Exclusive Video: McCain Was For Talking To Hamas Before He Was Against It...

Two years ago, in an interview with James Rubin for Sky News, Sen. John McCain expressed a willingness to negotiate with the terrorist group Hamas -- the very group that McCain has been relentlessly using to smear Sen. Barack Obama over the last several weeks.

Rubin has written an op-ed in Friday's Washington Post about his exchange with McCain, and The Huffington Post has obtained exclusive video. Here's the key excerpt:

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. 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."

Watch the video:

Sky News clip of McCain discussing why he would talk with Hamas.

Video courtesy of Sky News

As Rubin adds:

Given that exchange, the new John McCain might say that Hamas should be rooting for the old John McCain to win the presidential election. The old John McCain, it appears, was ready to do business with a Hamas-led government, while both Clinton and Obama have said that Hamas must change its policies toward Israel and terrorism before it can have diplomatic relations with the United States.

Even if McCain had not favored doing business with Hamas two years ago, he had no business smearing Barack Obama. But given his stated position then, it is either the height of hypocrisy or a case of political amnesia for McCain to inject Hamas into the American election.

UPDATE: The McCain camp has released the following response:

"There should be no confusion, John McCain has always believed that serious engagement would require mandatory conditions and Hamas must change itself fundamentally - renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept a two state solution. John McCain's position is clear and has always been clear, the President of the United States should not unconditionally meet with leaders of Iran, Hamas or Hezbollah. Barack Obama has made his position equally clear, and has pledged to meet unconditionally with Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the leaders of other rogue regimes, which shows incredibly dangerous and weak judgment."

UPDATE II: Blogging on HuffPost, National Security Network's Max Bergmann digs up quotes from McCain saying he was in favor of conducting talks with Syria, despite acknowledging that Syria's government was "sponsoring and harboring terrorists." Click here for details.

Comments

[lthuedk 1]

Every time the right does a hit job it presents an opportunity to teach, explore, and expose. And, it gets results, albeit in noisy, lopsided exchanges. But isn't this what we've been waiting for? Some sort of contact.

How do you like the look and feel of the Straussian Reality portrayed by the Neo Cons so far?

The public shall never know the truth, Leo would say. Does it show in McCain?

McCain's job -is- to provide conflict and he does it well. It's best the public not know anything. First on one side of torture then the other; the facade of a humble, straight shooting, people's country bumpkin turned successor to a dictatorship. The Neo Con can never reveal the game. The aim of the conspiracy, other than a glossy and very boldly presented but still totalitarian P.N.A.C., can never be disclosed. McCain has no choice but to deceive, like his predecessor and his mob of Neo Cons.

McCain must be installed to pardon the culprits of subversion.

[Beast711]

Sen. Ted Kennedy Has Been Rushed To The Hospital Today . Possible Stroke ...

[fourex]

Why should John McCain be asked to remember what he said yesterday. In our world that is a form of torture,

Senior Citizen 4X

[Gary47]

This is why Dems get in trouble, playing defense all the time. McCain's statements are more clear and forceful (even though I disagree with them). Obama comes off looking weak. The problem here is the willingness to play defense and the aversion to playing offense. We need to attack McCain forcefully and constantly, keeping him off balance and making him respond to us. We need to set the agenda, every single day. I've been waiting years for Dems to grasp this concept.

[Chillinout]

I think Obama is doing just that. He responded quickly and forcefully to the Bush speech at the Knessett. And he did it quite skillfully because attacking McCain and Bush at the same time he is planting the idea in people's mind that Bush and McCain are joined at the hip.

[yourkillingmelarry]

I agree, the GOP miscalculated and actually lost this round. This is why Obama is the Dem nominee, he is unfettered in his stance on foreign policy. I saw this whole event as a very big positive for Obama.

[julescator]

I think people grossly unerestimate Obama to their peril. This is a brillian guy. He will beat these clowns at their own game. You are right - we are used to the GOP lying so brilliantly and repeating the same talking points ad nauseum. The talk will turn to Domestic policy as we pay $4 for gas and mcCain will be tongue tided again.

[Chillinout]

And being underestimated by your rivals is a great asset to have.

[Chillinout]

What this shows here is that McCain's free ride with the MSM is over. They used to say "it was a senior moment" and then just let it go. In the past few days though, the press is actually asking him real questions and not letting him off the hook like they used to do. Now they are pressing him on the issues.

See ya' John have a nice retirement. Speaking of retirement: You wife has 100 million dollars and you make $400,000 a year. So why, exactly are you collecting Social Security? You obviously don't need it. Since you like to think you are Reaganesque, why not follow his lead and refuse your Social Security so that it might go to someone that actually needs it to eat.

[obamanation31]

I have aquestion for Mr. McCain: why don't you wear a flag pin? Don't you love this country?

[jrterrier]

are you kidding? mccain would love to have this be the "issue" in the election.

[julescator]

I am going to repeat this until the election:

Electing John McCain is like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titantic!!!!

[kennedy]

I said that months ago and many times since about having Obama as nominee. And I will continue to say it. The Obatitanic is going down and you cult members are going down to the icy depps with him.

No lowering of the lifeboats now. You must go down with your GOD OBLIAR. Enjoy the decent into the abyss on board the OBATITANIC. You don't even see what is right in front of you face. So very fitting for the backstabbing campaign ObaLIAR has run.

[Turtleluv6]

Don't be mad that Mc Lame dug himself in a hole and can't get out. '


Repulican woman for Obama

[orle8050]

Titanic, you must be referring to the Republican party.

Dem reg. votes tripple that of the republican party. People has 8 long years to see what the republican have not done for the American people and we vote Change 08.

[rollingdivision]

Rubin: “So should the United States be dealing with that new reality through normal diplomatic contacts to get the job done for the United States?”

Sen. McCain: “I think the United States should take a step back, see what they do when they form their government, see what their policies are, and see the ways that we can engage with them, and if there aren’t any, there may be a hiatus. But I think part of the relationship is going to be dictated by how Hamas acts, not how the United States acts.”

That is much different than the way Rubin reported the interview in the Post:

McCain answered: "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. 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."

John McCain absolutely did not advocate unconditional engagement with Hamas. Rubin edited his follow-up question so that it misrepresented McCain's clear statement that any actions would be “dictated by how Hamas acts, not how the United States acts.”

[julescator]

Wow - we can take the extra steps to "understand" what mcCain meant - however, we stick it to Obama about the "bitter" comments totally distoring what he said. The double standard continues. McCain is all over the place. This is not hte first thing he has flip flopped on. The bush tax cuts he was agisnt them gefore he was for them, Iraq War timetables, he was aginst them before he was for them.

Give us a break. We want no more of the double talking GOP. They lie so easily. They are completely incompetent and out of touch with the country. Bush was shocked a few months ago when someone told him gas would go to $4.00. There is no way these people can lead this great nation to a great place. They have no messsage. All they have are lies, smears, fear-mongering and attacks. If they used this kind of energy on domestic issues, perhaps we wouldn't be where we are not. They are no good a strategy.

[rollingdivision]

This particular issue is being officially misrepresented by the Democratic Party and Obama in a way which changes the meaning of what was said. We can choose how we interrupt the facts, we can develop and present our policies based on our interpretation of the facts, but we don't get to pick our own facts. The actual spoken words as shown on the complete exchange on video is drastically different than the edited or paraphrased versions.

[orle8050]

All McBush has to do was say it out of his mouth. We listened to what came out of McBush mouth.

you must be one of the McBush trollers on the site.

[rollingdivision]

Take a look at the complete interview. This is edited to eliminate the context. McCain went on to explain that it was all up to Hamas meeting a long list of preconditions which McCain spelled out. It's sad that instead of addressing the actual substantial policy differences the Obama camp is now resorting to parsing and editing to change meaning and context. McCain has said enough stupid things that there is any need to make things up.

[dbdzen]

Oh and bittergate wasn't that. If you want the liberty of context, give the liberty of context. It's a bit rich to be saying that on the same day McCain is using bittergate to attack Obama at the NRA

[Liberal2]

Dear Scrollingd­iversion..­.Sen. McCain supports Goofy Bush's "surge" which included millions of dollars paid to people who apparently were quite successful in killing Americans to stop killing Americans.­...isn't that the worse kind of "appeasement"? What happened to "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."

Although you're just a silly troll and rethug tool, the problem is your ilk flood the Internet with lies and nonsense.

[orle8050]

Complete Interview. I heard a direct question and a flip flop answer.

Where is the whole sermon on Rev. Wright? Where is the whole voting record of McBush were he voted the same 90% of the time? Where are the medical records to see if he suffers for Alzheimer's, since he can't remember?

rollingdivision, McBush Troll you have been spotted!!!

[mydogshakespeare]

Dear John,

Does talking to Hamas make YOU an "appeaser", or are you just playing "spin the politic"?

[partyofone]

There is certainly nothing CLEAR about McCain's positions on anything. He is spinning. We are getting a good sample of what the McCain White House press office would sound like: and it sounds just like the Bush White House press office.

The thought of the uninformed, coporate-owned, increasingly dishonest. aging McCain as president is scary.

Thank goodness, Obama, unlike Hillary, gives us a real alternative.

[YvonneH]

It's gonna be lovely, satisfying, glorious and wonderful to see McCain go down in November. After all, he was born to lose......­..........

[robokop]

Why does the looney liberals have to distort or lie about an interview with McCain? Is this all they can do or come up with, LIES?

If Obama, with all his Muslim relatives, will make a great President, then why the need to lie about McCain? Is this the best they can do, lie, then the November Presidential election which the Democrats should have had a big win could end up being a Dukakis type big loss in November.

[mattwin]

The 'loony liberals' did not say that we should negotiate with Hamas, McCain did. If anyone was lying, it was McCain. Either he said we should not negotiate with terrorists or he said we should.

Unlike you, most Americans can see bullshit when presented it, so McCain will meet his political humiliation in November. Some Americans like to be led by academic morons with money and others think we need someone with a brain and experience exercizing it to lead this country out of the moras we are in today.

[mydogshakespeare]

robokopf wrote: "...Democr­ats should have had a big win could end up being a Dukakis type big loss in November."

Beaten by McCain? Oh, you make us laugh!

robokopf wonders: "why the need to lie about McCain? Is this the best they can do, lie,"

What lies, robokopf? Anything like McCain lying about Obama's "fitness to lead" because Obama said he is willing to talk to our enemies? Anything like McCain claiming that "Hamas is rooting for Obama, while he [McCain] would be their [Hamas'] worst nightmare"? Anything like McCain painting his fictional tapestry of anti-Hamas toughness even though he expressed an unequivocal need to talk with them himself?

LOL, if you think Democrats need to resort to "lies" to win, you have another think coming. Oh, but then "robot heads" don't actually "think", do they?

[Liberal2]

"....robok­opf wrote: "...Democr­ats should have had a big win could end up being a Dukakis type big loss in November."

Beaten by McCain? Oh, you make us laugh!..."


Whoaaaaaaaa, Remember Gore? Beaten by Kid Stupid. If Bush could get enough votes (fair and foul means) to toss the election into the Supreme Court you better not count McFool out until January 21, 2009. IOW, the day after the democrat has taken the oath of office.

Keep in mind, Blackwater may have something to say about how to count votes.

[julescator]

NO! to beat mcCain Obama just needs to stick to the isseus. McCain is weak on everything. This "war hero" spent a whole 20 hours in combat. He was shot down on day 23 in Viet Nam. Even after they drug him through the Navel Academy on daddy's shoulders, he still was at the bottom of the class. He was number 790 our of 795. This guy is possibly dumber than Bush (didn't think they could find another one). Mc Cain has never done anything on his own, just like Bush. Daddy and Grandaddy dragged him through the Navel Academy and his colleagues think he was shot down because of his own incompetence.

He dumped first wife to marry this one and use Her money to get into politics. She got her money from Daddy. These people never worked for anything a day in their life. mcCain is a bigger joke than Bush. Totally clueless. My friend.

[torrrep]

Why are you so obsessed with money? I don't care if he won it in the lottery. It has nothing to do with anything. You call Bush and McCain dumb. If you're so smart then why are you sitting here behind a computer screen and complaining. Surely you have some business to be running. Or some political office to be upholding. Oh that's right you don't. I'll take their word over yours any day.

[orle8050]

Wait, how is Obama lying when McBush mouth is moving.

Losers always has to make silly statements like this.

[robokop]

Rubin and Huffington Post need to brush up on a college course called journalistic ehtics 101. Rubin basis his story and Huffington Post shows part of a video of one question Rubin asks McCain and the answer McCain gave to that question.

Missing from Rubin's story and Huffington Post video is the 2nd question asked McCain and McCain's answer which clearly shows McCain was against talking with Hamas until it was seen if Hamas was going to continue it's violence against Israel.

Rubin and Huffington Post are guilty of Journalistic Dishonesty

[timothe]

And this surprises you why?

Bush gave a great speech in Israel. He got 8 standing ovations in 20 minutes...­it was fantastic!! Yet the only part of the speech reported by the American press was the part that was offensive to Obama.

No doubt that there is Journalistic Dishonesty at HuffPost..­.it is expected here. But when the AP and McClachey are dishonest? That's downright scary.

[julescator]

Bush has NEVER given a GREAT speach anywhere on the planet so your argument doesn't hold water. Sorry. You were only too happy to listen to "part" of Obama's "bitter" speech so what's good for the goose is good for the gander! See how ugly politics can be. It only hurts when it's your candidate getting the short end. Oh the hypocrisy!

[julescator]

Gee - hwere have I seen this before - oh yes - the "bitter" story which Hillary and the GOP used to help turn Whites against Obama. Oh well - guess we all get our turns to be distorted. It's up to YOU the voting public to see through the BS and vote for the candidate who can turn this ship around. There is no way the GOP can right the ship. They are the captains of this disaster.

Electing McCain is like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Been there done that! Didn't work. (2004)

[orle8050]

Journalistic Dishonesty you must have this confused with FoxNews

[TrueIndy08]

Its only MAY and I am already sick of this old bag of bones!!!!

I have no clue what he stands for bc everytime I think he stands for something, he comes out and says the opposite:

1. Voted against Bush tax cuts TWICE... now he wants them permanent
2. Didn't want a long term Iraq presence..­. now we will stay 5, 10, 100 years
3. Against torture... approves of waterboarding
4. Against abortion, but gave exclusions­... now, against abortion..­. no exclusions
5. We have to talk to Hamas... we will not talk to Hamas...
6. We will not bail out homeowners­... we are coming up with a plan to help homeowners
7. I'm all for the troops... yet I vote down their GI Bill (COWARD)


John McBush Camp: please, find a position on the issues and stick with it... I am getting sick from the constant FLIP FLOPPING!!!

[afgail]

Here's a question that someone should ask McCain. "Given that there are no recent videos of Bin Laden only audio tapes, do you think bin Laden is dead?" Certainly the Republicans would like us to believe that he is alive and a continuing threat to this country. But what if they know he is dead and have helped keep the fiction of the man alive for their own poltical purposes of scaring the voters at election times.