Last month, the Obama Administration diplomatically wounded Britain, insulted Israel, chided Canada, and furthered the contempt of France. But while the president is snubbing our allies, he's perfectly content to appease America's rivals and enemies.
Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter, reacting to news that the White House was delaying its report to Congress on whether China is manipulating its currency, told "Fox News Sunday" he's concerned the administration could be missing a chance to help U.S. workers get on a level playing field.The report was originally scheduled for release by April 15, around the time Chinese President Hu Jintao is visiting Washington for nuclear talks."I'm not too happy about a delay," Specter said. "We have a real problem with the Chinese. They are very shrewd and customarily they outmaneuver us. They take our jobs. They take our money and then they lend it back to us and own a big part of America. So let's watch exactly ... what's happening."
Arlen Specter owes his entire political career as a Democrat to Obama and is one of the White House's most dependable allies. If he's making this criticism, then the game is up. Many are speculating that Obama's suck-up is in order to bring China onboard for sanctions against Iran. If that's true, it's the first serious effort Obama has made against the Iranians. Last year, the president almost immediately recognized Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as that nation's president, despite the sham election and the political violence that followed.
The delay is a remarkable turn-of-face from early last year, when the Obama Administration courageously called out the Chinese on currency manipulation. Tim Geithner unequivocally said during his confirmation hearing, "President Obama - backed by the conclusions of a broad range of economists - believes that China is manipulating its currency." Now the president may be willing to cover all that up rather than act unilaterally against Iran.
