Report: Bush Privately Told Germany He Had Misgivings About Obama Speech

**UPDATE**

German papers find more evidence that the Bush administration voiced strong opposition to an Obama speech at the Brandenberg Gate. Ben Smith reports:

Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt told the tabloid Bild -- the biggest paper in the country -- that "it would be nice if the German government would focus on strengthening its contacts to us rather than already beginning to look for our successors."

Also, a few readers wrote in with more precise translations of the word "angeblafft" in that Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung piece, which -- beyond the point previously translated -- said Merkel's foreign policy adviser Christoph Heusgen was "taken to task," "snapped at," or "berated" by a Bush aide.

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed unease about a possible Obama speech at the Brandenberg Gate. A spokesman said Merkel felt "great skepticism as to whether it is appropriate" for a U.S. election candidate to speak at "a place with a particular exclusivity, intensity and symbolism."

Thursday, Der Spiegel reported that Bush administration officials privately told the German government that they don't like the idea:

The respected Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported this week that a member of the Bush delegation approached Merkel's foreign policy advisor, Christoph Heusgen, at the G-8 summit in Japan to discuss misgivings about Obama's planned speech. The government is also acting out of respect for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who has long enjoyed strong ties to Germany and good personal relationships with a number of high-level government officials in Berlin.

TPM's Greg Sargent comments:

If Bush officials are privately trying to nix a speech that would give Obama a major boost it's an interesting development and raises more questions, such as whether the administration is possibly letting efforts to help McCain intrude on back-channel diplomacy in other areas.

Comments

[stepintothelight]

I think Angela needs another massage maybe.

[buckygreen]

It will take a little while for the rest of the world to understand that an American President can actually be something other than an illiterate warmongering imbecile.

[Midnightrain]

Especially since he made them all feel so smart and confident.

[DC]

When Bush and his thugs made their first visit to Germany a few years back, Germans were not allowed to greet the Presidential motorcade, not allowed to look out windows as they drove through the streets of Mainz. The security was so tight and German citizens so terrorized, that even leaves had to be removed from trees to assure that nothing could be hidden in the trees.

It was pathetic and shameful at the same time. A visit from the President of the US had the climate of High Noon.

The contrast of the terror of Bush as High Noon hits Germany, and a possible welcoming and open public visit from a US Presidential candidate would be simply too much -- not to mention the historical visit of Kennedy in 1961(?) -- a visit Germans still speak of today.

[girard1991]

If all this is true, the Bush Administration is make this into something bigger than it is. It is causing people to pay attention who would not otherwise. I know about the prior POTUS who made statements at the Gate, but I really did not make too much of a connection with Obama until this big ole' dust up. Now I want the German government to tell Obama he can not speak at the Gate. Then he becomes POTUS. Angel M. will be completely red faced in 2009.

[TimmySlagle]

" Then he becomes POTUS..."

Remember, don't ever count your POTUS before they're elected.

He's slipping fast:

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

[HopeandChange]

I'm confused. I thought the entire world hated George Bush and loved B. Obama. If that's true, why would anyone do something to hurt Barry at Bush's request?

[diogeron]

As an American who has lived in Hanover, Germany over the past two years, I can tell you that, indeed, Obama is ten times more popular than Bush, who is despised among all of our allies except possibly Albania. Any American who has spent significant time out of the U.S. can tell you the damage that this arrogant, incompetent president has done to the reputation of the United States of America. If anyone doubts this, just go to the Pew Research web site and look at the consistent results of their polling on this subject.

Bush is just attempting to use what little influence he has to keep Obama from getting the visuals that he knows will help Obama in the general election with all but the most xenophobic of Americans, that small group of people who somehow think that alienating our allies is to be worn as a badge of honor.

[mari2JJ]

Yes, I also have a cousin over there working with a manufacturing company. She says that Bush and the German leader play footsie all the time and they are both very enamored with each other. If in fact, she has said she would follow the Bush line on this matter, we can only surmise the rumors about them are true. Actually even the hint that Bush shows fears about an Obama visit to the degree that he is willing to make these comments raises the level of importance of Obama up a lot of notches. Bush is such a dud to allow his administration to get involved. It is so stupid. But then, stupid is as stupid does as I recall.

[Independent007]

I'm not confused the Bush campaign is campaigning for McSame, and they are using the Presidency to sabotage an upcoming trip of Obama to Germany.
It doesn't matter, he could be in Hamburg for all I care and thousands will still flock to see him.
Where he gives the speech is not relevant, because Obama will make wherever the speech is located at into a historical site.

[DallasNE]

I think that it is pretty much a given "the administration is possibly letting efforts to help McCain intrude on back-channel diplomacy in other areas" rather than "whether" or "possibly". What is best for America has never been much of a consideration for Bush or his thugs.

[LettuceB1]

As an example of McBu$h back-channel diplomacy, hostages that have been held for over 5 years, were coincidently freed/rescued from the FARC rebels the day he leaves Columbia?....

I find that a little TOO coincidental! Can anyone say "staged"?

[Lindy222]

The Bush W.H. doesn't like the Brandenburg Gate speech idea?

Maybe Obama could just give Angela Merkel a shoulder rub instead. Or is that strictly within the President's purview?

[nonconformist2]

Scott McCellan described the Bush administration as being in "perpetual campaign mode" everything is about political spin and power, very little has to do with presidential responsibility.

I think it is up to the German people if they want Obama to speak at the brandenberg gate. Not Merkel and Not Bush. If the consensus is no, then he should speak at another site. Frankly, it is pretty much a nonissue.

[beaupritchard]

There's a history of this in america ... if you think a group may excel deny them the opportunity to show case their talent. Thus its been in baseball ... football ... basketball and now politics.

Afraid Obama might go there and give a world class speech before millions Bush resorted to backstabbing Obama by asking he not be given an opportunity to speak where the other great orators Kennedy ... Reagan spoke.

Deny the black guy(Obama) the opportunity to excel ... an american(now german tradition).

[MSF31538]

President Merkel is a good friend of Bush because she is a right wing fascist like Bush. Germany is in a poor economic condition at the present time. They are struggling in the world economy. Their auto industry, due to the fall of the dallar against the Euro has made their auto procucts less competetive than the Japanese products, and they certainly do not produce a "Prius" as does Toyota.

They refuse to adjust their prices in the US and they are arrogant to deal with. Mercedes, Porsche and BMW are overpriced products vs the Japanese products. They are overengineered, which is typical German and difficult to understand their dashboard. Step into an Infinit and you will see the difference. A better product for the most part for 1/2 the price. Like most of Europe they are suffering from negative birth rate an an aging population taking advantage of the German welfare system. They still have not adjusted to the economic crises caused by the reunification.

I leave you with just one question. Why has FIAT become profitable and their Ferrari product beats out any German product in the Formula 1? OBAMA HAS EVERY RIGHT TO SPEAK AT THE BRANDENBURG GATE AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS DID REAGEN.

Martin S. Friedlander, Esq.

[Big0725]

Answer to your one question. Because the Italian govenment subsidizes FIAT and Ferrari puts $500 million into F1 each year. (BTW, BMW and Mercedes are 2nd and 3rd, just behind Ferrarri). And when was the last time you heard of anyone driving a FIAT?

What you need to do is 1) Get over your phobias and biases about all things German and 2) Use FireFox. Is has a built-in spellchecker for blogging like this. The President I think you were referencing was Reagan, not Reagen.

Good lord, I hope you're more thorough with your clients matters than you are with blogging.

[trrenaud]

Despite this latest revelation, it should be noted that Merkel is completely justified in expressing misgivings about the prospect of an American presidential candidate giving a major speech in front of Germany's most hallowed landmark. Sure, Presidents Reagan and Clinton have spoken there before, but they were already elected at the time; they were engaging in world politics, not US electoral politics. Imagine if, say, Segolene Royal came to the US last year to speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. People would have scoffed at the event, calling it inappropriate. And that's exactly what Obama's appearance in Berlin would be, inappropriate. He'll have plenty of time to speak to Europe and rebuild the United State's reputation abroad once he's elected in November. For now, he should concentrate on rallying Clintonites and independents to his side and not giving an inch to McCain. This election is one he, and we, cannot afford to lose.

[msmaggie]

Precisely. I would certainly be unhappy if McCain were given this opportunity.

[Cyclone]

You cannot be serious. First of all you probably wouldn't know if McCaine were given thisopportunity because who would show up?

[mamacat]

It's not as if anyone in the White House has ever lied to us before. Why shouldn't we believe them this time?

It would be a shame if the German leadership is too afraid of Bush & Cronies to allow Obama to speak to them.

[mjc]

This is for CtJean and other Obamacons who do not believe he should be criticized or noticed when he swings from left to progressive to center to right. MOST open blog sites don't forbid free exchange of ideas; this may be one that does. BUT the chaos and disorder you think is being promoted by completely vetting a candidate, such as Obama, is the main reason to criticize and notice, BEFORE he/she becomes the president, governor, representative. You have no reason to be nasty to the messenger if you don't like the message.

[nonconformist2]

Debate is always healthy. I'm not directing this criticism specifically to you, but when debate turns into made up over inflated personal attacks, then it becomes a problem. Which we see on postings from Obama haters all the time. One of the most ridiculous is the constant accusation that people who support the democratic nominee are members of a cult or deluded or that Obama has a messiah complex. This drives the debate into the gutter.

Both Obama and Hillary are viable candidates and deserve respect.

[USBrit]

In keeping with the in depth way it was covered when McCain swung heavily towards the extreme right, including his new friend of the last year Hagee, who turned out to be such a gem? Or perhaps his 'flip-flopping' on the immigration issue? Or his very serious change in deciding he wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent? No pandering in that man. Get used to it America, your system is flooded with special interest money and none of the candidates this corrupt system can produce is clean. So far most of the media is giving McCain far more of a free ride than he deserves, and while Obama is far from completely virtuous, at least he represents a more sensible prospect despite whatever flaws he may have.

[firewmn]

Let's Give Peace A Chance..

John Lennon -

[nonconformist2]

Amen

[firewmn]

"If Bush officials are privately trying to nix a speech that would give Obama a major boost it's an interesting development and raises more questions, such as whether the administration is possibly letting efforts to help McCain intrude on back-channel diplomacy in other areas."

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Ya THINK...!!

[Playinjured]

LMAO! Gooooooooood one.