Fox's Henneberg falsely claimed Obama's campaign said he didn't visit troops at Landstuhl because Pentagon prohibited cameras
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SUMMARY: Discussing Sen. John McCain's criticism of Sen. Barack Obama for not visiting wounded soldiers in Germany, Fox News' Molly Henneberg asserted that the "Obama campaign originally said the candidate thought it would be, quote, 'inappropriate' to visit wounded troops as part of a campaign-funded trip, but later they said that the Pentagon said they couldn't go without media cameras." In fact, the Obama campaign did not say that Obama decided not to visit because the Pentagon barred media from accompanying him.
On the July 28 edition of Fox News' Happening Now, while discussing Sen. John McCain's criticism of Sen. Barack Obama for not visiting wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, correspondent Molly Henneberg asserted that the "Obama campaign originally said the candidate thought it would be, quote, 'inappropriate' to visit wounded troops as part of a campaign-funded trip, but later they said that the Pentagon said they couldn't go without media cameras." In fact, the Obama campaign did not say that Obama decided not to visit because the Pentagon barred media from accompanying him. 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. ABC senior national correspondent Jake Tapper and Time national political correspondent Karen Tumulty both noted in reference to a McCain campaign ad, which similarly asserts that Obama canceled the visit because "the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras," that the McCain campaign has provided "no evidence" to support that assertion.
As Media Matters for America has noted, while Obama did not go to Landstuhl, in recent weeks he did reportedly visit wounded troops -- without media present -- at a casualty unit in Iraq and at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and also reportedly made phone calls to wounded soldiers at Landstuhl following his canceled visit there.
From the July 28 edition of Fox News' Happening Now:
GREG JARRETT (co-host): Molly, one of the things we're hearing is that John McCain's campaign continues to hit Barack Obama for essentially not visiting troops in Germany. What's the latest salvo on that?
HENNEBERG: Well, the McCain campaign is more then happy to send out emails with a list of what they call now the top 10 reasons Barack Obama canceled his visit with U.S. troops in Germany last week. McCain has said that if someone tried to stop him from visiting wounded troops, there would have been a, quote, "seismic event." The Obama campaign originally said the candidate thought it would be, quote, "inappropriate" to visit wounded troops as part of a campaign-funded trip, but later they said that the Pentagon said they couldn't go without media cameras, or a retired general on Obama's staff couldn't go. In any event, the McCain campaign is using this as a chance to slam Obama for not visiting the troops while he was overseas on that -- on that very successful trip.
And Barack Obama wasn't wearing a flag pin when he cancelled the hospital visit, either... ;>)
HENNEBERG: McCain has said that if someone tried to stop him from visiting wounded troops, there would have been a, quote, "seismic event."
Perhaps it is time for the public to see one of McCain's reputed "seismic events"
This stuff is getting more and more bizarre by the minute...what country is this again? ;>)
While Obama was speaking before 200,000 Germans, McGramps was here in the good ol' USA, talking to a crowd consisting of a woman and her kid at a supermarket, as a dozen or so jars of applesauce fell from the shelves near him.
Where the hell was the Secret Service? You'd think they'd have thrown themselves between the jars and the old guy, but they didn't.
Are they in the tank for Obama too?
W-King, I'm sorry to say I missed the applesauce avalanche, but am looking forward to other seismic events. Whether it's Incontinental drift, delirious tremors or just an eruption in the prune juice aisle, I'm not taking Grampy's tough talk lightly. His recent ad attacking Obama's patriotism must have registered on the Prichter scale.
BTW, I've got a Jingometer-busting photo I've been saving for you, but am having trouble getting it on the internets. I haven't given up yet, it's a beaut.
I also owe everyone an apology. In my post, I forgot to post the link to the video. You'll find it at the bottom of this reply.
And I have to apologize for unmisunderestimating the size of the crowd in the supermarket. The woman had 2 kids with her, and me being the typical evil lib, I originally said she had just one.
So in fact, Gramps was addressing a crowd at least 33 percent larger than my original crowd estimate of 2. I'm wiling to bet the figures I posted for Obama were off too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GayO4pc8S_A
OK, let's see if this works. This old guy cruises around my neighborhood, and I was worried he'd passed away, as I hadn't seen him in a while. But he ain't dead, he's just been busy. You'll just have to imagine the sound system booming Country versions of the battle Hymn. This guy is my hero, and has probably forced some re-calibration of the Jingometer.
Colonel, Did you mean Prickter Scale?
Talk about fairmess, I am considering starting a website titled....
POWs against McCain.....What type of comeents would I receive?
" POWs against McCain.....What type of comeents would I receive?" princeofwheels
Google that phrase and you'll get your answer. LOTS of links for MIAs, POWS, and veterans unhappy with McCain.
Here's the full McCrazy quote:
"If I had been told by the Pentagon that I couldn't visit those troops, and I was there and wanted to be there, I guarantee you, there would have been a seismic event. And so, I believe he had the opportunity to go without the media. And I'll let the facts speak for themselves."
MSM and McCain have both lost their bearings.
I don't think either have lost their bearings...I think both are on the same crooked track they have been on for years...say or do anything necessary to keep the GOP in the White House.
McCain talked tough when GW Bush used whisper campaigns on him, and similar tactics used on others , but I think he is far worse now, blantantly lying, knowing that the MSM will not point out his lies when he says them. He's being given a free ride and he's using it.
This seems to be the GOP smear which FOX will gladly spew , that McCain did not go to visit the troops because they would not allow cameras. This is as Swiftboating as we can get, but it will not work, the smears do not work anymore, McCain is toast.
J., you have way too much faith in the public. McSame will never be toast, thanks to the monster machine the Repugnants have bulit. Little old Obama just fell into the Pentagon's trap, designed by "you-know-who". Let's hope he learned something about what he is up against. Johnny Mac is just small change in this, and certainly doesn't have the brains to devise traps this good. When he learns to "do a google" is when we have to start worrying.
MADDGGY, One must remember that Obama defeated the toughest adversary that politics has ever seen...the Clintons. Obamas' machine seems to know the game...they knew this was coming and determined it better to NOT use the troops as political fodder for the Cons. Can you imagine the Cons attacking him for USING the troopsa during his "campaign swing".
MCCain will blow up.....just wait and see. Your point, though, is well taken.
And if you mean Rove, I think his living off his reputation..not his math abilities.
McCain is ruining his shaky reputation. Don't these jerks understand that the American people are fed-up with this nonsense.
Hannity, Rush and the gang are speaking to their dwindling base. Or should I say crying.
Hannity just mentioned yellowcake on his program. Arguing with Jesse Ventura and Jesse is handing it to him. Hannity is like a little kid who isn't getting his way. What a dork. In Pittsburgh, he would be called a jagoff.
I understand in the military it's an abbreviation for JAG Officer...
OK, maybe not.
I believe Henneberg probably stated this incorrectly....but regardless, the title of this article is wrong about what she said.
She didn't say Obama didn't visit because the Pentagon "prohibited" cameras. She says of the the Obama campaign: "...but later they said that the Pentagon said they couldn't go without media cameras.
To fit this article's title, she would have had to say; "...but later they said that the Pentagon said they couldn't go with media cameras..."
Fox's Henneberg falsely claimed Obama's campaign said he didn't visit troops at Landstuhl because Pentagon prohibited cameras
The government does prohibit media cameras, but the Obama campaign didn't cancel because of that. They didn't plan to take media cameras with them.
What she said is the opposite of what the title says she said, but my guess is that she meant it as the title says....I hope MMFA checks this out to see if it's a type-o in transcribing what Henneberg said. The article certainly doesn't work as it's transcribed.
The Jack Tapper article works fine, because Tapper says Obama backed out because they couldn't bring media cameras, and the article's point is that was not true...and as you can see, this article uses the Tapper comment as a comparison to what Henneberg said......but she didn't say that.
From above:
"ABC senior national correspondent Jake Tapper and Time national political correspondent Karen Tumulty both noted in reference to a McCain campaign ad, which similarly asserts that Obama canceled the visit because "the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras," that the McCain campaign has provided "no evidence" to support that assertion."
The news isn't "what the ad asserts," the news is that those assertions are lies.
Or, at least, that should be the news.
Let's look at this from the perspective of a typical Fox viewer who has no knowledge of the details of this story:
Jarret: "Molly, one of the things we're hearing is that John McCain's campaign continues to hit Barack Obama for essentially not visiting troops in Germany."
Henneberg: "Well, the McCain campaign is more then(sic) happy to send out emails with a list of what they call now the top 10 reasons Barack Obama canceled his visit..."
"...McCain has said that if someone tried to stop him from visiting wounded troops, there would have been a, quote, "seismic event."
"...The Obama campaign originally said..."
"...but later they said that..."
"...In any event.."
"...while he was overseas on that -- on that very successful trip."
Yep, a good Fair and Balanced© report there. And oh-so informative.
Here is an-excellent piece:
Frank Rich: How Obama Became Acting President
Fox is just showing McCain their love. After all, someone has got to be on McCain's side. Is it really suppose to matter to the American people that McCain does not know geography, history, the truth, honor or reality? He needs a friend. The major Media networks are not enough. He needs the Republican talking heads as well. Come on every body let's help him feel the love of being a loser.
Honestly, what can be expected to come out of FOX? Does anyone think they will ever tell the truth? From Billo, Hannity, Fox and Friends, to Laura they will never be a time the truth can be found in their respective reporting. They are way to busy trying to twist the republican brand to always be seen in a good light, irregardless to the truth.
Sweet Jesus!
Has Fox had its 15 Minutes of Manipulated Fame yet?