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2007-02-12 Home Front: Politix

Prime Minister John Howard has defended his comments about United States presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposed policies. The spat erupted when Democrat Senator Obama said he would like US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. Mr Howard responded by saying that if he ran Al Qaeda, he would put a circle around March next year and pray for Mr Obama to win.

The attack on Senator Obama's plan has upset several US Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden, who believes Mr Howard is meddling in US politics. "The most charitable thing you can say about Mr Howard's comment is it's bizarre," Senator Wyden said. "You know, we'll make our own judgements in this country with respect to elections and Barack Obama's a terrific public servant."

Labor argues Mr Howard has demeaned the alliance between the two countries, and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd believes the Prime Minister should apologise. "I think Mr Howard went too far," Mr Rudd told Sky News. "When we're dealing with something as important as the US alliance, Labor and Liberal leaders need to be very careful about what we say because we'll be dealing with an administration of either political persuasion in a year or so's time."

However, Mr Howard says the suggestion he is interfering in US politics is absurd. Howard says he will continue to criticise policies that work against Australia's interests. "This is a world where people should be able to express their views," he said. "I think the Labor Party is wanting to have double standards - it's OK to attack Bush on Iraq because they don't agree with him, but it's not okay for me to attack Senator Obama's position on one aspect of Iraq, because they hold to that view themselves."

Mr Howard has strong support from Liberal backbencher Cameron Thompson, who says the US Senator's plan to withdraw from Iraq is evil.

Posted by Steve White 2007-02-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11141 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 GOD BLESS JOHN HOWARD!

Posted by cajunbelle 2007-02-12 00:05|| 2007-02-12 00:05|| Front Page Top

#2 My panties are in a bunch...

Posted by Nancy Pelosi 2007-02-12 01:24|| 2007-02-12 01:24|| Front Page Top

#3 John Howard is needling the only Black candidate, because he considers it 'safe' to do so. One only need to look at the photo above and 'realize' why he's not pounding the other candidates for pulling out! The race card will be at the top of the deck i'm afraid, this coming year or so.

Posted by smn 2007-02-12 01:28|| 2007-02-12 01:28|| Front Page Top

#4 He's clean and articulate; what more do you want?

Posted by Joe Biden 2007-02-12 01:30|| 2007-02-12 01:30|| Front Page Top

#5 Howard attacked his major policy plank, namely a date for, presumably, full withdrawl from Iraq. Obama failed to defend that policy and bizzarely advocated sending more troops by Australia.

Posted by phil_b 2007-02-12 01:47|| 2007-02-12 01:47|| Front Page Top

#6 Phil_b, John Howard is only implying, he would feel a lot better, and so would Al Qaeda if Hilliary wins (The electorate will cause the 'other shoe to drop [from this November's election, ie, the Executive Branch will shift to the Democrats as well]); she would only pull the troops out 'cold turkey' ala Vietnam, shortly after January 22nd 2009! That would mean Al Qaeda would have to erase that calender circle and push it back... Ohhh...11 months!! Will he apologize to the Black man then...HELL NO!

Posted by smn 2007-02-12 02:07|| 2007-02-12 02:07|| Front Page Top

#7 The race card will be at the top of the deck i'm afraid, this coming year or so.

Whatever the card is, it will be fear-related. Howard is a master of playing the fear card - "Children Overboard" in 2001 etc.

Howard has changed his tune on Iraq since hisStatement to the Parliament on Iraq, May 14, 2003

Not only was the victory achieved quickly but the doomsday predictions were not realised: the oil wells were not set on fire; there were not millions of refugees; the dams on the Tigris and the Euphrates were not breached to bring on catastrophic flooding; there was no long drawn-out bloody siege for Baghdad. For all this we are extremely grateful.

The decisive victory of the American-led coalition reflects great credit on the strength and determination of President Bushs leadership. It also has immense implications, not least the momentum it has already begun to generate towards achieving a Middle East peace settlement.

President Bush and his administration are determined to all that they can to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

AFAIK, President Bush is still attempting to achieve victory in Iraq, four years on. The western delusion that it can bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians continues to be just that. Delusion.

Middle East "Peace", to Islam, involves nothing less than the destruction of Israel. Yet another delusion.

Posted by Truth Overboard 2007-02-12 02:17|| 2007-02-12 02:17|| Front Page Top

#8 smn, you said at #3 that "John Howard is needling the only Black candidate...One only need to look at the photo above and 'realize' why he's not pounding the other candidates for pulling out". What exactly am I meant to see in the photo? Is there some sign on his face that says "I will take on the black guy, and leave the white guys alone?"

About two hours ago, the Australian parliament debated a censure motion, that was moved by the opposition party against John Howard, for the remarks he made about Obama. The debate included several speakers including Howard and the Defence Minister. They put some of the best arguments I have ever heard as to why Al Quaida will rejoice if Obama wins.

As for race, well, it wasn't mentioned. Why? Because it is irrelevant.

So, smn, if the race card is being played, it is not being played by John Howard, regardless of what you might see in his face.

Posted by Bunyip 2007-02-12 02:28|| 2007-02-12 02:28|| Front Page Top

#9 While the Left still seethes over the "Children Overboard" incident, it saved Australia from the disaster of uncontrolled immigration unlike Europe and the USA.

smn, I don't know why you are raising the race issue. Race isn't a hot-button issue here in Oz.

My 2cW is that I would be amazed if someone called Hussein Obama became US President. However, a black US president in the not too distant future wouldn't surprise me, however it's not going to be Obama.

Posted by phil_b 2007-02-12 02:35|| 2007-02-12 02:35|| Front Page Top

#10 Bunyip, John Howard's remark remind me of what Arsenio Hall use to say about 'things that make you go hmmmm'! For example, Vicente Fox of Mexico said his people working in America illegally only did jobs even 'Blacks' refuse to do! Why didn't he say 'Americans' or 'Whites' (which there are more poorer there of)Causing "W" to become politically correct on the matter? Unlike Fox, he needs to 'nip this in the bud' quickly, and try to be a more equal opportunity 'mudslinger'...if he's a GOPr at heart!

Posted by smn 2007-02-12 02:50|| 2007-02-12 02:50|| Front Page Top

#11 Phil_b, I agree, Obama has a 'snowball's chance in hell' becoming President, and Mr Howard knows it, so why 'spit the venom'? He's only being 'used' by the 'true power players' to insulate and buffer Hilliary until Fall 07', what I would call a 'sacrificial anode' such as what would be found in a hot water heater! I want to hear John Howard say that Al Qaeda will circle January 22nd 2009, as a day of intense prayer and rejoicing! I don't know, yet, what the ratio of women to men are in Australian politics and office, but I bet It's higher than in America!

Posted by smn 2007-02-12 03:07|| 2007-02-12 03:07|| Front Page Top

#12 Affirmative action can get you a Harvard degree, but it can't get you elected president. Obama's response is a classic - Howard set an ambush and Obama walked right into it.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2007-02-12 04:10|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2007-02-12 04:10|| Front Page Top

#13 So let's see... The Clintons send people to Israel to campaign in their elections. I believe Kerry sent someone to Australia to campaign against Howard.

So just why the hell can't Howard make remarks about the candidates in our elections?

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2007-02-12 05:28|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2007-02-12 05:28|| Front Page Top

#14 Affirmative action can get you a Harvard degree, but it can't get you elected president.

Not yet.

Posted by Juck Thomort3821 2007-02-12 06:01|| 2007-02-12 06:01|| Front Page Top

#15 But Affirmative Action can get you elected president of Harvard (which has a new female head).

Posted by Spot">Spot 2007-02-12 08:28|| 2007-02-12 08:28|| Front Page Top

#16 Robert Crawford #13; last I recalled, there are about 8 candidates running on the Democratic side of the race, Howard's remarks were not about 'candidates', it was directed straight at Obama!

Posted by smn 2007-02-12 08:52|| 2007-02-12 08:52|| Front Page Top

#17 Glad to see at least one western leader still has spine enough to tell the truth.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-02-12 10:13|| 2007-02-12 10:13|| Front Page Top

#18 Yes! What Darth said!

Posted by BigEd 2007-02-12 13:29|| 2007-02-12 13:29|| Front Page Top

#19 Look, there are two leading candidates in the Dem polls right now, and ONE of them has set a date certain for total withdrawl from Iraq - and thats Obama. I dont see why Mr Howard has to be burdened to research the position of John Edwards, or Bill Richardson, or anyone else to prove hes not a racist.

Some of us Dems want a President who will restore our relations with our allies. Mr. Obama is not showing himself ideal in that regard, I must say.

Posted by liberalhawk 2007-02-12 13:36|| 2007-02-12 13:36|| Front Page Top

#20 Aris Katsaris Trolled ?

Thought he used to spend time posting 'well thought out and reasoned' stuff , if a little odd .. What happened ? Greek army bang him on his head once too often ?

Posted by MacNails 2007-02-12 13:45|| 2007-02-12 13:45|| Front Page Top

#21 He did originally, MacNails. But then he started fighting with the regulars, as he was unable to reconcile his personal Platonic ideal of America with the reality. It got to the point that any thread on which Aris posted would end up running to 100 comments or more of nastiness. He was banned/unbanned several times, apparently in the hope that he would learn if he had a cooling off period, but to tell the truth even I have finally given up hope that he will outgrow this need to explain to us in detail exactly how stupid we are for not doing this Americanism thing as it ought be done.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-02-12 14:18|| 2007-02-12 14:18|| Front Page Top

#22 in fairness, some of that was Anti-euro trolling, which AK was unable to shake off or ignore, and the things would spiral out of control.

Posted by liberalhawk 2007-02-12 15:49|| 2007-02-12 15:49|| Front Page Top

#23 "Mr Howard responded by saying that if he ran Al Qaeda, he would put a circle around March next year and pray for Mr Obama to win."

Too funny. And too true.

No 'race card' here--just a great assessment.

ALERT: expect trolls to surface as we get closer to the election.

Posted by ex-lib 2007-02-12 16:40|| 2007-02-12 16:40|| Front Page Top

#24 Aris can say some interesting things, but he's more than a bit unstable, and I think the monitors are sparing him the public embarrassment of posting his problem all over the internet. When he's calm, however, and at least somewhat rational, he's okay. I mean, I totally disagree with him on most everything, but he's tolerable. My guess is Aris has shown up to fuss and pontificate through the election season.

Posted by ex-lib 2007-02-12 16:45|| 2007-02-12 16:45|| Front Page Top

#25 Yikes! Ex-lib does the best back-handed compliments.

Posted by Shipman 2007-02-12 19:18|| 2007-02-12 19:18|| Front Page Top

#26 #3 smn, let me share a fact with you. Most people in the world do not have American hypersensitivity about "Blacks". In fact, to an outsider american preocupations with black/white distinctions are more than a little radiculous.

Posted by gromgoru 2007-02-12 19:34|| 2007-02-12 19:34|| Front Page Top

#27 Howard's comment was about how setting a timetable to surrender is a crappy-ass way to win a war rather than some racial snark. And yeah, he has a dog in this fight, just like anyone who has more than a passing interest in Western civilization and the war on terror

Posted by SteveS 2007-02-12 20:13|| 2007-02-12 20:13|| Front Page Top

#28 the Greek is baaaaack in pulpit modi...
we're all doomed to a preachy boring death.. save us O Lord.. rapture us up now!

Posted by RD 2007-02-12 20:16|| 2007-02-12 20:16|| Front Page Top

#29 One only need to look at the photo above and 'realize' why he's not pounding the other candidates for pulling out!

Oooh - Mr. Howard's white! He wears glasses! He's a furriner! He ain't a Democrat! He's gotta be a.. a... Racist!! Couldn't be Senator Obama's politically-motivated little war on terror deadline-on-Iraq-statement-thingie now, could it?!!! Oh, noooooooo...... !!!

did I put enuf exclamation points in?

Posted by Pappy 2007-02-12 21:05|| 2007-02-12 21:05|| Front Page Top

#30 did I put enuf exclamation points in?

mo Pappy!!!!!!!!!!!

;-)

Posted by RD 2007-02-12 21:32|| 2007-02-12 21:32|| Front Page Top

#31 smn - you just got on my "ignore" list

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-02-12 22:08|| 2007-02-12 22:08|| Front Page Top

#32 Frank G, I guess Obama took your 'milk money' back in elementary school also, so why not pile on...right?

Posted by smn 2007-02-12 23:35|| 2007-02-12 23:35|| Front Page Top

#33 Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2007-02-12 09:36|| 2007-02-12 09:36|| Front Page Top

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