SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Barack Obama told Russia's leader Monday that he would have more flexibility after the November election to deal with the contentious issue of missile defense, a candid assessment of political reality that was picked up by a microphone without either leader apparently knowing.Not surprisingly, the GOP presidential candidates seized on Obama's unguarded moment with Medvedev and the White House has been attempting to spin or outright ignore Obama's statement caught on the open mike.
Obama's Republican opponents pounced on the comment, saying the president has a hidden agenda that could include concessions to the Russians if he is re-elected this fall.
"This is my last election," Obama is heard telling outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. "After my election, I have more flexibility."
Medvedev replied in English, according to ABC News: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir," an apparent reference to incoming President Vladmir Putin.
Obama and Medvedev did not intend for their comments, made during a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, to be made public.
The thing that I find most disturbing is that Barack Obama would find himself more 'flexible' on a number of issues that aren't neccesarily limited to missile defense and concessions to Russians.
Even if the Republicans manage to maintain the majority in the House and win a majority in the Senate, keep in mind the Democrats have made it clear they intend to circumvent Congress whenever possible should Obama win a second term [he's already demonstrated a penchant for doing exactly that in his first term- NANESB!]. Since losing the Democrat supermajority after the 2010 midterms, President Obama seems content to use executive orders or regulatory fiat to impose further regulations.
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