State Dept. Double Standard: Diplomats Barred From Obama’s Berlin Speech, But Not McCain’s In Ottawa
State Dept. Double Standard: Diplomats Barred From Obama’s Berlin Speech, But Not McCain’s In Ottawa
Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that the U.S. Embassy in Berlin “instructed Foreign Service personnel stationed there not to attend Sen. Barack Obama’s [D-IL] public rally” in Tiergarten Park because the event is “‘partisan political activity‘ prohibited under its regulations for those serving overseas.”
The diplomats’ union objected to the ruling, calling it an “unnecessarily narrow interpretation” of the Foreign Affairs Manual. “The fact that you are working for the U.S. government overseas should not preclude political activity that you could engage in in the United States,” one retired senior Foreign Service officer said. But a State official explained the ruling:
But “we always maintain that no U.S. government Foreign Service person overseas should be seen to be advocating one side or the other,” State Department Undersecretary for Management Patrick Kennedy said, adding that “it has nothing to do with who” the candidate is.
“When a German sees you there, they’re not going to think, ‘Oh, he or she is on their off time.’ It’s ‘Oh, they are a Democrat, a Republican, an independent,’ God knows what,” Kennedy said in an interview.
But the ruling — which Kennedy admitted is unprecedented — appears to indicate a double standard from the State Department. Last June, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) delivered a speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa. The event was reportedly organized in part by U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, whom President Bush appointed in 2005. But more than that, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa confirmed to ThinkProgress that Wilkins also attended the event.
Not only did McCain make clear references to and critiques of Obama’s policy positions in the speech, but he also referred to his own presidential campaign six times.
Although both the McCain and Obama campaigns denied their respective speeches in Ottawa and Berlin were political, the State Department only prohibited diplomats from attending Obama’s event. The fact that Wilkins attended McCain’s speech without worries that he would “be seen to be advocating one side or the other,” undermines Kennedy’s justification for barring Foreign Service personnel from attending Obama’s speech.
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This is the crap that TripleKick 2 and indyjones et al believe is ‘fair and balanced’. It’s so plainly obvious but then this admin has always been obviously partisan. I recall reading how Jack Abramoff started his conservative career with a call to a “War on Liberals”. Ultimately, they are going to lose another war.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmInitial responses from the State Department were brief…
IOKIYAR
Another double standard in this regime’s ’standards’
July 25th, 2008 at 2:33 pmA double standard? The Bush crime family? How could that be?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pmBut more than that, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa confirmed to ThinkProgress that Wilkins was the only person who attended the event.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pmIt would really be nice if these a$$hole$ didn’t think that all of us here in ‘merica are stupid and clueless.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:35 pmIt’s understandable, though. I mean, they only appear before true believers, and look at the quality of the true believers we get in here.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:38 pmWhy on earth would bushco start being fair and consistent at this late date? The only consistent policy is grease the wheels for our friends and screw our enemies.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:43 pmNot only did McCain make clear references to and critiques of Obama’s policy positions in the speech, but he also referred to his own presidential campaign six times.
___________________________________________________________
Tell me again — what’s the point of a campaign speech in a foreign country? Was McCain speaking to a group of Americans abroad?
I can understand the presidential candidates going to foreign countries and making speeches representing the United States — their interpretation of our country’s role in the world, etc. or even outlining their foreign policy plans should they become elected. But why trash the opposition? Why criticize an opponent’s positions? Why sell yourself as “I’m better than he is” to an audience who won’t be voting for either candidate?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:44 pmMaybe it’s because they don’t consider Canada to be overseas, and they’re following the law to the letter?
In which case diplomats could attend Obama speeches from Alaska to Chile with no problem, right?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:46 pmgood job, ben… except for this:
Although both the McCain and Obama campaigns denied their respective speeches in Ottawa and Berlin were political, …
you need to fix that phrasing… or add to it… something…
’cause obama’s was NOT and mcLIAR’s definitely WAS.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:47 pmAs long as the Bush Administration is never held to account for it’s “interpretations” of it’s own law this illegal double standard will continue . . . thanks to Nancy for taking off the table the one remedy the Constitution DEMANDS as a check on unbridled Executive power . . .
Watch Conyers hearing . . .
July 25th, 2008 at 2:48 pmRepublicans are after all geographically challenged (still looking for that Iraq-Pakistan border). Perhaps they didn’t know that Canada was a foreign country.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pmWell McCain’s speech in Canada was over a month ago - how do you expect him to remember that far back?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:59 pmmcchimpy can go around blasting Sen. Obama with no problems. then mcchimpy has the nerve to say his msm is light on Obama.
Seems like the government and mcchimpy don’t mind downing one of our own on foreign soil.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:03 pmBush Crime Family and (FAUX) = Fascist Regime and (PRAVDA)
July 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pmThis “coup on our democracy” gets slimier by the minute! Ewww…..
July 25th, 2008 at 3:08 pmdeer-in-the-headlights-losers, grasping desperately at every passing opportunity to “hassle” people with their “power”.
utterly predictable, typical, reprehensible, cowardly, Righty tactics.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:15 pmWhy can we do nothing about this? We knew it was a lie when they prohibited the attendance, and we have proof now that McCain attendance was allowed… why can’t we hold anyone in this administration accountable?
January cannot come soon enough.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm“‘partisan political activity‘ prohibited…unless it is pro repukian, then it’s alright…plus they did not want them to see what a real President should sound like.
Obama Presidential, McBush not so much.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pmUnbelievable…well, wait, totally believable actually.
Just like Obama’s troop visit being shortcircuited by the Pentagon…but McCain can do it.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:19 pmI don’t believe Obama is an Elitist, but McStake is a whiner.
Gramm had it all wrong…the American people aren’t whiners, but the candidate Gramm supports has now proved his ‘whineyness’.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:21 pmrepublicans live by their double standard. Just ask ‘family values’ newt, vitter, and craig, et al.; ask all those ‘Medal of Freedom’ receipiants; ask any republican christian if they believe ‘thou shall not kill’; ask a right-to-lifer if they support the death penalty; on and on and on…..
July 25th, 2008 at 3:25 pmClearly the issue here is that Ambassador Wilkins is a political appointee. As we know Bush appointees are allowed under “super-duper secret” executive order #18823-46.12 to violate, without fear of punishment, any rules or laws applicable to other U.S. government employees, U.S. citizens, farm animals, the easter bunny, or the tooth fairy.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:28 pmcredit of these comments goes to Mike Malloy.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:28 pmrecipients, sorry spelling police
July 25th, 2008 at 3:29 pmThis is not the only interference with Obama’s trip. The DOD said he could not visit the wounded soldiers in bases in Germany,because it was political. Then the DOD said it was okay IF he left reporters and staff outside. According to the Obama campaign they were told he couldn’t visit. I would be willing to bet that the DOD is lying their asses off. Further, and I don’t get this, they said they denied Cindy McCain request to visit a hospital ship but that it would have been okay for Senator McCain to visit. The only thing that makes sense is McCain used his military connections to deny Obama’s visits.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:40 pmOn the bright side, this reveals critical levels of scared-shitlessness within the Bush Establishment. You could almost hear little snip-snip sounds during the Obama tour: The happy sound of W’s itty-bitty balls being cut off.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:44 pmThis probably more a Condi stunt.
She thinks “Vice-President Rice” has a nice ring to it.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:45 pmWow. Double standards from the Bushies?
I’m shocked, I tell ya: shocked.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:45 pmI hear that he literally floated to the podium, probably carried by angels.
And McCain, on the backs of lobbyists, like Nero.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:47 pmhad enough Says:
When Bush travels abroad: his urine and feces are captured and flown back to the US
* * *
OMG you weren’t kidding.
One possible explantation: His turds will be encased in brass–they’d make wonderful doorstops or paperweights–and sold via the internets so’s W. can raise money for that liberry SMU doesn’t want.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:48 pmbogtrotters Says:
had enough Says:
When Bush travels abroad: his urine and feces are captured and flown back to the US
* * *
OMG you weren’t kidding.
One possible explantation: His turds will be encased in brass–they’d make wonderful doorstops or paperweights–and sold via the internets so’s W. can raise money for that liberry SMU doesn’t want.
LOL
seriously - his waste material is captured due to the fear of drug testing in which that moron is full of.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:00 pmMore likely there is a possibility that W. is just a wee bit paranoid, and he thinks someone would actually try to get a sample of his…waste…to see exactly what type of drugs he is on.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:03 pmhad enough:
July 25th, 2008 at 4:03 pmGreat minds, great minds.
This is a part of the US government. Of course it is advocating for McCaine. As per their usual screw up, they advocate for the LEAST QUALIFIED person. This is a George Bush rule. Sort of another way of saying about McCain, “your doing a heck of a job Johnny.” This way letting McCain speak in Canada without the restriction on the state department is a seal of approval.
This non unexpected sort of thing is typical Republican crap. It has the fascist nod of endorsement. Lucky Grampy McCain, without the Bush endorsement, he couldn’t draw the kind of crowds that Obama does. In fact McCain could fit most of his crowds into a thimble with two seeds and have room left over.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:22 pmSuggest a bit more research and a possible update. I flagged this Ottawa issue to several sites several days ago, I think to thinkprogress amongst them. My recollection is that not only did Wilkins attend, the coverage at the Globe and Mail and or the Toronto Star stated that the Embassy also made many of the arrangements for McCain, I think even lining up the speech and distributing, actually pushing tickets to the business elite to ensure it was a worthy audience. Prime Minister Harper even knew it all stank and came up with a last minute need to rush off to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to announce a new bridge so he could be away from Ottawa. The mayor of Saskatoon knew nothing of the announcement proving it was set up last minute to give Harper cover. This was seen as needed by Harper as his office had put their foot in it in claiming Obama had extended them assurance he was only posturing about free trade and NAFTA, triggering a formal enquiry here about the leak, one that damaged Obama in one of the primaries, Ohio I think. McCain politically exploited the incident in his Ottawa speech. My point is the Ambassador not only attended, but vetted the entire photo op for McCain and I believe I saw something indicating staff assisted and attended as well. Harper, a Republican wannabe, keeps trying to distance himself from the public perception that he is bush-lite. A likely election this fall in Canada should remedy that.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:24 pmI was going to ask if repubs ever attend a demo speech or debate. I know for a fact, that many pwople want to hear what the other side says, even if they don’t agree.
But then I remember all the efforts of Bush and McCain to limit their events to loyalists. I guess the new rule is that if you’re at a political event, no matter how newsworthy, if you get in, then you are a loyalist.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:25 pmI knew it would only be a matter of time until somebody found an example showing the double standard based on politics coming from the State Department. Good work.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:20 pmThe REICH is just getting back at Obama for being in the spotlight so damn much.And his speech in Berlin was awesome.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:20 amOf course there is a double standard, the State Department is run by Condi. They have politicized everything else what do you expect from Republicans. They would bar Sen. Obama from re-entry into the Country if they could. I’m sure they have been working on some technicality. Something like, “If a democrat give a speech in Berlin, then he can’t reenter the country until 1 year after the November elections”, or words to that effect. I’m sure Condi and her crooks will come up with something.
July 26th, 2008 at 8:34 amIn America 2000+ listening is a partisan activity banned by the state department. My, what a beacon of hope and liberty you are America. I said, WHAT A BE… oh forget it.
July 26th, 2008 at 9:35 amMaybe you should know what the Chinese netizens’ thoughts about Obama,
http://chineseloveobama.blogspot.com/
In china, almost everyone think that Obama will be the next U.S. president.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:19 pmHmm… sounds kinda like the Congress’ refusal to confirm judicial appointments, just because of their party. One judge has been waiting for over a decade.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:28 pm