Barack Obama
Questions Abound About McCain Criticism of Obama Trip
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) waves after a speech at the Victory Column in Tiergarten Park in Berlin July 24, 2008.(Reuters)
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has now joined his voice to the chorus of aides and campaign surrogates who have been alleging that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) canceled his visit to a U.S. hospital in Germany because he couldn't bring a media entourage.
McCain said Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live": "I know that according to reports that he wanted to bring media people and cameras and his campaign staffers ... "
And the campaign released another statement this afternoon, this time from a former Sergeant Major who worked at the hospital, who said, "if Senator Obama isn't comfortable meeting wounded American troops without his entourage, perhaps he does not have the experience necessary to serve as commander in chief."
In fact, there's no proof that Obama ever sought to bring the media or any entourage.
In essence, the McCain charge is this: Obama cares so little for the welfare of wounded American soldiers that he canceled the visit when he was informed he could not bring reporters and television cameras to document it.
But there is no evidence that Obama ever planned to bring anyone to the hospital other than a single military adviser, whose status as a campaign staffer sparked last-minute concern among Pentagon officials that the visit would be an improper political event. The Obama campaign has cited those concerns as the reason for canceling Obama's visit.
After being asked repeatedly for the "reports" McCain was talking about on "Larry King Live," McCain's campaign staff provided three examples, none of which made the allegation that Obama had wanted to bring media to the hospital.
Instead, all three reports -- from Fox News, The Washington Post, and MSNBC -- mentioned that the Pentagon had informed Obama of the prohibition against media and campaign visits, leaving the readers and viewers to make the leap about Obama's motive -- as the McCain campaign clearly wanted.
Obama and his top aides have all denied that the campaign ever planned to take reporters or cameras or additional campaign staff to the hospital. "Absolutely, unequivocally wrong," spokesman Tommy Vietor e-mailed just moments after McCain's "Larry King" appearance.
That is supported by reporters who traveled with Obama.
The first indication reporters got that Obama was planning, or had planned, to visit the hospital came on Thursday morning shortly after the traveling entourage arrived in Berlin. On the seats of the press bus were schedules for Obama's stop in Germany and the final entry -- a Friday morning departure -- indicated that the senator's plane would fly from Berlin to Ramstein Air Base.
When a reporter asked Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass that morning about the trip to Ramstein, she said the schedule was incorrect and out of date, that the trip had been considered but that Obama was not going to go there after all. At that point, the campaign provided no other information.
Later that night, after Obama's speech in Berlin, a campaign source talked on a not for attribution basis about the canceled trip. This official said that the original plan called for Obama to visit the hospital but leave the press on a chartered airplane on the tarmac at Ramstein. This official said that the trip had been canceled after the Pentagon informed a campaign official that the visit would be considered a campaign event.
Overnight the campaign issued two statements, one from senior official Robert Gibbs, the other from retired Air Force Major General Scott Gration, an Obama foreign policy adviser who was on the trip.
Gibbs's statement said the trip had been canceled because Obama decided it would be inappropriate to go to the hospital as part of a trip paid for by his campaign. Gration said the trip had been canceled because the Pentagon had informed the campaign the visit would be seen as a political trip.
Those two statements, while not inconsistent, left open questions as to the real reason the trip was canceled. Was it canceled in reaction to Pentagon concerns -- or did Obama simply make the decision himself out of concern for appearances? By this time the issue was blowing up back in the U.S.
On Friday afternoon, en route from Berlin to Paris, Gibbs briefed reporters traveling with Obama. Gibbs said the two statements were consistent: Gration had been informed on Wednesday night that the trip would be considered a campaign event and, on that basis, Obama then decided on the flight from Israel to Germany to cancel, Gibbs said, rather than to put wounded servicemen and women into an uncomfortable position.
Gibbs said the hospital visit had been on the schedule for several weeks and that Gration had been dealing with several military units to coordinate the stop. He added that officials at Ramstein and the Secret Service told them they needed prior approval to land a non-Air Force aircraft at the air base -- something known as a PPR (for Prior Permission Required) and that the campaign had received that PPR.
"Gration told them we would like to come -- not as a campaign event and without any press -- to make a visit," Gibbs said.
At one point a reporter asked Gibbs what the campaign had planned to do with reporters once the plane had landed at Ramstein. "You would have stayed on the plane," he replied.
Gibbs said today that the campaign had planned to inform the traveling press sometime on the morning of the flight to Ramstein that Obama was intending to visit the hospital but had made no plans to take any reporters -- including even the small, protective press pool that now accompanies Obama most places -- to the hospital.
Reporters, he said, likely would have been able to get off the plane but not leave an air base facility close by. "We had made absolutely no arrangements to transport the press to the hospital," he said. "I asked the advance guys today, 'Had we made any preparation to do that?' and they said, 'No.'"
Gibbs noted that Obama had visited with wounded soldiers several weeks earlier at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C., and at a combat support hospital while in Iraq earlier in the week -- both times without reporters.
At another point a reporter asked, "Why not just say it is never inappropriate to visit men and women in service -- what is your response to that?"
"Again, I would reiterate that we would not want to put anybody who had been wounded in service to our country in the potential position to be part of the political back and forth ... It is entirely likely that someone would have attacked us for having gone. And it is entirely likely -- and it has come about -- that people have attacked us for not going," said Gibbs.
On Saturday in London, Obama addressed the controversy during a press conference. He said Pentagon concerns about Gration's status triggered the decision not to make the visit.
"We got notice that he [Gration] would be treated as a campaign person and it would therefore be perceived as political because he had endorsed my candidacy but he wasn't on the Senate staff," Obama said. "That triggered then a concern that maybe our visit was going to be perceived as political, and the last thing that I want to do is have injured soldiers and the staff at these wonderful institutions having to sort through whether this is political or not, or get caught in the crossfire between campaigns."
Obama's explanation, which came after more than a day of controversy, was the clearest in noting that it was Pentagon concerns about Gration accompanying Obama to the hospital that forced Obama to reconsider and ultimately to cancel the visit.
He also noted that he had made previous visits to see wounded soldiers without reporters, and that while the visit to the hospital in Germany had long been on the schedule for the overseas trip, it had deliberately been left off the schedule given to the press for that reason.
Gibbs reiterated Obama's explanation again last night, saying on MSNBC that it was the Pentagon's concerns about Gration that prompted the cancellation.
"The Pentagon said that his participation would make that trip a campaign trip and we decided at that point, rather than put the men and women, who served our country and protected our freedom and had been injured, rather than put them in a political situation in the middle of a campaign fight, that we would just not go and not use them as props in this kind of fight," Gibbs said.
And he was more definitive today in denying the McCain campaign charge. "That's completely untrue and I think honestly they know it's untrue," Gibbs said.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds insisted again today that McCain's version of events is correct, and that Obama canceled the trip because of the inability to take reporters and cameras into the hospital.
"It is safe to say that according to press reports Barack Obama avoided, skipped, canceled the visit because of those reasons," Bounds said. "We're not making a leap here."
Nicolle Wallace, another spokeswoman for McCain, said the campaign's understanding of the event, which was "pieced together from public sources" was that "Obama was told he could go to see the troops as long as he wanted to. At some point, the campaign apparatus" was raised as an issue. "When you say 'campaign apparatus,' it's staff, pool, protection, whatever. That's what our understanding of what campaign apparatus is."
Wallace said at this point the actual details of the incident are less relevant because "This is what it is. People know this. People will draw their own conclusions."
"It probably wasn't enough to ruin the trip," she added, "but there is a very worrisome Obama narrative shaping up" in which he's ignoring the advice of military officers such as General David Petraeus and he's not fully paying attention to "the importance of seeing the troops, no matter how logistically challenging it might be."
Bounds later added in an e-mail: "The only reported stipulation was that Barack Obama had to leave his celebrity entourage at the door, but he skipped on the injured troops anyway, so it's fair to question his judgment and we'll keep doing it."
Washington Post Staff Writer Juliet Eilperin contributed to this report.
Posted at 4:37 PM ET on Jul 29, 2008
| Category:
Barack Obama
Share This: 
Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Previous: RNC Presents Hasselhoff and Obama, in Living Color |
Next: Obama Again Huddles with Vice Presidential Vetter
Get This Widget >>
Comments
Posted by: Mike | July 30, 2008 7:55 PM | Report abuse
What has Senator Obama ever done that could convince an objective person that he will even do what he promises? He's reversed himself on key issues like FISA, whic he said he would not only vote against, but filibuster. What he did was vote for it, even though it still had the retroactive indemnity he was torqued about in the first place. What about his pledge to abide by campaign finance? Broken. And now he's backing off his commitment to a 16 month timetable.
Where in his very, very, unremarkable career has he ever stood up for something no matter what? Even on the question on the war in Iraq, his position was exactly where his Hyde Park liberal district was. It cost him nothing, politically.
You had authentic leaders, like Biden, Dodd, Richardsen, and Clinton. People who, even if you disagreed with them, would stick by their positions. And you through them over for a few nice speeches full of "sound and fury signifying nothing".
Yes, you have hope. That's all you have.
Posted by: finally | July 30, 2008 6:58 PM | Report abuse
Thanks for the question, Steve.
1. He'll veto any bill that carries pork barrel spending and/or earmarks. You can believe it because he is routinely reviled by Republicans and Democrats for publically exposing them on this.
2. He'll pass comprehensive immigration reform, an issue he owns. Once again, he has fought his own party on this.
3. He'll launch the most ambitious and far reaching energy reform progarm the world has ever seen, using nuclear, wind, and thermo.
4. He'll press the war on terrorism relentlessly. He isn't afraid of calling out anyone in any party that impedes this.
5. He'll use a nuanced, realistic foreign policy that looks out for OUR best interests. Where he can work with allies, and it's in our best interests to do so, he will. He is neither a europhobe nor a europhile.
Posted by: finally | July 30, 2008 6:22 PM | Report abuse
The Democrats have to learn to never over estimate the intelligence of the average voter as did Dukakis,Gore and Kerry.McCain is following the masters of deceit (reminds me of J. Edgar Hoover's talking about the Communists) in focusing the campaign on doubts about his opponent away from his own. A pretty good Jedi trick and he may be older than Yoda. Politics as practiced by Dick Morris, the late Lee Atwater and Carl Rove is more application of Carl Durocher's old line about nice guys finishing last and not the old bromide of Art Linkletter on how it's nice to be important but more important to be nice. When the going gets tough the tough have to get going.Once again we are seeing a strategy of if you can convince them, confuse them.
Posted by: ejgallagher1 | July 30, 2008 6:04 PM | Report abuse
Strange how in all this we totally ignored the fact that McCain cancelled a visit to the troops stateside in April for exactly the same reason... he was told by the Pentagon it would be a political visit.
I guess whatever sauce is chosen for the goose isn't good enough sauce for the gander... I wonder why?
Posted by: Del Wasso | July 30, 2008 5:11 PM | Report abuse
John McCain's character is clearly visible. He divorced his automobile accident crippled wife to marry a rich former cheerleader. He tauntingly sang -bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran to the tune of that Beach Boys song. Mr. McCain in 2003 naively stated that the Iraq war would be "short and paid for out of Iraqi oil revenues". John McCain's despicable "Troops" ad demonstrates his tendancy to resort to high-toned pieces of sophomoric flatulence in times of stress. In it, the McCain campaign states that Obama canceled the trip because "the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras." It comes despite repeated pledges by the Republican candidate that he will never question his rival's patriotism. It is clear that John McCain is of poor character. He never has liked to obey rules, and graduated 894 of 899 in his class at the Naval Academy. He has a history of cursing out his wife in public and blames it on PTSD. Haven't we been down this road before with another hardheaded idioat???
Posted by: DuffyShort | July 30, 2008 5:05 PM | Report abuse
That's 'Little Jake BRATWURST D,' if you're curious.
Posted by: JakeD | July 30, 2008 4:22 PM | Report abuse
Mmmm, Major and Teddy, you guys are speaking my language. Care to come have a cocktail with me after work? I'll be on the third floor, in the lounge, wearing my Hef robe. The drink will be cold, but we'll be plenty hot enough.
Little JakeD is already eager to meet you... I may have to 'discipline' him before you arrive.
Posted by: JakeD | July 30, 2008 4:19 PM | Report abuse
The "one reason" I am voting for McCain is to overturn Roe V. Wade. I don't mind if the rest of this election becomes a referendum on Barack Hussein Obama.
Posted by: JakeD | July 30, 2008 3:45 PM | Report abuse
Can McCain give us one reason to vote FOR him, as opposed to voting against his opponent? It looks like McCain's entire campaign now consists of trying to make voters fear and distrust Barack Obama.
According to McCain's most recent commercials, Obama is 1) responsible for the increase in gas prices, 2) Dislikes the troops, 3) Is no more equipped to be president than Britney Spears or Paris Hilton. Very persuasive arguments indeed.
Will McCain ever talk about his plans for the economy or Iraq and how they are basically just a continuation of the Bush policies?
Posted by: Steve Nesich | July 30, 2008 3:36 PM | Report abuse
Dana:
Andrea Mitchell is a tool. Obama's spokesman claims they were going to just leave the entire press corp waiting in a plane on the tarmac, and you believe that? They were hoping it got out, just like Obama's trip to the Western Wall.
RealChoices:
I missed your post last night, but if you are still around, please tell me specifically what you think is "dishonest" in McCain claims. The FACT is that Obama canceled a visit with wounded troops in Germany. NOTHING prevented said visit except the military prohibition on the press / campaign entourage. A reasonable deduction is that Obama canceled because he could not bring the press / campaign entourage. If that is the case, then I think an "Obama doesn't care about the toops" narrative fits the evidence perfectly. Shame on you for not even admitting it is a possible motive. To you, The One can do no wrong.
Posted by: JakeD | July 30, 2008 3:29 PM | Report abuse
McCain's desperate. He's taken the very low road. He's just plain in a fantasy world. He doesn't have a clue anymore. He's the candidate of fear. Obama represents hope to most of us now. Old vs New. Hope vs. Fear. Your choice.
Posted by: Jim | July 30, 2008 2:18 PM | Report abuse
Mccain knows that story is not true Andrea Mitchell a commentator for MSNBC was with Obama and said Obama never intended to take the campaign or camera's. Mccain knows this but he's lying to do exactly what he accuses Obama, political expediency. Mccain is desperate and will do and say anything because he's behind in the polls. Mccain needs to concentrate more on his message and his talking points.
Posted by: Dana | July 30, 2008 1:19 PM | Report abuse
...Is there somber violin music in the distance..or is it McCain crying into his
Budweiser pint...
Alas...McCain really is sad...his RNC/GOP make him spew nonsense on his "Straight Double-Talk Express"...his inner demons wanting to punch his advisors in the mush and become the McCain of 2000....
This was ONCE a noble man, a war hero...now he's a puppet..a talking head..and now he has to believe the lies...The RNC/GOP have destroyed this once proud man..his defeat by the doofus Bush 2, has whittled his once sharp mind into applesauce....
He had turned his back on our veterans and never voted on ANYTHING that would help their lives easier form the transition of being on the front lines in War to the front lines in the supermarket..
..no to more money for wage benefits of the soldier, no more money for healthcare, no more money for health care for those who risk their lives to protect a "lie" a "Mission Accomplished" occupation.
He must take all types of medications that Cindy provides for him give those glasseyed smiles after every sentance of those "town hall meetings".....
Sad Music...for a sad campaign....
More Lies
More Attack Ad's
More McCain Gaffes
More of Cindy's Starry Eyes Companion looks
More of the same....but not on election day
Posted by: AlexP1 | July 30, 2008 1:11 PM | Report abuse
McCain and his camp are just whining, they are jealous of the Obama's camp on how organize and smart they are. They should not discuss this topic much, because the more they stay on the topic, the more it will stick. Move on, there are more important issues to deal with.
Posted by: Meg | July 30, 2008 12:30 PM | Report abuse
McCain and his camp are just whining, they are jealous of the Obama's camp on how organize and smart they are. They shoukld not discuss this topic much, because the more they stay on the topic, the more it will stick. Move on, there are more important issues to deal with.
Posted by: Meg | July 30, 2008 12:29 PM | Report abuse
How come this is not on the front page or discussed by the commentators? Just like Obama's speech yesterday, another situation taken out of context and exploited for possible political gain based upon untruths, or worse, half truths...Talk about integrity!
Posted by: Michael | July 30, 2008 12:08 PM | Report abuse
Obama should bring charges against McCain and sue him for grievous insult and defamation of character.
If Obama lets this pass and allows McCain get away with this personal attack on his integrity and character, Obama isn't fit to protect the rest of us.
Last week's constant barrage of snarky attacks on Obama while he was overseas on a trip that the repulsive bully McCain had been goading him into himself, is evidence to all just what a unethical president HE would be.
I judge candidates for president on their conduct while campaigning for the position. And, if McCain conducts himself as president as he has on this campaign, he will be even worse as a president, yes, even worse, than the bicycle-riding while our troops are dying, shallow, belligerent sociopath who insults us all by clinging to office when he should have resigned in shame years ago, Bush.
These personal assaults upon his honour by McCain should be answered directly by Obama, they are too vicious this time to be left his surrogates, as Obama is wont to do.
This time it is Obama's job to take on McCain himself .... mano a mano, especially in this instance.
Republicans are THE PARTY of sleaze but this time they've gone beyond the pale.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 30, 2008 11:26 AM | Report abuse
Perhaps, if McCain, would take a little more time to become comuter literate, he could research many of the facts he continues to make mistakes on. Better yet...maybe it is not "mistakes," but mental health issues which beset him. (I would liken it to "dementia.") As we get up in years, the body and mind go through many changes. I, too, am proof of this with some ailments I possess. Thank God, not loss of mind as yet.
McCain and his campaign, should really be attempting improve and upgrade their candidate, rather than squandering good time trying to pull Obama down. The voters are interested in the ECONOMY...LOST JOBS...HIGH GAS PRICES...FORCLOSURES...EDUCATION, etc. Let's get back to business!
Another Senior Citizen Who is Concerned about America and its Direction!
Posted by: mojo3 | July 30, 2008 11:22 AM | Report abuse
McCain Charge Against Obama Lacks Evidence
This is a much better title for the article. Adding an opening paragraph does not change the truth of the article.
Posted by: ajaramillo | July 30, 2008 11:06 AM | Report abuse
Some of John McCain's Voting Record on Veteran's Issues
April 2003, Tabled a motion to provide 1 billion dollars of National Guard and Reserve Equipment.
October 2003, Voted against a bill to provide 322 million to provide safety Equipment to our troops in Iraq.
March 2004, Voted against eliminating abusive tax loopholes that would have
Increased Veteran's medical care by 1.8 billion.
March 2006, Voted against closing Corporate tax loopholes that would have Increased Veteran's medical care by 1.5 billion.
April 2006, Voted against providing 430 million to Veteran's Outpatient Care.
May 2006, Did not vote on a resolution to start redeploying US troops from Iraq by March 2008.
September 2007, Voted against Senator Webb's amendment that would specify minimum rest periods for US troops between deployments.
May 2008, Spoke out against Senator Webb's GI bill that would provide 100% tuition and assistance to our Veteran's, then did not show up to vote on it.
Why don't you GOP morons tell us again how much John McCain loves our troops!
Posted by: ruthella10 | July 30, 2008 10:24 AM | Report abuse
Grampy McShame talks about troop support and has voted against them in terms of pay, equipment and medical support for years. The record is easy to check although it will never be pointed out in this paper. Military officials have no problem admitting McLiar and his bloviators to their facilities for nothing more than photo ops as long as he is only taken to the clean parts of the facilities and not the roach and rat and moldy facilities that abound like Walter Reed Hosp. As unbelievable as it could be McLame would be an even bigger disaster than GW McBrush has been.
Posted by: HR Holmes | July 30, 2008 9:56 AM | Report abuse
30l1sbp68e34 http://www.483749.com/116149.html > ihy64cwfl [URL=http://www.747660.com/154155.html] oi7adobj2p [/URL] tuood717tgn3eqy
Posted by: mdtif5z6wm | July 30, 2008 8:29 AM | Report abuse
One thing you learn pretty quick about blogs like these: there are kneejerking, rhetoric-filled extremists on both sides of the fence and all you have to do is substitute the words 'Obama' for 'McCain' (or vice versa) and see that regardless of whether they proclaim themselves to be progressive or conservative, there's actually not a shred of difference between the two.
This blog is a splendid example. Obama and McCain both preach working across the aisles, but take a look here at the ranting and raving of their supporters. Such extremism... on both sides. Remarkable!
Posted by: Casey | July 30, 2008 4:51 AM | Report abuse
You know the best way to tell the Republicans from the Democrats? The name calling. People of a genuine Democratic demeanor seek to include. They may not like you, but they won't deny you your opinion and they won't deny you your God given rights as a living breathing Human and American.
People of a radical Republican demeanor seek to exclude. They may not like you and telling you to shut the hell up is ok. It is also ok to deny you your rights long before it is proven that the abrogation of those rights is necessary (see "WAR ON TERROR.")
The problem here (and in many blogs/message boards) is one of discourse: The Democrats want to talk and the Republicans want to dismiss.
Soren Kirkegaard: "You label me, you negate me."
It is the Radical Right's credo to marginalize... to dismiss through labels. JR's post does a fine job of proving my point:
*******
"That is why you DUMBocrats/Obamacrats/ SOCIALISTS/HATERS OF G/BUSH are NUTS!!! THIS candidate is a Black 'Dan Quayle' I could not vote for that idiot for VICE PRESIDENT or his Idiot Boss HW Bush and I sure as hell am not going to invite disaster by voting for a man who's whole life's experiencies fit onto a 3x5 card!!! WAKE UP AMERICANS the "Emperor has no Clothes" and I'll vote for Mccain because on his worst day being tortured and beaten in Vietnam for 5 years he had more love for America than 46 yr.Obama and Michelle Obama could ever have in their whole short easy lifes of 'Eliteism' and going to 'HAAAAAAVARD/Columbia' that 99% of you HATEFUL Left wingers or your childern could never get into-and that is not Racist--that is a FACT Jack!!! You see folks I'm from Joliet Ill. and Chi-town people never impressed me- Not even Alphonso 'scarface' Capone-
The Mayor Daily Machine invented him and Reverended Wright gave him his 'perspective' on religion( GD AMERICA /GD AMERICA etc.) and the MSM is in love with him--It ABC/R time again 'Anybody but Bush/Repubs' You left wing nut jobs really believe that Obama's real slogan is "VOTE FOR ME I"LL GIVE IT TO YOU FREE by RAISING EVERY TAX HE CAN FIND ON RICH people AND A 1000
more ThAT the Dumocrat congress will invent IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION INCLUDING A carbon TAX- NOW THAT IS TRUE ECONOMICS GENIUS!!!!!!! IN FOUR YEARS YOU WILL BE BEGGING FOR 6% UNEMPLOYMENT FROM ANOTHER DEPRESSION OF 25% UNEMPLOYMENT.
*********
Somebody is either paying this guy, or he's done three tours of duty in the Bill O'Reilly/ Sean Hannity/ Michael Savage Boot camp for the Radical Right.
What's at stake here is huge. My hope in the end is that we could put aside the bluster and fearmongering and have genuine debates. Supposedly, McCain is tired of being Obama's opening act, but McCain isn't a headliner.... and while Obama is the true force behind ticket sales, the radical right paparrazzi is just praying that he stumbles... praying that the eloquent, educated senator from the state of Illinois gives us something ugly to talk about... then we can go back to our miserable unquestioning lives and be happy with our underpaid, overinsured, unprotected, libertyless ways and be further ok with the continued departure of "certain unalienable rights."
While no hands are clean in the Senate and House, If the Republicans are so pro-American, then why would they be ok with the biblical flood of American jobs to countries not bound by the legislation created to protect the American people? (see "Lead in Toys.") Why would they be so against immigration and so for free trade agreements? As the name calling continues, as the insistence on marginalizing grows, and ensuring strife and animosity and division, I am further convinced that the Radical right is far more about America than they are Americans. It is not only our right to question the behavior of any government official-- its our duty. This brings me back to my original point. Democrats want discourse. Let's talk about what matters and stop personalizing the debate.
On that note, I'm voting for Obama because he is not a crass old man that thinks bombing Iran is fun and he is not going to continue the policies of a failed administration that has done little more than suck dry and cast aside everything that is important to every man, woman and child in this country. Bush has trashed our reputation and he did it on our watch. He has made a mockery of every one of us and the people behind his administration are laughing at us while they burn, shred, and block us from seeing the paper trail that proves their disgraceful abuse of power. Lastly, I shook hands with a Korean War Vet at our Democratic Caucus. He was voting for Obama. I thanked him for his service, but that doesn't make him a candidate for president of the United States of America.
McCain's service to America is honorable, but his conduct as a man is questionable. Being a veteran in a war that has marred American history is as noble an endeavor that I can think of. Being a prisoner of war in that same conflict takes him to a whole new level... but it doesn't make him the best man for the job by default.
Posted by: Seamus | July 30, 2008 2:27 AM | Report abuse
It was a lie. Fox News and Rush Limbaugh will perpetuate the lie. The WaPo, NYT, and CNN will take a middle of the road position that it may have been untrue.
And half of America will believe the lie, a quarter of the people will think it may have been a lie, and a quarter of the people will think McCain may have been telling the truth.
That's why democrats can hold the right policy positions, have better character, but still lose elections.
The media is screwed up. And America is getting screwed. Again. For like the 40th year in a row.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 30, 2008 1:50 AM | Report abuse
There is proof that Obama never planned to take the media inside the hospital. Why doesn't somebody interview the many media that were
with him.
Obama needed a witness when he met with people that report to Bush.
Andrea Mitchell reports on why Obama didn't visit wounded troops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VF_QFeRWHY&feature=related
DODD 1344.10. and Hatch Act
http://www.rs.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123105411
-- "Want to attend Congresswoman Smith's rally on base? Let's hope there isn't a rally on base. Installation commanders must ensure that candidates who visit military installations do not engage in any political campaign or election activity"
McCain Knows Better Navy Would Not Approve Visit
Pentagon walks fine line in 2008 campaign
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/03/mccain.pentagon/index.html ignored for McCain's visits
"But the Navy declined a McCain campaign request to speak at the Naval Aviation Museum at the naval base in Pensacola, Florida, because it is a military owned installation and is located on the base, the official said."
Posted by: Jim | July 30, 2008 1:42 AM | Report abuse
Actually, there are a lot of Obama people here because Obama people actually know how to read.
Ignorant dittoheads listen to Rush on the radio and then take his advice, and what Limbaugh encouraged Republican voters to do in Ohio was a fifth-degree felony in that state, punishable with a $2,500 fine and six to 12 months in jail. That is because in order to change party affiliation in Ohio, voters have to fill out a form swearing allegiance to that party's principles "under penalty of election falsification."
Anyhow, we have two countries- an intelligent, moral one (east, west, north) that votes democratic and an immoral, ignorant one that votes for politicians who lie, cheat and steal but claim to be patriots, and get us into bs wars with lies ,lies that must be perpetuated lest we dishonor the fallen...
Thanks for sharing the darkness. Now go crawl back under your rock, knucklehead,
Posted by: Anonymous | July 30, 2008 12:44 AM | Report abuse
Barack Hussein Obama. The f*cker is so wrong for president.
Posted by: Teddy | July 30, 2008 12:39 AM | Report abuse
You are kidding about personal attacks right!! There are so many Obama trolls here it looks like a Daily KOS convention calling Mccain: 'crazy', 'old' ,'a liar', a Neo-con Scum-Bag etc.
I have a few comments thought if you don't mind
-- First of all an Obama troll(I suspect) said "It's time to elect a smart person" Wow here is how smart Obama isn't--That pole he is standing next to above with that pretty gold statue is "LADY LIBERTY" to celebrate the Germans Victories over all other countries they 'VANDELED and MURDERED in Europe over the centuries!!! The (NAZIS= Germans) moved it in 1939 to the Park and her outstreched right with the wreath in it is the what the NAZIS used to scream 'Sieg Heil'/ Sieg Heil' about a Zillion times too work themselves into a murderous rage to justify murdering or causing the murder of 4o million people including 6 million JEWS. I'm sure after Obama left from the 'wailing wall' with a prayer 'for his and his families safety' he went to this pole of MURDER and raised his right arm streched out
just like the statue-WOW !! Don't believe me-- check Wikipedia for 'Victory Column in Tiergarten Park in Berlin' "Sieg Heil is a German phrase, which literally means "Victory Hail" or "hail victory". During the Nazi era, it was a common call at political rallies. When meeting someone, it was customary in Nazi Germany to give the Hitler salute and say the words "Heil Hitler". "Sieg Heil" was reserved for mass meetings such as the ones at Nuremberg where "Sieg Heil" was shouted in unison by thousands."
-Be sure to dig a little deeper and see the paragraph about how the NAZIS Murdered ALL the handicapped people at 'a building in the Park' that they later tore down== tear down the wall???
That is why you DUMBocrats/Obamacrats/ SOCIALISTS/HATERS OF G/BUSH are NUTS!!! THIS candidate is a Black 'Dan Quayle' I could not vote for that idiot for VICE PRESIDENT or his Idiot Boss HW Bush and I sure as hell am not going to invite disaster by voting for a man who's whole life's experiencies fit onto a 3x5 card!!! WAKE UP AMERICANS the "Emperor has no Clothes" and I'll vote for Mccain because on his worst day being tortured and beaten in Vietnam for 5 years he had more love for America than 46 yr.Obama and Michelle Obama could ever have in their whole short easy lifes of 'Eliteism' and going to 'HAAAAAAVARD/Columbia' that 99% of you HATEFUL Left wingers or your childern could never get into-and that is not Racist--that is a FACT Jack!!! You see folks I'm from Joliet Ill. and Chi-town people never impressed me- Not even Alphonso 'scarface' Capone-
The Mayor Daily Machine invented him and Reverended Wright gave him his 'perspective' on religion( GD AMERICA /GD AMERICA etc.) and the MSM is in love with him--It ABC/R time again 'Anybody but Bush/Repubs' You left wing nut jobs really believe that Obama's real slogan is "VOTE FOR ME I"LL GIVE IT TO YOU FREE by RAISING EVERY TAX HE CAN FIND ON RICH people AND A 1000
more ThAT the Dumocrat congress will invent IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION INCLUDING A carbon TAX- NOW THAT IS TRUE ECONOMICS GENIUS!!!!!!! IN FOUR YEARS YOU WILL BE BEGGING FOR 6% UNEMPLOYMENT FROM ANOTHER DEPRESSION OF 25% UNEMPLOYMENT.
"He hasn't lied, or backtracked, or chosen the low-road in attacking his opponent Mr. McCain."
Here is why the vitriol will last the Neocons and other patiotic people HATE YOU LEFT WING BASTARD COWARDS DEFEATISTS, ANTI-MILITARY(they are baby killers) LIBERALS, MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER HATE THEM BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING to SELL OUT AMERICA after 9/11 AND HIDE IN YOUR BASEMENT JUST LIKE THE COWARDS IN EUROPE-esp> SPAIN!!!! And I don't give a damn about saying I want EVERY DAMN MUSLIM EXTREMIST--DEAD after 9/11. I still remember the sound of people hitting the concrete next to the TWIN TOWERS- THAT YOU LIBERS et al have forgotten!!!!!!!!!!
Don't get me started I might really say what I mean ha,ha
In closing I saw the DARK KNIGHT last week -it is the BEST BATMAN MOVIE EVER and an author on a right wing CNN show said he thought it was really about George W. BUSH being BATMAN and the JoKer being "terrorism" and neither died but the war went on and Batman was willing to have Gotham vent on him IF HE HAD TO WIN against terrorists. OOOG that comment will steam you a person who would even allow you to HATE HIM IF IT MEANS VICTORY ha,ha,ha.
the REAL JOKERS ARE STILL OUT THERE AND YOU WANT UNDER THE mommie,mommie save me, save me please HOW MANY MOVIES HAVE HOLLYWOOD LRFITIES MADE and books written about MURDERING GEORGE W.
BUSH and now the final movie W. a retrospective of everything from a lie called PLATOON to Redaction.
Probably 20movies/books all told they might a $20million. WOW BATMAN = $300 in one week GO
W. GO ha.ha
Over and out see ya later alligator
Posted by: Jr | July 30, 2008 12:31 AM | Report abuse
Local Authority:
Not to be contentious, but the implication that it makes no difference whether the US President is an intelligent person or not is disturbing. The nature of the presidency and the demands placed on the intellectual gifts of the president have changed quite a bit from the days of TR and FDR. Perhaps it was not just coincidental that the successful presidency (a budget surplus at home and peace abroad) of a Rhodes Scholar has been followed by the thoroughly failed presidency of a C-student.
As for health, candidates these days have little choice but to make public their medical records (along with testimonials from their doctors.) The public is keenly interested in the candidate's health history, and they recognize the value of good health when it comes to discharging the duties of the world's toughest job.
In McCain we have a 71-year old C-minus student with at least one major health problem. In the 46-year old Obama we have an A student at the prime of his life.
It boggles my mind that voters are (are they really?) indifferent to a no-brainer of a choice.
Posted by: R M Gopal | July 30, 2008 12:21 AM | Report abuse
Let's see:
1980: McCain lies to and cheats on his first wife, then ditches her for a richer, hotter, younger model. The leaves the military and goes into politics.
1990: McCain is part of the lying, cheating, stealing Keating Five scandal. He is absolved by his peers in the senate. Then spends the next 10 years on campaign finance reform to whitewash his past sins so that he can....
2000: Run for President and get his butt kicked by the lying, cheating, stealing Bush/Rove political machine that puts it around that McCain has a black bastard baby.
2008: Cozies up to the Bush people, their tax cuts, their religious agents of intolerance, big oil, and the politics of lies and deceipt.
Who is the real John McCain?
A lying, cheating, stealing born politician.
There should be no 'question' about McCain's criticism of Obama's trip.
It was a lie. And that, along with his charge of sedition, and trying to blame $4 gas on Obama, makes McCain a LIAR with NO CODE and NO HONOR.
Go to hell, sir
Posted by: Anonymous | July 30, 2008 12:21 AM | Report abuse
Time to wrap up the comments for this article. Bottom line: We've had the kinds of leaders we've deserved and we'll continue to get them if this testimony to American intelligence is any indication.
Better read up before you sound off. Listen more. Become smarter.
Chao.
Posted by: Darrell Bening | July 29, 2008 11:52 PM | Report abuse
Hey McMainiacs...What does McCain stand for now? He was against the tax cut, then he was for tax cuts, now he is back to "taxes are on the table." Will the real McCain stand up?
Is he for staying in Iraq for 50 yrs? 100 Yrs? or has his timetable/time horizon changed to 16 months? LMAO
Is he for family values now? In 2000 he sure wasn't, when he was tapping his lobbyist's a$$, certainly not when he was screwing around on his disabled wife.
He says he support the troops, but Veterans group give him a D on his voting record. He campaigned against the new GI bill and has cut funds for disabled vets. No surprise when he threw his crippled wife under the bus. Why not the troops too?
McManiacs have nothing to run on. Sad...Really!
Posted by: Diana | July 29, 2008 11:48 PM | Report abuse
I'm sorry to disappoint but since I'm neither John McCain nor Barack Obama, I can't even begin to second guess why they've done what. Sorry, but I'm just not an insider like all of you. My apologies.
Posted by: Gretchen Dimor | July 29, 2008 11:26 PM | Report abuse
Good evening Democrats and evil Republicans,
It's 11:20pm EST do you know where you hard working tax dollars are being deployed right now?
That's right! We are building a democracy for Arabs who will kick us out the first chance they get! Brilliant.
No, we didn't want that 2+ trillion dollars to go to education, health care, clean energy programs, and economic stimulus programs. We don't need no infrastructure improvements. We're Americans! We're white! God is on our side! It'll all work out Ok.
W. got elected. Twice. What more proof could you ask for that God is white and loves America.
I'm thinking we need a looney left religious bloc to counterbalance Falwell, Robertson and the boys. I say we go high tech with it!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 29, 2008 11:26 PM | Report abuse
I would say this to Lakisha who wrote a comment a while ago. Lakisha, if you're going to send comments please learn how to spell. Secondly, in response to the end of your comment, black people have been in the White House for years - as waiters and cooks. Get over yourself and your attitude.
Posted by: Dr Doug | July 29, 2008 11:25 PM | Report abuse
Lakisha.....girlfriend nice try....trying to be black and all....but anyone with the least bit of common sense is able to sniff out the shear fact that you are definitely not black and not an Obama supporter....your character is more of the white racist neocons who continue to rape the U.S. economy, the people, our soldiers, etc....nice try though....but you reak with the foul odor of a rethug.....you should get to the white house asap and help our empty headed prez...pack up his belongings and the golden vault which he and Cheyney stole from us hard working middle class Americans and hitch it to the a$$ that they'll be riding and head on back to Texas! Hahahahaha.....
Posted by: Say it ain't so.... | July 29, 2008 11:18 PM | Report abuse
McCain's just pissed off and jealous because:
1) Obama took his suggestion and went to Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq; met with our troops in all of those countries, shot some hoops with troops in Kuwait and visited wounded troops in Iraq; Obama was clearly warmly welcomed by all and even the Iraqi government agreed with his timeline for troop drawdown in Iraq.
2) Obama was warmly welcomed everywhere he went, Jordan, Israel, Berlin, Paris and London.
3) Obama demonstrated to us all that he is a competent and intellectually savvy leader, capable of speaking with intelligence and understanding about many of various complicated problems facing our relations with our allies, and in situations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Iran.
4) Obama did such a fine job that the media found him and his trip far more newsworthy than any of McCain's activities or mis-statements.
At one time McCain truly was a maverick who was able to express a more clear understanding of the world and our place in it. It is rather sad to see and hear that command slipping. Honestly, I've had to wonder if we aren't seeing the early signs of some sort of senile dementia like maybe Alzheimer's? The fact that McCain can't seem to remember stances and comments he's taken in the past, to the point of denying such even when faced with video evidence from previous interviews, plus confusing the names of countries, misidentifying which country borders which other country, getting stuck on one theme (as in repeating his assertions about 'the surge') too many times, and finally showing evidence of increased irritability are concerning symptoms of a mind that is either slipping, or evidence that he hasn't been paying attention. Either way, I don't want someone like that as my president.
In any case, whenever someone takes up the tactic of pointing the finger of blame at an opponent, includes lying about the opponent, it is a good sign that the attacker is trying to cover up some serious shortcomings of their own by using distraction.
Such behavior is not presidential in my opinion. I'm old enough to remember Ike. So, I've lived through many presidential administrations so far. Bush 2 has been the worst, but I think McCain might actually be able to outdo him.
Regarding a person's "race" I was taught that all humans, infact the whole world and universe, are blessed creations of God. Therefore, we humans should be respectful of all life, and in particular regarding other humans, God loves all of his/her creations regardless of skin color. religion, or ethnicity, so who are we mere humans to do otherwise?
New scientific research regarding the human genome is telling us that all humans share a few 99.9% of genetic information that we inherited from a few common ancestors. Ancestors who came out of Africa, from the Great Rift Valley. Variations in skin color, hair color, eye shape, and such are environmentally driven genetic adaptations. Period.
Posted by: Judith | July 29, 2008 11:11 PM | Report abuse
Lakisha, if I didn't know better I woulda thunk you were black instead of from KKK international! Great posting but you have to learn the meaning of SUBTLE.
all white folks isw racist. they have ruined this country and now they are trying to ruin obama. but that is alright cause we are taking over in novrember. just like the iventer of the peanut said, george washington carver, the black man cannot get free until he is up inside the white house.
Posted by: Impressed but not convinced | July 29, 2008 11:04 PM | Report abuse
all white folks isw racist. they have ruined this country and now they are trying to ruin obama. but that is alright cause we are taking over in novrember. just like the iventer of the peanut said, george washington carver, the black man cannot get free until he is up inside the white house.
Posted by: Lakisha | July 29, 2008 10:58 PM | Report abuse
Answers to Mr. Ghopal's questions:
1. Don't we need an intelligent person in the oval office? Is it not a critical requirement that the US president be demonstrably intelligent?
NO. We have dozens of previous examples as evidence that this is NOT a critical requirement.
2. Don't we need a healthy, energetic, hard-working individual to lead us in this complex world?
NO. Look at Franklin Roosevelt, arguably one of the most effective presidents ever. Or asthma sickly Teddy Roosevelt. Or back-aching JFK who still could philander despite the pain.
Posted by: Local Authority | July 29, 2008 10:56 PM | Report abuse
All I can say is thank God the media are getting to the bottom of the vastly important issue of why Sen. Obama didn't visit a military hospital in Germany, instead of wasting their time (and ours) on trivial, pointless topics like the energy crisis, global warming, the war in Iraq, Iran's nuclear program and the meltdown of the U.S. housing sector.
Clearly, a country with its eye on the ball -- like ours -- has a great future ahead of it.
Posted by: Peter Principle | July 29, 2008 10:54 PM | Report abuse
ohmahgod, i never thought Karl Rove had switched sides until I read this....
I am truly and equally amazed at how far Sen. McCain has gone in his campaign specifically given the fact that he is comes from a generation of white tr$sh. It seems that white men have quite a history of raping women and cheating on them and treating them like dogs. Sort of like the way McCain has treated his cripple wife and his empty headed horse riding botox aging harlet wife, Cindy.
Posted by: aghast | July 29, 2008 10:51 PM | Report abuse
My candidate Barack Obama must start visiting troops visibly, not just in Germany but throughout the world. While he may not be the commander in chief yet, he needs to demonstrate to all the world that he's willing to do whatever he has to do to become president. In fact, that alone would be powerful testimony to his perseverence and motivation to lead the free world.
George Bush doesn't have to visit the troops and more and he knows it cuz he's a lame duck. No, the time for visiting troops now rests with Barack Obama and I hope he starts even with the smallest local hospital and inquires around if there's anyone lying in bed who was in the military.
Barack Obama has to give the impression that he cares.
If he wants to play golf or basketball he should wait until after he wins the election to do that stuff. After he wins he doesn't have to do anything if that's what he wants (of course maybe that will only give him 1 term in office!!!)
Posted by: Worried | July 29, 2008 10:49 PM | Report abuse
I am truly and equally amazed at how far Sen. McCain has gone in his campaign specifically given the fact that he is comes from a generation of white tr$sh. It seems that white men have quite a history of raping women and cheating on them and treating them like dogs. Sort of like the way McCain has treated his cripple wife and his empty headed horse riding botox aging harlet wife, Cindy. They seem to like blond hair, blue eyes, empty headed, bofoons who are unintelligent, has no morals, can't cope with stress, usually under psychiatric care and are closet alcoholics, drug addicts, pill poppers and usually rapes their own children. I think that American (the dumb racist white ones) really admire John and Cindy McCain's character or lack thereof. Says a lot about our unfortunate history surrounding racism. Hmmmm.....I should really start crying for Cindy McCain, the "dumb c$nt." Isn't that what McGoo called his aging wife? Wow...gotta be more careful. The Bush Administration is now 200 years later raping America. I tell ya...these white folks are fixated on rape...ROTFLMAO
Posted by: Mr. McGoo | July 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Report abuse
I am truly and equally amazed at how far Sen. McCain has gone in his campaign specifically given the fact that he is comes from a generation of white tr$sh. It seems that white men have quite a history of raping women and cheating on them and treating them like dogs. Sort of like the way McCain has treated his cripple wife and his empty headed horse riding botox aging harlet wife, Cindy. They seem to like blond hair, blue eyes, empty headed, bofoons who are unintelligent, has no morals, can't cope with stress, usually under psychiatric care and are closet alcoholics, drug addicts, pill poppers and usually rapes their own children. I think that American (the dumb racist white ones) really admire John and Cindy McCain's character or lack thereof. Says a lot about our unfortunate history surrounding racism. Hmmmm.....I should really start crying for Cindy McCain, the "dumb c$nt." Isn't that what McGoo called his aging wife? Wow...gotta be more careful. The Bush Administration is now 200 years later raping America. I tell ya...these white folks are fixated on rape...ROTFLMAO
Posted by: Mr. McGoo | July 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Report abuse
Why is it so important for Obama to visit troops in Germany?
He's not president. A visit to troops by their Commander-In-Chief would be a relevant morale booster, maybe. Bush?
In fact Bush has been playing golf since the START of the war HE began and IS president. So I think this sort of media buzz is probably better directed at that cretin.
Posted by: Jack White | July 29, 2008 10:41 PM | Report abuse
IF DEMOCRATS WANT TO WIN THIS ELECTION THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT WORKS!!!
Democrats MUST learn from Karl Rove's time-proven effective political strategies if they are to claim victory from the REpublicans this November. Barack Obama must learn never let truth get in the way of power politics. It's the sure strategy to victory and the Democrats MUST hit the ground running to learn these old tricks and learn them more effectively than their Republican counterparts. Not even the most dirty, vicious lie should be exempt from being thrown into the political arena. This is the road to victory and Democrats can not once again let the Republicans snatch victory from their grasp because they refuse to play this political ball game.
Lie, cheat, steal. That what politics are all about and the best politicians are the ones who learn to do these things most effectively but without being caught.
Power corrupts absolutely. No matter what political party is in power, it will become corrupted over time. If the Democrats realize this from the outset, they won't shrink from it, but embrace it wholeheartedly. The one failing of the Republicans is that they didn't use the resulting corruption to secure permanent power. The Democrats, if they're smart, will learn from that mistake and claim the ultimate prize.
Hint to Democrats: Get big business on your side if you hope to win and do it quickly.
Posted by: Looking at history and learning from past errors | July 29, 2008 10:39 PM | Report abuse
Do you think Dianne72 works for the Obama campaign?
Posted by: Who is the real Dianne72? | July 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Report abuse
If so, the following observation is exactly why I fear that Barack is going to lose the election:
"He hasn't lied, or backtracked, or chosen the low-road in attacking his opponent Mr. McCain."
No serious intending candidate in America loses with that kind of failure strategy. Obama MUST wake up before it's too late and take the low road. Run hard, and run to win, Barack! It's the only way we'll see you leading our country.
Posted by: John | July 29, 2008 10:33 PM | Report abuse
Indeed, in support of a previous commentator, I too am amazed that Mr Obama has raised the status of poor, uneducated blacks. Some call it the Obama miracle, while others call it a figment of the imagination of inactive minds.
It is also true that Obama appeals to so many whites because, like virtually every African-American in the USA, he's not 100% black, but has some white blood. While some thank Thomas Jefferson to begin the process of blood mixing of African-Americans, slave master rape was more common than collusion, and the process goes back nearly 200 years before Jefferson. Still, that bit of white blood in nearly all African-Americans is, as the commentator speculates, why so many white people have such respect for black people in America.
Posted by: fudgesicle | July 29, 2008 10:29 PM | Report abuse
Why can't those who disapprove of Mr. Obama come up with any legitimate (or even true) criticisms?
He hasn't lied, or backtracked, or chosen the low-road in attacking his opponent Mr. McCain.
The racism and vitriol about basketball, the middle name "Hussein," and Kwanzaa sound like blather from a KKK newsletter.
I think there's no question he'll be the best president we've had so far this century :-)
Posted by: ArmyBrat68 | July 29, 2008 10:28 PM | Report abuse
David,
The Republicans have never let the truth get in the way of power politics before so why should we expect that now, after 40 years of the most dirty, vicious lies from the most morally decrepit political creatures, things will be any different.
They will lie. They will cheat. They will steal.
They are Republicans. We know who they are and what they do. Our job is to make sure that Diebold, GovTech, and Smartech don't steal this election.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 29, 2008 10:28 PM | Report abuse
Sen. McCain refused to distance himself from the Swiftboat attack on John Kerry (he had a chance to do so on Letterman but demurred) and now his campaign is doing it to Sen. Obama.
Posted by: John Leavitt | July 29, 2008 9:08 PM
___________________________-------
John - what you forget is the Swiftboat incident was all true. They offered millions of $ to anyone to disprove it and no one has to this date...including Kerry! Sometimes the truth hurts, eh?
Posted by: Daman1 | July 29, 2008 9:13 PM
----
Hmm, I wouldn't exactly call you "Daman" - seems you didn't do your research. Too bad T. Boone Pickens welched on his part of the deal. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/t-boone-pickens-says-no-deal/
"A group of Swift boat veterans sympathetic to Mr. Kerry sent Mr. Pickens a letter last week taking him up on the challenge. In 12 pages, plus a 42-page attachment of military records and other documents, they identified not just one but ten lies in the group's campaign against Mr. Kerry. They offered to meet with him to provide Mr. Kerry's journals and videotapes from Vietnam and a copy of his full military record certified by the Navy - a key demand of Mr. Pickens and veterans who believe Mr. Kerry lied about his service to win his military decorations.
Mr. Pickens replied with a one-page letter, thanking the veterans for their research and their service, but politely saying there had been a misunderstanding. "Key aspects of my offer of $1 million have not been accurately reported," he wrote."
Posted by: Anonymous | July 29, 2008 10:27 PM | Report abuse
Two very simple questions, if I may:
1. Don't we need an intelligent person in the oval office? Is it not a critical requirement that the US president be demonstrably intelligent?
Obama, with his stellar academic record, passes this requirement with flying colors. McCain, a C-minus student, fails this crucial minimum requirement quite badly.
2. Don't we need a healthy, energetic, hard-working individual to lead us in this complex world?
Obama, at 46, is at the prime of his life. He's athletic, full of energy and physically capable of meeting the onerous demands on the President of the United States. McCain, at 71 (72 on January 20) is visibly tired, in ill health (4 cancer operations) and, frankly, in no physical condition to handle that 3AM phone call.
The differences between the two candidates when it comes to two of the most basic and essential qualifications for the office they are seeking are stark. One meets them handily while the other fails abjectly. Why are we still treating John McCain as a viable prospective president?
Posted by: R M Gopal | July 29, 2008 10:26 PM | Report abuse
If Obama had insisted on visiting the troops in spite of the Pentagon's reluctance, McCain would have been screaming and whining about how Obama was exploiting troops just to look good. Um, sort of like Bush.
Posted by: Dr. Rang | July 29, 2008 10:25 PM | Report abuse
Bruce, in answer to your question. In this day and age in modern America, if there's no birth certificate, it means that it must have been a divine birth. Either that or (and this is much more sinister), the Bush administration has hidden all copies of the birth certificate (they would be the only ones in the position to do so) because they are secretly trying to get a foreigner elected as president of the USA... which of course has a fighting chance of making the Bush administration look saintly by comparison.
---------------------------------------
Serious Question, here: I read that Obama's father was mostly Arabic, with a little black. Hence the name Barack and Hussein and of course Obama is Arabic. I tried to search for a copy of birth certificate with no success. Anyone know for sure? I did find Obama's wife's thesis a couple years ago and it is very controversial, but now it is no where to be had; even her university denies access to it.
Posted by: Busted | July 29, 2008 10:24 PM | Report abuse
I am amazed by what Senator Obama has accomplished. I have been in this country for 5 years and when I arrived I was struck at how poor and uneducated most blacks are. I could never figure out why most had children out of wedlock, sold drugs, and were in jail. I suppose it is the slave metality from generations ago but at some point they will have to tak responsibility. I think that is the reason Senator Obama appeals to so many whites because he isn't 100% black. He has a black face but the mentality of a white person.
Posted by: Rahiq Syed | July 29, 2008 10:22 PM | Report abuse
These partisan rantings are a chuckle a minute. I've particularly enjoyed these over others:
"Do not reward these oil pirates by electing a 72-year-old delusional soldier who said we are killing Iraqis to control this oil reserve but he thinks it's okey dokey with Jesus Christ. You are insane and not one more Republican should be allowed in Congress or the White House
"
"I can see Cindy "Steal A Husband-crack head" turning the White House into Callicua (sp?). Sort a like Rome...sleeping with anything and anybody while popping pills and stealing funds from all of her fake charities."
"We have alienated the entire Muslim world and most of the rest."
"the thought of McCain as President makes me sick. there were plenty of brave men and women that served in Nam. Those people have not sucked off the public like this old disgusting man."
"I am not a racist and the reason why I've decided to vote Obama is because he is a more handsome and attractive man than that old balding alternative named John McCain."
"McCain's an angry, mentally unbalanced, arrogant liar... and the prototypical flip flopper. Always has been."
"Is this the sort of manners we can expect from her daughters, Maleawan and Sashawan?"
"McCain has lost his integrity. He is abusing the troops by making them a political tactic. Very shameful."
Posted by: Anonymous | July 29, 2008 10:20 PM | Report abuse
he looked out at that crowd and saw gila monsters instead of people, and that his mind snapped completely when he felt something large and apparently vicious clawing at his legs. We can only speculate on this, because those in a position to know have flatly refused to comment on rumors concerning the Senator's disastrous experiments with Ibogaine. I tried to find the Brazilian doctor on election Bight in Milwaukee, but by the time the polls closed he was long gone. One of the hired bimbos in Milwaukee's Holiday Inn headquarters said a man with fresh welts on his head had been dragged out the side door and put on a bus to Chicago, but we were never able to confirm this. . . .
Posted by: Bluto | July 29, 2008 10:20 PM | Report abuse
Hey Dianne72, please, please take your offensive, racist comments elsewhere.
Posted by: bhoistheman | July 29, 2008 10:19 PM | Report abuse
Serious Question, here: I read that Obama's father was mostly Arabic, with a little black. Hence the name Barack and Hussein and of course Obama is Arabic. I tried to search for a copy of birth certificate with no success. Anyone know for sure? I did find Obama's wife's thesis a couple years ago and it is very controversial, but now it is no where to be had; even her university denies access to it.
Posted by: Bruce | July 29, 2008 10:18 PM | Report abuse
xxx is sitting around reading blogs... when he could rescuing puppies.
Where are your priorities? You are just like Obama! You could be helping people, but instead you just type stuff on the computer.
Posted by: Bluto | July 29, 2008 10:17 PM | Report abuse
In other words, the McCain campaign knows its untrue. And yet, they still want to fool the people. By the way, I'm surprised the WAPO didn't cite factcheck.org, which called the McCain ad "false."
A McCain TV spot falsely insinuates that Obama canceled his visit because "the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras."
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/snubbing_wounded_troops.html
Posted by: David | July 29, 2008 10:16 PM | Report abuse
Can't get any traction with your unpopular ideas? Start lying. Afraid that Obama might finish this trip without a single gaffe? Invent one. Worried about your opponent's war record? Smear it.
Oh wait. That was 2004. Same story, though. Back the conservatives into a corner, and they'll say anything to knock you down.
Posted by: ssdd | July 29, 2008 10:15 PM | Report abuse
McCain has officially jumped the shark. I blame the Ibogaine. That stuff is nasty.
Posted by: Bluto | July 29, 2008 10:14 PM | Report abuse
Speaking of oil rigs... did anyone hear about the million dollars McCain in exchange for changing his position on offshore drilling? No joke. He is the #1 recipient of big oil money.
Meanwhile, Iraqis are blowing themselves and each other to smithereens in a war McCain made possible. Do they have oil there, too?
I bet if they found oil under Mt. Rushmore, he'd want a rig right on Washington's face.
Posted by: Bluto | July 29, 2008 10:12 PM | Report abuse
Hundreds are dying in Dafur yet Barrack Obama is planning his vacation in Hawaii. Has that man no sense of humanity? Or is his color only skin deep?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Posted by: xxx | July 29, 2008 10:12 PM | Report abuse
Hey Diane 72.....I can see Cindy "Steal A Husband-crack head" turning the White House into Callicua (sp?). Sort a like Rome...sleeping with anything and anybody while popping pills and stealing funds from all of her fake charities. If Mitt Romney is the V.P. pick, Mrs. Romney had better watch her husband, because ole washed up wrinkled Cindy will end up giving Mitt a b.j. in the oval office all the while maintaining a fixated botox smile that is stuck on her ailing washed up wannabe barbie doll face. Cindy looks like an aging barbie from the early 70's! ROTFLMAO.....McCant Remember Sh$t looks like a poppy eyed, angry, disgruntled yellow teeth old fool who can't move his arms above his waist....Mr. McGoo could you please pass me the Koolaid....Oh, I am sorry you can't move your arms past your neck...flip flopping fool! Hahahahaha.....
Posted by: McCant Remember the Truth | July 29, 2008 10:11 PM | Report abuse
I'm so happy to report that today my candidate, John McCain, posed in front of oil rigs instead of fighting terrorists which is only a pretense to secure control of Middle East oil..... which we all know, is an exercise in futility.
We wouldn't have the terrorist problem if we'd concentrate on becoming oil independent. Kudos to John McCain for picking the proper priorities! It says a lot about his fine character.
Posted by: Pluto | July 29, 2008 10:05 PM
-----------------------------------
What do you think energy independence requires you silly person? Drill here, drill now. I would even like to see oil derricks in every backyard in the US with Old Glory flying on top. That would be very patriotic.
Posted by: Daman1 | July 29, 2008 10:10 PM | Report abuse
If any one of you out there believe a single thing that either OBAMA or MCCAIN say on camera, this close to the election, the Brooklyn Bridge is still for sale at a bargain basement price!
You're all losing sight of the fact that this is politics. Politics has the goal of grabbing power and anyone who would stoop to enter politics certainly isn't saying things because they actually believe in what they're saying. Instead, they're just looking for more votes to launch them into the throne.
Posted by: Dems 205, Repubs 205 | July 29, 2008 10:09 PM | Report abuse
What a surprise! St. John the Apostate of Maverick Herodom has been exposed as a grumpy old man willing to go negative this early because, frankly, HE SUCKS!
Yeah, that's right, McCain cultists, your guy actually is not only flawed, but a pretty damn lousy candidate for President. Hence his going so negative so early. He's getting owned up and down this campaign, and HE'S GOT NOTHING.
Nothing but lies and more Rovian politics.
People -- read what some of the 28% dead-enders are writing here with a huge grain of salt. These people have their own agenda. Let's cling to power NO MATTER WHAT. As if the rotten-to-the-core GOP is nothing but a shell of what it once was.
And this is coming from someone who actually voted for Bush in 2000: GOP -- NEVER AGAIN!! NOT FOR DOG CATCHER!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 29, 2008 10:07 PM | Report abuse
A child is missing in Florida...
But John McCain is having a blemish removed by his plastic surgeon.
He has no sense of priorities.
Posted by: Bluto | July 29, 2008 10:06 PM | Report abuse
I'm so happy to report that today my candidate, John McCain, posed in front of oil rigs instead of fighting terrorists which is only a pretense to secure control of Middle East oil..... which we all know, is an exercise in futility.
We wouldn't have the terrorist problem if we'd concentrate on becoming oil independent. Kudos to John McCain for picking the proper priorities! It says a lot about his fine character.
Posted by: Pluto | July 29, 2008 10:05 PM | Report abuse
I can't wait to pull a Tony Snow on John McCain.
Posted by: cancer | J
God Bless Obama and the Democratic Party
, please rescue us from these economic and foreign affair woes that Republicans have dragged upon us all in the name of making their big oil friends wealthier. There's more to America than the big oil companies, and only Democrats seem to realize this. The end of a Republican Error is coming very soon, amen.