Does Obama really have a position on anything? His web site has been changed more often than his stance on the objects.

Maybe we should ask Michelle.

Barry's massive experience as a, well, no one really knows, is really making everyone feel good about the future of America in his massively experienced hands.

But he's black! Change you can believe in, and stuff.

Give me a break. You can't spin "he will meet only if such a meeting advances the interests of the U.S." as a precondition. Preconditions have a specific meaning in a diplomatic context, and they do not refer to the basic assumptions about or preparations for a meeting. If the author of this post doesn't understand that, then find a qualified person to do the reporting.

Justin

Obama said what he said.

Why do you feel the need to insert something into their meaning that wasn't there? Can't your puppet speak for himself or do you have dame bramage?

Ummm, hasn't he ALWAYS pre-conditioned talking to Iran on America's best interests? Why else we he talk to them...to advance NON-American interests?

This is easily one of the dumbest statements I've ever heard.

NOBODY opposes talking to someone when it's in America's interest. I defy you to find one statement where any major politician has said we should not talk to someone when it is in our best interests to do so.

If that's all Obama meant, then his statement is meaningless and a waste of breath.

But that's not what he said. What he said, essentially, is that talking to anybody and everybody, at any time about pretty much anything, is always in America's best interest. A position that is so idiotic from a historical perspective and from a perspective of anybody who understands even very basic points about diplomacy, that it's a bit difficult to fathom.

You want a man that does not understand the what the words "without precondition" to be the leader of this country. Obama is a well educated, intelligent man. He knew what that meant and his clarification is nothing but a contradicition to his original statement. It is amazing how those will believe what ever he says.

Yes Bab's I am. But I doubt that he will get more than 5 states out of the 57.

Job loss under Obama will be tremendous. He and the Unions will see to it. the price of gas will skyrocket because he won't drill here. We will be at the mideast's beck and call.

His position looks consistent to me, and it is not AT ALL like Bush's. The Bush administration says, basically, we will not talk to you until after you give of us everything we want. Since that is never going to happen, we would be stuck in place for ever, with no way out but war. And that would be catastrophic.

Obama = gut the military, raise interest rates to 20%, gas lines, tolerance of terrorists,oh wait that was Carter. ok Carter = Obama

How all of a sudden is Iran 'THE ENEMY'? Iran wasn't 'THE ENEMY' in 2002, when Bush was lying to the world to convince everyone IRAQ was 'THE ENEMY'. In fact, we never heard a peep about Iran as 'THE ENEMY' back then. But now that Bush has occupied Iraq , he and McCain simply replace the word 'Iraq' with 'Iran', and now, magically, Iran is 'THE ENEMY'.

The neo-conservative Republican approach to foreign policy, and life in general, is extremely sad and wrought with lies and failure. I am so glad we have a candidate in Obama who has something that's been lacking in the White House for 8 years -- COMMON SENSE.

Obama must really think Americans, and specifically Jewish Americans, have short memories. It apparently doesn't occur to him that people exercise recall, and can remember his originally stated positions.

It's as if every time he speaks (or gaffes), he thinks it's all brand new- a fresh idea, and that everything he's stated previously will magically evaporate.

Business as usual for Obama- say or do anything for political expediency.

I will talk to the man who wants to kill me and my friends with no preconditions. I will talk to the man who wants to kill me and my friends only with preconditions. How can that be consistent? koolaid drinkers!

He is still not as dumb as bush.So he has evolved his position. If this currentpresident evolved his position this country would probably not be in the mess it is in now.Flip flop or whatever. The man may and obviously has recognized his mistakes.He is tweaking his position.Let me ask you a question? Have you or anyone you know ever made a misunderstood statement.

Eric -

Not only was Iran not the ENEMY in 2002, but they were making overtures of cooperation. They strongly condemned the 9/11 attacks and even gave us some intelligence to help in Afghanistan.

But the Bush administration slammed the door in their face ("not talking"), and probably helped bring down the moderate government and allowing the hardliners to come to power. That's what "not talking" gets you.

Obama has said he wants to not only end the war, but to end the mind-set that got us into war in the first place. I pray he succeeds.

CHAOS - The same conditions were in both statements. Advancing the interests of the United States is assumed. What else would we do?

This explains why the Republicans have done so poorly in the diplomatic front.

They stupidly believe that diplomacy is calling up world leaders and inviting them over for tea without doing any footwork first.

Sadly, Obama has had to "clarify" his position by educating clueless Republicans like McCain on the details of how diplomacy is conducted.

Apparently the Republicans are such idiots when it comes to diplomacy, that without Obama holding their hand step-by-step through the DETAILS of how diplomacy works, Republicans can't tell the difference between a tea party and diplomacy.

Sadly, when Obama finally leads them by the hand and shows them how diplomacy is done, the Republicans claim that it is OBAMA's position that is changed. That isn't the case. It is only that the Republicans false impression about what diplomacy entails that has changed.

Now that Republicans have been educated about the details of how Obama will conduct talks with Iran, they falsely say that Obama's position has changed.

Nice work, Jonathan Karl. First you confuse your own idea of tea parties with world leaders for Obama's REAL position of hard negotiations. Then when Obama points out your ignorance about diplomacy equaling tea parties, you say that Obama is the one who has changed.

Hack.

Why are you scared Babs? He cannot do any worst that the current administration.

jock; wrong!

Pretty soon Obama will be copying McCains positions just like he did Clinton's. The "man" (I still think he's gay)is an idiot.