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June 4, 2009 12:10 PM

Ari Fleischer: Obama Speech Too "Balanced"

Posted by Michelle Levi
(AP)
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who served under George W. Bush, has doubts about how realistic the rhetoric was that President Obama laid out in his Cairo speech this morning.

"I thought it was a great speech – on paper. The problem is reality,” Fleischer told CBS News’ Mark Knoller.

Fleischer bluntly told Knoller, "bottom line -- the speech was balanced and that was what was wrong with it. American policy should not be balanced. It should side with those who fight terror.”

The Bush press secretary said that the president is not taking into consideration the causes for recent violence in Israel.

"For instance, Obama said, ‘the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security,’” Fleischer told Knoller, “[yet] he failed to note that Israel pulled out of Gaza and it’s the behavior of the Palestinians and Hamas that created the humanitarian crisis there.”

“The other greater reality is rocket fire,” he continued. “In exchange for withdrawal, Israel received daily rocket fire. Speeches serve useful purposes, but if you’re on the receiving end of rocket fire, security comes before rhetoric. That’s why the first step toward peace has to be the cessation of terrorist attacks; otherwise Israel will of course do whatever is necessary to defend herself. America would do the same.”

Knoller asked Fleischer if he heard much that is at odds with Bush administration policy.

"In part, it was similar to Bush’s constant message that both sides had obligations to fulfill,” he responded. “But Bush always leaned – privately and publicly – in Israel’s direction because they were being hit with terror attacks. Obama really wants to be in the middle. Bush took sides and was sometimes blunt about it."

Obama's Trip: Complete Coverage
Tags:
Obama ,
Cairo ,
Muslim ,
Ari Fleischer
Topics:
Foreign Policy
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Add a Comment See all 47 Comments
by mattcat25 June 5, 2009 10:18 AM EDT
The speech by President Obama was deemed "TOO BALANCIE" by those brilliant Republican Think Tanks?

This is from the same people that stated Global Warming was "TOO SCIENCY" and the American Economy/Recession was only in our minds.

Also, there have been claims that Barack Obama is attempting turn the entire population of the United States MUSLIM accused by the GOP Leader Rush Muhammad Limbaughla.

Mushlimsthszzzz my friendthzzzzzz
Reply to this comment
by hermitdave June 5, 2009 1:06 AM EDT
Of course you would have a problem Ari. You worked for one of the biggest LIARS in American history. Why don't you be honest and admit you were the play press dude for the play president, and all you did was repeat the lies that Cheney told George to release through you to the public.
Reply to this comment
by kcstan11 June 5, 2009 1:05 AM EDT
Hey Ari, I thiught that you left right after you and Dumbya declared war on Iraq. Let's see now, you are a citizen of Isreal right and I suppose that you condone what the Jews did to Lebanon in 2006 and to Gaza City last year ... both while your buddy George was in office. Don't give me any of your crap about rockets from Gaaza. I can guarantee that Obama will never let that crap happen again.

What Obama should do is without any warning, pull that $ 6.5 billion in aid to the Jews and give it to the Palastinians. In one month peace returns to the middle east because the only thing that you Jews understand is Money.
Reply to this comment
by elz523 June 4, 2009 11:58 PM EDT
I always thought the Bushies were unbalanced. I just didn't know that they acknowledged it themselves.
Reply to this comment
by ioweign June 4, 2009 11:48 PM EDT
"This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating." --George W Bush as quoted by the New York Daily News, April 23, 2002
???????
After the above, what is wrong with being balanced....
Reply to this comment
by shedhouserob June 4, 2009 11:21 PM EDT
You can fool all the people, uh but you can't fool the people,uh and and you know what I mean. How's that for a unbalanced speech!
Reply to this comment
by jumkey June 4, 2009 11:19 PM EDT
Posted by jschmidt27

Elections have consequences.

Now shut up.
Reply to this comment
by ioweign June 4, 2009 11:03 PM EDT
Wow to hear some of the blogger, just because Obama won they feel the Republicans should just go away. Yeah just like the Democrats did after Bush won 2 elections. Well in case you happened figured it out, the oppositions job is keep a check on the party in charge. It provides the balance to the Presidents left leaning policies. And they provide a voice for the 46% of the country that didn't vote for Obama. So don't waste you breath or typing trying to shut us up. We are not leaving and will keep complaining about the corruption in the Democrat party leadership in Congress, complain about Obama's apology tour and how it weakens our security and complain about his fiscal policies that will damage our financial structure and the dollar.
Posted by jschmidt27 at 6:34 PM : Jun 4, 2009



Keep talking......21 percenter

20
19

Keep talking.....
Reply to this comment
by SJC1701 June 4, 2009 10:50 PM EDT
Ari is another Jew who puts Israel above America
Reply to this comment
by randomlybanned June 4, 2009 10:49 PM EDT
Ari, Obama does not understand the reality of the Israeli/Palestinian situation. He thinks he is a modern day Moses who can just speak flowery words and things will automatically slip into place... or that the Red Sea will part or something.
Reply to this comment
by SJC1701 June 4, 2009 10:48 PM EDT
"Maybe if the Palestinines stopped firing rockets at Israel and trying to kill every Israeli they see, the Israelis might actually sit down and talk."

---------------------------
They are doing this because Israel drove them from their land illegally - what would you do if someone drove you from your house at gun point then bulldoze it - then built houses for Israelis. I think you will be firing a few rockets yourself.
Reply to this comment
by jschmidt27 June 4, 2009 10:36 PM EDT
Maybe if the Palestinines stopped firing rockets at Israel and trying to kill every Israeli they see, the Israelis might actually sit down and talk. Anyone ever realize that of many of the problems spots in the world, Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan/ India, were all a result of arbitrary lines drawn by the British. And they're not even in this conversation.
Reply to this comment
by boatdocster June 4, 2009 10:07 PM EDT
Fleischer's comments just echo the "Party of No" = don't try, don't risk anything, shoot first and ask questions later, etc, etc.

Fleischer bluntly told Knoller, "bottom line -- the speech was balanced and that was what was wrong with it. American policy should not be balanced. It should side with those who fight terror.?

Agree, and when the US spends over 50 years stealing oil and other natural resources from the Middle East, when Israel takes Palestine lands and continues to break agreements and treaties they signed, illegal settlements, walls, shooting kids, war crimes in Gaza, taking sides against terror means taking a hard look in the mirror, and at our allies, and correcting what so many people have known to be wrong for so long.

Personally, I'm very glad we finally have a President that's willing to look at facts, not GOP BS spin.

W - WORST EVER!!!
Reply to this comment
by HGOODGUY June 4, 2009 10:03 PM EDT
IF THE PRESIDENT READ THE CONSTITUTION WORD FOR WORD AS A SPEECH---THE IDIOT BRIGADE WOULD FIND SOMETHING TO CRITICIZE!!!!

WOULD ARI FLEISHER FIND THAT TOO BALANCED ALSO???????
Reply to this comment
by summarex June 4, 2009 9:52 PM EDT
The Zionists have always feared fairplay in the middle east.
Reply to this comment
by jschmidt27 June 4, 2009 9:34 PM EDT
Wow to hear some of the blogger, just because Obama won they feel the Republicans should just go away. Yeah just like the Democrats did after Bush won 2 elections. Well in case you happened figured it out, the oppositions job is keep a check on the party in charge. It provides the balance to the Presidents left leaning policies. And they provide a voice for the 46% of the country that didn't vote for Obama. So don't waste you breath or typing trying to shut us up. We are not leaving and will keep complaining about the corruption in the Democrat party leadership in Congress, complain about Obama's apology tour and how it weakens our security and complain about his fiscal policies that will damage our financial structure and the dollar.
Reply to this comment
by jschmidt27 June 4, 2009 9:29 PM EDT
geewizz- guess your saying Iran and the Saudis should apologize. I agree.
Reply to this comment
by Vet_Turner June 4, 2009 9:05 PM EDT
Ari makes me smile and just admitted what an unbalanced admin he was with. Glad we have a balanced administration now. What a relief.
Reply to this comment
by June 4, 2009 8:42 PM EDT
There were two group who hated Obama's address-----The Republicans and Osama Bin Laden. The Bush admin guys are not only indifferent to anything Obama says or do but have short memory on the chaos and economic problems this nation faces as a result of their arrogance and missteps.
Reply to this comment
by not_fooled_by_Righties June 4, 2009 8:33 PM EDT
Only a-holes believe or care what Ari has to say!
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