David Gergen
CNN Sr. Political Analyst
AC360° Contributor
Hello everyone – tried to post a blog earlier but I am afraid that it got lost in the system – perhaps it was eaten by that dog!
Anyway, to be brief, was trying to say tonight on air that I welcome the Obama trip overseas - and hope it sets a precedent for all future candidates. At the same time, as an old-fashioned institutionalist who was strongly shaped by working in the White House, I believe that whether a President is right or wrong on policy, we have only one President at a time and he must be the chief negotiator with other countries, especially in a time of war.
It is not clear that Senator Obama was trying to negotiate with Maliki – probably just the opposite – but in issuing that statement after the meeting, he left himself open to the charge that he was.
That's why I thought it was a mistake – the first in what has been so far a very successful trip.
Hope this helps. Thanks.
Editor's note: Here's what David Gergen said Monday on AC360°:
"Barack Obama made the first mistake of his trip in releasing a statement in which he said exactly what Malaki had said in those conversations. We have a long tradition in this country that we only have one president at a time. He's the commander in chief and negotiator in chief.
I cannot remember a campaign which a rival seeking the presidency has been in a position negotiating a war that's underway with another party outside the country. I think he leaves himself open to the charge tonight that he's meddling, that this is not his role, that he can be the critic but he's not the negotiator. We have a President who does that.
So i think the underlying facts support him, but i think it was be a mistake to get intro these conversations and let it be used politically."
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I do not think that Obama was trying to negotiate anything with Maliki. I am sure that he realizes that he is not yet President and that is not his place to do so. He probably spoke about it because Maliki has already spoken to the German press. If he didn't, the American press would be accusing him of making "secret deals". SO...damn if he does and damn if he doesn't.
WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS!! ???????
He is NOT the President yet.
YES he overstepped. Obama is in a foreign country during a war, talking war strategy, trashing US policy, he should keep his mouth shut.
MCC NEVER want to a foreign country and talked war strategy, trashed the Administrations policy and then appeared on US TV Its stinks of photo-opt empty suit.
He tells the terrorist that he wants troops out . HE SAID if he had it to do over he still WOULD NOT vote for the surge. NOW that is the Bush Administration policy. HE never should have said that! thats trashing US policy oversea. WHAT would he have done? pulled troops out and waited for Iran to invade iraq then send the troops back. NOW THAT IS INTELLIGENT!!
HE IS immature and LACKS FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTISE......HE AINT the President YET Thank the Good Lord!
Hi David;
I watched AC360 last night and for the first time, I was shocked when I heard you say what you said about Sen Obama making "A Mistake" because, I revere your political analysis, non bias and, objectivity; you along with a few others; I commend you on clarifying your comments; however, as sophisticated as the internet is, I would ask you to kindly make it clearer on AC360 in person; because, that is exactly how rumors get started; you are the only person thus far, that I have seen and heard say what you said; see how easy it is to make a "Mistake" or, whats perceived to be one, even the great ones mis-speak sometimes!
Thank You and, Have a great day
Maliki had said this the week before Obama entered their country. This had already been discussed about Iraq wanting a time table by the Media. He did not make a mistake this was already out there.
Please only speak the facts. This way we will not be putting things out there that are not true.
Sen. Obama has left himself open for prosecution under the Logan Act which addresses individuals interfering with negotiations with governments we are in engaged in conflicts with. Treaties are the priviledge of the executive branch so the Senators remarks about any agreements being ratified by legislative branches of both governments to the Iraqi government may as well be a usurping of executive powers since the President may have been opting for a sole executive agreement as opposed to a formal treaty which Sen. Obama has now asserted won't be the case. At the very least it would seem appropriate to compel the various news agencies to release all portions of their coverage to be scrutinized for this potentiality.
David I have to disagree. For all Americans who are sick, sore and tired of the secret meetings, the secret plans, the secrecy evolving around all within the White House, I feel Obama was right in letting Americans know what took place abroad.
We all know there is only one President, how could we possibly forget "the Decider" is at the Helm! However, we haven't had a Negotiator for seven plus years, we've had a Dictator! So I believe Obama's openness and forthrightness it is a breath of fresh air much needed. And I also believe it was a smart move on his behalf to make it clear to his people that what goes on abroad won't be kept secret but will be shared with we the people who put them in office and pay for their mistakes!
And yes David, I would have to say you are an old-fashioned institutionalist. No criticism intended. Your a Great Guy , well respected in your field but after George Bush Jr's Dictatorship we need to get up front and personal. We need to put all our cards on the table as Suspicion has run rampant for two terms. We need to know we can trust our President and he has enought respect for his people to keep them informed especially on foreign issues which under our current leader has destroyed our Nation . Thank You
Oh please Mr. Gergen, I don't get what you're talking about. I didn't see Obama was negociating with Maliki. Why are you making a story? Because Obama was supposed to make a mistake to give you some fun, but he didn't?
Pathetic.....Stop manufacturing news and controversy CNN.
David I understand your insight but the american people need to know how the iraqi feel about the troop withdrawal. Bush has decieved this country and we need to speak up. Never has this country bully so many people into what their belief are. Obama only repeated what was already said but hidden because the media and congress is afraid of the Bush administration.
I have just changed my vote. This was a hugh mistake on the part of Barrack Obama. It truly shows his level of political imaturity. It also shows his lack of respect for the office his aspires to attain. It was a great disrespect to the president of our country. Like him or not, President Bush is the leader of our country. A country has a leader for a reason, not to send every political candidate running around making deals with leaders of other countries. It gives the leaders of other countries opportunities to put wedges between our leaders and our voting public. Do the words "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and just for all" mean anything to Obama. Barrack Obama's experience in world affairs could make our country very vunerable to the manipulation of other world leaders.
I do not believe Obama made a mistake. He reiterated what he was told. He did not state he negotiated anything. Would you not want to state that my arguments have some support from the Iraquis? Was it not unprecedented for the President of the US to go to Israel and take shots at Obama?
It seems CNN is quickly becoming anti-Obama. You, Mr. Gergen , often seem to be the most unbiased person on CNN. Lou Dobbs is loudly and solidly anti-Obama; Campbell Brown–the reported "no bull, no bias" lady, is extremely biased against Obama and 360 continues to swirl the bull the rest of the evening and early morning on CNN.
I feel very proud to see Obama with the troops and to see him on the world poitical stage....bush is so lame .....The only way A merica will get thru the next few years is a change in leadership...McCain is soooo cluelessI..everyime i see him on tv ,,I
can only shake my head and say you have got to be kidding....what a joke!!!a bad joke...one more thing..every time bush and rice say something negative about iran and that situation the price of oil goes up...when something positive is said it goes down..terrorism is connected to the palestinian and Israel dynamics...palestine needs a state...and what good does it do to antagonize Chavez,,they have oil we need it..we should be cooler towards Chavez and be cool with cuba..BUSH and Mc Cain are just alike ..a obsolete view of the world.they have both got to go..away far away..
Obama did not make a mistake!...what's wrong with you people?.. First Obama gets picked on because he hasn't been to the middle east, and
then when he goes you say he's gone too far? And why?, because he actually communicated with the leaders who want to partner with us to end this horrible mistake of a war. i think you have gotten so used to a president who can't communicate with other countries that you are totally confused when someone goes over there who can actually negociate! CNN, I am so sick of you nit picking things to death. i PRAY that Obama wins, if the war monger Mccain wins then this country will be in deeper trouble than it already is.
i do love these blogs yhey are dead on what the american people believe and that is cnn is trying to get obama elected.a blind man can see that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
i do not understand why you people can see no wrong in obama but every thing mccain does is bad.does this leave a bad taste in your mouth.it does in mine.this is a one sided report on all that is happining in the efforts of all.every suggestion made in the last 18 months by anyone is suddenly obamas idea.is something wrong with this system.you betca it is.be fair to all report the facts not what you want to hear.is cnn losing clout or just wants to fail the american people?????
I don't think he made a mistake at all.
I think maybe Gergen just didn't read the actual memo. Lynn Sweet has it...and it's not anything that you didn't read in the morning papers! He, Hagel and Reed summarized what they discussed with Maliki and it was more like the minutes of a meeting than anything else. Obama didn't engage in negotiations, he reported what Maliki has already said various times this weekend....
Honestly, I don't get Gergen's point!
David: If you were paying attention, you would have learned that Obama was not negotiaing with Maliki, who independantly raised the issue o troup withdrawals and decided to make a public announcment. You came across as adament and scolding –which is unusual for you.
I know I'm late on this, but I don't see where he made the mistake in his meeting with Prime Minister al Maliki and letting people have an idea about what is going on. Of course he's not negotiating, it's stupid to even do that when you're not the President. Sounds to me he listened, and gave his views which is why he's there. To assess where they are today, where they think they maybe in the future and is there a possible chance to pull out so we can end this madness. I'm sure when McCain went on his trip, that's what he did, assess everything, gave his views as to what to do down the road to further reach his agenda if he should be POTUS. Besides, we only got a glimpse of what was stated, not the whole view.
Again, Obama didnot make a mistake. Before the Senators left on there Congressional trip Obama said "There is one President and the purpose for this trip was to be inform and gather information." Obama has done that. What the Senators had done was updated the American people on thier fact finding. Mr.Gergen is trying to make something out of nothing. Mr Gergen is trying to find fault and let me help you find the fault in which you lseek. It is with the White House Aide who mistake push the wrong button and now we American people know that there was a time line that the Prime Ministor want the Bush Admistration to agree to. and now it is clear that the Prime Ministor Maliki was in favor of Obama. Obama and his team is not gjoing to cover up and lie to the American people like the Bush Administration.
Disagree with your premise.
Obama, Hagel & Reed put a statement as senators that recapped what has been in the press.
The whole world is aware of what was stated...where is the harm?
To Cooper and CNN:
How did Obama "negotiate " what Maliki had already stated in Der Spiegel, the German magazine, beore Obama even got to Kuwait? Maliki's position was already out in the public domain!
Plus, if you/Gergan think it was a mistake, why not put the blame on the two SENIOR senators who also put out the statemnt? Because it wouldn't have had the desired effect of criticizing Obama?
You'd be better off covering the many gaffes of John McCain and this current administration. For instance, why did Ms. Rice feel the sudden need to put out new regulations instructing foreign embassy members and other s NOT to meet with or assist Sen. Obama Thursday night just prior to his trip? She claimed this was true for McCain, too, but couldn't provide the date this was applied to McCain!
Your lack of investigative skill and obvious bias is simply disgusting!
Stop trying so hard to catch Obama in a misstep and just do your job!
Mr. Gergen, with all do respect. You are way off on this concering Obama. Obama did'nt make a mistake. first of all Maliki brought Obama name up in the conversation about Obama's timeline pulling the troops out. and It was Maliki that agree with Obama. Mr. Gergen get the tape of the conversation of Maliko before you make a judgement like this. Obama had already said before he left to go on this trip," there is one President what he is there for is to be inform and gather facts." and because Obama gather a fact and repeat what he found factual from what the Prime Ministor Maliki had said is not making a mistake and some how negotiating. Mr Gergen who you need to look to whom made the mistake was the White house aide who push the wrong button and now the American people know that the Bush Administration was talking timeline and clearly that is what Maliki wanted.
Karen,
In your blog you suggest that only adults can play on the playground of W foreign diplomacy...that's exactly what's wrong with this country. Politics as usual, eh? Everybody positioning for special interest. One question for you. Where are the "people" while special interest govern the people. No thanks, you are suggesting things as usual. Obama, as a new and improved politician, needs to cut his teeth sometime. Would you rather have him wait around for, let's say, four or eight more years while the quality of life for all inhabitants of the world continues to degrade to point that is irreversible?
I agree with Mr. Gergen. Sen. Obama is a Senator, not President. he was not asked by our government to go to Iraq and speak on our behave. No matter how badly I would like President Bush to no longer represent us as our leader he is still our commander in chief. Senator Obama is a candidate for President and clearly over stepped his boundaries, one he would not apreciate if he was President. His overseas visit has confirmed my opinion that he is not prepared to be President. I do not want my President meeting with world leaders strutting around, patting other leaders on the back, and acting all chummy like this is the good all boys club. It 's embarrassing to say the least.
Dear David and Coope,
You have enjoyed incredible success in the recent months providing dramatic and concise coverage of the exciting race for the future Presidential nominees of the Free World however, I have never seen, nor heard anyone be so far off from the truth. Obama's visit with Maliki lays the ground work for the U.S to get out of Iraq. Suggesting that "Bush" continue to propagate failed foreign diplomacy is absurd! The time to set the ground for withdrawal is Now! The American people are tired of lies, hardship, and frankly, ill advised and constructed Wars. Obama's visit represents the voice of the American people. Let's not forget the facts concerning the occupation of Irag. Stay the course and stay close to the truth.
Let's also not forget that we are a free and democratic society because the life blood of this country stood up against tyranny by force,arms,and death, and thus it should be with the Iraqi people. The people of Iraq must stand on their own two feet and demand justice for themselves. There is only one price for freedom. Freedom can never be given, only taken by the People. Foreign occupational strong arming does not cut it.
Pelosi said it for sure. and my utmost congratulations goes out to her for having the cahones to speak the truth. God bless you for speaking the truth.
P.S.
David...Think first.
Sincerely,
JC
I am not so sure that Senator Obama making a trip to the Middle East was a great idea. It appears to me that he is acting as if he is already the President of our country and hasn't even been elected by our people. I am not a Bush fan and did not vote for him, but he is our president and should be treated as such until his term is up!
Lefty can shoot, so lets make him president!
The statment that Obama made about the time table for removing our troopes from Iraq by 2010 was made by Iraq before Obama said anything. Obama said he would have our troopes out by 2009 Dec. Why are you all tring to be fair now. Whats fair??????????