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Let’s Stand as One

by Ute Pannen

Today Barack Obama built a bridge to Berlin and was met with great sympathy. In front of the Berlin Victory Column, close to the parliament and the Brandenburg Gate, Obama gave his speech about transatlantic relations and an alliance for a better world.

Entering the grounds already was like stepping into another country and the security check was similar to the conditions of a transatlantic flight. At the check-in point volunteers of the campaign asked: “ Are there American Citizens? Any American Citizens here? – Please come here and register to vote."
More than 200,000 people came to see the pop star of American politics live. The audience, too, was similar to that at a pop concert; the majority of visitors were between the age of 20 and 30. The youth’s fascination with Obama spilled over into Germany, where currently no politician would be able to mobilize that many people.
His speech began with a retrospective of to the Berlin airlift, which saved the lives of its citizens. He emphasized that we can bring about challenges if we stand as one, and highlighted that the citizens of Berlin know what it means to long for freedom and that they have brought down the wall.
The current political threats and terrorism could only be fought together. This statement also emphasized the silent call for a stronger German military engagement in Afghanistan, an issue still controversial in Germany.

Obama received great applause for his appeal for respect for people of all religions, no matter if they are Christians, Jews or Muslims. He asked to make a difference between Islamists and Muslims. Obama’s thoughts on environmental issues like reducing carbon emissions have been well received as well. „Save the Planet” and “There is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one.

Such demands for universal harmony Germans usually only hear in Hollywood movies and pop songs. For them, some lines of his speech might have sounded like from another world - a world they are looking forward to.

I got a crush on Obama

by Ute Pannen

A Latina beauty named “Obama Girl” sings “I got a crush on Obama” in the New York subway, scantly clad as she dances around Senator Barack Obama on stage, in front of the Capitol and at the beach. No, this clip was not launched by Hillary’s opponent for the presidential race. Rather it is an amateur video now circulating on You Tube. The video is a montage of images of Obama Girl suggestively sliding up to fotos and video clips of Senator Obama.

It plays on the candidates sex appeal using theatrical devices common in R&B videos – such as the woman leaving a breathless message on his phone. Wheather the video is a privat contribution to Obamas campaign or merely represents Obama Girl’s longing for the legendary 15 minutes of fame is unknown.  Its success is no question at all. As of June 15th the video had more than 55.000 hits on You Tube. It is simply...

Maggie for America

Beside Hillary and Barack now Maggie Simpson is candidating for president. The youngest member of the family and TV series The Simpsons campaigns for the Democrats and asks for support: On www.maggieforamerica.com fights for a better schoolsystem and for a better healthcare, because she knows what it means to live without tooth. Click here, Maggie says, to vote for the rights of the little people. A big red Button appears and invites to: Click.
 

No retreat, no surrender: The American presidential campaign goes online

by Ute Pannen
The American magazine Campaigns & Elections organized a three day conference in Washington D.C. to dicuss new issues of the campaign busisness. That campaigning is a buissness became obvious when more then 400 campaign manager  from all parts of the US arrived. Martin Frost, who was a Congressman from 1979 to 2005 spoke about his experience as a candidate. Beside of him there was the whole American political sphere represented in its complete diversity, ranging from NGO strategists from Dallas to local politicians from Kentucky. Even international guests like the future presidential candidate of  Mongolia, were looking for strategic advices, at Campaigns & Elections.