Posted on 12/10/2013 2:24:35 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
President Obama received a mighty ovation in Johannesburg, South Africa, speaking at Nelson Mandelas memorial, but found himself under immediate fire from right-wing media and the man he defeated for the Presidency in 2008.
The cause was Obamas handshake with Cubas President Raul Castro, upon arriving at the soccer stadium where presidents, celebrities, dictators and exuberant South Africans gathered to pay tribute.
It gives Raul some propaganda to continue to prop up his dictatorial, brutal regime, thats all, McCain snapped to reporters on Capitol Hill.
Should the 44th president have extended his hand? Of course not, said McCain. Why should you shake hands with somebody whos keeping Americans in prison? I mean, whats the point?
And then, he likened Obama to the pre-World War II British prime minister, saying: Neville Chamberlain shook hands with Hitler.
Greeting dictators is not unheard of among American presidents. Richard Nixon shook hands and took tea with Mao Zedong, shortly after the rulers bloody Cultural Revolution. Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter all shook hands with, even embraced Soviet ruler Leonid Brezhnev.Obama greeted Venezuelas President Hugo Chavez in 2009.
Ex-U.S. President Herbert Hoover shook hands with Hitler on a visit to Germany. Two U.S. president put up Romanias communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu at Blair House, the guest quarters across from the White House. Jimmy Carter greeted Fidel Castro in 2000 at the funeral of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
At the soccer stadium, Obama also warmly greeted Brazils President Dilma Rousseff, who has been on the outs with Washington, D.C., over the National Security Agencys global spying.
Still, the right-wing press was at full cry after the Johannesburg handshake. HANDSHAKE OUTRAGE said a story on Fox News website. The Drudge Report made it a news lead.
Jimmy Carter took a different view, saying: Significant? I hope it will be an omen for the future.
Obama was tough on tyrants in his eulogy to Mandela, and equally tough on politicians who paid tribute to Mandela but resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality.
He did, however, seem to extend an olive branch that Raul Castro might reach for.
South Africa shows we can change, that we can choose a world defined not by our differences but by our common hopes, Obama said. We can choose a world defined not by conflict but by peace and justice.
Yeah, at Stalins funeral.
a world defined not by our differences but by our common hopes,
what common hopes might those possibly be, barry?
he does think were all too stupid to actually read or hear what hes saying.
the commies want “fundamental change” we dont. theres not much commonality there.
He is saying this as a response to Ted’s tweet. This is nothing more than an attack on Cruz.
Or polling. McLame doesn’t do anything without polling.
But... what is the lamestream and BOR gonna say about the Maverick now?
They are in such a slobberfest over Mandela. How is this going to play out?
nothing to see here , move along
Commies of a feather flock together
Sorry John, but you have put your own ‘brand’ ahead of the nation too many times in the past several years, and I don’t really care if once in awhile you decide it is OK to express the obvious. Principle isn’t contextual. I’m sorry, but you need to rethink who you want to be.
Come now. I don't believe it was that bad for Castro.
And then, he likened Obama to the pre-World War II British prime minister, saying: Neville Chamberlain shook hands with Hitler.Worse. Did Hitler kill anyone up to that time?
Broken Clock and John McCain.
Hold your calls, folks. We have a winner.
Which one is he implying is Hitler?
McCain shaking Obama’s hand is like greeting Hitler.
Which one’s Hitler?
The whole Mendela affair in S. Africa was simply a political move by them all.....nothing to do with the man himslef...he was the pawn they are using to show “unity” a let’s get together and make political points here and there amongst ourselves. It was about the “Global Agenda” of uniting the World ‘in their eyes’.
The best show, however, was ol’ Michelle getting her pants in a knot when Obama flirted quite openly with the “other woman” sitting on Obamas other side!
Laughed myself silly with the photos of Michelles obvious jealousy showing and in full bloom...enough she made him change seats while she sat between them! Doesn’t take much for her great insecurities to be seen and her body language to speak without any words! HAHAH! Great entertainment!
I suspect once these two are out of the white-house they’ll live seperate lives , like Hillary and Bill, though I doubt very much Michelle could pull it off. She’s still just a Chicago ...well nough said.
A true barry. Sort of like shaking his own hand.
Obama was pally-wally with a Klu Klux Klan kleegle/recruiter.
No need to play the Hitler card.
Hey whats the big deal, its just a Commie dictator shaking hands with another Commie dictator..I wonder if Castro gave Obama any pointers
Or Bashir Assad, right John?
Did McCain find his backbone?
Hussein must buy his manure wholesale. He spreads it real thick.
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