10-06-2008, 02:00 PM
New York Times - Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, waved to the crowd gathered at the Victory Column at Tiergarten Park in Berlin on Thursday. An estimated 200,000 Germans gathered to watch Mr. Obama's speech.
[paul harvey drop]and now, the rest of the story[/paul harvey drop]
How do you attract 200,000 Germans to an American presidential candidate's campaign rally in Berlin?
1. With the charisma and reputation of the candidate?
2. With a compelling political message?
3. With lots of advance advertising?
4. With the top two rock bands in Germany giving a free concert with the American candidate coming out for a short speech between the bands?
The answer is #4 of course. What the American media, following and fawning over Obama, failed to mention about his Berlin speech was why the crowds were really there. 95% of them could care less about Obama or American politics. They came to see a free concert with the German equivalents of Willie Nelson and Madonna headlining. Obama was an unwelcome and boring interruption giving a political speech in a foreign language between the acts - which is why the crowd only gave lame applause a couple of times - after all, how many of them spoke English or cared less? Obama didn't care about the crowd either. His speech was really for the American media and the crowd was a backdrop for the photo ops. And the American media bit on it hook line and sinker and just sorta, kinda forgot to mention the rock bands that really drew the crowds.
[paul harvey drop]and now, the rest of the story[/paul harvey drop]
How do you attract 200,000 Germans to an American presidential candidate's campaign rally in Berlin?
1. With the charisma and reputation of the candidate?
2. With a compelling political message?
3. With lots of advance advertising?
4. With the top two rock bands in Germany giving a free concert with the American candidate coming out for a short speech between the bands?
The answer is #4 of course. What the American media, following and fawning over Obama, failed to mention about his Berlin speech was why the crowds were really there. 95% of them could care less about Obama or American politics. They came to see a free concert with the German equivalents of Willie Nelson and Madonna headlining. Obama was an unwelcome and boring interruption giving a political speech in a foreign language between the acts - which is why the crowd only gave lame applause a couple of times - after all, how many of them spoke English or cared less? Obama didn't care about the crowd either. His speech was really for the American media and the crowd was a backdrop for the photo ops. And the American media bit on it hook line and sinker and just sorta, kinda forgot to mention the rock bands that really drew the crowds.
Hey doc, do you know the address of that place?
Oh, you know, I do know the address. It's at the corner of go fuck yourself and buy a map!
Oh, you know, I do know the address. It's at the corner of go fuck yourself and buy a map!