CNN Reporters: Obama "Presumptuous" & Negotiations Overstep His Authority as a Senator

Last night on Anderson Cooper 360, two CNN political analysts charged that Senator Obama overstepped his authority as a United States Senator in acting as a negotiator with the Iraqi government and publicly disclosing statements made during those interviews.

During an interview with Anderson Cooper, David Gergen, CNN's Senior Political Analyst stated, "Barack Obama made the first mistake of his trip, in my judgment, in releasing a statement in which he said exactly what Maliki had said in those conversations.

We have a long tradition in this country that we only have one president at a time. He's the commander in chief and the negotiator in chief. I cannot remember a campaign which a rival seeking the presidency has been in a position negotiating a war that's under way with another party outside the country.

I think he leaves himself open to the charge tonight that he's meddling, that this is not his role, that he can be the critic, but he's not the negotiator. We have a president who does that. So, I think the underlying facts support him, but I think it would be a real mistake -- and I think it was a mistake -- to get into these conversations and let it be used politically. "

Gergens comments were later echoed by a second CNN Analyst, Gloria Borger, who charged, "I do agree with David. And Candy, in her earlier piece, talked about walking the fine line between being this candidate and being presumptuous. And I think that he may just have crossed that, because, you know, it is a tradition. You don't talk about these private conversations. And it's not up to Barack Obama right now to negotiate troop withdrawals. It's up to Barack Obama to be on a fact-finding mission, which is indeed what he has said he was on. "

Gergen and Borger have it right, Senator Obama is not the President and in fact is not even the official presidential nominee of his party. Obama's trip to Iraq is a taxpayer funded "Fact-Finding" mission in which he has no authority granted to him by congress nor the administration to engage in negotiations. His actions yesterday were indeed 'presumptuous' and violated his duties as a United States Senator.

The President of The United States is responsible for the course of foreign policy, and although Obama has the right to question or criticize that foreign policy, he has no constitutional authority to act in a negotiative role with foreign dignitaries.

The current administration is in ongoing negotiations with the Iraqi government concerning the role of US forces in assisting that government; a government that has been strengthened by a 'surge' that Barack Obama opposed and claimed would fail. Obama overstepped his role as a Senator and potentially undermined ongoing negotiations by engaging in diplomatic negotiations for his political gain.

Obama actions yesterday should be condemned by other members of congress, just as former President Carter's actions in Palestine earlier this year were condemned by congressional members. Obama is not the President and he is on a taxpayer funded fact-finding mission. Senator Obama's actions in Iraq yesterday clearly demonstrated his use of this trip for political purposes; the military should immediately pull funding for the trip and charge the Obama campaign for the millions of dollars that this overseas farce is costing.

No Congressional Member has the authority to engage in negotiations or dictate US foreign policy. Yesterday's actions show a clear arrogance and lack of respect for the office of the presidency and state department.

J Brown
07/22/2008
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