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Barack Obama's Berlin visit sparks German diplomatic row
Times Online ^

Posted on 07/08/2008 5:29:50 PM PDT by Sub-Driver

Barack Obama's Berlin visit sparks German diplomatic row Barack Obama Roger Boyes in Berlin

Berlin, a city torn apart by war, is the perfect setting for an American president preaching peace. Ronald Reagan famously stood metres away from the Brandenburg Gate and called on the Soviet Union to tear down the Wall dividing Europe. And President Kennedy used a Cold War visit to the once and future German capital to declare: “ich bin ein Berliner!”

Now Barack Obama, the presidential candidate, wants to grandstand there too. But a simmering row between the German Government and the local Berlin authorities could rob the Democratic politician of a photogenic moment at the Brandenburg Gate and derail his flagship tour of Europe this month.

The plan, Obama advisers have told Der Spiegel magazine, is to use the visit on July 24 to signal an imminent improvement in the transatlantic relationship.

"The Senator was criticised in the primaries for showing insufficient interest in Europe," said the unnamed adviser. "This visit is an answer to this criticism ... the memories of John F. Kennedy's 1963 speech are still very fresh — Berlin is a bridge between East and West."

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barf; foreignpolicy; germany; obama; propagandawingofdnc
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1 posted on 07/08/2008 5:29:50 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

we have an improved relationship with the deutschland.


2 posted on 07/08/2008 5:32:30 PM PDT by ken21 ( people die + you never hear from them again.)
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To: Sub-Driver
The plan, Obama advisers have told Der Spiegel magazine, is to use the visit on July 24 to signal an imminent improvement in the transatlantic relationship.

Barry, just because you are an anti-semite does not mean that you'll be greeted with open arms...
3 posted on 07/08/2008 5:32:30 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Sub-Driver
“ich bin ein Berliner!”

"I'm a doughnut?"

Wot?

4 posted on 07/08/2008 5:35:20 PM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: Sub-Driver
I predict Obama will walk across the Atlantic and give speech while levitating above Brandenburg Gate.

Take that you Nazi Racists.

5 posted on 07/08/2008 5:37:16 PM PDT by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: Sub-Driver

his chutzpah reigns supreme - like his presidential seal he put on the podium in front of him - that quickly disappeared in the uproar - this further example of his acting like he was already POTUS instead of just a candidate, is crass.

This man’s arrogance is colossal...


6 posted on 07/08/2008 5:38:51 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (No trees were killed in sending this message but a large number of electrons were terrible agitated)
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To: Sub-Driver
local Berlin authorities could rob [Obama] of a photogenic moment at the Brandenburg Gate and derail his flagship tour of Europe this month.

Wait for it.. here it comes. Now!

"The Germans are racists."

7 posted on 07/08/2008 5:39:20 PM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: Sub-Driver

“Ask not what you can do for your country but what your country can do for you” is Obama’s version of the JFK legacy.


8 posted on 07/08/2008 5:42:25 PM PDT by caisson71 (Times change, values don't.)
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To: Sub-Driver
Is Germany allowed to vote in our elections????

(This guy is so full of himself. I'm beginning to think he is delusional.)

9 posted on 07/08/2008 5:44:28 PM PDT by Chgogal (Voting "Present" 130 times might be a sign of a smart politician. It is not a sign of a good leader.)
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To: Chgogal

That’s quite the snub to our closest allies, the Brits.

Is Obama signalling a tilt to the Franco-Germanic Axis within the EU?


10 posted on 07/08/2008 5:52:47 PM PDT by Shermy ("But when democratic society says "no", you need some sort of democratic solution." /sarc)
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To: maine-iac7

his chutzpah reigns supreme - like his presidential seal he put on the podium in front of him - that quickly disappeared in the uproar - this further example of his acting like he was already POTUS instead of just a candidate, is crass.

This man’s arrogance is colossal...


I think Hitlery is going to knock his ego for a loop.


11 posted on 07/08/2008 5:55:35 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Sub-Driver

“Ich bin ein Obamer”


12 posted on 07/08/2008 6:08:25 PM PDT by mikrofon (Sieg Heil)
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To: WilliamofCarmichael
I've heard Germans who've taken it both ways. Strictly speaking, “Berliner” in this context should be taken as an adjective, as in “I am American” (German, “Ich bin Amerikaner.”) However, “I am an American” is perfectly grammatical.

“Ich bin ein Berliner” is, at worst, ambiguous and somewhat awkward. It's hard to think the listener would have construed the noun “Berliner” to mean a pastry in context. I remember seeing the speech on TV news at the time and the crowd went wild.

By the way, JFK didn't say he was a Berliner, he said that the proudest words a person could say were once “Sum cives Romanus.” but today they were “Ich bin ein Berliner.” He was praising Berlin for being in the forefront of the struggle for freedom.

13 posted on 07/08/2008 6:11:47 PM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Hillary to Obama: Arkancide happens.)
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To: Sub-Driver

When did we decide that we were going to allow German citizens vote in our elections? I missed that.


14 posted on 07/08/2008 6:13:35 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Enviromentalists, including Algore's "scientists," should be forced to find jobs.)
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To: mikrofon
“Ich bin ein Obamer”

Well, there goes the keyboard! LOL!

15 posted on 07/08/2008 6:14:51 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Enviromentalists, including Algore's "scientists," should be forced to find jobs.)
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To: unkus
I think Hitlery is going to knock his ego for a loop.

Mrs. Clinton is sharpening her claws as we speak. And just who is going to come hear the messiah give his big speech? Will Germans get the day off? Will ex-pats be bussed in from other European cities? Will there be swooning...fainting?

I am Barack Obama...your Messiah...and the next leader of the free world.

Parody: The Messiah's Message || Shanklin
16 posted on 07/08/2008 6:19:54 PM PDT by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: Sub-Driver
Technically the decision lies with the Berlin Mayor, a flamboyant, openly gay Social Democrat, who quite relishes the idea of irritating the conservative Chancellor.

Hey Obama I think we found you a running mate, he's is everything your party is looking forin A VP.

17 posted on 07/08/2008 6:20:27 PM PDT by edzo4
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To: Miss Didi

Barack Obama is in for the surprise of his life.


18 posted on 07/08/2008 6:26:05 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Sub-Driver

He is going there to proclaim the title of New Fuhrer.


19 posted on 07/08/2008 6:37:19 PM PDT by boomop1
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
“Ich bin ein Berliner” is, at worst, ambiguous and somewhat awkward.

Equivalent to?
   I am Danish.
   I am a Danish.

20 posted on 07/08/2008 6:43:38 PM PDT by sionnsar (trad-anglican.faithweb.com |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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