Republican Attacks On Obama Recognize No Borders

One of the defining features of President Barack Obama's overseas trip has been the cold and often critical reception he has received from Republicans back home.

The adage that "politics stops at the water's edge" has long been more in theory than practice. But even some of the GOP officials whom the president has previously hailed as voices of reason and respect on foreign policy matters have granted him no favors during his travels.

On Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham appeared on CSPAN's Washington Journal to discuss, in part, Obama's speech in Cairo that morning. And while applauding the call to close down the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, the South Carolina Republican still rapped the President for what he said was an overt effort to seek applause from the Arab world.

"People are not clapping here," said Graham. "It is our nation that will have to deal with the prisoners. They are not going to Egypt. And the problem the president has created for himself and the country and quite frankly for a guy like me who would like to help him, by announcing he will close the prison and gets applause around the world, you have made Americans wonder, what are we going to do with these people?"

"I think we could safely close Guantanamo Bay," Graham added. "But we need a plan. The President had never told anybody, including the people in Cairo, how you deal with these people."

The words were relatively mild compared to the largely partisan and negative reception the President's Middle East has received from other Republicans. But they are noteworthy because Graham had been positioned to be a bipartisan bridge for the White House on foreign policy matters.

"Joe [Biden], I drafted as vice president," Obama said after his V.P. and Graham visited Afghanistan in January. "But Lindsey Graham, I'm drafting as one of our counselors in dealing with foreign policy because the fact is, as our tradition has always been, that our differences end at the water's edge and that at a certain point it is imperative for us to have a clear, coherent strategy at home."

In private, Democratic strategists have offered a mix of surprise and anger over the way the president has been treated by his Republican critics , like House Minority Leader John Boehner, during this most recent trip. Boehner slammed Obama for placing "equal blame" on the Israelis and Palestinians in remarks on Thursday. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney labeled the entire trip an "apology tour."

There is, however, a portion of the Democratic Party that seems to welcome the vitriol, confident that it makes the GOP look petty in the shadow of Obama's statesmanship. Asked for reaction to Graham's comments that no one was clapping in the United States when Obama spoke in Cairo, DNC press secretary Hari Sevugan replied:

"You're making a big deal out of nothing. He's talking about the reaction of the American people to the failed policies of the Republican Party. With 20 percent approval, high profile defections and repeated electoral losses, Senator Graham is simply commenting on how no one likes the Republican Party. So, we're not too upset because I don't think there's any rule against looking critically at your own party while the President's abroad."

Comments

[nels96]

There is only one infallible way to make term limits happen: The American voter must IMPOSE TERM LIMITS on Congress, simply by NEVER REELECTING anyone in Congress. In other words, don't let anyone serve more than one term. That's the only way to teach them that the voter is their boss! And that “Congress as a career” will not be tolerated. The “one term” can be changed AFTER we citizens get control of Congress.

50% of Americans don’t ever vote, and 95% of these non-voters would vote for term limits. How can we mobilize these non-voters to vote against incumbents? Remember it makes no difference who they vote for as long as it is never for an incumbent!

[fallout4U]

Newsweek editor Evan Thomas brought adulation over President Obama’s Cairo speech to a whole new level on Friday, declaring on MSNBC: "I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God."

[ktdowner]

Term limits, what we need are term limits for these career public servants who no longer serve the public but rather spend their entire careers talking trash.

[Crissy Patters]

Oh, I forgot to mention, POTUS looks so cool in the picture above:)

[Crissy Patters]

I don't speak to the rethug, to anyone who can tolerate talking to these rethug that are living on the tax payer dollars, will you enlighten the rethugs that not only are those overseas clapping and cheering the president but so are the American people. I guess, they have only tuned in to the Fox network and Rush. What a shame, because, yesterday was a good day for America and the ME.

[blaising]

These disgusting pieces of white trash can't be part of a contemporary civilized society. They're lost in time...trapped in a world that exists only in history books.

If I could go back in time 2 or 3 hundred years, I might vote for one of 'em.

[mmgbizgirl]

To them his power is unforgivable.

[littleblackcat]

The fact that will not go away, is that most of those held at Guantanamo were held without charge and held without reason! Many were grabbed by bounty hunters and you can bet the bush mess never bothered to verify whether or not there was any truth to the allegations.
That there is now a problem with what to do with "terrorists" who were not terrorists prior to being incarcerated, stripped of all rights and their clothing, and enduring humiliation if not outright torture to satisfy shrub's egotistical need to have "lots of numbers" held in a prison.
You would develop a hatred of any country and/or its people if the same had happened to you.

[plaidsportcoat]

remember when they screamed when people criticized bush when he was overseas???? i do.

[bigben1986]

Give them some slack they're just jealous that our President Obama is very popular around the world. Send Sen. Graham anywhere in the world see if someone pay him any mind. Oh what a pity!

[toushe]

People have to stop whining this happened to bush as well,even if you are one of the haters of bush this has been going on for decades.Sites like these are meant for people to take their anger out, both sides here are light years away from ever agreeing on anything! Thats what makes it fun!!

[harriscrl3]

This rethuglicans still dont get it. THEY ARE THE PROBLEM THEY CREATED GITMO. Why can't these dense FO OLS see that and come up with ways to help instead of blaming the President for wanting to CLOSE it.

These people are a JOKE they have NO MORAL standing and rather than once just once being somenoe that helps they continue to be obstacle. I never thought I would see the day when an ENTIRE party is an OBSTACLE for a country.

Carol

[tigerakabj]

Carol, I want the truth from the last 8 years to be burned into America's memory forever (i.e. like those images of firehoses on people in Birmingham turned the tide b/c pictures are worth a thousand words).

That is why I am constantly emailing the White House (even if Obama is doing it behind the scenes, which I'm sure he is) about bringing out the truth and holding accountable the last 8 years. I want to have a clear conscience in knowing that I did all I could to see that the years 2000-2008 (and some of the years before that since many of the criminal players operated before then) don't happen again.

I don't know how Obama does it (keeps his cool, smiles, thinks and plans long-term). I consider myself even-tempered and patient, but I could not get past the first day with folks like these (which is why I won't run for president lol).

When my kids are in 10th grade, I want them to know the truth from the last 8 years, not the Fox News version.

[ricmarc]

israel does share blame.

[ranchero42]

So glad for Miss Lindsey's announcement of reluctance to be part of any solution to the problems as stated. Is this also a call for the Senate GOP to continue being part of the problem? What must it be like to be a member of a political body that thinks this is a positive talking point? Do they think I really want to know?

[CognitoErgoSum]

Senator Lindsey Graham is a male. He was also one of the drafter of the Graham-Blyley-Leach Act that was instrumental in creating the mortgage meltdown. He was also the McCain campaign's economic advisor.

[Mark Twaine]

Is he married?

[SurrealPumpkin]

Total Stress. I love watching the Republican Party tear itself into pieces, it's great theater, but really, really we need them to stop acting like spoiled children and start acting like responsible adults.