Obama flunks history, again
posted at 10:24 am on July 20, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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After receiving a hailstorm of criticism for considering Brandenburg Gate for a public speech, as well as official German dissuasion, Barack Obama moved the venue to the Siegessäule monument. Obama will speak about “historic” US-German relations, but once again, Obama’s own grasp of history has been proven deficient. Not only does the site contain a monument to Prussian victories over other American allies in Europe, its placement was decided by Adolf Hitler — in order to impress crowds in his idealized version of Berlin called Germania:
Still, even as the issue of his speech’s location has now been settled, a number of politicians in Berlin are still dissatisfied with the site. The Siegessäule — or Victory Column — was erected in memory of Prussia’s victories over Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870/71). The column originally stood in front of the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament building, but was moved by Adolf Hitler to its current location in 1939 to make way for his planned transformation of Berlin into the Nazi capital “Germania.”
“The Siegessäule in Berlin was moved to where it is now by Adolf Hitler. He saw it as a symbol of German superiority and of the victorious wars against Denmark, Austria and France,” the deputy leader of the Free Democrats, Rainer Brüderle, told Bild am Sonntag. He raised the question as to “whether Barack Obama was advised correctly in his choice of the Siegessäule as the site to hold a speech on his vision for a more cooperative world.”
Andreas Schockenhoff of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats said, “the Siegessäule in Berlin is dedicated to a victory over neighbors who are today our European friends and allies. It is a problematic symbol.”
Hitler didn’t just move the monument to its more central location. He had a taller column built for it as well, to emphasize its message of German military domination over Europe. He saw it as a message to Germans of their destiny — as well as to other Europeans as their destiny as well. It was never meant as a symbol of peaceful, multicultural co-existence.
Team Obama has outdone themselves on symbolism with this choice. They’ve managed to make their hosts uncomfortable for a second time with their choice of rallying point, and perhaps more so this time. If one wanted to talk peace, what worse location could one choose than Adolf Hitler’s favorite monument to militaristic domination? One has to wonder how France, Denmark, and Austria will feel about Obama rallying German masses under the Siegessäule. Deja vu?
Obama could be excused for his gaffe, except for two reasons. His team certainly understood the historical weight that the Brandenburg Gate would have lent his event, so why didn’t they bother to ask the Germans about the Siegessäule? Quite obviously, the Germans understand the meaning and subtext of the monument, and most of them wonder why Obama does not. Maybe this is a better example of clueless Americans traveling abroad than those who can only say Merci, beaucoup.
The more basic question is why Obama feels the need to conduct a campaign event among Germans. Meeting with foreign leaders makes sense for a man with no foreign policy experience whatsoever, but that doesn’t require massive rallies among people who aren’t voting in this election. In his rush to look impressive for no one’s purposes but his own, Obama has made himself look ignorant and arrogant all over again.
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Dog, I ask for another example because the one you cite is ludicrous. And since you have no other, it proves a point I’m about to make.
Obama misspeaking about there being “57 states” becomes basis for the statement “but Obama & company have shown themselves to be quite lacking in geographical knowledge before.”
The really funny thing about the 57 state thing is that for a brief moment on Hot Air, when the “story” first broke, up on the news headline section was something along the lines of:
“Yep, he’s tired…” linking to that story. The first instinct of who ever posted that was a sane and rationale one. But it quickly disappeared and a story questioning whether Obama really does know if there are 57 states showed up… the fabrication had begun.
Now because Ed makes the assumption that Obama does not know the history of the monument, it will now be cited as an example of Obama’s lack of historical knowledge… even though there is ZERO evidence Obama did not know the history of the monument prior to choosing it.
It’s all one big fabrication.
Tom_Shipley on July 20, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Tom_Shipley on July 20, 2008 at 11:17 AM: LEAVE BRITTANY, I MEAN, OBAMA ALONE!! (with tears streaming down his mascara stained face)
Troy Rasmussen on July 20, 2008 at 11:48 AM
On the thread which treated of the 57 states gaffe, a poster mentioned that there are 57 Islamic States. Obama’s early education would have included that fact, so it is possible that the number “57″ and the word “states”, used in a sentence, caused the confusion.
OldEnglish on July 20, 2008 at 11:49 AM
That’s why I don’t get worked up anymore when I see obvious media bias. Let Obama get the spotlight and adulation. Politically its not worth anything. I think the reason why it somewhat bothers me because of the journalistic ethic of objectivity. Other than that the media doesn’t win elections for you.
terryannonline on July 20, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Let’s get out from the tall grass and back to the key question:
Don’t you think it’s a bad idea for candidates (any of them) to give political speeches overseas? That it, among other issues, presents major problems for the host government that wants to appear neutral?
Imagine a candidate for office in a foreign country coming here and using the monuments at Pearl Harbor or Iwo Jima Memorial to make a political speech. We’d wouldn’t be too happy.
The key issue, again, is that going overseas and making a speech during a campaign is just a flat out poor idea.
For Obama or McCain or any candidate of either party.
SteveMG on July 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Tom,
I feel halfway ‘qualified’ to answer this. I lived in Germany for 7 years, a big city and a small rural town. While I can not speak specifically about the column I can say “with AUTHORITY” than anything to do with Hitler is almost verboten to the general public. It is not spoken about, not taught in any detail, and best forgotten and ignored. Remember, Mein Kampf is illegal there still! There was, in fact, a huge brouhaha made when some local German workers bought a copy in the post bookstore. The German government tried to demand that it be removed from all US libraries and bookstores. They long ago stopped glorifing this man (except for the neo-Nazis of course) and nearly all would rather forget he ever was a part of their history. I’m not sure what your Google search brought up regarding how the ‘average’ German feels, but I know they understand the significance of this and how it plays into a history much rather forgotten.
dustoffmom on July 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Don’t forget, from the NSDAP platform:
Is there any doubt at all that Hitler and the Nazos were left-wing loons?
misterpeasea on July 20, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Remember the leftist hate fest when Dan Quayle mis-spelled potatoe?
I love the irony of the leftist candidate getting beaten like a bongo drum by the centuries-old liberal meme of “my opponent is stupid!”
jeff_from_mpls on July 20, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Obama suffers from the messiah syndrome.
Zorro on July 20, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Don’t you think it’s a bad idea for candidates (any of them) to give political speeches overseas? That it, among other issues, presents major problems for the host government that wants to appear neutral?
Doesn’t bother me. Germans obviously have allowed him to do so. I believe they also are offering an invitation to McCain.
Imagine a candidate for office in a foreign country coming here and using the monuments at Pearl Harbor or Iwo Jima Memorial to make a political speech. We’d wouldn’t be too happy.
We’ll see how hostile the crowd is when he makes his speech on Thursday.
Tom_Shipley on July 20, 2008 at 11:54 AM
If Obama does know the history of the monument, then it’s a strange choice. It represents the victories of Prussian nationalism and militarism over it’s neighbors and the resulting unification of modern Germany under Prussia rather than Austria. It’s also a little bit tainted by the Nazi relocation and more glorious re-build that was part of the plans for the supercity “Welthauptstadt Germania”.
Obama has more of an internationalist, soft-diplomacy message that resonates much better with the Germans of today. I’m not sure how he will effectively work the history of Prussian nationalism and militarism into his speech. I think he picked it because it looks cool, but we’ll see I suppose.
BTW, I’ve been interested in German history for years, and Albert Speer’s role in particular, so I’m not just winging this for the sake of picking on Obama.
forest on July 20, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Re
I’m seeing this in this haven for Dems where I live. These are hardcore libs but they are making more jokes and comments than us right wingers would think about and they are always along the lines of Barry being quite “full of himself” when he has no experience and his redistribution of wealth mantra. By this time in the past, there would be a sea of BO signs and bumper stickers…nary a one. That said, I thought folks would never fall for Kerry or Gore’s BS but look how close that came.
Dingbat63 on July 20, 2008 at 11:56 AM
This morning on FNS Chris Wallace asked Senator Bayh-bye why Obama was holding a political rally in Germany. Wallace understood him talking to Merkle but not the reasoning behind the rally.
Senator Bayh-bye: “I want to get back to Iraq. Senator Obama is committed to victory there.”
I say let him. Let him do one in Rome, and Athens. Stockholm, and Leon. Fill up soccer stadiums and let the man make his case. Let the American people see just how poopular he is with our cousins across the pond. (Just don’t cut into ‘Wife Swap’ or ‘Let’s Make a Deal’). You go for it Barry!
Limerick on July 20, 2008 at 11:56 AM
dustoffmom on July 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Yeah, I’m sure German’s don’t like many things “Hitler,” but how do they feel about this monument in particular. Do they associate it with Hitler or with their Prussian past? Do you know how they feel specifically about this monument?
Tom_Shipley on July 20, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Is it possible there could be some Clintonistas in the Obamessiah campaign staff? This stuff is just too good to be true.
Either that, or the microchip is malfunctioning.
eaglesdontflock on July 20, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Your missing the point, Tom. Obama should know of the historical significance of the places he chooses to campaign. If he does and still speaks there, then he has to take the flack for it. If he doesn’t know of the significance and still speaks there, then we have another instance of poor judgment from the Great Junior Senator from Illinois, and he has to take flack for speaking there. Do you really believe that if the tables were reversed, and McCain was speaking there, that the Left wouldn’t scream in outrage? It’s a symbol of Hitler’s Nazi supremacist dream.
Troy Rasmussen on July 20, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Actually, I’m with you there. It really doesn’t bother me either. If the Germans are allowing him to do it, then so be it. However, I don’t think the rally is going to amount much accept as a show that he has fans in Germany.
terryannonline on July 20, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Tom, you’ve been faithfully defending your man Barrack for some time now, but the essence of your defences seems to be that we just maybe might be kinda wrong, not that he is right.
Let’s cut to the chase; provide me with some meat about Barrack. Convince me to vote for him. Tell me of his moral foundation. Cite examples of his experience and leadership that qualify him to be the leader of the US. Keep in mind that “hope and change” is not meat; it is at best flatulence.
Patrick S on July 20, 2008 at 12:01 PM
I’m going to have to disagree with you Steve. I think the context is important. For instance, if the current President of France came to the U.S. and went to Pearl Harbor and delivered a political speech about freedom and liberty and the importance of U.S./European relations then I think most people would cheer.
Troy Rasmussen on July 20, 2008 at 12:02 PM
What interest would we have in what Germans think of Him?
If that’s what you care about then just poll Germans. Why the public display of Germans listening to a US Presidential candidate giving a campaign speech?
I think the Founders would have been a little miffed at this, seeing how they went out of their way to make sure that American politics are kept free of foreign meddling. I consider it to be unconstitutional, myself. I know the general explanation that they are speaking to ex-pats, but we all know that’s a crock. And the fact-finding BS wouldn’t fly with anyone whose IQ is north of 57, which happens to capture even 73% of the Left.
Personally, I think that Senators and Congressmen should have to resign their positions if they are going to run for President. Keeping their seats only proves how useless they are in those positions, anyway – which applies to ALL in this race.
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Oh, I’ve no doubt they will be out in force in adoration! Again, your ‘average’ German still thinks JFK was almost literally the second coming and without a moment’s hesitation will proclaim him the greatest US President ever! And since Obama seems to fancy himself the ‘2nd JFK’ and so models his campaing and oratory after him…..well, he is just what they have been hoping for. I am not a bit surprised that the Deutsch population is enamoured of BHO.
dustoffmom on July 20, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Notice how the slippery leftist shifts the standard, “what do the people of Germany think about that monument today.”
Now in the case of the Confederate Flag, the slippery leftist sez “I don’t care how they view the flag today, what did it mean to the South back then?”
Pay attention to these subtle things. Leftists are not men of reason, they’re men of action. They believe what needs to be believed at the moment to further their militant goals.
jeff_from_mpls on July 20, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Is BaTalk Obama going to demonstrate his embarrassment of being a one-language American? Or did he check out German for Dummies before flying out?
Limerick on July 20, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I hope Obama gets lots of coverage of his speech in Germany. Nothing irritates most normal Americans more than poseurs like him who pay more attention to foreign opinion than to that of Americans, and who, in this case, can’t find time in their busy schedule to debate their opponent in front of Americans.
It is a shame we don’t have people traveling with Obama whose job it is to ask him tough questions, like why he won’t debate at home while he makes speeches in Germany, and report the answers back to us. Hey, you could call such people “reporters”! Shame we don’t have any people that do that.
drunyan8315 on July 20, 2008 at 12:03 PM
misterpeasea @ 11:51 AM
There shouldn’t be. Any political party calling itself the ‘Socialist Workers Party’ is way left of center.
fluffy on July 20, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Believe I addressed that question at the start of my original post Tom.
dustoffmom on July 20, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Is the dumb-ass even on the right continent???
byteshredder on July 20, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Okay Tom, since you insist:
Afghans do not speak Arabic.
Not enough though huh Tom?
Same day: putting Auschwitz in western Germany, not Poland.
Still not enough right Tom? Like I said for a believer, it’s never enough.
TheBigOldDog on July 20, 2008 at 12:09 PM
If we’re still looking for geographical ignorance from Obama, how about the war in Irag taking away all the Arabic translators from where they are really needed–Afghanistan.
mikeinamman on July 20, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I doubt that the mayor of Berlin will allow anti-MESSiah groups to attend.
thekingtut on July 20, 2008 at 12:11 PM
I’m voting for Obama because of a few reasons.
One, his reason. He is a thoughtful man. He has a more rationale and reasoned outlook to diplomacy and foreign policy… most notably speaking with our enemies.
I believe he will be firm in the face of aggression, but not overuse our might like the past administration and perhaps McCain (though I think McCain would be more reasoned in his use of the military as well).
In terms of Iraq, I think there will be a pretty big difference between he and McCain in that, Obama will press for withdrawal. I don’t think he’ll do so irresponsibly, but he will act on the premise to leave Iraq rather than McCain acting on the premise we will have a large presence there for years.
To me, he also seems to me to a problem solver. I’m a believer that the middle of the road is the path to A) enlightenment and B) political action in the US. I think Obama will be much like Clinton in his ability to work with both sides in getting things done.
I generally like much of what he’d like to do. I think his tax policies will benefit the middle class and those at retirement age. I think he’ll be a mover on helping assure we can adapt to dwindling resources and helping to decrease our negative impact on the environment.
Tom_Shipley on July 20, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Even if they do extend it, I hope that he would have the good sense to decline. He is not running to be the president of the EU.
Squid Shark on July 20, 2008 at 12:15 PM
I’m waiting to see whether Obama is able to do what he needs to do in order to help himself win the election (give a lot of pro-America speeches) instead of what we all know he wants to do (pander to European feelings of superiority with criticism of American foreign policy). He’ll undoubtedly try to do a little of both (”I want to make America great, like it used to be”) but, like most lefties, he’s going to have a hard time keeping his reflexive anti-Americanism all bottled up.
Should be fun to watch.
Infidoll on July 20, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Prove it. Name one intelligent thing he’s ever said. Not something that you like (such as speaking with our enemies) but a truly intelligent thought that you heard and you said to yourself, “Damn! That’s brilliant! I never would have thought of that.”
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Same here in western, rural TN…..this is pure ‘redneck’ die hard Democrat land where i am and goodness, last election my street was a virtual minefield of Kerry signs! They were everywhere, now, nary a sign to be found. No Obama stickers, pins, anything. Several ‘old timers’ have told me they have never voted for a Rep in their lives, and won’t now, but that for the first time as well, they won’t be voting. The most common joke I heard during the primaries, and I heard it every where, was that it looked like whichever Dem won the nomination we were for sure going to have a ‘varmit in the White House, either a ***** or a *****. You can fill in the blanks. And the press we hear about the monumental support he is getting with the college crowds……we’ll see just how many of them actually get out of bed and go vote. Historically, no matter the interest, very few. This is not a lock here in my little corner of the world, not by a long shot.
dustoffmom on July 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM
As long as he remembers to say “merci beaucoup” he’ll be fine.
Stephen Macklin on July 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM
That’s why Dim-sponsored (and taxpayer supported) groups like ACORN are out committing fraudulent voter registrations by the thousands in multiple states. Gotta sign up those Dim voters any way they can — who cares if they’re dead, made-up, etc.?
I doubt if Obama’s advance people will either.
AZCoyote on July 20, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Troy:
Sure, Presidents/Prime Ministers making essentially non-political speeches and talking about larger themes such as liberty or freedom are one thing.
JFK and Reagan, as Presdients, made speeches at the Brandenburg Gate. But not as candidates.
It seems clear to me that one of the reasons we haven’t seen this occur is because of the tremendous problems it presents to the host government in trying to be neutral about an ally’s electoral matters.
It’s just not a smart idea. Regardless of the party affiliation of the candidate.
SteveMG on July 20, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I see you hope and believe, Tom, but you didn’t cite any examples of his experiences that qualify him to lead this country. That’s because he has none. He has no track record as a problem solver. He was absolutely wrong about the surge. He DOES however have a history of mumbling and stepping on his (ahem) when he’s not speaking from prepared (by others) text. I’m NOT a McCain lover, but Barrack has no substance, no nothing.
Patrick S on July 20, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Well here is where we really go in opposite directions Tom! I am not interested one whit in ‘enlightenment’ from my President. I want him to stay out of my business, uphold my constitutional rights, and be prepared at a moment’s notice to throw some serious whoop-ass at anyone who wants to f&%k with with us. Enlightenment I can get from Oprah if i am so inclined.
dustoffmom on July 20, 2008 at 12:23 PM
That does it for me. Clinton was the second biggest disaster to blight the West since the end of WWII.
OldEnglish on July 20, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Obama ought to run fo President of the EU. then we could be rid of him, and Michelle could finally be proud of something.
drjohn on July 20, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Heute Deutschland, morgens die Welt.
New Obama campaign theme, I suppose.
Obamatons see all of their own hopes and desires in the man, but he is just a mirror reflecting those things back at those who see them; he is empty within himself. The mindless and grossly undeserved adulation we see now is exactly what some people gave Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Mussolini, and every other leftist volksheld.
This is another unclothed emperor, nothing more.
TABoLK on July 20, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Obama chose this site because it victoriously symbolizes his magnificent battle against the evil McBush; that he’s metaphorically “girding his loins for battle” with Hitler’s briefs is simply hilarious.
Obama will draw a dope smokin’ herd to the park and, unfortunately, this will be spun into some tale of Volksbama euphoria over the coming new age.
Clearly, Obama takes the unofficial Presidential moniker “Leader of the Free World” a little too seriously.
T J Green on July 20, 2008 at 12:29 PM
When’s he visiting Waterloo? I just hope someone tells him it’s more than an ABBA song.
SouthernGent on July 20, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Ed:
True, but if you keep in mind Obama’s call for a civilian force as fully funded as the military, and if you’ve read Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism, the location is rather fitting.
irishspy on July 20, 2008 at 12:37 PM
A catmann thinkin’ like a BigOldDog?
Isn’t that like a sign of the Apocalypse or somethin’?
soundingboard on July 20, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Good lick!
whitetop on July 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Are we now allowed to brand Obama a national-socialist, please?
Niko on July 20, 2008 at 12:42 PM
I think Obama will be much like Clinton, too. An accommodator and a coward who did absolutely nothing to pursue or disrupt AQ throughout the ’90s, culminating in the mass murder of thousands of Americans on our soil.
Imagine a President Obama in office when Iran initiates a series of Hezbollah bombings in major U.S. cities:
Under the left’s new standards of self defense, if either China or Russia — both major suppliers of arms to Iran — votes no in the U.N. Security Council, then any retaliatory military action would, by definition, be illegal.
And since Iran has a lot of oil, it would of course be an illegal war for oil. And if we did anything other than shoot a few Tomahawks into suspected Hezbollah camps, e.g., a troop deployment, it would be both an illegal war for oil and hegemonic colonialism.
And since an attack on Iran would line the pockets of Israel’s counterintelligence firms, it could only be interpreted as favoring Israel over the Palestinians and other the Arabs, and thus we wouldn’t be acting like an honest broker of peace in the region.
So, I guess we’d be reduced to sweeping up the rubble and wondering why our global warming-based economy selfishly removed so much money from the economy that these poor, misunderstood, youths of indeterminate origin feel so much anger that they feel compelled to attack us.
So vote in Obama, and his brain trust of Warren Christopher, Maddy Albright, Jimmy Carter, Hillary!, Joe Biden and MoveOn to decide our international affairs? No thanks, I’ve seen enough of these dishonorable, unpatriotic cowards already.
Blacksheep on July 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Can you name ten tangible results he achieved as as a “community organizer”? Chicago’s South Side was full of problems needing solving.
Wethal on July 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM
I wonder if Obama’s “Southern strategy” includes a speech at Fort Sumter.
Wethal on July 20, 2008 at 12:44 PM
That’s interesting, dustoffmom. I read a similar anecdote here a few days ago from a commenter from Georgia. Most polls are showing Obama either even with McCain, or ahead of McCain by a few points. But in the primaries, Obama consistently received significantly fewer votes than the polls had predicted he would. (Some media types attributed the phenomenon to the so-called Bradley effect).
It’ll be interesting to see what happens in November. I can’t remember any time when all the MSM was so obviously pushing for a victory by one candidate. If Obama loses, will it be because of some voters’ discomfort with his race . . . or because of voters’ fears about Obama as C-in-C . . . or will it be a backlash by the voting public against the MSM’s relentless efforts to shove Obama down the public’s throat?
Whatever happens, it looks like it’s going to be interesting.
AZCoyote on July 20, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Perhaps he envisions himself to be emporer of the world some day. Considering his ego, arrogance and messianic demeanor, that could be his goal, world dominance. After all that is a goal of the muslims, isn’t it? Imagine Obama as the next great Caliph
docdave on July 20, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Kinda reminiscent of the left. And
Bush 43McCain.soundingboard on July 20, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Suits Obama…just like his planned acceptance speech at the stadium.
Karmi on July 20, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I think this is a mistake. Obama no doubt knows that speaking to large gatherings in Germany makes him appear presidential, a charade to which the American media are quite willing to contribute.
[See Shaving Leviathan for the method explained.]
JDPerren on July 20, 2008 at 12:59 PM
To be brutally frank. In your case it was when you clicked the submit icon.
Repeatedly.
soundingboard on July 20, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Obamagruppenfuhrer!
soundingboard on July 20, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Tom, if I spent $500 million on a message about you, don’t you think I could generate a little love on your behalf in Europe?
eaglesdontflock on July 20, 2008 at 1:12 PM
1. I’m wondering how we’d feel if a German, French, Canadian, or British candidate for Prime Minister/President came here to the States to give a stump speech.
2. Perhaps Obama should just forego Germany and head to Russia. Lenin’s Mausoleum as a backdrop seems quite appropriate for his message concerning taxes, a “civilian national security force“, religion, gun rights, and the basic role of government.
3. Don’t worry, when Obama is President, he’ll just rewrite the histories to make sure everyone is on the same page he is.
Send_Me on July 20, 2008 at 1:18 PM
- Asked about his response to another big Al Qaeda attack on the USA, Obama answered in terms only of disaster relief, not military response.
- Obama stated repeatedly (for instance at the YouTube debate) that he would meet with enemy dictators without any preconditions, then contorted himself to keep from actually retracting the remarks.
- Obama said that the use of nuclear weapons against al-Qaeda was “not on the table.”
- After last May’s Kansas tornado, Obama said “Ten thousand people died – an entire town destroyed”. The tornado killed 12 people.
- Thought that Arkansas is nearer to Kentucky than Illinois is.
- Claimed that his parents united as a result of the Bloody Sunday march in Selma 1965. He was born in 1961.
- Said that Iran and other such small countries don’t pose a serious threat to us, then flip-flopped the next day and claimed that he’s “made it clear for years” that the threat from Iran is grave.”
- Claimed that “…nobody has spoken out more fiercely on the issue of anti-Semitism than I have.”
- Criticized John Edwards’ acceptance of union support & money as “special interest” influence then turned around it welcomed same for himself.
- Said that he would negotiate “aggressively” with the GOP nominee for both candidates to accept public financing of the general campaign, then flip-flopped though McCain was willing to go ahead and do it.
- Said that he would debate the GOP nominee “any time, anywhere” and that he liked the idea of a series of townhall debates with McCain, then negotiated it down to Independence Day when nobody would watch and a single August date. McCain turned this down.
Okay let’s just count the flip-flops. This list is probably incomplete.
(1) Special interests (chided Edwards over union money as “special interests” influence, then welcomes it for himself), (2) Cuba embargo, (3) illegal immigration, (4) marijuana decriminalization, (5) single-payer health care (turning against it and calling it a “euphemism for socialized medicine”), (6) Wright, (7) Nafta (that one seemed as predictable as can be), (8) the Patriot Act, (9) deficit reduction (PAYGO), (10) meetings with foreign leaders, (11) Iraq (he has dissimulated about this), (12) legislation labeling Iran’s QUDS force as a terrorist group, (13) campaign finance, (14) FISA, (15) gun rights, (16) debates anywhere, any time with the GOP nominee; townhall debates with McCain, (17) welfare reform, (18) defense systems, if he’s backing down from the crazy video that he made just last year.
ForNow on July 20, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I don’t know if anyone came up with another example for Tom, but I have one.
Where is Kentucky? If you know you are doing better than Obama. When Hillary beat the socks off him in Kentucky he made some stupid comment about her doing better because KY is one of those middle states from around Arkansas or some such nonsense. He was apparently oblivious to the fact that Kentucky does not border Arkansas, it borders his state of Illinois. The man is a Senator from Illinois and he did not know that Kentucky borders his state.
Poor baby must have been tired when he said that. Poor messiah, everyone is so mean to him.
Terrye on July 20, 2008 at 1:21 PM
And the real reason he is going to Europe is that he knows a bunch of anti American socialists will just love him. They have so damn much in common.
Terrye on July 20, 2008 at 1:23 PM
………………. $!
Seven Percent Solution on July 20, 2008 at 1:24 PM
I mean, sometimes we want politicians to change their minds. But Obama overdoes it. Even if he hadn’t promised to be a different kind of politician, the list of his flip-flops above would still be quite excessive in number of serious changes in a relatively short time.
All pols make gaffes. Obama’s tend to suggest inexperience, not to mention unfamiliarity with US history and interests.
ForNow on July 20, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Just imagine if President Bush had gone to Germany and done the same thing, how the Anti-American/Pro-Jihadi Democratic Traitor Leftist Nutbags (TM) & an oxymoron, I know) and the MSM would’ve been all over him for his “ignorant”, “uninformed” “gaffe”!
All Hail! The new Messiah, Barack HUSSEIN Obama(PBUH)(SAW)(SWT)!
Dale in Atlanta on July 20, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Unfamiliarity with US history: Another Obama gaffe – suggesting that the defendants at the Nuremberg war crimes trials had more rights than unlawful combatant detainees had until the recent SCOTUS decision. In fact the Nazi defendants had no habeas corpus rights or reasonable facsimiles thereof at all, and among their judges were Soviet Generals.
ForNow on July 20, 2008 at 1:29 PM
If the MSM doesn’t report it, it never happened.
bloviator on July 20, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Ich bin ein Poopieschtinkel!
sorry had to throw that into the mix.
Warum Obama wolte mit den deutche volk sprechen?
er ist noch nich president.
das ist was ich frage
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on July 20, 2008 at 1:31 PM
I bet there will be fainting and chanting and weeping and screaming and more of that creepy weird glazed eye adoration that always seem to accompany an Obama rally.
And then Americans will say Gee look how much the Germans love him. If we vote for Obama they will love us too. Oh, to be loved by the Germans. I think I will send the messiah another check.
Terrye on July 20, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Huh? That statement makes absolutely no sense at all. Do you know anything about European history?
Seriously, I thought of offering a rebuttal, but I can’t even dignify such ignorance with further remarks.
reaganaut on July 20, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Yeah! Like FDR dealt with Germa…wait.
soundingboard on July 20, 2008 at 1:38 PM
ATLAS EXCLUSIVE:
FINAL REPORT ON OBAMA BIRTH CERTIFICATE FORGERY CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN
TechDude final report
Techdude delivers a final report that exceeds my wildest expectations. It is irrefutable, empirical evidence – Obama’s birth certificate is a forgery. Why? Why a COLB (certificate of live birth) forgery? That is the question.
byteshredder on July 20, 2008 at 1:38 PM
ForNow:
And Obama demands all those rights for terrorist defendants while also demanding more military action in Afghanistan. What exactly are the soldiers supposed to do there? Arrest people?
Terrye on July 20, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Or perhaps what better?
The vast majority will probably not give a flying foxtrot.
MB4 on July 20, 2008 at 1:39 PM
My daughter just asked me why Barry’s ‘not talking to his peeps in the hood?’ I think it’s nostalgia…and love of Adolf.
Would you consider McCain or Obama giving a speech in front of the Confederate flag better or worse than this?
Christine on July 20, 2008 at 1:39 PM
he has a film crew following him around.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Davis+Guggenheim+film+crew+following+obama&btnG=Google+Search
he is going everywhere he can for this imo
he will come out smelling like a rose no matter if he gets elected or not.
trailortrash on July 20, 2008 at 1:42 PM
You say Husseinia,
and I say Germania,
Obama is sailing
into political Lusitania
Husseinia, Germania,
Obama = Lusitania
Lets call the German speech off.
Hening on July 20, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Classic.
“Obama” does fit into the SS rank quite nicely.
I have been reading too much of Rober Harris’ “Fatherland”
Squid Shark on July 20, 2008 at 1:44 PM
That The Obamboozler moved his Bigger-Than-God-Tour-’08 venue to the Siegessäule monument is a real opportunity.
ED WRITES, “Hitler didn’t just move the monument to its more central location. He had a taller column built for it as well, to emphasize its message of German military domination over Europe.”
To be a bit more specific, the golden kernel of this “move” (figuratively as well as literally) is that each of the previous three levels of the Siegessäule, as originally built, represented a historic era/government in Gemran history…that is why Hitler added his own “level,” making up the four which one sees today.
Maybe some media folks can suggest how “der Führer Obi” is considering adding a fifth level of his own…heh.
Lockstein13 on July 20, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Add a 19th flip-flop to the list: gay marriage.
Some of Obama’s flip-flops seems to arise from gaffes. Some don’t. I worry that some Americans actually admire Obama for taking his first, tentative baby steps on national issues and responsibilities for all to see. “Oh isn’t he a darling, so cute!” Between our TV & video culture and the ever growing cult of the child (which Wyndham Lewis described in the early 20th Century), I do worry! The Presidency is not a place to finally learn to do more than roll around on the floor, learn how to stand and how to walk.
ForNow on July 20, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Small “news flash”: I’ve just heard that the Berlin mayor is suggesting closing off “Straße der 17. Juli” (THINK OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE in Washington, DC or TIMES SQUARE in NYC) to create a space for the crowds to gather a la Obi’s Decemberists/Washington state mass gathering. Don’t wonder if similar music will be offered there for free….
Can anyone get Leni Reifenstahl and Josef Göbbels on the phone, please?! /sarc
There’s got to be some “Dukakis moment” for the taking there….
Lockstein13 on July 20, 2008 at 1:56 PM
If this had been a Republican the media would be calling him/her a Nazi this morning for the Hitler connection.
The good news is that the pass that Obama is getting is reaching such absurd propotions it is becoming more of a joke than a crutch for a bad candidate. The bad news is that the other candidate is John McCain who is equally bad when it comes to the media- not that you’d notice the fact he’s campaigning.
highhopes on July 20, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Very wise comment, Terryann.
Hah, du Schlimmer, du!
Everyone, not to worry. Joe and Mary are looking at all this global mania and saying “Who does this punk think he’s running for, President of the world? The Germans/Europeans want him, then we don’t”.
It’s not going to be evident now, due to mass media clusterf**king and orgasmic reporting.
This much self-love doesn’t sit well with the average American Joe. He’s watching, believe it or not.
Entelechy on July 20, 2008 at 1:59 PM
You people just don’t get it! Obama is above all this stuff! Facts don’t matter any more! He can continue to fabricate, lie and twist history to suit his “historic campaign” and the media will absolutely not call him on it because he’s their guy! The rest of us rubes out here in middle America that get up every day and go to work and do our thing don’t matter!
Get with the program!
sabbott on July 20, 2008 at 2:13 PM
At this point scary is appropriate, it’ll be time to act if he scapegoats a segment of society.
Which segment might that be?
Speakup on July 20, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Tom S. “journalists who at least to stick to rules and ethical guidelines in reporting and op-ed pieces”????
Please enlighten us. AP your favorite? I’ll stick with Ed.
Pat in NC on July 20, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Ed, I hate to get in the way of your hard-on over Obama’s history gaffes but McCain isn’t fairing much better these days. Someone should remind him that Czechoslovakia no longer exists.
SnarkVader on July 20, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Snark:
That was a small mistake compared to the things that Obama has said. In fact Sam Nunn made the same mistake. But Obama is way beyond that.
And highhopes, I don’t blame McCain for the fact that the media wants to ignore him. Besides, didn’t all these pure conservatives say they would not give him money to campaign with anyway?
Terrye on July 20, 2008 at 2:24 PM
If you’re not on Obama’s staff or at least auditioning for it, I will eat my desk.
capitalist piglet on July 20, 2008 at 2:25 PM
QFT.
Purple Fury on July 20, 2008 at 2:28 PM
“Please, if you’re going to do stuff like this, have the dignity not to criticize journalists who at least to stick to rules and ethical guidelines in reporting and op-ed pieces.”
[Tom_Shipley on July 20, 2008 at 10:48 AM]
The lack of reality exhibited by the above statement is just too bizarre, and speaks to the total lack of objectivity of the one making the comment.
“You know, if you keep criticizing EVERYTHING Obama does, you’re going to lose all credibility.”
[Tom_Shipley on July 20, 2008 at 11:17 AM]
That would lead one to believe that you consider yourself to possess credibility. That, in and of itself, is even more bizarre.
Yoop on July 20, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Facts don’t matter to liberals.
CP on July 20, 2008 at 2:37 PM
“The rest of us rubes out here in middle America” vote. We are more than the media, the Europeans…
Entelechy on July 20, 2008 at 2:43 PM
You know, Ed, you’re right. This is a monumental gaffe. To bad Barry O’ doesn’t have Joe Lieberman there to tell him how it should be.
PresidenToor on July 20, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Boy, some of you people get SO upset just because one socialist dictator wannbe wants to honor the monument site selected by a REAL socialst dictator. And giving speeches outside CONUS is only natural when you think of yourself as a potential Imperial Ruler of the world.
oldleprechaun on July 20, 2008 at 3:01 PM
It’s a safe bet that Obama is not writing the trash he’s reading off the telepromter It does make my day however.
mixplix on July 20, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Where’d Tom go…It was just getting interesting!!
jerrytbg on July 20, 2008 at 3:19 PM
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