with *you*, eshalom?

How many charities have you founded? How many communities have you benefitted? How many laws benefiting women, children, veterans, etc. have you sponsored, co-sponsored, or helped pass? How much work did you do when Katrina struck, how much money did you donate? How many award-winning, best-selling books did you author, fiction or non?

How much have *you* accomplished, to feel comfortable using the phrase "accomplished nothing"?

[boogygran]

Show biz techniques? It's way past time for our country to be represented around the world by someone with charisma and true communication skills in order to show what America can and should stand for, instead of the negative views that have been dished out over the last 7.5 years as well as the bland views shown by Senator McCain in his travels. And I don't doubt that Senator Obama will bring messages of inspiration and hope that will be quite welcome to most areas he plans to visit, no matter where his venues are.

[Steeevyo]

Spot on. His campaigners will realize that soon enough.

[DRaymond]

Since the whole goal of the speech is to give an impression of diplomacy it would be counterproductive to create a diplomatic tussle over it.

The Brandenberg Gate is a very symbolic location. Perhaps too symbolic for a campaign event. There are plenty of other possibilities. They have the right idea, though, showing Obama being greeted with cheers by the general citizenry.

[ByersL]

She's just jealous. She could never get a group out there like Obama will, and she doesn't want the younger Germans to start seeing how much better their situation could be with a more progressive leader in charge...

[wm1066]

Good point.

[HermioneGranger]

Merkel is left of Obama. That is just an American persective.

[Sarahjan]

ScandalousCandice

no, my friend, most Europeans do care great deal about FISA. Second, Obama is a candidate and most European leaders can know his positions on key issues already and he cannot discuss concrete policy issues because Obama is not the president of the United States.That is why this trip should either not have been taken or should have been planed more carefully. Obama is showing signs of big life showman qualift of P.T. Barnum and Citizen Kane with his selection of a football Stadium as site of his acceptance speech! This is very low borrow , very American facade politics, very Hollywood in my book. I speak as a black woman who supports Obama without reservation but I cannot be silent when he is guided very badly by highly paid PR people. Details of this trip including the use of this historical site for his public address should have been worked out long before the trip itself was announced.

[paganmist]

I speak as a black woman who read the entire article.

"prospect of a possible speech"

That's what the German Chancellor got her back up over. The *prospect* of a *possible* speech, as a part of a trip that isn't even out of the planning stages (which would make it impossible to have been planned carefully.)

Obama draws large crowds. People who are tired of the old and want something inspiring flock to see him. Whether or not he is the person to provide this to them, the fact is, people have been revitalized and invigorated literally like never before. You may think that a football stadium is hubris, but no, it's indicative of something larger, and something actually filled with hope, if you and others like you would get off the cynicism train for a second.

People are working together to do something good for themselves.

Americans are actually engaged in politics and are trying to take back their government and their media.

These are Good Things. They are Important Things. Obama could be the worst Presidential candidate in the world, but with an active American Public, the country would *still* flourish, because We, The People, are the ones who need to make it work. That is what this man is telling us.

How can anyone argue with the basic message that if we want change, we need to work for it? Why is that so scary to consider? WHY the need to tear it down?

[boogygran]

I don't think his "PR people" have done too bad a job for him at all so far. From what I understand, the trip(s) are still in the planning stages - and the initial information that's been plastered all over the news regarding the POSSIBLE details is coming mostly from the contacts in the foreign countries, not from the Obama campaign. I'm sure they (the Obama planners) would have much preferred to have everything ironed out and in place before any announcements were to be made; however they could hardly demand that the foreign dignitaries and their contacts "keep mum" regarding inquiries about various sites and venues, no matter how much they'd have liked to, I'm sure.

[Raymondf]

Oh no! Obama has made the Germans mad at him. Good move dumby

[paganmist]

Dumby?

[TheCritic]

-Raymondf- Angela Merkel is the conservative Chancellor of Germany, she is NOT the German PEOPLE! Does Bush speak for YOU!?

[HermioneGranger]

Yes, he does, even if you don't like it. He is the twice elected president of the U.S.

[Steeevyo]

The germans love him. But he should be careful what german love means.
It usually involves leather and rubber gear.
Im speaking as a german here.

[Plus15]

See how a little Republican back rub can influence even the taut tough German lady.
Lets get all the Berliners together and have a snack. If Obama does the Brandenburg Gate my money is on McCain rushing over to the new Berlin outpost of Madame Tousaud's Waxwork for a meeting with headless Hitler. Hogan!!!!

[Steeevyo]

Hillarious.

[karela]

The German people are eager to hear Obama. This week's poll, 87% of Germans Obama/11% McCain. Internationally, people are interested in American elections because American decisions affect the entire world. Top German concerns are world poverty, hunger and climate change. A poll of 22,605 in 22 countries, found the world wants Obama more than three times more than McCain (Obama 55%, Clinton 31%, McCain 14%.) See "The World Wants Obama Coalition."
http://blogs.dw-world.de/acrossthepond/michael/1.6786.html
http://www.theworldwantsobama.org/search/label/*Polls
The Chancellor may be saying what the Bush administration likes, but the people of Germany feel much differently as you hear in "delighted" response of Berlin Mayor. World opinion of the United States has tanked under Bush. It is good for America if people in other nations have favorable opinions of us. At a recent forum of Asian leaders, 85% pro Obama and this statement; world opinion of the U.S. will go up by at least 50% if Obama is chosen. America needs to see for itself how other nations view him and the speech at the gate is an excellent opportunity for us to become aware of their feelings. They don't vote for U.S. president, but they are well aware that the choice effects their lives. We should take world opinion into account when we vote. It makes a huge difference in our foreign relations.

[ScandalousCandice]

I have been to Germany and this is exactly what I have been saying. Ask the people there what they think.

[Desdemondo]

The Germans are more eager to hear Senator Obama than Chancellor Merkel.

What has Madam Chancellor Vollsclank Merkel accomplished since taking office? Nich viel.

She is more interested in backrubs at G8 meetings and having sumptious meals

[Ladyrantsalot]

Ok, but making speeches and making speeches at the Brandenburg Gate are 2 different things.

[Sarahjan]

dbdzen

it is great to know this, but still, this trip could have bee made day after he wins the presidency.

Stil, Merkel' comment will be used by the GOP. And that is a waste of time and unwanted comment for Oabma. He needs to win the presidency, first, by campaigning hard at home.

[claudiam]

Thanks to the Bush Admin. no one wants us around. At least the mayor is being gracious.