Obama Fires Back at Bush and McCain

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

WATERTOWN, S.D. -- Barack Obama responded to George Bush's "appeasement' accusations today, accusing both him and John McCain of making foreign policy blunders which have jeopardized the safety of the country. "I want to be perfectly clear with George Bush and John McCain and with the people of South Dakota, if George Bush and John McCain want to have a debate about protecting the United States of America, that is a debate I will be happy to have anytime, anyplace and that is a debate that I will win, because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for," Obama said at town hall meeting here.

He went on to describe a host of problems which he accused Bush and McCain of contributing to, including strengthening Hamas in Gaza by advocating for elections and strengthening Iran by invading Iraq. Obama called questions about his ability ensure the safety of the country "dishonest and divisive" rhetoric.

"That's the kind of hypocrisy we've been seeing in our foreign policy, the kind of fear-peddling, fear-mongering, that has prevented us from actually making us safer," Obama said. "They're trying to fool you, they're trying to scare you, and they're not telling truth. And the reason is because they can't win a foreign policy debate on the merits."

Obama said he didn't understand the controversy surrounding his support of diplomatic talks with rogue leaders. "What's puzzling is that we view this in any way controversial when this has been the history of U.S. diplomacy until very recently," he said. "This whole notion of not talking to people, it didn't hold in the 60s, it didn't hold in the 70s, it didn't hold in the 80s, it didn't hold in the 90s against much more powerful adversaries."

He continued to defend his position, arguing that no limitation should be placed on diplomatic talks with countries such as Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela.
"I would meet with them without preconditions, although with preparation," Obama said, and went on to explain that he would be clear about his expectations of the leaders to change their behavior. He used Iran as an example, saying that he would expect Ahmadinejad to stop threatening Israel and stand down on the development of nuclear weapons.

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by PacificGatePost May 17, 2008 5:43 AM EDT: THIS WAS NEITHER ABOUT OBAMA NOR APPEASEMENT

Why is the media focusing on the wrong story here?

Obviously Obama picked up on the potential for headlines, but isn%u2019t that a secondary story?

This about the misuse of the term "NEGOTIATE"

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/05/bushs-misrepresentation-of-negotiate.html

---------; Reply to this comment


by sjc_1 May 17, 2008 4:04 AM EDT: This one backfired on them. Even Republicans in Congress were outraged.; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 17, 2008 12:36 AM EDT: Dem. Party Leaders, Super Delegates and Obama, don''t seem to understand just how much some Democrats don''''t like Obama. Well, I can''t speak for everyone, however, but this is how I feel.

I hated 8 years of George Bush. I was nauseous most of the time. Have you ever smelled rotting human flesh? I would rather walk into a sealed tight house in 100 degree heat that had 10 rotting dead bodies stacked up on the other side of the door and set down and eat a tuna fish and mustard sandwich...instead of having Bush in office a day longer. YET! I would rather have Bush in office the rest of my life than to have Obama in the White House for 1 day.

I realize that sounds harsh, but it looks like some of us are going to have to get a little harsh in order to shake our leadership into the reality of the situation and out of DENIAL.

We have to do whatever is needed to be done in order to get these people to take us seriously.

SO LETS DO IT PEOPLE!!!!; Reply to this comment


by cturner3rd May 17, 2008 12:19 AM EDT: When Obama charges Bush with "fearmongering" he''s finally said the things that Democrats should have been saying since 9/11. Better late than never, I guess.; Reply to this comment


by robinvzb May 17, 2008 12:12 AM EDT: Am I the only one out here thinking that maybe the Senate isn''t the best place to be looking for the next President of the United States? After all, what has the Senate done for us lately? None of the Presidential candidates has had the leadership skills to get the Senate to accomplish anything. None of the candidates has authored groundbreaking legislation. I think we would have been better off with a governor or mayor with a track record of success or a business leader with a track record of success. The Senators running for President are all part of the current Washington D.C. inability to accomplish anything.; Reply to this comment


by ladyesq1 May 16, 2008 11:36 PM EDT: I heard some very troubling news today...I read that the GOP have some very damaging material in their "ruin the democrat" play book that they plan to bring out in October. Apparently, they have some sort of video footage of Michelle obama talking in Rev. Wright''s church about "whitey" (meaning the white folks). OMG...if this is true, Democrats are screwed!!; Reply to this comment


by Jma11 May 16, 2008 11:34 PM EDT: Sen. Obama has stated that he would meet with Pres. Ahmadinejad, more than once. Some people think that is appropriate and they have every right to say so.

Many people concerned for Israel''s existence feel strongly that such a meeting would be a grave event. Either way Sen. Obama has to face criticism for wanting to meet with a person determined to destroy Israel. He is on a world stage now, for the first time and should defend his position or retract his statement.; Reply to this comment


by grumpygranny-2009 May 16, 2008 11:00 PM EDT: It takes courage for President Bush to go unarmed into a battle of wits with Obama.; Reply to this comment


by msswin May 16, 2008 9:35 PM EDT: Looks like even country music stations are upset with Bush attacking an American citizen:

%u201CCurrently, 147 country music stations have instituted the [Bush] ban, a number which has been growing by the hour. Clear Channel, a major syndicator to all radio formats across America, is considering the ban, which would increase the numbers significantly and be a major blow to the White House. Several Clear Channel stations have independently instituted their own ban.%u201D

Bush may find his Hitler remarks backfiring even further on him considering his own well documented family history of appeasement, support and money laundering for Hitler:; Reply to this comment


by obbcbs May 16, 2008 9:27 PM EDT: Why does McCain, called a hero only because he is a former prisoner, approve waterboarding prisoners?
He is betraying all our troops by approving a torture that is not allowed by the Geneva convention. McCain is opening our troops to all kinds of torture. What kinds of torture does Condi approve in secret, when she gathers in the White House to see the latest CIA ideas? Why is the US population not screaming for our officials to stop torture at all? Vote out these monsters and their waterboards. We are not the Puritans and prisoners are not witches.; Reply to this comment