McCain 2006: Negotiate with Hamas (Updated)
Amid all his purported outrage about Obama and Iran, it turns out that two years ago John McCain supported negotiating with Hamas after it won Palestinian elections.
The interview, conducted by former State Dept. spokesman James Rubin, who writes about it in today's Washington Post:
Q: "Do you think that American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past, working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is now in charge?"
McCain: "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." (See video here.)
It's not just that McCain has been attacking Obama -- who condemns Hamas -- because an official in Hamas said he thought Obama would be a good president. It's that yesterday McCain attacked Obama as too naive and inexperienced to be president, which is a pretty strong assertion, because he wants to negotiate with Iran.
This from a guy who wanted to negotiate with Hamas? Will Bush start to call him McCain the Nazi Appeaser?
The GOP will try to argue that Obama's mistake is his willingness to meet with Iran's leader without pre-conditions. But that's a pretty fine line when you're running around issuing moral denunciations. And McCain's quote from 2006 about Hamas doesn't include any pre-conditions, does it?
On this issue, at least, he comes across as a total opportunist.
Update: McCain's campaign has a press release out on this issue, which essentially says that he always has insisted that Hamas renounce violence etc. -- even though he said nothing of the sort in the interview quoted by Rubin, he apparently said that in other interviews at the time. Full release after the jump.
MCCAIN RESPONSE:
Please see our response to suggestion that John McCain has been anything but absolutely clear in the terms of his diplomacy with rogue states:
“There should be no confusion, John McCain has always believed that serious engagement would require mandatory conditions and Hamas must change itself fundamentally – renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept a two state solution. John McCain’s position is clear and has always been clear, the President of the United States should not unconditionally meet with leaders of Iran, Hamas or Hezbollah. Barack Obama has made his position equally clear, and has pledged to meet unconditionally with Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the leaders of other rogue regimes, which shows incredibly dangerous and weak judgment.” ---Tucker Bounds, spokesman John McCain 2008
After The Palestinian Election, John McCain Said In A Statement That "Hamas Is Not A Partner For Peace So Long As They Advocate The Overthrow Of Israel." "In the wake of yesterday's Palestinian elections, Hamas must change itself fundamentally - renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept the two-state solution. These elections are evidence that democracy is indeed spreading in the Middle East, but Hamas is not a partner for peace so long as they advocate the overthrow of Israel." (Office Of U.S. Senator John McCain, "Sen. McCain Reacts To Palestinian Election," Press Release, 1/26/06)
From Davos, John McCain Says Hamas Must Renounce Its Commitment To The Extinction Of The State Of Israel. CNN'S BETTY NGUYEN: " All right, let's shift over to the global front. The Bush administration is reviewing all aspects of U.S. aid to the Palestinians now that Hamas has won the elections. And I do have to quote you here. A State Department spokesman did say this: 'To be very clear' – and I'm quoting now – 'we do not provide money to terrorist organizations.' What does this do to the U.S. relationship with the Palestinians?" MCCAIN: "Well, hopefully, that Hamas now that they are going to govern, will be motivated to renounce this commitment to the extinction of the state of Israel. Then we can do business again, we can resume aid, we can resume the peace process." (CNN's "Saturday Morning News," 1/28/06)
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux: "Straight Talk For Hamas By U.S. Senator John McCain." SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: "Hopefully that Hamas, now that they are going to govern, will be motivated to renounce this commitment to the extinction of the State of Israel. Then we can do business again." CNN'S SUZANNE MALVEAUX: "Straight talk for Hamas by U.S. Senator John McCain." (CNN's "Live Saturday," 1/28/06)
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