Obama to visit Berlin for foreign policy speech

[Cali_Democrat]

Obama to visit Berlin for foreign policy speech

By Leonard Doyle in Washington
Wednesday, 9 July 2008

Barack Obama is expected to make a major foreign policy speech at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate at the end of July in which he promises a sharp break with the gung-ho foreign policies of George Bush, if elected President in November.

The Democratic candidate is expected to begin a foreign tour next week with a brief visit to London, where he will meet Gordon Brown and David Cameron, it was reported last night. He is also due to visit France, Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel over the coming weeks.

Two American Presidents, John F Kennedy and Ronald Reagan – one Democrat the other Republican – both made famous cold-war era speeches in Berlin and Mr Obama's advisers hope some of the magic rubs off on him. A televised appearance before the famous Berlin landmark would help burnish Mr Obama's image as a World leader-in-waiting while wrapping him in the mantle of Presidents Reagan and Kennedy.

Mr Obama's campaign strategy involves reaching out to Republicans as well as Democrats and he has spoken fondly of the optimism that President Reagan instilled in Americans, even as he undermined the Democratic Party. Twenty years ago last month, President Reagan mounted a podium in front of an ugly concrete barrier separating the Brandenburg Gate from West Berlin and made his famous plea: "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

Read More....http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obama-to-visit-berlin-for-foreign-policy-speech-863059.html

[JoFerret]

1. Jelly doughnut moment?

.

[NattPang]

2. Historical moment.

How sweet it will be.
Finally, someone to
visualize as a real
President,
as opposed to the traitor
now in the White House,
and his twin running.

[JoFerret]

15. Steady on

it will indeed be a time of great rejoicing when Bushco are gone.
But careful with the rhapsody and rapture.

[babylonsister]

3. Maybe a healing, uniting moment? As for jelly donuts, that didn't seem

to bother the Germans either.

[rwenos]

6. Ich bin ein Donut

My high school German teacher, who was a young woman living in Germany at the time, told us the German newspapers had drawings on the front page the next day, with Kennedy holding a donut on the lectern, and Jacky (highly stylized, of course) standing next to him.

Another friend explained why the Germans loved Kennedy so much, and Americans so much. It was because we cleaned their clocks so thoroughly, then rebuilt their country and redeveloped their economy, turning it into a post-War colossus. Nobody had ever done that in Europe before, ever.

The Germans loved our asses, until Bush-turd groped Angela Merkel. What a callow, sophomoric stunt.

[JoFerret]

14. It certainly did not bother them at all

from what i have read. Mild amusement but great appreciation.

But the times have changed.

A healing, uniting moment? 2008 style? might be more possible once Bush is gone and the world can "heal" and "unite' with our vastly improved outlook.

Otherwise: Sounds a bit creepy.

[Eurobabe]

4. He should say

"Ich bin KEIN Berliner, sondern ein Bürger der Welt!"

[rwenos]

7. Alle Menschen Werden Bruder

Wo dein sauftet flugel Seit. (Sorry, no umlaut on my American keyboard!)

It's all there, in Schiller's Ode to Joy, set up as the greatest beer hall tune ever written, in the 4th movement of Beethoven's Ninth.

[babylonsister]

8. Hey, 48percenter! What does that mean, and

what do you think about Obama giving a speech at the wall? I love the idea.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6471134

[Eurobabe]

9. It means

I am not a Berliner, I am a citizen of the world. :D

I'll be there. By hook or crook.

[babylonsister]

10. BRAT! I'm so glad you'll be there! I'm a citizen... and wanna be there, too!

I look forward to your report! :patriot::thumbsup:

[Eurobabe]

11. well, I will try to take photos

let's see if Dems Abroad can get us close, and how many people show up?? :P

[babylonsister]

12. I'm smiling ear to ear; the vision is unimaginable to me. Yet NOT!

Just imagine! Wow. I hope you get a front row seat, my friend. :hug:

[Eurobabe]

13. Well, that would be beyond my wildest dreams

I would just love to shake his hand!!

I've heard the organization has quite a bit of pull, guess I better pay some membership dues, quickly. LOL. :D

[Eurobabe]

5. Damn, I so miss Krispy Kreme right now.

:( They closed all the stores in Phila metro region. Unbelievable!!