Ignoring previous AP report, AP's Pickler didn't note McCain disregarded Iowa Gov.'s request he not campaign in state amid flood recovery efforts
SUMMARY: An AP article reported: "[Barack] Obama, an Illinois senator, canceled a visit to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials and instead went to fill sandbags in Quincy, Ill. [John] McCain, an Arizona senator, toured flood damage in Iowa Thursday." However, the article gave no indication that the AP had previously reported that Iowa Gov. Chet Culver requested that both Obama and McCain refrain from campaigning in the state, but McCain decided to go to Iowa anyway.
In a June 23 Associated Press article on flooding in the Midwest, writer Nedra Pickler reported: "[Barack] Obama, an Illinois senator, canceled a visit to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials and instead went to fill sandbags in Quincy, Ill. [John] McCain, an Arizona senator, toured flood damage in Iowa Thursday." Pickler gave no indication, however, that Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D)* reportedly requested that both Obama and McCain refrain from campaigning in the state, but McCain decided to go to Iowa anyway. As the AP itself reported in a June 19 article, "An aide to Gov. Chet Culver said Thursday that Republican presidential candidate John McCain ignored the governor's request to cancel a campaign visit amid a massive flood recovery effort in the state. ... Patrick Dillon, Culver's chief of staff, said the governor was concerned that McCain's trip would divert local law enforcement from the flood recovery effort to provide security for McCain."
In addition, a June 21 AP article reported:
On Thursday, the Arizona senator flew to Iowa, a likely battleground state in the fall, where he expressed sympathy with victims of severe flooding and pledged support for federal recovery aid. The event was overshadowed by President Bush's appearance elsewhere in the same state on the same day.
[...]
By the time the sun fell on the day of the Iowa trip, an aide to Gov. Chet Culver said the Democrat had privately relayed a request to McCain to cancel his plans to avoid diverting law enforcement personnel from recovery efforts. [McCain campaign aide Mark] Salter said the visit had been cleared in advance by local officials.
From the June 23 AP article:
Both candidates have visited the flood zones in the past two weeks, since tornadoes hit and heavy rains sent rivers surging over their banks. At least 24 people were killed, the majority in Iowa.
Obama, an Illinois senator, canceled a visit to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials and instead went to fill sandbags in Quincy, Ill. McCain, an Arizona senator, toured flood damage in Iowa Thursday.
"I know that Sen. McCain felt as strongly as I did," Obama said, "feeling enormous sympathy for the victims of the recent flooding. I'm sure they appreciated the sentiment, but they probably would have appreciated it even more if Sen. McCain hadn't opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork."
The bill that McCain opposed spent $23 billion on water projects. It passed Congress overwhelmingly and was vetoed by President Bush because he said it spent too much on lawmaker's pet projects. Congress voted to override the veto, the first time of Bush's presidency.
The bill funded hundreds of projects -- such as dams, sewage plants and beach restoration -- that are important to local communities and their representatives. It also included money for the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast and for Florida Everglades restoration efforts.
From the June 19 AP article:
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - An aide to Gov. Chet Culver said Thursday that Republican presidential candidate John McCain ignored the governor's request to cancel a campaign visit amid a massive flood recovery effort in the state.
McCain toured flood-damaged sites in Iowa on Thursday, including the town of Columbus Junction in the southeast.
Patrick Dillon, Culver's chief of staff, said the governor was concerned that McCain's trip would divert local law enforcement from the flood recovery effort to provide security for McCain.
[...]
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama canceled a scheduled visit to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials.
Well, I know how that reads to me. I can only imagine being part of the rest of America who've no knowledge of the Gov's request? Now, if I read this - I WOULD go and investigate. I mean, to be cynical here - I doubt Obama would have given up the photo op either.
But, your average Joe now has another vision of Obama etched in their minds. When in reallity, the incident should have been remembered as a textbook and blatant example of McCain's "dirty politics".
Isn't this where news organizations are supposed to get the real news?
Has the AP been hijacked by Murdoch, is this an oversight? Or is this par for these guys? Or do I just need to come out from under my shell more often?;)
I hope you don't mind my playing any dumber than I actually hope I am, here.:)
I'd say we got a pretty good firewall built here, mate.
(Sorrry, been chattn with too many Britts lately):)
We just don't get it as Dems...
Democrats rule: Respect the wishes of the opposition Governors.
Republican Rule: Diss opposition Governors any way you can.
Almost got by me too, Col.:)
You're right, Moon;
"...an aide to Gov. Chet Culver said the Democrat had privately relayed a request to McCain to cancel his plans..."
I didn't catch it, or even look, I was just trying to figure out why it mattered.
Obviously you didn't read the article. There is a * next to the party affiliation in the article. At the end of the article, the author explains what the * means. In this case, it means that Culver is a Democrat, and his party affiliation as added; in my opinion, it was added to give all of the information, and not hide the fact that Culver is indeed a Democrat.
Try reading the article for a change, dolt.
If your a con and you can't find something to hate about these guys, you're not trying too hard.
Hi King, I think that's the S-P hat trick.
BTW, I don't think I've seen you mention it, but isn't Lou Dobbs considering running for office in your fair state?
Besides, we like our ballsy, Democratic, 90 MPH, non seat belt wearin', billionaire governor just fine.
I'm a Democrat and an Iowan and a news junkie and I didn't know Gov Culver requested both candidates stay away. My feeling is, the more McCain speaks, the better it is for Obama, so, my friends, let the hero speak. I think most people are pretty cynical of these disaster tours, anyway. But to the point: it should have been noted in the article that McCain was asked to stay away.
BTW: I do support gay and abortion rights, so I guess this flooding is my punishment. Sorry, Cedar Rapids.
So McCain was willing to take away security duty from flood plain victims the same way he was willing to have all that secirity in Iraq to show how good things were going.
Hey maybe he got a cheap rug in Iowa too.
"Hey maybe he got a cheap rug in Iowa too."
I thought that was his real hair!
Good one? I'd hate to see what you consider a bad one. Grampy's new look isn't working for me.
All Right, DOGGIE DINER!
Though they look to be concerned that those two hairy things might be capable of reproduction or running for public office.
It would be pretty tough for McCain to please Culver or his aides. They criticized him for not being here last week. Then he visits, and they complain he's here.
Another AP writer (Mike Glover) also filed this statement in an article linked above , which apparently MMFA chose to ignore:
David Roederer, who chairs McCain's campaign in Iowa, said McCain's trip didn't hamper Iowa's recovery operation. He said McCain proceeded with the visit because the campaign was providing much of its own security.
"There was really no state resources diverted," Roederer said.
The mayor of Columbus Junction, Dan Wilson, agreed.
"Certainly, Mr. McCain's visit today in no way hindered any relief efforts or any of our efforts on recovery or security or whatever we were working on," Wilson said. He said McCain's staff called him Wednesday night and Thursday to be sure the visit would not cause a problem.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/post_131_n_108216.html
Why didn't MMFA in their critique of the AP include the report about Culver's aides complaining the week before that McCain hadn't been to Iowa to visit the flooding? There is no desire to find truth in such 'cherry-picking,' only an attempt to manipulate the news for partisan advantage. That is the very thing MMFA claims to exist to correct.
Oh, wow, the McCain chair and a republican mayor who got to have his photo taken with McCain both say there was no problem. Yeah, that sure has me convinced.
Do you have a link for us where Culver criticized McCain for not coming to Iowa? I haven't been able to find a trace of one.
It's certainly a no-win deal with you critics. You'd raise hell if McCain didn't show up, and you raise hell that he did. Maybe he should have done like Obama and gone to the other side of the river to fill a token sandbag too. Interesting that the river only floods on one side, not the other.
Too bad that the Dem's, who won a majority in both houses, didn't use their position to get the bill passed anyway. Seems to me they haven't even come close to delivering on all those compaign promises - not even close to being close.
You'd raise hell if McCain didn't show up...
When you catch yourself starting your post by attacking a baseless prediction you're making, that should be a sign to put the thinking cap on and start over.