McCain Hits Obama on Hamas Support

The kind words Hamas political adviser Ahmed Yousef had for Sen. Barack Obama drew fire from Sen. John McCain who says they show his probable opponent in the fall presidential election is the terrorist group's choice.

“I think it is very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States," McCain said in a conference call to bloggers Friday according to Fox News. "I think that the people should understand that I will be Hamas’ worst nightmare."

In his own case, McCain said, he wears Hamas's obvious rejection of him as a "badge of honor."

Fox News recalled that two weeks ago in an interview with WABC radio and WorldNetDaily the Hamas' Yousef declared that the terrorist group supports Obama’s foreign policy vision.

“Actually, we like Mr. Obama," Yousef said. "We hope he will [win] the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle,” he said.

McCain guessed that Hamas's support of Obama is a result of the Illinois senator's expressed willingness to have diplomatic talks, with nations such as Iran, without pre-conditions.

“I never expect for the leader of Hamas . . . to say that he wants me as president of the United States,” McCain said. “I think it is very clear . . . why they would not want me to be president of the United States. So if Sen. Obama is favored by Hamas, I think people can make judgments accordingly.”

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers added that the Hamas support “is a legitimate issue for the American people to think about, saying that "the reason for Hamas’ praise of Senator Obama’s foreign policy is his commitment to meet unconditionally with Iran . . . It is not only responsible to raise these critical issues in this election, but it would be the height of irresponsibility not to have this discussion with the American people.”

Rogers called Obama’s foreign policy a “radical departure” from current standards of dealing with “rogue regimes.”

Noting that it had already rejected Hamas’ legitimacy, the Obama camp has said he would not negotiate with Hamas unless the group renounces terrorism, recognizes Israel’s right to exist, and holds to other agreements.