Do Obama and Russia Share Advisors?
On Friday, after Russian tanks rolled into the Republic of Georgia, the White House, Barack Obama, and John McCain put out statements. While one might think the White House would have the best statement, given the Secretary of State’s expertise in Russian affairs, the media and bloggers all recognized McCain’s as the most forcefully in support of the Republic of Georgia, an American ally.
Barack Obama’s campaign statement was perhaps the most pathetic statement ever issued by a Presidential candidate or President about an international military incident. Even Jimmy Carter was more
forceful when Russia invaded Afghanistan.
As we noted at RedState, Obama was undeterred by his call for talks and understanding from both sides. He was likewise perfectly willing to heap blame on the Republic of Georgia and request they not escalate the matter while Russians were (and are) gunning down Georgia’s citizens.
Once it became apparent Obama would lose the media cycle over his weak statement compared to McCain’s, Obama’s campaign sought not to restate his position, but to discredit McCain’s.
According to Ben Smith at the Politico, the Obama campaign began pointing the finger at Randy Scheunemann, John McCain’s chief foreign policy advisor, and claiming some sort of undue influence on McCain because Scheunemann lobbies for the Republic of Georgia, a country with whom we have strong military relations.
At the same time Obama began pointing out Scheunemann’s ties to Georgia as a way to discredit McCain’s forceful statement, the Russian government began doing exactly the same thing.
As Jonathan Martin, also at the Politico, reported, Russia’s Washington, D.C. based public relations representative called to point out Scheunemann’s ties to Georgia.
Both Russia and Obama, at the same time, did exactly the same tactic -- discrediting not President Bush, but John McCain because of Randy Scheunemann.
In response, the Obama campaign moved towards John McCain on the issue.
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