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PrintObama criticizes McCain for 'naive' foreign policy
Fri May 16, 2008 5:01 PM EDT
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WATERTOWN — Barack Obama laid into John McCain on Friday for advancing a tough-guy foreign policy that he called "naive and irresponsible," serving notice that he's ready to launch a full-throttle challenge to the Republican presidential contender on international relations in the general election campaign.
Lumping McCain together with President Bush, Obama declared: "If they want a debate about protecting the United States of America, that's a debate I'm ready to win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for." He blamed Bush for policies that enhance the strength of terrorist groups such as Hamas and "the fact that al-Qaida's leadership is stronger than ever because we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan," among other failings.
McCain agreed, at least, that there were huge differences between himself and Obama on foreign policy, and said he'd be happy to let the American people decide who was right.
"It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don't have enemies. But that's not the world we live in. And until Senator Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment and determination to keep us safe," McCain said in a speech to the National Rifle Association in Louisville, Ky.
McCain rejected the naive comment, saying Obama should have known better, and added: "Talking, not even with soaring rhetoric, in unconditional meetings with the man who calls Israel 'a stinking corpse,' and arms terrorists who kill Americans, will not convince Iran to give up its nuclear program. It is reckless. It is reckless to suggest that unconditional neetings will advance our interests."
His campaign issued a statement accusing Obama of making a "hysterical diatribe."
The three-way dustup over foreign policy — Bush vs. Obama vs. McCain — began a day earlier, when Bush gave a speech to the Israeli Knesset in which he criticized those who believe the United States should negotiate with terrorists and radicals. Obama said Bush's criticism was directed at him, and took umbrage; the White House denied the president had Obama in mind; McCain said Obama must explain why he wants to talk with rogue leaders.
Obama continued the debate on Friday at a town-hall meeting in a livestock barn. He said he had planned to focus on rural issues during his swing through South Dakota, but felt compelled to answer the remarks from Bush and McCain.
"I'm a strong believer in civility and I'm a strong believer in a bipartisan foreign policy, but that cause is not served with dishonest, divisive attacks of the sort that we've seen out of George Bush and John McCain over the last couple days," he said.
Obama said McCain had a "naive and irresponsible belief that tough talk from Washington will somehow cause Iran to give up its nuclear program and support for terrorism."
Speaking of McCain and Bush together, he added: "They aren't telling you the truth. They are trying to fool you and scare you because they can't win a foreign policy debate on the merits. But it's not going to work. Not this time, not this year."
Obama vowed to turn the foreign policy debate back against Bush and McCain, rejecting the notion that Democrats critical of the war in Iraq are vulnerable to charges of being soft on terrorism. Meeting with reporters, he argued that tough-minded diplomacy and engagement with rivals have long coexisted, citing the foreign policies of former Presidents Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan.
"That has been the history of U.S. diplomacy until very recently," Obama said. "I find it puzzling that we view this as in any way controversial. This whole notion of not talking to people, it didn't hold in the '60s, it didn't hold in the '70s ... When Kennedy met with (Soviet leader Nikita) Khrushchev, we were on the brink of nuclear war."
He also noted that Nixon opened talks with China with the knowledge that Chinese leader Mao Zedong "had exterminated millions of people."
Laying down a marker for the fall campaign, Obama offered a challenge to the GOP nominee: "If John McCain wants to meet me anywhere, any time to have a debate about our respective policies ... that is a conversation I am happy to have."
Other Democrats accused McCain of hypocrisy Friday, saying the certain GOP presidential nominee had previously said he would be willing to negotiate with the militant Palestinian group Hamas.
McCain told reporters in West Virginia: "I made it very clear, at that time, before and after, that we will not negotiate with terrorist organizations, that Hamas would have to abandon their terrorism, their advocacy to the extermination of the state of Israel, and be willing to negotiate in a way that recognizes the right of the state of Israel and abandons their terrorist position and advocacy."
McCain said there was a "huge difference" between his own statements and Obama's willingness to negotiate with "sponsors of terrorist organizations."
"I'll let the American people decide whether that's a significant difference or not," he said. "I believe it is."
Obama said he has stated "over and over again that I will not negotiate with terrorists like Hamas."
Obama closed out his campaign day with a noisy rally in Sioux Falls before about 6,500 cheering backers, perhaps showing some of the strain of a long campaign day. "Thank you Sioux City," Obama said, as a roar greeted his entrance. He quickly corrected his reference to a nearby Iowa town.
"I've been in Iowa too long," said Obama, referring to his long campaign to win that state's leadoff caucuses in January.
___
Associated Press writer Glen Johnson in Louisville, Ky., contributed to this report.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- Mike Glover's Column, All of Newsvine
- Groups: dolovewalk.org
- Regions: Israel , United States , Iraq , Iran , Afghanistan , China , Sioux Falls/Mitchell
 | Obama criticizes McCain for 'naive' foreign policy - Yahoo! News | Yahoo! News | Sat May 17 | 1 |
| Obama Strikes Back at Bush On Diplomacy | The Washington Post | Sat May 17 | 0 |
| Obama says Bush falsely accused him of appeasement | hosted.ap.org | Fri May 16 | 5 |
 | Obama criticizes McCain, Bush on appeasement talk | Associated Press | Fri May 16 | 16 |
| Obama says Bush falsely accused him of appeasement | Associated Press | Thu May 15 | 24 |
- Public Discussion (21)
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{"commentId":1809423,"authorDomain":"polecat91990"}
So there are 78,000 dead in Burma and 5 million homeless in China, yet the front page of newsvine is still rehashing the presidential election? No wonder my time on this site has so radically decreased...
{"commentId":1809423,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"polecat91990"}
- 1 vote
#1 - Fri May 16, 2008 5:33 PM EDT{"commentId":1810058,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
Maybe if we talk more about your issues, something will change? Have all I can do to survive in this ecomony via current administration.
{"commentId":1810058,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1809461,"authorDomain":"Cassandra"}
I saw Obama speak today, and I thought he told it like it is. He does not want to negotiate with terrorists, but he does think diplomatic moves to talk with the leadership of other countries, including those which do not like us, make sense. Actually, I guess nobody told Shrub his Secretary of Defense is even now talking with the folks in Iraq. Or maybe he and McCain think that when their folks talk, it is not appeasement, but somehow any possibility of a Democrat talking to the same people becomes appeasement? Fuzzy thinking, at best. More likely, a serious attempt to mislead the American people. More dirty politics, as usual. I'm glad Obama called them on it.
{"commentId":1809461,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"Cassandra"}
- 8 votes
#2 - Fri May 16, 2008 5:40 PM EDT{"commentId":1811110,"authorDomain":"keggerlord"}
"I'm a strong believer in civility and I'm a strong believer in a bipartisan foreign policy, but that cause is not served with dishonest, divisive attacks of the sort that we've seen out of George Bush and John McCain over the last couple days," (Obama) said.
Am I the only one that sees any mother-$&#*)$& irony in that statement?
It's almost like Rick James: "C'mon, now! I didn't just grind my muddy boots into Eddie's couch for no damn reason! I'm a grown man! I got more sense than that!
... yeah, I remember grinding my boots into Eddie's couch."
{"commentId":1811110,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"keggerlord"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1816667,"authorDomain":"arcanebliss"}
Seriously! I was just going to say...
McCain told reporters in West Virginia: "I made it very clear, at that time, before and after, that we will not negotiate with terrorist organizations, that Hamas would have to abandon their terrorism, their advocacy to the extermination of the state of Israel, and be willing to negotiate in a way that recognizes the right of the state of Israel and abandons their terrorist position and advocacy."
Obama has made the same clear as well. This is just further proof that McCain is repeating Hamas and Obama's names together to simply scare the ignorant portion of American society into not voting for Obama. So tiring.
{"commentId":1816667,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"arcanebliss"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1809786,"authorDomain":"JStranahan"}
Obama:"Bring'em on"!
{"commentId":1809786,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"JStranahan"}
- 3 votes
#3 - Fri May 16, 2008 6:31 PM EDT{"commentId":1809843,"authorDomain":"MGDasef"}
The last person I saw cuddling up to a terrorist nation was George Bush holding hands with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. You know, that place where most of the 9/11 terrorists came from. Let's all play "Who's got the oil!"
{"commentId":1809843,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"MGDasef"}
- 6 votes
#4 - Fri May 16, 2008 6:42 PM EDT{"commentId":1810044,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
Yeah, he is sucking up to beg Saudi Arabia to increase Oil Production and they said NO. How Pathetic....
{"commentId":1810044,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
{"commentId":1810153,"authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
I seen King George on the news, what a joke. He's laughing and carrying on like a school kid, either that or he was passing gas. As for King Abdullah, seems kind of smug and condescending.
I am a Hillary supporter, but Barack Obama will get my vote. This country won't survive another republican administration.
{"commentId":1810153,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1809991,"authorDomain":"Jivatmanx"}
Two years ago, James P. Rubin, a Reporter, Asked McCain: "Do you think that American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past, working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is now in charge?"
McCain answered: "They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so . . . but it's a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that."
{"commentId":1809991,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"Jivatmanx"}
- 6 votes
#5 - Fri May 16, 2008 7:06 PM EDT{"commentId":1810034,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
Cassandra voices in words exactly how I feel just above. Thanx Cassandra
{"commentId":1810034,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
- 1 vote
#6 - Fri May 16, 2008 7:15 PM EDT{"commentId":1810638,"authorDomain":"bluecollarbytes"}
That's rich, Obama calling McCain or Bush naive.
McCain clarified his stance for those who can't read between the lines. He's willing to talk with enemies who change their pledged goals, like allowing Israel to live in peace for instance. In the meantime he'll deal with them. McCain may not be the most articulate, but he's doing better and he does have a coherent policy on Israel and middle east, given the mess it is over there.
There is no peace process, only a set of actions delaying the final outcome-Israel gets to live in peace next to peaceful Arabs, or Israel vanquishes its enemies. Israel shows remarkable patience and we should to, by not forcing it into a harder place than it already exists in.
{"commentId":1810638,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"bluecollarbytes"}
- 1 vote
#7 - Fri May 16, 2008 9:24 PM EDT{"commentId":1812110,"authorDomain":"jaoson4188"}
Yeah I think talking to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a great idea, bravo Obama. I mean was it not even a year ago he was saying the jewish holocaust never even happened. Once Obama sits down with him and sets that clear we will be right on course of brokering several deals with him. We just need to sit down and explain how he is out of his mind and doesn't know it. AHAHAHA You Obomanites really crack me up. Then again if I hung out with lewis farrakhan and Reverand Wright then I would already hate jews so I would have something in common with Ahmadinejad, so maybe Obama should talk with them.
{"commentId":1812110,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"jaoson4188"}
{"commentId":1810762,"authorDomain":"johnmccreery"}
Since you appear to know that McCain has a coherent policy, perhaps you could spell it out for us.
{"commentId":1810762,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"johnmccreery"}
#8 - Fri May 16, 2008 9:54 PM EDT{"commentId":1810901,"authorDomain":"mimacarol"}
I get it!! Obama keeps a list of all the names Clinton calls him. Then, at just the right moment, he uses the same names against McCain. How very cute.
By the way, this McCain would be 4 more years of Bush is interesting too. Does that mean that 4 years of Obama would be the same as 4 more years of Carter?
{"commentId":1810901,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"mimacarol"}
#9 - Fri May 16, 2008 10:22 PM EDT{"commentId":1810944,"authorDomain":"mimacarol"}
We do have to give Obama extra credit for this one. Bush may or may not have been referring to Obama in his speech. He never mentions any names. ( Carter came to my mind when I heard it. ) Anyway, Obama jumped right on it and made it about himself. We all know that everything is about him, right? And, by doing this, he managed to get lots of free press. Not a bad move on his part.
Who says he's not the usual politician? Of course he is!!!
{"commentId":1810944,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"mimacarol"}
#10 - Fri May 16, 2008 10:32 PM EDT{"commentId":1811803,"authorDomain":"greenguy"}
Well, I remember the Times headline mentioning Obama, so it was out there in the media. Again, its ridiculous to argue that Bush wasn't referring to Obama when he said that "some people" want to negotiate with terrorists. Jimmy Carter is small fish at this point - he gets media attention but why would the president feel the need to attack an ex-politician who holds no elected office?
Aside from the nonsensical argument made, there's something unseemly about a president attacking a political opponent in a campaign-like speech from the government offices of a foreign country.
{"commentId":1811803,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"greenguy"}
#11 - Sat May 17, 2008 2:56 AM EDT{"commentId":1812516,"authorDomain":"burnallwhodeny"}
It's election year. Anything goes as usual. We have the black man who has spirit against the old geezer from Arizona. Let's rumble. I'm convinced that Obama has the energy to outdo McCain, the popular supporting plan to get out of Iraq, and he's got better speaking skills. McCain still has a disadvantage so negativ attacks are all that'll get him the presidency. Call Obama fool, terroist, un-American, Muslim, Black. Whatever will win the White House. Yet I don't think it'll work this time.
{"commentId":1812516,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"burnallwhodeny"}
#12 - Sat May 17, 2008 11:58 AM EDT{"commentId":1812838,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
John McCain:
Its a wonderful world we live in if we didn't have enemies
So, are we supposed to make more enemies or less?
How?
{"commentId":1812838,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"pmags"}
#13 - Sat May 17, 2008 1:52 PM EDT{"commentId":1818563,"authorDomain":"jdl-28"}
Neither one of them would make a good President for this country, both would like to give amnesty to the illegal, both want more H1-b and H2-b visa people to come into our country, McCain will keep the war going, Obama change his mind on pulling the troop out of Iraq.
One is using the race card to much, the other is using the war hero this is just a big joke and the American citizens will lose no matter which one get in. The Black will vote for Obama just because of his color, McCain will get vote just because of parties tides. Than you have Clinton and where she stand I am not sure at all accept she also want the illegal to get amnesty, and none of them can be trusted to deal with the issue this country has right now.
If any of them are elected to be President our country will still go down, many American will lose their job and the people from other country will still be coming in taking many jobs away. After all they all will be working for big business and special interest group only not the American citizens.
Maybe it time to stand up and say we do not care to have the three people run for office, and try to fine the people who work for you and not for Mexico, China, India or any other country other than America.
Some one early on this post stated Newsvine has the election on there front page when there is 78,000 dead in Burma and 5 million people homeless in china and that is more importance than the election in this country.
I am sorry but our election is very importance for I do want someone in office who we can help our country. I am sorry about Burma and China but it not our place to take care of them, after all we haven finish taking care of our own people in the New Orleans. It time we start taking care of our own country and stop giving our tax dollars away to the other countries and beside that China is a very rich country who took the American manufacturing job away. You can not help every country in this world so wake up and start thinking about this country and your children future.
{"commentId":1818563,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"jdl-28"}
#14 - Mon May 19, 2008 2:16 PM EDT{"commentId":1820721,"authorDomain":"burnallwhodeny"}
Well, to say the people will be worse off with any of these men in office is a lie. No way to know is the truth. America will go on as it always has and humans will still be human. Susceptible to change, irritable at times, happy at others, etc. Nothing changes. I believe Obama is the best choice, but not bcuz he's everything people hope he is. But bcuz we are everything we are. A country who has found it's voice. I hope we keep it. Put these leaders on a shorter lease. That's what our country needs. Stop trying to save the world. Bcuz people don't rely on themselves anymore. They rely on money we don't have.
{"commentId":1820721,"threadId":"265530","contentId":"1493453","authorDomain":"burnallwhodeny"}
#15 - Tue May 20, 2008 1:41 AM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"265530","isPrivate":false}
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