Obama: I'm Happy With My Prepared Berlin Speech
Barack Obama's speech today in Berlin will be a major international story, a global event, and Jake Tapper has a good post quoting Obama on his campaign plane talking at length to reporters about what's coming:
"We really have no idea what's going to happen. Sort of a crap shoot. I'm happy with the speech though."...Obama said tonight's address will not be "a wonkish policy speech...We started working on it about two weeks ago, about two weeks ago." The speech "was in pretty good shape a couple days ago and now we're just kind of tooling around with it."...
Did he look to the Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy speeches about Berlin for guidance when writing his own? he was asked.
"You know, they were presidents," Obama said, " I am a citizen. But obviously Berlin is representative of the extraodinary success of the post World War II effort to bring the continent together and the West together and then later to bring the East and the West together so, so I think it's a natural place to talk about it."...
"Hopefully it will be viewed as a substantive articulation of the relationship I'd like to see between the US and Europe."...
He added that "there's no doubt that part of what I want to communicate on both sides of the Atlantic is the enormous potential of us for restoring a strong sense of coming together."
Obama said he was not surprised by the international reaction to his world tour.
"What I think I anticipated was that the world is keely interested in this election," he said. "And I think they are hungry for a sense of where America is going so certainly there is a curiosity there as well."
Great stuff. The speech is today at 1 P.M. eastern, and we'll be bringing you full coverage.
Comments (58)
Damn he's good!
July 24, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Citizen-soon-to-be-President-Obama! :-)
July 24, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes he is!! Wordmaster citzen.
July 24, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
...it only took him a month to get it right:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/30428_Obama_Thinks_Hes_Already_President
http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/1067081,CST-EDT-hunt22.article
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/07/obama-arrogance.html
July 24, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, come on, SFC. Two editorials and a blog about the seal? That's what you're attacking Obama's "arrogance" with? Don't lower yourself to that type of nonsense.
July 24, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just pointing out that he keeps forgetting there's still an election to take place...even his staff seems to have forgotten:
“When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally."
“But he is not president of the United States,” a reporter reminded the adviser.
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=4A670F03-3048-5C12-002034DF88C14E66
July 24, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Just pointing out that he keeps forgetting there's still an election to take place...even his staff seems to have forgotten:"
But most of the people who are addressing those "concerns", are people who wouldn't vote for Obama if their life depended on it anyways...
July 24, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Little Green Footballs? Really?
Why not just link us to the Stormfront sites?
July 24, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
So because the source I site is right-wing the fact that he made up his own "Presidential seal" (that he quit using because someone pointed out the "audacity" of it)is false? If I used that as a basis for the stuff you guys post nothing would be acceptable. Media Matters, Huffington post, Slate.com...
July 24, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, but it shows your sources of intel, and shines light on how you come by your stupidity.
We all know about the Obama Seal. It's been all over the news, you don't have to link to LGF.
July 24, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I typed in "Obama thinks he's President already" and google did the rest. I checked to see if it's what I was looking for and I sent it...
July 24, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I keep saying it, the republicans are reeling..
July 24, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's really true.
I came across this blog from this local political science professor who was making fun of Obama for some picture of him in a gym in front of a bunch of soldiers and talking about his "disconnect" with the military.
These are lean times over at the GOP attack machine.
July 24, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are they kidding?? The Youtube of Obama sinking that 3 pointer on the first try is gold! Especially since he starts it with "I may not make the first one."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HKFmifLCtv4
Er, um, I think he connected -- and not just with the hoop.
July 24, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was a different picture.
Here, enjoy banging your head against your desk: http://mu-warrior.blogspot.com/2008/07/obamas-military-disconnect.html#comments
July 24, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
The commentary at that site is a pathetic overreach. The soldiers behind Obama look happy and glad to be there, not like the comatose folks behind McCain when he speaks.
July 24, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's really really weak.
July 24, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
O yeah.
Ooooooo yeah.
GLOATgloatGLOATgloatGLOATgloatGLOATgloatGLOATgloat...
July 24, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
You think that's bad?
McCain's already got the White House working for him...
July 24, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
SFCWallace - You're much better when you're raising criticisms of Obama on the issues....
July 24, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad I have the day off today. Can't wait to see the massive crowds heaping adoration on our future President.
I love the smell of fried Wing Nuts in the morning!
July 24, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Feeling good about today...
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
July 24, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mark Halperin at Time's The Page reports that McCain will be meeting with the Dalai Lama tomorrow. WTF.
July 24, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he's hoping to get reincarnated as a better candidate.
July 24, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
OOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
He shoots, he scores!
July 24, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Zing! Pow!!! I flew in from Berlin and boy are zee arms tired!
But seriously, folks...
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
July 24, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Little Green Footballs?
You should be banned for that. That is one of the nastiest right wing sites ever.
They celebrate pancake day every year on the day Rachel Corrie was run over on purpose by an Israeli tank.
Jesus God- you know what they themselves call that site: Little Gook Fuckers.
Anyone citing Squeaky and his fucking band of Nazi-wannabes should be ashamed of themselves.
July 24, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I feel the same way about media matters...so we're even.
July 24, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's one MASSIVE false equivalence you're making there.
You don't like MM--fine. But please don't try to put them on the same level as the unrepentant racists at LGF.
There just isn't any comparison.
July 24, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perspective comes from where you're standing.
July 24, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well you are standing in a pile of rascist dog shit.
July 24, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
So you defend their racism, then?
July 24, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not defending anyone but myself. They had a picture of Obama's phoney seal that I was talking about so I posted their link. I'm sorry that huffington post didn't have it up or I would've linked to them. Just because it appears on littlegreenfootballs doesn't make it untrue.
July 24, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
O dude - that is so out there - when did Mediamatters ever celebrate the deliberate murder of a peace worker on an annual basis? All Mediamatters does is report on the media.
LGF is an extreme and violent rightwing site - they have called for the most egregious violence, openly.
If ever there was a False Equivalency, that's it.
And you know it - there is no goddamn excuse for ever even reading LGF, let alone citing it.
July 24, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
"deliberate murder of a peace worker"
Actually, she was killed in a terrible accident, but I'm sure you don't believe that either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Corrie
July 24, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
SFCWallace,
What is wrong with MM simply offering transcripts of what politicians actually say? Shouldn't all politicians of both parties be held to this standard? Can we agree on at least this much?
July 24, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, I get beat up for using Youtube videos of Obama speaking the words I'm quoting...It's hard enough trying to get through to some of y'all, especially if I have to site huffingtonpost for everything. All I'm trying to do is point out that just because it comes from a site that you don't agree with politicaly, that doesn't make it false...they just happened to find it newsworthy and rebroadcast it. Look at the information and decide, not the site.
July 24, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
he always trys to be modest, but he knows hes going to rock berlin
Video: McCains Daughter doesnt think mccains getting unfair media treatment, media party
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/media-unfair-to-mccain-meghan-mccain-seems-to-differ/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html
July 24, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking that this is going to be epic.
July 24, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just as long as Obama avoids calling them, "Old Europe," it will be a huge improvement on this current Assministration.
July 24, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't even know he had a daughter.
July 24, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
2 Biological, Sidney and Megan, Sidney from his first wife, Megan his second. 2 Biological boys too. Jack and James, both from Cindy. And 1 adopted daughter (Bridget from Bangladesh). He also adopted his first wife's 2 kids back in the 60's.
July 24, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Quite the family man, if you will...
July 24, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I honestly had no idea.
Certainly they haven't been evident in the campaign. All I ever see is that 857 year old dwarf and his Cherry2000 wifedroid.
July 24, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Best said by Mr. Class himself about Obama:
George Clooney - "He possesses the one quality that you cannot teach and you can't learn... He is a leader. He walks into a room and you want to follow him some where, anywhere... I've only seen that a couple of times in my life."
July 24, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is so true. And it shows why the whole "experience" hand is so overplayed.
July 24, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
God you know, there are so many voices that were so loud in '04 that we just aren't hearing from these days: Ann Coulter, Bill O'Lielly - when's the last time O'Lielly got any press for his bullshit?
I've noticed a deafening silence coming from that quarter. And just 4 years ago, no one else could be heard over their screeching.
gloatGLOATgloatGLOATgloatGLOATgloatGLOATgloat...
It's gonna be one hell of a day! :):):)
July 24, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
The last chunk of crazy I remember from Coulter was her assertion a few months back that Bush was a moral giant. She's not exactly a popular person to begin with so you can imagine hitching herself to Bush has only made her more irrelevant in political discourse. My dad thinks Obama is a secret Muslim but still considers her an idiot.
July 24, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am going to get no work done today. HA!
July 24, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know what really bugs me about all this?? How much lower the rep of the US is going to plunge if/when we don't elect Obama because of pure racism on the part of our electorate. Has anyone read this article in the WSJ? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121684823498078481.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news I shudder a some of the quotes and the way they are thinly veiled code for prejudice, some not veiled at all. Obama couldn't be running against a weaker candidate, honestly, McCain is almost like running against no one at all, yet still folks won't be able to get themselves to pull the lever for a black man. (We just got rid of our lever machines here in Pittsburgh last election and boy do I miss them!)
July 24, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well honey, if that happens, whatever the fuck other countries say will be justified.
How can you worry about something like that? If racism keeps Obama out of the White House - well, we'll look exactly as bad as we actually are.
July 24, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was raised to be a worrier. And I'm hoping/praying that we won't prove to be as bad as I fear we are. Don't forget I've been housing (white) college boy Obama staffers here in Pittsburgh for the last 6 months who routinely get called "nigger" when they wear their Obama shirts on the street, by our died-in-the-wool union democrats.
BTW, is the speech going to be televised?
July 24, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama trainiert vor Rede in Fitness-Studio! :)
http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article718250/Obama_trainiert_vor_Rede_in_Fitness_Studio.html
July 24, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
what?
to see obama live at 1PM
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/watch-obama-live-in-germany/
July 24, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
It means they think he's a Rock Star. :)
July 24, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn! This is exciting stuff. I can't help but think this is going to be yet another turning point in this campaign.
July 24, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is the culmination of one hell of a presidential week for Obama. He just looks like he's already president.
This week has to have comforted people who had any concerns over whether he's ready, blah blah blah. The whole week it's been as if he had already been inaugurated.
July 24, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
But the thing is that he's not president nor will he be. He can pimp walk all over the world with his GQ look (only thing missing was a diamond stud in one ear) but that doesn't make him qualified. Seen the polls today? America isn't that stupid. The man is an egotistical buffoon!
July 24, 2008 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink