Cavuto did not challenge Vets for Freedom's false claim that Obama has "never met with General Petraeus"
SUMMARY: Fox News' Neil Cavuto left unchallenged a false claim by Vets For Freedom chairman Pete Hegseth that Sen. Barack Obama has "never met with General Petraeus." In fact, as recently as April 8, Obama questioned Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker at a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on Iraq.
On the May 29 edition of Fox News' Your World, host Neil Cavuto left unchallenged a false claim by Vets For Freedom chairman Pete Hegseth that Sen. Barack Obama has "never met with General [David] Petraeus." In fact, as recently as April 8, Obama questioned Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker at a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on Iraq.
During a discussion of a recent anti-Obama ad released by the Vets for Freedom Political Action Committee, Hegseth asserted, "Barack Obama hasn't been there for two-and-a-half years, has never met with General Petraeus, and I think he needs to do a little bit more than just consider." Later, when asked by Cavuto what "the McCain folks told you on [the ad]," Hegseth repeated the falsehood, saying, "All we've heard is them echoing what we started with our ad on Friday, that, 'Hey, Senator Obama, why have you not gone to Iraq? Why have you not met with General Petraeus?' " Cavuto did not correct Hegseth's false claim in either instance by pointing out that Obama had met with Petraeus as recently as April 8.
From the May 29 edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto:
CAVUTO: You know, Kate, we've had reports, even from the Secret Service, they're very concerned that if, for example, John McCain and Barack Obama both went to Iraq at the same time, it could be a dicey situation -- to say nothing of their safety -- but even how you pull that off. Do you think they should both go at the same time?
SPC. KATE NORLEY (combat medic): At the same time? Absolutely. I mean, I think that, you know, if this is something that Senator McCain feels that -- you know, he's been over there -- that he could give -- you know, be a good assistant to the areas that have made the most progress and that he would be, you know, a good tour guide.
CAVUTO: All right, what do you make of that?
HEGSETH: No, I mean, I think it would be a great idea. Senator McCain's been back three times since the surge was announced. He understands the dynamics on the ground. Barack Obama hasn't been there for two-and-a-half years, has never met with General Petraeus, and I think he needs to do a little bit more than just consider. I mean, he needs to make a commitment to go to Iraq. Our veterans are making commitments of 12 to 15 months in Iraq, they're not just considering it, and we call on --
CAVUTO: What have the McCain --
HEGSETH: -- Senator Obama to make that trip.
CAVUTO: What have the McCain folks told you on this, Pete? On the ad itself?
HEGSETH: All we've heard is them echoing what we started with our ad on Friday, that, "Hey, Senator Obama, why have you not gone to Iraq? Why have you not met with General Petraeus?" I think it's a strong message that they've picked up on, and we're proud to --
CAVUTO: But you'd be happy if --
HEGSETH: -- have sort of started that ball rolling.
CAVUTO: -- if Obama went alone?
HEGSETH: Oh, we just want Senator Obama to see it.
CAVUTO: You just want him to go.
HEGSETH: I think it's going to be hard for him to deny the progress once he sees it firsthand.
CAVUTO: All right, Pete, Kate, thank you both very, very much.
HEGSETH: Thank you, Neil.
NORLEY: Thank you.
Well, now this is just silly word parsing by MMFA, Hegseth says Obama hasn't been there for two and half years and then says he has "never met with General Petraeus".
Obviously the "never met" in this context is going to Iraq, he is not talking about when Petreaus testified before Congress, that is just ridiculous.
You're making things up, which is par for the WITH course.
It's was a simple statement, no qualifiers, no nothing.
He was wrong, MMFA is correct in bringing this up, your protestations notwithstanding.
HEY, EVERYBODY!!! ... BREAKING NEWS!!! ...
TOMMY THINKS THAT MMFA HAS POSTED A 'RIDICULOUS' ITEM!
(Well, I suppose expecting FOX NEWS' Neil Cavuto to act like a real journalist is kind of ridiculous.)
The reason they hang around is to try to water down the truth shown on this site. They try to plant doubt that Media Matters is following their mission statement. That's why I often specifically mention why certain articles by Media Matters fit their mission statement to debunk his stupid allegations.
They also hang around to post in the first few posts to try to distract us from actually discussing the real points raised by the Media Matters postings.
Obama didn't have to go to Iraq to meet with Petraus. There's no word parsing here. The false statement is clear and he made it twice, and Cavuto let him get away with it.
Saying that Obama didn't meet with Petraus forwards the conservative agenda. When someone in the media doesn't correct that false allegation, that also furthers the conservative agenda. This is a perfect example of Media Matters following their mission statement. Surprise, Tommy is all wet.
Sue,
If you're unable to adequately challenge opposing opinions, or as you call them "distractions", perhaps it's better if you just don't. Just engage in conversational postings with the dozens of like minded thinkers on these boards, then you won't be "distracted", and your arguments won't need to be held up to scrutiny. Try it, you'll feel better.
"If you're unable to adequately challenge opposing opinions, or as you call them "distractions", perhaps it's better if you just don't."
Now who's monitoring the forum?
Hey, Sue was complaining about these "distractions" getting in the way of people discussing the real points, so it was a friendly suggestion for her not to bother responding to such "distractions".
I was unaware that these "distracting" posts actually inhibit or squelch those discussing the real points, wow, news to me.
Tommy -
Obviously, you are correct. A "meeting" is not the same as a "hearing".
This topic really demonstrates how desperate the left is becoming.
LOL!
That was a good one, thanks!
I'm also sure Obama just pantomimed his questions to Patreus because Obama doesn't REALLY know how to talk to military people...
Obviously the only way he can meet with Petraeus is in Iraq?
I mean, I think that, you know, if this is something that Senator McCain feels that -- you know, he's been over there -- that he could give -- you know, be a good assistant to the areas that have made the most progress and that he would be, you know, a good tour guide.
LOL
All aboard on the twisted express:
Speaking about Iraq at a townhall event on Thursday evening in Greensdale, Wisconsin, Sen. John McCain declared, "I can tell you that it is succeeding. I can look you in the eye and tell you it's succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels. Basra, Mosul and now Sadr city are quiet and it's long and it's hard and it's tough and there will be setbacks..."
McCain was wrong on two points. First, U.S. forces have not returned to pre-surge levels. Before the surge, there were 130,000 troops in Iraq; even if the scheduled troop reductions are carried out as planned, there will still be 140,000 troops in Iraq in August.
Moreover, McCain's claim that Mosul is "quiet" was disproved earlier today in grim fashion. Three suicide bombings -- two in Mosul and another in a surrounding town -- left 30 Iraqis dead and more than two dozen injured, according to press reports.
They may as well be asking Obama the following questions:
Why have you not partaken in Petraeus' Green Zone Dog And Pony Show?
Why have you not viewed the rooftops of Iraq from a plane to see how wonderful and peaceful it is?
Why have you not flown into Baghdad International Airport under the cover of night?
Why do you spend money on expensive rugs in America when the taxpayers will foot the bill for an entire company of soldiers and a helicopter squadron to take you shopping in Iraq? What are you? Elitist?
Look at Cavuto quake in his boots at the thought of protecting two senators in Iraq at once.
Dude, the surge was a success! Iraq is safer than Chicago!
You know, guided by military handlers, you would probably get the impression that Iraq is safer than any city in the U.S.
Getting an unbiased view would be almost impossible for one of the candidates to do. What military commander is going to let them 'run loose' in a war zone?