RNC: Obama 4 Foreign Policy Flip Flops

Obama's Shifting Foreign Policy Shows That The Only Real Change He's Promising
Is In His Own Positions

WASHINGTON, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released by
the Republican National Committee:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/RNCLOGO )

FLIP-FLOP #1: In His Remarks To The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Obama Said
That Jerusalem Should Be The Undivided Capital Of Israel, But Later Said The
City's Future Should Be Negotiated By Israel And The Palestinians:

On Wednesday, Obama Said Jerusalem Would Be The Undivided Capital Of Israel.
Obama: "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain
undivided." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference,
Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)

One Day Later, Obama Said The Future Of Jerusalem Would Have To Be Negotiated
By Israel And The Palestinians. CNN's Candy Crowley: "I want to ask you about
something you said in AIPAC yesterday. You said that Jerusalem must remain
undivided. Do Palestinians have no claim to Jerusalem in the future?" Obama:
"Well, obviously, it's going to be up to the parties to negotiate a range of
these issues." (CNN's "The Situation Room," 6/5/08)

"Facing Criticism From Palestinians, Sen. Barack Obama Acknowledged Today That
The Status Of Jerusalem Will Need To Be Negotiated In Future Peace Talks,
Amending A Statement Earlier In The Week That Jerusalem 'Must Remain
Undivided.'" (Glenn Kessler, "Obama Clarifies Remarks On Jerusalem," The
Washington Post's "The Trail," Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 6/5/08)

FLIP-FLOP #2: Obama Now Claims That He Will Only Meet With Foreign Leaders At
A Time Of His Choosing If It Will Advance U.S. Interests, But Previously Said
He Would Meet With Rogue Leaders His First Year In Office Without
Preconditions:

In His Remarks To The AIPAC Conference, Obama Claimed That He Would Only Meet
With The "Appropriate Iranian Leaders At A Time And Place" Of His Choosing.
Obama: "Contrary to the claims of some, I have no interest in sitting down
with our adversaries just for the sake of talking. But as President of the
United States, I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with
the appropriate Iranian leaders at a time and place of my choosing - if, and
only if - it can advance the interests of the United States." (Sen. Barack
Obama, Remarks At The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)

But At A July 2007 Debate, Obama Said He Would Meet With Hostile Leaders
During His First Year In Office. Question: "[W]ould you be willing to meet
separately, without precondition, during the first year of your
administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran,
Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that
divides our countries?"...Obama: "I would. And the reason is this, that the
notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them - which has
been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous."
(CNN/YouTube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

At A September 2007 Press Conference, Obama Confirmed That He Would Meet
Specifically With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Question: "Senator,
you've said before that you'd meet with President Ahmadinejad ..." Obama: "Uh
huh." Question: "Would you still meet with him today?" Obama: "Yeah, nothing's
changed with respect to my belief that strong countries and strong presidents
talk to their enemies and talk to their adversaries. I find many of President
Ahmadinejad's statements odious and I've said that repeatedly. And I think
that we have to recognize that there are a lot of rogue nations in the world
that don't have American interests at heart. But what I also believe is that,
as John F. Kennedy said, we should never negotiate out of fear but we should
never fear to negotiate." (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, New York, NY,
9/24/07)

FLIP-FLOP #3: Obama Has Pivoted In His Opposition To Legislation Labeling
Iran's Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist Organization:

Obama Has Been Inconsistent In His Views On Labeling Iran's Revolutionary
Guard A Terrorist Organization. "Obama's campaign suddenly discovered that
their man -despite having spent the last nine months campaigning on his
opposition to Kyl-Lieberman - 'has consistently urged that Iran's
Revolutionary Guard be labeled what it is: a terrorist organization.' Well,
not that consistently. Senator Obama has been scrupulously careful not to call
explicitly for designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Now,
however, with the Democratic nomination almost in hand, Obama feels
comfortable telling a pro-Israel audience what it wants to hear."(Danielle
Pletka, "Obama's Pander Pivot," Weekly Standard, 6/4/08)

"[T]he Audience At AIPAC Might Ask Why Senator Obama Has Pivoted From
Opposition To 'Lieberman-Kyl' To Support For The IRGC Designation His Audience
Demands. Is This Really Change They Can Believe In?" (Danielle Pletka,
"Obama's Pander Pivot," Weekly Standard, 6/4/08)

"Which Barack Obama Will Be The Democratic Standard-Bearer: The One Who Vowed
To 'Eliminate' The Iranian Nuclear Threat Two Days Ago, Or The One Who Opposed
Designating The Revolutionary Guards A Terrorist Organization?" (Editorial,
"Obama And Iran," The Washington Times, 6/6/08)

FLIP-FLOP #4: Obama Now Claims That He Opposed Palestinian Elections In 2006,
But He Supported Them At That Time:

Obama Says That He Opposed Palestinian Elections In 2006. Obama: "There is no
room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations. That is why I
opposed holding elections in 2006 with Hamas on the ballot. The Israelis and
the Palestinian Authority warned us at the time against holding these
elections, but this administration pressed ahead. And the result is a Gaza
controlled by Hamas, with rockets raining down on Israel." (Sen. Barack Obama,
Remarks At The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)

But During His 2006 Trip To The Middle East, Obama Met With Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas And Said The Election Represented An
"Opportunity...To Consolidate Behind A Single Government." "Illinois Senator
Barack Obama's journey to the Middle East took him to the West Bank Thursday
for a meeting with the man elected to replace Yasser Arafat. ... For a time
Thursday in the West Bank there was only the clatter of cameras as the newly
elected president of the Palestinian authority, Mahmoud Abbas, met with
Illinois Senator Barack Obama. At a meeting with Palestinian students
Thursday, Obama said the U.S. will never recognize winning Hamas candidates
unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel, and
Obama told ABC7 he delivered that message to the Palestinian president. 'Part
of the opportunity here with this upcoming election is to consolidate behind a
single government with a single authority that can then negotiate as a
reliable partner with Israel,' said Obama." (Chuck Goudie, "Obama Meets With
Arafat's Successor," ABC 7 News, http://obama.senate.gov, 1/12/06)

The Palestinian News Agency WAFA Reported That Obama Was Supportive Of The
Palestinian Elections Being Held At Their Scheduled Time. "President Mahmoud
Abbas met Thursday with the U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), in the
Presidential HQ in Ramallah...President briefed the U.S. Senator about the
latest developments in the Palestinian territories including the preparations
for the legislative elections.... Abbas and Obama discussed the means of
underpinning the American-Palestinian economic relations...Obama asserted the
US supports and eager that the Palestinian legislative elections on its
proposed time (January 25)."

("President Meets U.S. Senator And Armenian Delegation," WAFA,
http://english.wafa.ps, 1/12/06)

Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

SOURCE Republican National Committee

Republican National Committee, +1-202-863-8614