Republican National Committee: Flip-Flops on Foreign Leaders = Failed Judgment

Obama Changes Position on Unconditional Meetings With Rogue Leaders, Raising Questions About His Judgment and Readiness to Lead

WASHINGTON, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was issued today by the Republican National Committee:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/RNCLOGO )

Obama Changing Position On Unconditional Summit Meetings With Rogue Leaders, Raising Questions About His Judgment, "Inexperience And A Certain Worrisome Naivete":

Obama Has Recently "Backpedaled From A Promise To Meet With Iran's Leader." "Shifting to a harder foreign-policy line, Barack Obama backpedaled from a promise to meet with Iran's leader - but that didn't prevent a scorching attack yesterday from Republican rival John McCain. ... But during a presidential debate earlier this year that featured questions from YouTube viewers, Obama didn't hesitate when asked if he would hold talks with the heads of Iran, North Koreaand Venezuela. 'I would,' Obama said. 'And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them - which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous.'" (Geoff Earle, "Barack Backtracks," New York Post, 5/28/08)

The WashingtonPost's Richard Cohen: Obama's Change In Position Shows His "Inexperience And A Certain Worrisome Naivete" On National Security, As "He Might Not Have Realized Exactly What He Was Saying." "I attribute Obama's predicament to inexperience and a certain worrisome naivete. When he said he would personally negotiate with Iran(if he were president), he might not have realized exactly what he was saying." (Richard Cohen, Op-Ed, "Worldviews In Need Of Merger," The WashingtonPost, 5/27/08)

FLIP-FLOP #1: Obama Tells The New York Times "I Didn't Say That I Would Meet Unconditionally," Despite Saying He Would Meet "Without Precondition" In His First Year In Office And His Own Campaign Website's Claim:

In Today's New York Times, Obama Claimed "I Didn't Say That I Would Meet Unconditionally." Obama: "I didn't say that I would meet unconditionally as John McCain maintained, because that would suggest whether it was useful or not, whether it was advancing our interests or not, I would just do it for the sake of doing it ... That's not a change in position, that's simply responding to distortions of my position." (Jim Rutenberg and Jeff Zeleny, "Obama Seeks To Clarify His Disputed Comments On Diplomacy ," The New YorkTimes, 5/29/08)

At A July 2007 Debate, Obama Announced He Would Personally Meet With Leaders Of Iran, North Korea, SyriaAnd Other Hostile Nations "Without Precondition." Question: "[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?" ... Obama: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous." (CNN/You Tube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

Watch Obama Confirm He Would Meet Unconditionally With Rogue Leaders First Year In Office

Obama Campaign Website: "Obama Is The Only Major Candidate Who Supports Tough, Direct Presidential Diplomacy With IranWithout Preconditions.""Diplomacy: Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iranwithout preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Irandirectly to change their troubling behavior. Obama would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iranabandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic inve stments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Irancontinues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iranis our best way to make progress." (Obama Campaign Website, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 5/15/08)

FLIP-FLOP #2: Obama Said That He Would Not Necessarily Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, After Long Saying He Would Meet With Ahmadinejad:

Obama Said He Would Not Necessarily Meet With Ahmadinejad. "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama underscored his willingness to talk to leaders of countries like Iranthat are considered U.S.adversaries but said that does not necessarily mean an audience with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad." (Caren Bohan, "Obama Says Won't Guarantee Ahmadinejad A Meeting," Reuters, 5/26/08)

    --  "'There's No Reason Why We Would Necessarily Meet With
        Ahmadinejad Before We Know That He Was Actually In Power. He's Not
        The Most Powerful Person In Iran,' Obama Told Reporters While
        Campaigning In New Mexico." (Caren Bohan, "Obama Says
        Won't Guarantee Ahmadinejad A Meeting," Reuters, 5/26/08)

But At A September 2007 Press Conference, Obama Confirmed That He Would Meet Specifically With Ahmadinejad. Question: "Senator, you've said before that you'd meet with President Ahmadinejad ..." Obama: "Uh huh." Question: "Would you still meet with him today?" Obama: "Yeah, nothing's changed with respect to my belief that strong countries and strong presidents talk to their enemies and talk to their adversaries. I find many of President Ahmadinejad's statements odious and I've said that repeatedly. And I think that we have to recognize that there are a lot of rogue nations in the world that don't have American interests at heart. But what I also believe is that, as John F. Kennedy said, we should never negotiate out of fear but we should never fear to negotiate. And by us listening to the views even of those who we violently disagree with - that sends a signal to the world that we are going to turn the page on th e failed diplomacy that the Bush Administration has practiced for so long." (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, New York, NY, 9/24/07)

ABC News: "[A]s Recently As September, He Reiterated His Promise To Meet With Ahmadinejad Himself." "Still, as recently as September, he reiterated his promise to meet with Ahmadinejad himself. Asked about that commitment in the midst of a firestorm over ColumbiaUniversity's decision to invite the Iranian president to speak, Obama indicated that he stood by it." (Rick Klein, "Obama's Evolving Take On Meeting With Iran," ABC News, 5/20/08)

Watch Obama Confirm That He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

FLIP-FLOP #3: ObamaSaid He Would Meet With Cuban President Raul Castro "At A Time" Of His Choosing, Even Though He Previously Said He Would Meet With Rogue Leaders His First Year In Office:

Obama: "[I]t is time to pursue direct diplomacy, with friend and foe alike, without preconditions. There must be careful preparation. We will set a clear agenda. And as President, I would be willing to lead that diplomacy at a time and place of my choosing, but only when we have an opportunity to advance the interests of the United States, and to advance the cause of freedom for the Cuban people." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Miami, FL, 5/23/08)

But In November 2007, Obama Confirmed That He Would Meet With Rogue Leaders, Including Former Cuban President Fidel Castro, His First Year In Office. NBC's Tim Russert: "In July, you were asked if you were willing to meet separately without pre-condition during your first year with Fidel Castro, Kim Jung Il, Hugo Chavez. You said yes. You stand by that?" Obama: "I do." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 11/11/07)

FLIP-FLOP #4: An Obama Campaign Adviser Said That Obama Did Not Necessarily Say He Would Meet With Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Even Though He Previously Said He Would: "Exactly, And Without Preconditions":

An Obama Adviser Claims That "When Obama Referred To 'My Talks With President Hugo Chavez,' He Did Not Mean 'My Talks,' Literally (Necessarily) -- He Meant His Administration's Talks." "As to the question of whether one can pledge to isolate a country while also proposing a presidential-level meeting, the adviser says that I was inaccurate in characterizing Obama as proposing such a meeting -- the reality was that Obama was merely acknowledging a willingness to meet. But 'if we are going to isolate the Venezuelans, it may be that we have to engage in a full-on diplomatic strategy with them,' the adviser says. Obama was not saying he, himself, would propose such a meeting, nor that he would necessarily participate in that meeting. When Obama referred to 'my talks with President Hugo Chavez,' he did not mean 'my talks,' literally (necessarily) -- he meant his administration's talks - 'though it could be him engagin g in this diplomacy directly and personally,' the adviser says." (Jake Tapper, "What The FARC Was Obama Talking About?" ABC News' "Political Punch" Blog, www.abcnews.com, 5/27/08)

But Obama Told CBS' Harry Smith He Would Talk With Hugo Chavez Among Others "Without Preconditions." CBS' Harry Smith: "You said, 'I will talk to so and so and Hugo Chavez and etc., etc.'" Obama: "Exactly, and without preconditions." (CBS' "The Early Show," 10/15/07)

Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

SOURCE Republican National Committee