listen stooopid... when Good and Evil compromise, EVIL ALWAYS WINS!!!
Posted on 02/28/2008 3:42:01 PM PST by Retired Greyhound
President Bush attacked a key foreign policy stance of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), contending heatedly at a news conference Thursday morning that talking to dictators without preconditions can be dangerous and counterproductive.
Obama’s argument that the president “should never fear to negotiate” with America’s enemies — including Cuba's new leader, Raul Castro — is one of his clearest differences with his rival for the presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
At a news conference where Bush showed unusual passion for a president in his waning months, he said “now is not the time” to talk with Castro.
“What's lost ... by embracing a tyrant who puts his people in prison because of their political beliefs?” he said. “What's lost is, it'll send the wrong message. It'll send a discouraging message to those who wonder whether America will continue to work for the freedom of prisoners. It'll give great status to those ... who have suppressed human rights and human dignity.
“The idea of embracing a leader who's done this, without any attempt on his part to ... release prisoners and free their society, would be counterproductive and send the wrong signal.”
Warming to the subject, Bush continued: “Sitting down at the table, having your picture taken with a tyrant such as Raul Castro, for example, lends the status of the office and the status of our country to him. He gains a lot from it by saying, 'Look at me. I'm now recognized by the president of the United States.'”
Obama responded in a statement: “The American people aren’t looking for more of a do-nothing Cuba policy that has failed to secure the release of dissidents, failed to bring democracy to the island, and failed to advance freedom for fifty years, because they know we need to pursue new opportunities to achieve liberty for the Cuban people. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will offer the clearest contrast to John McCain’s call for four more years of George Bush’s policies, because I want to fundamentally change our foreign policy to secure the American people and restore our standing in the world."
Obama has argued that the U.S. must “rediscover the power of diplomacy,” declaring at an event in Youngstown, Ohio, last week that “strong presidents and strong countries ... talk to their adversaries.”
“Very early in this campaign, I said I would meet not just with our friends but also with our enemies, not just with leaders we like but leaders we don't,” Obama said. “Washington, when I said this, they said, 'Oh, you can't do that.' I said, 'Watch me; I will.'”
Bush has said he will avoid getting enmeshed in the presidential race during the primaries, but he made it clear that he’ll eventually speak up. In a prelude to question, John McKinnon of The Wall Street Journal noted, “It doesn’t seem that you want to discuss the prospects of Republican candidates on the campaign trail this year.”
“Not yet,” Bush replied mischievously, to laughter.
Bush declined to repeat his prediction that Clinton will be the Democratic nominee, saying with a smile: "I'm not talking about politics."
Earlier, Bush had been asked about Obama’s statement in Tuesday night’s debate, when asked about conditions under which he would go back into Iraq after withdrawing sizable forces: “If Al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the likely Republican nominee, ridiculed that comment on Wednesday, although Obama later said he knew that the terrorist network was already in Iraq.
Bush said: “It's an interesting comment. If Al Qaeda is securing an Al Qaeda base? Yes, well, that's exactly what they've been trying to do for the past four years.”
Asked later if the comment was naive, Bush said: “I believe Sen. Obama better stay focused on his campaign with Sen. Clinton, neither of whom has secured their party's nomination yet.”
Then he caught himself. “My party's hasn't been decided yet, either,” he added. “So there will be ample time to discuss whoever their candidate — the positions of whoever their candidate is.”
Bush also said he “hadn't heard” that analysts were saying gas prices could rise to $4 a gallon by spring, although that fact was in the first paragraph of a front-page story in The New York Times on Wednesday.
On the topic of his presidential library, planned for Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Bush said he will “probably take some foreign money” and had not yet made a decision about disclosing the names of donors.
“Some people ... like to give and don't particularly want their names disclosed, whether it be for this foundation or any other foundation,” he said. “And so we'll take that into consideration.”
About the people’s right to know, he said: “You know, we're weighing, taking a look. Taking consideration — giving it serious consideration.”
Obama is so bad he almost makes John Kerry look presidential.
Barry is a nice guy. I would vote for him if he were running for dog catcher assistant. But POTUS nope.
Obama has pudding for brains!
And just what exactly does he want to CHANGE????
I love America as it is!
Two Words: White Guilt.
That may just carry him all the way.
It’s not a slam by Bush, it’s just common sense, and hopefully will secure Florida against Obama.
Pres. Bush kinda lost the high ground in Cuba by never criticizing China.
Nope. Check out the over 70 crowd who happen to be the most reliable when it comes to showing up on election day.
listen stooopid... when Good and Evil compromise, EVIL ALWAYS WINS!!!
He wants to change the hopes of Americans so they can once again hope for change.
The headline is very misleading. He did not slam Obama. In fact, the reporters asked if Bush thought Obama was naive and he refused to answer.
Yep, this dip shit will self destruct.
I wonder what type of preconditions Nixon set before talking to Mao? Or Reagan did before talking to Mikhail?
I also wonder what type of preconditions George HW Bush had before he sent Rumsfeld to Iraq to talk to Saddam Hussein?
I think this directly effects the results of the Florida polls...betcha the Cubans come out in DROVES to vote against B.H.O.
In both cases, we had a common enemy.
it’s too bad GWB waited this long to fight back and go after the rats....I’m still waiting for the rest of the party to do the same...
Reporter sounds accusatory that the President doesn't read rags... I wouldn't expect Pres Bush to read the Slimes any more than I'd expect him to read the leading rags in Venezuela, Havana, Tehran or Pyongyang.
“Bush also said he “hadn’t heard” that analysts were saying gas prices could rise to $4 a gallon by spring, although that fact was in the first paragraph of a front-page story in The New York Times on Wednesday.”
Now why would anyone assume that Bush would read the NYTimes? For the accurate stories?
For the objectivity?
LOL!
To the extent that the rhetoric of Obama, Clinton, OR McCain undermines current US Foreign Policy, the Prez SHOULD speak out. WTG, GWB.
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