More than a little embarassing for Obama - could he not have used his speechwriters to come up with some new platitudes?
As far as foreign policy gaffes go, I think confusing Denmark and the Netherlands is more embarassing.
As far as Obama’s speech–meh. It’s not like he said “Denmark/the Netherlands/Norway/the Philippines is the single most above-weight-punchingest country on Earth”. Presumably more than one country can “punch above its weight” in international affairs. (Presumably other countries merely punch at their weights, while still others punch below their weights.)
Oh great googly moogly, Obama said similar phrases for similar conveyances of meaning. Slap that guy with a herring or something.
Obama critics are really starting to struggle for material, aren’t they?
Hey, any port in a storm. And anyway, this is precisely the type of stuff true-believers eat up.
At least there weren’t any people in them.
Curse you Perry the platitude!
Bwahahahaahaa. OP fail.
That said, he really does need some more creative speechwriters.
“I am a Berliner” wouldn’t have had so much impact if it had been followed by “I am a Copenhagener”, “I am an Amsterdamer” and “I am an Olsoer”.
BWA - HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!
… goddam that was funnier than it shouldda been …
A big deal? Obviously not. Obama’s speechwriters got a little lazy and gave him a fill-in-the-blanks generic spiel to be used in several different countries. A gaffe, but clearly it’s nothing serious.
But let’s face it- this is the kind of thing Jon Stewart and Colbert would be using for months as proof of George Dubya’s stupidity, if HE had done it.
This is a Jean Poutine moment for Obama. (Extra points to those who don’t have to Google to figure out who Monsieur Poutine is.)
Remember, both sides (hypothetically) do it!
It’s unfortunate that practically nobody these days seems to be able to appreciate these kinds of things on their own comedic merits. It’s not the funniest thing in the world, but it’s funny. It doesn’t have to be an attack or Obama or proof that he’s some kind of idiot.
This is an issue now? :dubious:
This is about as noteworthy as the President’s use of a Teleprompter. So what?
Yeah, it’s a smoking gun, not a mushroom cloud.
I would just like to say that Marley23 and Vinyl Turnip are two of the board’s greatest posters, and consisently punch above their weight.
Wow - in The Netherlands, the cliche dumb American does not know the difference between Denmark and The Netherlands, but I always thought of that as something of a stereotype. Surely, people aren’t really so ignorant? and surely, they would not make such a gaffe while accusing pres. Obama of making gaffes? I guess I was wrong. Looks like Laudenum fought some of my ignorance there - thanks dude!
(also, you’re a disgrace to this board for posting things that are so clearly wrong)
Eh, go back to Denmark, Sweden, Clogboy!
I keed! I keed!
Well, I giggled.
And then I went all :rolleyes: at the OP.
I thought Laudenum was Irish?
I agree. It WAS a pretty dumb thing to do. Like nobody was going to notice?