Chris Matthews thought that the admittedly poor performance of President Obama in Germany was the result of his inability to read his teleprompter due to glare, but the Telegraph (leave it to the Brits to accurately call it) has it right:
"President Obama’s words may well have pleased his German government hosts, content to see a United States whose ambitions as a military power have been significantly clipped since George W. Bush left office in 2009. But Barack Obama underscored again why he is no JFK or Ronald Reagan. In front of the Brandenburg Gate, Obama sounded more like the president of the European Commission than the leader of the free world. It is never a good sign when a US president parrots the language of a Brussels bureaucrat when he is supposed to be a champion of freedom. Obama’s distinctly unimpressive speech in Berlin was another dud from a floundering president whose leadership abroad is just as weak as it is at home."
I had the misfortune of being within earshot of a radio broadcasting the speech. I expected something much better from someone who is supposed to be the greatest orator EVAH.
ReplyDeleteThis speech said: "I am here on holiday, and I really don't care about any of you. But hey, it is customary to make a speech, so here goes..."
The media here, no doubt waiting for a Kennedy or Reagan punch line, had trouble disguising their disappointment. They praised him, of course, but there was no enthusiasm to it.