Today's Hot Topic (4/20): Was This "Irresponsible" ?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 

Senator says Obama's appearance with Chavez 'irresponsible'

 

Obama's appearance with Chavez has drawn some heat.

(CNN) – Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, told CNN Sunday it was "irresponsible" for President Obama to have been seen "laughing and joking" with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas on Friday.

"This is a person who is one of the most anti-American leaders in the entire world," Ensign told CNN's John King on State of The Union. "He is a brutal dictator and human rights violations are very, very prevalent in Venezuela. And you have to be careful."

"When you're talking about the prestige of the United States and the presidency of the United States, you have to be careful who you're seen joking around with," he also said.

Chavez — whose anti-U.S. rhetoric has included calling former President George W. Bush the devil — announced Saturday he is considering naming an ambassador to the United States, signaling a potential shift in the tense relations between the two nations.

Speaking to reporters Sunday in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Obama brushed aside criticism of the appearance, saying, "It's unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr. Chavez that we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States."

"Even with the imaginative crowd, I think that you would be hard pressed to paint a scenario where US interests would be damaged as a consequence of us having a more constructive relationship with Venezuela," he said.

Also appearing on CNN, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, downplayed the moment between Obama and the Venezuelan leader, saying, "all the president did was shake his hand like George Bush [did]."

 

[tericared]

"Even with the imaginative crowd, I think that you would be hard pressed to paint a scenario where US interests would be damaged as a consequence of us having a more constructive relationship with Venezuela," he said.  

I totally agree..

[aquarius75]

I love the old saying have your friends close n your enemies closer........who knows whats up, maybe he is just trying to get a feel for what is going on around him. I am the kind of person that does not like to make a final decision on someone until I have looked in their face while speaking with them. If I was a President, I would most certainly be putting feelers out to see where everyone stands.

 

[ddbz]

Doesn't Venezuela have a lot of oil - wait - this isn't the Bush administration any more ... never mind ...

[stormcris]

Well he said he was going to sit down with all our adversaries and make friends.(I am paraphrasing)

[jblueeyes228]

Quoting aquarius75:

I love the old saying have your friends close n your enemies closer........who knows whats up, maybe he is just trying to get a feel for what is going on around him. I am the kind of person that does not like to make a final decision on someone until I have looked in their face while speaking with them. If I was a President, I would most certainly be putting feelers out to see where everyone stands.

 Yup, Yup, Yup. I agree 100percent. 

[IhartU]

In order to bring down an enemy, you have to  understand  that enemy, and what better way to do that than to 'make friends'?

[conniecabe]

I guess it's only okay if you're a Republican.  Here's a youtube video Iposted in another thread on this same topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXcroVjBqNU

[cdgoldilocks]

It is called DIPLOMACY. You can disagree with someone and still be respectful to them.

[JJTaylor]

Okay, I have to admit, my initial thoughts were a little scary.  Fear of this man... I fear scary, hate-mind filled people that are running so many of these countries around the world... honestly, it freaked me out!

That being said, I am trying to see all sides of this, I can see that keeping your friends close-enemies closer could very well be a good thing... and I am hopeful that this wasn't a mistake. 

I got to admit I am on the fence and hoping for the best outcome on this... but I gotta tell ya, I am not feeling it right now... as much as I have supported and could see why Obama has done the many things he has done previously since becoming president, this one does bother me.  Does that mean I think he supports these "bad guys" opinions and thoughts of America and all it's people?  NO, not even remotely. 

[dr_m]

Quoting conniecabe:

I guess it's only okay if you're a Republican.  Here's a youtube video Iposted in another thread on this same topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXcroVjBqNU

 

thanks for the video !   toooo  funny !!!!!   relax, have some tea... lol