Your opinion, please.

[silverback]

Dear US-forumites,

I have no intention to start a heated political discussion, much less a flamewar, and ask everyone who replies to behave in the usual excellent manner of this forum.
I found this first in german FAZ online news and, since this is my only peer group of US-Americans, I am curious about your opinion of the following.

Senator McCain made this statement, through his spokesperson, about Obama's visit to Berlin:

[...] "You know, it really speaks to the experience that Barack Obama lacks," Bounds told Fox News.
"He prioritizes throngs of fawning Germans over meeting with wounded combat troops in Germany," Bounds said. [...]

Read the whole news item at afp.google.com:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ghL ... llWSBEdgsA

[mrappraisit]

What very few people are saying is that the Pentagon was not keen on the idea because it was seen as a campaign stop, they strongly discouraged his making a stop at that airbase. Of course you have to ask yourself "who controls the Pentagon?"... exactly.

I am tired of having a xenophobic president, this is just more anti Obama spin.

[cobrajoe]

I think it speaks for itself.

As for not making the stop due to the pentagon, the story I heard was that he was allowed to go, but the pentagon wouldn't let him take cameras onto the base with him. He was allowed to go as a private citizen and pay his respects to the troops, but instead he opted out and blamed it on the pentagon.

Of course, hearing the story from Rush Limbaugh probably is a little more one sided :o

[The Deacon]

Wouldn't have voted for Osama before, won't vote for him now.

[Slick]

This thread will probably be closed. Anything political is dicey here. Posting a link might be ok.

[Fred Sanford]

silverback,

As much as I want to answer this I am pretty sure that Kristi asked in the past that we keep away from these threads. If she decides that it's ok to keep this thread I will post an answer. I'll even be happy to PM or email you if you like. Shoot me an email at lowryd )at( hotmail dot com.

[tortoise]

I think it speaks for itself.

As for not making the stop due to the pentagon, the story I heard was that he was allowed to go, but the pentagon wouldn't let him take cameras onto the base with him. He was allowed to go as a private citizen and pay his respects to the troops, but instead he opted out and blamed it on the pentagon.

Of course, hearing the story from Rush Limbaugh probably is a little more one sided :o

-Not one sided, and not just as a "private citizen." The man is a United States Senator. A "campaign stop" is what was prohibited. So they skipped it.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2 ... -hospital/

I agree with Senator McCain.

There are Americans to whom it is deeply important to be "liked" by the rest of the world. I believe that Senator Obama is one and, to my ear, his European-trip speeches reflected this.

Personally, I would prefer that U.S. elected officials, especially those seeking the top job, did not go abroad and apologize for me.

Nations do not have friends, only interests. Most European governments seem to get this, and currently they see how it is in their interest for American leadership to try to get them to "like" us. Any potential U.S. leader who would compromise our own interests chasing international popularity would not be my choice.

By this I mean no disrespect to the citizens of any allied nation, but I simply do not ask my neighbors what I should do in my own home.

[silverback]

Thanks a lot folks, you've been very helpful!

[zenheretic]

Hi Silverback I read your question as if you are wondering if McCain or Americans have something against Germany/Germans.

No we don't. As you know, Obama/McCain are campaiging against each other. So each will be quick to say things to make the other look bad.

Obama chose to not visit the American troops in a prescheduled visit in your country when it was found he could only have military newspeople with him. So it was an easy score for McCain to state Obama would rather talk to foreigners than our own troops. The fact that the people were German didn't matter.

Hope that clears it up. There is a very large portion of Americans who can trace their ancestry to the German peoples. :)

[Agent Starling]

oh, man...wish I could say what I was thinking...but no politics allowed so I'll just keep my mouth shut! (hard to believe, I know...) :eek: :D

Agent Starling

[Dr. Snubnose]

-Not one sided, and not just as a "private citizen." The man is a United States Senator. A "campaign stop" is what was prohibited. So they skipped it.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2 ... -hospital/

I agree with Senator McCain.

There are Americans to whom it is deeply important to be "liked" by the rest of the world. I believe that Senator Obama is one and, to my ear, his European-trip speeches reflected this.

Personally, I would prefer that U.S. elected officials, especially those seeking the top job, did not go abroad and apologize for me.

Nations do not have friends, only interests. Most European governments seem to get this, and currently they see how it is in their interest for American leadership to try to get them to "like" us. Any potential U.S. leader who would compromise our own interests chasing international popularity would not be my choice.

By this I mean no disrespect to the citizens of any allied nation, but I simply do not ask my neighbors what I should do in my own home.

My feeling exactly...Doc :D

[RIOT]

Wouldn't have voted for Osama before, won't vote for him now.

LOL me too, have you read on the net that people think hes the one of the antichrists the holy bible talks about, i find it interesting with biblical predictions, not saying its true or false, just interesting

[WOTANSON1]

Wouldn't have voted for Osama before, won't vote for him now.

I prefer to say Just Say No To B.O. in 08


Cheers,
Rob