McCain’s Hamas Two Step
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
John McCain has made a point in recent weeks of criticizing Barack Obama because Hamas endorsed him, despite the fact that Obama has no control over what Hamas says or does and that he has stated on record that he is not open to holding talks with the group.
"We must not negotiate with a terrorist group intent on Israel’s destruction," Obama said.
"We should only sit down with Hamas if they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel’s right to exist, and abide by past agreements," he added.
That hasn’t stopped McCain from taking the opportunity to raise funds by smearing his opponent as a terrorist appeaser. The John McCain of 2008 is against holding talks with Hamas.
"It is a grave and dangerous mistake for an American leader to meet with a terrorist organization like Hamas."
Yet, in 2006, John McCain was open to diplomacy with the newly elected Hamas government.
"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."
Which John McCain are we to believe? The John McCain who was for talking to Hamas or the John McCain who is against talking to Hamas? Either way, what is clear is that John McCain’s attacks on Barack Obama concerning Hamas are untruthful, disingenuous and hypocritical.