Barclay Palmer
AC360 Senior Producer
Good morning!! “Ich bin ein Berliner!”
With those words, nearly half a century ago, John F. Kennedy reassured Berliners, and Europe as a whole, that he would stand by them despite the Soviet Union’s erection of the Berlin Wall and its threatening clampdown on travel between East and West Berlin. The speech was one of the defining moments of the Cold War, expressing democracy’s defiance of the Kremlin’s totalitarian control.
Today, Barack Obama taps into that history with a speech in Berlin on the US-European relationship at the Victory Column before a crowd that Berlin authorities predict could reach a million people. Candy Crowley reports his campaign insists that it‘s not a political event, but adds that it could be the highlight of his trip abroad, and it has not ruled out using video in campaign ads.
As with all campaign events, it is an opportunity and a risk… Will he come across as presumptuous, or will he inspire, as he has done in some speeches before?
Obama is massively popular in Europe. One newspaper calls his appearance today “The Obama Show.” A magazine printed cut-out American flags that Berliners can wave at the speech.
However, as Christiane Amanpour reports today, Europeans want to hear more specifics about his plans. And Obama promises to deliver: “I think the world is keenly interested in this election and I think they’re hungry for a sense of where America is going,” he told reporters. “I’m hoping to communicate across the Atlantic the value of that relationship and how we need to build on it.”
John McCain, meanwhile, is painting Obama as out of touch, and working to show that HE would take care of folks at home, first. CNN’s Dana Bash calls it counter-programming.
McCain says his energy plans, including more offshore drilling in environmentally protected areas, have helped Americans by helping drive down oil prices. And tonight, he joins 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong at a town hall meeting on cancer in Columbus, Ohio.
We’ll drill down on all this tonight on AC360 at 11PM… AND… We will delve into the issues raised by Soledad O’Brien’s critically acclaimed special, BLACK IN AMERICA. Part 2 airs tonight, looking at the lives and roles of African American men in this country.
Please tune in, and thank you for joining us.
| Dolores, Austin Texas |
July 24th, 2008 9:48 am ET Morning Anderson, we here in Texas are relieved that Dolly is almost gone, I happen to work for a State Government Agency who already this morning have received calls from the folks down in South Texas that have damage to their homes and property, so far nothing serious. I hope you have a wonderful day. |
|
| Michelle Fonthill Ont,Canada |
July 24th, 2008 10:21 am ET Good Morning Anderson Have a great day Anderson see you on 360. |
|
| deborah, OH |
July 24th, 2008 10:24 am ET Good morning, Barclay, Anderson, Erica, & all! Because of gas constraints, can’t go to the James in Columbus today (1/2 hr. drive away) for McCain’s visit. Bummer! Sorry, but Obama seems more presumptuous to me on this ‘fact-finding’ trip. And, I, like a lot of others I talk to, still hear no real substance from either candidate on sme of the issues. Have a good day all! |
|
| pittsburgh |
July 24th, 2008 3:15 pm ET Anderson, |
|
| Laraine in Pittsburgh |
July 24th, 2008 6:21 pm ET Anderson, After watching Obama’s speech in Berlin, I was hard-pressed to find anything to criticize. To be able to send a message of global unification and receive this kind of response, will be extremely beneficial in repairing the damage done to our credibility and status throughout the world. We’re lucky to have him., |
|
| Annie Kate |
July 24th, 2008 8:33 pm ET Europeans aren’t the only ones waiting to hear specifics. Americans, who haven’t been seduced by the Pied Piper of Politics, are still looking for specifics so we can better judge who will be the best to vote for. It may well turn out to be Obama but we’d like a little bit more to go on than inspiration. Annie Kate |
|
| Erica |
July 25th, 2008 2:22 am ET Obama in Europe is a good move for him. His speech may have been a bit nieve, but it shows how he wants to repare the troubles abroad and bring the support back that is desperately needed from those abroad. If he can do that he is worth being a president. He has extended his self not just to his supoorters here in the USA, but to those abroad. |
|
| Erica |
July 25th, 2008 2:30 am ET Anderson, I think that you should get the wives of the candidates together and have them converse, not debate, but talk as two people within this political presidential running. Also, they can respond to the various trials and tribulations that are occuring at home and abroad and definiltely put their two cents in about how they feel about the war and other issues of today that many people may still need clarification about. To hear a womens point of view in an all male presidential race would be very refreshing. |
|
|
Comments have been closed for this article |
||
A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper and the show’s correspondents and producers. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.
For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.
Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.
- An Unnecessary War
- Create a tech-friendly U.S. government
- Obama’s dire economic warnings…
- Rockets not from Hezbollah
- Q&A with Candy Crowley: President-Elect Obama, making it official
- The inauguration map
- Polygamists feeling under siege
- Keeping Them Honest: Blagojevich and Burris ties?
- Obama’s peace offensive
- Porn industry wants bailout
