Anticipation, Griping Increases Before Obama Speech in Berlin | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 23.07.2008
Those wishing to attend have been advised that signs and posters will be prohibited at the speech -- a move that has come in for criticism particularly from the left. There has been speculation that the Obama camps wants to avoid pictures of Germans making anti-American
statements that could hurt the candidate back home.
Moreover, some residents of Germany's perennially cash-strapped capital have taken umbrage at the fact that Obama's visit will cost a half-million euros ($786,000) -- half of which will be born by German public funds.
"How come the German and the Berlin taxpayer has to pony up 250,000 euros so that Obama gets a nice television backdrop for his campaign?"
Those wishing to attend have been advised that signs and posters will be prohibited at the speech -- a move that has come in for criticism particularly from the left. There has been speculation that the Obama camps wants to avoid pictures of Germans making anti-American
statements that could hurt the candidate back home.
Moreover, some residents of Germany's perennially cash-strapped capital have taken umbrage at the fact that Obama's visit will cost a half-million euros ($786,000) -- half of which will be born by German public funds.
"How come the German and the Berlin taxpayer has to pony up 250,000 euros so that Obama gets a nice television backdrop for his campaign?"
Barack Obama, Germany Speech
Why would the German Government spend a quarter of a million dollars to promote Barack Obama? Why would the German Government promote Obama over John McCain and interfere with our election? Obama has a 72 percent approval rating in Germany. Is this because they like Obana or hate President Bush?
Berlin authorities expect up to a million people to show up at the Strasse des 17 Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column, or Siegesaeule, to hear Obama speak.
They did everything they could to promote Obama's speech. He was promoted in newspapers, magazines with cut out American flags, free music, food and drinks. They were hoping for a million people and doing everything they could to get them there. But Barack Obama spoke only to 200,000 people. Even though the city of Berlin has a population of 3.4 million, Obama only pulled in 6 percent of the population.
Now the people of Berlin are wondering if spending the $250,000 was worth it. They are saying that Obama still hadn't spelt out his stance on a number of thorny issues. "Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and missile defense - these are the issues that is more important to them.
Europeans are going to find out whether the love affair with Obama is going to be sustainable.
Technorati Tags: Obama, McCain, Germany, Speech
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It's hard for him to point out the issues as he stands on them to the crowd due to the fact that he has no legitimate, unwavering stance on anything.
ReplyDeleteLet me take a wild stab here and venture a guess that you're no big fan of Obama. Betcha if the situation were reversed and McCain gave a speech in front of many thousands of cheering Germans (or any other nationality, for that matter, including Americans), that you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with that, would you? If McCain did it, it would be smart campaigning to help burnish his foreign policy credentials but when Obama does it, his motives and intentions are somehow evil?! C'mon, get real here...
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Jito
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