Response from McCain Campaign

“It was remarkable to see Barack Obama's hysterical diatribe in response to a speech in which his name wasn't even mentioned. These are serious issues that deserve a serious debate, not the same tired partisan rants we heard today from Senator Obama. Senator Obama has pledged to unconditionally meet with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- who pledges to wipe Israel off the map, denies the Holocaust, sponsors terrorists, arms America's enemies in Iraq and pursues nuclear weapons. What would Senator Obama talk about with such a man? It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don't have enemies. But that is not the world we live in, and until Senator Obama understands that, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment and determination to keep us safe.” ---Tucker Bounds, spokesman John McCain 2008

Additionally, see the points below which refute Barack Obama's mischaracterization of Secretary Gates' position as support for his unconditional meetings between the President of the United States and rogue regimes:

Sec. Of Defense Robert Gates Said That The U.S. Should Look For Ways To Engage Iran, But Did Not Say The President Should Meet With Iran Without Preconditions During His Or Her First Year In Office. “The United States should construct a combination of incentives and pressure to engage Iran, and may have missed earlier opportunities to begin a useful dialogue with Tehran, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday.” (Karen DeYoung, “Gates: U.S. Should Engage Iran With Incentives, Pressure,” The Washington Post, 5/15/08)

Gates Advocated Engaging Iran Outside Of Government Channels. “In the meantime, Gates told a meeting of the Academy of American Diplomacy, a group of retired diplomats, ‘my personal view would be we ought to look for ways outside of government to open up the channels and get more of a flow of people back and forth.' Noting that ‘a fair number' of Iranians regularly visit the United States, he said, ‘We ought to increase the flow the other way . . . of Americans' visiting Iran.” (Karen DeYoung, “Gates: U.S. Should Engage Iran With Incentives, Pressure,” The Washington Post, 5/15/08)