Am I the Only one who didnt think Bush was talking about Obama today?

[MadBadger]

It seemed to me, and most likely to the crowd that he was referring to Jimmy Carter. That would make a lot more sense because of what he said.

[WCGreen]

1. I think he was referring to anyone who would dare speak the terrible

word...

Diplomacy.

[MadBadger]

2. I've been thinking about if for awhile on my flight today, and Jimmy Carter would make perfect sense

[babylonsister]

3. YES. nt

[billyoc]

4. He was talking about anyone who might be thinking about stopping the Iran war. nt

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Obama's debate statement about opening a direct dialog with Iran, etc.

seems to be what he is talking about.

[Muttocracy]

6. Whether Obama, or Obama/Carter, or Obama/Carter/Clinton

It was a swipe at the Dems. I guess best to meet it head on and control the discussion. Plus some of Bush's folks told multiple media outlets off the record that it was aimed for Obama.

[MadBadger]

12. Of course it was a swipe at the dems, It just seems that Carter fits the bill better than Obama

for the RW criticism.

[Pirate Smile]

7. Off the record, right after it happened, they said it was Obama, later they tried to change it.

"Speaking on background, a senior administration official says the president's language to anyone -- the official specifically mentioned Obama and former President Jimmy Carter's suggestion that the U.S. talk to Hamas -- who has suggested engaging with rogue states or terrorist groups without first getting some leverage. The official said Defense Secretary Gates' comments yesterday, which NBC's Jim Miklaszeski reported on, referred to talks before there is some leverage.

On the record, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said the president's comments do not represent a change in policy and was not a slam on Obama."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/15/1025062.

There seemed to be a change from right after it happened to during the afternoon when they tried to act like it wasn't directed at Obama.

This was a gift to Obama. This is a fight he wants to have with Bush, McCain and the Republicans. I can't wait to see what he says tomorrow. He was really off the campaign trail today - not a peep other then the statement issued in the morning. I'm sure he'll have a lot to say on Friday. :)

[elpresidenteAlex]

8. Good point. Carter is the one who spoke to Hamas

It does not necessarily have to be about Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Fail!

"Speaking on background, a senior administration official says the president's language to anyone -- the official specifically mentioned Obama

[BenDavid]

10. The obama campaign fell for this trap and showed just how weak

obama is when it comes to security issues and foreign relations. To get all heated about some senator's statement made in 1939 about he wished he had talked to hitler and the word appeasement used in bush's comments, opened the door for the right to attack when and if obama is the nominee....and all the heated statements by the dems were not made so much to protest bush but to protect obama's weakness....
All, I can say is oabma "thou doeth protest too much"......and it was directed towards carter.

[tabatha]

25. Bush said "senator". Carter is not a senator.

[4themind]

11. Yeah but McCain essentially, walked knee deep in it IMO

"Asked if he thought Mr. Obama was an appeaser — the Democratic candidate has said he would be willing to meet with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran — Mr. McCain sidestepped and said, "I think that Barack Obama needs to explain why he wants to sit down and talk with a man who is the head of a government that is a state sponsor of terrorism, that is responsible for the killing of brave young Americans, that wants to wipe Israel off the map, who denies the Holocaust. That’s what I think Senator Obama ought to explain to the American people.'’"

And for the purposes of this election, this is what matters most in my view, so even if bush was not talking about obama, McCain using this opportunity to bring up obama's positions in the after-effects of bush's speech will push him towards the subject of democrats complaints today more than bush himself may admit

[MadBadger]

14. Yup, he definitely did it.

[thewiseguy]

13. It was about Obama

Carter is not about to become the next president, plus he has a very limited role.

[goldcanyonaz]

15. Yeah, cuz he was..

[JimGinPA]

16. Bu$h Has Weighed In On This About Obama Before...

So I'm sure he was. Plus, Biden said reporters had told him that they were told as much "on background".

[FrenchieCat]

17. Got to slap them down often and early.......

this "I wasn't talking about you, why so touchy" Bush approach didn't work.

[MadBadger]

18. I just watched that Biden Clip

It just seems that on the face without that comment, Carter would be the target, especially in Israel.

[JimGinPA]

19. On M$NBC Today The Conversation With Biden Was All About Obama

[w13rd0]

20. He could have been talking about either of them...

...and my response would still be the same: he's a fucking idiot asshole.

[crimsonblue]

21. too bad the white house advisors admitted it was about Obama...

even hillary thought it was about Obama.

[boppers]

22. Bush negotiaites with "terrorists" all the time.

It's part of current strategy in Iraq, bribe them to not hurt our soldiers. :shrug:

More crazy GOP narrative. He wasn't talking about Obama, he was talking about anybody who wasn't a hawk, and thus might not be so happy about the GOP's endless-war strategy.

[grantcart]

23. they confirmed that they were talking about both of them according to Matthews

[MadBadger]

24. I missed everything tonight so I wouldnt know

It sounded to me like the Kennesset thought he was talking about Carter.

[graycem]

26. He was talking about Obama

because the news reporters said his aids essentially told them so according to Joe Biden. But really, what he means is any "pansy Democrat" who wants to use diplomacy rather than a big fat stick, which of course definitely includes Obama since he's said as much, and is the frontrunner for the nomination. They're trying to make this election 2004 all over again. The spineless Dem v. the uber macho war hero tough Republican. The war is hanging around their neck and they have to justify it, if they can't do that, they lose.

[Youphemism]

27. He Was Lobbing the Ball to the Net...

...for McCain to spike it.

He phrased the comment so that it could be interpreted to mean Carter as well, but of course the people who feed words to Bush knew it was a good way to carry McCain's water.

It hardly matters, anyway. Carter or Obama, it's completely inappropriate to air US dirty laundry will addressing Israel's leaders. It's just a little more reprehensible that it was also, very obviously, meant to have an impact on the election.

[donheld]

28. Yup

[ruby slippers]

29. are we forgetting that Bush's grandfather, Prescott, funded the Nazis through Pfizer??????

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar

[JI7]

30. he said "U.S. Senator"

[democracy1st]

31. Jimmy Carter No One Never Talks About Jimmy Carter! Come on man get with the program

[GoldieAZ49]

32. I agree, and going on the defense about it looks

like dems are weak

Obama should have agreed, he had already denounced Carter

[DU GrovelBot]

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[moondust]

34. He directly referenced Iran.

If he was referring to Carter he probably would have referenced Hamas instead or in addition to.

[Jamastiene]

35. Of course, he as talking about Obama.

The world revolves around Obama. He HAD to be talking about Obama.