Obama Skips Berlin Wall Anniversary
By Don | November 8, 2009
Tomorrow will mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and president Obama will be notable for his absence from the celebration.
From FoxNews.com
The president does not plan to travel to Germany to attend the 20th anniversary celebration Monday of the fall of the Berlin Wall, drawing heated criticism from those who say he's ignoring a shining triumph of American-inspired democracy.
President Obama squeezed in a trip to Copenhagen last month to lobby, unsuccessfully, for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. He plans to travel to Oslo next month to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, an award that even Obama has said he does not deserve. And this coming week, he sets out on a weeklong tour of Asia.
But the president does not plan to travel to Germany to attend the 20th anniversary celebration Monday of the fall of the Berlin Wall, drawing heated criticism from those who say he's ignoring a shining triumph of American-inspired democracy.
"A tragedy," is how former House Speaker Newt Gingrich described Obama's absence.
Some question whether the decision not to go was a nod to Russia, with which the Obama administration is trying to mend relations, or just another attempt to play down the perception of the United States as an exceptional superpower.
For its part, the administration is citing a scheduling conflict. The White House says the president simply does not have the time to go, with the trip to Asia starting Wednesday.
"Obviously we have a lot to work on here and we have commitments for an upcoming Asia trip," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday, noting that a "very senior delegation" of U.S. officials would attend.
That delegation is led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who traveled to Berlin Sunday ahead of the festivities -- the first stop for the secretary on a trip through Europe and Asia.
Obama acknowledged the anniversary of the fall of the wall last week during his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We are now moving towards the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down and Germany being reunified after so many painful years," Obama said. "And this is a special moment for Chancellor Merkel, as somebody who grew up in East Germany, who understands what it's like to be under the shadow of a dictatorial regime, and to see how freedom has bloomed in Germany, how it has become the centerpiece for a extraordinarily strong European Union."
He said the U.S.-Germany alliance is an "extraordinary pillar of the transatlantic relationship."
But some saw Obama's decision not to travel personally to Berlin as a snub to Merkel, Germany and the history behind the anniversary.
"Barack Is Too Busy," Germany's Der Spiegel magazine declared in a headline last month, writing that Obama had declined Merkel's invitation.
While Obama has traveled to Germany since taking office, he has not as president traveled to Berlin -- the site of his major speech in July 2008 during his overseas campaign tour. During that speech, he acknowledged Berlin's struggle, saying, "This city, of all cities, knows the dream of freedom."
Why then, critics asked, would the U.S. president not revisit that site to mark the culmination of that dream? After all, he has established himself as an intrepid traveler in office, setting off on a slew of overseas trips during his first 10 months on the job.
On several of the stops he has expressed regret for past American behavior, but the Berlin Wall anniversary was seen as an opportunity for the president to honor an American and Western victory for which the U.S. need feel no regret.
"It is a true shame that the president of the United States -- this man who cloaks himself in the rhetoric of hope -- won't be pausing to remember," Gingrich wrote in a column last week in The Washington Examiner.
The National Review's Rich Lowry wrote that the decision speaks to Obama's "dismissive view of the Cold War as a relic distorting our thinking."
"John F. Kennedy famously told Berliners, 'Ich bin ein Berliner.' On the 20th anniversary of the last century's most stirring triumph of freedom, Obama is telling them, 'Ich bin beschaftigt' -- i.e., I'm busy," he wrote. "Obama's failure to go to Berlin is the most telling nonevent of his presidency. It's hard to imagine any other American president eschewing the occasion."
It's not like this anniversary sneaked up on him or anything. The fall of the wall was one of the most amazing events in history for few believed that President Reagan's speech at the Brandenburg Gates on June 12, 1987 when he said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" would have any effect much less come to pass just two short years later. And yet the president couldn't find time in his schedule to make even a token appearance on Monday.
It is also odd that he would pass up a golden opportunity to be featured on the world stage and to try and restore some of the luster that has disappeared with his domestic agenda struggles and strengthen his ties with Germany as well as polish his image as a "world citizen".
Instead he skips the anniversary, snubs a key ally and makes the U.S. look bad.
Welcome to the Obama presidency.
Post #2446
26 Comments | Post a Comment
Speaking of ‘brain deficient’, you can’t be a ‘lame duck’ in a first term.
You sound like Caribou Barbie. Can you see Russia from your trailer?
Hey macho man, “brain deficient” is when the best you can do is make fun of a woman. Keep up the good work, tough guy!
Hey, perhaps he promised to take his kids for ice cream on that particular day ! I recall that he took his kids for ice cream on the day that the Iranian students were crying out for BO to express his concerns for their freedoms, when they were being beaten in the streets of Iran. He was too busy then, too!
And besides he is too busy working on our freedoms here in America….busy taking them away, that is ! BO stated that our constitution is outdated . He is out to destroy our economy and talk radio and everything else that he can which stands for freedom in this country. So I am not surprised that the Marxist man child does not want to go to Germany to celebrate an important anniversary date of freedom !
I also believe that he enjoys sending the communists a message that he doesnt care. I also notice that when he salutes a military man after stepping off Air Force One that he gives the sloopiest salutes that I have ever seen. And he looks away in defiance. I also recall that picture of him standing in defiance with his hands crossed over his private area, which was disgraceful, while everyone else was properly holding their hands over their hearts during the playing of the Star Spangeled Banner and showing respect for our American Flag. BUT NO..NOT THE ANNOINTED ONE ! That is beneath his Marxist dignity! ...And I believe that he likes displaying and showing off to his communist buddies his lack of respect, also.
Just happened to think that if he went to Berlin, that some of our kids in America might see that news on TV and then ask their parents , “What is the Berlin Wall ?” I really do wonder how many of kids who attend govt schools are still learning about The Berlin Wall and other very important and historical events that we must always remember. I wonder if parents are paying close attention to the thier children’s text books these days, and to what they are learning from their teachers about these important events, even though we have a president who does not show much interest. Very sad and scarey too, I think.
I hate to disagree with a rocket scientist such as Cynical, you CAN be a lame duck in your first term, as the Big BO will be between the first Tuesday in November 2012, until January 20, 2013.
Oh happy day!
No, actually you can NOT be a lame duck in your first term….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lame_duck_(politics)
The 19% of Americans who still represent themselves as republicans are totally irrelevant to the Country.
The re-election is all but guaranteed, better stock up on Midol, little fella.
The man could crap gold bars and you would complain about him adversely affecting the price of gold.
“Instead he skips the anniversary, snubs a key ally and makes the U.S. look bad.”
..and he’s going to have sauerkraut referred to as ‘sauerfreedom’ from now on.
Don, you really are a five-year-old in disguise.
Welcome to the kook wingnut fringe.
The ever-shrinking and cringe-worthy far right.
A reminder: MOST of this country does NOT think like you do.
Oh yes, let’s all turn to the left-wing nuts at Wiki-wacko! A lame duck is defined as the office-holder who has been voted out of office and is waiting for the inauguration of the winner.
Obama, who campaigned in 57 states (by his own words), had nothing to do with winning the cold war and should NOT have gone there. That would have been as disgusting as draft-dodging democrat Slick Willy’s photo-op at Omaha Beach!
A second term for B. Hussein? Dream on.
Kennedy goes to Germany and says: “Ich bin eine Berliner”.
Obama goes to Germany and says: “Ich bin eine Beginner”.
Sums up the decline of the Democratic Party.
Apparently Cynical lives up to his name and is devoid of all sense of irony.
I do believe the reference to ‘lame duck’ first term President means he will only be one term. Tongue in cheek of course.
Oh to live in the world of wiki-technical terms of Cynical with no joy, no humor… well you get it.
Ronald Reagan taught the world that freedom and capitalism could be found for all if they would follow the U.S. lead. Obama would teach the world that the U.S. is not worthy of the lead. Did we learn nothing from a world just 20 years ago that a strong nation is one that the rest of the world would tear down repressive walls to join in freedom and prosperity?
Jeffie, he declined the invitation before Hasan even shot one bullet. Find another excuse.
Michelle,
If ignorance is bliss, you must be ecstatic.
Read the definition of ‘lame duck’, or better yet, have an adult read it and explain it to you.
Obama can not be a ‘lame duck’.
Thanks for playing.
Michelle, you hang in there. Cynical got his definition of “lame duck” from the same book B Hussein read - the one that talks about the 57 (and counting)states he campaigned in.
This is a repeat of my previous post to cynical on another thread.
cynical
The on-line Oxford defines you as follows:
• adjective 1 tending not to believe in the integrity or sincerity of others. 2 sceptical. 3 contemptuous; mocking. 4 concerned only with one’s own interests.
First of all I find it amusing that you are an adjective. Your posts tell me that #3 and #4 best describe your behavior.
I have come to the conclusion that the speech writers for Obama are no older than perhaps, 30 - 35 years of age. It is also obvious that they didn’t pay attention in history class or anywhere else for that matter. If I am not mistaken Obama, in his “voice mail” to the German people on the anniversary of “the dismantling” of the wall (contrary to what he and certain folks may want to believe, it did not fall by itself) only mentioned President Reagan once and said nothing about communism. I have lost all, and it was not much to begin with, respect for Mr. Obama. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!!!
“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.”
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), Pro Publio Sestio
I often find it amusing, as well as sickening that people like Cynical even waste their time blogging their crap in here ....hoping to change the minds of the good common sense people who pst here and who know their history , and who understand full well what BO and his communist and Marxist friends are striving so hard to do this country ! Do people like Cynical actually believe they are going to change our minds ? What the hell have they been smoking for way too long?? One of these days, if they keep standing on the side of the Marxists and Communists, they will find that they are screaming the loudest that they will not even be able to share their points of view anywhere at all….when and if they finally wake up !!
PS. And that goes for little Jeffie’s posts too! Jeffie, you really should stop wasting your time here. We grown up adutls get enough of the dopey smoke on a daily basis blown in our faces from the Man-child (Obama), and enough to make us all “gag” plenty without your help! ..... Thank you ! Do us a favor and go watch some Reagan tapes for awhile and then come back. Hopefully, you will have grown up some !!
Venicementor (post #17) I believe so much World history, as well as American history has already been sneaked out of the school text books, thanks to the sneaky Marxists/Communists inside our govt education system. (And our children have suffered greatly!) That is part of the Marxist/ Communist Way to get control over the minds of our children. I was talking to someone recently who told me that her son who is in junior high school in Scottsdale , Az, is no longer allowed to even bring home his text books for homework, which she thought was very strange. She asked why, and her son had no idea either. So she told me that she is going to be on a mission soon to go to school and to check out those text books ! I wrote to Hannity last year about a situation that I learned about inside school text books, and thankfully, FOX did an investigation and he wanrned people all over the U.S to keep a close eye on their children’s text books from that night on ! So it does pay to write to FOX, I have learned. Stil there has not been nearly enough reporting about what is happening inside our schools.
Also, the schools are allowing Muslim speakers to come in to classrooms these days, and to share the ways and beliefs of their wonderful religion; but no speakers are being invited from any other religions to share. So just goes to show the seriousness of what is happening with endoctrination inside the govt schools these days. And the govt so hopes that parents are too busy with other things in life to notice. A parent that I talked with recently only knew about this because her son happened to come home and mention this to her. Nothing had been sent home from school to inform any of the parents. We soon wondered just how many kids tell their parents what is going on at school , and how many parents have the time to even ask these days ,or are even interested , for that matter? Of course, many parents are trusting the teachers, and assuming that all is well inside their school systems. Of course this has been going on for a long time now, while so many of us parents were not paying close attention. I have recently been learning some new things that I was not taught correctly in school by my history teachers and I was heart broken to learn some of those new things! And since then, I have been back to studying and learning the truth. I have also had to work on de-programming my college kids recently after they had been exposed to several years of liberal/communist professors and well, it was a long heartbreaking process , but I managed, thank GOD ! Made me sick to think that I spent all that money to send my kids to college for liberal/communist professors do to damage to their brains and minds ! So yes, I agree with you ......we have some “dumbdowned endoctrinated kids ” who have had little truth about History. Not their fault. We all lost control of our govt somewhere along the way, I think. It is extremely scarey ! Think about what Stalin said regarding taking away the teachings of history inside the text books,.....and look at Karl Marx , and Saul Alinskey’s teachings. Obama and Hillary and so many more (too numerous to name)in our govt have great admiration of those famous sick control freak, power monger creeps ! Know any parents with kids in school ? You might want to inform them to be watching what they are being taught , as well as to what they are not being taught. The Marxists are busy working on our youngsters, while hoping that we are all too busy to notice. And we thought they were learning about the Declaration of Independence and about the United States Constitution ! Perhaps now they are learning that those are “out-dated”, as Obama recently stated.
Diane,
No one wants to change your little, irrelevant mind. It’s so tiny and of no consequence to our Nation, or anything else for that matter. You are just comedic value for the majority of us, who find your amazing ignorance, anger, bitterness and frustration to be so indicative that the US is moving in the proper direction.You are just a garden variety hypocrite, and apparently an uneducated one to boot.
Keep America laughing with your comments!!!
Well! I guess these mental giants told you, Diane! Actually, I’d wait for someone other than these two microcephalics to criticize me before hanging my head in shame.
Cynical refers to the “majority of us” as if he’s part of it. The coconuts on the far left can barely fill a good size abortion clinic, to tell the truth.
Oh yes, C.Roy ! ...I am all broken up here…lol And hang my head in shame according to what those mentally challenged liberals say to me???? NEVER!....LOL. I actually think that cynical and kookwatcher are physically connected and that they share the same brain! And I also think that Kookwatcher is really TK (Total Kook), using another name now after being booted out of here several months ago. He once stated that he works in an office with a bunch of other of those “mental giants”, (like himself) who stand around all day doing nothing but amusing themselves by the conservative postings in AIM. Perhaps they are some of Bill Ayer’s former students ! And perhaps they all work for ACORN too ! I would not be surprised !
And cynical and Kook- (TK) ,if you think for one second that “the U.S. is moving in the right direction” with all those Marxists and Communists running around The White House planning America’s future; then I will say it to you once again,( as you have often been told by others who blog here in AIM), you are in for a rude awakening !
Dear Diane #4 & 21 ( sounds like a title by Bob Dylan), I read your comments & I stood up & crossed my hands,left over right,when I realized that they cross at my belt buckle,ha-ha. My arms are too short & my bod is too chubby & getting chubbier by the minute. Since I have trouble placing my hands behind my back, I usually stand with crossed hands in front,UNTIL I hear the Nat.
Anthem . Then snap to, hands at sides, right hand over heart,unless wearing Org. cap such as VFW, then I render a “Hand Salute”.
I agree, ours & the worlds history is being rewritten by the “Politically Correct LEFT” and in plain speak,,it SUCKS. The sons of Nippon leave out Pearl Harbor from Jap history. WE were the aggressors in WW2. I guess if you go back far
enough, the muslims in the 5-6th century did not convert No. Africa all the way to & up thru Spain,at the point of a sword,& spear from horseback. What did they use,smokesignals??? Why,
because it is not PC..Did they ride those beautiful Arabian horses up in the nite an say
“Aw shucks,boys & girls,you should really really
join our religion” I don’t think so.lol PC took
over during Billary’s admin when his people issued “cutsey” Comm. stamps for the 50th Anniv of WW2. The Vets were PO’d,,but what did we expect from the worlds most famous Draft Dodger.
As far as the Berlin wall is concerned,for me it’s personal. I have “Cousins"in E.Ger. who now can communicate with us thanks to The Pope,
John PaulII, & Ron Reagan, a Scotch-Irish Conserv-
ative. At least “The ONE” should send someone who was in office at the time as Senator,,Joe Biden.
just make sure he does not say he is a jelly donut, in stead of a Berliner. JFK said it ever so slightly wrong all those years ago. BUT I could be wrong. My wife says I have to stop reading Diane’s letters,(she’s jealous)ha-ha. We were out running errands & arrived at “Applebees”
rest. at 11:45. The line for the free Vets meal went out side & the wait was an hour. They didn’t allow ‘Take Out’,so we left them & their “Select”
menu behind. As we were there for so short a time the Vets on line asked what happened, & I said they were serving C & K Rations,so I said that
“The Major has left the building & is going out to eat with troops” A laugh was had by all
Happy Veterans Day, & do NOT forget us,please.
November 9 at 4:49 am | #1 | Link
I probably could say a lot as I have on so many recent occasions. but all I need to say is what do you expect from a TOTALLY LAME DUCK first term President? Just some more OBAMA style. I’m not sure if he has any thoughts of his own. If he does then he is seriouly brain deficient. Rick