Surprise: Obama addresses Berlin on the fall of the Wall
posted at 5:43 pm on November 9, 2009 by Allahpundit
I’m giving you two versions, the unedited BBC transmission and the censored version that ran on Russian state television (which omits the passage about the Declaration of Independence but not, curiously, the one about the Iron Curtain), thus proving that the old Soviet spirit is alive and kicking. Even in a two-and-a-half minute speech about an event as epochal as the fall of the Wall, somehow he finds a way to make it about him:
“Few would have foreseen … that a united Germany would be led by a woman from Brandenburg or that their American ally would be led by a man of African descent. But human destiny is what human beings make of it,” Obama said.
Skip ahead to 4:30 or so of the Russia Today clip to watch Hillary introduce him as “someone who represents the fall of different kinds of walls.” Even here, history is a handmaiden to The One’s grandeur.
Fox News speculated earlier that Obama might have decided against attending in order to avoid annoying his new partners in peace in Moscow. Think they’re wrong? Watch the BBC clip and count the number of times The One names either “Russia” or the “Soviet Union” as the party responsible for the Wall. The closest he gets is the reference to the Iron Curtain; aside from that, all we really learn here is that there was some vague tyrant that used to oppress eastern Europe but has since receded into the mists of history. Ask the Poles and Czechs how they feel about that “recession” in the wake of our new missile defense arrangement.
Be sure to count the number of references to Reagan and Thatcher too.
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Another thing. Too bad Thatcher isn’t still around…to kick O in the a**.
BuckeyeSam on November 9, 2009 at 6:11 PM
The Russians are still a sore about the whole cold war/communism period in their history…….so what.
I had my passport ready back in 1989 and nearly went to see the fall of the wall first-hand. I wish that I had.
SC.Charlie on November 9, 2009 at 6:11 PM
At the very least he should’ve apologized in person.
Christien on November 9, 2009 at 6:12 PM
A mile wide and an inch deep…it’s all about the “O”.
Wyznowski on November 9, 2009 at 6:12 PM
*sigh*
it will always be about the ‘O’…
the man has no shame….
cmsinaz on November 9, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Reagan: Stands tall in front of that long gray scar across Europe and proclaims, “Tear done this wall!”
Obama:……….”Phones” it in.
ThePrez on November 9, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Almost spit my coffee. Good one!
WitchDoctor on November 9, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Someone needs to “tear down that ego.”
ProfShade on November 9, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Well, thank goodness the Germans got hear The One’s voice on this momentous day.
Lord knows what they’d have done if he hadn’t been available….
JoeinTX on November 9, 2009 at 6:15 PM
She is still around, but in ill health.
SC.Charlie on November 9, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Awesome
Mr. Obama, tear down that ego.
JoeinTX on November 9, 2009 at 6:16 PM
hopefully we can do that in 2010 and again in 2012…
cmsinaz on November 9, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Poor Mr. President. After all, he inherited this lack of communism.
He would make a good opera singer….Me, me, me, me, me, me.
Trusser13 on November 9, 2009 at 6:17 PM
I second that!!!
deidre on November 9, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Standing Offer to trolls and human beings:
If you can tell me what Obama-mama being Af-Am has to do with the Berlin Wall coming down, I’ll send you ten bucks.
Janos Hunyadi on November 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Jon, Levi, and Barry in Times Square
Where’s Slublog?
Christien on November 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Michelle Ogabe remembers sitting on her father’s lap in 1989, watching as hordes of Berliners tore and hammered at the hated wall. She never felt closer to her dad.
Bishop on November 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM
mmm… mmm… mmm…
It’s all about Obama
Vera on November 9, 2009 at 6:20 PM
A Freaking +
You deserve a gold star for that one!
JellyToast on November 9, 2009 at 6:20 PM
I am sooooooooo over this self-absorbed buffoon!
SDarchitect on November 9, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Only the Good Lord can handle the ego of OBAMA.
mobydutch on November 9, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Mr. President,
Please find someone else to write your speeches and/or statements. You (or they) are tone deaf.
Love,
An American
bridgetown on November 9, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Sick to DEATH of him talking about himself.
Alana on November 9, 2009 at 6:22 PM
this mother_u_ker has to make it about HIM… and he doesn’t even have the class to show up — what a pig.
D2Boston on November 9, 2009 at 6:23 PM
I’m a retired U.S. Navy Russian linguist and proud Cold Warrior and I am personally insulted that President Reagan was not mentioned by any of these dolts.
The Cold War ended and one of the greatest threats to world peace in human history was defeated because of Ronald Wilson Reagan.
Get a clue, BHO!
NavyMustang on November 9, 2009 at 6:23 PM
I follow
the MoskvaObamaDown to
GorkyGrant ParkListening to the
wind ofhopenchange(Apologies to the Scorpions)
Christien on November 9, 2009 at 6:24 PM
How long before stimulus funds are sent south to speed up building the fence ( wall ) on the Mexican border. Why? To keep U.S. citizens in.
donh525 on November 9, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Bishop…you’re too late! My post at 6:01 is the crunkest post evah. No one could have foreseen it, regardless of their descent.
Now grab a shovel and help clean up this mess.
jamie gumm on November 9, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Didn’t you hear the speech? Obama said so, but his ego isn’t quite so large as to make the fullest of connections. Smart power–those who have it, of course–dictates no less an understanding.
Liam on November 9, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Obama, (paraphrasing) “Sure, the wall came down, but I’m historical too.”
JellyToast on November 9, 2009 at 6:27 PM
The irony would be funny if it didn’t affect all our lives.
chemman on November 9, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Crap…I’m always a day late and a dollar short.
Bishop on November 9, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Obama mentions himself, but not Reagan or Thatcher, what an ass. I doubt Obama has the slightest idea why this date is important to Germans or Europeans.
BottomLine5 on November 9, 2009 at 6:30 PM
He looks like Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock.
Christien on November 9, 2009 at 6:31 PM
And that would be the only reason you’ll see a serious physical obstacle at the border……..to keep all us insurance rebels in and forced to pay into that boondoggle…..
JoeinTX on November 9, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Like Our Lord and Master, google couldn’t bring itself to fully recognize this day. Only the german version of google has a logo. They’ve actually had a few Sesame Street ones already – there was a Bert and Ernie last week. I suppose freedom for millions means less to google than seeing sesame street indoctrinate kids. Wish there was a better search engine, but I have yet to find one…
http://www.google-logos.com/20th-anniversary-of-the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall-in-germany-2009.html
DrEvilDoer on November 9, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Oh please. Please! Somebody put a muzzle on him. He is an embarrassment and sorry excuse for a leader.
I want to give a “shout out” to him “shutting up”.
manateespirit on November 9, 2009 at 6:37 PM
This egomaniacal freak is just despicable. The utterly unaccomplished naked emperor overestimates himself greatly. History will treat this man as he should be treated.
marklmail on November 9, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Obama gives another shout out. Pathetic. He still hasn’t even visited Ft. Hood, has he?
scalleywag on November 9, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Damn!
I never knew the inanimate wall had also been racist.
Yet another teachable moment!
Thanks O!
Tom_OC on November 9, 2009 at 6:41 PM
True, and at least God has the decency to not think he’s Obama.
jarodea on November 9, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Obama reminisces about history:
“I remember exactly where I was when I heard that the Berlin Wall had fallen, and I nearly honked a C note’s worth of good blow off the table as I snorted in surprise! Luckily, both the Germans and I got high on that day, 20 years ago. The German people from the natural euphoria of unification, and I from the rolled-up dollar bill I used as a nose straw…”
profitsbeard on November 9, 2009 at 6:43 PM
“someone who represents the fall of different kinds of walls.”
If we’re lucky it will fall on him.
faol on November 9, 2009 at 6:49 PM
ZERO. Why should we be surprised? Re-writing history is what Communists and their apologists do.
Buy Danish on November 9, 2009 at 6:49 PM
delicious
faraway on November 9, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Obama is still a junior communist in training so me must kowtow to the big dogs.
darwin on November 9, 2009 at 6:50 PM
I’m shocked that Obama did not use James Earl Jones to recite this speech, pump up the reverberation and just lip-synch to it.
Obama is the Milli Vanilli president.
I can hear it now:
“WORLD, I AM YOUR FATHER”. What ego?
C’Mon, Obama tore down the wall, all by himself, it says so in any US history book. Copyright by Bill Ayers.
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 6:53 PM
They have no shame, most of them. But remember, he was also elected by the idiots who stayed home from the polls “tp teach the Republicans a lesson”. McCain wasn’t perfect, but he’s a lot better than this Chicago thug.
Del Dolemonte on November 9, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I hope Netanyahu rips him a new one. They are meeting in a few minutes.
rockmom on November 9, 2009 at 6:56 PM
we have a photo of that day:
http://definitivetouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lisa-jack-barack-obama.jpg
Even then he was addicted to the camera.
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Our president is a real piece of chit punk. The sooner he’s history the better off America will be. 3 more long, long years of an egotistical nightmare.
Griz on November 9, 2009 at 6:57 PM
He’ll be injecting the awesomeness of his presence in a memorial service there tomorrow.
Our military deserves better.
Nichevo on November 9, 2009 at 6:58 PM
I’m surprised he didn’t mention Reagan or Thatcher as in, “They acted stupidly.”
TXUS on November 9, 2009 at 6:59 PM
I hope that one day I get to attend an Obama speech.
I’m going to bring a big blank poster board and a thick black marker, and every time he says “I, me, my, myself, etc.” I’m going to tally it on the poster and hold it above the crowd.
Or maybe I should have a huge pre-made bingo card, with words like “hope, change, accountability, transparency, etc.” on it. Then at least I can feel like I won something.
Animator Girl on November 9, 2009 at 7:01 PM
We remember the allies who …
We remember the Poles …
We remember the Pope ..
We remember the birds
We remember the fleas
We remember the trees
We remember the sun
We remember the moon
We remember the stars
We remember everybody but the power of Reagan’s Berlin Wall speech.
What a shameful display by President Obama and Hillary Clinton.
apacalyps on November 9, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Obama’s ears?
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 7:04 PM
In light of Obama’s historic failure to credit Ronald Reagan, let’s take a look back at how he treated Nancy a year ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59XB68F54kA
Historic!
Jim Treacher on November 9, 2009 at 7:04 PM
How could Obama remember any of this? He was stoned out of his gourd at the time.
drjohn on November 9, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Obama is an utter failure as President of the United States and representative of all Americans.
Simply horrible. What an embarrassment to have this puppet represent us to the rest of the world, especially on such an historic occassion.
darwin on November 9, 2009 at 7:07 PM
The hyperventilating about Reagan here is hilarious.
What if if Democrats became outrageously outraged every time FDR wasn’t explicitly given credit for victory in WWII?
crr6 on November 9, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Obama should be wearing glasses since he seems to have an “I” problem.
His favorite Beatles song is “I, Me, Mine.”
Mallard T. Drake on November 9, 2009 at 7:12 PM
The only one hyperventilating is you. Now slow down, take a deep breath, and tell us more about how historic Obama is.
Jim Treacher on November 9, 2009 at 7:13 PM
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Truman closed that deal and FDR was smart enough to let his generals kill whoever was necessary to kill in order to end the war as quickly as possible. Something that can no longer be done thanks to all of the cowtowing to the UN.
thomasaur on November 9, 2009 at 7:15 PM
‘To those who say that there is no difference between the Free World and communism – let them come to Berlin’
A proud American President – JFK.
Lou Budvis on November 9, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Actually as usual, you seem to be the one that’s upset.
How many times does Obama need to mention Reagan so that you won’t throw a little temper tantrum? At least twice as much as he mentions the East German people?
crr6 on November 9, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Yeah, how’d that turn out for Eastern Europe after FDR turned Poland and others over to Russia. Thus were sown the seeds of the Berlin wall.
Mallard T. Drake on November 9, 2009 at 7:16 PM
In Louisiana there is a saying that best describes the Won. He has an alligator mouth and a parakeet ass.
MikeA on November 9, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Because FDR was dead, Truman was the Commander in Chief… the American army won the war.
More liberal history revision?
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 7:18 PM
“Obama is great, because shut up!”
- crr6
Flawless reasoning.
Tom_OC on November 9, 2009 at 7:19 PM
And Reagan himself tore down the wall? See how silly this game is?
crr6 on November 9, 2009 at 7:20 PM
And a 10 cent head. Not a ringing endorsement for a Columbia or Hah-varrrd education.
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Look at the difference between what Marco Rubio (R), running for the Senate in Florida has to say about the fall of the Berlin Wall and what the Ego-in-Chief says.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDVjZDU3MTk0YzEwM2I2ZWJlOWIxMTU4ZDY0M2FjNzg=
The contrast is telling.
onlineanalyst on November 9, 2009 at 7:24 PM
I get it. Your reply was imbecilic…as usual.
Let’s ask you a question. Why does Obama not practice redistributing HIS wealth as he preaches?
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 7:25 PM
“Few would have foreseen … that a united Germany would be led by a woman from Brandenburg or that their American ally would be led by a
man of African descentmuslim with no birth certificateMarxist dirtball. But human destiny is what human beings make of it,” Obama said.portlandon on November 9, 2009 at 5:52 PM
justltl on November 9, 2009 at 7:26 PM
If it ain’t about Barry, he’ll make it about Barry.
GarandFan on November 9, 2009 at 7:26 PM
And that’s why he didn’t attend, it wasn’t all about him. So nice of him to make a few minutes of the celebration about him though… ***vomit***
SoxNation on November 9, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Let’s look at FDR’s war record. Even though WWII had started in 1939, he did next to nothing to mobilize the US for entry into the War. Contrary to popular myth, most of the country was actually ahead of FDR in realizing the US would eventually fight. (See “Freedom From Fear” written by lib prof. David Kennedy).
Let’s talk about ‘failure of imagination’ 1941-style. The only reason that Pearl Harbor wasn’t a total disaster was that Adm. Nogumo didn’t go back for a 3rd strike at the fuel depots and dry docks. Had he destroyed those, the US would’ve been knocked back to the west coast.
B/c FDR entered the war in Europe unprepared for a cross-channel invasion, forces were directed to North Africa to appease Stalin. Though a victory did result, it was bloody and largely a sideshow.
Next, if FDR was a great military genius, why didn’t he make sure that Patton had gas in the Summer of ’44, when the 3rd Army might have been able to end the war on a dash to Berlin.
Bottom line – as is the case with his economic policies, FDR’s military policies were flawed.
Lou Budvis on November 9, 2009 at 7:28 PM
And as usual, your projection is one of the less boring things about you.
On a day like today? Once would be nice.
Jim Treacher on November 9, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Or how many times does Obama visit Ft. Hood or ANY military hospital?
As many World Wars won by FDR = ZERO.
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 7:28 PM
1. JFK
2. ???
3. The Wall falls!
Christien on November 9, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Do y’all think we’ll ever have a real president again?
kmarie on November 9, 2009 at 7:29 PM
After reading the comments…
… my decision not to play the clips seems to have been a correct one.
Seven Percent Solution on November 9, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Our Disgrace in Chief
Schadenfreude on November 9, 2009 at 7:31 PM
If I had known you’d respond with such a zinger, I definitely would never have never engaged you! Yikes!
Anyway, how’s the whole birther thing workin out for ya? You’ve been awfully quiet about it lately. Did the mockery wear you down?
crr6 on November 9, 2009 at 7:32 PM
If we don’t, then we deserve more turds like this one.
Schadenfreude on November 9, 2009 at 7:33 PM
CNN reports: as Obama showed up on the German TV, millions of Berliners were spotted chanting: “Wir sind nicht wurdig”
Michelle Dubois on November 9, 2009 at 7:33 PM
WW2 won by Eisenhower, That would be a REPUBLICAN winning a war started by the democrats…again.
dthorny on November 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Actually, it was the Russians. But feel free to bask in your version of history if it makes you feel better.
Grow Fins on November 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
I can’t wait for the day when someone brings up the “O” person, and all I think about is the chick on Overstock.com again.
BobMbx on November 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Obama is just so clearly not involved in American or world history. His focus is entirely on himself, on his “plans” to remake the USA and on making sure there’s this building of this secret Obamastan-whatever-lam.
Whenever it’s ‘NECESSARY’ for Obama to make some appearance at some event in reference to any history — in which Communism, Fascism and/or monarchies were conquered by the West and Allies — Obama does so ONLY in such pathetically, pitifully uninvolved terms as to be just doing a job to get past an event that is likely to be truly annoying to him in reality, the historical events themselves about which a memorium is taking place.
We saw this in Normandy — ghaa, ghastly self-focus by Obama, ghastly ghoulish detachment from anything emotionally connecting to the American and Allied lives lost there years ago or why they were lost, his hand signals to the street, his snotty attempts to gather everyone else AROUND HIM.
I was disgusted with his behavior at Normandy, as I was also quite repulsed by that video that he imposed about himself upon the Berlin audience and by that, the world via broadcasts.
Lourdes on November 9, 2009 at 7:36 PM
I thought I heard him say “Ich bin ein Muslimer”
BobMbx on November 9, 2009 at 7:36 PM
HA commenters/readers, take note that crr6 has gotten the O-message. S/he now writes like the Wonderous Won speaks “you ain’t seen nothin‘ yet; we’re just beginnin‘…changin‘ things is hard – who said it’s goin‘ to be easy?”
Schadenfreude on November 9, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Ummmm…No.
crr6 on November 9, 2009 at 7:38 PM
At least he didn’t say “Ich bin ein schwarzer Berliner” – I’m a black doughnut.
Schadenfreude on November 9, 2009 at 7:39 PM
It’s really pretty amazing watching liberals try to spin away American victories.
Vera on November 9, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Remember Obama’s wan act at the 9/11 memorial event at Ground Zero in 2008?
His wife couldn’t bare to show up because, so the excuse went, she had to get the children to their first week of school (“week” while the event a few states over was on one afternoon of one day) — later to be shown that she was in another state from that “school” conducting a media series of events, “talking”.
Obama walked down to Ground Zero with one flower and seemed to truly resent even having to carry “the thing” and then toss it onto Ground Zero. He certainly did not display the behavior of any reverent individual.
I was repulsed then by him as I am now.
Lourdes on November 9, 2009 at 7:39 PM
You know, B.O. is the kind of guy Reagan warned us against!
pilamaye on November 9, 2009 at 7:39 PM
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