Ensign accuses Obama of foreign policy flip-flop…

U.S. Sen. John Ensign: Getty Images PhotoLAS VEGAS -- In a conference call on Tuesday regarding U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's visit to Nevada, U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) said he believes that Obama lacks the experience and judgment necessary to be president and accused the Illinois Democrat of a "John Kerry-type" of flip-flop.

"Nevada is still-it's a right-of-center state," said Ensign. "It may be slightly right-of-center, but it certainly does not match up with Barack Obama, who is the most liberal member of the United States Senate."

Ensign hit Obama on taxes, foreign policy and Obama's plan to address the home foreclosure crisis.

On taxes, Ensign said that "One of the reasons we've been so successful with our economy is attracting a lot of companies from California and other places because of our low tax base."

"Barack Obama, I don't think, has seen a tax increase that he hasn't liked. Especially the idea of raising our capital gains tax by 28% is just completely outrageous, and would really do serious damage to our financial markets."

The flip-flop in question regarded Obama's previous statements that he would be willing to meet-without preconditions-with the leaders of some of the United States' international adversaries, including North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.

Obama said yesterday in New Mexico that "There's no reason why we would necessarily meet with Ahmadinejad before we know that he was actually in power. He's not the most powerful person in Iran."

Ahmadinejad faces a presidential election of his own next year.

"I think that [Obama] has shown a complete lack of experience by some of the comments that he has made," said Ensign. "The fact that he would sit down with Ahmadinejad-and now he's kind of flip-flopping on that. He's doing a John Kerry-type of an imitation by flip-flopping on that."

"People like leaders of North Korea, all these people, let's face it, are brutal dictators, they are terrorists, and they are not friends of the United States. When you elevate them to that point by taking the office of the presidency of the United States, it puts them in a position to make their policy agenda, and their own foreign policy, much more effective. That's not what we want to do in the United States."

Ensign's criticism of Obama is similar to a tactic used by N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton earlier in the Democratic primary. Clinton had referred to that willingness to meet with Ahmadinejad as "irresponsible and frankly naïve."

Ensign also said that Obama's housing plan has been rejected by Conn. Sen. Chris Dodd, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

In Las Vegas earlier today, Obama endorsed a plan by Dodd and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) to create a new FHA Housing Security Program to provide incentives for lenders to buy or refinance existing mortgages and convert them to 30-year fixed rate mortgages. Asked if he or McCain would support that proposal, Ensign said "We are looking at that right now."

"I think that the way the bill is drafted right now is overly broad," said Ensign. "We're looking at ways we could possibly change it."

Ensign said he was worried the plan would give homeowners an incentive to default on their loans.