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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010

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OPINION

Shame on Obama for Skipping Berlin Festivities

By Will McCahill| Posted Oct 19, 09 7:41 PM CDT|

(Newser) – Skipping the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall is a bad choice by President Obama, Rick Richman writes, for several reasons:

It’s a snub of a personal invitation from German Chancellor Angela Merkel—a key ally and one going all out for the festivities.
It’s a chance for Obama to give credit to Presidents Kennedy and Reagan for their role in winning the Cold War—credit he forgot during a campaign speech in Berlin.

It’s “an embarrassment” for the US president not to be at such a momentous gathering, Richman adds in Commentary, cautioning that if Obama doesn’t change his mind on the Nov. 9 party, “history will notice his absence, and the electorate may as well.”
Finally, “it is an opportunity for Obama to give a speech in which he does not apologize for his country but celebrates the triumph of freedom that has been the driving force of American history from its beginning through his own election.”

[Quotes (1)]

The art installation "Vanished Berlin Wall" by Korean artist EunSook Lee is displayed in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Oct. 31, 2007 in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo)

A plaque marks the site of a section of the Berlin Wall. (Wikimedia Commons)

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The American president should be in Berlin on Nov. 9 to celebrate a moment that was a triumph for America as well as Germany. - Rick Richman

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47 comments

VIEWING:

KahunaOmega122
Oct 19, 09 7:45 PM CDT

I honestly can't think of a reason why Obama would skip out on this kind of event. Perhaps he's trying to distance himself from the Cold-War-era politics of his predecessors?...Honestly, I couldn't tell ya. I'm a big supporter, but I don't see why he wouldn't have taken this kind of opportunity. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 19, 09 7:49 PM CDT

He's a douche. That's sums it up.

-19

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Oct 19, 09 7:59 PM CDT

Perhaps he thought the needs of the American people come before other countries and let us all be realistic, no matter if he had gone and waved a little flag or chose as he did to stay home the Right would find fault as they dig to find fault is each and every thing he has done. He should go, he should not go, he pitched for the Olympics, he should not pitch for the Olympics, hell the list could go on forever. Poit is no matter if Obama announced the secret to turning lead into gold tomorrow the Right would fault all things Obama and the trolls will all drop in to whine.

+10

IN RESPONSE:

BoZo
Oct 19, 09 8:16 PM CDT

Yet he has time to plug the chicago olympic bid? Way to go obama yo mama!

-8

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Oct 19, 09 8:28 PM CDT

Mr. Jay is being highly insincere. He knows for a fact that if Mr. Obama were to go, the holy reich wing would come down on Obama like they did with the Olympics, like they will when he accepts the Nobel, like any time Obama leaves homeland soil and lands on foreign soil that isn't the Middle East. Hell, they might even do it then.

IN RESPONSE:

proud_prude
Oct 19, 09 8:42 PM CDT

Ridiculous claptrap. The war hawks at Cornrnentary would criticize any credit given to Kennedy-- and no rnatter what was said they would bitch about Obarna for not giving Reagan enough credit for (supposedly) single-handedly ending the Cold War and saving Western Civilization certain destruction. The great thing about having Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State is that she's got rnore than enough star power to stand in for the POTUS on any occasion.

IN RESPONSE:

I_hate_to_say
Oct 19, 09 11:00 PM CDT

If our President's request for increased support in the Afghanistan effort had been treated with greater support by Frau Merkel, perhaps he would have been quicker to accept such an invitation.

IN RESPONSE:

Rocket448
Oct 19, 09 11:49 PM CDT

Parent-teacher conferences. Trump.

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 12:25 AM CDT

Love the fact that Jay got so many thumbs down and the equally negative, but with a bit of panache guy got so many thumbs up. You guys are proving that like the Fox you hate so much that you respond to emotion and not facts. Boy, are we screwed.

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 12:29 AM CDT

Because he's a douche. I voted for him and it pains me to say that. It took twenty years to realize my ex was a douche. He can't even pretend to give a good God damn if it doesn't involve all the corps who gave him all the money to get elected. I better never hear another thing about racism. Obama, like Nixon proves that ambition and greed share no color or creed.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Thinker
Oct 19, 09 7:55 PM CDT

Can you imagine Fox's commentary and criticism if Obama did go to Germany? Let's see, how could Fox possibly twist that story to stir up the right-wing rabble-rousers? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

UrUndertaker
Oct 19, 09 8:01 PM CDT

No twisting needed, just look at little Jays typical troll reply and see exactly how the Right reacts. Jay does it out of racial bias but the rest are no better

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 19, 09 8:05 PM CDT

I would despise him if he were white too.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

BoZo
Oct 19, 09 8:17 PM CDT

He is half white jay.

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 19, 09 8:22 PM CDT

Uh, we're all aware that he's a half & half.

-4

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 12:35 AM CDT

If you never watch Fox again then your comment makes sense. The fact that you do--to see what they're gonna say is why they say it. If everyone in this country stopped the cable TV for a week? You'd change the country. But you can't. You hate Fox but you can't stop for one solid week because you want to feel righteously pissed. Well, imagine if you were a soldier at Valley Forge? A week? They went months with no shoes in a blizzard so you could watch a Beck that you hate. I bet that they wouldn't be so happy about that.

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Oct 20, 09 7:41 PM CDT

Quite doubt it Jayster999.

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Oct 19, 09 8:03 PM CDT

Why doesn't Richman ask The President himself? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Oct 19, 09 8:31 PM CDT

Because that's way too easy.

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Oct 19, 09 8:40 PM CDT

Maybe Barry doesn't celebrate the fall of communism. Reply

-10

IN RESPONSE:

proud_prude
Oct 19, 09 8:46 PM CDT

Perhaps you secretly pray to Beelzebub each night before you drift of to enjoy your wet drearns about Hannity, Lirnbaugh & Beck.

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 19, 09 8:54 PM CDT

Proud_prude FTW.

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 12:38 AM CDT

Maybe Barry could give a rat's ass about the communism that fell trying to fund a war in Afghanistan. Giddy-up.

| 0 minutes ago

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 19, 09 8:56 PM CDT

Barack should go to this event. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 12:45 AM CDT

Goggle Wilson. Too smart is almost as bad as too dumb. Hilary a woman who was smart and could take action was trounced by a nincompoop, but like in 1865 a black man got the right to vote before a white woman and you guys would vote for a black man before a woman. Well, hah. How's that working for you? How much was your stimulus check this month?

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 20, 09 10:41 AM CDT

Like it would have been any different with Hilary. I voted for Barack because I knew that he would have standed more of a chance of winning than Hilary against a Republican opponent. I also felt that Barack's approach to policy and engagement is far more cohesive and uniting that Hilary's no holds barred aggressive approach. She is a wonderful politician, but not for me. I really don't get what idiot point you're trying to make. Why am I even responding to you?

| 0 minutes ago

DAB
Oct 19, 09 9:18 PM CDT

The Olympics trip was actually to try to accomplish something ... and he got slammed for it. And now conservatives want him to go to a 20-year anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down? Please. That's such an invented "event." Nice photo ops, but in what way would such a trip advance a single benefit for the U.S. or the world at large? Can't think of one. When it comes to the 20th anniversary of the Wall coming down (which I remember, and by which I was moved at the time), this is one of those that's better to watch on DVD than go to the theater to see. Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

bsmenot
Oct 20, 09 6:31 AM CDT

PHOTO OPTS!!!! INVENTED!!! YOUR PATHETIC!!!! It was important enough for him to campain there. If you can't see the benefit of him going your stupid too!

IN RESPONSE:

bsmenot
Oct 20, 09 7:11 AM CDT

The 171 people were killed or died attempting to escape at the Berlin Wall between August 13, 1961 and November 9, 1989 do not care about photo opts. A country divided for 40 years do not find it invented. A city divided for 29 years does not feel that they should stay home and watch it on DVD. You watched at the time and were moved ...whoop-dee-do. I lived it and 82,369,552 people living in Germany today were affected by it. They do not take this as lightly as you do. The benefit to go....how about respect! How about showing we care! How about not to offend 82,369,552 people. People like you piss me off! The world is bigger than you little computer and your little mind!

IN RESPONSE:

Libgirl
Oct 20, 09 7:47 AM CDT

Ouch....Guess a nerve was hit. Like they say DAB...don't bring a knife to a gun fight

| 0 minutes ago

Enoughie
Oct 19, 09 9:31 PM CDT

Maybe instead of erecting strawmen with the typical "how would Fox News exploit this if.." you consider the reality at hand, or do you think Obama is beyond criticism? I did notice that words like "liberty" or "freedom" are very rarely uttered by our president... I just hope he does not prefer the path of peace (with Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, etc.) in exchange for the subjugation of hundreds of millions... Reply

IN RESPONSE:

I_hate_to_say
Oct 19, 09 9:45 PM CDT

I for one had my fill of the freedom/liberty/"terror" mantra during the last eight years. As for the false choice of peace vs. subjugation of hundreds of millions-- which of the named countries do you believe we should declare war on first?

IN RESPONSE:

Enoughie
Oct 19, 09 9:55 PM CDT

Sorry hate-to-say, but I prefer "peace with strength" to "peace at all costs," which you seem to favor. This country was build on the ideals that ALL PEOPLE were created equal, and endowed with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I would like to see our country live up to these ideas (preferably through non-violence). Just because our last president led us into the dark ages doesn't mean that we should abandon our ideals.

IN RESPONSE:

Toon
Oct 20, 09 12:58 AM CDT

I prefer a President who uses diplomacy over one that mouths the words but spends their time starting needless wars. At least whoever goes isn't going to show up in tennis shoes and a parka.

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 1:12 AM CDT

Great point I hate to say--China? They hold ALL our debt. Russia? No Russia anymore, and they hold the debt that China doesn't . North Korea? What? Laugh. Their people are starving to build the missile we built in '54. Iran? They are a theocracy which if you read your Plato you'd know is not a big deal. We need to fear only one thing--the guy with the money who is nuts. I think we know his name. But, if we'd killed him in 2001 when he was in our sites? Well, what would our economy be like now? Stop pointing those fingers cause they all come back to you and your drones and computers for every NCO and gym equipment helicoptered into Kabul. Idiot. You are the thing that the world fears. Quick--who dropped a nuke and vaporized people? Quick--who's got nukes that they got from us and now are vulnerable to the few who hate us? Still living in that Cold War that sealed our fate.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Fondue
Oct 19, 09 9:38 PM CDT

Here's a proposal for you Conservatives; how about we re-elect "Barry" for a second term and he can go to a more monumental 25th anniversary in 2013? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

I_hate_to_say
Oct 19, 09 9:48 PM CDT

I'm with you on that Fondue, and on most things.

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 12:48 AM CDT

Hell's bells, Fondue. We're all gonna be dead in 2012.

IN RESPONSE:

Toon
Oct 20, 09 1:05 AM CDT

Deebles, my calendar ends in December so maybe their won't even be a 2010. Why do the conservatives so influenced by the so-called Christian right have their patties in a twist over a Mayan calendar which only bothered to work out the dates a few centuries into the future? Few of us use calendars more than twelve months long.

| 0 minutes ago

BBT
Oct 19, 09 11:11 PM CDT

Who the hell cares about the 20th anniversary of anything? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

QueenAlli
Oct 19, 09 11:42 PM CDT

Doesn't he have to go to Copenhagen for climate change? Then he has to go to Oslo to accept his Nobel Peace Prize. He's got a few elections coming up, we are just now merging the health care bill, etc. It's too much man. Sit there whoever you are in your jammies dissing my president. he does more than you can handle in a lifetime. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

deebles
Oct 20, 09 12:54 AM CDT

Poor Queen Ali. Like a chick who marries a guy who swats her in the face and she just can't accept it. You should remember what Washington said about political parties that people would gravitate toward one or the other and lose all sense. I need you to tell me right now, this instant what he's done in that verrrrrry long day that benefitted you at all. And I'm more liberal than you.

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Oct 20, 09 3:22 AM CDT

If he'd gone to Berlin he'd be in trouble for gallivanting. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

bsmenot
Oct 20, 09 6:14 AM CDT

I was at the wall in Berlin and watched Kennedy's speech as a small boy. I remember the hope in the people there. A few short months later I watched his funeral on TV (first time ever watching TV). I still remember the despair and sorrow of everyone around me. Later I saw Reagan stand at that wall (this time on TV in the states) an saw the same kind of hope in the people that the wall would come down. My personal feeling is that the German people would feel very offended if Obama didn't show up. I also believe that those that think the "right" would bash him for it are wrong as long as he does not use it as a forum to apologize for the US or say something stupid like "the wall coming down was due to the power of the world coming together". It had to do with years of cold war and Americas economic pressures on the Soviets. The whole world was at odds and at the brink of nuclear war. No coming together about it. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Oct 20, 09 7:11 PM CDT

The POTUS can go in 2012-- I'm sure the volks will forgive him.

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Oct 20, 09 7:23 PM CDT

In a recent poll only 46 percent of Germans in the former communist east said their personal situation had improved. That number was as high as 71 percent in 1989. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

bsmenot
Oct 21, 09 6:38 AM CDT

I like someone that checks the facts before they post. Kudos kokuaguy. However at the fall of the DGR you had a merging of one of the worlds best economies and one of the worst. It took 40+ years to create two different societies. It will probably take longer to merge back into one. During the unification however several thousand families kept apart by a wall and a fenced in boarder were also able to re-unite. I would still be willing to bet that very few German's would like to go back to the old ways. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

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