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Brandenburg Gate may welcome Obama



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Published Date: 09 July 2008
By Melissa Eddy
RONALD Reagan did it. Bill Clinton did it. Now Barack Obama wants to join the exclusive band of notable Americans who have addressed the German public standing before the iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Officials in Berlin said yesterday that the United States presidential hopeful's campaign team had contacted them about what permission and security issues had to be resolved before he could speak in front of the monument.

"It's just an idea, and now, of course, they will need to talk with the chancellor, talk with the mayor," a spokesman for the city said. "They have to decide what they want."

Mr Obama is planning two foreign trips this summer, including stops in the Middle East and European capitals, to try to boost his foreign policy credentials.

Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, said the city would be thrilled to welcome the Democratic candidate, wherever he wanted to speak.

He diplomatically added that it would also welcome the Republican candidate, John McCain.

In the past, only US presidents – not candidates – have had the honour of addressing a crowd in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Mr Reagan memorably stood on the former West German side in 1987, exhorting the Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev, to "open this gate" and "tear down this wall".





The full article contains 213 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 08 July 2008 10:03 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Barack Obama
 
1

2dogs in D.C.,

09/07/2008 00:32:37
As the article states, usually only standing presidents are invited to speak at the gate. So this is interesting in as much as Obama is ,as yet, still a senator. As an aside, according to Deutsche Welle's recient poll, 72% of Germans would vote for Obama if they could. Also, the whole Brandenburg gate speech has Berlin in quite the quandry because of his non-presidential status. The times, they are a changin' eh?
2

Scullion,

Canada 09/07/2008 01:36:11
I can't see how it would help either man as most Americans (and Canadians to be fair) wouldn't know the Brandenburg Gate from Brandon, Manitoba.
The only ones who'll see any import if such an event happens are those who are knowledgeable in history and therefore are people who won't by unduly impressed.
3

ScotLJM,

Michigan 09/07/2008 02:01:08
What the h*ll is with this Obama? Trying to emulate the late JFK with his own "Ich bin ein Berliner" or however Kennedy put it.
Obama is no Kennedy, and never will be, even if (shudder) he becomes President.
4

,

09/07/2008 02:33:33
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
5

we the people,

09/07/2008 08:07:35
McCain is a scumbag. The word he called his wife when she teased him about his baldness tells you a lot about him.
6

Silence of the Yams,

09/07/2008 08:15:44
Making grandiose speeches when he's only the presumptive Democratic nominee sums above Obama, arrogant fraudster!
7

Sandi,

San Diego 09/07/2008 17:32:49
At least it's outside so there won't be a problem fitting his ego in.

PUMA!

http://blog.pumapac.org/
8

Auntie Christ,

axis of evil 10/07/2008 16:26:37
#3 ScotJLM
Kennedy was no Kennedy!
9

,

11/07/2008 04:29:59
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