First up, there's a little thing that happened in Berlin that Media Obama will not share on the same stages as the other things that get plastered on the headlines. Before the speech by Obama in front of two hundred thousand people, there were two very popular stadium packing bands performing for FREE. I cannot help but wonder how many young impressionable people would show to a McCain rally, if a band like U2 were to perform for free.
Last May, something very similar occurred in Portland. I guess there's a good reason Obama is getting compared to a rock star. Anyone can do it. Just have a big free outdoor concert with a band that will attract tons of fans that produce very little, with no expendable income, and no real purpose in life.
About that euphoria, Christiane Amanpour noticed something was lacking following the Obama Berlin speech that was preceded by a rock concert. Euphoria.
WOLF BLITZER: Did you get a sense, Christiane, that he actually delivered with his presentation, with his speech, his appearance in Berlin? Did people walk away seemingly satisfied or disappointed?
AMANPOUR: Well, I don't think they were disappointed, and I'm not sure that they were thoroughly satisfied. I did ask some people as they were leaving what they thought. Everybody said good, good. But I was surprised that there wasn't this sort of euphoria afterwards, given how many people had come to listen and how much it had been anticipated.
(HT for this coverage goes to Advance Indiana.)
Not all are pleased with Mr. Obama's performance overseas.
Amanpour reports that the Europeans aren't too enthusiastic about Obama's stance against free-trade. (That is if doesn't flip-flop on it before November, like other issues.)
The top EU trade official is already offering this caution to Obama on NAFTA: stop the crowd pleasing rhetoric, and be serious about U.S. commitment to free trade and unfettered markets.
Europe is looking forward to seeing an internationalist in the White House, no matter who wins the U.S. election in November.
While the American press seems to be under Obama's spell, there is word this isn't necessarily so with Europe's press.
He hasn't, as yet, given an interview to a foreign newspaper. He doesn't, as far as I know, have any foreign press on his plane on this trip. He has received many requests by foreign journalists to accompany him on his travels in the US, but has turned them all down.
This is strikingly different from John McCain.
Perhaps Obama doesn't want to face the sort of questions he fears might be put to him - on free trade, on Iraq, and on how his foreign policy would differ from George Bush's.
I don't know why this is surprising. So far, he has yet to put himself into any kind of arena that would challenge his positions, his flip-flops, or his overall intellectual integrity. Why would he sacrifice that free campaign advertising? Here in the US, we are used to it.
Not all are pleased here in the States, either.
Underneath the sheep's clothing is a wolf. Take healthcare for instance.
While on the county payroll, a top urologist at Cook County Hospital solicited nearly $1 million from drug companies over the last decade for his private foundation.
Dr. Paul S. Ray's pitch was that the money would go toward medical research and education.
But most of the money hasn't gone to health care at all. Instead, Ray invested it -- mostly in Tony Rezko.
This has yet to gain a prominent slot in the story rotation, on NBC's Nightly News. Obama claims to be some kind new politician that makes news journalists' legs tingle. But when one does some research, he is just another politician that has a supportive media suppressing his skeletons.
(For the hat tip and more on this, check out Advance Indiana.)
As for his greeting when he gets home, I suspect part of that greeting will include some questions about why he decided to cancel a visit with some wounded troops while in Germany. The Obama camp blames the Pentagon, the Pentagon says not so. But more than anything, he could have left the cameras behind if he had truly felt his visit would have politicized the visit too much. As one pundit said over the weekend, it is always appropriate to visit the troops whenever the opportunity arises.
10 comments:
"But I was surprised that there wasn't this sort of euphoria afterwards, given how many people had come to listen and how much it had been anticipated."
A very telling statement by Amanpour.
I've heard several journalists complain that Obama completely ignores them, in fact. Apparently, BHO heard the complaint and made an effort to make himself available to his adoring fans in the press during the Europe trip. Of course, since they adore him, they won't embarrass him. On the other hand, the foreign press weren't allowed to ask one question during the entire trip.
I think the part about the rock concert before the speech is getting around by word of mouth. My 79 yr old mother mentioned it to me yesterday, and she doesn't follow politics real close.
As to the troop visit, he totally bungled that from the get-go. That should have been ironed out way ahead of time. But the final straw was calling rather than just going on down there.
As to the snub of military personnel in Germany, have you seen the posting of a soldier in Afghanistan who was there when the One arrived? He said BHO didn't shake any of the the soldiers hands, thank them for their service, or say anything whatsoever to them. He instead kicked it with the 2-star General and other high-ranking folks.
Greg
This is for you. Today's debate on French television
http://www.france5.fr/c-dans-l-air/index-fr.php?page=resume&id_article=3206
The euphoria of the MSM headlines in Europe is not necessarily represented by certain foreign journalists who know a little about the American electorate and are able to dig a little deeper into the subject. (sorry for the French tv post but it was quite interesting. Don't forget that it was certain MSM journalists that created the obamamania (mama mia!)in order to sell their newspapers etc not the people of Europe.
The question that the journalists in the link ask is "would the French and Europeans in general be ready to vote for a black presidential candidate in their own country. I think we can safely say that the answer is no and so do they.
So many people in these countries including the politicians are transferring their hopes of what is impossible in their own countries to the only country where they know that this kind of thing is possible.... In the country (USA) they love to criticize. It makes them feel good about themselves. But on the other hand there seems to be a recognition that these same people who understand very little of the heartland still look to the US to solve their problems and like children become confused when the father figure repudiates the child. As these journalist say, America's foreign policy will not suddenly become a love affair with Europe if BHO is elected
Sarkozy is involved in political recuperation of course.
He said that Obama was his buddy and came very close to an endorsement. But in any case, French foreign policy has always been a mess for lack of keeping their mouths shut at the right moment. See Sarkozy's recent China fiasco and boycott threats
I don't think that Obama could really spend too much time in France without being labeled a Kerry clone which without a doubt would have cost him at home.
In fact in their press conference together Obama warned Sarkozy to be very careful with his answer when a French journalist asked him if he was not in fact endorsing Obama.
Whatever ones opinion on BHO as Greg says, Europe is frozen in admiration when it looks at what America is doing in the Presidential election this year. An admiration that certain people in Europe can only express through their own frustration manifested through arrogance in order to save face. Because that's what arrogance is about..saving face.
On a lighter note, the French have set up Obama support groups as if they could vote, but within this is a deeper message to the mainstream French establishment. It's rapidly becoming time for a change in France and the values of French republicanism are really not working for minorities. Liberté Egalité, Fraternité for some but not for all.
Here's another interesting take
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/26/europe/letter.php
//On the other hand, the foreign press weren't allowed to ask one question during the entire trip.//
Maybe Obama's belief is that foreign press correspondents should be seen and not heard.
//As to the troop visit, he totally bungled that from the get-go. //
Obama's claimed thinking is, he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. If Obama wants to play the odds to win, it's wiser to play the other way.
If I had been advising Obama, I would have said to go with the campaign staff and without cameras. Better to be accused of doing it than for not. This may not hurt him in the short term, but when it gets down the the wire a lot of people will remember this.
My opinion is he didn't want to go, if he couldn't film a commercial. That's all this trip was, a commercial shot. He used campaign money and he was advised to get the most bang for the buck. I think they'd rather let him travel to visit the troops on the government's nickel.
Regardless of why he canceled, it was the wrong move.
//As to the troop visit, he totally bungled that from the get-go. //
Haven't seen it. Got a link? Better yet, you are behind on guests posts. Send one to me, you can use it in the post. ;)
//The question that the journalists in the link ask is "would the French and Europeans in general be ready to vote for a black presidential candidate in their own country. I think we can safely say that the answer is no and so do they.//
Are you saying that French do not have guilt for the way they have treated their former African colonies? Because that's the strategy here, guilt is being exploited big time.
I agree with you, France would not vote for a black president. But France, like many other nations, loves to tell Americans to do as we say, not as we do. And if we don't then we are made to feel guilty for not listening to reason.
My opinion is he didn't want to go, if he couldn't film a commercial. That's all this trip was, a commercial shot. He used campaign money and he was advised to get the most bang for the buck. I think they'd rather let him travel to visit the troops on the government's nickel.
Astute observation, and one I agree with.
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