blog - gObama 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
(Berlin, Germany - 12.30 a.m. local time)
Calling myself a Berliner, I am offended about the stupidity of the political debate whether Obama is allowed to speak at the historic Gate or not. The symbolism of the place of unification will speak louder then the speech itself. Instead it has become a synonym for a weak German government. Chancellor Merkel’s remarks reminds me every day, how embarrassed I feel about her decision to object to a speech there. Knowing that she comes from the East and represents a Christian Democratic Party(CDU), I wonder what calls she has gotten from the Bush administration to open her mouth like that.
Merkel is a terrible speaker and has a charm of a desperate housewife that got into politics with the help of daddy Helmut Kohl. If Obama could speak at the Brandenburg Gate, she might have learned a thing or two about rhetoric - like how to put passion and conviction into an utterly boring exercise: a campaign speech that can uplift large crowds. A little bit of hope, or is it German pride? is left for me - since Foreign Minister Steinmeier and Mayor Wowereit (both SPD) seem to be Obama fans and think it would be a good idea. I realize that although Obama apparently will speak somewhere else nearby, it is this miserly and meek approach of the CDU to fresh ideas that leave the new German attitude in international relations second rate.
A brilliant analyses of Obama’s shift comes from Democracy Now, who invited Naomi Klein (author of NO LOGO) to speak about OBama’s economic plans and his ideas on foreign policy in IraQ. I think her remark about Obama “needing pressure from his voter base” is spot on. The idealism of the Primary Obama seems to trickle down and makes room for a pragmatic shift to vow the undecided Independents and Republicans. The problem of growing alienation with his left-wing liberal supporters might backfire - especially if Nader or Kucinich will run for President...