- Title: Obama warns against absolutism and demonising opponents
- Date: 17th November 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 17, 2016) (HOST BROADCASTER POOL) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, AND GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING (PARTLY OVER SHOT OF MERKEL): "If we are not serious about facts and what's true and what's not, and particularly in an age of social media where so many people are getting their information in soundbites and snippets off their phones, if we can't discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems. If people - whether they are conservative or liberal, left or right - are unwilling to compromise and engage in the democratic process and are taking absolutist views and demonising opponents, then democracy will break down." JOURNALISTS / OBAMA SPEAKING REPORTER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING: "Because in an age where there is so much active misinformation - and it's packaged very well, and it looks the same when you see it on a Facebook page or you turn on your television - where some overzealousness on the part of a U.S. official is equated with constant and severe repression elsewhere, if everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made then we won't know what to protect, we won't know what to fight for, and we can lose so much of what we've gained in terms of the kind of democratic freedoms and market-based economies and prosperity that we've come to take for granted." OBAMA'S HANDS / OBAMA SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING: "What I said to him (Donald Trump) was what may work in generating enthusiasm or passion during elections may be different than what will work in terms of unifying the country and gaining the trust even of those who didn't support him." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING ABOUT WHETHER HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MERKEL RUN AGAIN FOR CHANCELLOR: "All I can say is that Chancellor Merkel has been an outstanding partner." MERKEL LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING ABOUT WHETHER HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MERKEL RUN AGAIN FOR CHANCELLOR (PARTLY OVER SHOT OF MERKEL): "And although we have not always been in sync on every issue, in terms of her integrity, her truthfulness, her thoughtfulness, her doing her homework, knowing her facts, her commitment to looking out for the interests of the German people first but recognising that part of good leadership on behalf of the nation requires engaging the world as a whole and participating effectively in multi-lateral institutions, I think she's been outstanding. So it's up to her whether she wants to stand again and then ultimately it will be up to the German people to decide what the future holds. If I were here and I were German and I had a vote I might support her. I don't know whether that hurts or helps." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING: "This is my sixth visit to Germany. It will not be my last. I have somehow continued to miss Oktoberfest, that's probably something that is better for me to do as a former president rather than as president - I'll have more fun!" NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS OBAMA AND MERKEL SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING
- Embargoed: 2nd December 2016 19:04
- Keywords: Barack Obama truth facts democracy propaganda Donald Trump Oktoberfest Angela Merkel
- Location: BERLN, GERMANY
- City: BERLN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00158U48XZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday (November 17) that a lack of respect for facts and the truth was a threat to democracy, and warned against absolutism and demonising opponents.
"If we can't discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems," Obama told reporters in Berlin after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"If people - whether they are conservative or liberal, left or right - are unwilling to compromise and engage in the democratic process and are taking absolutist views and demonising opponents, then democracy will break down," he added.
Obama was visiting the German capital on a farewell European tour as he seeks to reassure U.S. allies who may have concerns about his successor Donald Trump.
Trump garnered support on the back of promises to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, ban Muslims temporarily from entering the United States and rip up trade deals that he said had hurt American workers.
Obama opposed those positions and is fighting now to keep his legacy accomplishments on healthcare, climate change, and nuclear diplomacy alive in the face of Trump's promises to dismantle them once he takes office in January.
The outgoing president said he had spoken to Trump about the need to heal divisions in U.S. society when he takes office in January.
"What I said to him was what may work in generating enthusiasm or passion during elections may be different than what will work in terms of unifying the country and gaining the trust even of those who didn't support him," he said.
Asked whether he would like to see Angela Merkel running for a third term as chancellor when elections are held in Germany next autumn, Obama said she had been an "outstanding partner".
Many in Germany expect Merkel to run in a general election in which her conservatives are expected to remain the largest bloc in parliament.
She has not yet confirmed her candidacy, reiterating on Thursday that she would announce her decision at the appropriate moment.
Although Obama was speaking on his last official overseas trip, he said he planned to return to Germany at least one more time -- to visit Munich's annual beer-swigging Oktoberfest.
"I have somehow continued to miss Oktoberfest so that's probably something that is better for me to do as a former president rather than as president. I'll have more fun," he said.
Around 7.5 million litres of beer are consumed each year at the Oktoberfest by locals and tourists alike, many decked out in traditional lederhosen and dirndls. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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