RNC: Why will Obama talk to Ahmadinejad, not Hayward?

[sabra]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/09/steele-why-will-obama-meet-with-ahmadinejad-but-not-hayward/?fbid=VP2LgjjHQ1T

(CNN) – Republicans are continuing to put pressure on President Barack Obama for not speaking directly with BP CEO Tony Hayward during the ongoing oil crisis in the Gulf Coast.

Speaking on Fox News, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said Wednesday that he doesn't understand why the president is apparently willing to talk face-to-face with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but not Hayward. In a 2007 presidential debate sponsored by CNN, Obama suggested he would be open to meeting with Ahmadinejad, a comment that drew heavy criticism from his Democratic and Republican opponents. Obama later said that he is willing to meet with Iranian leaders, and that such a meeting "could include" Ahmadinejad.

"I don't get it - you tell the American people that you want to sit down and talk face-to-face with Ahmadinejad, but you don't want to talk face-to-face with the guy that has a hand in creating the mess in the Gulf right now, and to try to figure out from him what needs to get done," said Steele.

The comments come a day after Obama told NBC he has not spoken with Hayward because "when you talk to a guy like a BP CEO, he's gonna say all the right things to me – I'm not interested in words, I'm interested in actions."

:crazy:

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Waiting for Palin's follow-up, "Why won't Obama talk to me? What's he afraid of?"

[Pirate Smile]

2. LOL

[AndyA]

3. Possibly because Obama knows the guy is a liar?

Possibly because he knows criminal charges are about to be brought against the guy, and it's best that he not talk to him? Perhaps because others in the government are already talking to the guy, and they've told Obama it's a waste of time?

I can think of more reasons for Obama to NOT talk to Hayward than I can for him to talk to Hayward.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. good grief!

THIS is what the meme team from the RNC has come up with now?
:eyes: :banghead:

[Greyskye]

4. Now they WANT him to talk to terrorists?

Sheesh, will they make up their minds?

[lonestarnot]

7. No shit. PigliCONs are so disgusting.

[damntexdem]

6. Well, Ahmadinejad is pretty slimy, but ...

he's not in the same league with Hayward.

[City Lights]

8. What a sorry bunch of whiners. nt

[haele]

9. One's the titular head of a country, one's a titular head of a corporation.

Heads of countries talk to each other, whether they're friendly or not. They're on equal footing, as it is. Heads of business organizations talk to their regulatory reps and other people they need to talk business to. And maybe, if they're invited to a social event, they can talk to the President.

But it's a huge breach of protocol for the head of a corporation to "talk business" to the head of a state as part of their positions. That sort of activity provides the evidence - or at least the appearance of evidence - that the state is just a business entity, not a governing entity. For the CEO of BP to "talk" to the President of the United States of America - unless he's begging for mercy - makes it sound as if he's trying to be a business partner with the United States, or leverage a buy-out.
Randriods and the GOP might like the thought of that, because the current philosophy amongst those groups is that everything is for sale, but both principles of governance and the focus of the Constitution suggest that there are some things that are self-evident - that there are many valuable things - both physical and philosophical - in the world that have no price.

Haele

[gratuitous]

12. We have a winner

Until Tainted Tony wins an election, he's not a head of state. I realize the Republicans like to sell this idea of government-as-business, but they are two different entities.

[alfredo]

10. Because Ahmadinejad is just nuts. Hayward is fucking nuts.

[Subdivisions]

11. Where were you yesterday? The president answered your question as

to why he hasn't spoken to Hayward just yesterday.

[Autumn]

13. Obama is an elected Presisent and a world leader.

Why should he talk to Tony Hayward who is nothing more than a corporate CEO? Ahmadinejad does happen to be a leader of another country. Bit of a difference there, unless you are a fucking idiot like Steele.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. Was Obama expected to talk to Madoff too?

how about Abramoff (Steele was good at that), The Mafia perhaps?

[HughMoran]

15. Teh Stupid, if bruns!

They think CEOs are to be idolized. Assfuckingholes.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. Was Obama expected to talk to Madoff too?

how about Abramoff (Steele was good at that), The Mafia perhaps?

[scheming daemons]

17. Actually, Mr. Steele, Obama has never spoken directly with Ahmadinejad either

But don't let the facts get in the way of your rant.

[mrJJ]

18. How about an ongoing DOJ Investigation of BP

Lets see...

Ongoing DOJ Investigation might be a good reason.

I wouldnt want to be anywhere near Hayward or any other BP execs right now...

[Politicalboi]

19. Maybe President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Can stop the leak.