Conflict over Berlin Visit Becomes US Campaign Issue (Brandenburg Gate Photo-op)

Der Spiegel ^ | 07/14/08 | Gregor Peter Schmitz

[TigerLikesRooster]

Conflict over Berlin Visit Becomes US Campaign Issue

By Gregor Peter Schmitz in Washington, D.C.

The heated debate over Barack Obama's planned appearance in Berlin appears to have crossed the Atlantic to become a campaign issue at home. It's unlikely now that he will appear in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

If the American journalists covering the campaign trail didn't know all about the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin before, they certainly do now. On Sunday, Barack Obama mingled on a flight to San Diego with the pack of journalists who have been following him day in and day out. He doesn't make these trips to the back of the plane as much as he did earlier in the campaign, and the questions asked by journalists were only the most pressing ones. According to the New York Times, they talked about race relations, the credit crunch and Iraq.

[TigerLikesRooster]

If he is given a chance to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, he will managed to mutter some broken German, such as "Ich bin ein Jihader.":-)

[Krankor]

Obama really stepped in it this time. If he goes through with his speech at the Gate, he looks like an arrogant jerk willing to insult our closest allies for political gain. If he backs down, he looks like a flip flopper again, especially with his mealy mouth blathering about how he really hadn’t decided where to give the speech yet. Amazingly, McCain really doesn’t have to do anything, Obama’s arrogance will do him in.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I guess Harvard hubris strikes again.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Does anyone else see the genius of Hillary in this BrandenburgGateGate?

"Psss...hey Obama...ya know you can really ramp up the Kennedy comps if you visit Germany...oh yeah...you'll look realllll Presidential."

[valkyry1]

This entire overseas trip could be a huge debacle for him. For some reason I dont think the Europeans are going to give him a pass and/or take him seriously. He is becoming the shrinking candidate.

Watch the MSM that built him up turn on him like sharks.

If he meets with Ahmadinejad, and he might be stupid enough to do that, its all over for him IMO.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Your comments remind me of one-time high-flying French presidential candidate Segolene Royal, who was defeated by Sarkozy. She embarked on her foreign tour, and made some gaffes, which made her look amateur. That was one of the major factors which brought her down. She started to be perceived as all image, no substance.

[VeniVidiVici]

Perhaps as a consolation the Berliners will let Osama walk down the street and give a speech in front of the Tiergarten Zoo

[Cobra64]

If he meets with Ahmadinejad, and he might be stupid enough to do that, its all over for him.

Ssssshhh.

[Jeff Chandler]

He’ll do the Kennedy “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, but he’ll do it while visiting Hamburg.

[valkyry1]

//Ssssshhh.//

Yeah I know, but if I can think of it someone else can too.

[SAJ]

So, he'll end up as a Hamburger doughnut instead of a Berliner?

''Ich bin ein Scheisskopf'', could be the tagline of his speech. What a pathetic, image-seeking putz.

[Chgogal]

My guess, Obama thinks Germany is one our “57” States. Hopefully he knows to say Danke Schoen instead of Merci Beaucoup.

[karnage]

LOL!

[Night Hides Not]

He’ll do the Kennedy “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, but he’ll do it while visiting Hamburg.

Ich bin ein Hamburger!

[gr8eman]

"arrogant" and "presumptuous."???!!!My problem with your theory is that how do you look "arrogant" and "presumptuous" to people who are "arrogant" and "presumptuous"? All the socialists in Europe, especially Germany are falling all over themselves for this guy! He is one of them and their great hope to knock down the evil US of A to their size. I live in Germany, trust me, it is true.

B.O. could probably repeat JFK's stupid faux pas, "Ich bin ein Berliner" which means "I am a jelly donut" (in southern Germany) and they will laugh while chewing their sausage.