A Citizen of the World
From Newt Gingrich’s speech last night at some important fancy-shmancy Republican Party fundraiser:
Let me be clear about this: I am not a citizen of the world… I think the entire concept is intellectual nonsense and stunningly dangerous.
He’s taking dead aim at this portion of Obama’s July 2008 Berlin speech:
I come to Berlin as so many of my countrymen have come before. Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen – a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world.
When you query “Obama Berlin Citizen of the World” on YouTube, the kooks come out with all their Obama = New World Order nonsense; and frankly the more establishment right wing MSM tried to frame Obama’s speech as an unintentional confession that he was indeed, as they claimed, some sort of foreign/terrorist/hater of America.
Other presidents have used the phrase though. Here’s George Bush the Elder praising Vladimir Horowitz while awarding the pianist the National Medal of the Arts:
To Vladimir Horowitz for his extraordinary achievements and distinctive style as a pianist whose concerts brought pleasure to audiences everywhere and whose contributions to music made him a citizen of the world.
Of course that’s only Bush 41 saying something nice about a foreign born come naturalized citizen. It’s not from the mouth of or about someone the conservatives gush over.
Here’s Ronald Reagan introducing himself in 1982 before the United Nations General Assembly Special Session Devoted to Disarmament:
Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen:
I speak today as both a citizen of the United States and of the world. I come with the heartfelt wishes of my people for peace, bearing honest proposals and looking for genuine progress.
Newt's not calling Ronnie un-American, is he? That sort of blashphemy could get you kicked out of the tiny tent...
