GOP Response To Obama Libya Speech

Run time: 02:22 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39yI8rPTf5s   Posted on YouTube: March 29, 2011 By YouTube Member: NewsyVideos Views on YouTube: 7   Posted on DU: March 29, 2011 By DU Member: Charleston Chew Views on DU: 523

 




No sooner had President Barack Obama explained his Libya strategy than the GOP faithful came out en force with its opinions on what the president should have said and done.
Here's a smattering... Sarah Palin on Fox.

FRMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK): "... it proved that the Obama Doctrine is still full of chaos and questions."

On CNN, real-estate mogul Donald Trump...

DONALD TRUMP: "They call them the rebels like they're these wonderful guys but I hear they're aligned with Iran, I hear they may be aligned with Al Qaida."

On Morning Joe, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty...

FRMR. GOV. TIM PAWLENTY (R-MN): "Now we're in this position that of having the President of the United States saying, 'Ghaddafi must go but we're not necessarily going to make him go.' And that's untenable."

As 2012 potential candidates chime in, the right wing blogosphere is also buzzing with commentary on the president's speech. Victor Davis Hanson at the National Review says Mr. Obama's case for war has flashbacks of the U.S. policy during the first Gulf War.

"This is reminiscent of George H.W. Bush's declaration that he wanted Saddam gone, had used our military to save Kuwait, but not to remove Saddam, urged others to remove him — and then ended up solving one problem while creating another more violent and unending."

On a similar note, The New York Times' Ross Douthat says the president's approach to Libya is unrealistic because success will depend on the rebels and not coalition forces overthrowing Gaddafi.

"But American policy cannot be based on best-case scenarios, and going halfway to war and then stepping back and hoping for a rosy outcome is something no American president can afford to do."

Other commentators such as Hotair's Allahpundit are attacking the president's speech as dishonest because the only outcome can be Gaddafi's overthrow.

"The One would cop to the fact that, yes, we really are trying to achieve regime change. ...realistically the only way now to guarantee the safety of Libyan civilians in the country's rebellious eastern provinces is to get rid of Qaddafi."

But Fox News' Bill O'Reilly -- the man Jon Stewart once called "the skinniest kid at fat camp" -- landed on much more neutral ground.

"So there wasn't much new in the speech. It was fairly straightforward, and the president's explanation is logical. You may not agree with it, but Mr. Obama can defend his position.
If the USA is indeed an exceptional nation and we can save lives without harming our country, we should. Strong argument, and 'Talking Points' agrees with."

Transcript by http://www.newsy.com