The Swamp: STRASBOURG, France -- President Barack Obama carried his "town hall'' brand of public dialog to a European stage today, standing before an etimated audience of 4,000 in Strasbourg, France, on the eve of a NATO summit to call on "a new generation in a new century'' to rise to the world's challenges.
The president called on Europeans to set aside a "casual" but "insidious" anti-American sentiment, to commit to the his strategy in Afghanistan and to reach out to Muslims in all nations to work for "peace and partnership."
But some of the most pointed questions centered less on American foreign and domestic policy and more on the purely personal:
A young woman rising to identify herself as both American and French - "dual nationality'' -- wanted to know about the president's approach to the world economic crisis, but also about that dog, the White House pup that Obama has promised his kids.
"We are getting a dog,'' Obama said. "This is a very important question in the United States... It should be there soon.''
"Did you ever regret to run for president?' a young woman from Germany asked.
"It's a good question... Michelle definitely asks that question,'' Obama replied with a laugh, then wandering carefully into a personal, and inspirational tale:
"There have been times, certainly during the campaign, and there have been times over the past months, when you feel a lot of weight on your shoulders,'' Obama said.
"There is no doubt about it,'' he said. "During the campaign.... I was away from my family all the time... Not only do I have a wonderful wife, but I also have two perfect daughters... But it turns out that, as president, I now have this nice office in my house called the Oval Office.
"You also lose privacy and anonymity,'' the president said. "It used to be that, when I came to Europe, I could just wander down to some café, have some wine... and watch the sun go down... Now I have Secret Service around me all the time... Losing that ability to just have a walk, that is something that is frustrating....
"Having said all that, I truly believe that there is nothing more noble than public service,'' the presdient told his audience, which included many young people. "That doesn't mean that you have to run for president.,'' he said. "You might work for Doctors Without Borders... You might be the mayor of Strasbourg. You might volunteer in your own community.
Remarks and Q&A:
