Barack Obama let Europeans know he has their backs as he spoke in Germany yesterday. "Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen -- a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world," he said.As usual, Obama was in his element, with a well-rehearsed speech and an audience of a couple hundred thousand people, none of whom had the opportunity to ask him any questions about his positions or what his soaring rhetoric actually meant.
Not everyone was fooled, even in Germany.
The AP reports that:
In Die Welt, the German publication, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., wrote: "No one knows which Obama will show. Will it be the ideological, left-wing Democratic primary candidate who vowed to 'end' the war rather than win it, or the Democratic nominee who dismisses the progressing coalition victory as a 'distraction'? Will it be the American populist who has told supporters in the United States that he will demand more from our allies in Europe and get it, or the liberal internationalist hell-bent on being liked in Europe's salons?"
"People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment. This is our time," Obama said. Great. If you want to run for president of the world, stay in Europe, buddy. I bet you'll win in a landslide.
Frankly, I've never said Obama was not a smart guy. Maybe he could even become Secretary-General of the U.N. and actually turn that laughable and corrupt body into a positive force for good on the planet. Such a role seems much more akin to where Obama's heart really seems to lie--not with the interests of Americans, but bringing everyone on the planet together in love and peace and harmony. There's nothing wrong with that, and I'm not saying it's not a laudable goal. But it's not the top priority of the President of the United States.
In particular I was struck by this porition of Rhoads' essay:
I hope I am wrong, but I have the impression that Sen. Obama has called himself a "citizen of the world" to imply to others that he will not be just an American leader, but a leader who owes his allegiance to a global constituency rather than only or primarily to the voters of America. If true, that definition of "citizen of the world" could not be compatible with the presidential oath of office. (TA's italics)
The gist of Sen. Obama's Berlin speech was about how marvelous the biography of Barack Obama is, how marvelous it was that Berlin survived the blockade of 1948 and the Berlin Wall, and that Barack Obama favors cooperation among nations whereas by Implication President Bush, Sen. McCain and those unfeeling Republicans are against cooperation and want America to go it alone. This narrative is getting tiresome but it is one that many Left Wing Democrats apparently believe for in their calculations of world security, something called "cooperation" for the greater good is the solution to everything and trumps individual liberty and the rule of law.
Right on, Mr. Rhoads.
MEANWHILE, BACK IN LAKE COUNTY: If you want the polar opposite of Obama's speech to win the hearts and minds of voters in Europe, check out the Lake County Fair, where grassroots politics in the truest sense was on display from both Republicans and Democrats. The GOP booth, as usual, had the prime spot in the Exhibition Building, and traffic was steady all night. A number of our candidates were pressing the flesh, including State Senate Candidate Keith Gray, State Rep. Candiate Dan Sugrue, and Coroner candidate Dr. Mike Oster. The GOP booth was organized by County Board Member Bob Powers.
The Dem booth was smaller but still represented. I did note that their 'welcome' banner touted the name of State Senator Terry Link, who is the Dem Chairman for Lake County. I wonder if they may have reason to be scrubbing references to Terry Link and their party sometime soon...
In any event, enjoy some pix from the GOP booth at the Fair:
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8 comments:
"Ich bin ein beginner!"
dceyes, that's the best line of the day! The hubris of Mr. Obama is simply so over the top that it's almost funny. Almost. He does see himself as the president of the World and beyond. And, to your point, TA, he is well scripted in front of the cheering throngs all over Europe. There is also a very funny sign that came out in Hebrew from some of the not so Obama loving folks. I'd post it, but this is, after all, a family-type post. It's all in the hype and it was monumental, to be sure.
Obama ist kaput
Wow. Obama really needs to focus on his own country, where he actually holds a legal citizenship.
See why lack of America-First understanding does not fit with past Commanders-In-Chief at Commodore Perry.
Right on, Commodore. I've added you to the Blogroll.
Thanks for stopping by and like your blog!
Nein, nein, nein, nein, you are missing the point, almost as much as Barack Obama seemed to be missing the fact that the concept of the USA and Germany as "historical allies" is somewhat new. With Obama's transition team now in place, as soon as he reaches the White House, Obama will be going global, showing the same regard for the US citizens as he showed for the people of the State of Illinois when they elected him Senator.
Obama knows he has won and is already running to be the Planet's President.
Such hubris will be rewarded.
Reminds me of the scene in the famous movie Road Trip where the guys girlfriend goes looking for him in Boston rather than Austin, thanks to Tom Green's stupidity. Pathetic that McCain can't get any sort of message traction.
Really sad no one has noted that Obama could have done this in the 4 previous years he was a senator but instead chose to campaign for democrats or that he needs 3,000 foreign policy advisors when the entire foreign service, responsible for our relations with 6.2 billion people only has 8,700 people in it.
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