Posted on 07/12/2008 1:58:52 PM PDT by Schnucki
A leading German politician is the latest to criticise a tentative plan by Barack Obama to speak at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate.
Erwin Huber, the leader of one of the main governing parties, said the Democratic White House hopeful had played no part in German reunification.
Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier said it was "a bit odd" that Mr Obama should speak at the Cold War landmark.
Mr Obama is to visit Europe and the Middle East in late July.
His campaign team said the Brandenburg Gate was one of several locations they had inquired about as the venue for a speech.
Political row
"Obama didn't do anything for German unification," Mr Huber said.
"That's not a criticism, but as a result there is no reason to grant him such a privilege," he told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
Mr Huber is the head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party to Mrs Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union. The leader of the CSU traditionally plays a prominent role on the national political scene in Germany.
Mr Obama's suggestion has created a political row in Germany.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, of the centre-left Social Democrats, has welcomed the idea of Mr Obama speaking at the gate.
Mr Steinmeier and Mrs Merkel are likely to face each other in an election next year.
Berlin city officials have also said they would be delighted if Mr Obama spoke at the Brandenburg Gate. They would have the ultimate say over whether to grant him permission.
Mrs Merkel said earlier in the week that she would not like to see the historical landmark used for "electioneering".
But a spokesman for the chancellor said "we are confident that we will reach a mutual and good solution which does justice to the interests of all involved".
Her office, meanwhile, has denied media reports that the White House put pressure on German officials to reject the speech plan.
The Brandenburg Gate became a symbol of Germany's division - and later reunification - when it was cut off by the Berlin Wall that East Germany's Communist leaders built in the 1960s.
It was the backdrop for a famous speech by former US President Ronald Reagan in 1987, when he called on the Soviet Union to tear down the Berlin Wall.
Several other US presidents, including John F Kennedy and Bill Clinton, have delivered major speeches in Berlin.
Angering the Chancellor of Germany, another “brilliant” move by Obambi. This blunder from the guy who says he’ll “repair our image” around the world. What a witless hack.
Who can they deny him? He is The Obamameister and must be obeyed.
Obama is a candidate, not a President. Pure hubris on his part.
This guy is such a clown.
Perhaps a speech lamenting the fall of communism.
I wonder if the dirtbag Obama wants to do a “speech” at the Brandenburg Gate in order to exploit President Reagan’s famous speech there. I can hear the dirtbag saying how President Reagan told Gorbachev to “tear down this wall” here and now “some Americans” want to build a “wall” between the United States and Mexico. I don’t think the dirtbag is smart enough to understand the difference between the two but neither are the people who would vote for him.
So much for getting Europe to like us Barry. Not that it ever mattered to me anyway. Your arrogance abounds. It will be your downfall.
In spire = In spite
how long before the Capitol Building is mysteriously set on fire and blamed on the “radicals”?
Ms. Chancellor, tear down this chump.
Yep, no doubt about it. Some Germans do not back Obama 100 percent. They are racists. I knew it.
ArmyAirCorps — we all know that ‘spire’ meant ‘spite.’ No need for perfectionism here ...:)
I am still amazed that a major political party in a country such as the US has chosen such clueless and unaccomplished individual as their candidate.
Ohmigosh, he is just disgusting, isn’t he? They are swept away by FEELINGS, I think. At a work party recently, tho — many Christians among the staff — they were all adoring BO! We had to leave. (so impolite to throw up at the table).
Mr. Ears strikes again.
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