Obama Dogged By Praise From America's Foes
Sarah Houston
americas-foes/
Obama Dogged By Praise From America's Foes
FOXNews.com
Wednesday, 2008-28-149
In a presidential race in which unwanted, damaging endorsements seem far
more plentiful than endorsements that actually could help, Barack Obama
has had the unfortunate distinction of being a magnet for such well-
wishers.
The latest unsought praise for the Democratic front-runner came from
Fidel Castro, who wrote in a column for Cuba's Granma newspaper Monday
that Obama is "the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency."
Never mind that the column was used to criticize Obama for wanting to
uphold the U.S. trade embargo. The Florida GOP seized on it, posting an
article about it on their Web site and blasting out an e-mail titled,
"Fidel Castro Endorses Obama."
The reaction underscored the problems Obama continues to face as he
talks up his desire to hold high-levels discussions with leaders of
diplomatically black-listed countries, without preconditions.
His critics argue that the friendlier foreign policies he's proposing
toward countries like Iran and Cuba are in turn inviting kudos from
those countries' leaders or allies.
"That's really the question we're posing to the voters: In an era where
we're actively engaged in fighting the global war on terror, why is he
receiving these compliments from groups who are against everything we
stand for?" said Florida GOP spokeswoman Katie Gordon.
"He's agreed to meet with Ahmadinejad with no preconditions. He's also
agreed to meet with Castro. ... It hits home for a lot of people here."
Few can argue a hearty thumbs-up from a Castro is good for poll numbers.
Even Castro acknowledged this in his column, writing "Were I to defend
(Obama), I would do his adversaries an enormous favor."
But in calling Obama "progressive," and praising his "great
intelligence" and "debating skills" and "work ethic," Castro gave those
adversaries more fodder.
Here's a rundown of the latest comments from the world stage that have
caused or could cause problems for Obama, if he becomes the Democratic
nominee:
-- In mid-April, Hamas adviser Ahmed Yousef told WorldNetDaily that "We
like Mr. Obama, and we hope that he will win the elections.
"I hope Mr. Obama and the Democrats will change the political
discourse," he said. "I do believe [Obama] is like John Kennedy, a great
man with a great principle."
The John McCain campaign had much fun with the published remark.
A spokesman said the apparent Hamas support is a "legitimate issue" for
voters to think about, and even referenced the comments in a fundraising
letter. The campaign said Hamas was clearly opening up to Obama because
of his willingness to meet with Iran.
McCain proudly stated Hamas would never support him and that he would be
"Hamas' worst nightmare."
The Obama campaign responded that it already had rejected Hamas'
legitimacy. Obama has said he would not negotiate with Hamas unless the
group renounces terrorism, recognizes Israel's right to exist and holds
to other agreements.
-- On March 25, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told foreign
correspondents that relations with Washington, D.C, would worsen if
McCain were elected.
"Sometimes one says, 'worse than Bush is impossible,' but we don't
know," Chavez said, according to an article in Reuters. "McCain also
seems to be a man of war."
He did not mention either Obama or Hillary Clinton but seemed to
indicate that he pined for the days when a Democrat was in the White
House.
"Independently of who wins the elections, we are hopeful and it is
within our plans to enter an era of better relations with the U.S.
government," he said. "At the least one would hope for the level of
relations we had with ex-President Clinton."
-- Also in March, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Spain's El
Pais newspaper he didn't believe Obama would be elected, but that he
wouldn't have a problem meeting with him if he were. "For us, there is
no difference in who wins," Ahmadinejad told the newspaper. Tehran-based
PressTV reported that Ahmadinejad afterward insisted he "never voiced
support for Barack Obama."
But that didn't matter in the blogosphere. A headline linking to a
posting about the story on Digg.com declared: "Barack Obama Gets Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's Coveted Endorsement."
Obama also has struggled to shake off positive words from the New Black
Panther Party and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
Those controversies popped and fizzled during the Democratic primary.
But Obama is moving ever closer to clinching the Democratic nomination,
and several Democratic strategists have said these controversies, like
the one over Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright Jr., would be used
against him more vigorously in a general election than a primary.
Gordon said her local party would not hesitate to "push that point" with
voters if Obama continues to receive "accolades" from Castro.
But Democratic strategist Dan Gerstein, an Obama supporter, said when it
comes to unsought compliments from far away, the damage is negligible.
"There's a very small universe of people that are going to be swayed by
whether someone in Cuba said something nice about him," he said, adding
that those voters probably wouldn't vote for Obama anyway.
Still, Gerstein said the campaign will need to push back hard against
attempts to exploit compliments or endorsements that could speak to his
broader judgment.
"In a vacuum, the Wright controversy and some of these other things can
take a toll if there's not a competing and truer narrative the Obama
campaign puts out," he said. "I'm confident they will (fight back)."
Democrats also historically don't discount the ability of foreign
factors to sway domestic elections.
Former Democratic nominee John Kerry privately complained after his 2004
loss to President Bush that the Usama bin Laden video that surfaced days
before cost him the election.
In the video, bin Laden told Americans "your security is not in the
hands of Kerry of Bush or Al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands."
It revived a security issue that Bush tried to make his strong suit.
Obama, of course, is not the only candidate batting back endorsements.
McCain and Texas pastor John Hagee recently parted ways after the GOP
candidate was dogged for weeks by stories about Hagee's anti-Catholic
remarks. McCain finally rejected Hagee's endorsement after a report
surfaced that he once said the Holocaust was part of God's plan to
expedite the re-establishment of the Jewish state of Israel.
FOXNews.com's Judson Berger contributed to this report.
John Smith
"Sarah Houston" <SHo...@pndfnospam.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9B48D911CC1D6Sn...@216.196.97.142...
> http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/28/obama-dogged-by-praise-from-
> americas-foes/
>
> Obama Dogged By Praise From America's Foes
>
> FOXNews.com
The republican propaganda machine!
>
> Wednesday, 2008-28-149
>
> In a presidential race in which unwanted, damaging endorsements seem far
> more plentiful than endorsements that actually could help, Barack Obama
> has had the unfortunate distinction of being a magnet for such well-
> wishers.
>
> The latest unsought praise for the Democratic front-runner came from
> Fidel Castro, who wrote in a column for Cuba's Granma newspaper Monday
> that Obama is "the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency."
>
> Never mind that the column was used to criticize Obama for wanting to
> uphold the U.S. trade embargo. The Florida GOP seized on it, posting an
> article about it on their Web site and blasting out an e-mail titled,
> "Fidel Castro Endorses Obama."
Of COURSE the republicans are going to add it to their smear arsenal!
>
> The reaction underscored the problems Obama continues to face as he
> talks up his desire to hold high-levels discussions with leaders of
> diplomatically black-listed countries, without preconditions.
Since you obviously haven;t noticed, we live in a world wide community - and
Bush has made more enmies than friends.
Some rational and sane dicussion is one hell of a lot better than a chicken
hawk, deranged, fanatical bully who would love to see armageddon!
>
> His critics argue that the friendlier foreign policies he's proposing
> toward countries like Iran and Cuba are in turn inviting kudos from
> those countries' leaders or allies.
>
> "That's really the question we're posing to the voters: In an era where
> we're actively engaged in fighting the global war on terror, why is he
> receiving these compliments from groups who are against everything we
> stand for?" said Florida GOP spokeswoman Katie Gordon.
Because, dipshit, that "global war on terror" is, for the most part,
republican scare and fear tactics.
and it is the hostile, and arrogant, environment created by this and
previous administrations that have trigger the terrorism!
Rather than pretending that the whole world is against us (just so
republicans can keep manipulating the public), it would be much better to
create respect than hatred.
Contributed what - an extra pile of bull shit?
CorkyK
And just last week, Al Qaeda endorsed McCain. All propoganda. Will be
glad when the whole thing is over.
Daniel T.
> "Sometimes one says, 'worse than Bush is impossible,' but we don't
> know," Chavez said, according to an article in Reuters. "McCain also
> seems to be a man of war."
I have to say, I think Chavez is right. If you like war and want war,
then McCain is your man. He and Palin has promised all the war this
country can afford.
~^ beancounter ~^
WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama's aunt, a Kenyan woman who has been
quietly living in public housing in Boston, is in the United States
illegally after an immigration judge rejected her request for asylum
four years ago, The Associated Press has learned.
Zeituni Onyango, 56, referred to as "Aunti Zeituni" in Obama's memoir,
was instructed to leave the United States by a U.S. immigration judge
who denied her asylum request, a person familiar with the matter told
the AP late Friday. This person spoke on condition of anonymity
because no one was authorized to discuss Onyango's case.
Information about the deportation case was disclosed and confirmed by
two separate sources, one of them a federal law enforcment official.
The information they made available is known to officials in the
federal government, but the AP could not establish whether anyone at a
political level in the Bush administration or in the McCain campaign
had been involved in its release.
Onyango's refusal to leave the country would represent an
administrative, non-criminal violation of U.S. immigration law,
meaning such cases are handled outside the criminal court system.
Estimates vary, but many experts believe there are more than 10
million such immigrants in the United States.
> glad when the whole thing is over.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Docky Wocky
cites and states, so at least the Messiah can count on support from his
moslem friends.
NO. ACORN didn't go to his cave to register him.
You forget they have the provision to register folks if they even might
harbor a secret desire to vote for Obama.
~^ beancounter ~^
about imigration issues? speaking of osamma
CorkyK
>country can't afford.
Fixed it for you.
ray
<daniel_t-523ADC...@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
"Daniel T." <dani...@earthlink.net> wrote:
Rather have that than somebody that would surrender the USA like Obama.
--
All saints have a past--all sinners have a future
Ronald Reagan
ray
"Docky Wocky" <mrc...@lst.net> wrote:
Here in Ohio, you can use a park bench for your home address. Go
figure.
Daniel T.
> "Docky Wocky" <mrc...@lst.net> wrote:
>
> > I did hear that ACORN registered Osama bin Laden about 12 times in
> > different
> > cites and states, so at least the Messiah can count on support from his
> > moslem friends.
> >
> > NO. ACORN didn't go to his cave to register him.
> >
> > You forget they have the provision to register folks if they even might
> > harbor a secret desire to vote for Obama.
>
>
> Here in Ohio, you can use a park bench for your home address. Go
> figure.
Yea, god forbid that everybody should be allowed to vote in a
democracy...
Docky Wocky
except in union elections.
Say. Did ACORN have anything to do with union elections?
So, knowing that allegiance to Democrat ideals does not extend to unions, or
would be union members, why should anyone believe their screed about
everyone being allowed to vote.
They cannot have it both ways, except in the Democrat version of democracy.
When one thing is crooked, everything that follows is crooked.