Rubin: McCain on Hamas The Ultimate Flip-Flop
Posted by Michael Link on May 16, 2008 at 11:07 AM
It's being called "the ultimate flip-flop in American politics" by a former State Department official under President Clinton. As Think Progress points out, McCain now says "It is a grave and dangerous mistake for an American leader to meet with a terrorist organization like Hamas."
Here's what McCain had to say before, in an interview:
RUBIN: Do you think that American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past, working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is now in charge?
MCCAIN: 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 towards 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.
Comments - 9 »
Comments - 9 «
Which is worse, saying a dismissive sexist statement or in your apology one not recognizing that it is a dismissive sexist statement you call “all kinds of people”(women)?
Barack Obama has personally apologized to a female television reporter for calling her "sweetie", chalking the name up to a "bad habit".
Obama's encounter with Peggy Agar, a reporter at WXYZ network in Detroit, was the second time in two months that he raised eyebrows by calling a woman "sweetie".
The row began when Agar asked the Democratic presidential frontrunner, who is putting the finishing touches on a successful campaign against Hillary Clinton, how he would help American autoworkers.
"Hold on one second there, sweetie," Obama told her, adding that she could ask him the question at a press briefing after his tour of the Chrysler auto plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Agar never got her opportunity. On that night's local news broadcast, she quipped: "This sweetie never did get an answer to the question."
But Obama moved quickly to mend hurt feelings by leaving a voicemail on the reporter's cell phone while she was sleeping after an early morning shift.
"I'm calling to apologize on two fronts. One was, you didn't get your question answered … I broke my word. I apologize for that and I will make up for it," Obama said.
"Second apology is for using the word 'sweetie'," he continued. "That's a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and so I am duly chastened on that front."
How many times are we going to be asked to excuse Barack Obama on things?
How many more ways does Barack Obama have to show us that sure enough it is not ready to be President?
How many more times will we put up with his inexperience that says he just doesn’t get it yet.
When is the American public get wise to this green candidate and make clear to the DNC that Hillary Clinton is the Presidential leadership we need in 2008?
Posted by gemstone on May 16, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Hi, Gemstone, sweetie.
Someone had to say it?
Now that we have diverted from the topic at hand... why is McCain so bi-polar?
He changes his tune on everything. The Right doesn't trust him. Moderates don't trust him. Independents can't figure out what he's up to or if he's just plain crazy.
Democrats think he's the perfect Republican candidate to run against.
Posted by SandyH on May 16, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Posted by gemstone on May 16, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Which is worse, a president who calls someone sweetie...or one who lies to get a nation into war, and then lies about why he gave up golfing???!!! Give me a break!
Posted by Trish^ on May 16, 2008 at 01:40 PM
I'm totally confused...
McCain clarified that he didn't really flip-flop because what he really meant is that he would only talk to them if there were preconditions present.
Wouldn't you have to talk to them to communicate the preconditions? Perhaps he intends to play a game of charades with them until they guess the preconditions!
Posted by Allen on May 16, 2008 at 08:00 PM
I'm totally confused...
McCain clarified that he didn't really flip-flop because what he really meant is that he would only talk to them if there were preconditions present.
Wouldn't you have to talk to them to communicate the preconditions? Perhaps he intends to play a game of charades with them until they guess the preconditions!
Posted by Allen on May 16, 2008 at 08:01 PM
I'm totally confused...
McCain clarified that he didn't really flip-flop because what he really meant is that he would only talk to them if there were preconditions present.
Wouldn't you have to talk to them to communicate the preconditions? Perhaps he intends to play a game of charades with them until they guess the preconditions!
Posted by Allen on May 16, 2008 at 08:02 PM
I'm totally confused...
McCain clarified that he didn't really flip-flop because what he really meant is that he would only talk to them if there were preconditions present.
Wouldn't you have to talk to them to communicate the preconditions? Perhaps he intends to play a game of charades with them until they guess the preconditions!
Posted by Allen on May 16, 2008 at 08:04 PM
fyi- the server wasn't responding. clicking on "Post" multiple times caused multiple postings.
Posted by Allen on May 16, 2008 at 08:07 PM
McCain didn't flip-flop. Preconditions are and always were renounce violence as a political tool, and to recognize Israel as the only governing body of Palestine and adjacent holy lands.
That is bitter medicine to any who despise Israel. Senator Obama should be make his position crystal clear - a sit down would be a pyrrhic victory for Hamas - that misrepresenting President Obama's stance, requirements, & conditions for political gain is tantamount to war.
There's the scary thought. How to pull useful, productive and beneficial results from a situation of mutual disrespect is not gonna happen. Making Hamas a respectful and politically honest entity IS THE NECESSARY PRECONDITION.
Posted by McCain-in-4 on May 19, 2008 at 10:42 PM
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