And the general election begins … with McCain landing a punch on foreign policy
The Democratic primary is over (Hillary's not answered the wake-up call yet) and the general election has begun.
The first week of the general election kicked off with Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama tangling over foreign policy. And the first landed punch goes to John McCain. Not only did he have Obama backpeddling on direct talks with Iran, he stunned him with an effective jab regarding Cuba.
Of course, there's a long way to go. And it will take more than a few jabs by McCain for him to win over the much stronger Obama. But to give you a taste, here's an e-mail that the McCain campaign is sending out this morning chronicling their first landed punch.
It contains more than you ever wanted to know on the topic, but interesting nonetheless:
All: Obama supporters this morning continued to back away from Obama’s pledge to hold unconditional summit meetings with Iranian President Ahmadinejad and other rogue state leaders. This is especially relevant today, Cuban Independence Day, given that Cuban Leader Raul Castro is one of the leaders Obama has committed to meeting with unconditionally in his first year in office.
The latest is former Sen. Tom Daschle, who said on CNN this morning: “I would not say that we would meet unconditionally -- of course there are conditions.” (Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X0jHyR2vsY)
Yesterday we saw Obama senior foreign policy advisor Susan Rice actually deny that Obama ever committed to meeting with Ahmadinejad, despite the fact that Obama directly confirmed it September 2007 (see below).
It’s revealing that so many of Senator Obama’s supporters recognize that his pledge to meet unconditionally with rogue leaders like Ahmadinejad exposes his reckless judgment that threatens to make the world more dangerous and America less safe.
Please see below… Thanks
This Morning, Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) Rejected Obama’s Call For Unconditional Meetings, Saying “I Would Not Say That We Would Meet Unconditionally -- Of Course There Are Conditions …”
Daschle: “I Would Not Say That We Would Meet Unconditionally -- Of Course There Are Conditions …” CNN’s JOHN ROBERTS: “Senator, you thought about running for the nomination in the 2004 election briefly. If you had become president, would you have met with Ahmadinejad and others without precondition in the first year of your presidency?” DASCHLE: “Well, I think it's important to emphasize again when we talk about precondition, we're just saying everything needs to be on the table. I would not say that we would meet unconditionally -- of course there are conditions that we would involve in preparation in getting ready for the diplomacy, but clearly, John, we've got to start talking. We have to start working through the differences we have, and of course I’d meet with them.” ROBERTS: “But he clearly said, clearly agreed that he would meet without precondition.” DASCHLE: “Well, without precondition simply means we wouldn't put obstacles in the way of discussing the differences between us. that's really what they're saying, what Barack is saying.” (CNN’s “America Morning,” 5/20/08)
·Watch Daschle Say “I Would Not Say That We Would Meet Unconditionally -- Of Course There Are Conditions …”
Yesterday, Obama Senior Foreign Policy Advisor Susan Rice Denied That Obama Ever Said He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Obama Senior Foreign Policy Advisor Susan Rice Denied That Senator Obama Said He Would Meet With Ahmadinejad. CNN’S WOLF BLITZER: “How does Senator Obama defend that decision to meet without preconditions with a leader like Ahmadinejad?” RICE: “Well, first of all, he said he'd meet with the appropriate Iranian leaders. He hasn't named who that leader will be. It may, in fact be that by the middle of next of year, Ahmadinejad is long gone.” … BLITZER: “Let’s be precise because when they criticize Barack Obama, not only John McCain but others, for suggesting that he would meet without preconditions with Ahmadinejad, who only last week on Israel's 60th anniversary called Israel a ‘stinking corpse.’ The question that they ask is what is Barack Obama going to talk with him about? RICE: “Well, first of all as I said, it would be the appropriate Iranian leadership at the appropriate time – not necessarily Ahmadinejad.” (CNN’s “Situation Room,” 5/19/08)
· Watch Obama Senior Foreign Policy Advisor Deny That Obama Said He Would Meet With Ahmadinejad
But In September 2007, Obama Confirmed He Will Meet With President Ahmadinejad
In September 2007 In New York City, Obama Confirmed That He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. QUESTION: “Senator, you’ve said before that you’d meet with President Ahmadinejad…” OBAMA: “Uh huh.” QUESTION: “Would you still meet with him today?” OBAMA: “Yeah, nothing’s changed with respect to my belief that strong countries and strong presidents talk to their enemies and talk to their adversaries. I find many of President Ahmadinejad’s statements odious and I’ve said that repeatedly. And I think that we have to recognize that there are a lot of rogue nations in the world that don’t have American interests at heart. But what I also believe is that, as John F. Kennedy said, we should never negotiate out of fear but we should never fear to negotiate. And by us listening to the views even of those who we violently disagree with – that sends a signal to the world that we are going to turn the page on the failed diplomacy that the Bush Administration has practiced for so long.” (Barack Obama, Press Conference, New York City, 9/24/07)
· Watch Obama Confirm That He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Also watch here: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3643692)
News Reports From Time Covered Obama’s Confirmation That He’d Meet With Ahmadinejad:
· CNN: “Obama Stood His Ground Monday On His Controversial Remarks Earlier This Year That He Would Meet With Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.” “Sen. Barack Obama stood his ground Monday on his controversial remarks earlier this year that he would meet with Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ‘We should never negotiate out of fear but we should never fear to negotiate,’ Obama said, quoting John F. Kennedy. ‘Meeting with somebody is not tantamount to agreeing with them,’ he later added when taking questions from reporters after announcing an endorsement by the New York City Correctional Officers Benevolent Association in Manhattan. Obama's toughest Democratic primary competition in the race for the White House, Sen. Hillary Clinton, criticized Obama earlier this year for saying he would meet with Ahmadinejad during a debate, called his comments irresponsible and attacked the Illinois senator for being inexperienced.” (Katy Byron, “Obama Stands Ground On Meeting With Ahmadinejad,” CNN.com, 9/24/07)
· CBS News: “Obama: I Would Still Meet With Ahmadinejad.” “Despite the controversy that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to New York City has triggered, Senator Barack Obama still vows to meet with rogue leaders if he is elected, reports CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic. ‘Nothing has changed with respect to my belief that strong countries and strong presidents talk to their enemies and talk to their adversaries,’ Obama told reporters at a press conference after receiving an endorsement from the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association. … Obama was asked if his statements about Ahmadinejad were contradictory -- why would he meet with the Iranian leader as U.S. president but not invite to speak if he were the Columbia University president? ‘There are two different functions, as president of the United States, my job is to look out for the national security interests of this country,’ Obama said. ‘In the same way that Nixon met with Mao and that past presidents met with people that we don’t like.’” (Brian Montopoli, “Obama: I Would Still Meet With Ahmadinejad,” CBS News, 9/24/07)
· Politico’s Ben Smith: Obama Reaffirmed That “His Commitment Is To Meet The Iranian During The First Year Of His Presidency.” “Asked repeatedly about Ahmadinejad (what else?) at the corrections officers' endorsement in New York, Obama offered the same answer as Hillary, if a bit less stridently: ‘It’s not a choice I would have made,’ he said of Columbia University's invitation to the Iranian president. ‘But we don’t need to be fearful of [Ahmadinejad]'s rantings,’ he said, adding that his commitment is to meet the Iranian during the first year of his presidency.” (Ben Smith, “Obama On Ahmadinejad: Meeting Yes, Columbia No,” Politico, 9/24/08)
Obama Has Repeatedly Confirmed That He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
At July 2007 CNN/Youtube Debate, Obama Was Asked If He Would Personally Meet “Without Precondition” With Leaders Of Iran, North Korea, Syria And Other Nations -- As Pictures Of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad And Other Leaders Were Shown On Youtube Screen – To Which Obama Said “I Would." QUESTION: "[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?"... OBAMA: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous." (CNN/YouTube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)
· Watch Obama Say "I Would" Meet Unconditionally With Leaders Of Iran, North Korea, Syria, And Other Nations.
In September 2007 In New York City, Obama Confirmed That He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. QUESTION: “Senator, you’ve said before that you’d meet with President Ahmadinejad …” OBAMA: “Uh huh.” QUESTION: “Would you still meet with him today?” OBAMA: “Yeah, nothing’s changed with respect to my belief that strong countries and strong presidents talk to their enemies and talk to their adversaries. I find many of President Ahmadinejad’s statements odious and I’ve said that repeatedly. And I think that we have to recognize that there are a lot of rogue nations in the world that don’t have American interests at heart. But what I also believe is that, as John F. Kennedy said, we should never negotiate out of fear but we should never fear to negotiate. And by us listening to the views even of those who we violently disagree with – that sends a signal to the world that we are going to turn the page on the failed diplomacy that the Bush Administration has practiced for so long.” (Barack Obama, Press Conference, New York City, 9/24/07)
· Watch Obama Confirm That He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3643692
In October 2007 CBS Interview, When Asked About Meeting With “Hugo Chavez And Etc. Etc.,” Obama Said “Exactly, And Without Preconditions.” CBS’ Harry Smith: “You said, ‘I will talk to so and so and Hugo Chavez and etc., etc.’” Obama: “Exactly, and without preconditions.” (CBS’ “The Early Show,” 10/15/07)
In November 2007, Obama Specifically Brought Up Ahmadinejad When Discussing Meetings With Leaders Of Hostile Nations. OBAMA: “I have repeatedly said I would not take military options off the table. I don’t think any president can in any circumstance. What I have said is that until we have exhausted those efforts, then we are not doing what’s right for the American people. And this -- look, part of the reason it’s important for us to talk to countries we don’t like and leaders we don’t like, it’s not that I think that in a conversation with somebody like Ahmadinejad that I’m going to somehow change his mind on everything, but what we do is, we send a signal to other leadership in Iran, to the Iranian people and to the world community that we are listening and that we are willing to try to resolve conflicts peacefully. That’s the kind of work to repair our standing in the world that I believe the next president’s going to have to engage in. We have to have a clear break with the Bush-Cheney style of diplomacy that has caused so many problems and has actually weakened our ability to deal with a very real terrorist threat. … NBC’s TIM RUSSERT: “You’re not afraid of being used in a propaganda way?” OBAMA: “You know, Tim, I -- I’ve got to say I’m afraid of losing a propaganda war to somebody like Ahmadinejad. You know, strong countries and strong presidents speak with their adversaries.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 11/11/07)
At December 2007 Debate, Obama Again Specifically Brought Up Ahmadinejad’s Name When Discussing How America Must Be Willing To “Talk Directly To Not Just Our Friends But Also To Our Enemies.” OBAMA: “We need to send a strong signal that we are going to talk directly to not just our friends but also to our enemies. And I have to say that when I brought this up early on in this campaign, I was called naive and irresponsible. And yet the point, the reason for that was not necessarily because we’re going to change Ahmadinejad’s mind. It’s because we’re going to change the minds of people inside Iran, moderate forces inside Iran, as well as our Muslim allies around the region, that we are willing to listen to them and try to engage in finding ways to resolve conflicts cooperatively.” (Sen. Barack Obama, National Public Radio Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Des Moines, IA, 12/4/07)
In April 2008, Senator Barack Obama: "As A Matter Of Principle, I Will Talk To Any Head Of State," Gave Iran As Example. SEN. OBAMA: "But there is I think a practical effect when we have direct talks with these countries. So as a matter of principle, I will talk to any head of state after sufficient preparation in order to lay out what our interests are and to listen to them, but not to concede on the issues that are in our long term national security interest. So for example, meeting with Iran, if I were sitting at the table, I will be very specific. We need them to stop developing nuclear weapons. We need them to stop funding Hamas and Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. We need them to stop their aggressive rhetoric towards Israel, and offer carrots and sticks for changes in behavior. Unless we have those talks, then Iran has an excuse to pursue whatever policies it wants arguing that essentially we are bent on regime change. I actually think that weakens our influence and encourages worst behavior on their part." (Sen. Barack Obama, Interview With The Indianapolis Star Editorial Board, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhMTIlGHMdk&feature=related, 4/25/08)
According To Obama’s Website He Is “Willing To Meet With The Leaders of All Nations, Friend And Foe.” “Obama is willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe. He will do the careful preparation necessary, but will signal that America is ready to come to the table, and that he is willing to lead. And if America is willing to come to the table, the world will be more willing to rally behind American leadership to deal with challenges like terrorism, and Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs.” (Obama For America Website, http://www.barackobama.com, Accessed 5/12/08)
According To Obama’s Website, “Obama Is The Only Major Candidate Who Supports Tough, Direct Presidential Diplomacy With Iran Without Preconditions.” “Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions.” (Obama For America Website, http://www.barackobama.com, Accessed 5/12/08)
