BERLIN — When presidential hopeful Barack Obama introduced himself to Germany on a July evening in 2008, asking a crowd of more than 200,000 in central Berlin to embrace his mantra for change, they took up his call with enthusiasm.
Disillusioned by the wars and scandals of the George W. Bush era, Germans appeared more convinced of the promise of an Obama presidency than many Americans. The Berlin speech, in which Obama described the city as a symbol for “the victory of hope over fear,” cemented the presidential candidate’s reputation as an international political star.
After election day, reality set in.
Whether it …read more
Source: European Voice
