Germans in Tizzy over Obama and Planned Speech. What's the REAL STORY?

[Sensitivity]

What is the real story on the Obama planned speech in Berlin. Is it as some channels report that “Chancellor Angela Merkel slammed a request by Barack Obama to give a speech this month before the Brandenburg Gate,” or is it that “German Politicians Are in an Obama Tizzy,” as reported by Der Spiegel.

German media reports seem much more multi-sided that those in the U.S. press.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,k-7260,00.html

The debate surrounding the impending Berlin visit of US Presidential candidate Barack Obama refuses to abate. Even as the government of German Chancellor Angela Merkel is skeptical (more...) about allowing the Democratic politician to hold a major foreign policy address at the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin, many other politicians -- including some from her own Christian Democrats -- are in favor of the idea.

"Many Germans want to get to know him," Ruprecht Polenz, chair of the foreign relations committee in the German parliament, told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "It's not just politicians, but the broader public. When the best possibility for that to happen is at this place, then I have no problem with it," he said, referring to the Brandenburg Gate site.

[AspenRose]

1. Dear Germany,

Trying to kowtow to Bush on this just ain't worth it. Do whatever the hell YOU GUYS want to do.

Sincerely, DR in USA

[bunnies]

2. And get this: "74 percent of Germans said that if they could cast a ballot in the US election,

they would vote for the presumptive Democratic Party nominee. Only 11 percent said they would vote for his Republican Party contender, John McCain."

Same source different article: http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,564083,00.html

An Obama tizzy indeed.

[Satyagrahi]

3. The real story is that Bush put pressure on Merkel to have the speech canceled

but nobody seems to care.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6473651

[99th_Monkey]

5. Maybe Merkel made Bush promise "no more massages" in exchange for buggering Obama's speech? -nt-

[MountainLaurel]

4. Here's a good source of info

A former German teacher of mine runs this blog, on German-U.S. relations and other topics:

Dialog International

[pscot]

6. This technique of campaigning by addressing mass rallies

makes me a little uneasy. It smacks of the popularity cult and the demagogue. I'm not suggesting that Obama is trying to become the "dear leader", but given the mood in the Country, the problems we face and some serious questions about the good judgement of my fellow citizens, it doesn't take much to set my tinfoil antennae to buzzing.

[Sensitivity]

7. On the contrary, the image of Obama with the masses rather than just the elite will CONTRAST with

the kinds of photo ops McCain will get.

[pscot]

8. Unfortunately, the 20TH Century

was replete with gifted orators who gave compelling speaches in stadia, from balconies and under triumphal arches. Not much good came of it.

[sniffa]

9. It reminds me of Hitler

I can't believe Obama is just like Hitler. :cry:

[scarletwoman]

10. !

:rofl:

[Arugula Latte]

11. As long as Barack doesn't say "I am a jelly donut."

:)