Jamie Rubin rubs the truth the wrong way on McCain's views on Hamas

While I was, in the words of ThirdWaveDave doing the "On The Road With Charles Kuralt" thing, sans the secret mistress (my words), the Hamas controversey, Barack Obama received an endorsement-of-sorts from the terror group Hamas. Right before I left, an Obama advisor resigned his position with the campaign because he talked to the group.

Clintonista and Sky News journalist Jamie Rubin made the charge that John McCain advocated unconditional dialogue between our government and Hamas in Davos, Switzerland in 2006. Except it didn't happen that way.

This YouTube video, with Rubin and McCain, tells the real story story.

But if you're at work, and your employer blocks YouTube, here is a transcript of their exchange:

Jamie Rubin: “Do you think that American diplomats should be operating the way they have been in the past, in working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is in now charge?”

Sen. John McCain: “They’re the government and sooner or later we‘re going to have to deal with them in one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas is because of their dedication to violence and the things they not only espouse but practice, so, but it’s a new reality in the Middle East. And I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and a decent future then they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that.”

Rubin: “So should the United States be dealing with that new reality through normal diplomatic contacts to get the job done for the United States ?”

Sen. McCain: “I think the United States should take a step back, see what they do when they form their government, see what their policies are, and see the ways that we can engage with them, and if there aren’t any, there may be a hiatus. But I think part of the relationship is going to be dictated by how Hamas acts, not how the United States acts.”

Later that same day, CNN's Betty Nguyen interviewed the senator about the same subject. Video here. Notice McCain is wearing the same clothes in both clips.

Here's that transcript:

CNN'S Betty Nguyen: " All right, let's shift over to the global front. The Bush administration is reviewing all aspects of U.S. aid to the Palestinians now that Hamas has won the elections. And I do have to quote you here. A State Department spokesman did say this: 'To be very clear' – and I'm quoting now – 'we do not provide money to terrorist organizations.' What does this do to the U.S. relationship with the Palestinians?"

McCain: "Well, hopefully, that Hamas now that they are going to govern, will be motivated to renounce this commitment to the extinction of the state of Israel . Then we can do business again, we can resume aid, we can resume the peace process." (CNN's "Saturday Morning News," 1/28/06)

Related posts:

Hamas trauma for Obama

Obama's problems with the Jewish vote could mean good news for McCain

Technorati tags: politics news Hamas terrorism سوريا حركة حماس Palestine فلسطين Democrats John McCain McCain Republican GOP Israel מדינת Jewish Jews Sky News Jamie Rubin