Obama is weak on dictators says Hoekstra (R-Mich.)

Senator John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign held a conference call on the one-year anniversary of Senator Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) declaration that he would hold diplomatic meetings with various dictators "without preconditions" once he becomes President.

Kori Schake, the senior foreign policy adviser for the McCain campaign said Obama does not understand the consequences of such a policy decision. Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) said if Obama carries out these negotiations with the leaders of Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, and Syria, he would greatly undercut efforts to restrain the nuclear activities of those countries. Hoekstra said that Obama's intent to talk with those dictators sets him up with very high performance expectations. Upon Obama's assumption of the Presidency, his credibility would be tested immediately and his open approach to discussion with dictators puts him in a weakened position to deal with real threats to national security. Hoekstra contrasted Obama's plan with McCain's objective of having a strong, multilateral approach to prevent states from becoming nuclear powers.

Randy Scheunemann, another senior foreign policy adviser for the McCain campaign, said Obama's plan shows his inexperience, stubbornness, and malleability. He added that Obama's recent softening of his plan showed that the tried to change his position without the media noticing. (21:41)