"Obama.. deep knowledge of foreign relations" - what are LAT editors smoking?

[question everything]

Yes, he "electrifies young voters" and has "flair for expression," but deep knowledge of foreign relations he does not have.

And to say that "Obama's mere presence in the White House to defuse anti-American passion around the world" is pathetic.

For me, this is my main objection to him. This is why I started supporting Biden. Because if there is an instability in the world - not necessarily a terrorist attack - I can see Obama stammering, calling for all sides to "exercise restraint" while McCain is sailing to the White House.

[aquart]

1. That's code for Muslims will love us now.

[ursi]

2. what a disgusting thing for a Democrat to say

[madeline_con]

3. He's a popular guy with Muslims in Asia. n/t

[ErnestoG]

7. William Kistol? Is that you???

disgusting. You should have your mouth washed out for that shit before you're chased back to Free Republic.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Wow, what a Freep-shot. I can't

believe I'm reading this on DU.

[John Q. Citizen]

15. Your PNAC is showing. Time to find your people. They aren't here.

[Muttocracy]

4. fwiw, undergrad degree in international relations from Columbia I think

and he's on SFRC under Biden (when not campaigning).

I'm with you on supporting Biden (foreign policy and military being the things more directly under control of the pres. anyway). I don't know if you're saying HRC > BO on this? I'd say they're both beginners.

[question everything]

10. She traveled the world as first lady, met with leaders and regular

people in many countries, got to understand the diverse political and cultural backgrounds of many countries. For example, we cannot expect a western style democracy in every culture in the world. I think that such insistence can even be offensive.

Such understandings cannot come from reading briefings but from actual travel and meeting of people in their natural background. And Clinton has done that.

[Muttocracy]

16. I meant beginners compared to other candidates

(Biden, Dodd, Richardson) I consider Clinton and Obama beginners. The first lady traveling doesn't impress me as experience because it's not decision-making. It's better than nothing, but not formal research, policy setting, voting, what have you.

B, D, and R have the travel experience, legislative/committee type background, and decision-making background.

Maybe Clinton is slightly ahead of Obama on this, but it's like comparing the freshmen and the sophomore to the professors to me. And I have NOT liked many of Clinton's foreign policy votes (Iraq, Iran).

Edit to add - I've never heard anyone suggest Obama or Clinton for Sec. of State, and as Biden used to say on the stump, at this point in our history, why would we elect someone for president who wouldn't be qualified to be Sec. of State?

[question everything]

25. Agree with you 100 percent

And before the Iowa primary I posted something like that, that Biden, Dodd and Richardson were the best qualified on foreign policy.

And, yes, Clinton is slightly better than Obama based not only on her traveling as first lady, but also as her Senate membership on the Armed Services Committee.

[Muttocracy]

22. another thought on the 1st lady travel stuff

I don't think flying in for a brief highly planned visit to a county gives understanding of the "real people" culture. It counts for something, but not like an ambassadorship or visit as a private citizen, NGO worker, etc.

[John Q. Citizen]

23. A year ago, I watched her in a town meeting in New Hampshire right after she announced her run.

One of the first things she said was, "Americans are the hardest working people in the world."

So I'm guessing the only other countries she visited were lazy countries.

She hasn't ever met the regular people of a third world country, or she couldn't believe that and she wouldn't say something so blatently false.

I hate to be the one to dispute her misunderstanding, but Americans are not the hardest working people in the world. We wouldn't want to be. We don't want to work 16 hour days like the regular people in third world countries do, in sweat shops, in near slave labor conditions.

Maybe what she meant is that thanks to NAFTA, it won't be long until 'Americans are the hardest working people in the world.' So get used to it, New Hampshire.

Either Hillary is ignorant of the reality of the world, or she is a pandering liar. I'm not sure which it is, but when I heard her say that, i knew she wasn't my candidate. I want a candidate who is aware of the greater world; I want a candidate who doesn't just say crapola because she thinks people want to hear crapola.

Sorry if I sound negative here, I know it's not some major thing like a war vote in congress, but if she will say stuff like that, what won't she say?

[ErnestoG]

5. Oh and you think WarBird Hillary is going to go far in healing wounds with the world?

LAUGH - you should do stand up.

[Orangepeel]

6. it was deep enough to know Iraq was a dumb war (nt)

[KittyWampus]

8. The Foreign Policy Advisors Obama Got From the Clinton WH Are The Ones Who Were Against Iraq

[BeyondGeography]

9. They grilled him; sounds like he aced the exam

==both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were seen entering and leaving the editorial board room in recent days.==

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/01/endorse.html

Any more questions, Mr. Everything?

[question everything]

13. Who is they? Seeing that there is a revolving door

in the LAT top floor where no one can stay there for more than few months.

[BeyondGeography]

19. The editorial board...that's how endorsements work

[TwilightGardener]

11. Obama's foreign relations knowledge is vastly superior to McCain's--

McCain, believe it or not, is NOT a foreign policy expert.

[kelligesq]

12. They're smoking cigars Teddy gave them.

:rofl:

[Skip Intro]

17. Anyone with a "deep knowledge of foreign relations" would not have sparked anti-American protests

with a few careless words in a debate...




http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-08-03-pakistan-obama_N.htm

[BootinUp]

18. I don't know, I'd like to try it though, lol. nt

[ArkySue]

20. LA Times was bought out by

Chicago Tribune. Make sense now?

[BootinUp]

24. yes it does. nt

[question everything]

26. Rigth. And if one will search DU, there are a lot more hateful

comments about LAT than praising ones.

Now, I am not sure. I seem to remember that back in 2004, before the general elections, I asked who was endorsed by LAT and the reply was that it does not endorse candidates..

[donheld]

21. .