John McCain’s criticism that Barack Obama isn’t experienced enough to be president got a boost when the Democrat’s own running mate, Joe Biden, told donors that he expected his boss to be tested, if elected, by a “generated crisis” shortly after taking office.
“We don’t want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our economy is in crisis and Americans are already fighting in two wars,” McCain, a 72-year-old Vietnam War veteran, told a crowd Monday in Belton, Mo.
“What is more troubling is that Sen. Biden told their campaign donors that when that crisis hits, they would have to stand with them, because it wouldn’t be apparent Sen. Obama would have the right response,” added the Republican nominee, who was spending Tuesday in Pennsylvania, another battleground. “Forget apparent. Sen. Obama won’t have the right response, and we know that because we’ve seen the wrong response from him over and over during this campaign.”
At weekend fundraisers, Biden said of Obama, “Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/10/21/biden_obama.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab&imw=Y
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/10/biden_only_half_right_on_obama.html
Sen. Joseph Biden stirred up the campaign waters with his recent comments at an Obama-Biden fundraiser on Sunday that if Sen. Barack Obama is elected president, some U.S. adversary will likely test the new president's "mettle" by manufacturing a crisis.
Biden alluded to the Cuban Missile Crisis by mentioning President John Kennedy in his remarks as the model for what a President Obama might experience.
Of course, that crisis was provoked by the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion which JFK inherited from President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Defense Department and Central Intelligence Agency. To some degree, the missile crisis may have been a challenge Kennedy helped create for himself with his Bay of Pigs blunder which telegraphed weakness to the Soviets. But that's another story.
Sen. John McCain picked up on Biden's comments and has tried to use it in his argument as to why he would be the safer choice for the White House than Obama. His implied argument seemed to be because of his greater foreign policy experience, the U.S. adversaries would be less inclined to test him.
If only history have us such assurance. President Harry Truman did nothing less than drop two atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II and the North Koreans and Chinese still tested him on the Korean peninsula, and he was an experienced president.
The available audio of Biden's comments stops before we can hear how he completed his thought. But what we heard is probably a concern that has gone through plenty of voters' minds, that foreign foes might be tempted to test a young president if Obama is elected.
But it's likely that whichever man is elected president will be tested. Biden was only half right. As I suggested earlier, McCain will be tested too.
Biden also didn't state another obvious truth. Sometimes the test a president faces arises from an accident or is otherwise unintentional, not the result of scheming in some foreign capital.
Remember back to April 2001 when a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft was forced down on China's Hainan Island after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet? The Chinese held 24 Americans for about two weeks before they released them after getting an apology of sorts from President Bush. The Chinese returned the plane, in pieces, after mining all they could of intelligence value.
Bush was widely seen as navigating that first foreign-policy test successfully and got passing grades from many people who would later come to despise his foreign policy. Ironically, it was some neocons who thought the resolution of that crisis made Bush and the U.S. look weak.
Originally posted by SquelchbelchIt's not just Biden who's thinking this, everyone with a brain cell is thinking it. How long do you think it will be before one of these wannabe tyrants tries the U.S. with it's new, wet-behind-the-ears president? Why, if I were Hugo Chavez, my first order of business after they hand Obama the baton would be to invade Miami. Of course, since Obama is no friend of Israel, and there's lots of Jews in Miami, maybe he could have a long, soulful talk with his new buddy Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
As a matter of fact, I don't think it was smartest allusion that Biden could have made. Let's face it - neither running mate is particularly bright but Palin makes Biden look positively halogen.
And since when have you been taking Biden's words seriously..?
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterYou seriously think Chavez would invade the US?
It's not just Biden who's thinking this, everyone with a brain cell is thinking it. How long do you think it will be before one of these wannabe tyrants tries the U.S. with it's new, wet-behind-the-ears president? Why, if I were Hugo Chavez, my first order of business after they hand Obama the baton would be to invade Miami. Of course, since Obam ...[text shortened]... s in Miami, maybe he could have a long, soulful talk with his new buddy Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
You're more of a fruitcake than I thought.
Originally posted by RedmikeWhy? He just bought nuclear submarines, long-range bombers and other sophisticated Russian military hardware, plus he's getting ready to hold joint naval exercises with the Russians.
You seriously think Chavez would invade the US?
You're more of a fruitcake than I thought.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterLet's see. Bush had how much experience before taking office?
John McCain’s criticism that Barack Obama isn’t experienced enough to be president got a boost when the Democrat’s own running mate, Joe Biden, told donors that he expected his boss to be tested, if elected, by a “generated crisis” shortly after taking office.
“We don’t want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our eco ...[text shortened]... ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/10/21/biden_obama.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab&imw=Y
And what happened? 9/11.
Gee whiz. I guess you're right. Bush's response to the largest attack on our own soil bordered
on incompetent at first, and with the attack on a WMD-less Iraq (so-called 'intelligence' notwithstanding),
totally dropped the ball on actually making a dent on terrorism.
I guess inexperience could cost us. But I can only wonder if you complained this bitterly when
Bush was running against a vastly more-experienced Gore.
You know what: I don't wonder. Your hypocrisy has known no bounds before. I see no reason
that it should be tempered by my observation of the truth.
Nemesio
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterI smell the rancid stench of fear on you dude...
John McCain’s criticism that Barack Obama isn’t experienced enough to be president got a boost when the Democrat’s own running mate, Joe Biden, told donors that he expected his boss to be tested, if elected, by a “generated crisis” shortly after taking office.
“We don’t want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our eco ...[text shortened]... ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/10/21/biden_obama.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab&imw=Y
Jeez. Chill.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterSo you think Americans should elect McCain out of fear of what the world might do if you elect Obama?
John McCain’s criticism that Barack Obama isn’t experienced enough to be president got a boost when the Democrat’s own running mate, Joe Biden, told donors that he expected his boss to be tested, if elected, by a “generated crisis” shortly after taking office.
“We don’t want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our eco ...[text shortened]... ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/10/21/biden_obama.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab&imw=Y
Originally posted by NemesioThe responsibility for 9/11 can directly be laid at the feet of Bill Clinton. President Bush rolled up his sleeves and cleaned up the mess. You'll notice, we haven't had a single terrorist attack in the United States since.
Let's see. Bush had how much experience before taking office?
And what happened? 9/11.
Gee whiz. I guess you're right. Bush's response to the largest attack on our own soil bordered
on incompetent at first, and with the attack on a WMD-less Iraq (so-called 'intelligence' notwithstanding),
totally dropped the ball on actually making a dent on terr ...[text shortened]... e. I see no reason
that it should be tempered by my observation of the truth.
Nemesio