Obama in Der Spiegel

[Bad Thoughts]

The current issue of the German Spiegel, which has Obama on the cover with the "The Messiah Factor," does not compare Obama and his followers to a cult or ascribe a cult-like appeal to him. From what I can gather from small snippets in media reviews, the article is rather positive. It has two other titles. First, "Obama, the hero of a new America", is quite positive. The other, "Der Meschenfänger", is a common reference that can be both positive and negative. An allusion to a non-lethal device used to capture runaways, it refers to "capturing the imagination" of the public. Indeed, the German media uses this word to compare Obama to King and Kennedy.



Edit to add:

http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=3218891">Here is a reference to "cult" in an Austrian papers, which ascribes this quality to Obama's oratory. But the word is used to compare his oratory to those of MLK and JFK ... hardly negative.

[robbedvoter]

1. Germans - what do they know about it?

:shrug:

[skooooo]

5. Many Germans know American culture..

....and politics, etc. better than most Americans do.

[DUyellow]

7. I wouldn't say most.

[Bad Thoughts]

11. Better than ever before

Since Bush jr., they have taken an active interest in this election, and the last.

[Hieronymus]

12. All of Europe likes Obama, apparently. Asking what do they know ....

sounds exactly like posts I see from right wing Republicans.

[skooooo]

13. I've been embarrassed at my ignorance in discussing American politics..

...with people from Europe. Not everyone, but certainly many do keep up. I think that's especially true in Germany because we have had such a big influence there for so long.

[skooooo]

2. Menschenfaenger does not mean messiah.

Literally it means one who attracts (catches) people.

[Bad Thoughts]

6. Duh!

I was referring to the article's title in order to give context. Read what I wrote, please.

[skooooo]

8. Excuse me..

Just explaining so other people don't assume.

:eyes:

[Bad Thoughts]

10. I apologize. eom.

[stillrockin]

3. Germans hate Bush and love Obama.

[Bicoastal]

4. Just don't mention the war...

...I did it once but I think I got away with it.

[Bad Thoughts]

9. Is this an intro to a Fawlty Towers sketch? eom.

[Angela Shelley]

14. I read the article, I read the article, I read the article.

Did you read correctly? I read the article.

1) The article describes Obama, his life and the success which he is having in the primaries.

2) The article does not criticize Clinton.

3) The word "Menschenfaenger" is a positive word, making reference to his ability to speak eloquently and to cause enthusiasm in the crowd.

4) The article does not have any information which is not already available at DU.

5) This is not a "sensational" article, it´s an "informational" article (good journalism).


And to my fellow DUers who think that Europeans don´t have a clue: Think Again!

[Bad Thoughts]

15. No

As I wrote, I gleaned the direction of the article from the Spiegel website and from German media reviews. I couldn't find the article on-line, and I won't go to my local college library today. However, I believe my interpretation is in line with yours, nicht?

[Angela Shelley]

16. Perfectly interpreted, Bad Thoughts!

Thanks for the thread, it´s always good for DUers to know that they are not the only ones on this planet who are informed :-)

Schoene Gruesse!