Obama in Berlin
At Fran's sort-of-request :)
I don't follow German media all that closely but it hasn't escaped my attention that Obama's upcoming visit is getting considerably more coverage than Bush's trip in June. Sunday newspapers devoted much attention to Obama. Tomorrow, major German TV stations are expected to broadcast Obama's speech live.
Not surprisingly, Chancellor Merkel's statement that Obama should not speak in front of Brandenburg Gate received considerable attention in Germany. While the Chancellor does not decide where in Berlin Obama can or can't hold speeches (the city of Berlin does), Obama understandably did not want to upset Merkel, and the agreed upon solution was to set up the stage not at the gate but close enough that it will be seen in photos and TV shots.
There is some speculation as to why Obama picked Germany to deliver a major speech and hold talks with the Chancellor, while planning relatively low-key visits to France and the UK. I am not going to engage in this speculation.
German media follow the US election campaign quite closely (especially compared to the non-attention German politics gets in the US), hence it's not surprising that the weeklies and magazines are spending a lot of ink on Obama's trip.
The latest issue of Der Spiegel has a cover story on Obama - the title is "Germany meets the Superstar", a riff on "Germany seeks the Superstar", the German version of American Idol. Rather appropriate I thought.
Spiegel Online has an article on Obama's visit, of which I unfortunately can't find an English translation. The title is "Berlin speech has Obama aides worried"; the article talks about a fear of gaffes (especially since Obama is followed by so many US journalists) and Obama's difficult balancing act in pleasing the Europeans without offending Americans and vice versa. After all, it's American votes that Obama needs, not German ones.
Tomorrow we'll know if Obama's German visit was a success... my own gut feeling is that it will be - not that that's worth anything.
I don't follow German media all that closely but it hasn't escaped my attention that Obama's upcoming visit is getting considerably more coverage than Bush's trip in June. Sunday newspapers devoted much attention to Obama. Tomorrow, major German TV stations are expected to broadcast Obama's speech live.
Not surprisingly, Chancellor Merkel's statement that Obama should not speak in front of Brandenburg Gate received considerable attention in Germany. While the Chancellor does not decide where in Berlin Obama can or can't hold speeches (the city of Berlin does), Obama understandably did not want to upset Merkel, and the agreed upon solution was to set up the stage not at the gate but close enough that it will be seen in photos and TV shots.
There is some speculation as to why Obama picked Germany to deliver a major speech and hold talks with the Chancellor, while planning relatively low-key visits to France and the UK. I am not going to engage in this speculation.
German media follow the US election campaign quite closely (especially compared to the non-attention German politics gets in the US), hence it's not surprising that the weeklies and magazines are spending a lot of ink on Obama's trip.
The latest issue of Der Spiegel has a cover story on Obama - the title is "Germany meets the Superstar", a riff on "Germany seeks the Superstar", the German version of American Idol. Rather appropriate I thought.
Spiegel Online has an article on Obama's visit, of which I unfortunately can't find an English translation. The title is "Berlin speech has Obama aides worried"; the article talks about a fear of gaffes (especially since Obama is followed by so many US journalists) and Obama's difficult balancing act in pleasing the Europeans without offending Americans and vice versa. After all, it's American votes that Obama needs, not German ones.
Tomorrow we'll know if Obama's German visit was a success... my own gut feeling is that it will be - not that that's worth anything.
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I think we have to be rooting for a gaffe; there's a great tradition of American politicians making gaffes in Berlin.
Sadly," Ich bin ein Berliner" -- "I am a jelly donut!" has already been taken. So I propose that Barack should say
"Ich bin ein Amerikaner,"
which could mean either "I am an American" or
"I am a frosted cookie."
This might even be more of a gaffe than JFK's jelly donut line. Because, my fellow Americans, you've got to see these frosted cookies.
http://burgersandbratwurst.blogspot.com/2007/03/black-and-white-cookie-meets-amerikaner.html
July 23, 2008 8:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I assume you know this, but what JFK had said was no gaffe, it was proper German. Yes, a "Berliner" can be a jelly donut, but when someone says "I am a New Yorker", they also don't mean they are a weekly magazine.
July 23, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
More to the point, a Berliner is not a jelly donut in Berlin, just as French fries are not call French fries in France.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner#Jelly_doughnut_urban_legend
July 23, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have to admit, I was unaware of these linguistic subtleties. I guess I'm just an American Spectator.
July 23, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
to continue the tangient, my favorite comment on this subject came from Olbermann a few weeks ago when he said that JFK's line was not analagous to standing in Denmark saying "I am a Danish..."
July 23, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would also be an embarassing claim to make in Frankfurt or in Vienna (Wien).
July 23, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Wiener
That is what I'd truly love to be...
July 23, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I am a Bangkok"
July 23, 2008 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for a well researched and concise summary, codegen. You rock
July 23, 2008 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Concise yes, but you may be underestimating my ability to throw together several coherent sounding sentences based on five minutes of Googling. Higher education does teach some useful skills :)
July 23, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please report back after the trip and let us know how the locals received him and how the German media covered it. I have found the German media a little quirky but that could be due to my poor German and/or inept translations.
July 23, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
For some reason I assuming that you are there, codegen. If not, please report back anyway!!
July 23, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm in Germany but not in Berlin. I won't be able to see Obama in person (then again I've never been that much into rock stars) but I can find out easily enough how the German media report on his visit.
July 23, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Die Zeit Online's top story is "In Love with Obama" (in German) and begins, "Barack Obama's well-orchestrated foreign trip is getting applause from all sides while John McCain begs desperately for attention at home."
I'm only worried about the organizational aspects of this thing. Usually an event of this order requires weeks of preparation, but in Berlin they've only had a couple of days.
July 23, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are you an expatrioted US Citizen? Or just a US citizen living abroad?
July 23, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the question was directed at me, I am not a US citizen.
July 23, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, yes it was a question to you Codegen. Reason I asked is that you are in Berlin but you said you don't normally follow German media. And now you say you aren't a US Citizen -- but you are a presence at TPM. This is most unusual and interesting.
It's like if I weren't following US politics but were on a Japanese board.
If I may: do you have a particular connection to the US (e.g. relatives)?
July 23, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
(I'm not in Berlin, but yes I am in Germany)
I am not aware of any US relatives, although I'd be very surprised if I didn't have a few, albeit distant ones. I just happened to work in the US for several years (I was one of them evil H1B people), and by coincidence I am currently working for a US company again. So I talk to Americans practically every day, although usually not about politics.
July 23, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Got it. Interesting! Who knew that the US could be so competitive in Europe. ;-)
I guess this begs the question: why don't you follow German media? Are you not political wrt Germany?
By the way, if this is too personal, I understand. I'm just intrigued by someone who follows foreign media more closely than domestic. Especially since many here feel that the BBC (for example) give better coverage of the US than our own broadcasters!
July 23, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
With today's exchange rate of the dollar, the US is competitive almost everywhere :)
Yes, it's fair to say I'm not political wrt Germany. That may change. I should definitely at least start regularly reading Der Spiegel again.
But US politics definitely has a high entertainment value, aside from impacting practically everyone in the world.
July 23, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, no one yet has ever been able to copy the US entertainment industry, the Hollywood type.
I do think, however, that often there are serious challenges for the entertainment provided by Washington DC. Fortunately, we do remain strong contenders.
July 23, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, our politics do effect everyone.
So much so that I wish we could give the EU a couple of votes in our own Electoral College!
Another neat idea would be for us to join the EU.
If you would take us that is.
July 23, 2008 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forget about gaffes. He's been polishing this speech since he was three.
July 23, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch!!!
July 23, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack's address in Berlin will be fantastic. I have no doubt. He’s proved himself to be a master of nuance and meaning. He has a deeply rooted understanding of the world's dualities and knows how to present these complex notions in ways that resonates with people. This is one of his most important strengths.
He's growing into his full capacity before our eyes, and I beleive he will only get better. It will be history making. He going to be magnificent! I can't wait to see it on Thursday.
July 23, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Woodly,
I haven't read a post I've agreed with line-by-line more in quite a while! I wish I could triple recommend your comment!
I too can't wait. This is going to be Magnificent, Historic.
July 23, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can somebody tell me what time eastern the speech will be broadcast tomorrow? 8 am?
July 23, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's scheduled for 7pm Berlin time so look for it any time after 1am Eastern.
July 24, 2008 12:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Friday, then?
July 24, 2008 12:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep - early hours.
July 24, 2008 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry I stuffed that up. It'll be 1pm eastern on Thursday. Late lunchtime.
July 24, 2008 1:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Appreciate it.
July 24, 2008 3:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Michelle is not on the Obamapalooza tour so she can avoid an international incident like saying, Germany is a downright mean country.
As he remade Berlin in 1939, Hitler moved the Victory Column to its present location. Can't wait to see 300,000 Germans chanting "Heil Barack," tomorrow.
July 23, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks very much Codegen.
"Obama's difficult balancing act in pleasing the Europeans without offending Americans and vice versa. After all, it's American votes that Obama needs, not German ones."
Yes I'm wondering whether he'll be quite so popular over there after he talks about wanting more European troops active in Afghanistan...
Maybe he won't mention it?
July 24, 2008 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
He will mention it, from what I read.
July 24, 2008 2:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
There was a humorous comic in the paper today about Obama's visit. Titled "Americans in Berlin," it showed a panel with JFK saying, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" and below it one with Obama saying, "Ihr seid alle Obamaner!" ("You are all Obamanians!")
Though hopeful about the impact of his visit and speech here, I do have mixed feelings about the scale of the spectacle, and Germans are, as one would expect, particularly sensitive about orchestrated political events of this dimension. But he's a sharp guy and must be aware of this as well, so he'll strike the proper tone, I suspect.
July 24, 2008 8:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone know if the other guy is planning a trip to Europe? Seems as if this will be a hard act for him to follow . . .
July 24, 2008 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink