We posted an item this morning about Bush comparing Obama to Nazi-appeasers in a speech before the Israeli Knesset. Since then, the issue has, predictably, gone nuclear. A few highlights:
1. CNN was told by officials with Bush that his speech was referring to Obama and other Democrats. CNN put that in its original story. Then, as a firestorm broke, the White House insisted that he wasn't referring to Obama. Obama and other Democrats were not persuaded.
2. McCain was clearly ready for the implication that the White House claimed was unintended. Given a platform by POTUS today, he fired a missile at Obama's willingness to meet with Iran's Ahmadinejad, saying it "shows that Senator Obama does not have the knowledge, the experience, the background to make the kind of judgments that are necessary to preserve this nation's security."
3. Even Clinton joined the chorus of Democrats defending Obama and striking back at Bush: "President Bush’s comparison of any Democrat to Nazi appeasers is both offensive and outrageous on the face of it, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy."
It's hard to not conclude that this was a planned White House/ McCain assault. For a few weeks, McCain has been straining to associate Obama with Hamas. Earlier this week, a couple of McCain surrogates tried to trump up a claim that Obama had insulted Israel. Today, Bush goes to Israel, talks about Nazi-appeasement, leaks word that he's talking about Obama, and McCain is ready with his broadside.
First, it is now pretty clear that whatever he says about wanting a high-toned race, McCain also wants to blow some traditional dog-whistles and try to exploit historic perceptions of Democratic weakness on national security. And historic fears of Jewish voters about Israel's security.
Second, it is not clear why he thinks there is some substantive difference between the Bush administration acknowledging diplomatic engagement with Iran, as Defense Secretary Gates did yesterday, and Obama offering to meet with Iran's leader. If it's abominable to engage with the leader of an Israel-hating, terror-sponsoring country, why is OK to engage with various other officials, greater and lesser?
Third, it is odd, from a political point of view, that McCain would have entangled himself with Bush on this issue. The whole day makes McCain and Bush seem like a team, and makes McCain's criticism of Obama's call for engagement with Iran sound like an extension of the Bush's don't-negotiate status quo in foreign policy.
As we know, Bush and his foreign policy are pretty unpopular.
Here's what one liberal blog writes: "Democrats are going to do everything they can to promote the 'McBush' meme this year, and diving in feet first to say 'Me too!' when Bush hauls out artillery like this is just going to make their job easier. If McCain wants to sign on with Mr. 28%, who are we to complain?"