Bush pressuring German gov't to nix Obama's Brandenburg Gate Speech

[woolldog]

FYI:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/certainideasofeurope/2008/07/obama_drama_in_berlin.cfm

The Bush team has already weighed in on the Obama debate:

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.

[BeyondGeography]

1. They're shitting in their pants

Good.

[NC_Nurse]

2. Such assholes. Can't they be gracious, just ONCE?

I am so tired of the ugliness of their admin.

[samsingh]

30. repugs gracioius? never

repugs have two states

1. they're screwing everyone and causing devastation and destructino

2. they're crying that they're being stopped from doing 1

[NC_Nurse]

33. So true. No shame.

[Doctor_J]

3. Half of Berlin would probably show up to cheer

Merkel better not get too close to * unless she wants to sit next to him in the box at the Hague

[Ian David]

Obama has 75% approval in Germany. n/t

[Zodiak]

26. And the US has a 66% disapproval

Merkel's political opponents know this, so bringing Obama over would have the dual role of exiting their citizenry and making Merkel look like a Bushbot.

It's not all about American politics.

[woolldog]

4. More from the same article:

The final decision is with the city mayor who is in favor of it. But Merkel, following instructions from the Bush administration apparently, is pressuring him.

A heated debate is bubbling in Berlin over Barack Obama's request to give a speech at the historic Brandenburg Gate during his European tour later this month. The mayor of Berlin supports the proposal, but the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has called it an "odd" idea.

Der Spiegel's English-language website reports that Mrs Merkel has "little sympathy for the Brandenburg Gate being used for electioneering and has expressed her doubts about the idea." Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, shot back that "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Merkel herself knows full well how to electioneer abroad." The decision is ultimately up to the city government. There are reports that it has already reserved the site for July 24th, when Mr Obama is expected to give a major address on transatlantic relations.

[Bullet1987]

5. The decision doesn't come down to Merkel I've heard

And other German politians want Obama to come...

[Zodiak]

28. You are correct

Merkel actually has nothing to do with the decision. The decision is the mayor and the German senate, both of which are not Merkel's friends.

This is what a lot of Germans think about Merkel



The girl statue with her arms open is supposed to be Merkel

[saltpoint]

6. Not a big surprise that a Bush administration official would be

whispering in the ear of the current German government, but a bit of a disappointment that the German government would grant the wish thru Angela Merkel's public admonishment.

Especially given how profoundly unpopular George W. Bush is in the cities of Europe. Not to mention here.

There is, of course, political import to an appearance by Barack Obama at Brandenburg Gate. However, counterpoint to Merkel's warning is that her public pre-scold would be obviated by an address her country's citizens turned out to hear in extremely large numbers, which I predict would almost certainly be the case.

I hope the Obama campaign goes right ahead with this, on schedule, and without apology, and that the good faith between our country and European countries take heart in the event, in Obama's willingness to restore that good faith, as he has the talent to do that.

[Colobo]

7. Obama will rock the house in Germany!

[saltpoint]

10. Agree, Katzenkavalier. His address there would not be a mere success

but a staggering triumph, of the sort and degree the Republicans would prefer not to have happen.

But I think it's going to happen, and it should happen, and I'll by god be tuning in to hear it.

[samsingh]

31. when's he speaking in Germany?

[gblady]

8. when.....

does he leave for Europe?

[woolldog]

9. I'm not sure.

The site is reserved for July 24th, so I figure he will leave in about 10-12 days or so.

[billyoc]

11. Merkel's capitulation to * is great news for her SPD rival in the next election.

Hopefully it will be soon.

[skooooo]

12. Fuck that would've been really cool. nt

[woolldog]

14. The speech hasn't been canceled.

I edited the title to make that clearer. Merkel has no jurisdiction over the issue; the mayor of Berlin does and he's in favor of the speech.

[skooooo]

16. oh ok!

Well, you'd think he'd want it at the Brand. gate just for the publicity it would give the city!

I hope!

[TwilightGardener]

13. Is there some sort of election or campaign law against Chimpy working

campaign angles with foreign leaders on a taxpayer-funded foreign trip? I mean this in all seriousness.

[dmr]

29. That is my question, too

The pip-squeak is after-all, traveling on America's dime, not the RNC's.

But there is something else questionable here. How can a sitting US President, who is representing the WHOLE United States of America, speak against the potentially next US President? Is that not bad protocol? Does it not, in the eyes of the world, undermine the respect, the authority of POTUS 44?

[TwilightGardener]

32. He shouldn't be using his office to interfere in or influence the campaign when traveling abroad

on the taxpayer dime--there has to be some legal problem with that. Certainly it's unethical.

[saltpoint]

15. Dense as the Pukes often are, even they can understand that if Obama

delivers an address in Berlin, it will be impossible to count the number of people who will show up to listen to it, and the boost in Obama's international profile will be secured in an instant.

It is a brilliant idea. I hope the Mayor of Berlin assents and that the speech goes forward as planned.

[GodlessBiker]

17. Such pricks.

[saltpoint]

18. I'm kicking this because I can already SEE the crowd of people

who will come to hear this address.

[eppur_se_muova]

19. Germans *should* have responded with China's favorite answer ...

it is an internal matter, and not for the POTUS to decide. Merkel should be defending German sovereignty.

[eridani]

27. Or at least herself from further tasteless backrubs n/t

[truthisfreedom]

20. And, it's not going to work. Europe is not bushco's domain. He's a lame duck, ladies and gentlemen.

Say good-bye to the idiot.

[Bobbie Jo]

21. * Is he still here?

I have never been so ready to see a man lose his job in my life. :spank:

[pnorman]

22. THIS is what came to my mind:

Marian Anderson
*
*
*
n 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused permission for Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall. The District of Columbia Board of Education declined a request to use the auditorium of a white public high school. As a result of the ensuing furor, thousands of DAR members, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, resigned.<3>

The Roosevelts, with Walter White, then-executive secretary of the NAACP, and Anderson's manager, impresario Sol Hurok, then persuaded Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes to arrange an open air Marian Anderson concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.<3> The concert, commencing with a dignified and stirring rendition of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" attracted a crowd of more 75,000 of all colors and was a sensation with a national radio audience of millions.<4>
*
*
*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Anderson

Let those treasonous BASTARDS try to bully their way on this matter! It'll only blow up in their snouts! No matter WHERE Obama speaks, it will draw a crowd that will capture the attention of the world! And at long last,America will have a spokesman that doesn't require a major military operation for protection!

pnorman

[C_U_L8R]

24. right on pnorman

let them just try and keep the people down

[gordianot]

23. Given Bush's family history he probably feels he has a claim on Germany.

Too bad Germans do not agree.

[CJCRANE]

25. Didn't know there was a German variety of poodle

until I heard of Merkel.

[Motown_Johnny]

34. MMMmmmmmm.....Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung ...... DOH