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Democrats Accuse Bush of Bringing Partisan Politics Abroad
May 16, 2008 6:16 PM
President Bush has been accused of likening Senator Barack Obama to Nazi appeasers during his visit to Israel, angering Democrats for taking partisan debates overseas.
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A partisan battle has traveled overseas.
President Bush’s recent address to the Israeli Parliament during a celebration that marked Israel’s 60th anniversary likened Barack Obama to Nazi appeasers, say some Democrats.
In the speech, President Bush seemed to refer to Senator Obama when he compared the idea of talking to U.S. enemies with the “foolish delusion” that led to World War II.
Senator Obama has made clear that he would engage Iran on a diplomatic scale. In November of 2007, the Senator explained, "We are willing to talk about certain assurances in the context of [Iran] showing some good faith."
The administration denies that President Bush was targeting Obama specifically. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino refuted the connection, stating, “I understand when you're running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you... it is not true in this case.”
Democratic politicians are infuriated by the remarks, not only because they believe the comparison is “offensive and outrageous,” but also because it drags partisan politics onto the international stage.
Democratic Rep. Rahm Emmanuel commented: "When a U.S. president is overseas, partisan politics stops at the water's edge. Does the president have no shame?"
President Bush’s recent address to the Israeli Parliament during a celebration that marked Israel’s 60th anniversary likened Barack Obama to Nazi appeasers, say some Democrats.
In the speech, President Bush seemed to refer to Senator Obama when he compared the idea of talking to U.S. enemies with the “foolish delusion” that led to World War II.
Senator Obama has made clear that he would engage Iran on a diplomatic scale. In November of 2007, the Senator explained, "We are willing to talk about certain assurances in the context of [Iran] showing some good faith."
The administration denies that President Bush was targeting Obama specifically. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino refuted the connection, stating, “I understand when you're running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you... it is not true in this case.”
Democratic politicians are infuriated by the remarks, not only because they believe the comparison is “offensive and outrageous,” but also because it drags partisan politics onto the international stage.
Democratic Rep. Rahm Emmanuel commented: "When a U.S. president is overseas, partisan politics stops at the water's edge. Does the president have no shame?"
Headline Link: Bush allegedly equates Obama with Nazi appeasers
Some accuse President Bush of likening Illinois Senator Barack Obama to Nazi appeasers in a speech to the Israeli Parliament during a celebration that marked Israel’s 60th anniversary. Bush’s comment that “Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along,” implied that Senator Obama was operating under a “foolish delusion” similar to the one that precluded World War Two, Reuters reports.
Source: Reuters
Background: Appeasement in the 1930s, Obama and Iran
The history behind Bush’s implication
In his statement, President Bush also invoked these words by Senator William E. Borah: “Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.” He continued, “We have an obligation to call this what it is—the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.” Senator Borah expressed admiration for Hitler during his takeover of Europe in 1938.
Source: The New York Times (registration may be required)
Obama and Iran
Democrats believe that President Bush’s comments were aimed at Senator Obama, who has said he would hold discussions with Iran if elected. According to a November piece by The International Herald Tribune, “Obama made clear that forging a new relationship with Iran would be a major element of a broad effort to stabilize Iraq.”
Source: The International Herald Tribune
Reactions: Democrats angered by partisan politics abroad
Senator Obama reacted to Bush’s comparison, stating, “It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a false political attack. George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists.”
Source: BBC
Senator Clinton told reporters, “President Bush’s comparison of any Democrat to Nazi appeasers is both offensive and outrageous … This is the kind of statement that has no place in any presidential address and certainly to use an important moment like the 60th anniversary celebration of Israel to make a political point seems terribly misplaced.”
Source: Politico
Democratic Senator Joe Biden was similarly outraged by the President’s alleged partisan comments in Israel: “This is bullshit, this is malarkey. This is outrageous, for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, to sit in the Knesset ... and make this kind of ridiculous statement.” The Senator later apologized for his remarks, noting that they were, “not very eloquent.” Democratic Rep. Rahm Emmanuel commented: “when a U.S. president is overseas, partisan politics stops at the water's edge. Does the president have no shame?”
Source: Inter Press Service News Agency
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