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

[obamasOHangel]

I LOVE this clip! When he gets angry Senator McBlinky's eyes start fluttering like crazy LoL!

[Bagger]

I really love Obama today. Punch him in the mouth Obama!

[bluekatz]

McCain is an angry uneducated dumby. He did say he would not talk to Spain and he cannot lie about that one its one TAPE!

[CommonSenseBda]

I guess he has lied about so many things on tape that the MSM never called him on that he thinks he can get away with it every time.

[Kindheart]

Johnny made the gaffe and made it all the worse when he got confused that Spain was not in Latin America. Then after that happened, his cronies went on the record by saying that it was not a gaffe, Johnny meant it.

How anybody could vote for this man is beyond me. He will only continue the attitude of the Bush posse about "if you are not with us, then you are against us." That compounded by his behavior that when he doesn't like someone, he is downright rude. That would play real well on the international stage.

[hopeforchange]

It was funny to see Obama try to remember John McCain's first name during the debate. How many times did he "forget" it? What a low life.

[RatgurlSD]

I checked your profile to see if you're a tr0ll, but you're not. You're just one of those kids that was left behind.

[Cookie100]

Yha'll yawn, O bamas a low life, yha'll right!

Can't wait until YOU'RE DRAFTED! That's what YOU'RE wonderful old man will do for you.
Who do YOU think is going to BOMB, BOMB, BOMB Iran?

That'd be YOU sucker!

I'd ask to go to Russia, they generally have cooler summers, Iran will be brutal to your skin.

[DuVal Dem]

McBush did'nt even look at Sen. Obama while he talked to throughout the whole debate. To have a Presidential candidate not even want to talk to an ally (Spain) is the very definition of a low life.

For McBush to put his CAMPAIGN BEFORE COUNTRY by having an unqualified VP candidate be one heart beat away from the Presidency if he should win is the definition of a low life. Joe Biden last night was all over the networks giving post debate spin while McBush had Sarah Palin hiding. McBush is the definition of a low life.

[freddymedal]

Yea that was funny! Once Obama called McCain "Jim" and another time he called him "Joe" that was funny. What wasn't funny is the fact that John McCain could place Spain in South America and almost put them in some axis of evil, and that Al Qaeda zips over to Iran for training. That's scary!

[athenasword]

He didn't forget. He said "Jim" then "John" - the mod and his collegue.

[normathumb]

They had to say he meant it. The implications of any other alternative, (Stupid, ignorent, confused or Alzheimer's dementia, take your pick.), would be too disastrous.

[roshni]

He could have tried deaf!

[johnnygoodwud]

folks here's the real revelation: mc cain gets flustered very easily, you could see it during the entire debate. he has a short fuse and is known for shooting from the hip. is this the guy you want making important decisions, some hothead who doesn't think things through? people say obama is to 'cool' hmmm, a better word might be composed. 'O' in 08

[Diplomacy]

McCain is 'holding his tongue' because he knows he has a temper & it's an issue!

However, he isn't really holding his tongue because when he gets agitated he does those annoying "tongue thrusts in & out", and looks like the LIZZARD MAN!

[NuOrigin]

Two points. First, Obama is very crafty on this point. On the radio interview, McCain was clearly confused, and referenced Spain as if it was in South America. Instead of his camp admitting that, they stuck with "he said what he said". Obama wisely ran with that, and made the McCain camp look either like liars or fools.

Second point, McCain sail "bulls#1t, horses#1t" while Obama was bringing it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1rZBmk0DYU

It was horses#1t, but to admit that, he would have to admit his confusion.

[athenasword]

That is what it sounds like to me!!!!!!!! Need better audio, but I'm sure it can be isolated.

Regarding Spain he's going to stick to his guns, come heIl or high water. And, the Oba.ma camp just says "well, ok. We will just take this at face value and go from there." O will simply continue to point out the stupidity of a such a hard line stance on one of our NaTo Allies.

Any way you cut it John Boy, you are so screvved!

[TheGuide]

Yes, McCain was totally off. Her question was direct enough for someone who is always hearlding their foregion policy experience. Perhaps her rich accent put his head in a totally different place. Still, I understand his camp not admitting his remarks about Spain, because to do so says they know their candidate is inadquate to be president. At least if they manage to get him into office they can prop him up like a puppet and run things themselves.

[standswithafist]

I hope this video and others like it go viral. This is the Real McCain.

[athenasword]

Viral would be way nice!! (p.s. love your handle!)

[standswithafist]

update: I just listened to the same clip from another source and it sounds like he's mumbling "Course not". Oh well.

[loax]

McCain had no answer. As a matter of fact, all I saw from McCain was a stump speech. He never once answered a question. He was rude, arrogant, condescending and just mean. To not look someone in the eye is a huge clue as to what kind of President they will be. McCain seemed shifty and devious.

[wdw101]

maybe McCain does not respect b.o.

[Tenebrae]

Maybe.
But he probably doesn't respect a lot of world leaders either. But you still have to deal with them

McCain may not respect Reid either, but as the Senate majority leader, he has to deal with him.

So it really doesn't matter what McCains personal feelings about Obama are -- he still needs to conduct himself with decorum rather than acting like a spoiled (or scared?) little kid throwing a snit-fit.

Obama was in a league completely above McCain. Obama was knowledgeable, civil, and fully in control of both the facts and his emotions.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

WHAT CAN I SAY :) SENATOR MCCAIN IS LIVING INTHE CIVIL WAR ERA :) WHATS IT LIKE?

[jannike]

"You don't invite them over for tea". But that was what Robert Kennedy did when the world almost collapsed into a nuclear war. In 1962, when John F. Kennedy was president and the conflict was just so dangerous - and Robert Kennedy took a bottle of wine and went to the Soviet embassy and solved the problem.

[NotaDrone]

This isn't 1962, this is 2008. Obama said he wouldn't sit down to tea with them but he didn't say other reps. of his administration wouldn't be talking to them.

[RStone]

Well what will McDrama do this week?

Anybody see which way his airplane went?

Hopefully, back to Arizona.

http://www.boppoll.com
Tell five friends to add 500 bops to McSame!

It feels good to relieve some stress after last nights debates.

[pupbayer]

He went back to Washington to deal with the biggest economic problems we've had in 79 years. You know, to do the job he currently is paid to do which is representing the people of his state which is the right thing to do. Where did O go? Never mind. We all know.

[minty68]

McCain is no expert on the economy. Any "attempts" at lending his hand in crafting this bailout is simply postering for political purposes.

Obama has been in contact with Congressional leaders and Secretary Paulson on a daily basis from DAY ONE of this crisis, the same day McCain said that the fundamentals of this economy are strong. He is lending his support and ideas, but is letting the finance committee do its job, as they are supposed to do. The less intereference they get, the sooner they can come up with a resolution and get us out of this mess.

[LuvDaH8ters]

i dont think im comfortable with someone who admitted they didnt know anything about the economy trying to "save" it. Please tell him to go go home....

[SHORTYJR05]

They do not want him back in DC. He is not not the fin com. and he is getting in the way. He had not been there all year. He was there for 26 years and did littlle to help avoid messes like this. In fact his poilcies has help to create this mess. The best thing he can do is stay away and stop trying to grab credit for things.

[teronhussein678]

LOL .. Mac is behind in the polls + his VP is a dimwit ..........

[athenasword]

Right... he went back to fix what he derailed yesterday??? HHaAAAAA!

[cittykat2]

Pupbayer, you sound like McCane, ANGRY!!!!

[HHarvey]

BEWARE OF PUPBAYER. He is a paid troll and anytime you reply to his comment he gets paid. He' s on the list.

[roshni]

I heard he missed a finance vote on a senate bill even though he was in Washington.

[applejedi1]

The TV people don't get it. They were looking for McCain's nonsense. The American people are looking for leadership. They want fire and spin. We want a working government.

[pupbayer]

Yes, we do. And one of these candidates is working for this country this weekend and one is working for himself.

[HairFarmer]

why don't you tell your boy to stay away from wash. this same guy presided over the keating 5 and youy want him there to do ... what screw things up even worse??? get a clue

[athenasword]

At least now we know how you are going to spin the poor performance of the Sen. from Arizona in last nights debate..... how the heck are you going to spin Sarahs' impending disaster?!!

[UtahLady]

Agreed. And, since McCain ALWAYS is working only for himself (and always puts himself first over country and honor, and everyone and everything else), we know who you are talking about.

[CBone]

The McCain campaign had to say he meant his comment about Spain, because the truth of his own impending senility would end this election. That of course brings up a whole host of questions about the patriotism and love of country of someone who is so desperate for power that he'd continue to run for president in the face of his own diminishing capacity for lucidity. Add to this Sarah Palin. Goodness gracious.

DONATE TO OBAMA!

CAMPAIGN FOR OBAMA!

DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY YOU LOVE!!!

[wingman1]

McCain's disrepectful behaviour - shuffling papers, smirking while Obama speaks, trying to subtly undercut his opponent's time at the microphone - is pathetic.

[standswithafist]

Many times I heard someone scribbling and shuffling papers as Obama was speaking and was wondering, "Who the hell is making that noise?!" Then the camera got a shot of McCain hunched over his podium and I saw it was him. So rude.

[ensure]

Obama vs McCain: Grading the First Presidential Debate
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/obama-vs-mcca-2.html

[JenMI]

I'm impressed that Obama brought up the Spain gaffe..unf­ortunately for most Americans this one went under the radar and they probably had no idea what Obama was referring to... anymore than they're aware that "fish love oil rigs."

[TullyMars]

Repubs very much count on an uninformed public. No other way to explain "Women for McCain" or "Palin Power"... shear, blind stupidity.