Advertisers:
advertise on this site


Sir Christopher Meyer on the West's Strategic Confusion

Former UK Ambassador to the United States and author of 'Getting OUr Way: 500 Years of Adventure and Intrigue: the Inside Story of British Diplomacy' discusses the lessons of history and America's wars.

Daniel Yergin on the Future of Global Energy

Cambridge Research Energy Associates Chairman and Pullitzer-Prize winning author Daniel Yergin discusses the prospects for renewable energy, the oil politics of the Middle East and the future of the hydrocarbon economy.

Jim Locher on Reforming the United States' National Security Architecture

Project on National Security Reform President & CEO Jim Locher discusses how to reform the national security council to focus more on long-term strategic thinking.

More videos are available on the Video Archives Page
The Washington Note is now a member of the Political Insiders advertising network:
Find out more...

VA Loan and VA Refinance
Information from VA Mortgage Center



ADVERTISE SEND FEEDBACK OR TIPS CONTACT DETAILS
Support The Washington Note

Using PayPal

Audacity of Hope: Chapter II

Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Sunday, Nov 16 2008, 2:01PM

2008-11-24.jpg


Congratulations to Cem Oezdemir who has been elected co-chairman of the German Green Party. It's the party's top political post. His victory makes him the highest-ranking German politician of Turkish descent. Turkish immigrants and their descendants number more than 2.5 million and make up 3% of Germany's total population.

I woke up Sunday morning in my hotel in Istanbul to find this article on the front page of the Turkish Daily News, the most popular English language daily here.

The article explains how Oezdemir employed many of President-elect Obama's campaign tactics.

In addition to the obvious parallel between Oezdemir's Turkish roots and Obama's African heritage, Oezdemir has utilized facebook to mobilize young German voters, and his supporters are employing the slogan 'yes we Cem.'

It mirrors a New York Times article I'm sure many of you saw Friday, pointing out the similarity between Benjamin Netanyahu's Web site -- in terms of color, font, layout, etc -- and the Obama campaign page.

I just thought I'd share this tidbit, which I think demonstrates the revolutionary nature of Obama's campaign as well as the popularity that America's next president enjoys throughout the world - at least for now.

By the way, Steve Clemons is at the Green Party convention in Erfurt, Germany and as I understand through the grape vine, was out celebrating with Oezdemir as I write this.

-- Ben Katcher

« Previous Article - 'Renegade' and 'Renaissance'. . .Better Than 'Maverick' and 'Medieval'
» Next Article - Andrew Bacevich Comments on Self-Damaging Wars, the Absence of Strategy, and Dangerous Leadership

Reader Comments (3) - post a comment

Posted by Florestan, Nov 17 2008, 4:11AM - Link

Form isn't always substance. Cem's quest parallels Obama's, but I
doubt that applies to the personable and clever Bibi. However
21st century his publicity his aims are probably more biblical.

Posted by Beth in VA, Nov 17 2008, 11:12AM - Link

Man, Steve travels in the coolest circles. What's cooler than going to the German Green Party convention?

Well, cool to policy nerds like me!

Posted by Tosk, Nov 18 2008, 9:31PM - Link

What nonsense, he's a "minority" and does something on "the tubes" and suddenly he's supposedly mimicking Obama and his elevation "demonstrates the revolutionary nature of Obama's campaign"... What utter rubbish!

How does this supposed 'Obama effect' jibe with the fact that Cem was elected to the German parliament in "1994 at the age of 28, becoming its first-ever member of Turkish descent" (a mere ten years before Obama was even elected to the Senate and gained national attention following his speech at the Democratic national Convention...)

Ooh, ooh, he's on Facebook! Bah, as the article notes, his site is less popular than Chancellor Merkel's...

Leave a comment:


(required)
(required)
- only for verification, not for display or any other use.

(required)

Type the characters you see in the picture above.


The Washington Note - Steven ClemonsHome - About - Archives - Published - Recommended - Advertise - Contact
THIS SITE IS COPYRIGHT © 2009 THE WASHINGTON NOTE. ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED.