Sarkozy: Obama an empty suit on foreign policy
posted at 8:10 am on October 28, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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According to Ha’aretz, the Israeli government has information that Nicolas Sarkozy has derided Barack Obama as an empty suit on foreign policy. The French president, who has worked hard to bring his country closer to the center-right policies of strength especially on Iran and Israel, considers Obama “utterly immature” in this arena:
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very critical of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama’s positions on Iran, according to reports that have reached Israel’s government.
Sarkozy has made his criticisms only in closed forums in France. But according to a senior Israeli government source, the reports reaching Israel indicate that Sarkozy views the Democratic candidate’s stance on Iran as “utterly immature” and comprised of “formulations empty of all content.”
Obama visited Paris in July, and the Iranian issue was at the heart of his meeting with Sarkozy. At a joint press conference afterward, Obama urged Iran to accept the West’s proposal on its nuclear program, saying that Iran was creating a serious situation that endangered both Israel and the West. According to the reports reaching Israel, Sarkozy told Obama at that meeting that if the new American president elected in November changed his country’s policy toward Iran, that would be “very problematic.”
Can anyone blame him? Europe does not want direct presidential-level negotiations with Iran — they want the mullahcracy isolated. They need American strength behind that position in order to wring concessions from the ruling Guardian Council. With the price of oil plummeting over the past two months, the economic sanctions on Iran finally have a chance to bite the mullahs hard. Obama’s stated policy would undo everything just at the moment that it has a chance of producing real change.
In fact, Sarkozy believes that Obama would wind up being more unilateral than George Bush in his foreign policy. When a French politician uses the word “arrogant” as an accusation, that means something. Apparently, their brief meeting during the Obama World Tour did not set Sarkozy’s mind at ease. He saw something that makes him extremely uneasy with Obama in charge of American diplomacy.
Formulations empty of all content. Sounds familiar, no? It has the ring of Hope and Change.
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Barry is one Biden heart beat away from having ZERO foreign policy experience. This includes all the stuff Biden makes up!
C’est incredible!
SouthernGent on October 28, 2008 at 8:13 AM
I’m sure the Israelis are even more uneasy.
reaganaut on October 28, 2008 at 8:13 AM
$5 says he never meets with the iranians. lol
ernesto on October 28, 2008 at 8:15 AM
The Obama drones will not even care.
If he is elected, we are going down the crapper.
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!
jencab on October 28, 2008 at 8:15 AM
Not just Foreign Policy, Nick.
Elizabetty on October 28, 2008 at 8:18 AM
Didn’t Obama say recently that foreign policy was his strongest area?
Didn’t he even say that he would be the one testing foreign leaders, not the other way around?
NeighborhoodCatLady on October 28, 2008 at 8:19 AM
OMG yer killin me! That’s hysterical! … except it’s freaking true!!!
4shoes on October 28, 2008 at 8:20 AM
So you agree that Obama will lie about anything in order to get elected.
Do you also feel that the alleged middle class tax cut is also a lie?
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 8:21 AM
It would take a lot more than this for France to go on the leftists’ poop-list. It also won’t make a whit of difference in Obama’s popularity amongst idgits.
aero on October 28, 2008 at 8:21 AM
LOL…It’s scary really. This is no surprise to me. Anyone who’s been paying attention knows that european politicians enjoy playing of America’s “cowboy” diplomacy with their own population but when it comes down to it they know who butters their bread. With empty suite Barry running around making weird statements and attempting to destroy their little game naturally they are getting worried.
On a side note I feel sorry for all the pleebs voting for Barry O. When they start losing their jobs as more american companies go over seas to countries with the lower business tax rates I am going to sit back and have a laugh.
Dritanian on October 28, 2008 at 8:22 AM
Obama an empty suit?
I like this Sarkozy guy.
The Dems are celebrating already. But celebrating what? Seems they are more concerned about “sending a message” that they have somehow ended the Republican regime than they are concerned about dealing with the realities of the world around us. The evil Booosh administration has been toppled, and the brave new world of Obamanation has arrived. And they celebrate? Empty suit? No. Empty heads.
coldwarrior on October 28, 2008 at 8:22 AM
Nice tie in here on the economic collapse… Soros, who else?
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/whos-behind-the-economic-collapse/
CapedConservative on October 28, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Well, Biden’s solution was to just cut them a check. I’m sure they can work something into one of the next dozen or so “bailouts” to give the Iranians some cash.
reaganaut on October 28, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Iran will send Obama a gilded invitation and their lap Obamadog will come running, wagging his tail (USA) behind him.
maverick muse on October 28, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Not a chance in hell this makes the MSM.
It disrupts the big lie about Obama regaining the world’s credibility.
Merci beau coup.
jeff_from_mpls on October 28, 2008 at 8:25 AM
Well, he has Colon Powell. He’ll run things. Probably make him the Secretary of Defense. oh goody. He’s duct taped in the back room with Mrs. Obama until after the election too.
johnnyU on October 28, 2008 at 8:27 AM
Maybe it’s just my cynical nature, but does anyone else wonder if Obama’s plan is for Biden to die early in his adminstration so that he can appoint the person he really wants as VP. Maybe Ayers?
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 8:27 AM
Well he did lie about NAFTA. Oh wait, that was just “overheated campaign rhetoric.”
Gee, who would have guessed that a state senator who, 143 days into his first term of national office, would be an empty suit on foreign policy?
Proof positive that Americans prefer style over substance.
rbj on October 28, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Oh…the Iranians already have their propaganda sweetener ready to go. If Obama gets elected, expect the Iranians to announce the release of that woman graduate student they recently arrested as a “goodwill gesture”.
Matt Helm on October 28, 2008 at 8:28 AM
You know you suck when France is calling you weak and naive.
lodge on October 28, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Obama is an empty suit on everything except for race baiting, America bashing, and socialism.
In other words, he would be the perfect Democrat President. :oP
DannoJyd on October 28, 2008 at 8:31 AM
well bush won twice didnt he?
ernesto on October 28, 2008 at 8:32 AM
Obama is definitely the living, breathing embodiment of the “Johnny Bravo” character from The Brady Bunch. “Hey, he fits the suit!”
venividivici on October 28, 2008 at 8:33 AM
How so? Bush has no style.
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 8:34 AM
It’s painful, what we’re witnessing.
This is what the Soviet dissidents wrote about, the frustration of having your media and your leaders telling you the sky is orange, and threatening you if you ask the obvious question: what the hell are you talking about?
We get a story from our MSM that utterly contradicts what we see in front of our eyes, and it takes foreigners to smack us in the face and warn us we’re about to elect the wrong guy.
jeff_from_mpls on October 28, 2008 at 8:34 AM
Bush had substance. He was governer of a large state.
Obama is a former community organizer.
Why do you and your ilk find the distinction so hard to wrap your brains around?
jeff_from_mpls on October 28, 2008 at 8:35 AM
Yes, because it’s well-known that Bush was popular for his “style” among those who voted for him.
Also, I don’t recall audio and video of Bush saying one thing to one audience and another thing to another audience, which seems to be par for the course for Obama. Arguably, that’s Obama using style over substance to sell himself to those who would balk at supporting someone whose core ideas they disagree with.
venividivici on October 28, 2008 at 8:38 AM
Neither Sarkozy nor Merkel are impressed by Obama Straw Man. Neither is the entire population of Israel.
The fact that Obama had his hand fomenting the economic crisis catapulting him forward (via his corrupt alliances throughout government and the Treasury Dept.) is well noted by foreign governments, even as they note how stupid Americans are to actually believe Obama’s lines.
Talk about building our nation’s image abroad! Woe to suckers. Every bully in the world loves a sucker. Every cheap shot bastard loves a sucker. Every radical loves a sucker. Obama loves suckers. They do so much for Michelle’s children.
maverick muse on October 28, 2008 at 8:38 AM
!
BuckeyeSam on October 28, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Barack Obama “arrogant?” ………Hellooo!
try again later on October 28, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Well, they are experts on the subject. :)
You know it’s a weird world when I find myself nodding in agreement to anything coming from France.
irishspy on October 28, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Why do you and your ilk find the distinction so hard to wrap your brains around?
jeff_from_mpls on October 28, 2008 at 8:35 AM
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 8:41 AM
Whoops, messed up the quotation tags.
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 8:41 AM
At which time Obama will rehearse his foreign language expertise:
Merci beau coup.
The idea that he lived as a Polynesian citizen attending the Madrassa and doesn’t speak a foreign language!! Hardly.
maverick muse on October 28, 2008 at 8:43 AM
It’s fine that Powell likes Obama, I don’t mind. But let’s cut the crap about Obama being a serious public servant with a constructive vision for America. He has no intention of “serving” us. On the contrary, he is exactly what we recognize him to be, indeed, what the creepy socialist art work his campaign puts out portrays him to be.
The fact that he is arrogant, and smirks rather than answers questions is reminiscent of the communists who lied to the senate back in the 50s because they hold America in such contempt.
jeff_from_mpls on October 28, 2008 at 8:44 AM
It would have been nice had Sarkozy voiced these qualms when Obama was in France instead of fawning all over him.
Disturb the Universe on October 28, 2008 at 8:44 AM
If Sarkozy–who had no foreign policy experience before becoming pres–thinks Barack X is an empty suit (and he is), just wait until Putin gets a hold of him.
I loathe the Soviets, but it’s going to be hard to suppress a chuckle after Putin schools Hussein-Obama on the international stage.
PimFortuynsGhost on October 28, 2008 at 8:48 AM
How can Obama use powell for credibility…He was a character witness for Ted Stevenson. I think it goes to judgement.
tomas on October 28, 2008 at 8:49 AM
I do feel uncomfortable using the words of a foreign leader to dis one of my own though.
tomas on October 28, 2008 at 8:49 AM
If a Frenchman calls your Arrogant, you Arrogant.
- The Cat
MirCat on October 28, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Quick, ernesto, jump in with that Bush quote about looking into Putin’s soul!!!
You’re missing a liberal talking point opportunity, man!
venividivici on October 28, 2008 at 8:51 AM
So, we’ll have Obama (overconfident, arrogant)– and Biden (crazy, unstable, fuzzy memory) handling our foreign policy? What could possibly go wrong?
marklmail on October 28, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Obama hates America, wants to rewrite the constitution, has socio-facist boys clubs being set up for him . . . He’s not one of our own.
- The Cat
MirCat on October 28, 2008 at 8:53 AM
I am still hoping for McCain to pull this off, but I have to admit I had this same thought. I don’t know if Putin will be able to meet him with a straight face. Obama will be a puppet in Putin’s hands.
BigD on October 28, 2008 at 8:58 AM
You know you’re in trouble when the FRENCH think you’re soft.
Kid from Brooklyn on October 28, 2008 at 8:58 AM
Listen, I’m not Obama supporter, but what the hell does Sarkozy know about foreign policy? He ran into Georgia and negotiated a really stupid deal with Russia that basically allowed the Red Army to occupy and trash most of Georgia for the better part of six weeks…
Outlander on October 28, 2008 at 8:58 AM
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/obama_no_merci_beaucoup_campaign_song/
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Amen!
ConservativePartyNow on October 28, 2008 at 8:59 AM
You’re right. Obama is NOT one of us. He’s done a supreme PR job, and marketing his Marxist agenda as “tax cuts for the middle class” is masterful. These mindless robots who don’t see this put the future of our country at risk.
marklmail on October 28, 2008 at 8:59 AM
You know you’re in trouble when the FRENCH think you’re soft.
Kid from Brooklyn on October 28, 2008 at 8:58 AM
Pray for our country
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 8:59 AM
That’s a good observation. The left’s principal mode of attack on a public conservative is not to argue against him, but to say he’s stupid. If they were to argue against his traditional American ideas, they would necessarily sound anti-American, which they can’t afford to do. They have to sound all hopey and changey, so they say he’s stupid, or that America needs a “smarter war on terror than our opponent is proposing,” which means, “we’d rather not say exactly what it is that he doesn’t know but we know, for that would reveal a bit too much about us.”
jeff_from_mpls on October 28, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Obama hates America, wants to rewrite the constitution, has socio-facist boys clubs being set up for him . . . He’s not one of our own.
- The Cat
MirCat on October 28, 2008 at 8:53 AM
Yup. I don’t think there is any question that our (the US’s) best interests if Barack X wins will be served by Sarkozy, Merkel, Harper, Livni, and even Brown, Singh, and Rudd looking out for the US. It sure as hell won’t be Hussein-Obama.
For the trolls–yes, I just said I trust foreign leaders to act in America’s best interests than the prospective president.
PimFortuynsGhost on October 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Au contraire. The French Flag Waivers thinking The One is an empty suit just confirms what everyone right of Dan Rather already suspected.
phreshone on October 28, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Plus, Sarkozy’s wife is hot.
Angela Davis Obama? Ewwwwwww.
PimFortuynsGhost on October 28, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Funny you mention it… I wasn’t going to say anything, but yes, that thought did occur to me.
4shoes on October 28, 2008 at 9:02 AM
“I looked into Putin’s eyes and saw three letters – K, G, B.”
Best and most accurate quote about Vladmir Putin EVER!
I’m shamelessly stealing this line, baby!!
mjk on October 28, 2008 at 9:02 AM
This is just another experiment in affirmative action. With Clinton, the world experimented with letting the showered-and-shaved hippies from the 1960s try their hand at acting like the grown-ups in the GOP.
It failed, and people around the world laughed at us.
Bush got in and the grown-ups were in charge again. Jihadis have paid the bill that was so very long past due.
Now, we’re thinking about giving the juveniles another shot, because some people think they are “owed this”. Whatevs. Sarkozy is only the first one to figure out that the Emperor’s clothes are missing.
Jaibones on October 28, 2008 at 9:05 AM
obama no merci beaucoup campaign song
what the french think of obama
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/obama_no_merci_beaucoup_campaign_song/
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 9:06 AM
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=206933
Take the day off and vote
tomas on October 28, 2008 at 9:07 AM
Arrogance to make up for it.
Mr. Sarkozy, He’s a great man.
Thank you Ed for this news. You just made my day.
Monas on October 28, 2008 at 9:07 AM
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=206933
Take the day off and vote
tomas on October 28, 2008 at 9:07 AM
Obama’s supporters would have to have ajob first
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 9:08 AM
Taxes are definitely going up. For everyone. How else is ‘O’ going to pay for those tests he going to give foreign leaders?
TinMan13 on October 28, 2008 at 9:08 AM
He never met a tax he didn’t like
he got friends like Rev Wright
He’d rather give away the farm than fight
no merci beaucoup
Obama no merci beaucoup
Obama no merci beaucoup
Obama no merci beaucoup
no merci beaucoup
He thinks oil should be against the law
He runs down america
Hell He’s asheamed of his own Grandma
no merci beaucoup
Obama no merci beaucoup
Obama no merci beaucoup
Obama no merci beaucoup
no merci beaucoup
Good people that work all day he got plans to dock your pay…
Greatest campaign song ever…
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Yes. Obama is lying. He has no intention of giving a middle class tax cut. I don’t believe he’ll raise income taxes on people making under $75k or so, but he will do death taxes, he will raise capital gains rates (which affect everyone), and he will increase income tax rates on FAR more than just those making $250k or more. He will blame all of this on Bush-McCain’s disastrous policies and the subprime mortgage crisis and so forth.
Outlander on October 28, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Do you also feel that the alleged middle class tax cut is also a lie?
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 8:21 AM
yes. He wants to raise taxes by letting the bush tax cuts expire then give some of it back to the middle class. That means he wants to get rid of the $1000 child tax credit and he says he is going to make up the difference in a rebate.
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 9:16 AM
So what you’re saying is:
If Obama is elected, the French won’t like us.
Vote John McCain.
Put that in an ad. Now.
BKennedy on October 28, 2008 at 9:17 AM
That sounds good, but if world leaders chose to not write essays on Marxist dialectic and Hegalian synthesis, Obama will be clueless on what to do next.
Right_of_Attila on October 28, 2008 at 9:22 AM
I pray for S korea, tawain, Iraq, Gerogia, eastern europe, columbia. It will be a new world by 2012. communism and marxism will be on the march with no defender of freedom. The middle ages revisted
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
joeswampy on October 28, 2008 at 9:38 AM
I may like what was allegedly said better than most unsourced claims, but, this is still from unnamed sources that just happened to have access to what was said in closed door meetings….Seems fishy to me.
JadeNYU on October 28, 2008 at 9:41 AM
That’s why I thank God every day that I was born in relatively isolated part of the world. Still concerned about Rudd’s ability to run the Australian economy though.
Crux Australis on October 28, 2008 at 9:45 AM
That’s why I thank God every day that I was born in relatively isolated part of the world. Still concerned about Rudd’s ability to run the Australian economy though.
Crux Australis on October 28, 2008 at 9:45 AM
How long can austrialia with its riches in natrual resources survive independent from china or India without the USA. One of our best treaties is with Austrialia and I worry Obama will gut it in favor of greater china ties.
unseen on October 28, 2008 at 9:52 AM
What are all these hypocritical American Jew’s, (esp. FLORIDA!) thinking? Do they hold no respect for Israel? There is no “maybe” about Obama’s views on Israel. If he’s in office, Israel is going down.
anniekc on October 28, 2008 at 9:53 AM
So you are telling me now that other countries leaders opinion’s of U.S presidents should be encouraged and taken
seriously.
With this new found respect for France(by the way right of centre here-u.k and europe is on a different scale to the U.S).Maybe you could apoligise for the attacks and boycott’s called by your nation when France chose not to agree to the brillently conceived ,excellent execution that is the Iraq war.
To slander a nation and it’s war dead for not just following Bush’s orders was a disagree.
Hopefully there are some French people pissing themselves laughing at these comments.
mags on October 28, 2008 at 9:55 AM
But don’t the US Democrats and Australian Labor Party have a “sister-party” relationship? Or is it only for political expediency?
Which US Party is really more friendly to Australia? I’m a little confused now.
Crux Australis on October 28, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Hahahahaha, word.
Sir Andrew on October 28, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Not just Rudd, but any politician. Politicians shouldn’t be “running” economies. When will we learn?
mr.blacksheep on October 28, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Here’s the scenario for the international incident that “Joe the Dumber” spoke of after Obama’s (spit) inauguration (spit). It won’t come from our traditional enemies either.
The Israeli’s, shortly after President Obama (spit) moves into the Oval Office, re-evaluate their own ability to deter an Iranian attack, given Obama’s (spit)”re-alignment” of US policy goals in the Middle East. Concluding that the US is no longer a reliable ally, Israel decides to unilaterally strike Iranian nuclear facilities before they can develop nuclear weapons. The attack takes out 75% of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Syrian forces immediately attack Israel, reoccupy Lebanon and rioting breaks out over all Palestinian territories. Egypt and Jordan break diplomatic relations with Israel and begin a general mobilization along Israel’s borders. Iran declares war on Israel and demands “right of passage” through Iraq to move their forces to Syria. Iraq, fearing an Iranian invasion concedes to Iranian demands. US forces, already in the process of Obama’s (spit) promised withdrawel, are powerless to intervene. The government of Iraq is overthrown by Muqtada Sadr’s Mahdi Army and declares war on Israel. US forces come under attack from radical Shite Muslims. The Russian Navy moves into the eastern Meditteranean ostensibly on a training exercise but everyone knows they are there to stop direct US intervention. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government is overthrown in a radical led coup and breaks relations with the US. Taliban and Al-Queda forces in Afghanistan, with Pakistani help, step up attacks on US and coalition forces. India, fearing a radical nuclear armed Pakistan, orders its forces to full alert along the border….
It’s 3 am. America is sleeping. The phone rings in the White House and President Obama (spit) answers. When informed of the international crisis he says, “Call Joe Biden, he’s the expert.”
sdd on October 28, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Now that’s what I call black humor (no racial reference intended).
mr.blacksheep on October 28, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Hmph…. Since When did HotAir start blogging on stories from obviously biased sources like Haaretz?
Class act there Edward.
LibertarianConservative on October 28, 2008 at 11:02 AM
This story was all over CNN….
HAHAAHA! I crack myself up…
right2bright on October 28, 2008 at 11:13 AM
mags,
“So you are telling me now that other countries leaders opinion’s of U.S presidents should be encouraged and taken
seriously.”
You’re missing the points. One of the pillars of the Obama campaign has been that other nations don’t respect the U.S. any more, and that an Obama presidency will change that, because he has such a great understanding of other nations. This report puts a big dent in that pillar.
The other point is the (so far) unwillingness of the MSM to report this. If Sarkozy had said this about McCain …
exhelodrvr on October 28, 2008 at 11:16 AM
What is frightening is that I can’t find any obvious holes in that scenario. Some of it might be a bit on the tail of the probability, but nothing too unlikely.
Count to 10 on October 28, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I love Sarkozy…which makes me wonder if he is really French.
Glenn Jericho on October 28, 2008 at 11:31 AM
If the RNC were smart, they should make this into a political add immediately and run it in all 50 states. People are choosing to vote for the one because they think it will make the world like us better.
Who knew that France could save us?
pt on October 28, 2008 at 11:33 AM
So, after all is said and done, how dowe organize to take out the Democratic majority in the 2010 elections, and then the Marxist President in 2012, in addition to regaining the Senate. Once the 40% in this country that doesn`t pay taxes gets the big increase in welfare, they will not want to change sides in the next election, and then you have the 12 million plus illegals that will be added to the dole under B.Hussein Obama.There is an obvious racial component with over 95% of the blacks voting for Obama, and that won`t change in 2012 unless they lsiten to that learned scholar “Charles Barkley” who said “blacks have been voting for democrats for 50 years and are still poor”
HAGGS99 on October 28, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Biden did say that he has forgotten more about foreign policy than most other Senators know. Let’s just Hope(TM) that he hasn’t forgotten something really important in the event that his team takes office.
I think they would need all of Biden’s experience, forgotten or not, because the top of the ticket has no clothes, either. That makes an empty suit with no clothes, for whatever that simile is worth.
unclesmrgol on October 28, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Here is a mid-day palate-cleanser that I am posting to all of today’s threads. It’s very inspirational and I promise it will be worth 2 minutes of your life. Birth of the U.S.
ManlyRash on October 28, 2008 at 11:59 AM
ManlyRash
Excellent! it might come to that
HAGGS99 on October 28, 2008 at 12:09 PM
The Sarkozy story is a stunner but, as I point out here, there’s tons more that indicts Obama’s foreign policy.
LFRGary on October 28, 2008 at 12:09 PM
You know its bad when a Frenchman calls you a pussy…
Wyznowski on October 28, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Unfortunately, all the excitement has not been good for old Joe’s anurysims, and he is at present in no condition to come to the phone.
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Biden also likes to claim that he has a higher IQ than anyone else in the room.
MarkTheGreat on October 28, 2008 at 12:23 PM
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