Posted on 07/19/2008 10:00:44 AM PDT by Coffee200am
Barack Obama's campaign has rejected Republican claims that his five-nation Middle East and Europe tour is a political stunt, as it unveiled a packed agenda of talks with leaders.
Campaign spokesman said the Illinois senator would avoid negotiating or trying to make policy during the meetings, in deference to the duties of current President George W Bush.
The campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain has branded Senator Obama's tour, which is expected to draw massive media coverage, as nothing more than a political stunt, especially as it will include a high-profile speech in Berlin.
"That is not what we are doing," Senator Obama's communications adviser Robert Gibbs said
"The speech in Berlin will be a substantive speech about American and European relations, the trip is not at all a campaign trip, a rally of any sort, it is a series of substantive meetings with our friends and allies."
Senator Obama's foreign policy aide Susan Rice said the Illinois senator would discuss issues including climate change, non-proliferation and counter-terrorism in his five-nation tour.
"It is important to note that it is not our intent to make policy, or negotiate, we will not do so, there is one president of the United States at any given time, we will certainly honour and respect that," she said.
But the campaign did not give timings or locations for the talks and meetings, apparently due to security concerns.
In Jordan, where local officials say he is expected on Monday, Senator Obama will meet King Abdullah II.
In Israel he will meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, Opposition Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
He will also hold talks with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, the campaign said, but would not confirm reports from Ramallah that the Senator would travel to the West Bank to do so.
The campaign also said it had not yet decided where Senator Obama would give a speech in Berlin, following controversy over a reported attempt to hold an event at the highly symbolic Brandenburg Gate.
However, senior adviser Ben Rhodes said that Senator Obama had recognised that it would be presumptuous to speak at the gate, site of a famous appearance by former president Ronald Reagan in 1987.
In France, Senator Obama will hold talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy, and at the end of his tour he will meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron.
They called it!
Let me tell you something: it won’t be long at all till the left is insisting that people in these countries be allowed to vote in American elections. The supreme court will be taking a very close look at the idea, and their reaction will not be at all unfavorable.
The argument will be along these lines: America, as the world’s only remaining superpower, has such an overwhelming effect on the lives of people abroad that they should be allowed to vote in our elections, out of a sense of fairness.
No, nothing this guy ever does is about politics.
And to that I say, BULL!
Right?
I think that speech he’s giving in Germany has political disaster written all over it. I imagine that a few hundred thousand adoring Euro lunatics are going to show up and, with the help of the media, its going to look like they’re coronating their new savior.
That ain’t gonna play well back here in the US, I don’t believe. His loony followers will love it, but its going to scare the hell out of everyone else.
Watch him bash President Bush in a speech, directly or indirectly..
Onion, right? This MUST be satire.
Just long enough to go to the airport gift shop, get a pressie photo taken, visit the head, make sure the passport was stamped and reboard the plane.
Yet they have the NERVE to say is not a campaign stunt! POOO-LEEEEE-ZZZ!
He was in Afghanistan long enough for a refueling, a giftshop visit, and a photo.
The guy is an "unwise" politician with a big, fat ego.
They're already doing it.
Here's one example.
Yeah, it just HAPPENED to come during the campaign, and this same laughable "senator" has never once made any effort to visit these countries until now ...
Or how about because he has no standing to negotiate anything except maybe his cab fare?
Wow. I had no idea my idea would come true so soon. Thanks.
ROTFL!!! They must think everyone living in this country is as dumb as their voter base. Or maybe they were just speaking to their voter base.
WHO IS PAYING THE EXPENSES OF THIS JUNKET?
If the taxpayers are — and it’s a “fact finding” trip, why all the Leftist Speaking Heads in tow?
If the Obama campaign is paying the expenses, then by definition it is a campaign photo op and propaganda tool.
Obama lies and shit attracts flies..... The natural state.
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