Politivity

Here are quotes from Barack Obama at last night’s CNBC Democrat Presidential Debate. Followed with my rebuttals.

And what we should be doing is reaching out aggressively to our allies, but also talking to our enemies and focusing on those areas where we do not accept their actions, whether it be terrorism or developing nuclear weapons, but also talking to Iran directly about the potential carrots that we can provide in terms of them being involved in the World Trade Organization, or beginning to look at the possibilities of diplomatic relations being normalized.

We do not negotiate with terrorists or those who support them.

Now, there may come a point where those measures have been exhausted and Iran is on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon, where we have to consider other options. But we shouldn’t talk about those options now, when we haven’t even tried what would be a much more effective approach.

How do you know if diplomacy will be effective? Did diplomacy keep Sadam Hussein from raping women and performing chemical “science experiments” on the Kurds? No. Shouldn’t we be prepared just in case diplomacy doesn’t work? Yes.

The president has to lead that diplomacy, which is why I’ve said I would convene a meeting of Muslim leaders upon taking office because I think we have to send a strong signal that we are willing to listen and not just talk, and certainly not just dictate or engage in military action.

We do not negotiate with terrorists or those who support them.

But we nevertheless have to take steps that are not only engaging Iraqis — the Shia, the Sunni and the Kurds — but also engaging Iran, Syria and other powers in the region.

We do not negotiate with terrorists or those who support them.

And finally, I think we’ve got to have a president who has the experience of standing up, even when it’s not easy, which is what I did in 2002 when i stood up against this war in Iraq 10 days before the authorization.

Obama will stand up to Bush but not terrorists or rogue leaders.

That is the kind of judgment that I’m displaying during this campaign when I go to Detroit and I say to the automakers that they need to raise fuel efficiency standards; not in front of some environmental group.

Obama will stand up to American companies but not terrorists and rogue leaders.

I’m not fearful, just as Joe isn’t, to have a debate about this with Rudy Giuliani because we’ve got the facts on our side.

Why not just give Rudy some carrots?

I have confidence in the American people.

With the exception of Bush, the military’s ability to win the war in Iraq, Republicans, and Senator Hillary Clinton.

The way to respond to swiftboating is to respond forcefully, rapidly and truthfully.

The Swift Boat Veterans were telling the truth. So, we must use force on the veterans. But not the terrorists. Got it.

I do think that we have to have more instruction in the classroom.

Last year, my daughter was taught by her public school teacher that Korea is part of China and that the Philippines are in South America. This year she was taught that it’s the President’s job to call up the National Guard (that’s a Governor’s responsibility) and that the capital of China is Beijing (it’s Shanghai). Today she walked a classmate to the nurse and the nurse had her put a paper towel on her face for no reason.

I do not want more public education. I want my taxes lowered so I can send my kids to private school!

And by the way, instituting a universal health-care system that emphasizes prevention will free up dollars that potentially then can go to reimbursing doctors a little bit more.

Cancer patients have to wait for treatment in countries with universal healthcare. Survival rates are lower. Seniors can’t get elective hip replacement surgeries. Women are discouraged from having epidurals during childbirth. One woman was predetermined to be a bad mother before her baby was born and the government was making plans to take her child away from her once born. Now the British are starting to go to India for care!

And they’re seeing better solvency, but they’ve done it on the backs of consumers.

Tax increases on the wealthy will also be carried on the backs of consumers.

We’re not taking care of kids who are alive and unfortunately are not getting health care.

That’s true. The Democrats refuse to send a reasonable S-CHIP reauthorization program to the President. Instead, they keep sending bills that expand to families making upwards $80k who can afford healthcare.

We’re not taking care of senior citizens who are alive and are seeing their heating prices go up.

But I thought the Social Security program wasn’t in crisis? And isn’t Medicare a government health care program? I thought government health care was the answer!