No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
As the Supreme Court heard ObamaCare arguments yesterday, the law finally proved it could provide quality emergency care for at one least patient – President Barack Obama.
The excitement surrounding the court case saved Obama from what should have been a day of punishing headlines after an open microphone caught him asking Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for “space” on missile defense and other issues. “This is my last election,” Obama told Medvedev. “After my election I have more flexibility.”
No one understands the nuisance of elections better than Russia’s leaders who long ago did away with the pretense of public accountability. With the wink of an eye and the slip of the tongue, Obama asked the Kremlin to put up with him humoring the silly concerns of American voters for just several more months.
In fact, it seems that everyone is in on this joke except for American voters. The press corps had a good laugh yesterday as Obama made light of the mishap by conducting mock microphone checks as if he had no regrets about the substance of his comments.
A news article in The New York Times had the audacity to describe Obama’s comments to Medvedev as a “frank assessment of the difficulty of reaching a deal – on this or any other subject – in an election year.” If Obama could be as “frank” about policy with voters in this country as he apparently is about politics with his friends in Russia, we might have some clue what this supposed “deal” entails. It appears that Obama has two sets of campaign talking points – one for the Russians and another for the Americans – and it’s anyone guess which he’ll follow in a second term.
Conservatives could not have scripted a sound bite that better encapsulates all their criticisms of Obama’s foreign policy. In the “space” of only a couple sentences, Obama bowed to the wishes of a foreign dictator, abandoned his allies and showed contempt for the intelligence of his fellow citizens.
But given how the press has so far shrugged off the story as a minor gaffe, the Republican nominee for president will have to make this case himself. One person who knows better than anyone what it will take is the architect of President George W. Bush’s two White House campaigns, Karl Rove. At the Fox News website yesterday, Rove wrote, “To make the most of Mr. Obama’s statement, Republicans will need to raise it again and again in speeches, ads, videos and debates.”
Let’s hope Republicans listen. Obama’s comments should echo all the way to November.
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Comments:
Mar '12
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
Calling all Lawyers: isn't there something in the comments by POTUS that can be discerned as treasonous?
Mar '11
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
Jonathan Horn:
The excitement surrounding the court case saved Obama from what should have been a day of punishing headlines after an open microphone caught him asking Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for “space” on missile defense and other issues.
Actually, it's the lamestream media that saves Mr Obama from punishing headlines, though even they are having a hard time, these days.
Jul '10
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
Hopefully, after the election Obama will have nothing but flexibility.
Mar '11
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
Now this is impressive spin.
The Washington Post uses this incident to start an article on how it makes voters cynical, pivots to the Romney Campaign "Etch A Comment" and then spends the rest of the article attacking Romney.
No fan of Romney here, but the way that paper so brazenly is carrying water for the Obama Campaign is jaw dropping. I am awestruck.
Edited on March 28, 2012 at 8:33pmMay '10
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
Jonathan Horn:
In the “space” of only a couple sentences, Obama bowed to the wishes of a foreign dictator, abandoned his allies and showed contempt for the intelligence of his fellow citizens.
What more needs to be said? If that statement alone can't sink Obama's chances, America kind of deserves what's coming to it.
Edited on March 28, 2012 at 11:13pmJul '10
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
This latest laugh-along between Obama and the press corps -- "corpse" as he might say -- further diminishes the Fourth Estate. How long before we'll need a microscope?
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
Roberto, thanks for pointing out this article. It's all the more evidence that conservatives won't be able to count on the media to tell this story. The Republican nominee will need to tell it time and again on the campaign trail. It might be easier if we could come up with a catchy name for the Obama-Medvedev exchange. Any good suggestions out there?
Roberto: Now this is impressive spin.
The Washington Post uses this incident to start an article on how it makes voters cynical, pivots to the Romney Campaign "Etch A Comment" and then spends the rest of the article attacking Romney.
No fan of Romney here, but the way that paper so brazenly is carrying water for the Obama Campaign is jaw dropping. I am awestruck. · 5 hours ago
Edited 5 hours ago
Jan '11
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
...We're the Most Transparent and Ethical Administration...
Jul '10
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
What? You can't see through them?
Mar '11
Re: No Space for Obama’s Comments to Medvedev
Jonathan Horn: Roberto, thanks for pointing out this article. It's all the more evidence that conservatives won't be able to count on the media to tell this story. The Republican nominee will need to tell it time and again on the campaign trail. It might be easier if we could come up with a catchy name for the Obama-Medvedev exchange. Any good suggestions out there?
2 hours ago
The Reagan Reykjavik Summit, Obama Style
Edited on March 29, 2012 at 4:03am