The Blog

How Did Larry Rohter Get Away With This?

3:41 PM, May 11, 2008 • By MICHAEL GOLDFARB
Single Page Print Larger Text Smaller Text Alerts

New York Times reporter Larry Rohter wrote yesterday:

But important nuances appear to have been lost in the partisan salvos, particularly on Mr. McCain's side. An examination of Mr. Obama's numerous public statements on the subjects indicates that he has consistently condemned Hamas as a "terrorist organization," has not sought the group's support and does not advocate immediate, direct or unconditional negotiations with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president.

As we've noted, Obama has made numerous public statements advocating immediate, direct and unconditional negotiations with Ahmadinejad--the man who last week honored Israel's 60th anniversary by calling the Jewish state a "stinking corpse." But more than that, his own website states:

Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions.

Did Rohter's examination of Obama's public statements not extend to debate transcripts or a Google search of the candidate's website? Obama's call for direct talks with Iran at the presidential level and without precondition is at the very core of his foreign policy approach, and yet somehow this fact was lost in the partisan salvo that is Rohter's piece.

HT: Hot Air

More by Michael Goldfarb