Barack Obama On The Strength Of Negotiating

One of the clearest policy -- and personality -- contrasts in the debate came when Barack Obama and John McCain discussed the issue of negotiating with other nations.

After McCain attacked him (angrily) for being open to negotiations, Barack Obama explained why negotiating is actually puts the United States in a stronger position, and why McCain's view is actually weak.

As he wrapped up his answer, Obama also hit McCain's refusal to commit to meeting with Spain -- a NATO ally.

Comments

[cactusgal]

McCain's an enigma wrapped in a banana peel

[RStone]

He is no enigma, he is straight talk. The wrong talk!!!!

http://www.bopppoll.com

Obama '08

[grata2ude]

Kissinger is now saying he didn't say we should talk with Iran. Ah Mr. Kissinger in this day and age you can't say something then lie a few days later. This is the transcript of the event that Obama was talking about.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0809/20/se.01.html

[Jules1]

He said horsesh== t twice,listen it is not course not, you hear the "H" clear.

[grata2ude]

LOL Obama almost got grumpy to blow on that one. Great job Obama. That was indeed a highlight of the night. One of many.

[whit4brains]

It sounds to me like he says "horsesh*t" the first time and "of course" the second time.

[dutchman]

It was music to my ears to hear our likely president pronounce "nuclear" properly. We'll finally have a leader who's fluent in at least one language!

[Bocado]

You know, as trivial as that is, you're so right.

New Obama voter as of last night.
Finally someone methodical and intelligent.

[AliMac02]

Congratulations! Welcome to the team! :) Methodical and intelligent are apt descriptors. As well as open, strong, curious, determined ....

[grata2ude]

welcome welcome. All anyone has to do is listen really listen to him. Leaders like him only come along once in a great while.

[roshni]

Welcome to the O family. Onward and upward from the dark ages.

[IllinoisTexan43]

Yah, he said it. He says it once then guiltily looked up at Leher and then said "coarse not."







Where's Sarah?
Obama/Biden08

[JSquercia]

I don't remember WHO said it but I do believe it was an Israeli Prime Minister who said You have to NEGOTIATE peace with YOUR ENIMIES

[Yve72]

Transcript of dialogue...

OBAMA: "He said the other day that he would not meet potentially with the Prime Minister of Spain, because he, you know, he wasn't sure whether they were aligned with us, I mean Spain..."
MCCAIN: says "Horse$hit" or "of course".
OBAMA: "...Spain is a NATO ally..."
MCCAIN: says "Horse$hit" or "of course".
OBAMA: "...um, if we can't meet with our friends..."

Okay. Which makes more sense?
If McCain said "of course", it means he's agreeing with Obama's statement. I doubt it.

[DMcD]

McCain's reply to the Spain comment (as I saw it) was but a smiling dismissive smirk --- just like when someone loudly farts during a business meeting --- busted !
I wish Obama had pressed that point further and quizzed McCain on just which continent does he think Spain is on --- the other day he thought it was in South America.

[whit4brains]

I read on andrewsullivan that he thinks he said "course not".

[jupitor]

I listened and looped this dozen of times! I say he said "that's horse sh#t, of course". i don't think it's my imagination either!

[NuOrigin]

McCain - "you don't say that out loud" - you lie in public and do whatever you have to do in secret.

Way to call him on Obama, with Bomb Iran.

[Gould123]

It was hard to get by mccains snickers,laughs,smirks and condencending noises during Obama's speaking time! It was undignified, and seen as looking down to obama, Not direct look or face to face with obama either

[oscartucker]

McCain's first mumble was somewhat inaudible, but his second mumble was " of course". I am sure someone somewhere will slow down the tape and check it, but the main problem for McCain was MUMBLING anything any way. He should have been courteous and he proved what a temper he has.

[BatedBreath]

NO, NO, NO! he did not say horse *. He was trying to interject a comment beginning with "of course". Get a grip. Focus on the fine attack from Obama. We don't need to be making rumors up to win this race.

[Yve72]

That doesn't make any sense. Why say "of course" when your opponent is slamming you?

[dutchman]

If I just listen to it, I think you're right, but when you look at his face while he's saying it, there's nothing but anger there. I'm guessing he said it 'horseshit". Having said that, who cares? I wish America would learn not to get so upset and victimized over words dumb like horseshit. And I absolutely agree that we should be pleased with the way Obama handled himself here.

Dutchman

[whit4brains]

I read on andrewsullivan that he thinks he said "course not".

[Grunty1]

That was one of the better moments of the debate. McCain BARELY restrained himself from lashing out in anger. I thought he was going to leap out for Obama's jugular for a moment.