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

[BethStuart]

I thought Obama did a good job of describing the neo-con foreign policy that seems to consist of not talking to people you don't like until they agree to do what you want them to. McCain apparently has never understood the realpolitik of Kissinger but lamely insisted Kissinger had been a friend of his for 35 years.

Bush's foreign policy over the past 8 years has been a disaster. McCain comes across as another Bush only more so.

[JenMI]

In addition, it is truly sad when the media and the McCain camp lower their expectation so far that "survival" in the debate is considered to be a "win."

[memphispaul]

The meme of the McCain/Palin ticket coming out of the republican convention was; "The strength of yesterday and the vision of tomorrow".

We now have a clearer idea of how these "attributes" actually measure up. To bad one needs to use a micrometer to be able to determine to positives.

[PT6]

OBAMA PROVED HE IS FULLY QUALIFIED TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF!

ON IRAQ Obama said to McCain,

You said, "It would be quick and easy" "You were Wrong"
You said. "We knew where the weapons of mass destruction were" "You were wrong"
You said, "We would be greeted as Liberators" "You were wrong"
You said, "There would be no violence between the Shia and Sunni" "You were wrong"

Even Kissinger's video of two weeks ago supported Obama’s position in negotiating at high levels with IRAN, while McCain opposes that as Bush has over the last eight years.

McCain showed how close he is to Bush in nearly every foreign policy.

McCain made a bid for Veteran support but Veterans rank him at only 20%, while Obama is ranked at 80% by Veterans.

Clearly on Foreign Policy especially Iraq it was Obama 52% McCain 47%.
And Overall it was Obama 51% and McCain a very weak 38%.

[PatrickJ08]

I hope it was just a gaffe - though, mccain's campaign suggests otherwise.

[viewfromuphere]

I think most people would have just thought it was a gaffe until the mccain camp tried to justify...­I read some commentator thought it was a low blow but if your going to try to justify a remark...i­t's up for discussion.

[Voltage]

With his huffs and his sneers and his sarcastic laughs, McSame looked like a schoolyard bully who couldn't use his bulk and intimidation while the teacher was right there in front of him.

[BlowHardPatrol]

i am strongly against going to war with spain. i love barcelona.

i'm voting for obama.

[robXdion]

Yeah Barcelona is the shiznit!! McCain doesn't understand that the US uses the Spanish port at Rota just to enter the Mediterranean Sea. He looked like a fool and he knew it. That's why he said "Horsesh!t" quietly in the mic as Obama made the point. Not many caught that.

[Oley]

Mccain is so out of touch that he used a questionable statical difference in hight to show the gap between North and South Korea. I think he did not have anything to say or he ran out of ideas. He has made so many gaffs recently that I am tempted to think that his memory should be checked before he goes stark mad.

[sak]

If anyone watched CNN after the debate, they played the video tape of Kissinger saying that the president should meet with the leader of Iran "without pre-condit­ions." McCain strongly denied this during the debate declaring that he and Kissinger have been friends for 35 years and he knew Kissinger did not say that. Obama brought this up when he was criticized by McCain for suggesting that the president meet with leaders of countries that are not our allies. Obama said that since Henry Kissinger was McCain's foreign policy advisor, he should know that Kissinger suggested the same thing. Talk about the perfect squelch!

Thank you CNN!

[roshni]

Mccain does not let reality get in the way of anything he says. reality is an inconvenience "in the tank for Obama."

[lungfish]

To my mind the winner is the one who doesn't resort to playing the emotions of the voters and focuses on the issues, the subject at hand.... and when the subject is John McCain's record of bizarre commentary and behavior, denial and condescension (Obama is "naive") as well as straight on lies, Obama clearly handles the situation with class. It was great hearing Obama tell McCain that he was wrong about Iraq (hell, its great to hear anyone confront a creep like McCain about his record that he lies so much about). There was nothing John couild say about it. Didn't mean he didn't try. His lips moved, sound came out, but the facts are still the facts and John couldn't say a thing to change them...You could see his frustration at his indefensible actions...­.

[Judyisacutie]

No war with Spain!

Obama '08!

[qwr]

Best part of the debate. And Obama said it with a straight face, but a bit of laughter came through. McCain's response was priceless.

[Nicotone]

McCain reported raising in August: $47.5 million

McCain has chosen to accept in public funds: $84 million

Palin's Bridge to Nowhere Projected cost: $398 Million

Obama nailing McCain's ass on Spain: Priceless

[athenasword]

Sweet!

[ewa]

I'm a Veteran Veteran that was the Commander of one of the largest VFW post in the State of Washington and was involved in the POW/MIA issue at it's highest levels,and McCain claims that he resolved the issue and got a full accounting of our POWs is just one of the biggest lies he has ever told,The truth is he was one of the biggest obstacle and stone walled all attempts to get a full accounting of are POW/MIAs.H­e openly attacked us in the halls of Congress and went as far as to physically assault one member in a wheel chair and brought many of the mother of the missing to tears.This guy is the biggest phony in the Senate and one of the least like Senators my Veteran,his rated at the bottom of Senators who have stood up for Veterans rights.Don­'t be fooled by this country first garbage puts out it's always been McCain first nothing has changed.He was a collaborator during the time he was a POW and received special treatment.­The guys is a fraud.

[lungfish]

John McCain's behavior in this area has been disgraceful, I agree. The Nation just published an article about this that every American should read....

[truegreen]

i almost fell out my bed when Obama mocked McCain's spain gaffe. It was classic!

[mscriblerus]

That exchange felt more embarrassing for McCain the second time I watched it. McCain looked nonplussed when he realized his Spain stance was taking center stage in a national debate. That's now set up to appear in campaign ads.