Dem Rep.: Obama Right On The Surge

Political Players: Debbie Wasserman Schultz Of Florida Defends Obama On Israel, Iraq

(CBS)  Political Players is a regular conversation with the leaders, consultants, and activists who shape American politics. Last week, as Barack Obama completed his foreign tour, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with one of his key supporters, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), about the impact of that trip, and about Republican attacks on Iran and Iraq.

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CBSNews.com: You represent one of the most Jewish districts in the United States. Many American Jews, as well as Israeli Jews, have had their doubts about Sen. Obama's commitment to Israel. Do you think he reassured them this week?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: I really think he did. I think his trip is another step in the journey to help make sure that the majority of Jewish voters, and the majority of voters in this country, understand that Barack Obama's foreign policy as president, particularly as it relates to Israel, will be one that they will wholeheartedly embrace and be enthusiastic about. He will continue the policy not only of having American stand side by side Israel as an ally, but make sure that the United States fully engages in helping to advance the peace process, which the Bush administration has not done.

CBSNews.com: One of the reasons that a number of Jews have expressed uncertainty about Obama is his statement a year ago this week in which he said he would unconditionally negotiate with the leaders of a lot of rogue countries, including Iran, a statement that Senator Clinton called naïve and irresponsible. Do you now agree with his policy on that?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Well, what I agree with is what he actually stated, not what has been exaggerated or reported that he stated. He didn't say he would meet unconditionally with leaders around the world regardless of their involvement in terrorism or issues that we don't agree with. What he said was that he would not have preconditions to those conversations.

That's different than unconditional communication. And that what he does want to make sure we do, because we certainly have not made any progress on the Iran front under the Bush administration's policy. He’d do tiered conversations. There would not be preconditions on sitting down, but beginning at lower levels.

CBSNews.com: But it is true that the candidate you supported at the time disagreed with the notion of doing talks without preconditions with these leaders. She did call that policy naïve and irresponsible. Do you think that the policy has been clarified since then? Or have you seen it in a different way?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Well, I think if you sat down with Hillary Clinton and asked her whether she thought she was closer to Barack Obama or to John McCain on this question about the direction that we should take our foreign policy, and the pursuit of diplomatic communication, that she would agree that she is much closer to Barack Obama's approach than she is to John McCain's. John McCain would offer us more of the same.

CBSNews.com: Some prominent supporters of Sen. Clinton feel like Sen. Obama hasn't done enough yet to reach out to them, to raise money for Clinton to help her pay off her debt. Do you think there are additional steps he could take to bring more Clinton supporters into the fold?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Sure, there are. I mean, I think this is an ongoing process. I mean, I think there are additional steps that Senator Obama can take, and there are additional steps that his campaign's leadership, as well as the rank-and-file staffers on his campaign can take.

I mean, this is an evolutionary process, where the two campaigns are going to eventually become intertwined inextricably. And that is not an easy process to complete, especially with a campaign where you had supporters of both candidates who were so emotionally invested in the success of their candidate. You had two unprecedented history-making candidacies here. And a lot of people's hearts and souls were poured into those campaigns. And so we are trying to make sure that we can combine those hearts and souls into a really powerful organization that will help elect Barack Obama president.

CBSNews.com: Have you been able to get over your disappointment that Senator Clinton isn't the nominee?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Oh, yeah. I'm long past my
disappointment. I mean, I certainly still wish that the outcome had been different. But my wish is not because I'm unhappy with Barack Obama, or because I don't agree with him. I mean, I fully believe in Barack Obama.

I have 100 percent confidence in his ability to be president. I'm 100 percent behind him. I'm not looking wistfully back at what might have been. We have to look forward. We have to move forward.

CBSNews.com: So, looking forward, what are those additional steps that the Obama campaign, and Senator Obama himself, as you outlined, should take to bring more of the Clinton supporters into the fold?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: I think most of the Clinton supporters are in the fold. I mean, I think what we have right now is, a vocal minority. You know, a relatively small group compared to the millions of people who supported Hillary Clinton who are now supporting Barack Obama.

So, I think there isn't anything extraordinary that Barack Obama has to do. They have to just continue to do more of what they have been doing, and focus on the issues.

CBSNews.com: On the issues, a number of Republicans this week have brought up Barack Obama's speech to AIPAC, in which he pledged that Jerusalem would remain undivided but the next day, he said, well, that would be a subject of negotiations between both sides. Some Jewish leaders have come out and said they're anxious about that.

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Look, I just spoke to the Hadassah convention on behalf of the Obama campaign. And there were 2,000 progressive Jewish women there. And I can tell you that I spoke opposite former U.S. Senator Rudy Boshowitz for McCain. And the reception for our complete message on the issues that are important to the Jewish community was, you know, far more enthusiastic for Senator Obama than it was for Senator McCain.

On the issue of Jerusalem, specifically the Israeli people and the Israeli leadership are the ones that will ultimately decide this. And the fact that they have stated that Jerusalem will be part of final status negotiations is something that Barack Obama is absolutely supportive of.

But what he has reaffirmed many times is that Jerusalem must remain the capital of Israel, and should never be re-divided. It should never again be separated by barbed wire and physical separation and checkpoints like it was from 1948 to 1967.

CBSNews.com: That's what he meant by undivided?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Yes.

CBSNews.com: On Iraq, Senator Obama's position seems to be that the additional troops were helpful. But given the costs of the surge, even if he had it to do over again, he would not support it. Is that your position, as well?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Well, yes. It's absolutely my position. And, I mean, it's really hard to see how leaving Iraq to a sovereign government that's taking responsibility for its future while we would go and focus on the fight in Afghanistan, how that's losing. I mean, Senator McCain keeps referring to victory.

We've got an ever-increasing problem with Afghanistan, and the Taliban, and we have hot spots that are popping up all over the world. Iran is really twisting and spiraling into an extremely, extremely dangerous problem.

And we are hopelessly mired in the war in Iraq. We need to responsibly bring an end to that war, so that we can confront the other pressing threats that are around the world. Because we have spread ourselves so thin, militarily, that it almost precludes a military option.

CBSNews.com: But isn't it somewhat ironic that it may be the surge that he opposed, that John McCain supported, that allows Senator Obama, if he becomes president, to begin withdrawing troops from a much more stable situation?

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Look, the whole stated purpose of the surge was to provide separation and relief, so that there could be political progress. Which there has been none. None of. So, that's why we continue to say that the surge was not effective. Because the stated purpose of the surge was to provide that sort of separation so that politically, the Iraqi government could stand on their own. And they have yet to be able to do that.

[clovisbuford]

You mean he was forced to retract it? LMAO!
Posted by WellHell3 at 05:31 PM : Jul 29, 2008
well he did violate army policy number one , number 2 from the reactions of the soldiers that were actually there and read his stuff and were ready to give him a beat down and called him on it . I would wager you never read the article on wwww.snopes .com debunking it ,but are still taking your talking points off your lunch break and limbaugh.You dont have to read the facts because in your case the truth of the matter has nothing to do with it.

[clovisbuford]

"Look at your country...for pete''''s sakes, what have you lost in the last seven years." WellHell3 You are right Wellhell Mccains campaign slogan should 8 more years of the same .More Enron ,More katrina response , more deregulated financial markets and less transparency so we can have more bank failures Less regulation by the FDA so we really have no idea of where the salmonella comes from ,less inspection of chinese toys , less mine safety . beacuse that has all workedso well . The deficit in 8 years is double what it took us 200 years to get to. A real success story ace.

[wellhell3]

in fact the captain has writeen telling people not to forward it and it is untrue ..so ariel 1333 ilty of spreading slander , another anonymous troll "those brave conservatives" snort.


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Posted by clovisbuford at 03:29 PM : Jul

You mean he was forced to retract it? LMAO!

[wellhell3]

Posted by truthmatterz at 09:55 AM : Jul 29, 2008

Democratic far left Dean, Obscamma, the nice little commies'' propaganda...

First tenet of Marxism and communism....

Convince the people the country is BAD and needs to be changed...

Look at your country...for pete''s sakes, what have you lost in the last seven years. A little money due to the high price of gasoline? Why didn''t you scream at Congress to get drilling 7 years ago so we could have been off this dependence on foreign oil?

Did you lose your home in the mortgage scandal? Tough tootsies. If you couldn''t afford it, why did you buy it under those conditions?

Were you arrested or something with false charges? Did you REALLY lose a Constitutional right?

Are you going to let the democrats screech for another 7 years and not prove up their allegations of an illegal war, war profiteering and corruption, in which they were complicit?

Are you naive enough to still think Iraq was wrong, when we''ve killed thousands of the Islamofast terrorists and sent them scampering back to Afghanistan?

Have YOU lost your job and find yourself penniless and helpless?

EXACTLY what is it you want changed?

Don''t get your hopes up, every candidate supports free trade. Obscamma has absolutely no plan for dealing with the oil crisis, nor is he going to tax the hand that feeds his campaign funds.

So WHAT exactly is this CHANGE ***** all about?

[clovisbuford]

"all liberals are true blue cowards! zgomer" says the btrave little internet troll from the saftey of his online anonymity. It should make a man giggle , that because you disagree with someone on issues you courage is questioned by someone who is completely anonymous . What a hoot .Its attitudes like that that keep the system in complete lockdown.What are you going to do when obama wins the presidency ? take your football (country) and go home vowing not to play anymore?

[clovisbuford]

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.
In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier

Posted by Ariel133 at 08:37 AM : Jul 29, 2008
ariel1333 ignores the part where if you go to www.snopes.com it says this is a complete fabrication.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/afghanistan.asp
in fact the captain has writeen telling people not to forward it and it is untrue ..so ariel 1333 ilty of spreading slander , another anonymous troll "those brave conservatives" snort.

[dnsallday]

Obama can put on his yarmulke and swear allegiance to an undivided Jerusalem, but it is hard to overlook his radical Hyde Park brain trust of supporters like Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Louis Farrakhan
******************************************************* posted by ANdylance1

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

If we are going to play guilt with association, we should look at McCains association with George W. Bush and The *** Cheney who have spent the past 7 years raping the middle class and robbing our country blind.

[dnsallday]

Finally people are waking up to the fact that Obama is an Elitist. A Harvard Lawyer who wants ANOTHER Harvard Lawyer - Tim Kaine - VA
posted by Dante805.

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

Right On Dante805......This is America, we don''t want intelligent Presidents we want more like BUSH,
Go MCCAIN.

[dnsallday]

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier
Posted by Ariel133 at 08:37 AM : Jul 29, 2008
**************************************************************

Ariel you are a sorry excuse for a human.
What benefit do you get from copying and pasting lies all over the blogs.

This email you are posting has been debunked by the ARMY TIMES NEWSPAPER and the Jeffrey PORTER (poor excuse for a man, never mind soldier) had to admit he made the entire thing up.

And you have been posting it for at least a couple of weeks knowing full well it is a total fabrication.

My question for you is : Are you as ignorant as you appear to be?

[ariel133]

As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to "The War Zone". I wanted to share with you what happened. He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.

As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn''''t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service.

I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States. I just don''''t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier

[realpatriot1]

WellHell2,

McCain isn''t recognizing the larger context. The progress made in Iraq has directly lead to greater instability in Afghanistan.

Which is more important in the overall war on terror, Iraq or Afghanistan?

Republicans feel that propping up a Shiite government friendly to Iran is more important than confronting Al Queda and the Taliban...the people who actually attaked our homeland and are still training. There''s never been any training camps in Iraq or state sponsership of terror. That can''t be said about Afghanistan or Pakastan. There''s no WMD in Iraq but Iran & NOrth Korea got nuclear technology from professor Khan of Pakastan.

McCain says winning in Iraq will lead to victory in Afghanistan. He doesn''t explain the logic of this argument which is in direct contrast to what the Commanders on the ground in Afghanistan have been saying for years. For years, both the White House and McCain have ignored their requests for more troops. Obama has been calling for a change of emphasis to Afghanistan for the past 2 years and now McCain is trying to jump on the bandwagon and pretend that he hasn''t been obsessed with Iraq & Iran.

We removed a secular leader in Iraq who was pinned in by the no-fly zone, had no WMD, and provided a buffer to Iranian expansion. Now the Iranians have an ally in Baghdad and the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan & Pakastan after we had them on the ropes.

You can call that Mission Accomplished if you want but we''ve heard that story before.

[ariel133]

Making excuses for Obama is what is happening over and over..giving him passes and allowing for him to seem connected to Americans because of his so called "popularity to the masses" is sad. He had time to visit the troops as he had time to play basket ball. Regardless if it seemed "political" that is not the point, it would have showed his true faith in American military, unless of course, it makes him uncomfortable. This is the question people seem to overlook. Would he have written off Rev Wright if he did not win the primary? I really want to know, but hardly guess I ever will. If he loses the GE he will certainly return to him, that is my feeling.

[dante805]

Jews especially need to wake up to the fact that OBAMA is a hypocrite. I believe Joe Lieberman over this political hack Schultz anyday. Finally people are waking up to the fact that Obama is an Elitist. A Harvard Lawyer who wants ANOTHER Harvard Lawyer - Tim Kaine - VA Gov as his running mate. Egads. Lawyers are ruining this country. STOP electing them to the Senate House and White House. Look at the mess the Senate is in under the mis-leadership of Harry Reid and *** Durbin. Nothing is getting done. When a lone GOP senator stands up to stop Wasteful Spending (Tom Coburn -OK) they file ethic charges against him. Truly athetic leadership by the DEMS over the last two years. We need to toss out Landrieu - LA Tim Johnson - SD Carl Levin - MI Pryor - AR and DURBIN -IL. Voters stop reelecting OLD hacks just because...

[wellhell3]

This is really hysterical! The media promoting that Obscamma was right about the surge!

Obscamma didn''t have a damned thing to do with the surge and it''s successes! He''s done nothing but whine and b***ch about it!

He''d gnaw his tongue off rather than give our generals and troops credit for the progress in Iraq!

[ukgod1]

maccain is a schumuck who has no charisma and makes absolutely no sense when he speaks. his only defense is to attack obama patriotism because he knows he cant go head to head with obama on any issue. that is the reason he keeps emphasizing the "surge" and not the war he voted for. all of a sudden the conditions on the ground are good enough to withdraw in 16 months. whatever happen to having the troops in Iraq for a hundred years? how convenient that the conditions on the ground got so much better after obama visited Europe and practically everyone expect petraeus (a bush crony) are in favor of obama''''''''s time table. his strategy is so transparent and any idiot who votes for this guy deserves all the disaster that he will bring to the white house. so don''''''''t start whining and bicccthing (like his adviser said) about how horrible of a president he is when he is elected. frankly 3 times you had a chance to lead the country in the right direction since Clinton and three times in a row you are going to fail

[ukgod1]

especially Katie Couric, for asking the tough questions when they interviewed Obama. The three interviews showed the real Obama...

Posted by jsm-ddg56 at 12:55 AM : Jul 29, 2008

Katie Couric his an angry Hillary Clinton supporter who didnt get her way in the primaries so she figure she will sabotage obama. Her obsession with obama goes so far as to the point she wrote a book entitled "is America ready for a president who grow up in a mosque" EVEN THOUGH OBAMA REPEATLY SATES HE IS A CHRISTIAN!!!!!. KATIE COURIC IS ONE BIAS AND RACIST BITCCCHH WHO SHOULD BE BURN AT A STAKE

[ukgod1]

Obama can put on his yarmulke and swear allegiance to an undivided Jerusalem, but it is hard to overlook his radical Hyde Park brain trust of supporters like Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Louis Farrakhan and Wild Bill Ayers, along with his lovely, terrorist wife Bernardine Dohrn, formerly of the Weatherman.

We also can''''t forget that Rev. Wright said Barack Obama will say anything to get elected!

Posted by andylance1 at 12:13 AM : Jul 29, 2008

you are one ignorant jackazz. if you want to see what your "true war hero" john mccain is like go to youtube.com and type in mccain clashes with vietnam vet and see how really "heroic" and "patriotic" he is

[davidbryden]

The Radical Right which has taken over our country and waged successful war against the middle class, ( think largest transfer of wealth in history from rich to poor or, if you can not get your mind around around that, think greatest deficits ever) has reached a propaganda low in its attempt to fool the people forever.
The criticism of Obama''s trip to the Iraq is that he did not visit and photograph himself with wounded soldiers in hospitals???

HOW COME DOWN DISGUSTING WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN? for OBAMA TO GLOAT OVER HOW RIGHT HE WAS WHEN HE VOTED AGAINST THIS GRAND DIVERSION OVER THE CRIPPLED BODIES OF AMERICAN HEROES SENT NEEDLESSLY ?
Disgusting..

[jsm-ddg56]

I am totally against the media biased to a candidate or party especially when three news media sent their top anchors to follow the Obama trip. But I give them credit , especially Katie Couric, for asking the tough questions when they interviewed Obama. The three interviews showed the real Obama...

[andylance1]

Obama can put on his yarmulke and swear allegiance to an undivided Jerusalem, but it is hard to overlook his radical Hyde Park brain trust of supporters like Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Louis Farrakhan and Wild Bill Ayers, along with his lovely, terrorist wife Bernardine Dohrn, formerly of the Weatherman.

We also can''t forget that Rev. Wright said Barack Obama will say anything to get elected!