--- title: Martin O'Malley's Foreign Policy Vision: It's the Economy description: Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley laid out his vision for American foreign policy at a conference on Friday. canonical: https://time.com/3938080/martin-omalley-foreign-policy/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-06-26T19:38:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:02:46.084Z article:section: Politics og:title: Martin O'Malley's Foreign Policy Vision: It's the Economy og:description: The Democratic candidate spelled out his vision Friday. og:url: https://time.com/3938080/martin-omalley-foreign-policy/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9c0fa25bc79bf1a3/69885896e20a872918a8c0bf/gettyimages-475755368.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Martin O'Malley Addresses U.S. Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Martin O'Malley's Foreign Policy Vision: It's the Economy twitter:description: The Democratic candidate spelled out his vision Friday. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9c0fa25bc79bf1a3/69885896e20a872918a8c0bf/gettyimages-475755368.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Martin O'Malley's Foreign Policy Vision: It's the Economy by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Jun 26, 2015 7:38 PM UTC  U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley speaks at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce June 3, 2015 in Washington, DC. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley speaks at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce June 3, 2015 in Washington, DC.Win McNamee—Getty Images by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Jun 26, 2015 7:38 PM UTC In a speech Friday morning that Martin O’Malley’s presidential campaign billed as “his most comprehensive remarks to date on U.S. foreign policy,” the former governor instead turned toward an area where he has more experience: the economy. “Ultimately, the source of America’s global strength is our own prosperity at home,” O’Malley said. “No fighter jet or troop battalion will keep us as safe as a vibrant economy, a strong democracy, and a growing middle class.” “Only with a stronger and more inclusive economy can we maintain our security,” he continued. For a candidate with little direct experience in foreign policy, O’Malley’s remarks Friday were a moderate foray into national security issues in a Democratic primary that has largely been defined by economic questions. Unlike Hillary Clinton, the globetrotting former secretary of state, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who can point to his vote in opposition of the Iraq war and other Senate business, the border O’Malley perhaps knows best is the state line of Maryland, where he was governor for eight years. ### See the 2016 Candidates Looking Very Presidential  Sen. Ted Cruz is surrounded by stars and stripes at the 2014 Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2014. Mark Peterson—Redux  Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton gazes pensively into the distance at Iowa Senator Tom Harken'a annual Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa on September 14, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME  Jeb Bush Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush flashes a power watch before giving his keynote address at the National Summit on Education Reform in Washington on Nov. 20, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Bernie Sanders waves to supporters after officially announcing his candidacy for the U.S. presidency during an event at Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont, on May 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Chris Christie New Jersey Governor Chris Christie strikes a presidential power stance at the ceremony for the opening of the 206 bypass in Hillsborough, New Jersey on October 28, 2013. Mark Peterson—Redux  Former Hewlett-Packard Co Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina listens to her introduction from the side of the stage at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015. Jim Young—Reuters  Rand Paul Sen. Rand Paul works a crowd during a campaign stop on October 24, 2014 in McDonough, Georgia. Jessica McGowan—Getty Images  Rick Perry Texas Gov. Rick Perry looks powerfully patriotic during the National Anthem before an NCAA college football game on Nov. 27, 2014, in College Station, Texas. David J. Phillip—AP  Bobby Jindal Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal looks to the future during The Family Leadership Summit on Aug. 9, 2014, in Ames, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall—AP  Martin O'Malley Maryland Governor Martin OíMalley ponders decorating ideas in front of his possible future home on CBS's Face the Nation on Feb. 23, 2014. Chris Usher—AP  Marco Rubio Sen. Marco Rubio looks determined the morning after the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2014. Melissa Golden—Redux  Ben CarsonBen Carson at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference on March 8, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Jim Webb Retiring Sen. Jim Webb imitates the presidential wave during a rally in Virginia Beach, Va. on Sept. 27, 2012. Steve Helber—AP  John Kasich Ohio Gov. John Kasich practices his presidential victory pose at the Ohio Republican Party celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio. Tony Dejak—AP  Rick Santorum Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum looks resolute at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 7, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  Scott Walker Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker practices the presidential point on March 3, 2014 in Milwaukee. Jeffrey Phelps—AP  Mike Huckabee Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee fine-tunes his presidential oratory at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md. on March 7, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Lincoln Chafee, Former Rhode Island Governor, poses for a selfie with a student after announcing he will seek the Democratic nomination for president in Arlington, Va. on June 3, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Lindsey Graham Lindsey Graham announced his plans to join the 2016 presidential race. Alex Wong—Getty Images  George Pataki Former New York governor George Pataki listens to a question at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, in this April 17, 2015 file photo. Brian Snyder—Reuters But O’Malley has been brushing up on his foreign policy chops, formulating a national security vision partially in concert with an informal advisor and fellow alum of the 1984 Gary Hart presidential campaign, Doug Wilson. O’Malley has met before with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Wilson said, and made several trips to Israel and Palestine. During his keynote address at the Truman National Security Project conference in Washington D.C., O’Malley did not name specific proposals for addressing any major foreign policy issues, instead speaking generally about strengthening U.S. cybersecurity, combating climate change and “degrading” the Islamic State, “not only with military power” but with “political solutions.” He made a reference to the attack on American diplomats in Benghazi, but did not mention Clinton herself. “And we must recognize that there are real lessons to be learned from the tragedy in Benghazi,” O’Malley said. “Namely, we need to know in advance who is likely to take power—or vie for it—once a dictator is toppled.” Clinton has been criticized by Republicans for her handling of the crisis in which a U.S. ambassador, Chris Stevens was killed. Climate change, O’Malley said, is an urgent challenge facing global security, calling it “a very real existential threat to human life” and “the greatest business opporuntiy to come to our country in a hundred years. He pointed to the Internet as the new frontier of national security, saying that stolen intellectual property and cybercrime cost American jobs and “could grind our national and metro economies to a halt.” But ultimately, O’Malley said that America’s role is to advance a rising global middle class, focusing on economic development at home and abroad. “Only with a stronger and more inclusive American economy, will we succeed in pursuing a more effective foreign policy for the cause that we lead: of a rising global middle class—free from oppression, want, and fear,” O’Malley said. O’Malley has so far rested his candidacy largely on his economic platform. He points to Maryland’s growth during the recession, and calls for separating commercial and investment banks, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and expanding Social Security. He has framed himself as an economic populist and a progressive alternative to Clinton. O’Malley hasn’t been a particularly vocal observer of foreign policy in the past. Even during an eight-day trip to Israel and Palestine in April 2013, his third to the country, he shied away from reporters’ questions on the conflict. “I’m sure all of you will ask me foreign policy questions,” he said as he opened the floor, the [New York _Times_](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/in-israel-omalley-talks-jobs-foreign-policy-and-of-course-2016/) reported that year. “I respect your right to ask them, and I hope you’ll respect my right to shy away from answering them.” He said last year during the war with Gaza in which over 2,000 Gazans and more than 60 Israelis were killed that “[Israel has a right to defend itself](http://fusion.net/video/3298/gov-omalley-israel-i-believe-has-a-right-to-defend-itself/),” but when pressed, O’Malley didn’t comment on whether the violence was disproportionate. ### LIFE's Best Convention Photos: The Democrats  Scene at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. John Phillips—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Of this picture, LIFE noted in its July 29, 1940, issue: "Trying, amid the general convention apathy and sullenness, to find some Democrats who appeared to be having fun \[as it was clear FDR would be nominated for an unprecedented third term, the convention lacked drama\], a LIFE photographer went to the famous 606 Club ... featuring an almost continuous strip tease." John Phillips—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Senator Harry S. Truman and his family at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Ed Clark—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Roosevelt supporters demonstrate at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago where he was nominated for a fourth term. Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  George Vaughn of Missouri offers motion to unseat the anti-Truman delegation from Mississippi during the 1948 Democratic National Convention. Gjon Mili—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Franklin D. Roosevelt's oldest son, James, gets makeup for a television broadcast during the 1948 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Penn. George Skadding—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Alabama delegation leader Handy Ellis (center) on the floor during the 1948 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Ellis,a "Dixiecrat," would eventually lead a walkout over the Democratic platform plank supporting civil rights. Francis Miller—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Soapy Williams sings the Star Spangled Banner during the 1952 Democratic convention in Chicago. Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Mrs. Estes Kefauver (center, in white hat) watching the action at the 1952 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Michigan Senator Blair Moody (right) and Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. confer during the 1952 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Hank Walker—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Mrs. John F. Kennedy at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Howard Sochurek—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Left to right: Senator Estes Kefauver, Gov. Frank Clement, Sen. Albert Gore and candidate Adlai Stevenson at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Francis Miller—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Delegates strategize on the floor during the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Howard Sochurek—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Scene at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Howard Sochurek—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Two-way radios were used to interview delegates on the floor at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Howard Sochurek—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Georgia Congresswoman Iris Blitch, a staunch segregationist during her time in Congress, being saluted by her state's delegates before her speech at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Frank Scherschel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Democratic politician Averell Harriman watches former President Harry S. Truman support him during the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Harriman lost the nomination to Adlai Stevenson that year, and in 1952. Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy confers with his brother and campaign organizer, Robert Kennedy, in a hotel suite during the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Hank Walker—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Scene at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Ralph Crane—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn of Texas grieves over Lyndon Johnson's defeat at the 1960 Democratic National Convention after JFK won the nomination. Johnson, of course, was added to the ticket as Kennedy's VP pick. Howard Sochurek—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Eleanor Roosevelt addresses delegates at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, where she supported Illinois' Adlai Stevenson over the party's eventual nominee, John F. Kennedy. Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not originally published in LIFE. Senator John F. Kennedy speaks at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Ed Clark—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Adlai Stevenson (center) and Lyndon Johnson (right) congratulate John F. Kennedy on winning the party's presidential nomination at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Paul Schutzer—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Delegates from Illinois show their support for President Lyndon Johnson at the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. John Dominis—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Robert F. Kennedy (right), his wife Ethell and Democratic stalwart Averell Harriman at a reception for Jackie Kennedy during the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. John Dominis—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  President Lyndon Johnson with his running mate Hubert Humphrey during the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Francis Miller—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Demonstrators protest American involvement in the Vietnam War outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 1968. Charles Phillips—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not originally published in LIFE. Connecticut delegates and Eugene McCarthy supporters Paul Newman (right) and playwright Arthur Miller during the contentious 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Ralph Crane—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  A protestor is grabbed by police during a demonstration outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 1968. Lee Balterman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  California delegate Charles Anderson burns his credentials to protest the party's decision to seat only half of Georgia's civil rights delegation during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 1968. Michael Mauney—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Chicago mayor Richard Daley — a Democrat who served for five terms and remains one of the most controversial figures in Chicago political history — on the floor during the Democratic National Convention in 1968. Ralph Crane—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Delegates for Alabama's George Wallace cheer behind a delegate for New York's Shirley Chisholm—the first African-American woman ever elected to Congress—during the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach. Bill Eppridge—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  George McGovern delegation co-chair Willie Brown, Jr.—later the powerful, long-time Speaker of the California State Assembly and, eventually, the mayor of San Francisco—embraces an unidentified woman during the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach. McGovern would win his party's nomination, but was crushed by Richard Nixon during the presidential election, winning only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. 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