In an event similar to the Canadian Government, as well as Bush's trip to Israel, Bush ally Angela Merkel has decided to insert herself in US Presidential Politics.
As is probably well known by now, the Obama Campaign has requested use of The Brandenburg gate to give a speech on US European transatlantic relations. According to the Washington Post Merkel, the German Prime Minister has "chided" Obama for "electioneering."
Through her spokesman, Merkel, one of President Bush's strongest allies, was blunt. She said she would be willing to meet with the senator from Illinois, but not at the Brandenburg Gate.
That is funny, last time I checked he asked to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, not meet Merkel there. Being a Bush lap dog I'm sure she is eager to turn this in to something it is not.
Odd Ms. Merkel, the Bush ally, seems to be the only person upset by this, even in her own party. According to the German Magazine Spiegel:
...many other politicians -- including some from her own Christian Democrats -- are in favor of the idea.
"Many Germans want to get to know him," Ruprecht Polenz, chair of the foreign relations committee in the German parliament, told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "It's not just politicians, but the broader public. When the best possibility for that to happen is at this place, then I have no problem with it," he said, referring to the Brandenburg Gate site.
This has become a pattern from the Conservative Canadian government, to Bush's speech in Israel, now Merkel. It is funny she is using the excuse of not wanting to be an issues in the American election to become an issue in it.
There is one really funny line about her concerns:
Furthermore, any indication that Berlin is over-eager to see the end of the Bush administration is not likely to play well in Washington.
Yeah we aren't stupid, I think most Americans, and even Bush himself, has figured out that he isn't their favorite person. Well maybe those massages has made him Merkels favorite person.
Well I think it is pretty appropriate for us to let her know that she is inserting herself in domestic politics and needs to stop. Certainly she can privately discuss her concerns with the Obama campaign, and all her other fellow politicians that like the idea, but to openly criticize a foreign presidential is appalling. You guys should let her know here.
TELL HER TO STOP
UPDATE:
Let me be more clear. I don't think anyone should demand use of the area. I think the message should be clear, she is inserting herself in our election, by airing this openly. I'm lukewarm on the speech, but this should not be aired openly.
Update II: This idea came from the German Embassy, the Mayor of Berlin, and the Berlin senate who decide the issue, want it. Merkel didn't convey concern to anyone till after it was almost finalized. This is political, there are other articles more specific but I didn't link because they are in German.
UPDATE III: I think people still continue to confuse my intentions. I don't think that anyone should demand use of the Brandenburg gate. She has no say in that, the people that do want this speech. She has an interest in appearing neutral in the race. The problem is that if there are articles about her "chiding" Obama in American papers she is probably unintentionally doing what she doesn't want to do. I think it is important to let her know.