McCain Supporter Arlen Specter Requests Meeting With Castro And Chavez; Is He ‘Naive?’
McCain Supporter Arlen Specter Requests Meeting With Castro And Chavez; Is He ‘Naive?’
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has long criticized those who are willing to meet with adversaries of the U.S., slamming Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) for willing to engage Raul Castro of Cuba and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela:
– “These steps would send the worst possible signal to Cuba’s dictators: There is no need to undertake fundamental reforms; they can simply wait for a unilateral change in U.S. policy.”
– “I know that his naivete and lack of experience is on display when he talks about sitting down opposite Hugo Chavez or Raul Castro or Ahmadinejad.”
But today, McCain supporter Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) broke with McCain and told reporters that he is planning personal meetings with Chavez and Raul Castro. Specter said he has met with Fidel Castro three times and boasted of pictures with Chavez:
I met [Fidel] Castro on three occasions, as I detail in my book, and I’d like to see Raul Castro. There’s a real opportunity to get Cuban cooperation on drug interdiction, which I talked to Fidel Castro about. I’d like to follow up on that. I also would like to see trade and tourism develop. [… ]
Then I also hope to see Chavez — that fellow right there, there are three of us in that picture. … I’m a firm believer in dialogue and I think that there’s potential to salvage the relationship with Chavez which would be very helpful in Latin America.
In fact, Specter said he had recently written a letter to Raul Castro. “I think he’ll see me,” he said. Specter recounted that his August 2005 meeting with Chavez had tangible, positive results for the U.S.:
I had a chance to meet with him. There’s a serious drug problem, and I was able to arrange a meeting between the US ambassador and the Venezuelan Minister of the Interior. They worked out a protocol for some cooperation on drugs. … I believe that the conversation that I had with Chavez was a serious conversation.
Does McCain find Specter, the 16th-most senior member of the Senate, to be “dangerously naive?” Is Specter advocating policies that are “dangerous to American national security?” We await the condemnation.
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Why does reality hate grampy?
July 31st, 2008 at 8:34 pmArlen Specter. Jude.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:35 pmWhat did I hear today about the McCain beer business merging or partnering with a Cuban beer company?
July 31st, 2008 at 8:38 pmGotta check that out!
Personally I think we should open a dialogue with Cuba – but that is not popoular with John McCain.
However, this is the latest on the McCains.
McCain’s wife, Cindy, owns the third largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in the country – which means she would stand to profit by partnering with a company that is in business with the Cuban government.
McCain is a staunch advocate of the embargo, which bars most American companies from doing business in Cuba. Among the yet-to-be-resolved issues in the $52 billion deal is whether Belgian giant InBev – expected to operate under the name Anheuser-Busch-InBev – will continue to market its Cuban line of beer, and what that may mean for U.S. distributors.
Two of McCain’s top Florida supporters, Miami Reps. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, assailed the InBev-Anheuser Busch deal earlier this month, saying they are “deeply concerned” that Anheuser-Busch is about to be purchased by a company “with ties to the Cuban dictatorship, a state sponsor of terrorism.”
July 31st, 2008 at 8:44 pmSounds to me Arlen wants to get his hands on the drugs down there. Maybe he wants to because all the right wingers under Reagan got all the good stuff and are now making money hand over fist and he’s jealous?
LOL Just kidding…
;-)
July 31st, 2008 at 8:45 pmWhat do you think would be BREAKING NEWS if Teresa Heinz Kerry’s ketchup company partnered with Cuba?
July 31st, 2008 at 8:46 pmOh my, the failure to “democratize” (read exploit) the Middle East has ended in ruin…
July 31st, 2008 at 8:47 pmah well, there’s alway South America…
“dangerously naive?”
That’s NOT Specter. That’s McCorp. The Fascist suck up!
July 31st, 2008 at 8:47 pmMcCain: “Specter gets a free pass on this stuff due to his cancer. (Damn, if I ONLY had a melanoma…)”
July 31st, 2008 at 8:48 pmMcCain is just so embarrassingly out of date. He has no clue on how to negotiate & work with other countries. To McCain, it’s bomb them all – or nothing.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:49 pmNevar Says:
Oh my, the attempt to “democratize” (read exploit) the Middle East has ended in ruin…
ah well, there’s alway South America…
There, fixed it.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:06 pmMcCain more behind the times and out of touch than Alen, now that’s some serious disconnect. WOW!
July 31st, 2008 at 9:13 pmMcCain just wants to be a tough guy neocon to impress the base of the republic party. Wait until he finds out how behind the times he is and that he’s pandering to those who still aren’t walking upright! Wow. It’s gonna hurt Johnny’s ego for sure.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:15 pmSounds like Arlen has been scoring some Caracas Gold. I know he broke with Chimpy on stem cell research. Wonder what his position is on medicinal marijuana.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:16 pmMcSame is probably still wanting to drop bombs on Cuba because he didn’t get enough satisfaction when he was flying during the Blockade.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:33 pmTP, exactly why is Venezuela an “adversary” of the US?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:33 pmMcChineseCommiesGoodCubanCommiesBad is probably just trying to completely ignore this situation. Speaking loudly and carrying a big schtick just has not seemed to have “cut the mustard” for Old White John in recent days…
July 31st, 2008 at 9:38 pmFor a party which professes to be all about unity, the GOP sure is blindly striking in a lot of different directions.
I love watching ideologues getting their ideologies mixed up.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:57 pm17. Stewarjt
Venezuela has oil. They have hinted that they may use it to better their country.
As they aren’t using their oil to benefit Cheney’s friends, they are, by definition, terrorists.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:03 pmMcCain answered when asked about Specter/Castro connection: “Specter Who….? Arlen Who…..? never heard of him”.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:11 pm(Testing)
July 31st, 2008 at 10:19 pmloud and clear, my good fellow… stand up and be counted…
July 31st, 2008 at 10:22 pm:)
I mean, if Specter would meet with Spygate ‘witness’ Matt Walsh, he’ll meet with anyone to protect this fine nation.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:29 pmStupid Libertarians
July 31st, 2008 at 11:53 pmDoes McCain find Specter, the 16th-most senior member of the Senate, to be “dangerously naive?” Is Specter advocating policies that are “dangerous to American national security?” We await the condemnation.
Maybe he’s just smarter than McCain, not like that’s saying much.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 1st, 2008 at 12:22 amIt’s really awful when you get to be as old as McNumbNuts and your ball-sack sags so much that you step on it all the time. He’s been doing that all the time over the past few months.
Now Arlen’s stepping on McNumbNuts’ balls, too. How funny!
August 1st, 2008 at 12:22 amObama,these dictators will tell you anything you want to hear. They think nothing of jailing and murdering their own people who speak against them. You don’t know what your doing. Maybe they’ll agree to stop their abuses and put in writing to you and you can bring it back to U.S. and show everyone. You know just like Hitler did with Chamberlain.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:29 amMaybe they’ll agree to stop their abuses and put in writing to you and you can bring it back to U.S. and show everyone. You know just like Hitler did with Chamberlain.
Or like GDumbya did with FoxSnooze.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:32 amOT: Really sorry but too good to pass up.
Post #200 on a previous thread.
Tim43 Says:
Common ralph. We should be apologizing for everything that dead people did well before we were born. Isn’t that the political expedient thing to do? The PC thing to do?ou
What a bunch of crap.
This is what our politicians are spending their time on while the country goes to he@!?
While Iran is testing missles that can carry a nuclear warhead, our politicians are issuing apologies for something that they had no part in.
While our boarders are wide open and only God knows who is coming in, our politicians are worried about topics like this?
While 700 billion is leaving this country every year because of our dependence on foreign oil, our politicians are worried about history?
And you liberals think bigger government will solve all of your problems?
Now, as an upaid, part time Cavetrarian Troll, this sort of post really gets under my moss covered, bacteria infested toenails.
And if you can’t delight in this:
While our boarders are wide open and only God knows who is coming in, our politicians are worried about topics like this?
Our Boarders? Wide Open? (Fill in whatever Opus would say here regarding knees and thighs)
I didn’t know I had Boarders, have to go hunt around in the attic, God knows who is getting in…
BOARRRR-derrrs!
K. Time to put in the “John Adams” CD, the HBO mini-series that is totally excellent for those who haven’t seen it.
Woof.
K-out
August 1st, 2008 at 12:41 amAnybody here who can translate maur’s mutterings into English?
I’m trying to understand wha’ the H E double L he’s talking about…
Anyone?
August 1st, 2008 at 12:45 amSpecter recounted that his August 2005 meeting with Chavez had tangible, positive results for the U.S.:
I had a chance to meet with him. There’s a serious drug problem, and I was able to arrange a meeting between the US ambassador and the Venezuelan Minister of the Interior. They worked out a protocol for some cooperation on drugs. … I believe that the conversation that I had with Chavez was a serious conversation.
Okay, I’m looking for the context, and all I can tell is that Specter talked to Chavez about some drugs. Are we sure this conversation was about drug interdiction, and not about drug “trafficking” (of a personal nature, if you know what I mean)?
/snark off
August 1st, 2008 at 12:49 amOT:
Apparently the 2001 Anthrax attacks are possibly going to be solved. CNN states a scientist committed suicide as the FBI closed in. Too bad, I would have like to have known what the guy knew, and if he was working with anyone else.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:53 amEvery time mcchimpy opens his mouth he’s shot down. he might as well kick up his $750 shoes and retire.
Only more harm will come to the US if mcchimpy is selected as president.
I would love to go to Cuba.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:38 amKeltoi at Night Says:
K. Time to put in the “John Adams” CD, the HBO mini-series that is totally excellent for those who haven’t seen it.
K-out
August 1st, 2008 at 12:41 am
_______
I keep seeing the commercials for that. It’s good, huh? Cool. I like Paul Giamatti.
August 1st, 2008 at 6:57 amMcCain will be meeting with Castro and Chavez by the end of the month.
Expect it.
August 1st, 2008 at 6:58 amForTruth Says:
Apparently the 2001 Anthrax attacks are possibly going to be solved. CNN states a scientist committed suicide as the FBI closed in. Too bad, I would have like to have known what the guy knew, and if he was working with anyone else.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:53 am
_______
Now that’s an interesting development. Was it an actual suicide, or was it the kind where he gang-raped himself, beat himself up, and set himself on fire?
August 1st, 2008 at 6:59 am#stewarjt Says:
TP, exactly why is Venezuela an “adversary” of the US?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Cuz his the preznint of a country that sits on top of OUR oil, and won’t give it to us…
August 1st, 2008 at 8:03 amWhere’s that good ol’ GOP solidaity?
August 1st, 2008 at 8:14 amArlen is the master of the dog and pony show. Says one thing and always votes with this WH. Partisan hack extraordinaire. I’m gonna stop now to show pity for his medical condition.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:41 amdary11 Says:
Does McCain find Specter, the 16th-most senior member of the Senate, to be “dangerously naive?” Is Specter advocating policies that are “dangerous to American national security?” We await the condemnation.
________________________________________
TP heaped praise upon Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) for being willing to engage Raul Castro of Cuba and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Does TP find Specter, the 16th-most senior member of the Senate, to be praiseworthy. We await the commendation.
Another troll with no clue. Pointing out McCain’s hypocrisy slips right through a trolls head. Are you so incapable of seeing this hypocrisy?
If you want to find a blog that praises Specter for doing the obvious, then create your own!
August 1st, 2008 at 10:16 amImagine that, have DIALOGUE with other leaders? How innovative! Guess McCain wished he had thought of that. But that would require common sense, something I see lacking in McCain.
That Arlen Specter is something else! He’s 78, he’s been through two courses of chemo and various other health problems, and he’s STILL smarter than any other Republican! I wish HE could be our Presidential candidate! And with his fortitude, he’ll probably outlive both McCain and Obama, with all his capabilities intact.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:22 amthere is a difference between incapable and unwilling…
August 1st, 2008 at 12:31 pmIf I were Chavez or Castor, I would open my economy as a drug bazaar. As long as the U.S. criminalizes it, prices will remain high (after all, natural drugs “grow on trees”). The U.S. has strong-armed the rest of the world into claiming these drugs are dangerous and that even adults are incapable of controlling themselves when using them. I’d advise everyone to go to Wikipedia and check out the Bing Crosby entry. The guy out-Cheech-and-Chonged Cheech and Chong.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:40 pm??*???*
January 21st, 2009 at 1:52 amalmanya chat
hi5
January 21st, 2009 at 1:53 am