Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

LITTWIN: For Obama, pfennigs from heaven

By Mike Littwin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 25, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size  

More News Columns & Blogs

More stories »

Barack Obama gave a stirring speech in Berlin, but that, of course, was the least of it.

Giving good speeches is what Obama does best. Put him in front of maybe 200,000 people, many of them chanting his name and waving American flags, and he's guaranteed to knock the ball out of the park - or, as they might (or maybe not) say in Berlin, whack the jelly donut over the Brandenburg Gate.

The real question is how the speech plays here at home, where the voters live.

This is an actual, serious question. Somehow, in a world fraught with peril, the greatest danger Obama has faced on his endless world tour is that the world would like him - The One - too much.

You know how we Americans are. We love to be loved - but only, you know, on our own terms. We love to be loved by Europeans, but not if they're going to be condescending about it, or, for that matter, be all French about it or, furthermore, (see: Tom Tancredo) be in any way multicultural about it.

Mostly, we love to be loved - or, even better, greeted as liberators - but not if we have to ask for it.

Obama gives a very good speech, a speech reminiscent of JFK and Reagan, a speech that placed America very much in the world and placed the world in terms that most Americans would embrace.

There was exactly nothing not to like about the speech, which left John McCain - or, as he has been dubbed in the media this week, poor John McCain - with little to say.

McCain will get another chance to think of something here in Denver, where he's scheduled to speak today. Meanwhile, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds did come up with this: A slight mockery of Obama "proclaiming himself a 'citizen of the world.' "

He is a citizen of the world, like, I guess, McCain's pal, the Dalai Lama, whom McCain is visiting - yes, really - today in Aspen. If McCain is lucky, the mayor might let his motorcade gas up at the city pumps.

The knock on Obama makes little sense. First of all, what Obama said was that he was a "a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world," which is something even Ronald Reagan might have said. But more to the point, if we're not citizens of the world, what exactly are all those U.S. troops doing in Iraq, or, for that matter, what are all those troops doing in Germany?

The mild poke was, obviously, to remind the many Americans who still see Obama as an exotic. And historically speaking, exotic isn't a good way to be seen if, at the same time, you're running for president of these United States.

But if the idea of this trip was to let Americans see Obama as a would-be president, it was a grand success. In fact, it worked better than anyone in the Obama camp could have possibly hoped.

There was the photo of Obama, wearing shades, riding with Gen. Petraeus in the helicopter on the same day McCain was in the golf cart with Poppy. There was Obama driven to the airport by Jordanian royalty. There was Obama mobbed by the troops. There was Obama sinking the three-pointer on his first try.

McCain has only himself to blame for this - well, him and George Bush, who gets blamed for everything. Oh, and Obama's high school basketball coach. And, yes, also the press, which McCain mocked for having a crush on Obama in a video set to Can't Take My Eyes Off You. Maybe he'll make a sequel about Obama- loving Germans. (How about set to Danke Schoen?)

The only reason Obama made this trip was because McCain had been taunting him to go to Iraq. I'm not sure when McCain knew it was a mistake. He figured with the weak dollar, Obama would bankrupt his campaign just ordering brats for the staff.

But then things went wrong, which is to say everything went right for Obama. First, Nouri al-Maliki all but endorsed Obama's 16-month timetable for withdrawing the troops. And then, when the Iraqis blamed the translators, Maliki said much the same thing again.

And there was McCain saying - without a translator - but what about the surge? And Katie Couric saying - with editing - but what about the surge? And Obama saying, if things are going so well, isn't it time to bring the troops home? And, besides, what about a little surge in Afghanistan?

Meanwhile, Bush, opening the old gift bag, gave Obama the "time horizon" agreement with Iraq and also the non- negotiating negotiator talking (or not talking) to Iran. And if the danger was that Obama might end up looking like Michael Dukakis in a helmet, instead he looks like Prince von Metternich with a jump shot. And McCain is left accusing Obama of being ready to lose a war to win a campaign. I don't know what music you set that video to, but I'd pick Wagner.

You can credit luck. Everyone has started talking about the luck gap, which is near the gaffe gap, which is near the Iraq-Pakistani border. It's strange, but the surge actually works for Obama, the same way $4 gas seems to be working for Republicans.

Here's the latest on the luck-o-meter: McCain, finding an effective issue in offshore drilling, was supposed to be on a Louisiana oil rig Thursday. But he had to cancel, due either to bad weather or because of the tanker that collided with the barge leaving a big slick in the Gulf and the scent of diesel competing with the scent of sin on Bourbon Street.

This trip was like the old days for Obama, the pre-Rev. Wright days when he was a phenomenon, or, as the Germans might put it, a wunderkind.

You can look up the exact definition if you want, but I'm guessing the American idiom won't be "white-haired guy in a golf cart."

littwinm@RockyMountainNews.com

Comments

  • July 25, 2008

    4:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BonBon writes:

    Funny how all this Luck for Obama hasn't translated into good polling numbers no matter how hard you pigeons in the press beat his drum. He has actually lost a couple of points in the past couple of weeks and according to one national poll is now only 1 point ahead of McCain. For all the love and adoration the press gives him, and for all his teleprompter speeches, shouldn't Obama be blowing McCain out of the water poll wise? Obama hasn't even gotten a little bump out of his press junket this week. Isn't that the real story? Americans aren't fooled by a man in an empty suit and a media who are in the tank for the guy.

  • July 25, 2008

    7:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    wewhodream writes:

    We Americans have grown unaccustomed to brilliance in our leaders. Now a man comes along who has such brilliance, and we are startled. Europeans are a little more objective (maybe even a little smarter); they see what we seem to miss:

    Barack Obama is a great man, and he will be a great president.

  • July 25, 2008

    7:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    stevea writes:

    "...how hard you pigeons in the press beat his drum."

    Interesting metaphor...or is it a simile? Maybe it's an allusion. I didn't even know pigeons had drumsticks. Yum.

    "...media who are in the tank for the guy."

    Must be some great acoustics during the drumming.

    Even the Liberal Press gets it right once in a while. Littwin just does it with more wit than most, thus rendering himself incomprehensible and, therefore, annoying to the "Right".

    At least he mentioned the eternally hilarious image of the helmeted Dukakis zooming around in his PlayTank. That one always cracks me up.

  • July 25, 2008

    7:16 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dencolo writes:

    Gosh darn it, Littwin, now I've got Danke Shoen running through my head! How can I ever repay you?

  • July 25, 2008

    8:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Don_Lopez writes:

    The sight of Senator Obama acknowledging the cheers of 200,000 chanting Germans with his right arm extended upward at a jaunty 45-degree angle………

    Well, it’s enough to send chills down the legs of all Americans.

  • July 25, 2008

    8:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    T1anda writes:

    Obama=total arrogance!!

  • July 25, 2008

    9:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    P_Denver writes:

    From a related post:

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    July 25, 2008

    9:25 AM
    Tyler writes:

    Living in Germany and being a US citizen gives me such a wonderful perspective into what the Germans actually think about Obama's visit.

    Most of the Germans I have talked with about it were a little bit annoyed by the Obama visit. They felt he first needed to be the US president before coming and speaking. The reason why they like Obama so much is that they believe (and rightly so) that he will bow down to their political world view.

    In essence be subservient to socialism.

    That and in my German language class of the 25 nations represented only 1 girl for Iraq was for John McCain. When I asked why the others supported Obama it was because "he is a good man", and "he is going to give us money". To which I about fell out of my chair!!!!!

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  • July 25, 2008

    9:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    T1anda writes:

    2006 ad from the biased MSM:

    Wanted: Very liberal, naive, Democratic Senator for position of POTUS.
    Must be articulate.

    No experience necessary!!!! On the job training!! Contact MSNBC,CNN,ABC,NBC,CBS......

  • July 25, 2008

    10:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    rjnova writes:

    Littwin the reason European Socialists love Obama is because like most of you liberal Democrats he is readily willing to blame America first for the evil in this world. We eat too much use too much energy, have too many autos, are not respectful of our superiors in Europe, do not speak their language and are not enthralled with the UN, as feckless as they are. A high priced debating society who work day and nite to find ways to squeeze more money out of us for the World Bank and Black Africa—surely the first continent likely to die from it’s own ethic hatred and corruption.

    Contrary to your obsequious description of Obama’s EU reception, this is likely to solidify many voters opinion Obama is all mouth and no substance, and certainly not ready to lead this country. He is already slipping in the polls when he should be bumping up his slight lead over McCain. Even more astounding is despite you media people giving him glowing coverage at 2 times that for McCain, he barely registers a 1-2% lead. And that is even questionable. Kind of lets you know that people are not swayed by the media because they know you guys have an incestuous relationship going on but are out of touch with regular voters.

    Remember how he lead Hillary by 10-15% in polling but after the vote if he won it was by 4-5%. That is because at least 10% of white guy Democrats do not vote for the guy. Some because he is black but also because he is an arrogant elitist who does not register with regular folks. He goes over grand with the Starbuck’s crowd but not with the Dunkin Donuts crowd.

  • July 25, 2008

    11:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Ezana writes:

    There is no liberal bias. Repubs expect the media to be even handed even when the truth isn't. The republicans have no legs to stand on this year and are crying when someone reports that. At this point they are so desperate they are using PR firms to perpetuate falsehoods! I get push polls that treat the Muslim thing as fact (even Fox acknowledges it's false). The fact that there is so much false information about Obama floating around illustrates that. One in 10 think he went to a madrassa. One in ten is a lot of people. Pathetic soulless liars!

    Remember when the McCain campaign was up Obama's nose about not leaving the country? Too desperate. Too funny. Maybe this is about the old fart knowing that there is no way he would have a crowd of 200,000 waving American flags if he went. Though, that was a great picture of McCain in front of the cheese his party has made it so hard to afford. It blows my mind how many reversals McCain doesn't get called on. First we're in great shape, then he acknowledges the mortgage crisis, first global warming is no big deal then it is, first he's against drilling then he is for it, first Gramm resigns than he is an adviser again... The Sunni awakening happened as a result of our surge, then it didn't, what's the difference between Sunni and Shi'a again?

  • July 25, 2008

    3:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    raysmom writes:

    Obama lies and lies and lies- his crass opportunism and disrespect to the men and women who's accomplishments he adopts to promote himself is shameless.

    The price of O&G is going down as we speak, and supply-side economics will explain to you why we need to produce more, Frontranger- Econ 101. As usual, a lib thinks subsidization instead of creating is the answer. Clueless.

  • July 25, 2008

    4 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    raysmom writes:

    Ezana- "pathetic, soulless, liars"- yeah, you libs are so enlightened- what a silly thing to say. Very telling. It's not the lies about Obama that sway me- there are many out there about both candidates, as is par for the course. It's the TRUTHS about Obama's deceptions that clearly outline the depths of his agenda. Even if McCain is everything you say, that still makes him a better candidate than Santa Obama and his bag of redistribution of wealth goodies.

  • July 25, 2008

    4:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    raysmom writes:

    Democrats Against Drilling- Wall Street Journal
    July 24, 2008; Page A14

    Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and other liberal leaders on Capitol Hill are gripped by cold-sweat terror. If they permit a vote on offshore drilling, they know they will lose when Blue Dogs and oil-patch Democrats defect to the GOP position of increasing domestic energy production. So the last failsafe is to shut down Congress.

    Majority Leader Reid has decided that deliberation is too taxing for "the world's greatest deliberative body." This week he cut off serious energy amendments to his antispeculation bill. Then Senate Appropriations baron Robert Byrd abruptly canceled a bill markup planned for today where Republicans intended to press the issue. Mr. Byrd's counterpart in the House, David Obey, is enforcing a similar lockdown. Speaker Pelosi says she won't allow even a debate before Congress's August recess begins in eight days.

    She and Mr. Reid are cornered by substance. The upward pressure on oil prices is caused by rising world-wide consumption and limited growth in supplies. Yet at least 65% of America's undiscovered, recoverable oil, and 40% of its natural gas, is hostage to the Congressional drilling moratorium.

    The Democratic leadership is trying to smother any awareness of their responsibility for high prices. They are also trying to quash a revolt among Democrats who realize that the country is still dependent on fossil fuels, no matter how loudly quasimystical environmentalists like Al Gore claim otherwise.

    Up to their dirty tricks again- yup, it's all the "neo-cons'" fault. Phoosh!