The Note: Obama’s Berlin Balancing Act
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein Reports in Thursday’s Note: There may be no greater opportunity for Obama to show (and need to show) he loves his country than when the throngs great him in Berlin Thursday.
(That’s partly because his fellow American can watch a million Germans march every night on the History Channel — and we all know how that film ends.)
And as Obama soaks up the love, he needs his country to love him back.
For as well as it’s been going, we don’t know how this visit ends — how an anti-war, anti-administration candidate can deliver a foreign-policy address abroad and not seem anti-American; how hundreds of thousands of Europeans can cheer a presidential candidate and not scare swing-state voters; how the Obama shtick plays with a foreign backdrop; how a candidate who is just plain different fills the JFK-Reagan slot in Berlin.
Even Obama knows the risk (as disguised by spin): "I doubt we’re gonna have a million screaming Germans," he told reporters on board his plane early Thursday, per ABC’s Jake Tapper. "It’s a potentially bad thing if nobody shows up. . . . It’s sort of a crap shoot."
Read the rest of The Note — and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day — from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
People will show up. "Hopefully it will be viewed as a substantive articulation of the relationship I’d like to see between the US and Europe," Obama said. (Excited yet?)
But that’s not really his entire hope: The truth is, as much as he’s winning the imagery wars, Obama needs the visuals.
And the country needs a certain comfort level it hasn’t found to date: "Midway through the election year, the presidential campaign looks less like a race between two candidates than a referendum on one of them — Sen. Barack Obama," Gerald F. Seib and Laura Meckler write in The Wall Street Journal.
The headline from the new WSJ/NBC poll, which has it Obama 47, McCain 41 (same as a month ago): "Fully half of all voters say they are focused on what kind of president Sen. Obama would be as they decide how they will vote, while only a quarter say they are focused on what kind of president Sen. McCain would be," Seib and Meckler write.
We know still that things aren’t happy in Sen. John McCain’s world — even the weather won’t cooperate with his counter-programming plans. This time it’s Hurricane Dolly blowing his message off-course: That visit to an offshore rig, the big Thursday event his campaign had planned to push its main domestic message, is out. (Did Mother Nature just endorse a candidate?)
Continue reading today’s Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News’ Rachel Humphries, John Santucci and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.
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Personally, I’m just happy to see an American Leader who is not hated by people in other countries.
If the observer is trying to pick this event apart, then he or she is missing the point. The Germans (like other people) are looking for more peace and less war. They want to live in a safer world, and most people think Obama can move us in that direction.
And if you thought that Senator Obama’s college events were like rock concerts, check out his reception in Berlin today.
The majority of people in other countries do really like Obama, primarily because he is neither John McCain nor George Bush.
They correctly perceive that McCain will be a continuation of Bush’s foreign interventionist policies – in fact, he intends to advance and exacerbate those failed policies.
Go Obama!
Posted by: toothchipper55 | July 24, 2008, 8:36 am 8:36 am
Oh come on we all know that Obama could just stand there and stare at the crowd and all the reporters would say it was the greatest thing ever. He is good speaker with a prepared speech doesn’t mean he should be president.
Posted by: rachel | July 24, 2008, 8:37 am 8:37 am
Mother Nature kept McWar from making a fool of himself today….again!
Posted by: Jen | July 24, 2008, 8:40 am 8:40 am
Why would europe hate him? he HASN’T DONE ANYTHING. good or bad. he is a black slate know nothing do nothing senator.
so of course they don’t dislike him-they don’t know him. noone does. he is a sham candidaite. this trip is his summer internship and a photo op. that’s all.
he realizes its more about images and word than actions and solutions for america.
Posted by: Kurt | July 24, 2008, 8:54 am 8:54 am
Obama: Nothing but BS and hot air!
Posted by: Soetoro No! | July 24, 2008, 8:59 am 8:59 am
I hear that Bratwurst and Kool Aid was on the menu
Posted by: Samantha | July 24, 2008, 9:01 am 9:01 am
Obama Campaigning in foreign countries, is about the dumpest, Stupidest Thing a candidate has ever done.
Does he think if he Impresses the Germans, He will be more Acceptable to Americans?
Does he Think His marketing super star PR, Will give an edge at the voting booths.
It takes more to have a good foreign relations with other governments, than being able to make a speech to another countries citizens.
Does he plan on coming back saying the world likes me, so you must vote for me.
Obama is still acting like this is a high school popularity contest. He does not grasp the concept That is more than that.
Someone Should let Obama know, Talks cheap. Any one can bullshit their way through many things.
Actions speak louder than words, and he still has not done anything for America.
Posted by: seah | July 24, 2008, 9:02 am 9:02 am
seah — it’s all about his ego, nothing else. He thinks he’s JFK or something. He’ll come home claiming he’s gained all the world’s knowledge in several one-hour meetings and the lemmings will say “Oh yeah — what a guy!”
Posted by: Aston | July 24, 2008, 9:08 am 9:08 am
I agree, keep Barack in Iraq! Keep him in Germany! Keep him anywhere but in the U.S.! Our country depends on it.
Posted by: jaycee | July 24, 2008, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Toothchipper,
Obama is not a leader – he is running to be the leader of the country. Currently he is rockstar.
Posted by: Frank- EAST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE | July 24, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am
I FOR ONE DONT CARE WHAT THE GERMANS THINK ITS WHAT THE AMERICANS THINK COMING FROM A INDEPENDENT VOTER FROM A LIB STATE
Posted by: natale from mass. | July 24, 2008, 9:53 am 9:53 am
I’m voting McCain. Not because I hate Obama so much or love McCain so much. I’m voting for McCain because of his proven track record of bipartisan cooperation, his decades of experience which give him realistic perspective on what Washington can and cannot do, his fiscal conservitivism and his pro-life, opposition to gay marriage. Again I do not hate Barack Obama. He is an understandably ambitious politician who believes that socialism will solve healthcare ala’ Canadian waiting rooms. He believes that America should go back to waiting sleepily for terrorists to attack us and then go try to round them up and make them citizens in our courts. He beleives that it would be better for the poor to starve under oppressive energy prices than to increase supply from our own reserves. All for the sake of the environMENTAL crowd. Obama wants to take us back to the days of 50% income tax. McCain wants a fairer, flatter tax system.
There now-thats how you articulate support and opposition without getting nasty.
Posted by: Mark | July 24, 2008, 10:06 am 10:06 am
This is just press hype. The press preferences are impossible to hide.
Posted by: Aston | July 24, 2008, 10:26 am 10:26 am
All for the sake of the environMENTAL crowd. Obama wants to take us back to the days of 50% income tax. McCain wants a fairer, flatter tax system.
There now-thats how you articulate support and opposition without getting nasty.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 24, 2008 10:06:03 AM
———————————–
Right, you just convinced me to vote for Nader! Thanks, that was so very nice of you, I am happy now. I do not hate McCain or Obuma, just do not like or trust either one of the poor choices thrown at us, ugh! Time for BIG change.
Posted by: HP Boston | July 24, 2008, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Maybe if you people would stop being so whinny about Obama and listen to what the man has to say you might learn how to be better people. Right now, you are all sounding like stupid idiots.
He has great hope for this country, I feel Obama is on the right track of what we need to do too better ourselves, not only within our country but also outside of it.
Posted by: becky | July 24, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Are they going to show the anti war protesters at the Obama rally
Posted by: footy | July 24, 2008, 11:15 am 11:15 am
how does the song go?? Look at all the haters..haters everywhere i go.. where i go.. haters going down for the count.. Obama 2008…baby
Posted by: Lawrence | July 24, 2008, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Obama insists on no placards. Wonder why? Couldn’t be a case of making something appear as it’s not — like removing Islamic women from camera’s views or shifting the audience to make it appear it’s racially balanced for the day.
What an egotistical self-indulgent elitist!
Posted by: Aston | July 24, 2008, 11:46 am 11:46 am
Obama: Mister double-talk!
Posted by: Soetoro No! | July 24, 2008, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Something tells me that even a million cheering Germans swooning over Obama will not move a single vote in his direction.
Since when did respect among our allies translate to rock star adulation for an untested, inexperienced, risky candidate.
Let 3 million show up. Obama is unelectable.
Posted by: bromfield22 | July 24, 2008, 11:53 am 11:53 am
SEEMS TO ME ALOT OF JEALOUS MCCAIN SUPPORTERS HERE, DONT BE ANGRY BECAUSE EUROPE IS NOT INTERESTED IN A WARMONGERING FLIP FLOPPING LYING CONFUSED OLD MAN DEAL WITH IT GET YOUR TISSUSES READY FOR NOV YOU GO OBAMA MAKE US PROUD REGAIN OUR RESPECT AND DIGNITY THAT WE HAVE LOST OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS REPUGS GET OVER IT BLAME YOUR PARTY FOR PICKING OLD MAN MCCAIN ITS NOT OBAMAS FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | July 24, 2008, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
McWar?? no thanks.
Posted by: Cool G | July 24, 2008, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
It seems many of the posters to this forum like the place Bush is leaving the U.S., otherwise how could they even consider a McCain Presidency. McCain is a person of low academic achievement, has 1 year’s experience in D.C. 26 times over, his record of showing concern for women is dismal, there is no creative expression from he or the campaign aside from attack dog tactics which proves the point McCain is an empty suit. He and his campaign are imploding.
Posted by: Lou R | July 24, 2008, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
Obama’s speech text is at drudge. What an appaling piece of crap. Like Kerry, Obama wants us to be part of a global community. Obama does not understand what makes America great. We are not Europeans. Why does Obama start with 1948 in his speech. He totally omits any reference to WWII,Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.
Posted by: geevill | July 24, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
Senator Clinton is the only candidate capable and intelligent enough to lead America and her allies through a successful campaign to defeat terrorism
Posted by: chris | July 24, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
chris
You probably missed it but Hillary was defeated by the DNC!
Posted by: Aston | July 24, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Senator Obama, you have my blessing to stay in Europe forever. We have enough other socialist here in the good ole USA.
Posted by: Mary | July 24, 2008, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
Darn .. it was a golden opportunity to talk about his “Global Poverty Act” (110th Congress, 2d Session, S. 2433). It’s the only real major piece of legislation that Obama has tried to pass this year. Funny how he doesn’t talk about how it would mandate the U.S. to spend 0.7 percent of the gross national product on foreign aid, costing the U.S. at least $845 billion dollars over thirteen years.
You say .. where is the government going to get all that money ??
Funny you should ask .. through a global (say UN) tax, preferably on carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
Posted by: Neo | July 24, 2008, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Well besides all the Obama doubters who will complain and bitch about everything Obama, and as a Canadian who watched along with the nearly one quarter of a million people totally enthralled with Senator Obama, his speech was exemplary and totally non-political.
This man has the right stuff, he will without a doubt be the next President of the United States. As far as Germans are concerned he already is.
Posted by: Ken Taylor | July 24, 2008, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
Obama is not yet an American Leader, he is a nominee. We voted Bush same way and he was more pouplar than Obama. The world hail Bush, it was at the stage of seriousness that we know the kind of heart Bush has. Terrorist attack changed the who thing and Bush become more serious on War on terror which seem to be misunderstood by almost everyone because of the present impacts due to the strenght and powerful terrorist cell . Upon all, only 200,000 came out to hail Obama does not mean that America is loved. The Message Obama delivered also does not represent the real thing or American interest after all he is not the president.
McCain is more interested to be wacthed than Obama who beleives becoming a president is like someone acting like a president.
Thanks
Posted by: idesk99 | July 26, 2008, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
the people of U.S.A. are starting to realize that obamma can not handle millitary.Russia attacks georgia and the poles change in MCcain`s favor. Maybe Mr. bush should send Obamma to russia to talk to Putin.With all his bullshit,he should be able to handle this conflick with out any problems ,
according to the democrats.YEA RIGHT!!!
And of course all the democrats and don`t foget all the black people will
join the millitary right away to help us fight russia.WE need to hurry up a get Obamma elected.
OBAMMA WILL LOSE BY MORE VOTES THEN IN ANY PRESIDENT ELECTION IN THIS COUNTRY AND WILL GO DOWN AS THE FOOL HE HIS.
Posted by: gaetano | August 21, 2008, 9:23 am 9:23 am