Obama Debate Comments Set Off Firestorm

AP ^ | 07/24/2007 | TOM RAUM

[Phlap]

Barack Obama's offer to meet without precondition with leaders of renegade nations such as Cuba, North Korea and Iran touched off a war of words, with rival Hillary Rodham Clinton calling him naive and Obama linking her to President Bush's diplomacy.

Older politicians in both parties questioned the wisdom of such a course, while Obama's supporters characterized it as a repudiation of Bush policies of refusing to engage with certain adversaries.

It triggered a round of competing memos and statements Tuesday between the chief Democratic presidential rivals. Obama's team portrayed it as a bold stroke; Clinton supporters saw it as a gaffe that underscored the freshman senator's lack of foreign policy experience.

...

Anthony Lake defended Obama's statements.

"A great nation and its president should never fear negotiating with anyone and Senator Obama rightly said he would be willing to do so—just as Richard Nixon did with China and Ronald Reagan with the Soviet Union," Lake said.

[Phlap]

Nixon and Regan and ... Obama? I don't think so.

[ken21]

apparently obama failed to dislodge her highness from her perch.

[Just mythoughts]

It is just a jobs issue, unions are not going to like the idea of any dim painting the image that anyone can do anything all by them self.

[kromike]

I sincerely hope that they politically bloody each other so badly that neither lightweight gets more than 33% of the vote.

[kinoxi]

This is interesting. :)

[MEGoody]

Obama’s remarks show how little experience he has with foreign policy, and how little he knows about the historical actions of these nations toward the U.S.

[stm]

"It triggered a round of competing memos and statements Tuesday between the chief Democratic presidential rivals. Obama's team portrayed it as a bold stroke; Clinton supporters saw it as a gaffe that underscored the freshman senator's lack of foreign policy experience."

As opposed to YOUR vast foreign policy experience Hitlery? FOAD, the both of you.

[goldstategop]

Obama... the Magic Negro Jimmy Carter!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[ssaftler]

Obama’s remarks show how little experience he has with foreign policy

Now, where did we hear THAT before? Oh, yeah, the man "lacks gravitas" too.

[Enchante]

"The Obama campaign, meanwhile, circulated a memo by Obama spokesman Bill Burton saying Obama's response to the question had played well with focus groups and that Clinton had changed her position on the subject—a claim her campaign denied."

ROFLMAO!!!! This pitiful Obama campaign actually cited "played well with focus groups" in defense of a supposed major foreign policy initiative with evil dictators??? This guy really is a joke....... and having Tony Lake (one of the worst national security officials in US history) defend your foreign policy expertise is not exactly a sound move with people who actually know anything.

[ObadiahLynch]

I’m not an Obama supporter. But I don’t see what would be wrong with talking to the leaders of other nations — even nutball nations like N Korea. What’s to lose?

[Americanexpat]

That was my thought exactly, this SOB and dennis The menace Kucinich both sound like Jimmy Carter.

[kjam22]

If they’re going to do it... it needs to be televised live on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and the networks. That’s the only way the american tax payer will get out of giving North Korea or Iran billions and billions more dollars. Giving away money (pork) is the only way ANY of our politicians know how to operate.

[svanni]

Remember this mud-slinging after one gets the nomination, and the other is listed as VP candidate. Then they can gather around singing kumbaya (at least until they’re sworn in and trying to assassinate each other, literally).

[Tamar1973]

This pitiful Obama campaign actually cited "played well with focus groups" in defense of a supposed major foreign policy initiative with evil dictators???

He has a smaller internal compass than either of the Clintons? Who would have thought?!

[CHEE]

First we send a Ping Pong team to China. Then we send Nixon to China. Then Clinton sold us out to China. Now China is in a massive Military buildup (with the USA in their cross hairs). Talking has failed us. Trust but do not bother to verify. We should have stuck to the Ping Pong diplomacy, even if they cleaned our plow in the game.

[counterpunch]

[kjam22]

yep.... team democrat is going to be Hillary an Obama... or Obama and Hillary. No doubt.

[sanjacjake]

Sounds like you know the Clintons..MO...Be sure
that you let your friends know. Clinton’s will sell
their best friends down the river or...maybe just
take them to a park..as has happened before !! JK

[Enchante]

"What’s to lose?"

We can have any lower level and back channel talks with them we want to..... it's foolish to have the US President waste time and credibility trying to talk with scumbags who are only trying to score propaganda points (and I'm not only referring to Demagogue congresscreatures!!). IF and when other channels indicate there is actually something to be gained by having the US President meet with one or more of the scumbags, then it can be considered..... but a blanket "in my first year in office I will hold unconditional talks with all of the world's worst regimes" is just a foolish waste of time and undermines the presidential role in truly significant endeavors (any president can be made to look weak and foolish by vicious dictators playing games with such bilateral meetings)..... besides which the scumbags do not merit any undeserved credibility and standing in the world which they will gain from being invited to meet with "The Great Satan."