Crazy About Barack - Obamamania Infects Germany, Der Spiegel

[Eurobabe]

CRAZY ABOUT BARACK
Obamamania Infects Germany
www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,druck-555437,00.html

Berlin political circles -- both liberal and conservative -- are fawning over US presidential candidate Barack Obama. Many in Germany see him as a cross between John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., but expectations may be exaggerated.

Prost, Barack! Germans are intoxicated by Barack Obama's political message.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier had hoped to meet personally, but Barack Obama has a lot on his plate at the moment and Germany's foreign minister had to make do with a telephone conversation with the presidential candidate during his recent visit to Washington. Still, that's all it took to stir Steinmeier's enthusiasm for the candidate.

The American may be deep in the midst of a campaign, but members of Steinmeier's entourage told SPIEGEL that Obama's foreign policy questions were very engaged, and he peppered his conversation with questions about the German foreign minister's views on Russia, Iran and Afghanistan.

The conversation lasted about 15 minutes and was very focused. Obama's rhetorical "cruising altitude," was apparently quite high, an advisor to Steinmeier said. At the end of the conversation, the Democratic presidential candidate promised to come to Germany as soon as possible.

The few minutes spent on the telephone gave Steinmeier the impression that Obama is prepared to fundamentally reconsider the course of US foreign policy. Steinmeier was impressed, and only a day later he publicly outed himself as the senator's latest fan. "Yes we can," the minister, not known for his emotional outbursts, chanted, evoking Obama's campaign slogan during a speech at Harvard University. Steinmeier used the term to express his desire for a renewal of trans-Atlantic relations.

'Germany Is Obamaland'

[New Earth]

1. aww

[rug]

2. Germans are usually more levelheaded about political leaders.

[tekisui]

13. !

You packed a punch on that one!

:rofl:

[PBS Poll-435]

41. OMG

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[my3boyz]

3. Great! I will fit right in during my visit in July!!! :)

[ForeignSpectator]

16. Really? Where will you be going? n/t

[my3boyz]

24. Most of my time will be spent in Garmisch. I will also be in

Stuttgart. We don't have a final iteniary yet. I'm very excited about our trip though. :)

[Eurobabe]

36. I am very close to you then. Here's where I live

the mountains are Garmisch-P.

[my3boyz]

48. It is soooooooooooooo beautiful!!!!!! You are blessed to live

in such a beautiful place! Seeing that picture really makes me excited for our trip.......... :)

[ForeignSpectator]

52. Sounds like the "classic area" to visit for Americans, the south of Germany...

not where I am unfortunately... ;) hope you enjoy your stay!! Be sure to try the chocolate, if you haven't before, "Milka" is MY favorite. :9

[AllentownJake]

4. Not to say anything bad

but should we really be touting German support?

(I'm of German Heritage by the way)

[Cha]

25. Why not? I think the point is mostly that

Anybody who cares about a better Planet is really excited about our candidate..as it should be!!

[K Gardner]

5. While traveling the length of Italy last Spring, I discovered the Italians already knew more about

him than I did. Europeans for the most part are extremely well-informed.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Oberhammer!

:D

[Cha]

26. Obamawurst!

B-)

[TahitiNut]

32. Barackheit

:rofl:

[HooptieWagon]

34. Obamafernugen...

[TahitiNut]

35. Fahr out!

:rofl:

[SaveAmerica]

51. OberObamaGau

http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/1446037.html

[Inuca]

7. I have a german sister-in-law

Big fan!

[TBF]

8. We're going to see more of this world-wide

after 8 years of George Bush the whole freakin' world wants CHANGE.

[livingmadness]

21. As an ex-pat its amazing how much excitement Obama generates GLOBALLY!

Truly amazing!

[Cha]

27. Got that right...it's not just our little

isolated country that cares for Change!

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Obviously they are misogynist and therefore support the MALE candidate.

Like that Merkel fellow running Germany now.

[billyoc]

11. OMG, duzy.

:rofl:

[cbc5g]

42. LOL seconded n/t

[Cha]

28. Good POINT!

:7

[BlooInBloo]

33. Totally! They LOVED it when gw gave their leader a shoulder rub!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dfrHT8o-0A

[Webster Green]

10. The "Cult" is spreading like wildfire..

Resistance is futile!}(

[Cha]

30. Never thought I'd be part

of World Wide Cult}(

[pdxmike]

12. all snark aside...

This is (for me) the most intriguing thing about the Obama candidacy. I wanted Gore to get in the race, was an early supporter of Edwards, but have also been intrigued by other candidates (I have to admit that HRC never did appeal to me- but that's another matter).
The fact that a President Obama would present an entirely different American face to the world is very important. Very few Americans realize the iconic role that JFK played around the world. He was the young, energetic, forward looking face of the "new America". Our current "brand" is the sclerotic visages of Bush and Cheney. I am so looking forward to the front pages of Der Spiegel etc having the smiling faces of Barack and Michele(sp?) Obama. Talk about rebranding!

[OneDemsConscience]

14. Well said

Its clear that any Democratic president would have the advantage of worldwide popularity and the United States would get a 'clean slate'. This factor is even more significant for Obama--he represents America as a diverse and human nation--he is everything Bush and Cheney are not.

[ForeignSpectator]

15. Took the "Spiegel" magazine long enough...

not too long ago you could read there about what a dreamy illusion Obama is and how Clinton is all substance. The author who wrote that saw his error by now though ( not the author the piece above ).

[Cha]

31. Wow, I remember that article..

Give her enough time and rope and they can see it as far away as Germany.

[Eurobabe]

37. yes, the Washington correspondent was a real Clinton lover

I remember him well. Maybe someone served him a pizza? :rofl:

[ForeignSpectator]

55. "Gabor Steingart", a self-absorbed

ass. Met Clinton years ago for an interview and was sooo tremendously impressed with her that he wouldn't open his eyes to reality.

[LSK]

53. I noticed that too n/t

[DerekJ]

17. Add Germany to the list of countries that prefer Obama.

[meow mix]

18. send forth the buses.

germany is dead to me.

[Eurobabe]

45. LOL

:rofl: :rofl:

[Guava Jelly]

19. I will be in Germany in a month

YAY!

[Eurobabe]

38. Where you headed?

We've got some DU'ers over here. Meet up?

Paging MHC! :applause:

[DemGa]

20. I just don't see what the followers see in Obama

Some apparently are immune.

[ruby slippers]

39. eyes wide shut?

[stray cat]

22. Compared to Bush I would imagine most of the world is estactic at the possiblity

[Window]

23. K/R.

:kick:

[HooptieWagon]

29. I suspect germans will just be grateful

that the US elects a president that doesn't grope their Chancellor...

[scarletwoman]

40. I can't help it: WOOT! (nt)

[Catherina]

43. He repeated YES WE CAN?

:woohoo:

[Eurobabe]

44. I guess so, Germans are VERY psyched for Barack.

I love wearing my shirt over here, I get tons of looks. :D

[Catherina]

46. Are there any German Obama trinkets?

:woohoo:

I wish I could come visit!

[Eurobabe]

47. Not that I have seen, only the ones I have brought

back with me from the USA. Buttons, bumperstickers, t-shirts. Everyone WANTS them here too!

[my3boyz]

49. Wow...that is so awesome! Sounds like my kind of place for sure...nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

54. Ja, koennen Wir!

:thumbsup:

[Eurobabe]

50. Echo, echo!!

[hogwyld]

56. I was in Dresden earlier this month

and everyone is excited about Obama. Went out one night after work wearing my Obama T-shirt, and didn't have to buy a drink the rest of the night! I was born in Germany (military brat), so I understand the culture better than some, and the anticipation of a new America is palpable.

[jordi_fanclub]

57. Yes, they are "crazy"... here's a picture from last Carnival in Germany...