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

[marc1antony]

if you don't know what hypocrisy there is in accusing someone of the exact same thing you are guilty of, you are alot more sorry than thought - it's time for you to retire.

[kellygrrrl]

Mike Huckabee has just made a "joke" that Obama is going to get shot at.
He was speaking at an NRA conference.
This man needs to be denounced rejected and disciplined by McCain and Bush immediately.

This behavior is inexcusable and has my blood boiling!

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[SaulGood]

(CNN) – During a speech before the National Rifle Association convention Friday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee — who has endorsed presumptive GOP nominee John McCain — joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman.

“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”

[Nochnoi]

OMG! He really said THAT!!! Yikes.....­. how incredibly not funny at all!

[lindaisaiah]

I condemn those words by him in the Name of Jesus!

[Nochnoi]

More charming gallows humor from the right..... egads!

That it isn't even funny, and is something that should never ever be joked about.....­.

[kellygrrrl]

Hey Noch - how are you?

you should be in So Cal this weekend. it's about 100 degrees
K7 is having a fundraiser BBQ

[SaulGood]

the disturbing thing is that it would have never been said about any one else. they are now inciting racism. sick bastids.

[BWonka]

scHmuckabee has killed his chance of ever being McLoser's V.P.

But his comment is typical of a FAUX Christian. Altho it did make Chuck Heston sit up in his coffin!

[helonias]

And all the self proclaimed christians laughed

[Bluejay00234]

After everything that's happen in this country the fact that someone who once was running for president, would make a despicable joke such as this knowing all it takes is one WACKO to adhere to his words is so shameless. I hope the Obama camp makes a statement that this kind of nonsense will not be tolerated. These bastards are losing what;s left of their minds, because everyone was right they are afraid of Obama which is why they wanted Clinton to run against, because they have NOTHING which is why they pull this kind of BS. This isn't the last of this sort of rhetoric.

[SMP]

McCain and Bush are LIARS.....­..........­..look what has become of our great country...­not so great right now is it........­..........­.......

Diplomacy is needed and Barack Obama can deliver that...to Iran , Hamas, and even China.....­.......We need someone REAL back in the White House.


BOMB BOMB BOMB IRAN McCain is not the fella we need!!!!!!!

[honore]

McCain and Liberman are doing more to stir up anti-semitism that their so called enimies could ever do.

[zull2]

Hamas isn't even a regime! It's a terrorist organization with a political wing. McCain gives Obama the business for stating that he'd negotiate with actual heads of state, while he's apparently willing to negotiate with a terrorist organization posing as a political movement.

While there is some sense in working with Hamas, not unlike how the US worked with Sein Fenn and the IRA in negotiating peace in Ireland, it's not quite the same ballgame. Negotiating with the head of an official country, however, is exactly US policy prior Ronnie Reagan. The cost of war with a sovereign nation was generally agreed to be much higher than anything the US would provide diplomatically after a successful negotiation. But, of course, McCain would deal with Hamas, but Iran is totally out of the question? What exactly is his logic here? How can I get my buddies in the weapons industry to make bigger profits?

[borderorder]

Believe me, I am no defender of "Mushbrain" McCain, but he made his comments right after Hamas won the the Palestinian election in 2006. So, he wasn't advocating discussions with a terrorist organization. Secondly, Bush made no distinction about when or who suggested talking to Hamas, just that it was equivalent to appeasing the Nazis. So, Bush is the fool and McCain once again is the dumb little brother left holding the broken cookie jar.

[lindaisaiah]

That's not true borderorder, both of those "mushbrain" knew what they were saying and why! It is a direct aim at the DNC, especially Obama! trying to cast suspicion and doubt to the americans people and to the world about a democrat that will be elected!

[DFDoerr]

McCain will talk to Hamas, Obama said he will not talk to terrorists.
So, who's the appeaser.

[DFDoerr]

McCain wants to appease Hamas.
McCains a bigger appeaser than Obama.

[Nochnoi]

Watching McCain speak in front of the NRA...... *sighs*

Pretty much pulling up the old trick of..... If you vote for a Democrat this fall you are all gonna die!!!! The terrorists are going to get you..... blah blah blah..... uh huh.......

*Yawn*

[envyme]

I am sick and tired of all the bulls*it fear tactics used by the Repubs. Its old. Older than McCain if thats possible. They need to try running on issues this time. When they do, the race will be over for them!!! Hmmm, no wonder they are not running on issues...

[nyboomer]

No republicans ever run on the issues.The­y all hope to slide in on the slick mud they've flung.

[gorgol]

Lets see..gradu­ated at the bottom of his class...th­rew tantrums in his childhood so violent what he actually passed out...was nicknamed "McNasty" in school...a­dmitted at recess, he was usually fighting..­..
almost physically attacked fellow congressme­n...calls' his wife a "C*NT", and his campaign is run by lobbyists.­..

Oh yeah....he­'s just perfect for the Presidency­....right?­??

[CTmom13]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjCYmjjxp8I&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/16/155231/041/582/517073


Powerful video....M­cSame's campaign is run by over 100 lobbyists and worked for dictators who have killed thousands

[adonisv]

More evidence that McCain has lost his bearings.

[realtalk]

McCain did cooperated with the enemy while he was a prisoner of war, and received special treatment by the Vietnamese Government for it!! As a matter of PUBLIC GOVERNMENT RECORD (records that have been CLASSIFIED by the US government: how convenient!!!)
It is known that McCain gave interviews to the Vietnamese communist news service, interviews that were NOT flattering to the USA.
McCain also made over 32 TAPES of PROPAGANDA for the Vietnamese Government, the enemy, and it seems he was one of the only prisoner of war in Veitnam to have cooperated with the enemy.

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/02/17/in-1992-pows-accused-mccain-of-collaborating-with-vietnamese/

[Monty1955]

So this is the great war hero the Repuglicans are hold up? He was a bloody traitor. I'm sending this link straight to the Obama camp.
thanks Realtalk

[DFDoerr]

Why is McCain stealing Obama's ideas.
That's low.

[BWonka]

McCain steal everyones ideas - hasn't had an original thought in the last decade.

Johm McCain - not good enough in 2000, not good enough now. BUt - this is the best the GOP has to offer. How pathetic.

[Nochnoi]

Really truly sad isn't it...... of course.... McCain is almost a step up from Bush.... almost....

[noamjunior]

i pretty predictable comment from someone who's tagline starts with D. F
we all know what the "D F" stands for

[Brebro]

John will say anything..­.But will he remember saying it?

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Do Not elect John McCain President. GrandPa is old and his perspective is skewed. His mind often drifts away, leaving his mouth running without guidance. Do Not elect John McCain. GrandPa needs a TV Guide in his hands, not the keys to the gun cabinet.

[DFDoerr]

So McCain agrees with Obama.
Attack.

[noamjunior]

now we all know what the "D F" stands for

[Abycat]

The 'Prune' speaks on Hamas! 'Deal with'. If 'w' had said that we would have thought cocaine was involved. If Hamas is at the head of the Palestinian government, maybe we should talk to them? I don't know. More importantly, an old man who is rapidly losing his sense of smell doesn't know either.