Claims of Obama's ‘secret deal’ with Russia draw Democrats’ ire

The Hill ^ | 05/19/12 01:45 PM ET | Jeremy Herb

[BradtotheBone]

Democrats are crying foul over GOP suggestions that President Obama has a “secret deal” on missile defense with Russia.

The fight began in March, when a hot mic at a summit caught Obama telling then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he’d have more “flexibility” on the issue after the election. Medvedev famously responded that he would transmit that information to Vladimir Putin, who is now Russia's president.

Republicans immediately attacked Obama for making a secret deal, and they used this week’s floor debate on the Defense authorization bill to highlight their argument. No one in Congress has been more vocal about Obama’s comments than Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who chairs the Armed Services subcommittee that deals with missile defense.

Turner mentioned a secret deal seven times during the committee mark-up of the Defense bill last week, and he took up the same line of criticism on the House floor Thursday.

“The issue of the president’s secret deal with the Russians is not really one that’s open to interpretation,” Turner said. “When we ask what are the terms of this deal, Mr. President, the terms that you won’t let the American public see, he says nothing.”

[exit82]

Good Mike!

NOW DON’T BACK DOWN AND DON’T APOLOGIZE!!!!!

[doc11355]

You can tell you’re over a valuable target when the flack starts getting really heavy...

[BenLurkin]

Hussein got caught.

The 'Rats hate it when they get caught.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Kenyan is not to be trusted.....

[Sacajaweau]

And we’re having USA-Russian Military exercises in the USA?? What the hell is going on.

[Hugin]

White House Legislative Affairs Director Rob Nabors sent Turner a letter in April responding to the congressman, who had asked for an explanation of Obama’s hot mic comments. “It is no secret that this effort will be more complicated during election years in both the United States and Russia,” Nabors wrote in the letter obtained by The Hill.

In Russia? He said "my election", not "the eleictions" or "our elections". There was nothing to suggest he wanted any concessions from Putin.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Obama’s meaning is clear and obvious.

[trebb]

Another reason to quit the constant attacks on Romney...now excuse me while I go and put on my flame-retardant suit....

[Marine_Uncle]

Putin is going to be pissed if the kenyan does not win in November.