Didja know that Obama spoke at the 60th Anniversary of Israeli Independence yesterday?

[FrenchieCat]

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,
and Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor arrive at the 60th Anniversary
of Israeli Independence celebration in Washington, May 8, 2008.

Sen. Barack Obama spoke for about eight minutes at a cocktail reception tonight sponsored by the Israeli Embassy marking the 60th anniversary of Israel independence. The event was held at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.

According to the campaign, Obama was there in his capacity as a senator. According to the campaign: All Senators were invited to attend (not necessarily speak at) the Israel independence event. Other speakers were Vice President Cheney and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Ind Dem-CT). Other presidential candidates would have been treated the same. In the time we were there, he was the only senator to address the crowd of several hundred guests. (Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was spotted in the crowd.)

Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor introduced Obama.

“We are particularly honored and extremely happy to have amongst us tonight a very special guest and friend, the distinguished senator from Illinois, Sen. Barack Obama,” Meridor said.

“Senator, rumor has it in Washington that you are running quite a hectic schedule nowadays,” Meridor continued. “We deeply deploy appreciate your special effort to join us here tonight and to celebrate with us the independence of Israel. The state of Israel is honored by your presence here with us tonight.”
http://thepage.time.com/

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,
center, greets people after speaking at the 60th Anniversary
of Israeli Independence celebration at Mellon Auditorium in Washington,
Thursday, May 8, 2008.

[still_one]

1. Yes, and Obama just might be able to bring all the parties together

Israeli and Palestinian

[Alexander]

6. That's exactly my thinking.

Obama's the only candidate who could take a thoughtful approach to I/P issues and not just pander to AIPAC reflexively like every politican does.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Can you say, "honest broker"?

I think so.

[Boz]

10. Heres another awsome didja know, Didja know Obama will be giving his acceptance speech on the 45th

anniversary of Martin Luther Kings "I have a dream" speech

Talk about symbolism and serendipity mixing.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Getta outta a here!

Coincidence or sign? :wow:

[Boz]

15. MLK "I have a dream" speech August 28, 1963 DNC convention August 25–28, 2008.

"I Have A Dream" is the popular name given to the historic public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., when he spoke of his desire for a future where blacks and whites among others would coexist harmoniously as equals. King's delivery of the speech on August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Wonderful speech......

Paved the way for many of us.

[chknltl]

2. First rec.

Wowsers! Great Photos too!

[FrenchieCat]

4. That last one is amazing.......

Everyone really is happy to see this guy!

Everywhere, it seems.

Can't wait for him to take a trip to Europe and such! :)

[chknltl]

8. I've been noticing this too

He is getting the same kind of adoration that President Kennedy used to get. When Kennedy went to Germany the crowds treated him with soooo much love. For the period I lived in Berlin I could get far above face value for 50cent pieces with President Kennedy's likeness on it from the locals. (His 'Ish' Bin Eine Berliner speech there was classic Kennedy)

I am very pleased that he took time to spend celebrating with the Israeli Ambassador and the Jewish DC community today. As you suggested, perhaps we have an authentic UNITER. I grow more and more confident in this man every day. Mark my words, this one will be among the greatest Presidents.

[sudopod]

12. He called everyone a pastry

and they still cheered.

That's what you call popularity and charisma.

[chknltl]

13. Yep/Nopity...well sorta:

source: Wiki

Jelly doughnut urban legend

A BerlinerAccording to an urban legend that is both completely untrue and practically unknown in Germany,<2> Kennedy made a slightly embarrassing grammatical error by saying "Ich bin ein Berliner," referring to himself not as a citizen of Berlin, but as a common pastry:

Kennedy should have said "Ich bin Berliner" to mean "I am a person from Berlin." By adding the indefinite article ein, his statement implied he was a non-human Berliner, thus "I am a jelly doughnut".

The legend stems from a play on words with Berliner, the name of a doughnut variant filled with jam or plum sauce that is thought to have originated in Berlin.

In fact, Kennedy's statement is both grammatically correct<3> and perfectly idiomatic, and cannot be misunderstood in context. The urban legend is prevalent only in English-speaking countries but largely unknown in Germany, where Kennedy's speech is considered a landmark in the country's postwar history.<4> The indefinite article ein can be and often is omitted when speaking of an individual's profession or residence but is necessary when speaking in a figurative sense as Kennedy did. Since the president was not literally from Berlin but only declaring his solidarity with its citizens, "Ich bin Berliner" would not have been correct.<5>

[sudopod]

20. Awesome

Thanks for clearing that up. Now I can fully enjoy the speech as President Kennedy intended it to be. ^_^

[chknltl]

21. Me too.

I was about to post my agreements with you but decided to look it up first...I have been repeating that 'jelly doughnut' meme for years! We BOTH learned something new today! :pals:

[sudopod]

22. It's 3 am

and we've already got a jump on things. Maybe we ought to run for president. :D

[chknltl]

23. Thank you for bringing me to 'hoperoll'

That is utterly beyond words in its beauty!

I'll be e-mailing this to all my friends.


:patriot: Yes We Can :patriot:

[chknltl]

24. Hey FrenchieCat, Have you seen this yet???

Sudopod has it in his sig-line!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNtFD6eCo7I
OMG, this is the first time I have seen it....words escape me

[dbmk]

27. As a side note

He delivered in perfect german, yes.
But if he had truly been from Berlin the pronounciation would have been more like "Ick bin een Balina".
Just a little trivia for you. :)

[dbmk]

28. Oh, man, he better swing around here some time

Anyone able to overthrow the current administration, and followers of their likeness, will be recieved well.

That guy though... Just the image of him speaking in Europe on what we can do together...gives me the chills. The good ones.

You simply must not underestimate the power of the image change that will happen when people realise you have put someone in the White House that is intelligent, articulate and capable of seeing things from more than one side.

As a european I am extremely exited at the idea. And a little bit envious. :)

[Bright Eyes]

3. I did not know that.

Perhaps the media wasn't interested because it had nothing to do with Reverend Wright?

[FrenchieCat]

5. Well, the media didn't want to Overwhelm us with all that Obama is doing

....

Pastorbating was much more fun for them. Now they are having to report on real news, and they are bored.

[Hope And Change]

9. K & R!

[Justitia]

14. No I didn't! The media are bastards, huh? GREAT pics! Thanks so much.

[donheld]

16. I do now, Thanks

[TragedyandHope]

17. Fantastic, thanks!

Obama must have his own army of clones to be in so many places.

[FrenchieCat]

19. He has good schedulers......

whomever they are! :)

[Tarheel_Dem]

25. Perhaps that's why Jews prefer Obama 2:1 over McCain?

Thanks for sharing Frenchie. This picture is worth a thousand words, they are literally clammering to get to him. I love this guy.

[democracy1st]

26. great post

:kick:

[Window]

29. K/R.

:kick:

[JAbuchan08]

30. Can't say I approve, but I can't say I am surprised

tacit support of Israel's "right to exist" as an ethno-nationalist colonial power is de riguer. At this point the best we can hope for from any candidate is "seperate but equal" on the Palestine/Israel question. Israel gets to maintain it's ethnic identity and the Palestinians get to formalize the conquest of their land by force, what better compromise could there be? :sarcasm:

Sorry, but I reject the dominant view of Israel's "independence" and I'm not going to put myself on mute, just because the candidate that I voted for acquiesces to it.