Ich bin … busy?
posted at 5:50 pm on October 16, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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A year ago, the city of Berlin was so important to Barack Obama that he conducted a campaign event there. This year, though, the 20th anniversary of the fall of Berlin’s most notorious Cold War symbol and the end of the Iron Curtain doesn’t interest the leader of the free world. Der Spiegel reports that Obama has taken a pass on the celebration of the demolition of the Berlin Wall (via HA reader Constantius):
US President Barack Obama has shelved his plans to attend festivities marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will reportedly take his place at the Nov. 9 celebrations.
Germany is going to have to wait longer than expected for US President Barack Obama’s first official visit. Citing government sources in Berlin, Reuters reported on Friday that Obama will not attend the anniversary festivities marking two decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The event will take place on Nov. 9 — just two days before Obama embarks on a long-planned trip to Asia on Nov. 11.
According to the German television channel n-tv, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will stand in for the president. It is considered unlikely that her husband, the former President Bill Clinton, will accompany her.
Berlin is going all out for the anniversary, with such luminaries as Kofi Annan, Mikhail Gorbachev and Lech Walesa expected to be in attendance. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing hard to complete ongoing coalition negotiations soon so that her government is fully formed in time for the festivities.
Hot Air readers will remember how Obama treated Berlin … when it was all about Obama:
It’s not the first country in Europe to get snubbed on a war commemoration, either. The White House blew off the Poles and their observance of the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II, and then announced that the US would reverse itself on missile defense on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion a fortnight or so later. The Obama administration seems to have a pretty poor sense of history, especially for a group that prides itself on maintaining its international standing.
This case is especially egregious, for two reasons. First, as noted above, Obama used Berlin when he needed to show that he could make America popular abroad. Second, the US played a very large role in helping to bring down that wall, and certainly made it a cause celebre for almost 40 years. Its 20th anniversary should have the American head of state to underscore our part in that history.
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Maybe he’s afraid the event will remind the American people of… somebody.
joe_doufu on October 16, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Heh. I forgot you guys were comparing him to Hitler when he spoke there last year. I told a couple of my German friends conservatives here were doing that and they thought it was hilarious.
crr6 on October 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
He see things .. differently.
the_nile on October 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Well, they loved him then and gave him a big party…they’ve served their purpose…Berlin goes under the bus.
AUINSC on October 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
the left cannot celebrate the defeat of the left, whereas the right is joyous in the defeat of the so called right Nazi’s. The answer to why: Freedom.
rob verdi on October 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
If it doesn’t help to elevate the mythology of Barrack Obama, it’s not worth his time.
baxtrice on October 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Obama, nicht sehr gut. Obama ist eine kommunistische.
Wir alle hassen Obama.
Jeff from WI on October 16, 2009 at 5:56 PM
I meant Ronald Reagan.
joe_doufu on October 16, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Afterall, the fall of Communism and the Berlin Wall is a sad, sad day for many in Obama’s Administration…
Wyznowski on October 16, 2009 at 5:56 PM
And your Canadian girlfriend too.
Techie on October 16, 2009 at 5:56 PM
But he could go to Europe for Chicago’s Olympic bid.
Mark1971 on October 16, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Present, uh, let me be clear, uh…
F*^KING EMBARASSMENT!
HornetSting on October 16, 2009 at 5:57 PM
I suggest we send President Palin.
faraway on October 16, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Remember, to Obama’s mentors and a non-trivial swath of his political base, the Fall of the Berlin Wall was a dark day in history.
Techie on October 16, 2009 at 5:57 PM
If he wins Miss Germany he’ll show up.
ronsfi on October 16, 2009 at 5:58 PM
He’s busy mopping people…
Oil Can on October 16, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Charles Boustany Jr. ..’nuff said.
lexhamfox on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I’m sure your Hogan’s Heroes action figures thought it a hoot.
TheUnrepentantGeek on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Does anyone know if Bush 41 is going?
Margee on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
You don’t seriously think a communist is going to show up for a celebration of the defeat of communism, do you?
Dave R. on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Maybe he was worried that they speak Austrian there and he and the staff wouldn’t understand anything they were saying to him…that German language sure does sound similar.
AUINSC on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
The One is not a big fan of the Hoff.
milwife88 on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
No “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Obama” this year, eh?
I’d think he’d want to go, if for no other reason to hook up with fellow thug Kofi Annan.
But then, Berlin isn’t that far from our ex-ally Poland, and he might be concerned that Poles aren’t too hot about picking up the mop to help him in his quest for World Unity Through Surrender.
MrScribbler on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I’m more worried about Obama in Asia. What’s he apologizing for now?
faraway on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Precisely, he sees it not as a day of celebration, but of mourning.
Rogue on October 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM
We haven’t forgot that you guys think he’s a MESSIAH. Let me let you in on a secret, koolaid. The world is laughing at us, some of them have nuclear weapons. I could give two sh*ts what your little German friends think of us.
HornetSting on October 16, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Jet across the pond to lobby for Olympics – OK
Jet across the pond to accept NPP and prize money – Absolutely
Jet across the pond to celebrate freedom, independence, and the end of Communist domination – Whoa, that’s just crazy talk…
Wyznowski on October 16, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Ich bin ein DOUCHENOZZLE!
1921 C DRUM on October 16, 2009 at 6:00 PM
He’ll wait to go to the 50th Anniversary of the wall being put up in 2011.
Caper29 on October 16, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Our President is a Marxist. What did you expect?
faraway on October 16, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Since Obama can’t ‘apologize’ for America’s role in the fall of the Berlin Wall, why would he want to go.
Lance Murdock on October 16, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Hooters 99cent wing night…
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:01 PM
My dog wonders why I’m laughing.
faraway on October 16, 2009 at 6:01 PM
I think Bill is a breast man.
faraway on October 16, 2009 at 6:02 PM
So did we, we thought it was pretty funny also…are you out of your pajamas yet?
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:02 PM
what a douche. Any right thinking person knows Joe was referring to Reagan.
mantis on October 16, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Seriously, the WH flies the Chinese flag to commemorate the 60th anniversary of communism under which millions died, but our POTUS cannot take the time to celebrate the symbolic freedom of millions of people.
I’m officially ashamed.
Firefly_76 on October 16, 2009 at 6:04 PM
That is untrue…Hitler had the trains running on time, there is a difference…
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Obama’s best Reagan impression: “Mr. Putin, let me be clear, we’ll lay down our arms now, if you’ll promise to tear down this wall at some undefined future date!”
hawksruleva on October 16, 2009 at 6:05 PM
They did that? I know some building in NY was lit up. But I didnt’ hear about the White House commemorating it.
hawksruleva on October 16, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Fall of Communism < Olympics for Chicago
mattshu on October 16, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Man, can this imbecile burn some bridges.
marklmail on October 16, 2009 at 6:06 PM
This is really disturbing. The fall of the Berlin Wall was a significant milestone and victory for freedom in the 20th Century history. A victory which the US played a large part. For President Obama not to go displays a shocking lack of interest in history and its importance. I get the feeling that Obama really doesn’t understand the place of the US (or his) in the larger world. He seems to be off in his own little world, giving speeches about the way things should be without actually engaging in making them so despite his power to effect change (and not in the the Obama campaign sense). This seems to have been his way of operating throughout his (short) career. As was pointed out during the campaign, what has he done? Not much. This snub of a a very important event for the US and for Freedom in Europe shows how little this little man understand of the world outside his own head.
crusader1145 on October 16, 2009 at 6:06 PM
So Obama sends the do nothing Secretary of State…she must really be getting P.O’ed at this guy.
He gives her nothing to do, nothing to say, she is becoming the laughing stock of the state department.
Maybe she will stay in a hotel, where she stayed when she helped that guy over the Berlin wall and into freedom…
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Leave it to the Liberal to infer the first post meant Hitler. I immediately thought Ronald Reagan.
uknowmorethanme on October 16, 2009 at 6:07 PM
It will honor Reagan, and Obama cannot be seen doing such a thing…a name that cannot be uttered.
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:08 PM
And that’s different from any other thought you have how?
crr6 on October 16, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Send Joe Biden. He’ll make us proud.
txag92 on October 16, 2009 at 6:09 PM
He’s not a communist. He just believes in everything a communist believes in, and relys on communists and marxists for advice.
See the difference?
hawksruleva on October 16, 2009 at 6:09 PM
WH – Hey World remember that freedom thing the US stood for? well….
nolapol on October 16, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Germany is only “recent” in historical time in even allowing German citizens to know about Germany’s details before and during WWII. In other words, Germans have lived for several generations after the war not even being allowed to know what their dreadful history actually was. So they’re what I’d call “infants” overall as a population in self-awareness in these regards. Of course they’d “laugh” at the reference to a potential dictatorship via Barack Obama’s useful idiocy to Socialism as being equivalent with that which hoisted Hitler.
And, having many German friends (and relatives) myself, I can say that those who were associated with such awful past history AND who would “laugh” at the reference as you’ve identified it, were (in the past) in the majority but were NOT the full population, AND today are in the minority as to those who’d “laugh” at the correlation of Socialist dictator with Socialist dictator-striver.
Lourdes on October 16, 2009 at 6:09 PM
First you think Liz is the lesbian, then you think Ronald Reagan is Hitler.
This is just another average day for you…nothing right.
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:10 PM
The Precedent is waiting for the new Berlin Wall to be built. He’s worked it out with Russia and they’re going to let him break ground on it. At first Russia complained that The Precedent had already done that with his stabbing Poland and the Czechs in the back on missile defense, but The Precedent held out for the physical groundbreaking.
progressoverpeace on October 16, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Atta boy Barry.
Way to take a stand against the real enemy.
Pus$$yfart.
omnipotent on October 16, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Why would a Marxist like this SOB want to celebrate what he certainly views as a bad day for “progress”?
RightWinged on October 16, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Rahm: “Barry, Hugo is having a clambake on Saturday to celebrate Fidel’s 40 years of communist rule.”
Obama: “I’m in. Pack my bong.”
fogw on October 16, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Ahhh, no, see…let me explain to joke to you. He just made you look like a fool for assuming that the original commenter meant Hitler…get it? It was pretty funny.
AUINSC on October 16, 2009 at 6:11 PM
I see you posted your typical simplistic response.
Reagan and not the liberals helped free the Germans. The left’s effort to gain peace would have only made sure they were kept under Communist control for years and years. You leftists are sick and your definition of peace has cost more lives and freedoms that can be fathomed.
CWforFreedom on October 16, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Maybe he’ll send an apology to the Kremlin for all those decades we held West Berlin and refused to cede control to the Communists.
Techie on October 16, 2009 at 6:11 PM
You don’t get it…this crr6 guy lies about everything. Believe me, he never spoke to anyone in Germany.
He is our monkey at the end of the organ grinders leash…the dems plays the music and he dances.
We keep him around for laughs…a pathetic little creature, but he reminds us of why we are conservatives.
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Grab a history book some time. The Berlin Wall was built after Hitler was dead and buried. I know the left is in denial, but see, one of our former allies decided to seal off the territories under their control, and force them to adopt their system of government. When people resisted, that former ally built walls, or sent in tanks, or just had the leaders of the opposition killed or removed.
I can guarantee that Hitler will be mentioned little or not at all at the Berlin Wall ceremonies.
hawksruleva on October 16, 2009 at 6:12 PM
No he won’t get it…he is still pretty sure Liz Cheney is a lesbian…
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:13 PM
The Newseum in D.C. had an exhibit on the Berlin Wall with original pieces of the wall and guard shack. No where in the exhibit and posters was the mention of Ronald Reagan. How disgraceful.
rjoco1 on October 16, 2009 at 6:13 PM
And?
When I think the fall of the Berlin Wall, as an American, I think of Reagan’s speech. What do you think of? This time, try leaving the strawman, the prejudice, and the “holier than thou” attitude out of your argument. If you can.
uknowmorethanme on October 16, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Berlin to Lord Barry. “Call me?”
ronsfi on October 16, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Ed, if it’s not about THEM, they could care less.
GarandFan on October 16, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Yeah, but my bad for an inaccuracy. Apparently story was first that they were flying it at the WH, but then when they got flak for it decided only to fly it on the ellipse to celebrate. Bad enough. . .
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/04/white-house-debunks-reports-fly-chinas-flag-south-lawn/
Firefly_76 on October 16, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Same.
I was watching King of the Hill last night. Hank was having to deal with a “progressive” parent of a daughter Bobby liked. One of the progressive’s friend called the daughter’s dad “Reagan.”
The liberal dad said in shock, “Don’t call me THAT!”
and Hank immediately said, also in shock, “Yeah, don’t call HIM that!”
But is anyone seriously surprised that a guy who pisses on Poland, renegs on defense treaties with our allies, flies the communist flag of China at the WHITE HOUSE, sides with dictators and thugs over any and all democracies isn’t going to Berlin?
Sarjex on October 16, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Since a unified Germany stands in the way of Russian conquest of Europe, as does Poland and the Czech Republic, of course Obama considers them children of a lesser god.
coldwarrior on October 16, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Why would he want to celebrate the tearing down the wall? He’s too busy building one here in the U.S. The wall that seperates government elites from the people.
shick on October 16, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Well, let’s not forget that he recently had time for something as historic as making a sales pitch in Denmark for the Chicago Olympics.
And… he’s got that all-important Peace Prize gig coming up in Norway.
TXUS on October 16, 2009 at 6:17 PM
What? Letterman has dibs?
drjohn on October 16, 2009 at 6:17 PM
He is indeed a Marxist and just cannot bring himself to celebrate such an event.
Er ist ja ein slimeball.
justltl on October 16, 2009 at 6:17 PM
The GOP should run Hank Hill. He’s got about as realistic a chance as anyone else.
uknowmorethanme on October 16, 2009 at 6:18 PM
I know how we could get Obama to Berlin. Get Letterman to do his show live there for a week. Obama will be needing to make another health care appearance by then.
hawksruleva on October 16, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Germans laughed about people that were on to Hitler himself, so they don’t have the best history of sniffing these types of things out. Just saying…you’re going to have to do a little better than that. Germans couldn’t identify evil when it was right in front of their face.
Of course, Obama is not Hitler. He wants to be the nice totalitarian that nudges everybody to what is good for them as gently as is possible while still getting his vision of society realized. Nobody that’s tried this previously has got it quite right, but he’s different. He’s smarter. He’s more of a Woodrow Wilson than anything, I think.
stldave on October 16, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Obama’s best Reagan impression: “Mr. Putin, let me be clear, we’ll lay down our arms now, if you’ll promise
to tear down this wall at some undefined future date!”to sit down and talk about our differences at some undefined future date!”Goody2Shoes on October 16, 2009 at 6:21 PM
FYI
Charles “Hit The Tip Jar” Johnson is busy preparing his daily Hot Air bashing thread and has enlisted his minions to troll for comments.
Perhaps you should all say hello to him and Kilgore.
33 Charles Fri, Oct 16, 2009 3:05:05pm replyquote
* 0
* down
* up
* report
Time to start putting together the Hot Air Comments of the Day thread. I already have several good candidates, but as we all know it’s a never-ending fountain of crazy over there, so if anyone has links to especially insane and/or offensive comments, post them here, please.
loppyd on October 16, 2009 at 6:22 PM
He may have trashed Berlin, but here’s betting he’ll be in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square next year to mark the 61st anniversary of the Communist Revolution.
petefrt on October 16, 2009 at 6:22 PM
The Left wee weed their pants when RUMMY made his Old Europe remark.
Here’s the Fourth Europian ALLIE that he has dismissed. He’s clearly got something else than ‘being President’ in mind.
birdhurd on October 16, 2009 at 6:23 PM
No. They have a perfect understanding of their version of history which is based on Chomsky, Zinn, Rev. Wright and various other leading lights of Marxist and “Black studies” theories. Who are the Poles and Germans? Europeans, for God’s sake! A bunch of white people, aka colonialists and oppressors. Just like the UK, with whom we have “no special relationship” (”…and send back the bust of that old, dead white guy, Churchill”).
If those people can be incited to cheer for The One, fine, but they will always be “lesser.” And, being the lesser white colonialists that they are, they will get the contempt the Obama White House knows they so richly deserve.
Django on October 16, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Crickets.
uknowmorethanme on October 16, 2009 at 6:25 PM
The fall of the Berlin Wall was a significant milestone and victory for freedom in the 20th Century history. A victory which the US played a large part.
Sometimes questions just answer themselves. Victory is not nice – when the good guys win, it makes the bad guys sad, and they keep being bad. When the good guys lose, it makes the bad guys happy, and they keep being bad Understand?
drunyan8315 on October 16, 2009 at 6:25 PM
11/9 – The Berlin Wall fell
9/11 – The twin towers fell
interesting.
Crux Australis on October 16, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Ach du lieber! The Berlin wall fell on the same day that the Nazis staged “Kristalnacht” (Nov. 9, 1936 I think) and destroyed all the businesses and property of the Jews in Germany. “The night of broken glass”. While Obama’s continuing his “America Sucks Tour” in Asia, Hillary can attend the festivities in his place, waddling down Unter den Linden in her bright red pantsuit and waving at the crowd and acting presidential while cackling her heart out in German. Bill, however, will be busy “entertaining” showgirls in Las Vegas, accompanied by a pocket full of Cuban cigars.
bradley11 on October 16, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Visualize: Cr standing on the sidewalk, as conservatives are rounded up, for re-education camps, or worse.
cr: Goodbye Conservatives. Goodbye. Glad you’re leaving. Goodbye. Buh Bye!
Do you even have an original, or individual thought? Do you not find this a tad disgusting, on behalf of your country? Not your party…YOUR COUNTRY!!!
He went to Berlin, when it benefits him, but can’t go to celebrate what was, and is a happy day for freedom loving countries everywhere? Something isn’t right, for those who don’t espouse to loving freedom. What’s wrong with you? You’re happier knowing there are libs out there to tell you what to eat, when to sleep, what to wear, what to set your thermostat at, what to think???
capejasmine on October 16, 2009 at 6:28 PM
He means Reagan. Ya know, the guy who had more love of America in a hair follicle than Obama has in his entire administration of Marxist scumbags.
csdeven on October 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM
I dunno why he doesn’t go, it’s Octoberfest there about know. He could have a real Beer Summit.
Lily on October 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Obama is not going to Berlin this time because Michelle is not proud of what happened there , an event she watched with tears in her eyes while sitting on her dad’s lap , 20 yrs ago
macncheez on October 16, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Big HEH
nolapol on October 16, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Wow, I’ve never been to that site but that is kind of chilling and creepy. What the he!! is their problem?
I saw someone post a comment from LGF saying that HA posters were all misogynists. As a woman, I just don’t see it. Sure, there are some borderline comments anywhere you go (I recall one comment that women shouldn’t have the right to vote). But those are exceptions, not the rule.
I used to be a liberal, and quite frankly I find that conservatives say what they mean and mean what they say. It always amazed me how hypocritical and sexist some liberal men could be. The fact that they are politically correct just makes it more difficult to find out sometimes . . .
Firefly_76 on October 16, 2009 at 6:31 PM
They don’t serve Bud Lite.
coldwarrior on October 16, 2009 at 6:31 PM
The Germans might find out the man child can’t handle real German bier, while he sips on his near beer. ;)
Was she cheering, when the Israeli team was assassinated?
capejasmine on October 16, 2009 at 6:33 PM
So will TOTUS address the world to mark 11/9 with some “service” ? Like freshly painting some old gulag buildings ?
macncheez on October 16, 2009 at 6:35 PM
She may have. That 1972 terrorist group at Munich was called Black September. /
coldwarrior on October 16, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Dohbama: “Can I vote ‘present’ if I’m not actually ‘present’ at the ceremony?”
Slick Willy: “It depends on what the meaning of ‘present’ is.”
fred5678 on October 16, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Suckers!
d1carter on October 16, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Wait a minute, wait a gosh darn minute…do you mean women are allowed to vote…who in tarnation would have voted for that?
right2bright on October 16, 2009 at 6:37 PM
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