Obama Mulling Major Speech In Berlin During Europe Trip

A German friend passed along the news Saturday that local sources in Berlin are confirming that the Obama campaign was in contact with city authorities to discuss the possibility of presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) delivering an outdoor address in front of the Brandenburg gate. The thinking is Obama would follow in the footsteps of two very famous Cold War-era speeches of U.S. presidents speaking in Germany: JFK "Ich bin ein Berliner" and Reagan "tear down this wall." It would probably be Obama's only public speech during upcoming visits to Germany, France and England on a swing to include stops in Israel and Jordan. There is still no date for the trip. German news sources are reporting the Obama team is working on a visit during the "second half of this month".

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[FredrickBernanke]

A very bad and transparently vulgar idea, in this writer's opinion.

When Kennedy and Reagan made their speeches, the Brandenburg gate was arguably the epicenter of the Cold War. It represented the oppression and lack of human freedom practiced by the USSR. Today it doesn't.

If anything, it would give Republicans the opportunity to emphatically point out that it was the aggressive foreign policy of Reagan toward the USSR that indeed brought "down this wall."

If O thinks it necessary to deliver a major foreign policy speech on foreign soil--and I see no need for that during the campaign--other more appropriate venues should be evaluated. Such as? Paris, Prague, Warsaw, Vienna...I don't know his agenda.

O should chart his own course, not follow in the footsteps of others.

[qdog112]

The Republicans asked for it - now they will get it. Brace yourself for Barack to seize the international stage for the next 8 years.

He is about to become the most powerful man in the world and he SHOULD stand before the world community at the GREATEST VENUES each country offers. I don't understand why any so called supporters would want to thwart his broad appeal.

I expect Pope-like throngs and unparalleled media events everywhere he goes overseas. Any speech, anywhere is not pretentious and not crass. The world is waiting for Obama as a world leader and I think his welcome will show us all the kind of respect we desire for our nation's leader.

[edwarvir]

You go Senator O. You go with the GRACE OF GOD AND REPRESENT THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

My family and friends will be praying for you. I hope it will help to give this country back .some much needed respect.



OBAMA/WEXLER 08

[farseer]

This is not arrogant at all. The fact that two former presidents spoke there doesn't mean only presidents can do so. Besides, Obama has more smarts than Reagan did. By the way, Reagan only gets a small part of the credit for bringing about the fall of communism. It was ike a rotten tree. All Reagan did was to give the rotten tree a kick, and thus helped it to fall sooner.

But - Obama's speech should reflect the changed reality. The cold war is over, and we need to stop fighting it. No missiles in E. Europe. And we should keep our promise made to the Russians, that if they withdrew from Eastern Europe, NATO would not expand into the areas they formerly occupied. Promise-breaking countries emulate the communists.

[Hofstra]

Whatever Obama does, he needs to be true to himself. He should not let the actions of McCain or the right wing media, which will be the right wing media and won't change, keep him from being himself. Not being himself is when he would truly be vulnerable. He is going to have a strong foreign policy and he will be obviously working on that in his campaign graciously.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Hey, Democrats. Quit carping over minor details. You have the candidate of the century and you're complaining because he's not a plaster saint. Like everyone in the rest of the world, Europeans are excited about Sen. Obama and cannot wait to see hm. I haven't heard that the Germans have passed a law saying the only American politicians who can speak in front of the Gate have to be elected President already.

What is the matter with you people? A couple of weeks it was Republicans pouncing on everything Sen. Obama said and did and finding fault with it. Now Democrats are doing it too. Each one of all 300 million of you has to have an earnest little chat with yourself and admit that it is impossible to have a president who agrees exactly with your opinions on every issue.

[genseric13]

Laughable.

[speakingtruth2power]

Millions will listen around the world and most will think, this is not George Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FilthyPerson]

The purpose will be to claim through nuance and a teleprompter that he himself brought down the Berlin Wall.

[JAB20]

He shouldn't do it. He's not president yet.

[AdamND]

So you have to be president to make a speech there?

[joeyp404]

Unless the Germans can vote in the US election, and it's a campaign stop, it's a bad idea.

[joeyp404]

Let's add humility to Obama's many qualities.

[LettuceB1]

Humility is one of Obama's best qualities. That's why he can fill 75,000 seat stadiums and why I'll be voting for him in November! :)

McBush should take notes (except the 75,000 seat stadium part, since he can't do that, I won't hold it against him).

[dykalg]

It would be good for a progressive American presidential candidate to make an appearence in the German capitol, Berlin. However it would be a mistake to appear at the Brandenberg gate which is now the scene of New Year fireworks and rock concerts. Why rehash old dramas, JFK and Reagon? Germany is new, vibrant, forward looking, and young in spirit; this spirit in expressed in the synthesis of the old (reichstag) and new (bundestag) architecture of the wonderful building that houses our parliament. THIS is the place that Senator Obama should speak.

[graffiti]

Should Obama be asked to speak to the German Parliament, he most certainly should accept, very diplomatic, that is a lot different than holding a campaign rally at the Brandenburg Gate which would be seen by the world, the media, and many America voters as crass opportunism.

[scandinavian]

btw: on 4th of july the us just opened its new embassy building in berlin next to the brandenburg gate. in this same block (pariser platz) is also situated the embassies of russia, britain and france. so in that way, not an idea out of the blue..

[AdamND]

Anyways the main reason why Obama would want to give his speech from there because the Brandenburg gate is probally the only German location that any joe from America can recognize.

So if he just stood infront of some random building people in the US couldnt tell the difference between Germany and America.

[AdamND]

Man I swear that the quality of the posters on this goes down each day we get closer to the general election.