Obama’s Berlin rally off-limits for American diplomats
posted at 9:55 am on July 24, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The Barack Obama campaign rally has been declared off-limits to State Department personnel in Germany, according to a ruling that determined it to be a “partisan political activity”. The ruling has some Foreign Service employees outraged at what they see as an improper restriction on their political activity, but any appeal would take too long to resolve the issue:
The U.S. Embassy in Berlin has instructed Foreign Service personnel stationed there not to attend Sen. Barack Obama’s public rally today, which the State Department this week labeled a “partisan political activity” prohibited under its regulations for those serving overseas.
Government employees serving in the United States are permitted to attend such events under the Hatch Act, which bars other partisan activity, such as contributing money or working in behalf of a candidate.
But “we always maintain that no U.S. government Foreign Service person overseas should be seen to be advocating one side or the other,” State Department Undersecretary for Management Patrick Kennedy said, adding that “it has nothing to do with who” the candidate is.
Kennedy noted that the State Department has no precedent for this, as no other political candidate has ever held a campaign rally outside the United States. State points to the Obama campaign’s staging of the event for its determination of its partisan nature. That puts it in conflict with its long-established regulation that forbids American employees of the Foreign Service abroad from “engag[ing] in partisan political activities abroad”. In fact, it also forbids spouses and families from doing so as well, although State refrained from forbidding them from attending the Obama event.
Their union, AFSA, called it an “unnecessarily narrow interpretation” of the regulations, but it’s hard to see how the State Department could have ruled otherwise. Obama’s presidential campaign is staging this event, which clearly marks it as partisan political activity. AFSA believes that the manual intends to proscribe more active participation, such as campaigning by the employees themselves for candidates, and points to the Hatch Act allowing state-side State employees to attend political rallies.
However, State has an interest in keeping its foreign consulates as non-partisan as possible, or at least their appearance. Employees in the US do not have the responsibility of representing the nation, as do employees stationed abroad. Embassies and consulates should represent all of the people of the US, and that requires more discretion from their staffs. If they want to see Obama speak, they can be reasonably sure to catch the event on television.
Addendum: Jim Geraghty notices that the Post reports the event’s status as a political event as fact, an interesting editorial decision.
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I just got this email in that sort of shows what the B.O. Traveling Road Show is really all about, namely just B.O.:
Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to “The War Zone”. I wanted to share with you what happened.
He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.
As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn’t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service.
So really he was just here to make a showing for the American’s back home that he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going to make an effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that are providing the freedo m that they are providing for you.
I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States. I just don’t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.
If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.
In service,
[name deleted in interest of privacy -- Ed]
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier
So it doesn’t make much difference what B.O. has to say in Berlin.
Just words.
[Note: I pulled the name because that e-mail may not have been intended for mass distribution. -- Ed]
pilamaye on July 24, 2008 at 9:59 AM
Prediction: that Socialist Poster is going to haunt that POS.
carbon_footprint on July 24, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Sorry, but I’m one of those selfish Americans. If I worked for State, and off duty, I’d go where I damn well pleased.
Limerick on July 24, 2008 at 10:04 AM
From your keyboard to God’s ears!
newton on July 24, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Block out his name jackass.
ninjapirate on July 24, 2008 at 10:07 AM
“Ich bin ein dumkopf.” “Ich bin ein Marxist.” “Ich bin ein Senator for only 141 days before announcing run for White House.” Like Larry the Cable Guy says, “I can do this all day.”
adamsmith on July 24, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Considering the number of Clinton residuals in State, the off-limits declaration should come as a huge disappointment to them.
whitetop on July 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM
pilamaye on July 24, 2008 at 9:59 AM
This shows once again that Obama is nothing but a pompous a$$! HOw insulting!
Thank you for your service CPT Porter!
becki51758 on July 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM
OK guys, Off-topic here, but I just found out on Instapundit that the video of Obama Building a Religion has been censored by YouTube.
newton on July 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Obama’s presidential campaign logo is on the billboard.
It is a POTUS CAMPAIGN PLUG paid for by German tax moneys.
Is Obama going to say that by removing the US FLAG from his jet and replacing it with his offical campaign logo that he is not on a campaign tour? We are to understand that the US FLAG is not part of Obama’s POTUS campaign platform, it having been removed from sight, replaced AGAIN by the UN-blue stripes coloring his POTUS campaign logo and his presidential hOpeful seal.
DO nOt ignOre the ObviOus signals from bhO. When malleability is the Only cOnsistent feature frOm Obama, hOld tight tO any firm grip On this changling.
USA FOR SALE
OBAMARX ‘08
maverick muse on July 24, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Gotta agree…..Ed,….pull the good captain’s name.
Limerick on July 24, 2008 at 10:10 AM
This is like making a big deal when NY Times and other MSM outlets contribute to Dem. candidates.
How do we Republicans and Conservatives benefit by making believe that the State Dep’t is apolitical? It’s a reliably Democrat part of the Executive branch made up of liberal civil servants. Frankly, I wish the entire embassy showed up waving Obama flags.
JiangxiDad on July 24, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I agree. Cap’n Ed, please, please erase that name. I fear for that guy’s safety.
newton on July 24, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Re: Obama’s Political Rallies in the EU, i.e. Germany, the
Condoleeza Rice made this label for the US STATE DEPARTMENT?
maverick muse on July 24, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Lot’s and lot’s of broken hearted lefty socialists at the state department in Germany!
sabbott on July 24, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Does Hussein know that Germans can’t vote for him?
Akzed on July 24, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Is there any doubt that Obama holds our soliders in contempt? What a self centered prick.
jewells45 on July 24, 2008 at 10:19 AM
++ Visit to US Military Bases Cancelled ++
1:42 p.m.: SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned that Obama has cancelled a planned short visit to the Rammstein and Landstuhl US military bases in the southwest German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The visits were planned for Friday. “Barack Obama will not be coming to us,” a spokesperson for the US military hospital in Landstuhl announced. “I don’t know why.” Shortly before the same spokeswoman had announced a planned visit by Obama
TheBigOldDog on July 24, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Ahhhhhhh… It’s just words. Or is it just a speech?
Please, please please……When the Senator returns from his trip, will someone have the courage to ask him if he felt embarrassed because he could not speak German?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 24, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Maybe the State Department was afraid that a poor showing of Americans in Germany at Obamarx’s rally, officially declaring if off to avoid the anti-Obama American show down.
maverick muse on July 24, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Our friend in Ed’s chat room, JetBlast1 pretty much had similar things to say about Obama’s visit.
Our future Commander in Chief.
originalpechanga on July 24, 2008 at 10:22 AM
According to the MESS-iah he would be the Commander OF Chief.
carbon_footprint on July 24, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Great article.
Heh. I thought the French preferred Obama?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 24, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Though I’m not holding my breath, I’m ready to laugh AT Obama is he gives the JFK “I am a doughnut” misworded expression of unity. Ich bin ein Berliner! Bwahahahaha!
maverick muse on July 24, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Tennyson Hayes is a pure artiste:
“Ich bin ein Beginner“.
michaelo on July 24, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Kinda off topic, I think I have the Obama style figured out:
Obama: Speak it into Being.
Rightwingsparkle on July 24, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Ditto. Maybe the guy has the principle not to serve under a “President Obama”, so he’s fearless. Still seems like a bad idea.
I disagree. State has the right to limit partisan political statements overseas, no question. It’s a good policy, too, imo, for exactly the reasons stated. Why would we want foreigners approaching our government to believe that they need to guess that employee’s politics in order to get the right treatment?
That’s the effect of partisan clowning in Germany. I’d fire anyone sighted at the campaign rally. The lack of precedent is only further testimony to Obama’s out-of-control ego and lack of experience and judgement.
Jaibones on July 24, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Anyone noticed that Barry usually hits those 3 pointers in all the media promo shots? When he loses to McCain in November, he can try out for the NBA. What’s with the basketball anyway? If I was a black candidate, I’d have the media portraying me playing chess not shooting B-Ball. He might as well bust out some ribs and watermelon, skip the arugula please…
adamsmith on July 24, 2008 at 10:32 AM
McCain should announce his VP 15 minutes before Obama takes the stage.
Rovin on July 24, 2008 at 10:34 AM
The Left if put off by Obama’s slights.
When a politician gags the Left, leftists take it hard.
Only the Left can gag the Right. So far as Leftists are concerned, no one can gag the Left. Why would an activist gag the left?
For Obama to gag the Left proves he’s too malleable even for the Left to consider their ownership of him. He’s theirs, but he isn’t. He IS the untouchables, those who manipulate everyone, especially the LEFT. For this marxist to out flank the left is being noted by anyone with intelligence. The signs are clear: there is no telling what you will get with Obama beyond disappointment and subsequent misery.
maverick muse on July 24, 2008 at 10:35 AM
adamsmith, this is part of the image management. The media already think he’s “smart” (i.e., Harvard Law Review), so he desperately (and pathetically, imo) tries to show some masculinity, to fight the more prevalent image of him as a cigarette smoking, skinny, leftist pansy.
Sorry, girls, but the pansy image is irreversible. He spoke it into being.
Jaibones on July 24, 2008 at 10:35 AM
LOL, Rovin!
As Patton yelled, “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!”
How weird would it be to prove how far they’ve sunk through the tank if the MSM did not air that until AFTER Obama’s events concluded?
maverick muse on July 24, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Gateway Pundit is posting about the FREE CONCERT, beer and brats. Also linked to popular band’s video in Germany. That is one way to lure a huge crowd for THE ONE’s ego.
suzieviews on July 24, 2008 at 10:42 AM
That’s BRILLIANT!
kirkill on July 24, 2008 at 10:43 AM
The Euro papers are all over the map on crowd projections. 10k to 1m. The gates opened 45 mins ago. If he draws 500k
then THIS will be the picture of the day.
Limerick on July 24, 2008 at 10:46 AM
The media already think he’s “smart” (i.e., Harvard Law Review),
Fred Thompson laid down the gauntlet on that yesterday with Sean Hannity.
Obama is an intellectual fraud.
Evidently, sO is Harvard and all the Other “intellectual elites” prOmOting their chOsen sOck puppet fOr any pOsitiOn Of authOrity based sOlely On cOlOr and marxist affiliatiOn.
maverick muse on July 24, 2008 at 10:46 AM
On the Today Show this morning, one of the announcers referred to it is Obama’s “campaign rally” in Berlin.
Big S on July 24, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Crowd projection from German Police……1m
Limerick on July 24, 2008 at 10:56 AM
He thinks this plays well in the south or mid-west?
*
Ramirez. They are all good, but July 15 fits for this post.
right2bright on July 24, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Don’t tell me words don’t matter!
drjohn on July 24, 2008 at 10:58 AM
No other candidate has held a political rally outside of the USA, because they were Americans. This clown is playing the one world picture and making believe he is actually the president on tour. If Germany provides the same level of images of how ridiculous Obama looked in a yarmulke at the wall in Jerusalem, it will serve to show how sophomoric this ego maniac truly is.
“Die Deutschen immer vor dem Republican und Kracker!”
Too bad he had to leave his more sinister half back home.
Hening on July 24, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Ed, had very good reason for deleting the name of the writer, if in fact the post was authentic?
I have seen many pictures and videos of Barrack enthusiastically greeting and communing with the troops.
There may have been specific time or scheduling constraints to which the writer was not privy.
J_Gocht on July 24, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Ed, you missed one other (last) name reference at becki51758 on July 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM
progressoverpeace on July 24, 2008 at 11:28 AM
How’s that again… say?
“Thousands of GIs, State Dept Workers Flock To Obama In Baghdad”
J_Gocht on July 24, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Thank you, Ed! :-)
newton on July 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
progressoverpeace on July 24, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Yes please delte sicne I cant. :)
becki51758 on July 24, 2008 at 11:36 AM
oops….I cant type either.
becki51758 on July 24, 2008 at 11:37 AM
pilamaye on July 24, 2008 at 9:59 AM
The title gives away his name.
How many Battle Captains in the TF do you think there are?
DJ Elliott on July 24, 2008 at 11:52 AM
State Department employees are very restricted in political activities when overseas. It is just part of the job.
gridlock2 on July 24, 2008 at 11:54 AM
“That’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are; that’s funny”
:)
gekkobear on July 24, 2008 at 12:00 PM
“Ich bin der größte Berliner” (I’m the biggest jelly donut).
“Ich bin euer schwarzer Berliner” (I’m your black jelly donut).
“Ich bin euer Retter” (I’m your saviour).
“Deutschland ist gut - die U.S.A. wird wieder gut sein” (Germany is good. The U.S. will be good again).
Alle, miteinander “Ja, wir können! Ja, wir können! Ja, wir können!” (All, together, Yes, we can, repeat, repeat).
~ ~ Barack Obama, in Berlin circa 2008
…the crowds went wild; the thunderous voice was deafening; myriad pants and panties went wet, and sticky, the fainted bodies are still being collected…dreams persist…
The American Joe and Mary “What the f**k is this? Who does this punk think he is? Is he running for president of Germany? Duely noted”.
Entelechy on July 24, 2008 at 1:20 PM
I just saw a quote in a comment at another site that fits I think…
“Ich bin ein Beginner”
Made me chuckle.
gekkobear on July 24, 2008 at 1:36 PM
The Germans are Hosenscheisser over Obama. All they’re going to be left with is a mustard-like substace in those Hosen. Nov. can turn really ugly for them.
This rally will backfire with those who can vote in the U.S. In retrospect it will have been the megakiller. It will take time. Videos are an interesting tool, for good and not so good, depending on which side…
Entelechy on July 24, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Good grief. I just heard them chanting on Rush’s program…chills went up my spine.
This guy scares me half to death.
capitalist piglet on July 24, 2008 at 2:05 PM
I thought this wasn’t a political event.. LMAO
Chakra Hammer on July 24, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Remember, the last person to get this kind of adoration in Germany was named Hitler. They aren’t too selective who the cheer for.
duff65 on July 24, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Just in…
Army officials refute claim of Barrack Obama snub in Afghanistan
J_Gocht on July 25, 2008 at 5:35 PM