Barack Obama's Berlin Speech: Popular Today, but What Will History Say?

Popularity Contest

If that is what we want in our President then Obama is your man. He is the new flavor...watch out Brittney and Paris, Barack is in the house. Only in America can a person who has done nothing, and has no experience be a star. I'm talking about Paris Hilton of course! Obama has done something....not much for a President but at least he's done more than Paris. I am a lifelong Democrat and disgusted that we would pick a celebrity over substance..I will probably vote McCain as big as his shortcomings are...he has earned it at least. I never supported affirmative action nor do support an Obama cult of personality.

Right on , rock band

Absurd to think that all those folks, waving American flags and wearing Obama were just there to see a rock concert. Another conservative pity party. Another thing to consider, is how many of them would have stuck around after a "concert" to listen to John McCain or GW Bush.

Obama is wildly popular worldwide you creepy repuglicans. Get over it.

Obama's speech

I have thought most of Obama's speeches were 'memorable', and, often eloquent. BUT, I was extremely disappointed with the flat-line speech he gave in Berlin and even with his performance in a joint news conference with France's new president. That was just disturbing.

McCain doesn't inspire me very much. But, then, neither candidate has it very easy right now. I'm so disheartened by such anger and even hate from many of our citizens against our government. No, I don't agree with everything our president and certainly not our Congress, especially in the past two years has done. But, I believe our President loves America and sincerely wants to see a free and democratic world.

Yes, some of the world is laughing at us but not because of our President. They are laughing because they see America deteriorating from within. The see the greatest nation in history fighting each other with such horrible venom. Many people have always hated America. So what. I haven't forgotten that America has always been the country with the greatest compassion for those in need than any nation in history.

I happen to respect our President who has stood by his convictions - no matter what has happened. I've listened to the media, heard the hate for the President in movies, in interviews, even in ridiculous 'video games' where the President is assasinated. What kind of people would find sick pleasure in any of this? I hated the venom against President Clinton during the scandals that plagued his presidency.

Yeah, yeah all the bloggers will jump on that with lightning speed. But, remember it's a free country to think what I want to. But I can't say whatever I want if it harms others, discredits their reputation with lies, etc. That's what we are doing in the name of 'free speech'. We talk about 'hate speech' and 'hate crimes'..... I see a double standard in our political world -- and so does the rest of the world!

I also like a lot of things about President Clinton.... also about Hilary Clinton. She got a bad rap over and over and over during her campaign! It wasn't fair.

I made a decision after watching the Berlin speech, that Senator Obama is far less experienced, seasoned, or as ready as I and most of the Democratic Party had thought.

McCain will win 2008. Life will go on. The last 8 years will be seen somewhat differently about President Bush. More than likely the anger will stop somewhat. Hopefully, we will all start thinking more clearly, remember the greatness of this great country, come together as a people, and be ALOT MORE RATIONAL about Presidential candidates for 2012.

I have great hopes for America as the greatest nation in the world. I know God will bless America as its people ask Him again to bless this great land. I am so proud to be an American -- not a Republican nor a Democrat... an American.

inspiiration; Steve Coulter

To Steve Coulter:

You and a few others make a great point in noting the importance of inspirational speeches. As far back as I can remember, I have heard: "Four scores and seven years ago"; "I have a dream"; "Ask not what your country can do for you"; "some men see things as they are and ask why..."

These do not constitute rhetoric but represent profound and outstanding ideals for this great country. Never underestimate the ability to inspire, or 'activate' people. MLK changed this country for the better because of an ability to inspire people to be willing to give up their lives for what was fair and just.

As noted by another poster, charisma is not always used for evil. Also, I cannot understand how anyone can live in this global world and not understand that we are all interdependent; that we cannot arrogantly stand apart and 'bully' everyone else. This "we can take on the world" mentality will continue to fail and would ultimately result in the reinstatement of the draft. (after all, how many wars can we fight with the same finite number of soldiers?)

rock band

Oh-- I forgot.

Perhaps the most pathetic theme I keep hearing is the assertion that --whenever Obama draws huge crowds-- the people actually came for a free rock concert. Do you guys really expect anybody to believe this stuff? For Obama, a small crowd is one of about 15,000. There aren't enough free rock bands to draw that many crowds in that many places.

Again, jealousy is a truly pathetic emotion, particularly when it causes people to grasp at the thinnest straws available.

scales

What I find sad is the level of sheer jealousy Obama generates amongst some people. If you guys knew how envious, petty and pathetic you sound when you post these vitriolic diatribes against Obama. There are rarely any persuasive points made, particularly when you turn any topic into a denigration of Michelle Obama. It comes across like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

I, too, wish I had Obama's gifts-- I don't-- but even if I wasn't an Obama supporter, I hope I would be able to avoid sinking into the intense jealousy and despair demonstrated by some of you.

berlin speech

The analogy to George Bush's victory gloating act is not apt. Many Americans, yours truly included, already horrified by the "wow and thunder" levelled at Iraq and its people, were shamed and embarrassed, not in retrospect, but at the time. Who found inspiration in the spectacle of our President playing war hero in his premature celebration of the apparent "success" of the enormous and unprovoked violence waged against a sovereign country and its people? To compare that spectacle, (it can hardly be characterized as a "speech"), to the eloquent and truly celebration- worthy address by Senator Obama is absurd. If you couldn't feel inspired and proud in hearing and seeing his Berlin address, and excited about the prospect of America regaining respect for and from the nations of the world, then you probably didn't feel shame at the moment of GWB Mission Accomplished stunt either, so in that respect, only, there is a parallel.

Obama's Berlin Speech Still Moves Me Emotionally

It’s been three days and I still get goose pimples mulling over that event. It is the classiest plea for help I've ever heard. It was someone throwing himself--not anyone else, and certainly not his country--prostrate before the world, Germans in particular. "We need your troops."

What a wonderful leader. I remember him once telling his audience that he would die for the American people. I thought that was a bit much but, somehow, believed that vow of devotion. As far as I'm concerned be backed up his vow when he risked his reputation to plea to the world for help for our troops.

But, before making his plea, he very beautifully recalled the Berlin Airlift. Germans were alone at the time; we came to their aide in a noble and ingenious way. By wrapping his plea in history and throwing all of his weight behind it, he has probably given us our best chance to get help with the Afghan war.

He just makes me so much prouder to be an American!!

Gives a Pretty Speech but he's really Clueless

He gave a speech with nothing but empty rhetoric, when he gave his interview to Tom Brokaw on "Meet The Press" in London on Sunday he was totally clueless about foreign policy, he credited the "Anbar Awakening" for the lessening of violence in Iraq, instead of the U.S. Troop surge...what an insult to the U.S. Military. He will not give credit to our brave Military serving in Iraq for the reduction of violence in Iraq. Who does Obama think he is? He thinks he knows more than the U.S. Military and General Petreus.

Faulty logic and comparison

I find it odd that you compare Barack Obama's Berlin speech, one of the most important and well thought messages or our time, to George W. Bush and Nixon speecheces. GWB's Mission Accomplished speech and Nixon's share unfavorable historical views due to the paradigm shift that occurred as a result of their LIES to the American people. What exactly are you getting at with this faulty comparison?

Let's go one step furhter. If we are to consider the historical ramifications of a great speech initially viewed positively, do you not think your message a bit premature. It hasn't even been a week, barely even half at that! This story comes off more as a desperate attempt to find something, anything wrong with Barack Obama's trip after its exorbitant success, far surpassing medica expectations. Does it really chaffe that badly to have a candidate of whom we can be proud? The art of speech writing is not, as you suggest, little understood and of forgotten importance. The media simply discounted its relevance due to the fact that our sitting president of the last 8 years lacks any semblance of adequate use of the English language. Let's stop praising mediocrity and pretending it somehow represents something more, and subsequently attacking excellence when someone dares to display it.