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July 21, 2008
It's "Nein" to Obama's "Amerikanische Magisches Negro" Dog And Pony Show At Brandenburg Gate!
Topics: Political News and commentariesAfter marked opposition by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who criticized the idea as "inappropriate," the Obama campaign has finally "graciously" desisted in their plans to use the Brandenburg Gate as the backdrop for Obama's "grandiose entrance" for his political rally while visiting Berlin, citing that the debate over Obama's speech at the historical site has caused too much excitement already.
The Mayor of Berlin - who is openly gay and an ardent supporter of Obama - in whose hands ultimately laid the decision of allowing Obama to use the German landmark, and other German politicians, originally backed the idea. However objections grew as many Germans viewed the event as a "cheapening" of the German historical monument, tantamount to a desecration. In a statement Chancellor Merkel remarked, that Obama's choice to hold the speech at the historic setting was "odd" and that she has "little sympathy for the Brandenburg Gate being used for electioneering and has expressed her doubts about the idea." She also voiced her concerns about setting a precedent for candidates and other visitors to speak at the gate, believing it should be reserved for senior elected officials, and not for political débutantes.
Thomas Steg, a spokesman for Mrs. Merkel, commented: "It is unusual to do electioneering abroad." He added: "No German candidate for high office would even think of using the National Mall (in Washington) or Red Square in Moscow for a rally because it would not be seen as appropriate." Other German political figures were quick to add their displeasure at the idea, remarking that "the Brandenburg Gate was no place for Obama's Dog and Pony Show."
To many Germans the Brandenburg Gate is a shrine synonymous with Germany's past glories as well as woes, a memorial to its rise as a unified nation after the Franco-Prussian War, a proud remnant of Berlin's former glory left standing amongst the rubble of a decimated Berlin after the Allied bombings of WWII, the boundary line that for so many years demarcated East and West Berlin and the sundering of a people and a nation divided by the Cold War, as well as a symbol of German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Obama campaign's plans to use this historic monument, which was built to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin, as a "cheap theatrical prop" for Obama's political "hubris," have disconcerted many Germans, and has created a political spat in the country.
In the past only Presidents and Heads of State have spoken at the Brandenburg Gate. It was at the Brandenburg Gate that President Kennedy delivered his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in 1963, as well as President Reagan uttered those immortal words in 1982 that changed the fate of humanity, and paved the way for the fall of the Soviet Union and for German reunification: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Ever the "Elitist" he has shown himself to be, no doubt this was part of Senator Obama's effort to present a "statesman-like" image to the world, as well as Team Obama's attempt to capitalize on the aura of the symbolic imagery - such as the sordid "Messianic" imagery with which Obama has been surrounded of late - associated with using such a preeminent historical site as a backdrop, in order to give an "air of legitimacy" to the presidential aspirations of this most unqualified of political upstarts!
Cathryn Friar, of Rightpundits.com, summed it best in her article of Wednesday, July 16, 2008, "Obama Nixes Speech At Brandenburg Gate", quote:
"The saga of 'Brandenburg Gate-gate' simply emphasizes yet again the ridiculous arrogance of the candidacy of Barack Obama and underscores incredible foreign policy naivité on his part and that of his planners. We all know that alot of care goes into the backdrops chosen for candidates and their speeches - perfect flags, clever banners, people of the right demographics. If Obama just wanted a pretty background, he could give the speech in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But no. He wanted the Brandenburg Gate, a far more powerful image..."
"Once a cold-blooded example of Germany's Cold War division, the Brandenburg Gate stood for 28 years behind the Berlin Wall in communist East Germany's heavily fortified border zone. These days, it is a symbol of the country's reunification. It's a symbol of how the West overcame the Cold War and a speech there would bestow on Obama the all important political 'gravitas' better than any other location in all of Berlin."
"Or so he hoped."
If I may digress, Miss Friar's allusion to Obama speaking in front of the Eiffel Tower brought to mind an old Fritz Lang cartoon mocking the servile adulation given an "avant-garde" French movie director by his assistants, and in my mind's eye I could not but chuckle hilariously at the image of an imperious Obama, strolling down the Champs-Élysées, followed by the bevy of stooping, fawning, slavering reporters that have accompanied him on this trip, all going "Oui, oui, oui, oui" subserviently...as in the cartoon. Ha!
If I may add, tongue in cheek, one may say, that had the Obama campaign gotten away with it, and held the Obama rally at the Brandenburg Gate as they desired, it would have been uncanny to see ecstatic throngs of Obama-worshipping "Obamamoonies" from all over the world, cheering and swooning to their "Obamamessiah's" message from such a significant setting... just barely short of hailing him "Sieg Heil!" with raised hands! Déjà vu?
According to Washingtonpost.com, the Obama campaign, has said that Obama's speech in Berlin on the future of trans-Atlantic relations will be delivered in front of a Prussian war monument, instead, rather than at the Brandenburg Gate.
The announcement has also triggered criticism in Germany that the alternate selection of the Victory Column, or "Siegessaeule," was also an inappropriate landmark for the Thursday speech, since the 226-foot column honors Prussian triumphs over Denmark, Austria and France.
The Siegessaeule, was built in 1873. It stood in front of Germany's Parliament Building, the Reichstag, until the late 1930s, when Adolf Hitler's architect had it moved it to its current location in the middle of the Tiergarten park.
The column has become known as the central location for Berlin residents to party since German reunification. The perfect place for "Obamamoonies" and "hate-Bush" Europeans - which no doubt will be bussed from all over Europe by the Obama camp to the "free event"- to party. I wonder if they will begin the event by singing the "Internationale"?
Posted by Althor at July 21, 2008 11:19 AM
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- It's "Nein" to Obama's "Amerikanische Magisches Negro" Dog And Pony Show At Brandenburg Gate! - Jul 21, 2008
