Reuters uncritically reported McCain campaign's misleading claim that Obama "made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops"
SUMMARY: Reuters reported on July 27 that Sen. John McCain's campaign aired an advertisement attacking Sen. Barack Obama "in which the announcer says: 'And now, he made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras.' " The article did not note, however, that Obama reportedly visited wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center without the media, and although he did not visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, he reportedly made phone calls to wounded soldiers there. Moreover, NBC's Andrea Mitchell reported that Obama "visited a casualty unit in the Green Zone" in Iraq "without photographers" several days before arriving in Germany.
In a July 27 Reuters article, political correspondent John Whitesides uncritically reported that "[Sen. John] McCain's campaign also needled [Sen. Barack] Obama about canceling a visit to see injured American troops at a base in Germany last week, implying that he did so because he could not bring the media along." Whitesides further wrote that the McCain campaign "even aired an advertisement in which the announcer says: 'And now, he made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras.' " Whitesides did not, however, note any of the facts undermining the McCain campaign's criticism of Obama. As Media Matters for America has documented, Obama reportedly visited wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center without the media, and although he did not visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, he reportedly made phone calls to wounded soldiers there. Moreover, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell reported on July 24 that Obama "visited a casualty unit in the Green Zone" in Iraq "without photographers" several days before arriving in Germany.
Additionally, as ABC senior national correspondent Jake Tapper noted in a July 26 post on his blog Political Punch, "The McCain campaign provides no evidence for the assertion that being told he [Obama] couldn't bring media had anything to do with the trip's cancellation." Similarly, in a July 26 post on the Time blog Swampland, national political correspondent Karen Tumulty wrote that "[t]here is absolutely no evidence" for the ad's suggestion that "Obama cancelled the trip because he was told he couldn't bring the media." According to Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass, "We told military officials explicitly that Senator Obama had absolutely no intention of bringing any members of the media or photographers in with him to visit the wounded warriors" at Landstuhl.
In her Swampland post, Tumulty also noted that "there's a little problem with this line: 'And now, he made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops.' Sure enough, the accompanying footage shows Obama playing basketball ... with the troops in Kuwait. [ellipses in original]"
From the July 25 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:
MITCHELL: The background on the military flap is that they had clearly planned a trip to Rammstein. They were planning to visit the injured troops, and then the Pentagon explained they couldn't go as part of a political trip. The Obama campaign thought that they could go, leave the press corps on the tarmac, and then take off with military escort and make this one last visit, as he did, by the way, in Iraq. He visited a casualty unit in the Green Zone without photographers as part of the congressional delegation. But the military said that the rules are that he could only go as part of a previously arranged military congressional delegation to Rammstein.
Clearly, people in the campaign are really angry. They had wanted this to be the final stop on the trip here in Germany, and to do it without the press corps, just to do it on his own. But the objections of the military were that he is now being staffed by campaign aides, not by his Senate staff, which -- who were the people who of course were with him when he went with [Sen. Chuck] Hagel [R-NE] and [Sen.] Jack Reed [D-RI] in Iraq. So, you -- you know, the anger here is pretty intense at the Pentagon: They feel that the military are, you know, drawing some lines. They're not saying this publicly of course, but drawing lines that they might not have drawn for other people. He was planning to just go by himself, not with cameras, not with any entrourage, as he had done in Walter Reed in the past in Washington, as he did in Iraq, Joe.
JOE SCARBOROUGH (host): It's -- it's curious, if that's the case, why the campaign didn't make that announcement yesterday and allowed stories go like this. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of "he said, she said" in the days to come about this.
MITCHELL: Well, but they felt that they couldn't win. Yeah, they felt that they -- that they were in a, you know, no-win situation, that the Pentagon, perhaps, the military with cooperation from some Republican operatives, I mean, that's the -- the sort of scuttlebutt, that there have been some foreign policy advisers of John McCain with connections in the Pentagon, who've had something to do with this, but that is perhaps just the normal political paranoia of the season.
From the July 27 Reuters article:
As the Illinois senator prepared to switch his emphasis to the economy, McCain kept up his attacks on Obama's position on Iraq. McCain, in an interview broadcast on ABC's "This Week," said Obama's call for withdrawal of American troops from Iraq over a 16-month period was designed to help his drive to win the Democratic nomination.
McCain's campaign also needled Obama about canceling a visit to see injured American troops at a base in Germany last week, implying that he did so because he could not bring the media along. It even aired an advertisement in which the announcer says: "And now, he made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras."
McCAIN QUESTIONS OBAMA JUDGMENT
"Senator Obama doesn't understand," McCain said in an interview conducted on Saturday. "He doesn't understand what's at stake here and he chose to take a political path that would have helped him get the nomination of his party."
But McCain, an ardent supporter of the war, said he was not questioning the patriotism of his opponent, just his judgment.
Obama defended his call for troop withdrawal, saying it should have begun earlier, and the real lack of judgment was McCain's vote for the war in the first place.
This is just asinine. If Obama had visited the troops it would have been characterized by McCain as a photo-op - damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. McCain and his staff should be ashamed, and any candidate from any party who uses troop visits as some campaign wedge issue is a disgrace, it's pathetic.
Talk about your policies and issues Senator McCain, and leave this idiocy to Sean Hannity.
I don't know why, but Andrea Mitchell was fair and honest about these recent events recently - I wonder if Media Matters' stories about how she was biased have had an effect. One can hope!
She was just on some MSNBC show and was clear about how the McCain ad was an unfair smear. She has messed up several times, but in this case, she was a good guy.
Very well put, Tommy, welcome back. The next line of attack will probably be from them saying that finally the media is looking at Obama critically, but did you see this article: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-onthemedia27-2008jul27,0,712999.story
I found it fascinating.
I saw that this morning, Fried, pretty interesting.And, no, I couldn't resist going to the Human Events link at the bottom of the Times article, where I learned this;
"From his radical stance on abortion to his prominence in the corruption scandals that has been virtually ignored by the mainstream media, Barack Obama is not fit to be Senator -- not to mention the next President of the United States."
Obama is pro-life and involved in war profiteering ? How did the GOP not snatch this guy up?
-- Such reversals are nothing new in national politics, as reporters tend to warm up to newcomers, then turn increasingly critical when such candidates emerge as front-runners. -- LAT
That was the statement that I find most telling from the LATimes article...an unintended expose of the real media agenda...personal ambition attained by destroying front runners/favorites.
Pulitzer awards aren't won for being honest reporters...they're won by bringing someone down. Political bias is a problem...but their goal of attaining status by personal destruction is one of the most damning reasons for low opinion many in the public have for the media.
Exactly, it was cool to grab on to the Obama wind sails when he was up against Hillary - and now the tide has shifted and it appears it's kind of groovy to stick it to him a little bit.
Media bias, media bleech.
We all appreciate it when he's reasonable like this, but let's not go overboard
Brab, just curious, do you only find Tommy "reasonable" when he agrees with the Liberal position? I could be wrong, but it does seem that way.
Sue,
I believe there are posters who warrant the "most fair" crown here more than I do, but I appreciate your kind words, thank you.
Thanks, Tommy. You didn't need to name names, but I know deep down that you consider me the Fairest of them All.
Near the beginning of the article it says:
The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, where researchers have tracked network news content for two decades, found that ABC, NBC and CBS were tougher on Obama than on Republican John McCain during the first six weeks of the general-election campaign.
You read it right: tougher on the Democrat.
The thing I find most amusing about that statement is that it's so clearly directed at the conservative sense of incredulity. Most liberals will read that and say "Yeah? And that's news?"
Talk about your policies and issues Senator McCain, and leave this idiocy to Sean Hannity.
Hannity would rather use the troops to make money for Ollie North's bogus charity....
* * * * * * * * * *
Hannity's "Freedom" concert is a money scam
After weaving through voluminous amounts of carefully crafted, parsed language and following up on the reporting of news hounds and a daily kos diarist it appears that Sean Hannity and Oliver North are using the name of dead American soldiers to garner profits for a right wing organization masquerading as a charity.
Sean Hannity claims that his concerts are "to benefit the freedom alliance scholarship fund for the children of America's Military heroes featuring Country Music Stars Montgomery Gentry, Leann Rimes, and Lee Greenwood." A closer looks at the facts tell a different story.
<more>
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/6/6165/93743
And he sure has a lot of help too, doesn't he?
Check out redstate if you get a chance, they are running a contest to see who can do the best photoshop of Obama disrespecting the troops. Seems they are under the impression that the story of bush playing guitar while NO flooded is still burning a hole in their heart and they see this as a method of getting even. Surprised?
My favorite NO photoshopped photo was the one showing Poppy Bush and Junior fishing:
"Sen. Obama is welcome to visit Landstuhl or any military hospital in his official capacity as a United States senator," Morrell said in a brief interview. "But there is a DOD policy which governs campaigning and electioneering at military facilities that would have to be respected if he were to visit. That distinction was relayed and made clear to campaign, and they made a decision on their own based on that guidance."
Morrell, in a subsequent interview, added that military officials told Obama he could only visit the military facility with his Secret Service detail and Senate staff.
"We made it clear to him that campaign staff and press would not be permitted to accompany him," Morrell said of Obama. "We relayed those ground rules. They made a choice based upon the information we relayed to them. It was their choice. We had nothing to do with it."
Military personnel at Ramstein Air Force Base, where the senator was to fly into, had already made arrangements to accommodate Obama's traveling press pack and campaign staff while he visited the wounded troops, Morrell said.
Obama's campaign tells a different story.
Obama adviser David Axelrod told the Chicago Sun-Times that the Pentagon "viewed this as a campaign event, and therefore they said he should not come."
In a briefing to Obama's traveling press corps, another adviser stopped short of saying they were told to not come but also suggested that even a visit by Obama alone may have been at issue.
Robert Gibbs said one of Obama's military advisers had been informed by the Pentagon that the visit may be seen as a campaign stop.
"They cited a regulation," Gibbs said of their point of contact, described as legislative affairs in the office of the secretary.
"We believed that based on the information we received that any presence, even his own and only his own, would get into a back and forth on whether his own presence was a campaign event," Gibbs said.
Gibbs also pointed out that that their plane had been cleared to land at Ramstein and the Pentagon subsequently issued the reminder about political activity at military posts.
Obama, who was not traveling with any Senate staffers, decided on the flight Wednesday from Tel Aviv to Berlin not to visit the hospital.
Trying to make clear that this was not an attempt to undercut the Democratic nominee, Morrell also noted that when McCain officials asked the Pentagon for permission to let Cindy McCain visit the massive U.S. hospital ship, the U.S.N.S. Comfort, the request was rejected.
"Had she gone with Sen. McCain, it would have been OK," Morrell said, underlining the delineation between what are official and campaign activities.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/DoD_spokesman_says_Obama_camp_was_reminded_of_political_rules.html
AA,
My issue with this isn't necessarily the story itself, it's McCain's shameless exploitation of it. Let silly stuff like this be bandied about on cable pundit chat fests, if they so choose. I don't need McCain telling me his opinion of Obama's intentions where visiting the troops is concerned. It's crap politics, pure and simple.
it's McCain's shameless exploitation of it.
A new McCain ad says Obama "made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras."
McCain's facts are literally true, but his insinuation – that the visit was canceled because of the press ban or the desire for gym time – is false. In fact, Obama visited wounded troops earlier – without cameras or press – both in the U.S. and Iraq. And his gym workouts are a daily routine.
The Obama campaign canceled the visit with wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, Obama says, when he learned that the Pentagon would not allow him to bring along a retired Air Force major general who is serving as a foreign policy adviser to the campaign. Obama says that "triggered then a concern that maybe our visit was going to be perceived as political."
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/snubbing_wounded_troops.html
McCain's facts are literally true
No, they aren't Obama's Senate staff could have brought cmeras if they wished, but his campaign staff were not allowed. Since Obama's Senate staff had already left for the States, Obama decided not to go.
McCain, slimeball that he is, couldn't wait to jump on the mud-slinging opportunity.
George W. Bush has had time to go to the gym almost every day, and ride his mountain bike all over the world, but has yet to go to the funeral of even one soldier. He also apparently hasn't had time to educate himself on any subject.
George W. Bush has had time to go to the gym almost every day, and ride his mountain bike all over the world, but has yet to go to the funeral of even one soldier. He also apparently hasn't had time to educate himself on any subject.
Here are two areas in which Bush did not have time to "edumacate" himself:
Eating Pretzels:
Riding Segway Scooters:
Yeah, WZ, Boosh may not be real big on educating himself, but the pretzel & the Segway both schooled him.
Not to mention the time he was outsmarted by the door.
Right, Tommy. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just get the facts out there, and each of us could decide what we thought of the story?
AA, could you please learn to post a link, instead of spreading your gigantic copy & pasted complete articles all over the place? Thanks.
Tommy,
We all know Obama shamelessly exploited his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe by taking along 200+ of his favorite media sycophants on his trip, but that is okay.
However McCain's truthful and accurate description of Obama's Ramstein's cancellation to see wounded troops is offensive and his criticism toward Obama is not?
Hardly seems fair if you ask me.
AA,
While the "exact" wording may have been true...let's not go down that word-smithing rabbit hole so often attempted by mmfa.
McCain's ad was clear to me in its intent...a scurrilous campaign tactic to tar and feather Obama.
Regardless of anyone's political leanings...it's is ludicrous to think that Obama would rather go the the gym than visit wounded soldiers...
Sorry AA...I can't support this McCain tactic.
He also said that Cindy McCain recently requested to visit sailors aboard the U.S.N.S. Comfort and was denied.
Did Cindy McCain go to the gym instead? Inquiring minds want to know... ;>)
This is all so ridiculous...yet so revealing about what kind of a man John McCain is.
And worth repeating!
AA,
While the "exact" wording may have been true...let's not go down that word-smithing rabbit hole so often attempted by mmfa.
McCain's ad was clear to me in its intent...a scurrilous campaign tactic to tar and feather Obama.
Regardless of anyone's political leanings...it's is ludicrous to think that Obama would rather go the the gym than visit wounded soldiers...
Sorry AA...I can't support this McCain tactic.
King,
LOL...sorry about all the duplicates...mmfa's browser is misfiring this am...my point wasn't worth that many postings...
We all know Obama shamelessly exploited his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe by taking along 200+ of his favorite media sycophants on his trip, but that is okay.
And Barack Obama's campaign paid for the trip. Would you have preferred that Obama travelled at tax payers' expense...as John McCain has done on his trips?
And...please explain how Obama "shamelessly exploited" his trip. From my vantage point it appears to me that John McCain is the one who has shamelessly exploited Barack Obama's trip.
Wes,
Might as well sit back and enjoy it. Negative campaigning on both sides is where it is at in this election cycle.
AA,
Can you point to an Obama ad that is even close to this McCain one in terms of negativity?
Better yet, how about a single Obama ad that is negative at all.
I haven't seen any (then again, I'm not in a prime market.)
Has there been one? The Obama ads I have seen (mind you, I'm talking about the ones directly from his own campaign, not the ones from 3rd party groups he doesn't control) have all been positive, pro-Obama and pro-USA rather than anti-McCain.
Obama accused McCain of hypocrisy after McCain criticized Obama for saying he would talk to our enemies by citing a McCain response to an interview question which clearly was not what McCain said or implied.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCwP5uTfSF0
You can be you own judge as to whether it is similar.
Wait till the fall. I believe the accusations and negative campaigning from both sides will become almost a daily occurrence.
In case you missed it, Obama has his people at the DNC, MoveOn.org and MMFA do his dirty work for him.
The following is from factcheck.org.
The Democratic National Committee proposes to spend unlimited amounts of money to "tell the real story" about John McCain before Republicans can "start smearing" the eventual Democratic nominee. But the line of attack the Democrats outline to their potential donors in an e-mail contains some claims that are false or misleading.* The DNC paints McCain as favoring "endless war" in Iraq. What McCain actually said is that he wouldn't mind a hundred-year troop presence "as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed."
* It says McCain "looked the other way" rather than investigate Jack Abramoff and a Republican "Culture of Corruption." In fact, McCain's investigation led to a prison term for Abramoff and the downfall of several powerful Republicans. His investigators didn't probe members of Congress directly, but that wasn't the job of his Indian Affairs Committee. And in any case, federal prosecutors opposed a competing congressional investigation which might have interfered with their own efforts.
* The DNC message makes criticisms of McCain that could be directed at its own leading candidates as well. It notes that he lacks training in economics, which is equally true of Clinton and Obama. And it accuses him of "staggering" reliance on lobbyists for campaign help, when Clinton also has substantial aid from lobbyists and Obama has some from former lobbyists.
If recent history is any guide, the preemptive attack that the DNC outlines in this message will be followed by similar attacks by Republicans. Past elections have included spiraling rounds of attacks by both parties, in which each side claims to be responding in kind to the other.
So, which of those ads questioned McCain's patriotism?
AA,
I don't find any of those to be near the level of McCain's ads. McCain said that Obama clearly found working out to be a priority over meeting with troops. That is disgusting. Do you believe him?
Yeah, the DNC and many good liberals make the mistake of continuing to call the occupation of Iraq anything other than an occupation. Had the DNC pointed out that McCain is in favor of, "endless occupation," there would be no problem with the ad at all.
"And it accuses him [McCain] of "staggering" reliance on lobbyists for campaign help, when Clinton also has substantial aid from lobbyists and Obama has some from former lobbyists."
Try to keep up with the events as they unfold. Remember, if you will, that Obama, in a demonstration of leadership, gave lobbyists the boot just about the same time he secured the nomination.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/05/following_obama_dnc_announces.html
NEW YORK -- The Democratic National Committee will no longer accept contributions from registered federal lobbyists or political action committees, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign announced.
We all know Obama shamelessly exploited his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe by taking along 200+ of his favorite media sycophants on his trip, but that is okay.
And Barack Obama's campaign paid for the trip. Would you have preferred that Obama travelled at tax payers' expense...as John McCain has done on his trips?
And...please explain how Obama "shamelessly exploited" his trip. From my vantage point it appears to me that John McCain is the one who has shamelessly exploited Barack Obama's trip.
wz, Tell me. Does that still work back on the playground?
Does that still work back on the playground?
You tell us, AA. There seem to be an awful lot of conservatives hanging around playgrounds tempting little boys with candy...
Almost everything that every politician does is done with an eye towards the political affects of that move. To claim that what Obama did was somehow offensive because he acted like a politician is ridiculous. And yeah, he is a different kind of politician, and he does think much differently from the Bush Administration, but he's still a politician.
McCain's ad was not an accurate portrayal of what actually happened. The media not challenging that ad, and not explaining how it was inaccurate forwards the conservative agenda, so Media Matters covered it.
You tried to make 2 points, and they both fell flat.
AA,
As I said, I draw a clear distinction between pundits and candidates when it comes to stuff like this. Pundits can run around all day long and tell me how unpatriotic, which is essentially what McCain is saying even if he says he isn't saying it, one candidate or another is or isn't. I could care less.
But I am offended when candidates themselves have the arrogance and the audacity to do it. Who the hell do they think they are? They need to stick to issues, policy, and they are certainly free to criticize another candidate's policies, etc.....but don't infer someone is less patriotic than you are. It's sickening.
Tommy,
I didn't read it as McCain saying Obama is less patriotic. It looked to me that he was saying Obama is more political.
McCain's suggestion, not mine. Are you drunk?
You evaded my question.
No don't bother answering. If you think it speaks to Mr. Obama's patriotism, who am I to argue.
I'm not saying Obama doesn't give a damn about the troops. I'm saying that's McCain's suggestion. Still agree?
McCain is saying that Obama skipped a visit to wounded troops but found time for the gym.
That suggests a lack of concern for the troops.
Not caring about the troops speaks to patriotism.
Therefore, McCain is questioning Obama's patriotism.
Which part of this are you specifically disputing?
Talk about questionable patriotism - didn't McCain miss the vote on the Veteran's Bill, instead deciding to campaign?
Sounds like the veteran isn't as patriotic as he would like others to believe he is...and he questions the patriotism of Obama because of Landstuhl? Really?
How much more convoluted can you get?
If you think it speaks to Mr. Obama's patriotism, who am I to argue
That's a cute rhetorical game you're playing. However, it doesn't improve your argument.
That's a cute rhetorical game you're playing. However, it doesn't improve your argument.
The only thing that would improve AA's argument would be if he were to quit while he's behind.
AA,
The underlying impression McCain wanted to leave is Obama's flippant disrespect for the troops by heading off to the gym instead of visiting them. Of course he is too seasoned to out and out say it, but it's not hard to figure what he was really saying between the lines. Politican's doublespeak doesn't fool, nor impress me.
It's despicable from any candidate, I don't care who it is.
Tommy,
I am of the opinion that one should separate what one says with what one does. Obama's lofty words are continually undermined by his actions. Don't shoot the messenger McCain for pointing that out.
AA, We can agree to disagree here I suppose. I understand it's all politics, and the game is played with delicious vigor by both sides.....but I find questioning one's patriotism the ultimate mudslinging tactic there is. If it comes from Hannity, I shrug. If it comes cloaked in some stealth, "I don't question Senator Obama's patriotism, I question his judgment" proclamation by an opposing candidate, it's bottom of the barrel shameless slime.
Sorry, I have no time for it.
Tommy,
You have dismissed two of the major reasons that many find fault with Mr. Obama. Not to worry. There are others. :-)
You have dismissed two of the major reasons that many find fault with Mr. Obama.
Who are those "many?" Care to produce a few names? If there really are "many," then some unbiased examples should be easy to produce. I won't bother holding my breath.
Don't conflate your distorted thinking with public opinion. They are in no way similar.
You have dismissed two of the major reasons that many find fault with Mr. Obama. Not to worry. There are others. :-)
Please AA, stop with the smiley faces at the end of your posts. Being that they usually not at all funny, they are quite out of place.
AA,
I am very happy to hear that you will evaluate the candidates based on their actions on not their rhetoric.
A few points for you to consider:
1) McCain claims that the Iraq War is a priority for him and within his realm of expertise. Yet, in 2007, he missed 10 out of the 14 Iraq War votes while none of the other candidates missed a single one. How can he claim that the War is a priority based on his actions?
2) McCain, in one of his ads, paints Obama as the reason gas prices are too high, yet, he was against off-shore drilling until the last few months. Perhaps he, and others who were in the Senate all those years, are to blame?
3) McCain, as another poster noted, gets poor marks on his voting records from the DAV and the IAVA, which are both Veteran's organizations, why do you believe his rhetoric in this area over his actions?
4) McCain has also mentioned that the war in Afghanistan is a priority for him. Yet he has shown up for 0 hearings about the war after criticizing Obama's record. His is worse, why do you believe his rhetoric:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/hearing-gate-ex.html
5) He and his surrogates have loudly condemned the Obama Berlin speech, but his speech in Canada was apparently ok.
6) Why is McCain against the GI Bill?
If you truly believe action trumps rhetoric, there is no possible way, if you believe that the Iraq is as important as you seem to, that you can vote for a man who only showed up for 28% of the votes on the war in 2007.
Fried,
While you make a good point about McCain's voting record, we all know he was out campaigning in 2007.
We've got three months to discuss issues. I'm looking forward to it.
Unfortunately I have to cut and run right now.
L8r
AA,
None of the other presidential candidates missed A SINGLE VOTE on Iraq in 2007. I find it quite curious, and frankly hypocritical, that you give him that excuse.
I want to know how you square his rhetoric with his actions on this issue.
AA,
Since you excuse McCain's absenteeism as part of the campaign, would you say he would rather win the campaign than the war? He clearly, if he was campaigning as you say, put his own self-interest ahead of the nation's didn't he? I guarantee you he would paint it this way if Obama had done the same thing.
AA:
Are you under the impression that Obama decides on his press coverage? He "brought along 200 of his favorite media syncophants" implies that you do. McCain is the one who has referred to the media as his "base." He did NOT accurately portray Obama's reasons for not seeing the troops. And if Obama can simply DECIDE to bring the press on his trip, why couldn't McCain DECIDE to get more coverage? Or do such inconsistencies not matter to you?
It doesn't really matter at all to me. Obama can take as many newsies as he wants.
However, I see McCain's point and I think it is a valid criticism. Obama made the decision not to go visit the wounded at Ramstein based on the politics, plain and simple.
McCain told the press they were not welcome, and now he's whining that the Press is covering Obama, who had no issue with them coming along. The Press didn't have to go, they paid for the trip, not Obama, and they thought the story was worth covering.
They were right, and now they should cover McCain's sour grapes that he was so short-sighted, just as he has been all along with respect to the war in Iraq.
Obama made the decision not to go visit the wounded at Ramstein based on the politics, plain and simple.
Sorry. That is incorrect. You need to read up on this issue some more.
The short version is:
The Pentagon told Obama he couldn't come because it would be perceived as a campaign stop. Look it up if you don't believe me.
We all know Obama shamelessly exploited his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe by taking along 200+ of his favorite media sycophants on his trip, but that is okay.
When a wingnut says "we all know," you can be sure that no one knows it, because it is almost always a lie. This post by AA ("Hello, my name is AA and I'm a wingnut" "Hi, AA.") is no exception.
We all know Obama shamelessly exploited his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe by taking along 200+ of his favorite media sycophants on his trip
Ah, no...
What "we all know" is quite to the contrary.
You're just pissed because Obama had a stellar week while McCain wandered around a supermarket for 2 hours.
AA,
While the "exact" wording may have been true...let's not go down that word-smithing rabbit hole so often attempted by mmfa.
McCain's ad was clear to me in its intent...a scurrilous campaign tactic to tar and feather Obama.
Regardless of anyone's political leanings...it's is ludicrous to think that Obama would rather go the the gym than visit wounded soldiers...
Sorry AA...I can't support this McCain tactic.
We all know Obama shamelessly exploited his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe by taking along 200+ of his favorite media sycophants on his trip, but that is okay.
AA, both you and McCain need to get over the fact that Obama is lot smarter than either of you. McCain and his fellow Republicans (you included) requested Obama go to Iraq and Afghanistan and he simply complied with your wishes.
You should also acknowledge that the reason McCain didn't take media on his trip like Obama, was the 3 days of consecutive gaffes about Al Qaeda/Iran/Sunni/Shia would have been a lot harder to cover up if all 3 major nightly news anchors were present.
However McCain's truthful and accurate description of Obama's Ramstein's cancellation to see wounded troops is offensive and his criticism toward Obama is not?
You can't get over the fact that you hoped Obama would screw up like McCain and you'd have something to rant about. He didn't, instead he was well received by all and now your pissed because all folks remember about McCain's visit is "Al Qaeda is training in Iran".......LOL
Hardly seems fair if you ask me.
You wouldn't know "fair" if it bit you in the butt!
Pearlene,
What's with all these references to my backside today? Pretty cheeky if you assk me.
You get no argument from me over McCain's gaffes. He does seem a bit geographically challenged. Frankly I prefer that to Mr.Obama's age of Aquarius speeches.
He does seem a bit geographically challenged. Frankly I prefer that to Mr.Obama's age of Aquarius speeches. - AA
So you prefer incompetent to inspirational. That's interesting.
Then you think "stupid" can be fixed, but "ambitious" should be feared.
As Ron White said, "You Can't Fix 'Stuppd'." Case in point:
I believe Mr. McCain can be corrected about his geography. - AA
McCain's gaffes go far, far FAR beyond geography. I could list them, but it would make for a pretty large post.
I do not believe Mr. Obama's narcissism can be corrected. - AA
And I don't believe it can be demonstrated. Just another baseless rightwing talking point.
When his major foreign policy initiative seems to be that he can simply talk allies and enemies alike into "just getting along". - AA
Try visiting Earth sometime. It's not a terrible place to live. I'd hate to live on a planet where your comment makes sense.
I believe Mr. McCain can be corrected about his geography.
He was.
Three times
In two days.
He didn't learn.
A Presidential candidate should know that there is no longer a place called Czechoslovakia, and he should know that Iraq has no border with Pakistan.
Don't you agree that someone who claims that his strong suit id foreign affairs should at least have a working knowledge of the absolute basics subject and not have to be corrected on items a third-grader learns in school?
What's with all these references to my backside today?
AA, that's just too easy. :-)
You get no argument from me over McCain's gaffes. He does seem a bit geographically challenged. Frankly I prefer that to Mr.Obama's age of Aquarius speeches.
McCain couldn't buy a clue and his wife has plenty of money. He has proven that he doesn't know or doesn't remember where other countries are, doesn't know the difference between our enemies, Al Qaeda ( you know the folks who attacked us on 9/11) and Iran ( his next destination for war), doesn't have a clue how to improve our economy (Republicans in total charge for the 6 out of 8 years), and fix the current gas price of $4 a gallon.
Just "geographically challenged"?
LOL
He also said that Cindy McCain recently requested to visit sailors aboard the U.S.N.S. Comfort and was denied.
Did Cindy McCain go to the gym instead? Inquiring minds want to know... ;>)
This is all so ridiculous...yet so revealing about what kind of a man John McCain is.
He also said that Cindy McCain recently requested to visit sailors aboard the U.S.N.S. Comfort and was denied.
I guess that means she'll just have to wait until "Fleet Week" and try her luck like all the others.....
Besides, why all of this emphasis on visiting with the wounded troops? "Visiting" is what old ladies do with their biddy friends, sharing recipes and having tea.
Our troops aren't sickly children who need coddling and pampering, they're the best & the toughest of our young people, and they're just trying to rest up , they don't need a bunch of press & politicians barging in on them.
You can vote for the candidate who reminds you of your Great-Aunt Hattie if you want, give me the guy who's pumping iron and giving our troops a little much-deserved peace & quiet
"Visiting" is what old ladies do with their biddy friends, sharing recipes and having tea.
LOL
"and the beat still goes on"
They are trying their best,the MSM that is to muddy the waters,the purifier will come the night the debates begin,no spin,no hiding what our"lying eyes and ears may see or hear.But if(when) JohnnyMac gets trounced they will continue to try and decieve.
Let's see. What do the veterans think?
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America - John McCain rating: D; versus Obama's B+ http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list
Disabled American Veterans - John McCain rating: 20%; Obama's rating: 80%
http://capwiz.com/dav/scorecard.xc
Vietnam Veterans of America - John McCain rating: 15 votes against/ 9 votes for; Versus Obama's rating: 1 vote against/13 votes for veterans. http://capwiz.com/vva/e4/cinfo/?id=15730...
McCain's record is disgraceful,especially for a veteran. His recent ad, exploiting the serviceman/woman is beneath comtempt. Although I did not serve in combat, I am a veteran. How this guy can abandon his brethern on the Senate floor speaks volumes to who the real John McCain is. Actions speak louder than words.
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. - Samuel JohnsonThanks for the links, McK (can I call you Muddy?)
Reality seems to be at odds with the myth created and beat to death by the media, especially the chickenhawk extreme right fringe on Fox and am radio.
You blew my cover Colonel. You can call me anything.
Another note about veterans
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/07/27/2008-07-27_injured_vets_tell_pull_dick_cheney_invit.html
Apparently they just told the V.P. to go pound salt.
Obama has said he was planning the trip to the hospital all along. Now he's saying McCain was going to spin that as a photo op and that's why he didn't go. Aside from the fact that the trip itself was a huge photo op (no problem with that by the way), why would Obama wait until the pentagon told him he couldn't take any campaign personal with him to the hospital to decide McCain was going to spin this as a photo op?