Posted on 08/27/2008 3:10:04 PM PDT by Shermy
He strode onto the world stage on Tuesday with trademark audacity, or as his political enemies would have it, a dearth of humility, in the symbolic shadow of Jordan's Temple of Hercules.
As he tries to convince Americans he will keep them safe, the White House hopeful held his first major press conference abroad as presumptive Democratic nominee near ancient Roman ruins and a shrine to the mighty Greek mythic hero.
Overlooking sun-bleached homes and minarets of the Jordanian capital, Obama spoke about his stealth mission to Iraq, against a backdrop seemingly chosen to suggest a young dynamic potential president, at home and abroad.
It was another example of the Obama campaign's flair for political imagery, and a world away from frigid icebound Iowa, or hard-knocks schools in rustbelt towns in Ohio where presidential candidates usually hang out.
After knocking the dust of Iraq off his boots, Obama swapped his khakis and flak jacket for a suit and red tie.
The show was designed to draw a blanket television audience back home, as part of a tour that has ignited a media frenzy, despite Republican claims it is a shallow political stunt.
Later, Obama, wearing a US-Jordan lapel pin, enjoyed a one-on-one chat and dinner with King Abdullah II.
They seemed to hit it off, as Obama grabbed another photo-op and the King drove him personally to his shining new campaign jet in a gleaming Mercedes 600.
Obama's press conference, the first public appearance of his tour, took place at the Amman Citadel and the Temple of Hercules, where human settlements date back to the bronze age.
The temple's terrace dates to 161 to 180 AD, and overlooks a complex of period Roman ruins, including an ampitheatre, an Odeon and Nymphaeum.
The symbolism seemed to convince one local journalist, who yelled "Mr President" to get her voice heard.
With his media pack poised for a gaffe Obama stuck largely to a news-free spiel, though did make one faux pas.
"Israel is a strong friend of Israel's," he said, in a statement that even his opponents could not quibble with.
Back in the United States, the wall-to-wall coverage was too much for the campaign of Obama's Republican rival John McCain -- which accused the US media of being "in love" with the 46-year-old Illinois Senator.
"It's pretty obvious that the media has a bizarre fascination with Barack Obama," the campaign said in an email unveiling a new video, featuring television reporters praising Obama.
"Some may even say it's a love affair. The media is in love with Barack Obama. If it wasn't so serious, it would be funny."
Republican spin doctors are trying to portray Obama as presumptuous over his major Middle East and Europe tour with presidential trappings, and accused him of ignoring the advice of Iraq war commander General David Petraeus.
But Obama said he hoped he would not have to spar with McCain while he was overseas talking about issues of great importance to Americans, despite grabbing a string of photo-ops that are political gold dust back more
Obama at Temple of Hercules, McCain team slams media 'love affair'
So Obama book ends his campaign with appearances at Greek temples, real and facsimile.
When a Candidate Seeks That Presidential Look
LONDON — He stood in the shadow of the Temple of Hercules, held forth at the Élysée Palace and convened a one-man news conference here on Saturday outside No. 10 Downing Street, all with a simple aim: to make a one-term senator from Illinois look presidential to voters back home in America.
But along the way to appearing presidential, did Senator Barack Obama cross a political line — as he and his advisers quietly feared, and some Republicans hoped — by coming across as too presumptuous?
The Temple of Denver story nagged at my memory. Then I remembered, Obama’s first public appearance on his world tour, kicking off his post-primary campaign, was at a Greek temple too!
Pure MEGALOMANIA and a warped power-centric ego.
And yet the fool wonders why he’s being compared to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.
Change: The miniature Greek temple created for Barack Obama's acceptance speech 
Presidential image: A full-scale replica of Air Force One fuselage arrives at Invesco Field before Mr Obama speaks
"My name is Obymaniac, king of kings. Look on my works, ye peons, and despair!"
Obama Pimps-Out Invesco Stadium".
There was a lot of orgies and ritual prostitution at those old temples.
I wonder if, in a liberal orgy, everyone has sex with themselves. They love themselves so much and are so self-satisfied.
Biden plagiarizes other people. Obama plagiarizes himself.
By the way, good catch.
What unchecked arrogance!
Keep it up, Obama...you may not only be the first black presidential candidate to get the nomination, but perhaps also the first to leave your convention with a net loss in the polls.
Americans don’t have any problems with people that win and celebrate...in that order. This ‘arena’, the European tour and idiocy like ‘O Force One’ are the equivalent of Michael Phelps holding a series of victory celebrations across the USA in the weeks before the Olympics began. Who roots for that type of behavior, outside of moonbats and other narcissists?
As John Belushi said in “Animal House”: Toga, Toga, TOGA.
I wonder what 'secret' message there might be for him wanting to stand besides all these huge phallic symbols?
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