Obama in Europe; aims to raise European profile

[Terri]

By DAVID RISING and PATRICK McGROARTY
Associated Press
July 24, 2008

BERLIN (AP) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama arrived in Berlin on Thursday, meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and kicking off the European leg of his overseas trip amid high expectations.

The German capital is the first stop on a whirlwind tour that will take the presumptive Democratic nominee to Germany, France and Britain in an effort to burnish his foreign credentials.

Shortly after landing, Obama and his retinue made their way from the Tegel Airport to the chancellery that sits across from the city's famed glass-domed Reichstag.

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[tgclark]

When Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton gave their speeches in Germany they WERE Presidents then not a wannabe. He is shameless and a disgrace to this country. Europe does not vote for our President so what is his purpose of making this trip at taxpayers expense? Maybe he will ingratiate himself to Europe but not to us. Why doesn't he just stay there.

[Terri]

In a continuing effort to give you some extra content that you don't get in the news here are links to two speeches from elected and sitting presidents who spoke in Germany and who were not afraid to challenge America's enemies.

You can read the transcripts or listen to audio of the speeches.


President Kennedy - "Ich bin ein Berliner" Speech (June 26,1963)


President Reagan - Address from the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin Wall) (June 12, 1987)

[Terri]

Obama’s Berlin rally off-limits for American diplomats

Hot Air

The Barack Obama campaign rally has been declared off-limits to State Department personnel in Germany, according to a ruling that determined it to be a “partisan political activity”. The ruling has some Foreign Service employees outraged at what they see as an improper restriction on their political activity, but any appeal would take too long to resolve the issue:

[ddrinsp]

Re: Post #2 - Tour paid for by tax payers:

From what I understand, Obama's visit to Europe, Israel and Jordan is considered a campaign trip and paid for by his campaign. By adding Senator Hagel to the group, the visit to Iraq and Afghanistan is considered part of a congressional delegation and therefore paid for by taxpayers.

Since the main purpose of the trip is to persuade U.S. voters that Obama is ready to become commander-in-chief and to counter any criticism about his ability to serve on the world stage in a time of war, IMHO, Obama's Middle East and European tour is nothing more than a campaign stunt and photo op.

[72yearsyoung]

He is shameless and a disgrace to this country.

Maybe he will ingratiate himself to Europe but not to us. Why doesn't he just stay there.

I agree. And wish he would stay there. He will find many to his liking, and likeness. Weak to the core, socialist.

[darwinatridge]

From what I understand, Obama's visit to Europe, Israel and Jordan is considered a campaign trip and paid for by his campaign. By adding Senator Hagel to the group, the visit to Iraq and Afghanistan is considered part of a congressional delegation and therefore paid for by taxpayers.

Since the main purpose of the trip is to persuade U.S. voters that Obama is ready to become commander-in-chief and to counter any criticism about his ability to serve on the world stage in a time of war, IMHO, Obama's Middle East and European tour is nothing more than a campaign stunt and photo op.

If anyone thinks this trip was anything but a campaign trip they are only lying to themselves.

[MTnman]

How appropriate that the vacuous golden-throated orator spewed forth his radical-left socialist mindset in Europe; The Pied Piper of Hamelin town (Germany) has abducted Germans and the rest of Europe with his traveling circus, before the final kidnapping of the hypnotized uninformed in America.

Today, Obama's speech would have been more appropriate out of the mouths of Vladimir Putin, a Krushev or Yeltsin, not an American citizen. His one-world view has never worked in the past and can never work in the future except to destroy every nation in which it is tried.

Great delivery with a dangerous message for America.

[rangerrebew]

It should have been more appropriate if given by Putin, Krushev, or Yeltsin since comrade B. Hussein Obama is such a socialist.