Bush Official Denies German Press Reports On Obama Speech

The Bush administration is denying reports in German newspapers that officials expressed opposition to a possible Obama speech at the Brandenberg Gate, TPM reports:

Der Spiegel cited another German press report quoting Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt saying this about the idea: "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."

But Kimmitt's spokesperson Brookly McLaughlin . . . says that the quote from Kimmitt was not a reference to the battle over the speech.

"He was meeting with some folks in Germany last week and was asked a question regarding U.S. policy after the election," she continues. "This was before the issue of the Obama speech had even arisen so in no way was it a comment on that."

She adds that Kimmitt didn't say that the German government shouldn't engage with Obama, saying that he merely said "that he hoped the German government would stay engaged with the current administration even as it began outreach to potential successors."

Read more on the German newspaper reports here.

Comments

[larazon]

72% of Germans prefer O to Mc Same. Europe is excited about an O Presidency. Merkel needs to heed these facts rather than Bushie's advice or her polls are going to go in the same direction as his.

[macbabe]

the WORLD prefers Obama!

[DesertLight]

Yeah, why wouldn't a more socialist government not want a more socialist candidate.

[larazon]

No, they're just excited to see and hear an intelligent American President again, after the inane ramblings of the idiot that's on his way out, and probably view Mc Same as totally irrelevant, since they assume we won't make another huge blunder like we did in 2004.

[bygollymissmolly]

"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."
----------­----------­---
Why wouldn't the German government begin to focus on the next President. It's not like B'ush is going to be President 6 months from now....or at least I hope like hell he isn't. Because if he is, it's not going to be pretty.

[SwingVoter]

Remember, Obama was invited.

[pupbayer]

By whom? Do you have an authoritative link, please?

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Well pup who invited McCain? You need to get over it. Obama is well like in europe. Just like JFK was. Bush is jealous.

[lotuslike]

He was invited by the mayor of Berlin...a­nd he has final approval. He has also invited mccain to come speak if he wants to.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,564805,00.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/us/10germany.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[karela]

And we can trust the Bush administration because they never lied to us . . . well except over that war thing, about WMDs, about Rumsfield staying . . . . . . . hmmmm. You're right. They lie through their teeth pretty much all the time. Throw the bums out.

[MemphisBuffalo]

He has so much respect from around the world... Wow I almost was able to type that without laughing.

[larazon]

And Bushie was the most internatio­nally-hate­d President in history and is the most unpopular President in American history. Now that is something to howl about.

[DesertLight]

Afghanistan I agreed with. Using the local war lords to arrest UBL was a tragedy.

Iraq should have never happened, or least not that soon. Had we subdued Afghstn with some semblance of success. It could have been used to put pressure on Sad-dam...­.WHile the oil for food program was a disaster with those that should have or could have helped put pressure in Iraq but walked away untainted. NO accountability.

[PumaAnn]

Exactly, Memphis. Good grief, first Pakistan, then Canada, now Germany. He's getting smackdowns from heads of states, and the guy hasn't even been officially nominated yet!

[JRandomPoster]

Bush has said that talking is what appeasers do. So obviously he didn't talk to the Germans.

Do I have this doublethink thing down yet?

[Kache]

But he's so upset that the German's want to appease Obama - it's so confusing.­.....

[JRandomPoster]

Ah - but that is the wonderful thing about doublethink. It allows you to maintain cognitive dissonance - not just to maintain, but to embrace.

Or, if you rather:

doublethink plus plus good

[Ramirez]

From Reuters:
*****

Germany denies Bush thwarted Obama speech
Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:32am EDT

By Erik Kirschbaum

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government denied on Friday that Washington had put any pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel to block a proposed speech by U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama in Berlin in late July.

Merkel's spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said the Illinois senator was welcome in Berlin even if details of his visit are still unclear. He said, however, that Merkel had not dropped her objections to Obama speaking at the Brandenburg Gate.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1116095620080711?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

[bygollymissmolly]

Merkel still controls her government and she is still Bush's poodle. So Bush told her to deny he pressured her and like a good poodle, that's what she did.

[GunneraGirl]

oh gawd...tha­t poodle image...so­me one help me...my eyes, my eyes...

[eden4barack08]

And promised her another back rub?

[OfficialA]

Is it just me, or does Angela remind anyone else of Harriet Miers?

[larazon]

My advice the the German people: If your leader is suspected of doing Bushie's dirty work, I would reconsider my vote in the next election.

[Meggie]

Bush officials deny a lot of stuff. I'll believe the German press on this one.

[luvobama]

This is a serious case of LLPOF. That's Liar liar pants on fire.

[Dannydel]

Dear Germany. Please do try and keep your eye on the ball and sday engaged with the current administration. They have done so much for so few in so little time, and yet, with 4 months still remaining in their term, you choose to treat them like lame ducks? Big mistake pal, why, in 4 months, they could completely crumble whats left of our shattered economy, be responsible for several hundred more men and women getting blown out of their Humvees AND, launch another half-assed invasion in a small middle eastern country that happens to be pissing it off at the moment. So don't think it's all over for the rcovering alcoholic ,numero uno brush clearer from Crawford. No sir, he might already be the most loathed and hated President this country has ever seen, but I do believe he is still running somewhat behind certain world dictators of the past. And Ole Dubbya thinks he can still catch up and really go down in history...­.and make no mistake Ms. Merkel, he'll tak you guys with him if he has to.

[Kache]

LOL!! Thanks Danny! Too true!!

[politicojunkie]

Bush lies with every breath he takes. No one in their right mind believes anything that comes out of his mouth.

[eden4barack08]

Oh thank goodness! When a Bush official denies anything, we're relieved..­.NOT.

[luvobama]

It only means it's true.

[bigdaddyvike]

WOW! Not only does he want to quash free speech here, he wants to quash it in OTHER COUNTRIES. The arrogance never ceases to amaze me.

[marc1antony]

King George ruler of the world

[coloradosiren]

Geoge said he didn't. Translation: He did

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Heck he can't even speak english much less translate even spanish. Remember the mexican president said his spanish wasn't that great.

[nosuchperson]

Dear Belle,
Do you remember a during the last election (or maybe the one before that), George W. Bush was speaking in front of a cround of hispanics and tried to use one of his clever slogans, "The W is for WIN". Except he tried to translate it into spanish and he said," El dobleve es para GANAR".

At this point it made no sense what so ever. The W is for GANAR??? Sure, ganar is the spanish for to win, but it starts with a G, not a W. Really stupid man with stupid speech writers.

Some people voted for this dolt twice. But even (most of) the stupid in our country usually catch on. Then there's the 20 something % who never will. At least you know who the really crazy people are...

[globalcitizenlinda]

Who in the world believes anything the Bush adminstration says domestically or internationally. Of course the Bush people are trying to undermine Obama's visit. My only question is: Why in the world would Chancellor Merkel throw her support to Buch when the next POTUS is going to be President Obama