Bush Official Says German Press Reports On Brandenburg Gate Story Are Wrong
It looks like the story that the Bush administration pressured the German government to nix an Obama speech at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate is getting shakier.
The Treasury Department has just told me that stories in the German press saying that a Treasury official expressed open hostility to the idea are "not an accurate reflection of what he said."
As noted below, Der Spiegel cited another German press report quoting Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt saying this about the idea: "It would be nice if the German government would focus on strengthening its contacts to us rather than already beginning to look for our successors."
The quote reinforced the idea that the Bush administration was trying to tell the German government not to help Obama by facilitating the speech.
But Kimmitt's spokesperson Brookly McLaughlin, tells me that this is wrong. She says that the quote from Kimmitt was not a reference to the battle over the speech.
"This report is not an accurate reflection of what he said," she says.
"He was meeting with some folks in Germany last week and was asked a question regarding U.S. policy after the election," she continues. "This was before the issue of the Obama speech had even arisen so in no way was it a comment on that."
She adds that Kimmitt didn't say that the German government shouldn't engage with Obama, saying that he merely said "that he hoped the German government would stay engaged with the current administration even as it began outreach to potential successors."
"He did not say the German government should engage with us rather than our potential successors," she concludes.
This comes after the German government adamantly denied that the Bush administration had pressured them on this.
We'd still like to see a transcript of Kimmitt's remarks. But if the above is true, that leaves us back where we were yesterday, with German news reports citing anonymous sources alleging Bush administration efforts to nix the speech.
Can you provide a link to the actual test of the article from Bild. Perhaps the translation failed somewhere (which would be surprising, since english and german are very similar). I'd like to take a crack at it.
July 11, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It looks the White house did put pressure on Angela "via other channels" reports the BILD article.
Here's the article
July 11, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure the Bush Admin did it, and I don't really even think this makes the story shaky b/c it just so fits with their M.O., but I was surprised to see Kimmitt's name mentioned. I don't have the impression that he's a bagman-type. I'm not surprised to see his explanation now, which sounds perfectly reasonable.
Oh, and did I mention:
I CALLED IT!!!!!!
(Cue music and red, white and blue balloon drop a la Stephen Colbert)
My comment from yesterday morning's Election Central comments thread:
The Bush Admin. or ambassador probably asked her to do it as a favor. The last thing they want is a big show of European support for Obama during the election campaign, validating the idea that he will bring the world back together. And I say European because he would undoubtedly draw people from all across Europe to his rally.
Posted by ohiomeister
July 10, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/election_central_morning_round_116.php#comment-2957464
July 11, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it might not be the story that it sorta looked like it would be, but this:
"that he hoped the German government would stay engaged with the current administration even as it began outreach to potential successors."
is still pretty amusing. Sounds like Kimmit knows he has a big I for IRRELEVANT stamped on his forehead.
July 11, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Surely no one expects any person associated with this hateful Bush cabal will behave any differently than the guy at the top who slips past legalities with ease or would find this sort of statement out of bounds for some Bush lackey. Of course he said it and we can expect a bunch more such crap out of the Bush crew. They simply have no moral rudder so they do anything they please and fairness, legality and "the good of the country" be darned.
July 13, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not taking the Treasury Dept.'s word nor that of the German Govt, at face value. The assumption of innocence no longer applies to this administration. The far easier and more often correct assumption is that nefarious motives are at play. To think that they will not use every available means to influence the election is naive.
July 11, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ask Scotty McLellan whether we can take what the White House says at face value.
July 11, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Instead of calling it "Brandenburg Gate-Gate," why don't we get beyond the usual cliche, or at least use the native language:
Ein Tor-Verbot Für Obama
"A Forbidden Door/Gate for Obama" or Tor-Verbot, for short. :)
July 11, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Kimmitt called the Germans "whiners" in the transcript.
July 11, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if the Treasury Dept. denies it, it has to be false.
July 11, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd imagine the role and reaction from the Bush White House will only amplify support for Obama's speech at the Brandenburg Gate.
July 11, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you can't trust the word of a Bush administration official, who can you trust?
July 11, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, now it's the Sargent Schultz explanation!
July 11, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Bush's mouth is moving . . . he's lying. The Repugs are in deep trouble and will do anything to discredit Obama. I beleive the Germans need to think for themselves and let they and Obama work out where is best for a speech.
July 11, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a former Berlin resident (I studied there), American and Obama supporter, I think Barack's speaking at the Brandenburger Tor is a great idea!
It would be Kennedy-esque and capture not only the imagination of the Germans witnessing it in person but also (and more importantly) that of US voters viewing online or on TV.
A brilliant move.
July 11, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's how I imagine the conversation went:
Deputy German Finance Minister tasked with talking to crazyass Republicans: Hmmmm...Heir Kimmitt I think I'd better find out what Austan Goolsbee thinks before I take up you up on your interesting suggestion. While burning all our Euros in Brandenburg Square the day before Senator Obama arrives sounds intriguing...have you spoken to Heir Gramm or a good doctor perhaps? We have some very good ones you know and our medications are very reasonably priced. Even for foreigners.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt, eyes bulging, spittle flying, fist pounding on the desk, at the top of his lungs: I hope the German government would stay engaged with the current administration even as it begins outreach to potential successors!"
Deputy German Finance Minister tasked with talking to crazyass Republicans: Yes, well hope is not a plan is it?"
July 11, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
does ANYBODY believe the whitehouse anymore ???
show me somebody who still believe what george bush says, and I'll let you have 25% of the money I make when I sell that fool the brooklyn bridge
July 11, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
You hang onto that bridge free patriot. In a few years all that iron is going to be worth it's weight in gold!
July 12, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink