Posted on 07/09/2008 7:34:51 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has signaled unease over the prospect of a possible speech by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Merkel has "only limited understanding for using the Brandenburg Gate as an election campaign backdrop, as it were, and has expressed skepticism about pursuing such plans," Thomas Steg, a spokesman for the chancellor, told reporters.
However, Steg stressed that the chancellor is "very happy" for Obama to visit Germany and meet her and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Berlin city officials said this week that members of the Democratic candidate's campaign had contacted them about what permission and security issues would need to be resolved before Obama could speak in front of the monument.
The Obama campaign has refused to provide specifics on his plans during an upcoming visit to Europe and the Middle East, including the candidate's interest in a possible event at the Brandenburg Gate.
"Senator Obama looks forward to his visit to Germany and his opportunity to meet with the chancellor," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. "He has considered several sites for a possible speech, and he will choose one that makes most sense for him and his German hosts."
The gate stood for 28 years behind the Berlin Wall in communist East Germany's heavily fortified border zone. Probably the capital's best-known monument, it was once a symbol of Germany's Cold War division and now stands for its reunification.
Steg noted that the Brandenburg Gate has become "a place with a particular exclusivity, intensity and symbolism" in view of past speeches by sitting U.S. presidents and events such as a large rally in solidarity with the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
As a result, he said Merkel has voiced "great skepticism as to whether it is appropriate to bring an election campaign being fought not in Germany but in the United States to the Brandenburg Gate."
Steg said that "no German (chancellor) candidate would think of using (Washington's) National Mall or Red Square in Moscow for rallies, because it would be considered inappropriate."
He stressed that giving permission to use the venue is a matter not for Merkel's government, but for Berlin city authorities. Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit said Tuesday that he would be "delighted" for Obama to appear at the Brandenburg Gate or elsewhere.
In a famous 1987 speech that used the gate as a backdrop, President Reagan urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "open this gate" and "tear down this wall."
In 1994, four years after German reunification, President Clinton spoke on the other, formerly eastern, side of the gate _ declaring that "Berlin is free."
Organizers of Obama's campaign have said he is planning two foreign trips this summer, including stops in the Middle East and major European capitals, in an effort to boost his foreign policy credentials as he prepares for the November election against Republican John McCain.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said there had been contacts with the German Embassy in Washington regarding Obama's trip. He said that, while German officials suggested that he could visit landmarks such as Berlin's Holocaust Memorial, the Cold War-era Checkpoint Charlie border crossing and the Brandenburg Gate, they had made no recommendations on any venue for a possible Obama speech.
Turn the horses back around.
al obama will be lucky if he doesn’t
implode by the november election.
Hope the good people block his way if he attempts this...
The real irony here is, that if Skippy Obama had been president during the Cold War, the Berlin Wall would still be in place. Obama don’t “believe” in war.
He really does have the Hitler thing going for him.
I actually hope he gives the speech. I think it will backfire back here at home.
Wonder how many times Obama’s visited Walter Reed?
*snort* Is Obama planning to add this speech to his resume for ‘international experience’?
I don,t see the Germans giving BHO a warm reception. Most of Europe believe he is a Muslim and will symphasize with the terrorists. Lots of concern of what the world will be like with Obama as POTUS and it isn’t good! God help us all this November.
All of Euro is on edge,
Sorta subliminal eh? Like the American public is really that stupid.
As noted, Presidents Reagan & Clinton spoke on German or specific Berlin issues there in their speeches. Hard to see what Obama could speechify about in the same context. He’ll use it for feelgood blather at best.
Both. Barak hussein Obama is the Obamafuhrer..
Maybe this made her, kinda rethink the whole situation...
Hitler became Chancellor of the Weimar Republic in 1933 through a coalition with democrats and left wing radicals, who had hoped to use Hitler's popularity to gain power. Once in power he initiated what was called the "legal seizure of power." In the course of a few years he managed to consolidate dictatorial powers through parliamentary legislation. Later he turned out to be erratic and unpredictable leader of the armed forces, often disregarding opinions of other experienced generals and marshals.Courtesy of Wikipedia....
Note! The statement has been edited for the purpose of...you go figure!
“ich bin ein weinerschnitzel”
"Wiener Schnitzel" Austrian style steak, served with cranberry sauce, pomme frittes and a large Warsteiner! Prost!
I’ll take one order please!
Who the Hell does Obama think he is? Can you imagine a candidate from Germany or France or any nation to set up shop on the capitol mall for a political rally?
This guy is pathologically arrogant!!
...sofort, Mein Herr!
...it means "french fries".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.