Exclusive Video: Old John McCain Open To Talks With Hamas watch!
huffingtonpost.com — Two years ago, in an interview with James Rubin for Sky News, Sen. John McCain expressed a willingness to negotiate with the terrorist group Hamas -- the very group that McCain has been relentlessly using to smear Sen. Barack Obama over the last several weeks.
joaob- 1261 diggs
- digg it
- peticsu, on 05/16/2008, -9/+80add another flip flop to the list
- J3EBS, on 05/16/2008, -9/+7The flip-flopping doesn't bother me so much.. I just want to know how he can grow a baby in his jaw like that.
- p0s3r, on 05/16/2008, -7/+4Get beaten by VC prison guards for 5 years. Thats how.
- dn11, on 05/16/2008, -3/+5if by "beaten for 5 years" you mean "cooperate with the enemy and betray your fellow POWs to get special treatment" you would be right.
- p0s3r, on 05/16/2008, -7/+4Get beaten by VC prison guards for 5 years. Thats how.
- seleniumdream, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6That makes how many flip-flops so far? A few hundred at least, right?
- richlizard24, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Don't forget the flip-flop of his microphone.
- dn11, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6on every issue, John McCain is running against himself
- richmomz, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4Appeazer! If you were president 70 years ago you probably would have let Hitler roll right over Europe while you try to baby-talk him out of it! Oh wait, that's your line against Obama...
- thelock65, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1isn't that a young john mccain?
- J3EBS, on 05/16/2008, -9/+7The flip-flopping doesn't bother me so much.. I just want to know how he can grow a baby in his jaw like that.
- abby11, on 05/16/2008, -10/+44FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP CAN WE SAY 527!Thankyou McBusch!:}
- 533n, on 05/16/2008, -2/+6The fact that people voted for Bush and now vote for this man is a really scary thing. If you think about how stupid you actually have to be to believe their lies, and then you think about how many millions of Americans vote for these men. We are talking about millions and millions of ignorant sheep who follow the media and are completely and utterly retarded.
- fatrandy13, on 05/16/2008, -7/+1whats our option, a socialist? please... obama's policy's promote laziness. people get punished for working hard (higher taxes) and the money goes straight to the lazy sons of bitches who mooch off all the other disgusting social programs out there. democrats killed the American dream. work hard, so we'll take all your money and give it to those who are too lazy to get a job and support their families.
- MoofTheStoof, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4How can you function day to day when you understand so little?
- fatrandy13, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1please elaborate... your empty, pointless comment is utterly meaningless.
- Kakemonstere, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3And the idiot price of the month goes to...!
- Rioracer916, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1And the idiot prize of the month goes to... Senator McCain and his running mate the Grim Reaper.
[fixed]
- Rioracer916, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1And the idiot prize of the month goes to... Senator McCain and his running mate the Grim Reaper.
- fatrandy13, on 05/16/2008, -7/+1whats our option, a socialist? please... obama's policy's promote laziness. people get punished for working hard (higher taxes) and the money goes straight to the lazy sons of bitches who mooch off all the other disgusting social programs out there. democrats killed the American dream. work hard, so we'll take all your money and give it to those who are too lazy to get a job and support their families.
- yuutokun, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1I find it incredible that once again the topic of negotiations with North Korea is coming up again. I think at this point there is not very much we can do other than more forceful actions be it by the CIA or direct military strikes. I long for the day for a democratic unified Korea.
- 533n, on 05/16/2008, -2/+6The fact that people voted for Bush and now vote for this man is a really scary thing. If you think about how stupid you actually have to be to believe their lies, and then you think about how many millions of Americans vote for these men. We are talking about millions and millions of ignorant sheep who follow the media and are completely and utterly retarded.
- joaob, on 05/16/2008, -5/+35This just in: John McCain hates new media...it cramps his Maverick style.
- AtHomeBoy2000, on 05/16/2008, -9/+2Bill CLinton has learned the hard way. now McCain get his lessons.
- andrewtna, on 05/16/2008, -7/+66It's a shame... it seems he used to know what he was talking about. He has sold his soul for the Republican nomination.
- yubpro, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Well who hasn't? The majority of politicians, including those running for president now, have all pandered to voters. It's the name of the game, because if you don't tell people what they want to hear, then they won't vote for you. That mixed with a media that lost the honesty required in quality journalism has only led to a mostly misinformed voting population.
Then you get people who vote for a politician based on characteristics such as: non-flip-floppiness, 'electability', religiousness, stance on one meager issue (abortion, gay marriage, and so forth). When instead you should be looking for a candidate who shows character, shows the ability to learn and grow, shows true leadership, has gathered a solid plan, and has a steadfast and unwavering passion for improving the quality of our country. - NoDrama, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Exactly so. He held promise back when he folded his hand and let GWB get the nod, and the 8 intervening years have not been kind to him. Flipflops aren't inherently bad, despite Republicans chanting that they are, they CAN show an open mind... new insight based on new information.
Of course, they can also be signs of pandering.
I don't want to harp on the age thing, but he seems to have folded up the maverick tent to toe the party line in the pursuit of the nomination, and... well... I miss the old McCain.
- yubpro, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Well who hasn't? The majority of politicians, including those running for president now, have all pandered to voters. It's the name of the game, because if you don't tell people what they want to hear, then they won't vote for you. That mixed with a media that lost the honesty required in quality journalism has only led to a mostly misinformed voting population.
- AtHomeBoy2000, on 05/16/2008, -15/+20You have to understand that McCain follows the Bush doctrine. So, "sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them" doesnt mean talking to them. it means sooner or later we will bomb you into submission.
- Marika07, on 05/16/2008, -8/+29McSame is a flippen HYPOCRIT! The Republicans have destroyed America's image throughout the world. Bush and Cheney should be sent the Hague and go to trial for 'human genocide'!
- Dumbledorito, on 05/16/2008, -5/+57No, no, no. Don't you understand? Only Democrats get to be flip-floppers. If Republicans were held to the same standards, well, that just wouldn't be fair, would it?
- SpeedSteamBoat, on 05/16/2008, -4/+5Next he'll be waffling and using fuzzy numbers!
- masterm1nd, on 05/16/2008, -4/+5optimistically, a flip flop shows a willingness to rethink your opinion based on new knowledge.
- seleniumdream, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2He's not a flip-flopper, he's dynamic! *cough*
- masterm1nd, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3Would it be better if he had the exact same opinions about everything since he was 18?
- pizzas, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4>Would it be better if he had the exact same opinions about everything since he was 18?
You mean like alcohol prohibition,? And pro-slavery? and horses-drawn carriages? and the abacus? No no, youre right, that would be awful!!
- youareretarded, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1When the information hasn't changed then whats the excuse?
- masterm1nd, on 05/16/2008, -5/+2The hamas situation has changed greatly over two years, and I would think McCain has too. It's not some excuse. If anything it would actually be excusing the democrats in the context of parent comment. I think regardless of who it is, flip flopping is either a neutral or good thing, unless it's done for fake reasons like getting elected.
- marjo9, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2i agree. IF he/she admits that they were wrong in the first place .
- seleniumdream, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2He's not a flip-flopper, he's dynamic! *cough*
- cmbaldwin, on 05/16/2008, -5/+15Grampy McLame wants to stand in front of the House and the Senate and take questions.....IS HE SERIOUS? LMAO! This is always funnier when you've had a little help from Belvedere
- quomen, on 05/16/2008, -26/+5omfg more huffington post spam.
STOP IT- nirav72, on 05/16/2008, -4/+11Why..the truth bothers you? Instead of complaining about the site it is from, why don't you look at the actual content of the video?
- nirav72, on 05/16/2008, -4/+11Why..the truth bothers you? Instead of complaining about the site it is from, why don't you look at the actual content of the video?
- Derelict267, on 05/16/2008, -13/+8Er I feel like this went right over my head but...when did he say he'd be okay with talking with Hamas? I watched the video..read the dialog...Explain please someone?
- benjam326, on 05/16/2008, -3/+7Context is everything...
Until 2006, the Palestinian government was controlled by Fatah. Soon after Hamas won parliamentary elections, McCain was asked (as shown in the video) if "American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past," i.e. maintaining diplomatic relations with the Palestinian government.
McCain responded "sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another...", meaning he thinks (or thought) that we would have to try diplomacy with Hamas at some point, whether we like to or not.
Hope that clears things up!- p0s3r, on 05/16/2008, -3/+2How are you so sure "deal with them" doesn't mean sending in the 3rd ID?
- statstudent, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2"meaning he thinks (or thought) that we would have to try diplomacy with Hamas at some point, whether we like to or not"
anytime you restate someone's words and then need to say, 'meaning...' and go on to say something that isn't obvious, then i think it is fair to say this is speculation, at best. this story is flimsy.
uh-oh, think i'm a republican now? i voted in the primary for obama and will be voting for him again in november. i just don't think this story can hold water.
- headzoo, on 05/16/2008, -4/+3I'm with you. I think his saying they need to be dealt with "one way or another" was a PC way of saying "bomb them". But that's just me.
- mummbleswers, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3Fighting for peace is like ***** for verginity.
- thescimitar, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3Sorry that you're getting dugg down. I agree completely, it didn't seem like he was saying "let's make them breakfast and make out." Obama isn't either, but I don't really get this sort of soundbyte revisionism.
You'll note though that making a comment on a political story on digg will have to go with the grain of the commentators not to get buried. Political diggers are often trolls (just look at the number of completed profiles and avatars on this story... not many). Not all of them, but many.
- benjam326, on 05/16/2008, -3/+7Context is everything...
- rutvik1, on 05/16/2008, -1/+25McCain is just digging himself into a hole. He would have done his party and this country a service by sticking to his original principles, instead of trying to "appease" his own enemy: The Far Right.
- HappyScrappy, on 05/16/2008, -1/+15Flipper McCain
- mal1964, on 05/16/2008, -2/+5"while both "Clinton and Obama" have said that Hamas must change its policies toward Israel and terrorism before it can have diplomatic relations with the United States."
Using Clinton favorably to get a point across, FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP CAN WE SAY Good Grief- fatrandy13, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1say flip flop again
- mal1964, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2flip flop again
- fatrandy13, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1haha, thank you
- fatrandy13, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1say flip flop again
- mojotaker, on 05/16/2008, -3/+22Anyone that seriously takes this man seriously, is seriously sick. John Mcidiot is just running for one thing ands thats to carry on the neocon bull *****.
- Mejari, on 05/16/2008, -6/+4Seriously? Seriously.
- moolaismyfriend, on 05/16/2008, -4/+6I guess he is an elitist then.
- dn11, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2no, that makes him Hitler. Haven't you heard?
- synaesthete, on 05/16/2008, -5/+1While Republicans are known to use all sorts of dirty tricks to try and get their way, and this is likely an example of one of them, conceptually there's nothing wrong with a politician changing their mind.
- RespectableGuy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+12I love terrorists. Obama loves terrorists, shame on him. what? i never said i loved terrorists.
- gumble112, on 05/16/2008, -12/+6McCAIN: "They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so . . . but it's a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that."
No where in that statement does it say that McCain is open to negotiations with Hamas, and certainly not having talks with them through "direct Presidential diplomacy without preconditions” as Obama does with Iran, North Korea, and other dictatorships.
Speaking of Obama, his reasons for excluding Hamas from his whirlwind tour of "direct Presidential diplomacy without preconditions" with dictators is the following:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/04/obama-dra ...
Barack Obama - who has said repeatedly that America must meet with its enemies, including the tyrants who lead Iran, North Korea and Cuba - drew the line yesterday in refusing to talk with Hamas.
“They’re not heads of state. They don’t recognize Israel,” Obama told reporters. “You can’t negotiate with somebody who doesn’t recognize the right of a country to exist.”
But in that Washington Post Article it says:
"Two years ago, just after Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections"
So Hamas became heads of state by winning parliamentary elections and currently rule over Gaza. And they clearly don't recognize Israel. Yet Obama is willing to have "direct Presidential diplomacy without preconditions" with the likes of Iran and others but not Hamas, even though Hamas would fit that profile for his type of diplomacy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSFSUbMWenU- p0s3r, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4Iran doesn't recognize Israel, yet he'll willingly, openly and without preconditions will meet with them. Bush is right, these dumb ass liberals think they'll have some magic argument that once these terrorists hear it, they'll be like "Oh, well now that you pointed that out, we'll stop sending 12 year old girls into packed malls with bombs strapped around their training bras!". He's also right when he said history has shown the Democrats current approach to foreign policy will end horribly.
- TheCheckist, on 05/16/2008, -3/+14Why would an American president be so deeply involved in Israel's problems? Why do American presidents have to know about Hamas, or have a position on talking or not talking to Hamas? Israel's problems should not be ours.
- Psi57, on 05/16/2008, -3/+9If you don't support Israel you were a guard at Dahau and shot Anne Frank in the face.
/AIPAC
edit: Then you ate her bones. - Nanite, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5It's weird isn't it? The Israel vote is courted like mad by presidential hopefuls. It's apparently very important, although no one has ever explained why to my satisfaction. :)
- Psi57, on 05/16/2008, -3/+9If you don't support Israel you were a guard at Dahau and shot Anne Frank in the face.
- YodaJones, on 05/16/2008, -2/+7McCain is so old you could stand a Ronald McDonald puppet up, tell him it's Hamas, and he would talk to it.
- mummbleswers, on 05/16/2008, -2/+9Old man yells at cloud.
- tracywood, on 05/16/2008, -1/+7Sure sure, I know the drill, I just say what you tell me to and I become the President... Trust me, if my good friend Bush can do it, so can I...
- geoffg, on 05/16/2008, -12/+4I love reading the hateful digs at McCain's age, it exposes the immaturity of this community perfectly.
- tracywood, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4It's not his age, Ron Paul is older, it's his poor health and continuous bouts of cancer.
- Drogoganor, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4bawww
- str3ama, on 05/16/2008, -4/+7Open to talking with Hamas is actually a good thing, how many idiots have commented on something like ZOMG he's talking with terrorists.
- Halbermunken, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2How true. US spoke with the Soviets so why can't they speak with Hamas who the election after all?
I think the honest truth is that USA is so blindly pro-Israel that it will never really be pro-peace in the middle-east.
Sen. John McCain has said he will be Hamas’ worst nightmare. It’s a juvenile thing to say. The line sounded more convincing when Sly Stallone said it in one of his Rambo movies.
What does the senator propose to do to Hamas? Refuse to recognize the Hamas members who are the legitimately elected representatives of the Palestinians? It’s already been done. Assassinate Hamas’ leadership? The Israelis do that every chance they get. Put Hamas’ elected officeholders in prison? Done that. Seal off the Gaza Strip and impose collective punishment on a million innocent people? The Israelis have done that. Set up roadblocks? Done. Periodically attack the Palestinians with advanced weapons? Done.
http://www.antiwar.com/reese/?articleid=12816
- Halbermunken, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2How true. US spoke with the Soviets so why can't they speak with Hamas who the election after all?
- Mikhail101, on 05/16/2008, -3/+2Okay seriously we know that Hilary and Mccain are ***** idiots but why are people submitting just small and stupid things that people want to critisize, im surprised he would actually say something like this, i guess he stuck his head out his ass for a few minutes out the 80 years he has lived.
- Maevirko69, on 05/16/2008, -7/+0A politician changing his views on something? Truly groundbreaking work here, huffingtonpost. Truly.
The only politicians who haven't changed their positions on issues to go along with the electoral current are the politicians who haven't been in office long enough to do so. They are all guilty of it or will be soon enough.- dn11, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2not "something", more like "every single position that stood in the way of the republican nomination". it should soon become clear why Rush etc were so dead set against McCain, he is a weak candidate for whom you only have to play back his own words to make him look like a pandering fool
- Steven8890, on 05/16/2008, -5/+4Why is every other front page post on Digg now from Huffington Post?
- Jamihabs, on 05/16/2008, -5/+3I watched the video and McCain never said he wanted to talk with Hamas.
If The Huffington Post is going to lie about people, they probably should not include the video that proves they are lying.- YolandaD, on 05/17/2008, -0/+0LOL!!!
Obama never said he WANTED to talk to Hamas either. If Republicans are going to lie about people...
Obama said that it might be necessary to deal with them, but only if they, Hamas, agree to certain conditions first (but they won't, so it's moot)
- YolandaD, on 05/17/2008, -0/+0LOL!!!
- sheasie, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6I guess that makes him a former Nazi sympathizer ??
- Halbermunken, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3McCain is also part of the "they will greet us a liberators" crowd:
http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/001069. ...- Derferman, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1I suggest you watch the documentary "No End in Sight". After our initial invasion into Baghdad, the people of Iraq (not all, but some) were excited to see what we would accomplish. Obviously, it didn't take long for them to realize our planning had stopped after the invasion phase.
- battleangel7, on 05/16/2008, -6/+2Digg needs more stuff from huffingtonpost.com.
I can't go to huffingtonpost.com on my own.
I need to see more huffingtonpost.com stuff here.
huffingtonpost.com is non-biased. - odejj, on 05/16/2008, -4/+0hama in korean means hippo..
so if you replace the hama with hippo, it says
Exclusive Video: Old John McCain Open To Talks With Hippos - caponumen, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2McCain has emerged from his chrysalis a somewhat more moderate and possibly electable political creature.
Not too sure how he is going to do with his (new?) global warming embrace. But hey, if he recognizes other religions why not this one?
Since he is going to really have to take a BIG gamble to win, I suggest ending the war on MJ would be a powerful
attention getter that could win it for him. Everyone knows it's too expensive to continue this witch hunt in any case, the states are BROKE. - ChinezePanda, on 05/16/2008, -3/+9As a republican.. I will NOT be voting for this man.
Obama 08. Not because he's a democrat.. He doesnt talk to me like one.. Obama is talking to me like a ***** human being that has had enough and wants to refocus on the American public.
***** off McCain. It aint going to happen man. - BrendanSheehan, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Pot, Kettle
- infamousjre, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4Just a few more of these flip flops and we got a nice youtube compilation video
- thanakar, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1Did you actually watch the video? It doesn't support what the article suggest. This is just usual huffington *****.
- ruffmama, on 05/16/2008, -1/+0ugh
- hangtown2004, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Well old John McCain just tells everyone what he thinks we want to hear to get elected, after all his Bush duplicate policy ***** wont work, Bush is the worst president this country has EVER had
- LastVisibleDog, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1No - you were too stupid to find out what he actually said - you just slurped up the ***** the leftist propaganda website was feeding you
- caroyapp1, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2All his flip flop will make a good ad for the democratic party. Not only is McSame as Bush but he is flip flops like flipper. Time to take a nap old man and let that younger man take charge.
- 4Runner, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4McCain supporters are a bunch of idiots!
- SuperMoses, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3McCain doesn't think for himself. He often needs to ask his aids what his position is on a certain topic.
- eibborjames, on 05/16/2008, -2/+5If we elect this man president, we are know doubt the stupidest mother fck'rs on the planet.
- LastVisibleDog, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1You seem to be an expert at being the stupidest mother fck'r on the planet.
- BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/16/2008, -4/+4Two years ago, Hamas had a real opportunity to bring "a new reality in the Middle East" and they squandered it. If they had rejected their "dedication to violence" things would be much different than they are now. McCain's only mistake was hoping for change from the terrorists of Hamas. I thought you people were all about hope and change?
- mtjohnson, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1I thought negotiating with Hamas makes you a Nazi appeaser? Do we really want a nazi appeaser like McCain as our President?
- BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3Considering this was McCain's official press release, I wouldn't call it appeasement.
"In the wake of yesterday’s Palestinian elections, Hamas must change itself fundamentally - renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept the two-state solution. These elections are evidence that democracy is indeed spreading in the Middle East, but Hamas is not a partner for peace so long as they advocate the overthrow of Israel."
- justinx0r, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4To be fair he never said anything about having talks with Hamas. He just said we were going to have to "deal" with them at some point. That could be a myriad of things including embargos, sanctions, cutting off of aid, etc.
- rentmitchum, on 05/16/2008, -3/+3He's still old.
- datarefuge, on 05/16/2008, -2/+5Context shows this to be untrue. Buried as innacurate.
A better video showing context is here: http://hotair.com/archives/2008/05/16/mccains-hama ...- hobophobe, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I'm not clear what you're claiming. McCain clearly said "one way or another." Usually that means that there are two options. In this case it's pretty clear he means that we can either:
a) talk to them
or
b) shoot at them
What part of talk to them wouldn't be a dialogue? We're going to talk AT them? That's basically the same thing we're already doing. That's what McCain tries to do with his empty "transcendent evil" rhetoric. That's what Al Qaeda does to us. That's what Palestine and Israel do to one another. Talking AT people only foments rage and reprisal.
No, I have to give McCain 2006 the benefit of the doubt and believe he meant to talk WITH them. Context shows it to be true. Dugg as accurate.
- hobophobe, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I'm not clear what you're claiming. McCain clearly said "one way or another." Usually that means that there are two options. In this case it's pretty clear he means that we can either:
- JohnDakota, on 05/16/2008, -3/+6McCain said he'd deal with Hamas if they renounced violence and respected Israel's right to exist. If Hamas did that they'd be a legitimate government and not a terrorist entity. This is different from what Obama has said. Context is everything and both sides of the political spectrum would benefit from keeping issues in context.
- krissy575, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0Was this one of his "senior moments", I'm hearing so much about ?
- j.carcinogen, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Appeaser!
- kawaiirobo, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I used to love McCain, he was such a good politician, fair, honest, and level headed, it's really sad to see him deteriorate into a senile, old, republa-crony. If the John McCain of 8 years ago was running I think he would have a really good chance of winning the presidency, but he has no chance now.
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