Bush Sparks Campaign Stir From Israel

Obama Reacts Harshly To Remarks About Appeasing Dictators; McCain, Clinton Join The Fray

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama accused President Bush of "a false political attack" Thursday after Mr. Bush warned in Israel against appeasing terrorists - early salvos in a general election campaign that's already blazing even as the Democratic front-runner tries to sew up his party's nomination.

The White House denied Mr. Bush had targeted Obama, who said the Republican commander in chief's intent was obvious.

In short order, the controversy spilled across the presidential campaign.

John McCain, the Republican nominee in waiting, said Obama was showing "naiveté and inexperience and lack of judgment" in his willingness to meet with U.S. foes.

Obama, who has said he would meet with leaders of Iran, Syria and Cuba, noted that presidents Kennedy, Nixon and even Reagan also negotiated directly with America's enemies, reports CBS News Capitol Hill Correspondent Chip Reid.

For McCain, the focus on Obama yet again overshadowed his own campaign, and an unusual speech in which he imagined what the world will look like in 2013 at the end of his first term.

"The Iraq war has been won, Iraq is a functioning democracy," McCain said.

The response from Democrats, Reid reports: McCain's crystal ball must be cloudy. Their crystal ball says a democrat will be in the White House and the troops will be out of Iraq.

Hillary Rodham Clinton then called Mr. Bush's original comments "offensive and outrageous, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy."

As the workday began stateside, Mr. Bush gave a speech to Israel's Knesset in which he spoke of the president of Iran, who has called for the destruction of the U.S. ally. Then, the president said: "Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along."

"We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is - the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history," Mr. Bush added.

With the president abroad and those seeking to succeed him campaigning at home, the transcontinental tiff signaled the early direction of the general election. Mr. Bush seemed to assume the traditional lame-duck presidential role in trying to help the Republican nominee-in-waiting, and Obama tried to maneuver for advantage - and to show strength - while on the cusp of clinching the Democratic nomination.

McCain played his political role as well in tandem with Obama, notable for two White House hopefuls who are campaigning for a bipartisan governing approach free of the often divisive discourse in Washington.

By tradition, partisan politics comes to a halt when a U.S. president is on foreign soil, and Mr. Bush's remarks led Obama to quickly cry foul. The first-term Illinois senator responded to the comments as if they were criticism of his position that as president he would be willing to personally meet with Iran's leaders and those of other regimes the United States has deemed rogue.

"It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a false political attack," Obama said in a statement his aides distributed. "George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the president's extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel.

In turn, White House press secretary Dana Perino denied that the Knesset remark was aimed at Obama. In fact, the language is fairly typical for Bush speeches, and Gordon Johndroe, a national security spokesman for the president, said Mr. Bush was referring to "a wide range of people who have talked to or suggested we talk to Hamas, Hezbollah or their state sponsors" over a long period of time.

One such person most recently was former President Carter, who held talks with Hamas leaders, leading to criticism from Bush officials as well as Obama and McCain.

Even as the White House said Mr. Bush meant no dig at the Democrat, Perino couldn't resist the opportunity to get in a small one.

"I understand when you're running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you. That is not always true. And it is not true in this case," she said.

Meanwhile, in Columbus, Ohio, McCain said he took the White House at its word, but then he weighed into the spat himself, saying: "This does bring up an issue that we will be discussing with the American people, and that is, why does Barack Obama, Senator Obama, want to sit down with a state sponsor of terrorism?"

Asked if Obama was an appeaser, McCain said Obama must explain why he wants to talk with leaders like Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and added that Obama's position was a serious error. "It shows naiveté and inexperience and lack of judgment to say that he wants to sit down across the table from an individual who leads a country that says Israel is a stinking corpse, that is dedicated to the extinction of the state of Israel. My question is, what does he want to talk about?"

Clinton, campaigning in South Dakota in advance of a June 3 Democratic primary, said Mr. Bush's statement had "no place in any presidential address. ...

"I have differences with Senator Obama on certain foreign policy matters, but I think we are united in our opposition to the Bush policies and to the continuation of those policies by Senator McCain." Clinton has criticized Obama in the past for his pledge to meet with prominent adversaries of the United States without precondition.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean also called on McCain to denounce Mr. Bush's remarks.

"The president launched a cheap political attack while on a state visit honoring the 60th anniversary of Israel, one of America's greatest allies," Dean said in a statement. "If John McCain is really serious about being a different kind of Republican, he'll denounce these remarks in the strongest terms possible."

Although his political interest is keen, Mr. Bush has mostly tried to refrain from injecting himself into the presidential race.

He largely remained silent during the Republican primaries but appeared with McCain at the White House after the Arizona senator clinched the nomination and, since then, has talked up McCain frequently. As for the Democratic race, the president typically avoids naming names, but he has publicly disagreed with the positions of the Democratic front-runners, including Obama's expressed willingness to meet leaders of U.S. adversaries.

The debate over whether a president should directly negotiate with such leaders has been one of the most prominent issue differences in the race for the Democratic nomination. Obama has said he would be willing to meet with heads of state in places like Iran, Cuba and North Korea. Clinton has argued that those meetings could be used for propaganda and her first response would be outreach through diplomatic channels.

By criticizing Mr. Bush, Obama sent a signal that he's ready to take on the sitting president and the incumbent party - and tried to counter the notion that Clinton would be the stronger Democratic general election candidate. Democrats also are working to link the unpopular president to McCain at every turn as the public craves change, and even if it wasn't directed at Obama, Mr. Bush's remark gave Democrats an opening to claim more of the same.

"It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel," Obama said in his statement. "Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what (Presidents) Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power - including tough, principled, and direct diplomacy - to pressure countries like Iran and Syria."

For their part, McCain and Republicans increasingly see Obama as their November rival and have been taking every opportunity to raise questions about his readiness to be a wartime commander in chief. The GOP also hopes to make national security - historically a Republican strength - a focus of the campaign when the political terrain favors Democrats.

Indicating what's to come, McCain said: "Peace through strength is the way we achieve peace in the world. That's the point. I will debate this issue with Senator Obama throughout this campaign."

[jack3213]

OBAMA IS ANGERED BECASUE HE KNOWS IT IS TRUE- WHAT BUSH HAS SIAD- INDIRECTLY- THIS IS A TYPICAL LIBERAL EMOTIONAL DOWNFALL- GET EMOTIONAL WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED WITH THE TRUTH. CLINTON LIKES TO CRY WHEN SHE LOSES, FOR EXAMPLE.

[popstom1]

wimp

[bsimon2007]

Bush is:

A) sad
B) irrelevant
C) an idiot
D) all of the above

[downtowner97]

Bush has allowed three countries to go nookyular on his watch. I don''t believe invading Iraq was ever a good idea, but I think bombing the nuclear plants in hostile countries is clearly self-defense. We should never have let Kim Jong Il do nuclear tests after he showed his willingness to sell WMD''s to other hostile countries.

[old300d]

Obama''s church has changed their website much in the last few months so peowill not know what they are really about.

The T.U.C.C. is anti Israel and pro Palestinian.

Hamas endorsed Obama ! ! !

[In-Correct]

Obama does not know what he is doing... The experts like John McCain and George W. Bush know that. And Obama just complains whenever ANYTHING doesn''t go exactly his way.

[kittykatty2]

hostile to whom downtowner? America has had absolutely no problem with either selling WMD''s or providing financial aid to hostile countries. Granted, they may not be hostile to the U.S. (even though they have the audacity to plant and recruit spies - OH YES, I DO MEAN ISRAEL) but they are definitely hostile to surrounding countries. Having nuclear capabilities seems to be the only way the small countries can leverage their existence. Besides, bombing nuclear plants would be an extremely stupid thing to do...and Bush, being extremely stupid, would be just the person to do it.

[ioweign]

Obama does not know what he is doing... The experts like John McCain and George W. Bush know that. And Obama just complains whenever ANYTHING doesn''''t go exactly his way.

Posted by in_correct at 10:58 AM : May 15, 2008

Oh and Bush and McCain don''t...

Bush and the Constitution as "God *** piece of paper of paper"...

They don''t call McCain McNasty for nothing...

[moneymcbush]

The bush legacy is about to be flushed down the toilet of history.
Dont go away mad little george, just go away.
Quack,quack.

Little george bush: 8 Years of Death and Dishonesty.

[realpatriot1]

The "experts" like John McCain and George Bush have screwed up everything they''ve touched. I take issue with aplying the term expert to leaders who sent us to war without a true purpose or plan and no thought to any of the consequences for America or Iraq. We had to go after Bin Laden but we didn''t have to go after Sadaam. He was already controlled by the no-fly zone, even Bush #41 understood that!

Talking to dictators is not appeasement. Nixon did not appease Breznev or Mao. Reagan did not appease the Afrikanner government of South Africa. Bush did not appease Kim Jung Il. It''s what responsible advocates for American foreign policy must do.

If you want to talk about appeasing dictators we can start with Bin Laden''s gracious host, Musharif.

Bush calls him our "#1 allie in the War on Terror."

[icthus3]

People like those who call Bush, and idiot, etc, are just showing that they are bigger idiots, but burying their heads in the sand and not having a clue that what Bush has said here is 100% correct. You know what, Saddam Hussen should not have been killed off, but rather given an island to himself, and then see how many liberal morans would go and live under his rule! You DO NOT talk with mad men, like the leader of Iran, becuase a mad man cannot reason. Let me state this now for the record. When Bush leaves office, and he is replaced by a liberal nutcase like Obama, people will then understand that what Bush stood for on many issues was correct after all!

[bobbyduck1]

"George Bush''s grandfather, the late US senator Prescott Bush, was a director and shareholder of companies that profited from their involvement with the financial backers of Nazi Germany" (quote from the UK Guardian)

Gee times haven''t changed much. The Bush gang has always profited by investing in America''s worst enemies'' success - Saddam, Osama, earlier the Iranian Shah - an "American" travesty and tragedy dating back several wars.

This is the real reason we are in Iraq - huge money for the few at the cost of so many innocent American, Iraqi, and Afghan lives. Not to mention our loss of credibility and honor throughout the world.

Wonder what angle they are working to profit from Israel / Palestine?

[pepperp1]

Bush surprisingly is right and Obama the gentle soul that he is is wrong. But here the next 7 months if the guy is the Dem nominee who you terrible people, OHHH. and of course he can never ever discuss his record on the issue or his positions just the drama.....

Daschle cracks me, stupidly they really think that the 70 percent of the Dem base that do not support Obama will rally to him if Bush picks on him ......WON"T Happen, just the girly men will and Obama already has them on his team.

The strength and balz of the Party will walk with the Clintons.



poor little Obama mean GB, lol

[johnshaft4]

What a feeble attempt to be literate.

[popstom1]

Obama''s own words I will stand with the muslims
F-K Obama

[singingrick]

Everything Bush has done has made things worse. I''d say Bush is the best friend the terrorists have ever had.


lol!

[jersupporter]

White House press secretary Dana Perino told reporters in Israel. I understand when you''re (Obama) running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you. Again pressing the Elitist button.

[popstom1]

the white house the world dose not revolve around
obama

[icthus3]

Bobbyduck1, you show you ignorance of the facts when you come out with such nonsense!

[one-american]

Obama is angry - because the truth about him has been revealed.

No liberal is strong enough to face the challenge of radical Islam.

Negotiation with terrorists will only appease them, and cost the lives of innocent civilians - including Americans.

[frankson2]

WHEN YOU HAVE AN UNWINABLE RELIGIOUS STRUGGLE LIKE OUR WAR ON TERROR, BUSH REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS: TALKING WITH THE ADVERSARY OR KILLING HIM. TO BUSH, TALKING IS APPEASEMENT. NOW THERE IS A REAL STATESMAN!

[ozonmojo]

Can the world survive if Obama gets angry?

[icthus3]

If Obama wins in November. This will be as the Judgement of Jesus Christ, Who is Almighty God, on the USA!

[aj3878]

There are ones out here of course who do not want Obama as President of course. Anything that Bush says just rides anyway. It is time for a change and that change will happen when a new President is in the office and I am praying that it will be Obama. When are you people gonna smarten up and see that all these things that are happening now is because Bush is in the office. Stop acting so immature about things and grow up. I can''t stand reading stupid comments about someone who is trying to make a difference for our country. The world will be a better place when Bush is gone. Ding Dong Bush is Gone. Deal with it and If Bush said something pertaining to Obama be a man about the situation and stand up and say you said it.

[notblue]

Obama seems a bit defensive, why is that??? LOL!

[yes2pedro]

Barrack Hussein should not be offended at this. Not everything is about him!

[incog-nito]

Bush talks "tough", but he has done NOTHING throughout his term to help the Middle-East peace process, until very recently probably to try to salvage his legacy.

[j-whitman]

JERSupporter,,,, How can you support a GOP who allows a dishonorable Bush to abuse the Birthday of Israel with lying dishonorable political attacks ----- Bush you are a F_cking Coward & don''t have the balls to say that to any democrat let alone Obama

AMERICA IS MUCH LESS SAFE ON YOUR WATCH

[liberalme]

Too bad for Bush, it takes a skilled intelligent person to negotiate anything with anybody---unfortunately the only skill Bush has IS his inclination towards Natzism. Kill the Muslims and troops for oil---no difference, no conscience and don''t question his "above the law" attitude.

He tried real hard to convert himself from a president to an emporer but that dang invasion in Iraq took up too much of his time.

Go to Paraguay now Bush, the MAJORITY of Americans know you for what you are--a liar who believes his own lies.

[gangesdak]

I am no supporter of Prez Bush. In this case, however, he is right. And Obama realized his weakness, that is why he "angry". Poor kid!

[kittykatty2]

Which part of bobbyduck1''s post is nonsense ICTHUS3? It''s a well known FACT that Prescott Bush was a shareholder and business partner of a banker who helped finance the Nazi war machine. Library of Congress. The Bush family has current ties to and profits hugely from the war on terror with the Carlyle Group - whose investors include the Bin-Laden family. FACT, not nonsense. So, tell me, which part of bobbyduck1''s post is nonsense ICTHUS3?

[inventagod2]

Someone listens to Bu$h???

[obamawhama]

Bush talks "tough", but he has done NOTHING throughout his term to help the Middle-East peace process, until very recently probably to try to salvage his legacy.


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Posted by incog-nito at 11:30 AM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse


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HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA now Bush is a do-nothing..for 8 years you guys were crying he was ''doing too much''...are you sure you guys are not talking about clinton..or nancy pelosi..or john murtha..they only thing the DNC ever did for middle east is suck thier dic ks

oh well it seems like the liberals are set to write history to suit thier whinning

[gwagener]

THE PACIFIST IS ANGRY

--------------------------

Posted by tuffone3 at 11:12 AM : May 15, 2008

Perhaps you need to look the word pacifist up in the dictionary. A pacifist can get angry and still be a pacifist. So long as they do not react with violance, there is no contradiction.

[j-whitman]

White House response to respones from Obama ??? ---- "it wasn''t aimed at Obama" -----

Our Statue of Liberty is waving her middle finger at you republicans, the real Ameirca Haters

[obamawhama]

JERSupporter,,,, How can you support a GOP who allows a dishonorable Bush to abuse the Birthday of Israel with lying dishonorable political attacks ----- Bush you are a F_cking Coward & don''''t have the balls to say that to any democrat let alone Obama

AMERICA IS MUCH LESS SAFE ON YOUR WATCH


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Posted by j-whitman at 11:31 AM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse

************

hell liberals and the DNC does it all the time..what was the one of my favorites..oh the katrina disaster..you knwo they one where every democrat level politician in that democrat stronghold state all the way to the democrat stronghold city..

[piercetheval]

....No liberal is strong enough to face the challenge of radical Islam Posted by One-Americon.

What total B.S..just like Roosevelt couldn''t handle the Axis menace...

Get real Bozo!

[inventagod2]

Kudos to kittykatty2 at 11:32 AM : May 15, 2008
Fine post.

[obamawhama]

Perhaps you need to look the word pacifist up in the dictionary. A pacifist can get angry and still be a pacifist. So long as they do not react with violance, there is no contradiction.


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Posted by gwagener at 11:34 AM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse


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name one pacifist in history that ever survived a confrontation..

[tonyd_31]

Oh, now I see where the nutty neocons are? I was looking for you guys to see what you have been up to. I see whenever there is a story about "W" that is where you are. Who gives a "rat-***" about what "W" says. For all of you, I would just say go on and buy your tickets to Canada while we are still in low season.

[liberalme]

It''''s always curious that so many posters here choose to ignore the issue presented in the CBS articles. The issue being discussed right now is Bush''''s refusal to try diplomacy. He''''s refused to do it since becoming president 7 years ago, and look at the mess he''''s made of Iraq and the destruction of America''''s image that he''''s created. Just perhaps TALKING with your enemy might be worth a try? His past and present tactics have been utter and complete failures.....

Posted by raflin1 at 11:32

He never wanted diplomacy or negotiations, he wanted a war with Iraq and thats what he got!

He doesn''t have the intelligence to come close at succeeding at either diplomacy ro to negotiate!

His interest never once was for the well being of America--he never once told truth about anything---he is a stupid evil warmonger.

[obamawhama]

Someone listens to Bu$h???


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Posted by Inventagod2 at 11:33 AM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse


***************
apparently you watch every words that comes out of his mouth like gospel..or else you wont be here whinning about it.

[parrot123-2009]

The White House said Mr. Bush''s comment wasn''t a reference to Obama.

"It is not," press secretary Dana Perino told reporters in Israel. "I would think that all of you who cover these issues and have for a long time have known that there are many who have suggested these types of negotiations with people that the president, President Bush, thinks that we should not talk to. I understand when you''re running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you. That is not always true. And it is not true in this case."


CHICKENS .......... ROTFLMAO !

****** This should shut-up all those Dumbya-Bots - stop propagating the lies, Bush has said he had not referred to Obama ... But like any Repug, this''ll go right over their heads. Cheers!

[icthus3]

JESUS SAYS: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me". John''s Gospel, chapter 14, verse 6.

There is NO OTHER WAY!

[tonyd_31]

It''''''''s always curious that so many posters here choose to ignore the issue presented in the CBS articles. The issue being discussed right now is Bush''''''''s refusal to try diplomacy. He''''''''s refused to do it since becoming president 7 years ago, and look at the mess he''''''''s made of Iraq and the destruction of America''''''''s image that he''''''''s created. Just perhaps TALKING with your enemy might be worth a try? His past and present tactics have been utter and complete failures.....

Posted by raflin1 at 11:32

Well said friend.

[obamawhama]

White House response to respones from Obama ??? ---- "it wasn''''t aimed at Obama" -----

Our Statue of Liberty is waving her middle finger at you republicans, the real Ameirca Haters


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Posted by j-whitman at 11:35 AM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse


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if given the chance the liberals would burn down the statue of liberty as well..but they stick with just the flag

[incog-nito]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA now Bush is a do-nothing..for 8 years you guys were crying he was ''''doing too much''''...are you sure you guys are not talking about clinton..or nancy pelosi..or john murtha..they only thing the DNC ever did for middle east is suck thier dic ks

oh well it seems like the liberals are set to write history to suit thier whinning

Posted by obamawhama at 11:33 AM : May 15, 2008

He has done nothing for the Isreali-Palestinian peace process. Yes he has done too much of everything else. Learn to read idiot.

[obamawhama]

obamawhama,
Katrina sits squarely on FEMA''''s shoulders.


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Posted by jh6379 at 11:38 AM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse


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katrina sits on mother natures shoulder..preperations and eveacuations rest on the politicians that govern the state and city..rescue efforts rest on the citizens willingness to be rescued without reverting to looting, abuses..and such

[clemenhagen1]

Two comments:

1. Bush clearly directs this at Obama and then sends his flunkies out to deny it. What a gutless coward! He stands in front of the Israeli Knesset and evokes Neville Chamberlain and then will not even own up to it.

2. Bush and his flunkies (including McCain) want to still pretend than the John Wayne Cowboy Diplomacy employed by this administration has strengthened either the U.S. or Israeli security. Just look at the facts: Iran has a stronger hand than ever, al-Qaeda and other terrorist networks have had a recruiting bonanza, and our military stands nearly broken through over-deployment. Engagement (i.e. true diplomacy) has to be a part of any serious foreign policy. That is why Obama stands in stark and distinctly positive contrast to the current disaster of a president.

[obamawhama]

He has done nothing for the Isreali-Palestinian peace process. Yes he has done too much of everything else. Learn to read idiot.


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Posted by incog-nito at 11:39 AM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse


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and was the last DNC greatest achievement in that peace process??sending Jimmy Carter who came home with a big blob of islamic sh*t smear all over his face..