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Obama Open Mic Disses Qatar (Another friend under the bus)
politico ^ | 4/16/2011 | MATT NEGRIN & MJ LEE

Posted on 04/16/2011 5:42:25 PM PDT by milwguy

President Obama told reporters on Thursday that his meeting with Qatar's emir was cordial and useful, complete with banter about tickets for the 2022 World Cup.

But he struck a different tone later that night at a Democratic fundraiser in Chicago, saying Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani isn’t doing enough to promote democracy in his own country, even as the TV news network he sponsors promotes democracy to the entire region.

The diplomatic gaffe was the result of the same “open mic” problem widely reported Friday: Obama thought he was speaking in confidence to Democratic donors, but CBS News’s Mark Knoller was able to record an audio feed of the president’s remarks, which ranged from the brief mention of Qatar to Republican budget-cutting efforts.

Of Qatar’s emir, Obama said: “He is a big booster, big promoter of democracy all throughout the Middle East. Reform, reform, reform — you're seeing it on Al Jazeera." He continued: "Now, he himself is not reforming significantly. There's no big move towards democracy in Qatar.” The president noted that Qataris enjoy a very large per-capita income, which will "dampen a lot of conflict."

His candor was a departure from what he told reporters about the emir of Qatar earlier that day:

"I expressed to him my appreciation of the leadership that the Emir has shown when it comes to democracy in the Middle East and, in particular, the work that they have done in trying to promote a peaceful transition in Libya. ...

"And so, we've had discussions about how we can continue to promote democracy, human rights, increased freedom and reform throughout the Middle East."

In a gaggle with reporters on Air Force One Friday, at which point CBS News had only reported on the president’s comments about last week’s budget negotiations with Republicans, White House press secretary Jay Carney said what Obama said to donors on Thursday was the same thing he said in public, and that the president wasn’t embarrassed by what he said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chicago; obama; qatar
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To: MamaDearest
Dig deeply enough and I'll bet you'll find a wannabe Chicago connection to the proposed venture. If the powers that be in Qatar cut out Chicago, Obie cuts out Qatar.
21 posted on 04/16/2011 6:25:56 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (I am declaring 2011 to be the year of ME!)
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To: livius

How interesting that O believes a high per capita income is a good thing..........for others in other countries.

Not only is he a psychopathic liar, he’s a marxist to the core.


22 posted on 04/16/2011 6:46:23 PM PDT by Carley ( TYPICAL STREET THUG, NASTY BULLY, THAT'S OUR PRESIDENT.)
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To: milwguy

We all know how Reagan was treated for any off mike comments. The silence will of course be deafening here.


23 posted on 04/16/2011 6:47:22 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (Yes We Can, have smaller government)
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To: skr

24 posted on 04/16/2011 6:50:17 PM PDT by JoanneSD
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To: gov_bean_ counter
Dig deeply enough and I'll bet you'll find a wannabe Chicago connection to the proposed venture.

If it were found, it would be silenced / suppressed via government media. The level of corruption is unparalled. Worse yet, actions such as making rulings without the authority of congress and with judges who should have recused themselves from cases are blatant and non-challenged.

25 posted on 04/16/2011 6:59:32 PM PDT by MamaDearest
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To: livius
"But that’s not the type of “change” Obama wants in the ME. What he wants is the Islamic theocratic dictatorship as a political system, and Marxist collectivism as an economic system."

Well stated!

26 posted on 04/16/2011 7:21:56 PM PDT by StormEye
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To: Carley

...and he hates the US with a passion. We are and we stand for everything he despises: success, freedom, reason.


27 posted on 04/16/2011 7:58:34 PM PDT by livius
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To: skr

“...Are some of the sound engineers falling out
of love with the ‘One’?”

Hey, give the sound guys a break. They’re on loan
from Biden’s staff.


28 posted on 04/16/2011 8:28:45 PM PDT by Sivad (NorCal Red Turf)
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To: gov_bean_ counter
Dig deeply enough and I'll bet you'll find a wannabe Chicago connection to the proposed venture. If the powers that be in Qatar cut out Chicago, Obie cuts out Qatar.

Chicago connection located (Rezko):

Chicago Crescent: Rezko, Blago,CAIR, a million buckes and …Abraham Lincoln

Rezko even was trying to get the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, to partner with him in one of his businesses! He was quoted in Springfield newspaper, last year saying, “I’m planning to get him to do business in Illinois,” Rezko said of the emir. After the Emir visited Springfield in May of last year.

29 posted on 04/16/2011 10:02:47 PM PDT by MamaDearest
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To: AmericanInTokyo

US allies have ALREADY been punted from Qatar over “airline access rights”. Don’t kid yourself, if Qatar is genuine in their “offended” status, the USA is not too much further down the list of “offensive regimes”, despite (or perhaps because of...) the TOTUS’ best efforts.


30 posted on 04/16/2011 10:48:08 PM PDT by Don W (You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze.)
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To: MamaDearest

Great catch. Al Capone would be proud of this bunch.


31 posted on 04/17/2011 5:35:26 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (I am declaring 2011 to be the year of ME!)
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To: milwguy

His problem isn’t open mic, it’s open mouth.


32 posted on 04/17/2011 5:46:17 AM PDT by Rocky (REPEAL IT!)
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To: MamaDearest

Aye, 0bama is a big jerk!


33 posted on 04/17/2011 8:45:25 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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