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| Home Front: Politix |
| Obama promises to 'remake the world' |
| 2008-07-24 |
| Addressing more than 200,000 elated Europeans massed in Berlin at twilight, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama promised Thursday that he would work to unite Christians, Muslims and Jews in a safer, more united world. His 27-minute speech at the gold-topped Victory Column was interrupted by applause at least 30 times, with occasional audience chants of “O-ba-MA!” Billed as a speech about Transatlantic relations, it turned out to be a manifesto for the planet, with an appeal to “the burdens of global citizenship.” Local authorities said the crowd was more than 200,000 — triple Obama's previous record of 70,000 in Portland, Ore. Reaching out to skeptics back home, he heralded “the dream of freedom” and declared firmly: “I love America.” “People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment. This is our time,” he declared, offering himself “not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen, a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world.” Obama’s speech, the centerpiece of his presidential-style sweep of the Middle East and Europe, set a global agenda as expansive and audacious as any contemplated by a candidate for United States president. “In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help us make it right, has become all too common,” he said. “Yes, there have been differences between America and Europe. No doubt, there will be differences in the future. But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together,” Obama continued. “A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more, not less.” Invoking the fall of the Berlin Wall after the historic call by President Ronald Reagan at the nearby Brandenburg Gate, Obama declared that the greatest danger now “is to allow new walls to divide us from one another. “The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand,” he said. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.” In perhaps the most striking passage, Obama asserted: “I know my country has not perfected itself. But I also know how much I love America,” he said. “We are a people of improbable hope. With an eye towards the future, with resolve in our heart, let us remember this history, and answer our destiny, and remake the world once again.” Obama’s sweeping vision also includes: — "This is the moment when we must renew the goal of a world without nuclear weapons." — "This is the moment we must help answer the call for a new dawn in the Middle East." — "America has no better partner than Europe. Now is the time to build new bridges across the globe as strong as the one that bound us across the Atlantic. Now is the time to join together, through constant cooperation, strong institutions, shared sacrifice, and a global commitment to progress, to meet the challenges of the 21st century.” — “My country must stand with yours and with Europe in sending a direct message to Iran that it must abandon its nuclear ambitions.” — “The world should support the millions of Iraqis who seek to rebuild their lives, even as we pass responsibility to the Iraqi government and finally bring this war to a close.” McCain 2008 spokesman Tucker Bounds said in response: "While Barack Obama took a premature victory lap today in the heart of Berlin, proclaiming himself a 'citizen of the world,' John McCain continued to make his case to the American citizens who will decide this election. Barack Obama offered eloquent praise for this country, but the contrast is clear. John McCain has dedicated his life to serving, improving and protecting America. Barack Obama spent an afternoon talking about it." |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #11 Never be surprised when a man's ego overtakes him and he starts to really, truly think it's his way or the highway. Obama's ego is such that he is positioning himself as both the Second Coming of Christ and seems to actually be starting to believe he is the only chance for a new world order. He'll start by unilaterally disarming the US. He'll continue with attempting to disarm the citizenry of the US and by establishing a corps of political commissars and devotees to police this disarming. There will be violence during his rule for he will come to believe he rules by divine right. He already believes he deserves it. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2008-07-24 23:25 |
| #10 |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-07-24 23:00 |
| #9 "Today, Germany; Tomorrow the World!" It helps, like Adolf and the gang found out, to offer free beer, brats and concerts to get the enthusiastic crowd turnouts. |
| Posted by: WTF 2008-07-24 22:48 |
| #8 In His image. Someone had to say it. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-07-24 21:45 |
| #7 The money quote for me: "...the contrast is clear. John McCain has dedicated his life to serving, improving and protecting America. Barack Obama spent an afternoon talking about it." |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-07-24 21:09 |
| #6 I think he realizes he peaked too early for POTUS and has decided to best Tony for EU President. I could never understand why Nixon allowed a third rate burglary to take place (if he did) when it was clear that McGovern could never win. Now I understand. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-07-24 20:50 |
| #5 It's campaign ad filler for the post-Labor Day spots. That is all. |
| Posted by: mrp 2008-07-24 20:45 |
| #4 I enjoyed seeing the World President grin early in his pep rally when someone began that Mooselim tongue wagging chant. I didn't see anyone in the audience over the age of 35 and I don't think the Germans were that excited about his history lesson or his constant references to Africa. With any luck, he'll schedule one of these rallys in Paris, Madrid, Moscow, and Brussels over the coming weeks. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-07-24 20:05 |
| #3 Oh dear, he really is shaping up to be the latest contender for the 'AntiChrist' title. And if I slightly alter his name to Barack(6) Hussei(6) Nobama(6) it fits as well as Mahmou d Ahmad inejad. Maybe we could put them in the ring (of fire) together and get them to fight it out. |
| Posted by: Lumpy Cheack3231 2008-07-24 19:33 |
| #2 Oh, we're stupid enough (not those at the Burg of course). |
| Posted by: remoteman 2008-07-24 18:54 |
| #1 "The world should support the millions of Iraqis who seek to rebuild their lives, even as we pass responsibility to the Iraqi government and finally bring this war to a close." What disgusting weasel words. Parsing them is like nailing jello to the wall. He can spin it to take credit without any blame, yet, if he'd had his way, Saddam would still be "the Iraqi government" and likely very close to possessing nukes. The more I hear from and about this clown the more my reaction goes from wry bemusement to visceral disgust. God help us if we're stupid enough to elect him. |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2008-07-24 17:57 |