Verbal fight went on Thursday between the White House and Democrats over President George W. Bush's "appeasing" comment that was interpreted as attacks at Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"It is not specifically referring to any individual and doesn't exclude any individual," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters.
He referred the remarks Bush has made during his visit to Israel on Wednesday, saying "some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along."
Bush also described the move as "foolish delusion" and "false comfort of appeasement."
Johndroe clarified the president's remarks as "referring to any number of people who have suggested that talking with terrorists or their sponsors is the right way to go."
However, Obama, the Democratic presidential forerunner who is an advocate for diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue, including talks and negotiations, responded to Bush's "political attack" immediately by issuing a statement.
"George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the president's extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people," he said in the statement.
House Speaker and majority leader Nancy Pelosi joined the fight, saying during her weekly press conference "I think that what the president did in that regard was beneath the dignity of the office of president and unworthy of our representation at that observance in Israel" for its 60th anniversary.
In return, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino also noted that Bush was not targeting Obama but just reiterating "the long established policy of the United States" of not talking with those considered terrorists.
She added that Bush was not trying to wade into the presidential campaign.
Source:Xinhua
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