McCain mocks Obama on Iran during pro-Israel speech
done
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Ridiculing the idea of negotiating with Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a “spectacle” that would embolden extremists, McCain jabbed Obama on Iran and Iraq before more than 7,500 members of the highly influential pro-Israel lobbyist group.
“We hear talk of a meeting with the Iranian leadership offered up as if it were some sudden inspiration, a bold new idea that somehow nobody has ever thought of before,” McCain told AIPAC members, adding that Obama is engaging in a “serious misreading of history.”
“It’s hard to see what such a summit with President Ahmadinejad would actually gain, except an earful of anti-Semitic rants, and a worldwide audience for a man who denies one Holocaust and talks before frenzied crowds about starting another,” he noted. “Such a spectacle would harm Iranian moderates and dissidents, as the radicals and hardliners strengthen their position and suddenly acquire the appearance of respectability.”
Instead, McCain called for a stepped international political and economic sanctions regime against the Iranian government and the country’s banks.
“Rather than sitting down unconditionally with the Iranian president or supreme leader in the hope that we can talk sense into them, we must create the real-world pressures that will peacefully but decisively change the path they are on,” McCain said, arguing that the U.S. should lead an coalition of “like-minded” nations in a sanctions effort if the UN Security Council fails to tighten the noose on the Iranians. He also called for a worldwide divestment campaign against Iran.
In touting the Senate bill passed last fall to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, he mocked Obama opposition to the legislation
“He opposed this resolution because its support for countering Iranian influence in Iraq was, he said, a ‘wrong message not only to the world, but also to the region.’ But here, too, he is mistaken. Holding Iran’s influence in check, and holding a terrorist organization accountable, sends exactly the right message — to Iran, to the region and to the world,” McCain said to a standing ovation.
The presumptive GOP nominee also used the forum to laud the recent military progress in Iraq as a result of the surge–adding that his Democratic rival opposed the plan.
“It’s worth recalling that America’s progress in Iraq is the direct result of the new strategy that Senator Obama opposed. It was the strategy he predicted would fail, when he voted cut off funds for our forces in Iraq,” McCain said. “He now says he intends to withdraw combat troops from Iraq — one to two brigades per month until they are all removed. He will do so regardless of the conditions in Iraq, regardless of the consequences for our national security, regardless of Israel’s security, and in disregard of the best advice of our commanders on the ground.”
The Obama campaign responded by tying McCain to President Bush, noting that the results of recent administration policies have hurt Israel–a Hamas electoral victory, Iranian nuclear progress and increasing influence, and the destabilizing effect of the war in Iraq.
“John McCain stubbornly insists on continuing a dangerous and failed foreign policy that has clearly made the United States and Israel less secure….He promises to continue a war in Iraq that has emboldened Iran and strengthened its hand. He promises sanctions that the Bush Administration has been unable to persuade the Security Council to deliver. He promises a divestment campaign, even though he refused to sign on to Barack Obama’s bipartisan divestment bill, refused to get his colleagues to lift an anonymous hold on the bill, and willfully ignores the fact that trade and investment between Iran and Iraq continue to expand. He stubbornly refuses to engage in aggressive diplomacy, ruling it out unconditionally as a tool of American power,” said spokesman Hari Sevugan. “Instead of recognizing reality, John McCain continues to run on a platform of doubling down on George Bush’s failed policies, while carrying on his divisive brand of politics. The United States and Israel cannot afford four more years of an unwillingness to change course.”
Tags: AIPAC, barack obama, Iran, Israel, john mccain
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Hmmmm…
It’s been illuminating seeing the Beltway get heart palpitations over Obama’s vows to meet and negotiate with our nation’s enemies. The foreign policy elite have shuddered. The Beltway media tried to turn Obama’s initial words to this effect into a gaffe. Hillary responded by threatening to nuke Iran, thus proving her bona fides on this front. And John McCain and his dead-ender Republican Party is trying to make a campaign issue out of it.
Large majorities of Democrats and independents, and even half of Republicans, believe the president of the United States should meet with the leaders of countries that are considered enemies of the United States. Overall, 67% of Americans say this kind of diplomacy is a good idea.
The Washington Post points out that in the hubbub of the McClellan book, another scathing memoir has come out exposing the truth behind Iraq.
Getting lost in the media furor over McClellan’s memoir is the new autobiography of retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the onetime commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, who is scathing in his assessment that the Bush administration “led America into a strategic blunder of historic proportions.”
Check it out for yourself and WAKE UP!
Sen. McWar talks about war as if american people never have antthing 2 talk about.As Americans we have other wars 2 concentrate an economy in recession and aplanet in peril yet here come this bloody senile mcbush wiht his war. NO matter wothappens we should ensure our hopes are not dashed by ensuring we got a democrat in the house
Is Obama so shallow that his resonse to everything is, “Well, that’s just 4 more years of Bush failed policy…”?
Good Show Senator McCain; you are a true American hero!
great speech, but your server is staggering and slow.
Even after letting it completely load it is almost impossible to listen to.
Hey John,
How about Hillary Clinton as your VP.
That kind of ticket would be awesome!
[...] Jewish Dems: McCain using “Bush/Rove tactics of fear and smear” by Mosheh Oinounou A reminder that despite a mostly rousing reception at AIPAC, not all Jewish voters were pleased with McCain’s speech: [...]
Sock it to Obama - the emperor has no clothes candidate!
Disillusioned Dem for McCain if Super Delegates go for the extreme left arrogant, pandering, obfuscating and lying Obama!
Sock it to Obama - the emperor has no clothes candidate!
Disillusioned Dem for McCain if Super Delegates go ?Obama!
Go McCain!
I compared Fox News coverage of this story with other media outlets and, not surprisingly, Fox takes the cake with spin. It should be obvious to anyone with a modicum of rationality that you are promoting John McCain’s perspective (which makes your banner “We Report, You Decide” laughable). Fox News does not know the meaning of ‘journalistic standards.’ Speaking of McCain’s proposal on Iran, it’s the typical neoconservative blind, deaf and dumb approach that serves no good except to make the “defense” industry salivate with prospects of another war. I think America has woken up to the peril of that policy, which we have endured for too long under Bush, and next year we will be on track for a better foreign policy while McCain retreats to the Senate. As for Fox News, I look forward to seeing your influence diminish as we are broken free of the fear-mongering, war-mongering spell put on us by the Bush regime and its neoconservative cohorts. Cheers!
I think obama has courage to talk to the enemies…….Maybe we wouldn’t be entering into the 6th year of a war …if we would of communicated a little better…NO…I see McCains way is to bomb first….talk latter…..same as bush.He can pretend to distance himself from bush but …..anyone with half a brain …can figure that out.
Mr. McCain …uh Iran, is that the al qeada one or the other one? I keep on forgetting, but then again, I am not asking the American people to elect me the leader of the free world. Of what use is McCain’s vast foreign policy experience going to be to the American people if McCain doesn’t remember most of it?
Mccain ‘08, the only choice now!!!!!!!!!Obama will bring terror upon us!!!!!!!
bush and McCain ….go to the light
God help us if Obama is elected. Israel will be at risk. McCain is right. Bush and McCain are nothing alike. In fact McCain is right smack in the middle. He can cross party lines and work with democrats when needed. McCain is honest something that Obama does not know the meaning of. Since the democrats proved how corrupt they were on Saturday 05/31/08 we have to be sure we back McCain. The dnc went from being elitists to be down right criminal. Please go to hcsfjm.com. We can not let our country go into the hands of Obama.
I am a very heavy hearted and reluctant McCain supporter. But beginning to think he can’t beat Obama. He doesn’t a high percentage of republicans on his side yet.has a hardtime raising money. He just showed up all of a sudden. If Sen. Obama isn’t forced to have to take hillary on as VP I think he will win with ease. If he has to have hillary (& billy) he will lose all the trust and confidence he has gained. but that would be the only way he would lose.
It has long been a policy of the United States that we will not negotiate with terrorists or terrorists nations. Why would Obama think he could “change” Ahmenjiad(sp) or any other terrorist supporting nation?? Because his last name is Obama???
Our country is 100% safer since the war in Iraq and Afghanistan began. We have eradicated thousands of terrorists and we continue to gather intelligence to protect the citizens of this nation. To Obama and all his supporters, I really hope you all wake up…. God help the U.S if Obama is elected!
Obama wanting to sit down with terrorist without pre-conditions:
People who agree with Mr. Obama are naive to the intricate dealings that are necessary to ensure allies and homeland security. That’s why not everyone can be considered to have what it takes to become our Chief Commanding Officer.
Its also important to note, the sitting down with no pre-conditions is risking the US, if the Terrorist decide to play a sick game and assasinate or inprison our president, we would surely start world war lll. These Terrorist are capable of this, how great would it look, Hamas imprisons US President! We would be the laughing stock, this is one reason why pre-conditions etc… are necessary
What is Johm Mccains Religion??? Does he go to church?? does he even believe in God?? Hmmmmm just curoius!!!
Does Obama believe in God? What does Afrocentric Theology mean to him? He sat in a racist church, where fellow members cheer at every noted racist comment. We are to believe he never noticed. What the heck did he think that the cheering was about then? Just curious…
Mr. McCain, I know you know and if you don’t know, I will tell you you need to take your old cheating lying self home. You so senile, you don’t know half the time what you are saying. If you can’t quote what Mr. Obama said, then don’t say anything at all. It just make you look even worse. You ought to have sense enough to know you have to really be sharp to stand up to a brilliant, intelligent man like Mr. Obama.
Go Go Mr. Obama and Gos Bless you.
He’s Episcopal
On a good day, McCain doesn’t not have all of his faculties. No way can he be trusted at the helm.
I have sent three responses but none of them were posted, that’s interesting? Looks like your screener may have a problem…
stupid
I think we all know where McCains interest lie…that the iranians are the enemies of the jewish state.
McCain is 100 percent right! Obama is 100 percent left!
Isn’t it odd that McCain mocked Obama for a claim he never made, that talking to the adversary was an original idea and then he talked about his divestment strategy in Iran? The trouble with that is, Obama and Sam Brownback introduced this legislation and McCain voted against it. Nice original idea McCain… glad you came around to agreeing with your original idea that your opponent came up with first.
good for you McCain,,,good job
good job mccain
Joe,
I can tell you this. Their is not one true Christian that would vote for a platform that supports abortion, pushes same sex marriages, silences the word of God, removes prayer from the schools, appoints liberal judges to remove what bare moral fiber we have left, wants God removed from our courts, wants God out of the Pledge of Allegiance, wants to remove the 10 commandments from every public place, ect… “Professing” Christians on the other hand would have no problem voting for such a platform.
You should be very careful in your choice of words and be prepared when you loosely throw the words church or Christian around trying to politicize the Christian vote. You will not be able to stand in light of the truth..
It is interesting to note that, according to a recent Gallop poll, most Americans support Obama’s plan to meet with America’s enemies. I guess people in this country are tired of ‘head in the sand’ foreign policy… I wouldn’t be surprised if our terror-o-meter suddenly jumped to red right before the election.
It is amazing to me that John McCain mocks Barack Obama. After mocking Obama‘s proposed talks with Iran, McCain went on to propose his big new idea on Iran of his own, this worldwide divestment campaign to hit Iran economically.
Obama has got his own AIPAC speech planned for Wednesday. Obama first proposed divestment last year in a bill with Sam Brownback, a bipartisan effort that John McCain did not support. Just another flip flop of John McCain. Which side are we going to see next. McCain has lobbyists in his campaign who have questionable ties in the past for lobbying for organizations with ties to Iran. That is a big problem. His campaign full of lobbyist who run his campaign is probably how he would run the government.
It is rather unpresidential to mock opponents whether in words, smirks, or otherwise in an effort to make you look better and them look poorly!! John McCain has done this on occasion since the primary season started! He should be able to conduct a debate or campaign by addressing the issues front on without being petty or little! We are adults and can make decisions on our own by comparing the candidates! He comes across at times like Cheney, Rove, and George W.
Not good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and i wonder why we are fighting 2 wars and this would be 3 from this group of complete idiots. WE TALK WITH HEADS OF COUNTRIES NOT BECAUSE WE LIKE THEM, NOT BECAUSE WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THEM, BUT BECAUSE WE JUST MIGHT AVOID WAR. we do need the Nuremberg trails after November.
So??
and???
Only a fool wouldn’t attempt to talk to the enemy. Communication is the strongest weapon in the world!
[...] delivering an “eloquent but empty call for change,” and as recently as yesterday during his speech to AIPAC where he argued that Obama’s proposal for a diplomatic initiative to Iran’s leadership [...]
You’re known by the company you keep.
Obama’s advisors have included some of the most anti-Israel and even anti-Jewish activists of any candidate in my lifetime:
There’s General McPeak, who blames the “Jewish lobby in New York” (his words, not mine).
There’s Joseph Cirincione, who a couple of years ago suggested that a “Grand Bargain” might include forcing Israel to dismantle all her nukes in exchange for Ahmedinijad promising not to build any (as if a promise from Ahmedinijad would be worth the paper it’s printed on).
There was Robert Malley, who was just fired by Obama when it was revealed he had been secretly negotiating with HAMAS.
And then there are Obama’s left-wing supporters on Huffington Post and Daily KOS, who absolutely hate Israel with a passion.
It’s impossible for me to understand how any Jewish voter can take a good look at this rogue’s gallery of anti-Semites and Israel haters, and then cast a vote for Obama.
Sheila says: “Only a fool wouldn’t attempt to talk to the enemy. Communication is the strongest weapon in the world!”
That’s not the issue.
The issue is Obama’s stated willingness to meet with Ahmedinijad WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS. In other words, without first reviewing our strategic position, without first getting any concessions from Ahmedinijad, without anything. Just hop aboard Air Force One and go flying out to Tehran to say hi.
There is only ONE thing I would bother to say to Ahmedinijad without preconditions:
“You’re under arrest for the seizure of our hostages in 1979. You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent, I’m going to order my Secret Service guards to blow your ass to hell.”
The Iranian president is calling for his citizens to envision a world without America and to wipe Israel off the map. He refuses to stop enriching uranium, which can lead to nuclear weapons. He denies the hollocost. He thinks he is fighting a holy war against Israel and her enemies. No talk is going to change his mind because he believes he is quickening the coming of the muslim massiah. I say we bomb their nuclear terminals immediately-or soon. He’s as bad as Hitler-and if they get weapons of mass destruction, who knows how bad the world will be.