Ignorance of History Has Its Price
as does arrogance
German Chancellor Angela Merkel slammed a request by Barack Obama to give a speech this month before the Brandenburg Gate as “inappropriate”, her deputy spokesman said Wednesday.
The conservative leader said that while she would be pleased to meet the US Democratic presidential hopeful, it would be wrong for him to hold a “campaign rally” at the historic symbol of German unity.
“It is unusual to do electioneering abroad,” spokesman Thomas Steg told reporters.
“It is unusual to hold election rallies abroad. No German candidate for high office would even think of using the National Mall (in Washington) or Red Square in Moscow for a rally because it would not be seen as appropriate."
That’s ok—O’Possum has fellow travelers friends…
The left-leaning government of the city-state, which has the sole right to approve such a request, has not yet made a formal decision but Mayor Klaus Wowereit gave his backing ...
a spokesman for Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier sharply contradicted Merkel’s views at a regular government press conference, saying they could be interpreted in the United States as an affront to Obama.
Well… that may be the first recorded instance in 30 years to not offend America.
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