Bush's : Obama 'Nazi' accusation

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 11:18pm

From Australia's ABC Network...

US President George W Bush has ignited a heated political row with Democratic White House hopeful Senator Barack Obama, by implying that Senator Obama's pledge to talk to the leaders of Iran and Syria is like the appeasement policies towards the Nazis before World War II.

A furious Senator Obama has hit back, accusing Mr Bush of launching a "false political attack", in the most direct clash yet between the President and the likely Democratic nominee who is vying to succeed him.

It began when Mr Bush told the Israeli Parliament it is foolishly disillusioned to negotiate with terrorists.

"As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared 'Lord if we could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided'," he said.

"We have an obligation to call this what it is. The false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

Mr Bush did not mention Senator Obama by name and the White House denies the remarks were aimed at him. But Senator Obama, who is taking a day off from the campaign trail, has issued a statement, hitting back.

In it he says it is "sad" that Mr Bush has used a speech to mark Israel's 60th anniversary to launch "a false political attack".

He adds, "George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists and the President's extraordinary politicalisation of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people".

Senator Obama has said he would be willing to hold talks, without preconditions, with the leaders of US foes, like Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba.

But he has also stressed that he would not take any options off the table, for example, when it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Travelling on his campaign bus, Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain has joined the fray saying that Senator Obama's willingness to talk with potential enemies is naive and shows his lack of experience.

"It does bring up an issue we'll be discussing with the American people and that is, 'why does Barack Obama, Senator Obama want to sit down with a state sponsor of terrorism?'," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator McCain has for the first time laid out a timetable to end the Iraq war, arguing he would have most US troops home by 2013 if elected president.

"The Iraq war has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy. Violence still occurs but it is spasmodic and much reduced," he said.

And in a "crystal ball" style speech, he has also predicted that Osama bin Laden would be killed or captured during his first term and there will not be another major terrorist attack on US soil.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 11:22pm

From politico.com:

===

Hillary, today in Rapid City, South Dakota, defended Obama from President Bush's apparent comparison of him to Neville Chamberlain, Ken Vogel reports.

She told reporters:

President Bush’s comparison of any Democrat to Nazi appeasers is both offensive and outrageous on the face of it, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy. 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. Unfortunately, this is what we’ve come to expect from President Bush.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 11:28pm

As robbiej would say, by way of Margret Foster, 'atta girl!

[roquat]

Posted: 5/15/08 at 11:34pm

Even papalovesmambo admits that Nazi comparisons are a sign of desperation...

[Jon]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:30pm

On Harry Shearer's weekly radio show, "Le Show", he does a segment called "Apologies of the Week", featuring audio of politicians and celebrities apologising for something they said or did.

He often repeats the fact that it is NEVER a good idea to compare anyone or anything to Hitler, the Nazis, or the Holocaust.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:49pm

His remarks just show what an idiot he is.... I found it a bit offensive that Bush went over there to celebrate this Jewish Holiday!It was a huge smack in the face for Palastinian people... and just shows his true colors.....
Its all not a suprise..

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:53pm

it was a huge smack in the face for palastinian people

wow. seriously? celebrating the 60th anniversary of israel is a slap in the face to those who would destroy it?

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:54pm

I found Bush's comments deplorable and an insult to this country as well as to Israel. Has McCain been asked to weigh in with his thoughts yet? I'd love to hear what he has to say.

Updated On: 5/16/08 at 12:54 PM

[Namaste]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:55pm

Hillary did. Did you see what Hillary said, Luscious?

[tazber]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:56pm

The Palestinians deserve a smack in the face, and a lot more to boot.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:58pm

To each his own.... I sympathize with the Palastinian people and the crap they have and are going through...

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:59pm

Even more ironic since Bush's grandfather profited off the Nazi war machine, and was allegedly behind a failed coup of the United States Government in 1933.

If anyone has Nazi blood in his veins, it is Shrub.

"After 60 years of inattention and even denial
by the U.S. media, newly-uncovered government documents in
The National Archives and Library of Congress reveal that
Prescott Bush, the grandfather of President George W. Bush,
served as a business partner of and U.S. banking operative
for the financial architect of the Nazi war machine from 1926
until 1942, when Congress took aggressive action against Bush
and his "enemy national" partners.

The documents also show that Bush and his colleagues, according
to reports from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, tried to
conceal their financial alliance with German industrialist Fritz
Thyssen, a steel and coal baron who, beginning in the mid-1920s,
personally funded Adolf Hitler's rise to power by the subversion
of democratic principle and German law.

Furthermore, the declassified records demonstrate that Bush
and his associates, who included E. Roland Harriman, younger
brother of American icon W. Averell Harriman, and George
Herbert Walker, President Bush's maternal great-grandfather,
continued their dealings with the German industrial tycoon for
nearly a year after the U.S. entered the war."
Prescott Bush

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 12:59pm

i sympathize with the children they've blown up. theirs and the israelis.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:00pm

And the suicide bombers and the endless barrage of rockets fired into Israel and their undying hatred of America and undying desire to destroy all Israel and Israelis.......

Updated On: 5/16/08 at 01:00 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:02pm

You know, when you're tooting a lot of coke, you tend to get paranoid and think EVERYONE is out to get you.

Apropos of nothing, of course.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:02pm

What about what they have done to the Palastinians?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:03pm

I actually sympathize with the situation the Palestinians are in, and especially the leadership that they have had, but that sympathy is lost once I look at their terrorist tactics.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:04pm

Well, they only respond when provoked and never target civilians.
The Palestinians always attack and specifically target civilians.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:05pm

I dont agree with thier terrorist tactics at all but when you are backed into a corner(refugee camps) I think they dont know what else to do...

[tazber]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:09pm

Well, maybe if they would simply agree to take the "destroy Israel and kill all the Jews" part out of their doctrine, people could negotiate with them.
They are in a corner of their own making.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:12pm

They backed themselves into a corner by demonstrating that they are not partners to peace. And, it all goes back to the Arab countries rejected a 2 state solution when Israel was formed - Israel was fine with creating a separate Palestinian state in 1948 - but the two state solution was rejected by all of the Arab countries.

Truth be told, no one wants the Palestinians, and they are used as a tool by many Arab nations.

And, Hamas and Hezbollah is famous for setting up shop in neighborhoods so when Israel retaliates, there are civilian casualties.

But, back on point - Bush's family worked with and profitted off of the Nazis.


Updated On: 5/16/08 at 01:12 PM

[osage08]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:35pm

What I don't like is the term "they" to indicate either Palestinians or Israelis as a whole. I wouldn't want to be referenced for all the actions of my government.