[NYTr] Debating Dems on Chavez, Fidel, et al.

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

VIO Daily News Roundup - Jul 24, 2007

[In debates held on CNN last night, candidates for the democratic
presidential nomination Barack Obama and John Edwards expressed
willingness to meet with President Chavez early on if they were to gain
office.  Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, disagreed.  The question
grouped Venezuela together with Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea as
countries with which the U.S. has poor diplomatic relations.  Obama was
the most enthusiastic about restarting dialogue with the leaders of
those countries, saying that  "I think it is a disgrace that we have
not spoken to them.' -VIO]

The Miami Herald - July 24, 2007
http://www.miamiherald.com/581/story/179947.html

Obama, Edwards say they would meet with Castro, Chávez

By Beth Reinhard

Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and John Edwards
suggested Monday that they would meet with two leaders who top South
Florida's most-hated list: Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez.

During a nationally televised debate, Obama responded to a hypothetical
question: ``Would you be willing to meet separately, without
precondition, during the first year of your administration, in
Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria,
Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that
divides our countries?

The senator from Illinois responded: ``I would, and the reason is this:
the notion that somehow not talking to countries is somehow punishing
them, which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this
administration, is ridiculous.''

``Ronald Reagan and Democratic presidents like JFK constantly spoke to
the Soviet Union at a time when Ronald Reagan called them an evil
empire, and the reason is because they understood that we may not trust
them, that they may pose an extraordinary danger to this country, but
we have the obligation to find areas where we can potentially move
forward.''

He added: ``And I think it is a disgrace that we have not spoken to
them.''

The Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, disagreed with her leading
rival: ``I will not promise to meet with the leaders of these countries
during my first year. . .I don't want to be used for propaganda
purposes and don't want to make a situation even worse, but I certainly
agree that we need to get back to diplomacy, which has been turned into
a bad word by this administration.''

The question was then posed to Edwards, who said, ``Yes, I think
Senator Clinton is right, though. Before that meeting takes place, we
need to do the work, the diplomacy to make sure the meeting is not
going to be used for propaganda purposes.''

Edwards' campaign has previously decried Chávez's repressive policies.
Edwards has campaigned with actor Danny Glover, who has embraced the
Venezuelan president.

In 2000, Edwards was quoted as saying: ``I support sanctions that
target Fidel Castro's regime but help the innocent Cuban people,
allowing trade for food and medical supplies that help ease the
horrible burdens they suffer.''

Obama also opposes ending the embargo, campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki
said after the debate.

''He is willing to talk to the highest levels of the Cuba government if
it advances our national interests,'' she said in an e-mail.

The question about Castro and Chávez came from Stephen Sorta of Diamond
Bar, Calif., via YouTube video in the first-of-its-kind debate. He said
on CNN after the debate that he was ''pleased'' by Obama's response.

But CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said, ``Obama looked inexperienced
and naive. . .It was a very big win for (Clinton) on that question.''

The Republican candidates for president will field questions from
makers of YouTube videos on Sept. 17, in a debate in St. Petersburg
co-sponsored by the Republican Party of Florida. Questions can be
submitted to www.rpof.org.