Obama Lashes Back At Bush, McCain
Following Flap Over Bush's Comments In Israel, Dem Candidate Lambastes McCain On Foreign Policy
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Obama Responds To Bush Comments
"CBS News RAW": Sen. Barack Obama calls President Bush's comments "exactly the kind of appalling attack that's divided our country and alienates us from the rest of the world."
-
Video
Was Bush Attacking Obama?
Political analyst Jeff Greenfield talks with Katie Couric about why President Bush's comments struck such a nerve and whether California's decision on gay marriage could have national implications.
-
Video
Bush's Veiled Swipe At Obama
"CBS News RAW": Addressing the Knesset in Jerusalem, President Bush takes a veiled swipe at Senator Barack Obama and other Democrats, calling suggestions of negotiating with terrorists "appeasement."
-
-
Photo
Barack Obama called President Bush's comments on appeasement "exactly the kind of appalling attack that's divided our country and alienates us from the rest of the world." (CBS)
-
Photo
Barack Obama interpreted remarks by President Bush at the Israeli Knesset as a slam against him but the White House denied that. (AP)
-
-
Photo Essay
Back To The Mideast
President Bush visiting Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
-
Photo Essay
Barack Obama
A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
Obama responded Friday to Mr. Bush's speech Thursday to the Israeli Knesset. The president referred to the leader of Iran, who has called for the destruction of the U.S. ally, and then said some seem to believe that we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals - comments Obama and Democrats said were directed at them. McCain subsequently said Obama must explain why he wants to talk with rogue leaders.
"I'm a strong believer in civility and I'm a strong believer in a bipartisan foreign policy, but that cause is not served with dishonest, divisive attacks of the sort that we've seen out of George Bush and John McCain over the last couple days," Obama told about 2,000 voters at a town hall-style meeting in a livestock barn.
Obama said McCain had a "naive and irresponsible belief that tough talk from Washington will somehow cause Iran to give up its nuclear program and support for terrorism."
"It was one of the most pugnacious speeches Barack Obama has ever given," said CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.
During his swing through South Dakota, the Democratic front-runner said he had intended to focus on rural issues, but felt compelled to respond to the criticism from Mr. Bush and McCain.
"They aren't telling you the truth. They are trying to fool you and scare you because they can't win a foreign policy debate on the merits," said Obama. "But it's not going to work. Not this time, not this year."
Mr. Bush did not mention Obama by name in his speech, but Obama and other Democrats said the implication was clear.
"That's exactly the kind of appalling attack that's divided our country and that alienates us from the world," Obama said. He vowed to turn the foreign policy debate back against both Mr. Bush and McCain, rejecting the notion that Democrats critical of the war in Iraq are vulnerable to charges of being soft on terrorism.
"If they want a debate about protecting the United States of America, that's a debate I'm ready to win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for," Obama said. He blamed Bush's policies for enhancing the strength of terrorist groups such as Hamas and "the fact that al Qaeda's leadership is stronger than ever because we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan," among other failings.
The Illinois senator also said that he has stated "over and over again that I will not negotiate with terrorists like Hamas."
Later, at a news conference, Obama said he was offended by Mr. Bush's comments and argued that Republican and Democratic presidents, such as John Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, had engaged in direct talks with U.S. foes.
"There is a strong bipartisan tradition of engaging in that kind of diplomacy," Obama told reporters.
McCain agreed, at least, that there were huge differences between himself and Obama on foreign policy, and said he'd be happy to let the American people decide who was right.
"It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don't have enemies. But that's not the world we live in. And until Senator Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment and determination to keep us safe," McCain said in a speech to the National Rifle Association in Louisville, Ky.
McCain rejected the naive comment, saying Obama should have known better, and added: "Talking, not even with soaring rhetoric, in unconditional meetings with the man who calls Israel 'a stinking corpse,' and arms terrorists who kill Americans, will not convince Iran to give up its nuclear program. It is reckless. It is reckless to suggest that unconditional neetings will advance our interests."
McCan's campaign also responded with a statement which called Obama's speech a "hysterical diatribe."
"It was remarkable to see Barack Obama’s hysterical diatribe in response to a speech in which his name wasn’t even mentioned," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "These are serious issues that deserve a serious debate, not the same tired partisan rants we heard today from Senator Obama."
Other Democrats accused McCain of hypocrisy Friday, saying the certain GOP presidential nominee had previously been willing to negotiate with the militant Palestian group Hamas.
In Charleston, W.Va., speaking before Obama's speech, McCain told reporters: "I made it very clear, at that time, before and after, that we will not negotiate with terrorist organizations, that Hamas would have to abandon their terrorism, their advocacy to the extermination of the state of Israel, and be willing to negotiate in a way that recognizes the right of the state of Israel and abandons their terrorist position and advocacy."
McCain contended that Obama wants to "sit down and negotiate with a government exporting most lethal devices used against soldiers. He wants to sit down face-to-face with a government that is very clear about developing nuclear weapons. ... They are sponsors of terrorist organizations. That's a huge difference in my opinion. And I'll let the American people decide whether that's a significant difference or not. I believe it is."
In an op-ed published Friday in The Washington Post, former Clinton State Department official James Rubin said that McCain, responding to a question in a television interview two years ago about whether U.S. diplomats should be working with the Hamas government in Gaza, said:
"They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy toward Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so ... But it's a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that."
Rubin, who interviewed McCain for the British network Sky News, said McCain is "guilty of hypocrisy" and accused him of "smearing" Obama.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Del., noted in an interview with CNN Friday that the Bush administration has negotiated with rogue leaders in North Korea and Libya.
"This is pure hypocrisy, but the worst part about it is, think how it falls on the ears in capitals of Europe and the rest of the world and Toyko when the president of the United States says under no condition will we talk to anybody like that, and John McCain, the nominee for the Republican Party, who may very well be president of the United States, is saying the same thing," Biden said.
Mr. Bush's speech at Israel's Knesset 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.
The White House denied Mr. Bush had targeted Obama, who said the Republican commander in chief's intent was obvious.
"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 on Thursday. "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.
Hillary Rodham Clinton called Mr. Bush's original comments "offensive and outrageous, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy."
"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.
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.




- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 62
- next
See all 3052 Comments"When he was in Davos (Switzerland) amongst the European crowd and I interviewed him there two years ago, he was talking as if it was appropriate and natural and reasonable to negotiate with Hamas, the new government of the Palestinian territories," Rubin said.
"And then two years later, he''s taking a very, very different position ... smearing people for suggesting that one ought to talk to Hamas when it was he himself who was prepared to talk to Hamas two years ago."
McCain, the presumptive 2008 Republican presidential nominee, said the United States would not be able to avoid a dialogue with the Islamic militant group.
"They''re the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another," he said at the time. "And I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice ...
"But it''s a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that."
-----------------
That Senator was right, maybe it could have. It could not have hurt or delayed a military response, as we didn''t go when Hitler went into Poland. Bush offers no evidence the other way, only jingoism.
OBAMA IS DANGEROUS TO OUR INTERESTS AND SECURITY!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by newsjunky5 at 01:11 PM : May 16, 2008
He offers the history of appeasement as a failed policy.
Posted by mike71067 at 01:02 PM : May 16, 2008
CNN Poll
Is it "appeasement" for the U.S. to talk with its enemies?
Yes 18%
No 82%
Evidently you are part of the Bush 20 percent
Posted by Allamr18
You really shouldn''t go to places that make you look stupid. John Kennedy''s father was rather found of Hitler that''s why he was recalled home from England.
President Bush was speaking to the people of Israel about how the world tried to appease Hitler, the point being you cannot appease a madman. As John McCain said Ahmie said Israel is a "stinking corpse" what''s to talk about. Get real, wake up.
Posted by mudrose at 01:04 PM : May 16, 2008
Ah, picked up the latest talking points eh? My, what a good little rightwing shill you are. You don''t even know what the word ''appeaser'' means. And BTW - Neville Chamberlain WAS A CONSERVATIVE!
Obama has snapped back against you slimeballs. And, like any bully, when called out you will shrink like little children.
C''mon, GOP make every election this fall about Obama! Please. You idiots are 0 for 3 so far when you do that.
Posted by puldr
Unfortunately, Bush had to clean up the Clintoon mess which is what brought about foreign policy. The fig newton was too busy playing with himself to worry about national security and hence 9/11. Bush did a good job of defending the country and we have smug little ****** like Effendi Snob-oma thinking he''s gonna score points with his base by attacking a sitting President who''s not running for office. He''s full of ****** and he is a pander and appeaser. The only one''s upset with foreign policy are Pewlosi, Levin, Kerry, Effendi Snob-oma, Hamas, Herzbollah and Ahmie.
WE''VE TRIED PLENTY OF TALK WITH IRAN, SYRIA, HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, ETC. THEY DON''T LISTEN. THE LAST THING LEFT FOR US IS APPEASEMENT AND TALKING TO THEM IS DOING JUST THAT.
OBAMA BIN LADEN IS AN IDIOT.
;)
jACKA-S-S!
Posted by mike71067 at 01:02 PM : May 16, 200
-----------------------------
Yeah...I''m sure everyone trusts Bush''s assessment -it''s done us well in the past. McSame and Bush are insinc. Go Obama''08
SUCH SPIN- BUSH CANNOT CONTROL ALQAEDAS STRENGTH ANY MORE THAN HE CAN TWIST THE ARMS OF IRAN FOR MORE OIL. EXPECTING HIM TO CONTROL OTHERS IS GIVING HIM TOO MUCH CREDIT. YES, HE HAS MADE SOME MISTAKES- BUT CERTAINLY HE HAS PROTECTED THIS COUNTRY SINCE 9/11- BIG!
Posted by mike71067 at 01:02 PM : May 16, 2008
CNN Poll
Is it "appeasement" for the U.S. to talk with its enemies?
Yes 18%
No 82%
Evidently you are part of the Bush 20 percent
Posted by IOWEIGN
Go change your tampoon.
Posted by mudrose at 01:15 PM : May 16, 2008
That is on your side of the fence, Muddy, not mine...
Your favorite, Tugboat
NO OBAMA
WE''''VE TRIED PLENTY OF TALK WITH IRAN, SYRIA, HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, ETC. THEY DON''''T LISTEN- NEITHER DID SADDAM HUSSEIN UNTIL WE KICKED HIS REAR. THE LAST THING LEFT FOR US IS APPEASEMENT/GIVE-IN TO THE ENEMY AND TALKING TO THEM IS DOING JUST THAT.
OBAMA BIN LADEN IS AN IDIOT.
;)
do you guys realize they ''push your buttons'' with these carefully crafted linguistic constructs?
"The studies explain so much about these people. Yes, the research shows they are very aggressive, but why are they so hostile? Yes, experiments show they are almost totally uninfluenced by reasoning and evidence, but why are they so dogmatic? Yes, studies show the Religious Right has more than its fair share of hypocrites, from top to bottom; but why are they two-faced, and how come one face never notices the other? Yes, their leaders can give the flimsiest of excuses and even outright lies about things they%u2019ve done wrong, but why do the rank-and-file believe them? What happens when authoritarian followers find the authoritarian leaders they crave and start marching together?"
are you guys in step yet?
Now the first part i agree with. Clinton was terrible and say on his hands all 8 years. did nothing about oil, war, economy, or global warming. however the assertion that this is the only way is appalling.
It has been a long-standing tradition that political attacks on rivals at home do not happen when a dignitary is on a foreign policy visit. However, as everyone on the entire planet knows, traditions mean nothing to the Great Emperor Bush II just as a nation''s sovereignty means nothing to him!
The way the Great Emperor Bush and the rest of the neocon Fascist Nazi GOP see it, we will ultimately have to invade every country in the world before THEY invade us!!!!
Isn''t that called WORLD DOMINIATION, and didn''t someone named Adolph Hitler try that already????
SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, DEFIITELY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!!!
WE''''''''VE TRIED PLENTY OF TALK WITH IRAN, SYRIA, HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, ETC. THEY DON''''''''T LISTEN- NEITHER DID SADDAM HUSSEIN UNTIL WE KICKED HIS REAR. THE LAST THING LEFT FOR US IS APPEASEMENT/GIVE-IN TO THE ENEMY AND TALKING TO THEM IS DOING JUST THAT.
OBAMA BIN LADEN IS AN IDIOT AND A PATHETIC, EFFETE IDEALOCRAT WITH NO GRIP ON THE REALITY OF WOLVES AT AMERICA''S DOOR. SHOWS HOW MUCH HE KNOWS... HE CAN''T EVEN KNOW THAT HIS PREACHER IS PREACHING HATE DIATRIBES FOR 20 YEARS MUCH LESS WHO AMERICA''S REAL ENEMIES ARE.
;)
WE''''''''''''''''VE TRIED PLENTY OF TALK WITH IRAN, SYRIA, HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, ETC. THEY DON''''''''''''''''T LISTEN- NEITHER DID SADDAM HUSSEIN UNTIL WE KICKED HIS REAR. THE LAST THING LEFT FOR US IS APPEASEMENT/GIVE-IN TO THE ENEMY AND TALKING TO THEM IS DOING JUST THAT.
OBAMA BIN LADEN IS AN IDIOT AND A PATHETIC, EFFETE IDEALOCRAT WITH NO GRIP ON THE REALITY OF WOLVES AT AMERICA''''S DOOR. SHOWS HOW MUCH HE KNOWS... HE CAN''''T EVEN KNOW THAT HIS PREACHER IS PREACHING HATE DIATRIBES FOR 20 YEARS MUCH LESS WHO AMERICA''''S REAL ENEMIES ARE.
;)
Sadly Operation Iraqi Freedom is now exposed as an avid boondoggle to pursue a political agenda cloaked with propaganda infused with deceit and fear.
Pull out now and let the new Iraqi government sink or swim.
Who or what is left after the dust settles deserves their chance to survive and rebuild a nation on their own at their pace based on their own values.
The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other b..... die for his.
George Patton
When doing battle, seek a quick victory.
A protracted battle will blunt weapons and dampen ardor.
If troops lay siege to a walled city, their strength will be exhausted.
If the army is exposed to a prolonged campaign, the nation''s resources will not suffice.
When weapons are blunted, and ardor dampened, strength exhausted, and resources depleted, the neighboring rulers will take advantage of these complications.
Then even the wisest of counsels would not be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
Therefore, I have heard of military campaigns that were clumsy but swift, but I have never seen military campaigns that were skilled but protracted.
No nation has ever benefited from protracted warfare.
Sun Tzu The Principles of Warfare. The Art of War.
You must really hate Reagan for talking to the Soviet Union directly then. That whole ending of the Cold War must really chap you hide.
You missed your calling, you should have been a comedian, not a blogger! lol
Posted by armydog2
Yeah, she was warned. Clinton dismantled intel and she was warned. Why didn''t he take care of the situation when he was in office? WTC I, USS Cole, African Embassies. Yeah, he warned her.
[Posted by JoeCoolSwat at 01:23 PM : May 16, 2008]
and nobody knew the flight numbers.
Oh yeah, money the appeaser talks...
You must really hate Reagan for talking to the Soviet Union directly then. That whole ending of the Cold War must really chap you hide.
Posted by david1737
Boy you people just make things up as you go now don''t you. You stick with the appeaser. He''ll take us right down the road to another terrorist attack and then you can blame Bush for that too.
John (you''''ll never know what my position is i flip flop so much) Mcbush3rdtermcain.
Posted by fedupwithit1
Robotic talking points. They don''t think they just repeat the same ole same ole hype.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 62
- next
See all 3052 Comments