Obama Will Speak at the Victory Column (in Germany)

[babylonsister]

:shrug: No one from his campaign is talking...

http://watchingamerica.com/News/2066/obama-will-speak-at-the-victory-column/

Die Welt, Germany

Obama Will Speak at the Victory Column

Translated By Ron Argentati

July 18th, 2008



Germany - Die Welt - Original Article (German)

The search for a location for the planned speech to be given by US Presidential candidate Barack Obama during his Berlin visit is apparently at an end. He will appear on the 24th of July at the Great Star, according to an announcement yesterday evening by senate and government sources. The podium will be built immediately adjacent to the Victory Column.

Obama’s campaign team will officially disclose the location for the speech in Chicago today. A delegation from the Obama team visited several possible locations in Berlin on Wednesday. Previously, the Gendarmenmarkt and the Brandenburg Gate were under consideration.

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), however, expressed her objections to the Brandenburg Gate location. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit (both SPD) were in favor of Obama’s appearance at the symbolically important site.

Deferring to the Chancellor, the Democratic candidate backed away from the disagreement. Obama’s Thursday visit is part of a comprehensive trip through Europe and the Middle East.

The 46 year-old senator from Illinois hopes his speeches and meetings in other countries will bolster his foreign policy image. Until now, he has concentrated mainly on domestic policy issues.

[gateley]

1. K&R! nt

[Occam Bandage]

2. Great news, and should be a great speech at the historic Siegessaule.

[berni_mccoy]

3. He's doing what a President SHOULD DO: Respecting the Head of State of Another Country

[depakid]

4. Not to mention it's a larger venue...

[Tutonic]

5. Merkel made a grave error in carrying GW's water. After all was

the neck rub that enticing Angela? Good Lord, you need to have Hillary show you how to strap on a pair and act like a woman that has the ability to think on her own terms.

[babylonsister]

7. Laughable. You're chastizing Merkel? You don't know the first

thing about how or why her decision was made; neither do I. And what Does Clinton have to do with anything? Laughable.

[Tutonic]

10. Hey, whats with the attitude. I stated something that is fairly well

known in the overseas press. Don't shoot the messenger. Keep the contain the histrionics on an open post.

[babylonsister]

11. OK, explain to me how she made a 'grave' error. I'm all ears.

Why are you conflating this? If the OP is true, it's over and we move on. Speaking of histrionics...

[TheDonkey]

14. If Merkel were in America she'd likely be a rethug. I am not about to defend her

and she had no right lashing out on Obama about the Brandenburg gate.

[Hav]

15. .

This recent thread mentions the political compass:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3646789

If it's worth anything, Merkel would be near Hillary Clinton and way closer to the Dems than to the mentioned Repubs.
I suppose there is some truth to it that several Conservatives in Germany would be to the left of many Democrats in the US. Especially concerning issues like the environment or the welfare system, they'd rather be Dems.

Anyway, I think this decision will be for the good of Obama. The new venue suits him way better in my opinion and too much of the discussion of his speech might have centered around the historic significance of the Brandenburger Gate and his motives. I'd even go so far as to say that those who voiced concerns did him a favor.

[babylonsister]

16. She's the Chancellor of Germany; she can say what she wants, and does. nt

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Probably worked out for the best

The fact that Obama was offered and didn't have to reject it personally is the best of both worlds. We all know that being too presumptuous can get you in trouble as the "seal" did for Obama. But he certainly want to offend anyone by turning down the offer. It's good that Merkel basically did it for him.

[Whisp]

20. strap on a pair and act like a woman?

:rofl:

how does it work with men then, do they strap on a vag and act like a man?
i take it you are saying that only testicles have strength and women must borrow men's naughty bits in order to be 'strong'.

whatever. thanks for the chuckle.

:rofl:

[saltpoint]

6. K & R

[Olney Blue]

8. Great news! I wish I could be there.

[Raine]

9. A wise decision...

on a return visit Obama can make a speech at the Gate after he becomes President.

[Duder]

13. Sweet!

[babylonsister]

17. That picture is terrific; thanks! nt

[pnorman]

18. Looking at all that dense foliage, suddenly gave me a Grassy Knoll chill!

I sure wish it was November NOW!

pnorman

[moondust]

23. Brandenburg Gate is in the background.

The low structure between the trees with the columns.

[GeorgeGist]

19. Oh my how prescient ...

that the heir apparent to an American Empire will speak at a monument to a dead German Empire.

[scarletwoman]

22. Heh.

I love living in interesting times, don't you?

sw

[vaberella]

21. Good to hear. I'll post back when there's talk on exactly where.