Obama Says on Foreign Policy He's Like Reagan and Bush 41

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

GREENSBURG, PA. -- Barack Obama argued that his foreign policy proposals are more in line with former presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan than with the current President Bush and Hillary Clinton.

"The truth is that my foreign policy is actually a return to the traditional, bipartisan, realistic foreign policy of George Bush's father, John F. Kennedy, of in some ways Ronald Reagan," Obama told a crowd at the first town hall meeting of his "Stand for Change" bus tour.

"It's George Bush that's been na?ve and its people like John McCain and unfortunately some Democrats who have facilitated him acting in these na?ve ways that have caused us so much damage in our reputation around the world."

Obama accused Hillary Clinton of subscribing to President Bush's politics when it comes to foreign policy, even though he said she may not agree with all of his policies.

"In many ways, she has been captive to the same politics that lead her to vote for the war in Iraq. Since 9/11, the conventional wisdom has been you have to look tough on foreign policy by voting and acting like the Republicans," Obama said, "She, like McCain and Bush, said you shouldn't talk to leaders of countries like Iran."

Obama praised former President Bush's Gulf war policy, saying that the war was conducted with allies and only cost $20 billion. He said that the Gulf war strengthened the United States because national interests were not compromised.

"There is a history of Democrats and Republicans who understand the importance of using our diplomatic power and economic power and that is over time what brings us influence and makes us more secure."

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by egreens1 March 30, 2008 10:58 PM EDT: OBAMA-- YOU''RE WHAT OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING A NEO-COMMUNIST, YOU''RE NO RONALD REAGAN or JFK

Now that the world discovered that Obama and his minister hate this country almost as much as wife, Michelle, Barack Obama is trying to re-write history. However, he''s been outed as the Neo-Communist that he is.

Would Ronald Reagan call for an All Arab conference his first year-- seing as the only interest they share is in ending Israel''s existence?

Would Ronald Reagan go oversees as a Senator (last year) and campaign for a radical Islamic/Communist cousin named Odinga to try to bring Sharia Law to the free Republic of Kenya? Obama did, and when his cousin lost he started a tribal Civil War that killed 700 people.

Obama is no Ronald Reagan-- He is a Neo-Communist with radical Islamic ties

http://biz.yahoo.com/ibd/080115/issues.html?.v=1; Reply to this comment


by egreens1 March 30, 2008 10:57 PM EDT: OBAMA-- YOU''RE WHAT OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING A NEO-COMMUNIST, YOU''RE NO RONALD REAGAN or JFK

Now that the world discovered that Obama and his minister hate this country almost as much as wife, Michelle, Barack Obama is trying to re-write history. However, he''s been outed as the Neo-Communist that he is.

Would Ronald Reagan call for an All Arab conference his first year-- seing as the only interest they share is in ending Israel''s existence?

Would Ronald Reagan think that because of his skin color and ties to Muslim world-- his very existence would end terrorism? No, because Ronald Reagan represented America First, he did not try to represent the other countries instead of us and he used America''s strengths to achieve our goals.

Would Ronald Reagan go oversees as a Senator (last year) and campaign for a radical Islamic/Communist cousin named Odinga to try to bring Sharia Law to the free Republic of Kenya? Obama did, and when his cousin lost he started a tribal Civil War that killed 700 people.

Obama is no Ronald Reagan-- He is a Neo-Communist with radical Islamic ties

http://biz.yahoo.com/ibd/080115/issues.html?.v=1; Reply to this comment


by willie123196 March 30, 2008 4:39 PM EDT: Obama is the best candidate to be President, and HE IS black (and VERY INTELLIGENT).It is true the American experience through the eyes of a black American may be a little different, but he is still an AMERICAN.Ethnicity shouldn''t be a qualifier for President, of course if you''re prejudiced regardless of your own racial or ethnic background, then this man''s skin color should bother you, and you should be ashamed of yourself. I''m an American, and I am Hispanic, where I come a persons actions and character define who they are not their skin color or any non-merit reason.Today, we have a candidate that transcends race through his intellect, vision, and accomplishments. Those who can find no real issue or reason for him not to be President are attempting to fear monger us into stabbing ourselves with a knife. Race has shown the man does have character. He stood by his church when other would have simply cut and ran.By standing by his church Sen. Obama has shown all of us that when the call comes at 3 AM and the person whose life may be on the line is yours, he will be there fighting and withstanding the storm for you.If we are wise we''d support him.If you want a candidate that tells you just want to hear,he may not be your President.For Mr.Obama is the kind of person who has great wisdom, and sometimes the people are too easily manipulated into doing themselves harm. The choice is whether we (all of us) are willing to move forward and stay stock in the past.; Reply to this comment


by iamthequeen- March 30, 2008 12:59 PM EDT: Can you say Neocon? Didn''t Obama do his research? Even core Republicans want to oust this extremist branch and return to the days of fiscal conservatism. Does this mean Obama is a Bushie?; Reply to this comment


by anappleadae March 30, 2008 2:37 AM EDT: War is hell and gruesome. Obama continues to hammer negatives about Hillary, while she seems to be going after McCain. We are clear about who Hillary is, but Obama remains a mystery. Oh sure, we have a measured laundry list on the boy, but who is he really?

With all the twists and turns on the field of battle the difficulty of true intell is alway murky. His followers are of from the complacent generation along with African Americans who think he is the mysterious messiah come to set them free.

Should Obama actually become president his power will be neutralized and he will be remebered as a show place icon.

Should the unlikely happen, Hillary could be unbelievably effective in returning respect for the Constitution.

In the end it is likely that the old war savvy dinosaur McCain will continue the Republican legacy of National security and World wide engagement.; Reply to this comment


by illinoisvote March 29, 2008 5:10 PM EDT: Obama Knows His Way around a Ballot by David Jackson & Ray Long, Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,0,1843097.story?,page=1
Some say his ability to play political hardball goes back to his first campaign%u2026.His overwhelming legal onslaught signaled his impatience to gain office, even if that meant elbowing aside an elder stateswoman like Palmer%u2026Obama%u2019s first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career%u2026first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it%u2026; Reply to this comment


by illinoisvote March 29, 2008 4:48 PM EDT: *** Morris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Morris
%u2026Morris went on to become campaign manager of Bill Clinton%u2019s successful 1996 bid for re-election%u2026his tenure on that campaign was cut short%u2026when it was revealed that he had allowed a prostitute, Sherry Rowlands, to listen in on conversations with the President%u2026Morris has emerged as a harsh critic of the Clintons%u2026

Barack Obama & *** Morris in Kenya
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/01/31/obamas-african-hubris-2/
%u2026Leader of the Kenyan Orange Democratic Movement opposition leader, Raila Odinga, is Barack Obama%u2019s cousin%u2026wants to be president%u2026two of Kenya%u2019s tribes%u2026are killing each other over a disputed election that Odinga, Obama%u2019s cousin, claims was stolen from him%u2026Former Clinton aides currently working for Obama%u2026directed *** Morris to Kenya to advise the Odinga campaign in November of 2007, shortly after Odinga visited with Obama in America. Morris was an extremely divisive factor in the Kenyan elections%u2026Kenya currently teeters on the edge of political chaos & civil war%u2026; Reply to this comment


by drum747 March 29, 2008 3:07 PM EDT: Praising Reagan again?; Reply to this comment


by eddie3dfx March 29, 2008 12:20 PM EDT: I don''t remember any of these people have a racist anti american preacher for 20 years; Reply to this comment


by jaykay221 March 29, 2008 10:28 AM EDT: Hmmm - don''t know if those were the best comparisons - but I would tend to agree that all three that he mentioned handled foreign policy better that Bush 2 - although I still think there is room for improvements. Bush 1 was certainly smarter than Bush 2 about how he handled the Gulf War.; Reply to this comment