An American in Berlin

Republicans haven’t felt this helpless in ages. Ever since Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama began his “world tour,” the American media dwells on only one subject: O-ba-ma! Daily newspapers, magazines and TV broadcasters all show the 46-year old political newcomer appearing presidential as he chats with heads of state in Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel. They cover him eating with Gis in the mess hall or flying with General Petraeus in a helicopter over Gulf region hotspots.

His rival, John McCain, tried taunts. “I flew to Iraq first and then formed my opinion. Not the other way around.”

Nothing helped. 200 American journalists are part of the Obama entourage, among them news anchors Katie Couric (CBS), Brian Williams (NBC) and Charles Gibson (ABC). They’re as well known in America as “Mr. News-of-the-Day” Ulrich Wickert or talk-show icon Sabine Christiansen are in Germany. CNN, meanwhile, sent its best weapon into the fray: Christiane Amanpour.

Who wanted to see John McCain hoofing it in a bunch of little city halls in Ohio or listen to him speak to German-American retirees and war veterans? Nobody. A whole seven people showed up at one of his events.

But the worst came on Thursday: Barack Obama at Berlin’s Victory Column.

Americans were already used to how the eloquent Democrat with the charming smile could attract tens of thousands of people like a rock star. What they saw on their television screens, however, shocked even them: a mostly German audience of 200,000 cheering him wildly. One American. That, just when Americans were thinking nobody outside America wanted to see them.

The pictures which arrived live in American living rooms must have reminded people of John F. Kennedy’s speech 40 years earlier when he famously said “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Or of Ronald Regan’s Berlin visit when he demanded, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

But as it usually is with intoxication, the hangover soon followed. Many in the media began to distance themselves from his speech as early as Friday morning. The critical point: should a candidate, especially one as inexperienced as Obama, appear as a world statesman and act as though he represented the U.S.A.?

The usually liberal New York Times, of all newspapers, was among the sharpest critics. “Obama, vague on specifics, is the darling of the Europeans,” proclaimed the headline. The conservative Wall Street Journal, on the other hand, held back politely. Its headlines addressed banking scandals and auto manufacturer Ford’s difficulties. It showed the obligatory photograph (Obama from the back before a sea of Germans) with a small aside saying, “Obama asks for improved American-European relations.”

The New York Post, on the other hand was euphoric: “Wonderbam draws crowds for miles in Berlin.” The paper spread the photograph over pages two and three with the caption, “200,000 Teutons yelling in Berlin”

Astounding! The Post is actually an Obama opponent and supporter of George W. Bush. New York’s most influential poison-pen paper waited until the weekend, however, before publishing a caricature of Obama in Berlin saying “Ich bin ein Be . . ginner.”

Then came the analysis: Obama’s Berlin speech was full of clichés. He said the word “wall” 16 times, eleven times referring to walls which still had to be torn down. The New York Times compared the speech to those of Kennedy and Reagan in Berlin. The verdict: Obama’s speech was full of pretty words, rhetoric, while those by Kennedy and Reagan had to do with difficult decisions! Finally, New York Times columnist David Brooks commented, “It’s just Disney.” Ouch!

The truth be told, I also got the feeling that many Americans didn’t find it amusing that Obama was acting as though the White House was already his. It’s a fine line to walk. On the one side, Americans are relieved to find that Germany (and Europe) is still an ally of the United States despite eight years of George W. Bush, but on the other hand, they’re wondering, “We haven’t elected Obama yet. Why is he acting as though we had?”

The best analysis of the situation, in my opinion, was given by the liberal newsman Chris Matthews of MSNBC who, I believe, best summed up Americans’ thoughts on the Berlin trip: “I like the fact that we’re showing our flag overseas. That we’re welcomed. That we don’t want to appear arrogant. George Bush didn’t understand the importance of making friends. Obama is just the opposite.”

But even Matthews had a warning for Obama fans, that one shouldn’t count their chickens before they’re hatched. “The world thinks he’s already president. That’s a mistake. The election is still wide open. Above all, Obama’s problem is that he still hasn’t gotten the support of the Hillary Clinton voters.”

And they, it seems to me, might feel that Obama’s mega-appearance in Berlin snubbed them as well as John McCain.