Obama Speech in Berlin: A Disappointment

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Markus Schlegel, I like this story. Great to hear a reaction from Germany.

Like it or not there is nothing but fluff possible in election posturing.  Obama cannot say how he is going to accomplish these things until he is in the Whitehouse and has established himself and loyal staff.

The way the US electoral "system" "works" he would be a fool to say more, even if he actually had a plan yet.

He is simply stating his intentions, and noble intentions they are!

See additional NP coverage here.

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Markus Schlegel, What do people expect from Obama? Substance? Good luck waiting...

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Markus Schlegel, I like this story. It's good stuff. The speech was well written and well spoken.  That is where Obama shines.  At the same time, he is a candidate (although his staffers keep saying, "when a president makes a speech" or "when a president travels to" )  and must be careful what he says to not set policy.  He can do polcy speaeches of he is elected.  I have heard reports that several times news reporters had to remind the Obama staff that Obama is not the president.  There seems to be some confusion by the staff that there is a general election.  I know you were looking for Obama to make policy changes, but he is unable to do so at this time.

I heard the who speech and thought is was good based on the situation.

Some answers. This is not intended as a fully blown news piece. Imagine it as a first comment and reaction.

I am an Obama supporter, so I am sympathetic, but his speech was simply not substancial enough, since it was expected to be a speech setting out policies. In German electoral campaigns, cadidtate at least give a minimal idea of what they intend to do.

If Obama would only be 'allowed' to give policy influencing statements once elected, what are voters supposed to base their decision on? Emotion is not always a good sole counsel.

Obama is an empty suit carrying an empty suitcase...

“The American people are slow to wrath, but when their wrath is once kindled it burns like a consuming flame.” TR

Vote for Theodore Roosevelt in "08"

Couldn't agree more. I think the Gettysburg Address would have been much better if Lincoln had had a Powerpoint presentation and a five-point action plan.

Obama was very careful in his speech almost too careful giving out inspiring words but with no specific policies. Here in America, the media particularly the conservative media has blasted him more than occasion for giving out public addresses talking as if he was already the President so hence the caution in his speech. 

But I'm sure if he does get elected we can get a more substantive address from him but you are right though that there should have a bit more even a hint of his planned  international policies, he was just a bit too careful. 

Even the small segment of his speech where he mentions that "America has not always done right" which is absolutely true is now all over the American news and being questioned. The media here is obtuse how can you criticize someone from speaking the something that is true. 

haha

The notion that a man stupid enough to believe that he can do something to change the climate or that CO2 is a climate factor could be president scares the hell out of me!

Worse yet there are people dumb enough to vote for him!

Here is a link to a transcript of the senator's speech. 

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Markus Schlegel, I like this story. It's good stuff.

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Markus Schlegel, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Obama still supports War. This is what Karen provided. Thanks Karen.

I don't support Obama, he is the same as Bush, a Warhawk.

I support The International Institute of Nonviolence.

Obama said:

This is the moment when we must defeat terror and dry up the well of extremism that supports it. This threat is real and we cannot shrink from our responsibility to combat it. If we could create NATO to face down the Soviet Union, we can join in a new and global partnership to dismantle the networks that have struck in Madrid and Amman; in London and Bali; in Washington and New York. If we could win a battle of ideas against the communists, we can stand with the vast majority of Muslims who reject the extremism that leads to hate instead of hope.

This is the moment when we must renew our resolve to rout the terrorists who threaten our security in Afghanistan, and the traffickers who sell drugs on your streets. No one welcomes war. I recognize the enormous difficulties in Afghanistan. But my country and yours have a stake in seeing that NATO's first mission beyond Europe's borders is a success. For the people of Afghanistan, and for our shared security, the work must be done. America cannot do this alone. The Afghan people need our troops and your troops; our support and your support to defeat the Taliban and al Qaeda, to develop their economy, and to help them rebuild their nation. We have too much at stake to turn back now.

Better to offer the Taliban and Alqaida a way to work together so help stop the war, and bring peoples together. Better to find a way to bring communication so we can learn the different culture ideals. This is how we learn and grow.....Not goofy talk about war, and guns. I can not support Obama and his misguided War talk. He is another crazy American.

that was a very good speech, and this shows how he is prepared to market America to the world not in a bad way as the current administration has done but in a good way, a way that will see America once again at its full strenght.

Apparently there are Germans, and other Euopeans, who were disappointed by Obama's speech in Berlin, remarking that it was poetic, but short on details.  If they learn one thing about Obama it is that he paints with a broad  brush, inviting the people to come up with solutions.  If they learned anything from Hitler it should have been that they, the German people, need to stay engaged and not look to a leader to solve their problems for them-solve them yourselve, Germany.  When an American leader speaks of tearing down walls of fear, discrimination, intollerance, you had better listen-it hasn't been that long since Germany was to poster child for fear, discrimintaion, intollerance and, yes, genocide.

So, listen and allow yourselve to be inspired to take action rather than superficially snipe at what he had to say.

I'd wager that Jesus would have received a similar reaction.

These last 12 hours or so since the Obama speech have been difficult for me.

I must admit, despite so desperately wishing to see change in the US, I was not so sure whether Obama could deliver it. But I could not quite put my hand on it what I was missing. After waking up, I think I know.

Obama's speech was a motivational speech. To be a policy speech, it lacked substance, and the answer to that all important question: "How are we gonna do it?"

As a motivational speech, it apparently touched on too many issues, and that blurred the message. Take the mother of all motivational speeches: "I have a dream" by MLK. It touched on one issue: End race segregation. Full stop. That is why MLK will be set in stone forever.

Obama, I am sorry to say, touched on too many issues, so the fire of motivaion never really began to burn for me.

And yes, I wish for fine weather tomorrow, too. For everyone, around the world.

Well, I am glad that the writer and some comments pointing to the "lack of substance" and the "obvious" in Obama speech.

Lack of substance,  is voting for a repeat administration that does just the opposite: building walls between cultures, raising fear for political agenda and off course, making you think every time you have to travel because you cant afford and you are affraid.

So it's "old cliche" to talk about these things, while at the same you celebrate the likes of activists that promoted human dignity and brought common values to the mix.

Usually old dying people develop a cynical approach to life values (as they know their time is up) and usually regard "hope" as a romantic and unrealistic value, only interest matters and human values are only a proxy and a mean to an end.

What exactly that he said that you have been promoting? what exact subjects would you like your next president to be accountable for? peace or savagery that infest our world unseen since ww2? what exactly is "fluffy"? your cynical attitude or his words? Actually do you hope that gaz prices come down so you can have lower bills or that 90% of the world population to have minimum heat so their brains can function and raise children with a common value? (i.e hope for the future) Question: how much again was the price of a barrel 8 years ago? yes 18$!

It is sad and indicative how the likes of this superficial opinion misses the point and is scared to look back and admit that "we have been fighting everyone", we have mocked Europeans, excluded them and next thing you know someone like you turns it into a platonic rhetoric. It's all too clear that you are bathing so much into the concept of "hate" that anything that tries to looks outside is just " banal and fade".

What is dangerous are the replies that are a continuation of fascists spirit by other means.

george

Obama the Liar for Change. He does not know what change is.

I am sorry to say, but I think there is little use in the Obama supporters now going hysterical after having had an Administration that was hysterical.

I find comparisons between Obama and Christ - as I understood one earlier post - little helpful. Nowhere in the Holy Bible do I recall a quote saying that the Saviour would return in a white blue flying coach saying "Change".

To be quite honest, with all due enthusiasm, Obama is not a religion. I understand and share the desparation over the current US administration, but as a German I think blind support for anyone is to be avoided.

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Markus Schlegel, I like this story. It's good stuff.

As the volunteer for the Obama campaign who posted the article on my experience - I completely agree with your comments on "blind support"

There are times where I personally think that there's too much placed on Obama's shoulders - and too much looking at him as if he's the messiah.

Realistically, I know that Obama - with a great staff of advisors - can bring about a change in Washington and around the world - but only because he will look at things with fresh eyes, and perhaps have new ideas from a differing life experience than most of the elected officials on capitol hill.  In many respects, Obama leaves it up to us - the people who are willing to show up, volunteer and take charge - to do what needs to be done.  Even the campaign staff simply explains the job, tells us the basics - says "be nice, be polite" and get what needs to be done - done.  We know you're not stupid - and we know that you'll do your best. 

Yes, I too noticed that once Obama did not delve into specifics in his speech.  However, in this case - historically speaking - I didn't really expect him to.  The main ajenda - in my opinion - was to use Berlin as a backdrop showing Unity 20 years after the wall fell, and how far Berlin has come since the Templehof airdrops and the building of the wall.  I hope and believe that the campaign realized (this being what I was hearing from the volunteer staff who kept repeating that "we know there are NOT alot of native English speakers coming today" so make sure you always have at least one person who speaks different languages with you) that getting into some of the more complex issues as a dissertation were perhaps a bit off putting for those with limited English.  

If you actually want more details on Obama's platforms, and his ideas and policies - I would recommend that you (or anyone else) check Obama's website.  There he delves into alot more details on policies and what he plans to do as well as ideas on how he plans to do it.  Granted alot of it is domestic type policy -but it might help answer some of the questions you are asking. 

http://www.barackobama.com

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and impressions!