A leading American political adviser has launched a stinging attack on David Cameron's foreign policy. John Podesta has sharply criticised David Cameron's approach to the European Union.
A leading American political adviser has launched a stinging attack on David Cameron’s foreign policy. Writing in a personal capacity, John Podesta – a former aide to President Clinton and President Obama, and President of the Center for American Progress – has sharply criticised David Cameron’s approach to the European Union.
Mr Podesta was chief of staff to President Bill Clinton from 1998-2001 and co-chair of President Obama’s transition from the election to inauguration. On the website of his think tank, the Center for American Progress, he wrote:
“America’s “special relationship” needs to be with a Britain that is at the heart of, and making the case for reform and openness in, the European Union…
“Worryingly, under David Cameron’s leadership, the Conservative Party’s traditional Euro-skepticism has become more extreme. Consider, for example, his decision to have Conservative members leave the European People’s Party—the mainstream center-right grouping within the European Parliament that includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats and French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP—to form a new parliamentary group with a maverick collection of racist, homophobic, and xenophobic members of the European Parliament.
“Beyond the obvious political symbolism this entails—it is hardly good for Britain’s prestige when its European parliamentarians sit with those who have argued the election of a black U.S. president hails the end of civilization—the decision also illustrates Cameron’s willingness to forgo political influence to placate extreme elements of his own party.
In tonight’s debate, Nick Clegg described David Cameron’s alliance as “a bunch of nutters, homophobes, anti-Semites, and climate change deniers.”
Disclaimer: I worked for the Center for American Progress from 2008-09.
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34 Responses to “Former Obama transition chief slams Cameron’s EU policy”
Dan MacIntyre
Short clip looking at Conservative EU policy here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPdI3GfKk0k
Boudicca
Despite Blair’s complete capitulation of British interests to the foreign policy adventures of the Americans, the US Preident and his aides don’t choose our Government or Prime Minister. Which is just as well.
I don’t care what Obama or his aide say about the Tories EU policy … I don’t want to belong to an EU Superstate, ruled by the Brussels Bureaucrats and EU Politburo – and certainly not one that includes Turkey.
Tim Worstall
Oooh, wow! Head of social democratic think tank (which is what CEP is) attacks politician who is not social democrat.
Film at 11!
Lynda Waltho
RT @leftfootfwd: Senior Obama aide slams Cameron's EU policy as "extreme" http://bit.ly/aNogTA
Politics Summary: Friday, April 23rd | Left Foot Forward
[…] people who deny climate change exists, homophobes”. Last night Left Foot Forward reported John Podesta, a leading US political adviser, had launched an attack on Cameron’s foreign […]