This week, Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama has been engaged in a European and Middle Eastern tour, where, among other activities, he has been meeting with foreign heads of state. This is completely inappropriate, seeing as he is not currently a head of state. He has already met with at least Angela Merkel (Germany) and Hamid Karzai (Afghanistan). He is a senator, not the President (no matter how much he might think that he already is).
On the world stage, only official heads of state ought to engage in diplomacy with one another. Aspirants need to wait until they are elected in order to do so. To do so lacks accountability and can breed confusion as some could think that his statements reflect accurate and current American policy positions.
This problem was seen in Canada during last year's climate conference in Bali. Stephane Dion, even though he was not a head of state arrogantly attended the conference feeling that he had the right to speak on Canada's behalf. Having two different delegations to represent Canada, one official and legitimate and the other intruding and out of place, did not make Canada look strong and respectable on the world stage.
Domestic politics are for within the country. Politicians should not attempt to engage in foreign policy without a mandate to do.
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6 comments:
I completely agree with your sentiment. However, while it may be just semantics, I think you mean 'Heads of State' AND 'Heads of Government'. To suggest only Heads of State would mean that Stephen Harper, who is not our Head of State, cannot conduct diplomatic activities.
Obama made some serious mistakes that can cost his country 'big time' his association with venezuelan hugo chavez and Iran. and we all know what iran wants to do to israel but iran is waiting for BUSH TO STEP DOWN and Obama to be president.
McCain did the same thing a couple of months ago, including a visit to Canada - so, get over it.
The paranoid disease is travelling fast with you guys. Unbelievable.
Face it, Obama is new and more interesting.
That's right about the head of state/head of government distinction. I have no problem with heads of government engaging in diplomacy if they have the mandate to do so.
As for the anonymous commenter who mentioned McCain, it is important to note that when he visited Canada he gave a speech to a business club; he did not engage in one-on-one diplomacy with Stephen Harper.
So its ok for other senators to go overseas and have meetings with foreign leaders but not Obama?? Remember he is tagging along with Senators Jack Reed Chuck Hagel. Anyways if he wasn't over there I'm sure your headline would be something like "Obama lacks International Experience". Oh and I'm sure if Harper would have agreed to meet with McCain he would have been more than happy to stroll over to the Hill to engage in diplomacy.
It is slowly coming out now that the big O was collecting donations from americans during this trip. Today one democratic talking head said the speech in Germany was really aimed at the young voters in the USA. The young seem to vote with feeling, compassion and concern rather than policies. Numerous commentators are saying he went over the top with this trip, and asking what did he say in his speech, nothing but cliches, no meat to them. As another expert stated, he may have gained some young votes, if they go vote, but he lost somme older voters, who do go vote. He is losing support in swing areas. Only ahead by about 4%. If he was so great, and had such great support, he should be up by double digets. One guy said he peaked too soon.
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