On GMA, Sawyer didn't challenge McCain's false claim that Obama said he would "attack Pakistan"
SUMMARY: On Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer failed to challenge Sen. John McCain's false claim that Sen. Barack Obama has said that as president, he would "attack Pakistan." Nor did Sawyer challenge McCain's reference to "the Iraq-Pakistan border," which does not exist.
On the July 21 edition of ABC's Good Morning America, co-anchor Diane Sawyer failed to challenge Sen. John McCain's false claim that Sen. Barack Obama has said that as president, he would "attack Pakistan." After Sawyer asked, "Do you agree the situation in Afghanistan is 'precarious and urgent'?" McCain said: "[T]here's a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do, and I'm afraid that it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border. And I would not announce that I'm going to attack Pakistan, as Senator Obama did when he was during his campaign." In fact, Obama has not said he would "attack" Pakistan. Nor did Sawyer point out in response to McCain's reference to "the Iraq-Pakistan border" that Iraq does not share a border with Pakistan:
The ABC News political newsletter The Note said of McCain's "Iraq-Pakistan border" comment: "[I]t was McCain who owns the first big gaffe of the trip," referring to Obama's trip to the Middle East and Europe.
In his July 15 foreign policy speech, Obama said: "We need a stronger and sustained partnership between Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO to secure the border, to take out terrorist camps, and to crack down on cross-border insurgents. We need more troops, more helicopters, more satellites, more Predator drones in the Afghan border region. And we must make it clear that if Pakistan cannot or will not act, we will take out high-level terrorist targets like [Osama] bin Laden if we have them in our sights." Previously, during an August 1, 2007, foreign policy speech, Obama stated: "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and [Pakistani] President [Pervez] Musharraf won't act, we will." Obama made any actions conditional, not definite, and he subsequently noted that he "never called for an invasion of Pakistan."
Media Matters for America has documented instances in which the media falsely claimed Obama said he would "invade" Pakistan or uncritically reported McCain's false assertion that Obama "once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan."
From the July 21 edition of ABC's Good Morning America:
SAWYER: Do you agree the situation in Afghanistan is "precarious and urgent"?
McCAIN: Well, I think it's very serious. I think --
SAWYER: Not "precarious and urgent"?
McCAIN: -- it's a serious situation. Oh, I don't know exactly whether -- run through the vocabulary, but it's a very -- it's a serious situation. And -- but there's a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do, and I'm afraid that it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border. And I would not announce that I'm going to attack Pakistan, as Senator Obama did when he was during his campaign. But most importantly, he railed against, voted against, and said the surge wouldn't work. He said it wouldn't work and couldn't work, and has failed to acknowledge it did work and we have succeeded. Thank God.
SAWYER: I can't let you leave, Senator McCain, this morning without making one more valiant attempt at the vice presidential question. Can you tell us anything new about your timetable and how many people are on your list right now?
From the July 21 edition of ABCNews.com's The Note:
And it was McCain who owns the first big gaffe of the trip -- appearing to confuse Iraq and Afghanistan.
Asked by ABC's Diane Sawyer Monday morning whether the "the situation in Afghanistan in [sic] precarious and urgent," McCain responded:
"I think it's serious. ... It's a serious situation, but there's a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do and I'm afraid it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border," said McCain, R-Ariz. ... on "Good Morning America."
Iraq and Pakistan do not share a border. Afghanistan and Pakistan do.
I guess that McCain wants a free ad and the press said..SHOVE IT...Too bad, he has a chance to comment on Obamas' piece, why not just do it. Can't McCain understand something so simple?
How about Obama writing a piece to be carried verbatim on Faux news? P.S. What is an Anti-American? You people never seem to explain it so people know exactly what it means. Go ahead but what about this border issue that McForget seems to be yapping about.
What does this have to do with McCain mistaking Iraq and Pakistan sharing a border or Sawyer not calling him on it?
Did you really expect Fox to not show a strong right wing biasis? It is even more evidence of the right wing press in this country, and how the Nazi party works hand in hand with the RNC.
There, fixed it for you. No thanks necessary.
And for your right to call people a Nazi....I see the militray taught you nothing about life or history.
And I see lack of service taught you to be a hipocrite. Loved the sweeping generalization about the press being liberal.
And love your personal attacks too. So classy. What was it you called my mom again yesterday? Something about a female dog?
Snoopy
I did not call your mom anything. I said that dogs should be spayed or netured. Was a reference to your name, not your mother. I am sorry if it did not come across as such.
I thought you guys liked to call our troops who disagree, PHONY SOLDIERS. Isn't that what RUSH has to say about them.
Try 11B10
Quite a few vets post here. Though I suppose only bush supporters are real vets in your world. I curious as to your bonifides to be able to detect real and fake vets though. Patriotism is probably another quality you feel exceptionally qualified to rate.
You strike me as one with all the stature of an Indiana Fire Plug.
Prove me wrong.
You want his SS number too? Maybe his mother's maiden name?
Yeah, the New York Times alleged 'liberal bias" was apparent throughout their outright COLLUSION with Liar Bush and his lying criminal war-mongering chickenhawk neo-con sociopaths to push their Iraq war lies.
I believe that the New York Times former right wing Republican media hackette hate hag Judith Miller was their lead person in the New York Times' collusion with Bush.
The New York Times is right wing conservative, pure and simple.
No bias at all. McCain's article is a somewhat anti Obama piece and it says nothing about his plans for America, ie Iraq withdrawal or the economy. Also his surge has compounded Bush's lousy planning when we invaded Iraq.
The true front for terrorism is Afghanistan. Karzai and Malike both realize that the biig number of US force in Iraq actually supports the hair-brained behavior of OBL. God help us if we elect another Bush bot as our next President. At this moment the Bush cronies insist on saber rattling. It just fuels the fires for more of Bin Laden's behavior and the death of many more in Iraq and Afghanistan, the country w- Bush's "dead or alive" comments. aside. I can just see the guy chuckling about the Bush toothless threat.
PS go read the McCain's op-ed that has been released on the net. The truth shall make you free
So, how many "McCain Miles" points are you getting at McCain's website for posting that here? How far along are you towards those McCain 2008 golf balls?
Last time I checked, the NYT is an independent news organization, and can print, and or write, and or carry whatever they want.
That being said, they are far from the liberal demons you make them out to be. Of course, just keep yelling about "liberal bias" and sometime, and someday, it might be true. But I doubt it.
Please stop...McCain would say that Rhodesia starred Mary Tyler Moore..but it didn't.
Why can't politics revert back to the days where the opponents did not have to be questioned every minute of everyday? Does a 24hr news cycle have anything to do with it? Or do the advertisers want more?
It appears republicans need arrows to get it, so with many thanks to C&L:
"[T]here's a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do, and I'm afraid that it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border. And I would not announce that I'm going to attack Pakistan, as Senator Obama did when he was during his campaign."
This alone is more than enough reason to disqualify someone to be President of the US.
And I would not announce that I'm going to attack Pakistan, as Senator Obama did when he was during his campaign."
this is what i am talking about
Governor was quoting McCain, right? Where was he "making up stuff"?
Maybe you should go back and re-read.
Governor\
I apologise for misunderstanding you quoting Mccain. My comment should have been directed at McCain making stuff up.
http://www.reuters.com/resources/flash/includevideo.swf?edition=US&videoId=62500
I see the distinction between 'taking on high value targets inside Pakistan' and attacking Pakistan itself, but that distinction doesn't seem to merit a complete whitewashing of the variety of Obama's statements, intended messages, and clarifications (obfuscations).
I think McCain is more of a moron than Bush, he keep saying stupid things that are just not true. Making up stories that Obama will invade Pakistan and trying to claim Iraq and Pakistan share a border. Wow what a loon.
http://www.reuters.com/resources/flash/includevideo.swf?edition=US&videoId=62500
I see the distinction between 'taking on high value targets inside Pakistan' and attacking Pakistan itself, but that distinction doesn't seem to merit a complete whitewashing of the variety of Obama's statements, intended messages, and clarifications (obfuscations).
I can understand it when they are one right after the other.
Don't get me wrong, old??? (I forgot your tag), I'm not trying to rag on you. It struck me as weird for a double post to be so far apart from each other.
Had 5 - 7 tabs open to various sites & mail;
Have emacs w/ multiple buffers (couple compose, then copy & paste and others for, src, gcc & prolog);
Jumped from emacs to browser;
I was on MM tab after posting 1, and went back in history;
But, it was wrong tab & let it lay and went about other business;
I believe I must have returned to MM tab & hit return (or something like that);
Went about my business with out realizing double post until I read about it.
McCAIN: And I would not announce that I'm going to attack Pakistan, as Senator Obama did when he was during his campaign.
This is an outright lie...it isn't even close to what Obama said. John McCain is a piece of crap for saying this. Why is it that some in the media believe it is not their job to correct misinformation when it is presented right before them?
McCAIN: And I would not announce that I'm going to attack Pakistan, as Senator Obama did when he was during his campaign.
This is an outright lie...it isn't even close to what Obama said. John McCain is a piece of crap for saying this. Why is it that some in the media believe it is not their job to correct misinformation when it is presented right before them?
"Belief Growing That Reporters are Trying to Help Obama Win"
http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/belief_growing_that_reporters_are_trying_to_help_obama_win
It might not answer your question, but it ought to increase your chagrin.
Why is it that some in the media believe it is not their job to correct misinformation when it is presented right before them?
This is a great question. I don't have a great answer, but in this specific instance, I think Sawyer was just focused on getting to her VP question and simply was not listening to the content of what McCain was saying.
the newsreaders, reporters/correspondents so-called, are constitutionally incapable of asking a follow up question. they are so focused solely on themseles, their own voices, and their next question.
they are really pathetic., but well paid.
With a tag like Liberalsareantiamerican you can be sure of a nicely balanced nuance, epicurian rhetoric, and the spanish fly of logic.
Golly.
Gee.
I know. Nice screen name he has there. Sure make me want to engage him/her in discourse. Jeesh...
I would ask the liberalsareantiamerican poster this question:
• In accordance with your screen name, state in exact specific terms with backing information as to how liberals are "anti American". I'm willing to bet that you can't prove it, or even come close to proving it, because most examples of what you'll cite are actually very American ideals, it's just that they don't jibe with the worldview that you have outside of your basement window. So please, lay it on us. I'd LOVE to hear what you have to say, and then we can all refute your Rush Limbaugh / Mike Savage talking points with actual real facts step by step.
Thanks for playing. Now go home and let the adults make discussion please.
Mags,
You beat up the stand in you created there pretty good. I'm impressed at how easily you can handled yourself. :-)
I'm impressed at how easily you can handled yourself.
And I'm impressed by your mastery of tenses.
But serially, to these people, saying some bad about Bushie is treason. After Obama is elected and they start criticizing him, we can question their patriotism to no end. Life will be good.
But serially?
You really think questioning patriotism in people you disagree with is what we're looking forward to?
The Corporate media is not going to change with an Obama administration. Two of the major republican/conservative windmaker's just signed major contracts recently. What possible reason do these folks have even a desire to be seen as reasonable and responsible by such as us?
But most importantly, he railed against, voted against, and said the surge wouldn't work. He said it wouldn't work and couldn't work, and has failed to acknowledge it did work and we have succeeded. Thank God. - Gramps
Memo to Gramps - the surge was supposed to buy time for the Iraqi government to hammer out a settlement so we could leave. It hasn't happened. The surge has worked in reducing violence, but when it comes to the root rationale for the "scourge", IT HAS FAILED.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/07/mccain_gets_bus.html
"I'm proud that I was right. That's what judgment is all about. That's why I'm qualified to lead."
Wow, he's really losing it. I think the GOP is going to have to replace him and quick!
Oh my, the full quote is worse....
"I'm proud that I was right. I'm proud that we could defeat this evil. I was proud that we can bring our troops home with honor and prevent a wider war. An increased Iranian influence and the risk of having to send our brave young Americans back."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/mccain-i-dont-n.html
What the hell is he talking about?
Example: an associate sold out and made a series of anti-Hillary Flash-based movies - something like Jib-Jab does, but longer. When Obama went over the top, they had to scrap ALL that work and money. HAHAHA! Idiots. Now they're doing anti-Obama stuff, but they're getting a terribly late start. Dunno if it's the Scaifes, Coors, or Perrys funding it. It's great work, too bad a lib sold out to da man. Shows libs do believe in free enterprise, though. :)
I've seen the Hillary work. I'll try to find out how big Obama's lips and ears are in the new work.
Diane Sawyer is a right wing Republican hate hag who wants Liar mcCain to be elected president. GOP-Disney-ABC wants Liar McCain elected, too.
Sawyer wanted to stop talk about McCain's Iraq-Pakistan border gaffe in order to protect Liar McCain from bad press. Republican Diane Sawyer was a former press secretary for Richard Nixon, as we all know. That's PROOF of Sawyer's Republican leanings.