Barack Obama: "Finally a real man"

Obama, the therapist

I can not stand kitsch. Do not like hearts on Valentine's Day and collective tears of emotion are suspect to me. I expect a perfect staging of emotions and an impressive speech from Barack Hussein Obama. I'm interested in the speech.

And then that. I can not escape myself. I believe him, believe him emotionally. Listen to it as Obama talks about crises and collective failure and fears and necessary sacrifices. Open and serious, this President acts number 44, in some moments he almost sounds like a therapist. And when he says that all men are equal and free and I see the emotion in the faces of his listeners and listeners, and when he speaks of his father, who was not even served in a restaurant less than 60 years ago, there ... Ahem, I think I have something in mind.

Claudia Kirsch, Head of Department Politics, Society, Occupation



"The Obama's are not good dancers"

The most beautiful thing about Obama's inauguration was the visible fact that finally a real person lives in the White House. A man who comes to a halt at the oath, whose daughter takes pictures of Papi's big day with the digital camera, and whose wife chuckles when she opens a ball with him. The Obama's are not good dancers, and while Michelle Obama grinned at the dance and Barack made it playful pirouettes, it became clear: Here are two people who can laugh at themselves and not take themselves so seriously. And that is exactly what I felt after Obama's inaugural address: Finally an American who does not take himself more seriously than the rest of the world. Yesterday I would like to have been American.

Stefanie Hellge, editor in the reportage department



Anger over "gossip"

I sat in the car and heard the speech on the radio. I thought it was great that they sent a commentator to Washington, who is probably a gossip columnist. Mostly he did not say anything, except for wise things like (half whispered): "Obama is now turning to listen to the world-class cellist behind him." Of course, that's not possible, listening when you're in the other direction. Or: "Obama has wrapped himself thickly against the cold, wearing a warm winter coat." That's what makes this president, foresight and consistent, purposeful action. That commented Obama about the importance of freedom ("My father would not have been served in the restaurant 60 years ago ...") and the responsibility that a nation of Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists must do justice to each other, he commented somewhat like this : "Obama points to the big problems facing his people." But the best was the end. Gossip was asked, which conclusion he would pull so spontaneously from the inaugural speech? "I have to read the manuscript first." Yeah, I thought, you should, you bum. And let it translate the best of your editorial intern in Hamburg. I bet he flew on my Business Class radio license. Do you already have it today?

Jan Gritz, Editor in the Weekend Department



Perfect and mesmerizing

© Jaane Christensen

As Obama faltered in the swearing, I think with a mixture of pity and disillusionment: "Phew, if he can not even talk about the oath formula ...?" Only later I get the fact that the judge has predicted them wrong.

Obama's perfectly performed inaugural speech then mesmerizes me in much the same way as his speech on Election Night. If someone else had said his words, his sentences of virtue, hope and determination, I would probably have smiled at her pathos. But Obama, I take off what he says, and he convinces me today that he is the ideal cast for his office. Most of all, I am happy for the African-Americans - at last they step out of the shadow of the whites. With Obama they play the first violin of the future music and not only the triangle in the Bush orchestra.

Susanne Arndt, chief reporter ChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com



"No Obamomat"

Obama, the bearer of hope. It is almost uncanny how perfectly he fulfilled the expectations of millions of Americans, of people all over the world in his speech. He did not appear detached, was not Barack Messiah Obama, the Redeemer. But he acted combative, his chin raised, in typical Obama style. Some patriotic sentences sound strange to German ears, but that's all. One of the strongest sentences of his speech? For me, clearly the appeal to the Islamist leaders who sow "discord": "Remember that your peoples measure you by what you accomplish, not by what you destroy." Obama wants to build. He is credible in that. Luckily, there was a minimal rhetorical glitch in the oath of office. Obama is not an Obamomat, not a perfection machine.Fortunately.

Franziska Wolffheim, ChroniquesDuVasteMonde author



"Tolerance instead of Christian fundamentalism"

There was a really exciting moment in this speech - the one in which Obama adds, as a matter of course, something new to American self-image; something that will work both internally and externally and has never been spoken by a president. It is the place where he says, "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and atheists." Tolerance, not Christian fundamentalism as the principle that the Americans should, as a citizen of a grand old nation with many roots - that was in a inaugural speech a courageous confession, especially since then followed the announcement, a new way in dealing with the Muslim world to search. Then unfortunately this strange poem came - a farmer looks up to the sky and looks at the weather. No matter, it is said.

Meike Dinklage, Head of Department Reportage



Obama without sound

What he says, I thought to myself, I can read the next day in the newspaper. I wanted to see the speech - and turned off the sound. First: fur hats, earmuffs, gloves - everywhere. Really everyone is wrapped up, all but Obama. The, in the thin twine: stable, yet moving, not frozen. He stands there for 17 minutes, behind glass panes to the chest, squinting his eyes, does not smile once. There are three wrinkles on his forehead: Great tasks lie ahead of the nation. He looks to the right, looks to the left, his gesture tamed, sometimes a fist, never really clenched. The thumb stays out. Peaceful. And again and again the midday sun reflects in its US flag pin, just above the heart. The call, the nation. When it's all over, he thanked us on all sides, then he still laughs. No politician smile, but a warming laugh from the heart.

Georg Cadeggianini, Editor in the department Dossier

Old values, young fans

To change belong emotions. And emotions plunged plentifully from minus 7 degrees Celsius from the American Capitol to over millions of people gathered in Washington and billions of people on television around the world. Also to me. I was sitting with my 17-year-old daughter who was fascinated by the staging and the words of the new President of the United States. She trusts him to do many things for the better (like climate protection), she believes with him in a better future, in which she too must exist. Obama relies on the power of "old values" such as sincerity, fair play, tolerance, curiosity, courage, loyalty. At these words, my daughter did not smile tired, but nodded excited. How nice to get support from a politician!

Anna M. Löfken, Head of Travel Department

Shortness of breath in front of the TV

I involuntarily stopped breathing when Barack Obama took his oath on the Bible. For a fraction of a second, it looked like he was about to promise himself. Okay, exhale. Then the inaugural speech in freezing cold. What do you say to a nation that faces almost insoluble problems? Do you promise that a new president can stop the recession? D rather not. But not letting fear of the consequences of the economic crisis overpower, I like this approach in Obama's speech. It is also noteworthy that he appeals to Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, as well as atheists. "

Lisa Schönemann, Editor in the Weekend Department

"The best is the look of Michelle"

For politicians and newspaper commentators, it is already a historic event when Ms. Merkel and Monsieur Sarkozy shake hands without obligation. But compared to what's on my computer screen, such meetings are at most footnotes in the story.

For the first time a black president moves to the White House. One who gives hope to the whole world. A clever man who lets the poet Elizabeth Alexander recite a poem on his inauguration. Honestly - with George W. Bush that would have been inconceivable. Sometimes you even wonder if he can read at all.

But the best thing about Obama's Inauguration is neither the poem nor his blood, sweat and tears speech. The best thing is the look of his wife Michelle, as Barack Obama gets stuck in publicizing the oath of office. She stands very proudly next to him, in a mustard yellow dress, over which the American fashion bloggers are sure to be tapping their fingers. And look at him with so much love, tenderness and confidence that your heart warms. "Yes we can," says this look. We make it!

Julia Müller, Online Editor

Obama to Trump: Come on, man (March 2024).



Michelle Obama, Restaurant, Washington, Barack Obama, Car, Barack Obama, US Election