NRO's Pollowitz falsely claimed Palin visited troops in Kuwait "a year before" Obama "felt the need to go"
SUMMARY: National Review Online's Greg Pollowitz falsely claimed that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin visited troops in Kuwait "a year before Senator [Barack] Obama felt the need to go." In fact, Obama first visited troops in Kuwait in January 2006, a year and a half before Palin's visit.
In an August 30 post on the National Review Online's Media Blog, Greg Pollowitz falsely claimed that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin visited troops in Kuwait "a year before Senator [Barack] Obama felt the need to go." Noting a July 24, 2007, Alaska Public Radio Network report that "Palin today visited with a National Guard unit from Alaska serving in Kuwait," Pollowitz wrote: "Unlike Senator Obama's staged trip to the Middle East, Governor Palin went to visit the troops in Kuwait before she was ever under consideration for Veep. ... And a year before Senator Obama felt the need to go," a reference to Obama's July 2008 visit. In fact, Obama also visited troops in Kuwait in January 2006. Indeed, the Coalition Forces Land Component Command's website posted a photo of Obama "listen[ing] to a soldier voice his concerns Jan. 7 during a dinner at Camp Arifjan's Zone 6 dining facility" and a photo of Obama "driv[ing] toward the basket during a game with soldiers Jan. 7 at Camp Airifjan's Zone 1 gym."
Citing Obama's Senate office, Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet noted that Obama also visited Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank on that trip. A January 9, 2006, article posted at Chicago's WLS-TV website reported that Obama's Congressional Delegation trip "has now wrapped two days in Iraq. Senator Barack Obama was among four members of Congress Sunday flying to areas outside the safety of the green zone to meet with American and Iraqi military commanders on the ground."
UPDATE: In another NRO post later on August 30, headlined "Media Matters Gets One Right," Pollowitz linked to this item and wrote, "I stand corrected."
From Pollowitz's August 30 NRO Media Blog post, titled "Obama vs. Palin":
Unlike Senator Obama's staged trip to the Middle East, Governor Palin went to visit the troops in Kuwait before she was ever under consideration for Veep:
Tue, July 24, 2007
Posted in Alaska News, Top Stories
Governor Palin today visited with a National Guard unit from Alaska serving in Kuwait. In a press conference with Alaska reporters, the governor said she had spent "an amazing day with the 297th infantry battalion and other National Guard troops."
And a year before Senator Obama felt the need to go.
I flipped on MSNBC a few hours ago to see a woman (if I’m not mistaken, a journalist for People Magazine), who had some insight into the appeal of Sarah Palin. John McCain was seen as “out-of-touch” with average Americans, at least those slackers who hadn’t been able to accumulate enough real estate that they couldn’t keep track of it. Palin, according to the People person, was going to connect with the everyman.
I’m in Southern California, but my head must have been in Missouri, because my inner voice shouted “Show me!”. The first exhibit was Palin’s claim that she was able to juggle her Blackberry and her breast pump. I’m as impressed as the next guy with circus tricks performed with electronic gadgets and personal medical devices, and I’m sure this appeals to typical sideshow families like the Point Pleasant Worrierkings, but I wasn’t sold yet. Come on, Sarah Palin, make me believe that you understand me, the average American.
I asked, and the deal-closer was delivered. The Palin families favorite meal? Homemade caribou and moose hot dogs. I felt like I got a big hug from my Grandmother right through the Teevee.
Call it Fate, Kismet, or sheer coincidence, but things couldn’t have aligned more perfectly. I don’t get into personal stuff in website comments very often, but let me tell you what was happening when this revelation came to me. If I come off as corny, then color me corny, and my life may make Norman Rockwell’s teeth hurt in his grave it’s so sweet, but I can’t keep it to myself.
I called to my wife to come quickly. I was watching the tv from the breakfast nook/abattoir, and she had been mopping up in the game room/delicatessen. Her reaction was the same. The “community organizer” had just lost two votes. The Mrs. And I watched in silence as we learned about Mrs. Palin. The smell of freshly slaughtered meat wafted in from the carcasses hanging on the patio, mingling with the spent-powder undertones from the high-powered big game rifles nestled in their wall rack, their well worn metal still warm from their morning’s handiwork. As my wife stretched natural intestine casings across the room, and I cranked the handle of the meat grinder that’s been in my family for generations, the children came running in, their faces festooned with blood, fur and offal. It was a rare family experience, a shared epiphany, as we continued to get acquainted with a politician (Finally!) that was just like us.
At the risk of “tooting my own horn”, let me add here that I took the initiative of implanting an extra chromosome (or Bonus-Some, as we jokingly call them around Casa Sanders) into each of my fourteen children, In Vitro, as soon as it was prudent after conception, the point at which they became humans. I know myself well enough that typical children would have left me with a “Love Surplus” that could only be depleted by the special needs of the tribe I created. The procedure is complicated and expensive, and I had to fly the elderly “doctor” in from South America for each one, but I’m reminded every day that I made the right choice. The kids can be a handful, and they have their hurdles in life, but I can guarantee you that my More-Pro-Life-then-Thou friends don’t even try to get into any trash-talking with me. My street cred is untouchable.
I picked up my youngest daughter, JuliaJayne Jr., and pointed to the glowing tv across the room. “Do you see that woman, JJJ? She’s just like us. You, me, your mother/”aunt”, your brother/cousin Eddie, your sister/niece Mary Five-Niner, and your Uncle Fetus. She’s an American.”
I don’t remember ever experiencing a more life-changing day in my life than today. Only a few minutes ago, the magnitude of it all was driven home. As we continued watching television, the coverage broke from the profile of the PTA member turned second in line to the Presidency to some old footage of the false prophet from the mysterious tropical islands. He was talking to some farmers, and slipped into a strange foreign tongue, babbling about something called “Arugula”.
My son Tommy looked up at me with the desperate, menacing, yet playful eyes of his father and namesake, the rapist who blessed us with his troubled soul all those years ago in that lonely filthy alley.
“Daddy,” he asked me through his adorably deformed mouth “what’s arugula?”
I paused, unable to answer for a moment, then looked into those haunting eyes.
“Tommy” I told him firmly, “there are some things we just don’t want to know.”
I don’t know about the rest of you, America, but I think I’ve found my sweetheart.
MCCAIN/PALIN ‘08Who misses me...?
Anyway, Sarah had me at hello. I'd like to watch NASCAR with her and discuss the origins of the earth. ;>)
On topic, but I thought y'all would find this interesting. It was physically impossible for Palin to visit anyone in 2006, because she didn't have a passport before she applied for one in 2007!
But that won't stop idiotic republicans from suggesting that because Alaska is close to russia she has more than enough foreign policy experience...
Thanks for the link, Snoopy. This is the sort of thing that would have come out and questioned, and she'd have had her chance to answer, had she been involved in the presidential primaries.
McCain's selection is off-the-wall. The VP selection process ought to be scrutinized at some point in the future with an aim to make the process sensible enough to provide a presidential VP. Originally, the VP was selected as the second-place winner of the electoral college vote for president, with neither party running teams, and neither with a lock on the succession.
Palin, IMO, is not a national-class politician and has no business being placed, at the GOOPers whim, second in line for the most powerful position on the earth. She might be an OK fishing or hunting buddie, but after listening to your tape, to me she sounds like one of the "mean girls", the type who would just play up to the guys in the group so they'll gut her kills.
The conservatives reject Obama on the same grounds, that he has not proved himself to be a national class politician. IMO, that might have been true a year and a half ago, but having survived the primary and beaten Hillary fair and square, he has proved himself by now.
They hope other people will reject him for inexperience.
No surprise that the GOP plans on hammering home McCain's POW cred's in their convention next week, and hurricane Gustav is just the platform to do it. A few choice quips McCain plans to use when he talks to the expected victims at NO:
I know it's hard when you don't have a table, a chair or even a kitchen. As a former POW I didn't have one for five years.
I know these FEMA trailers are substandard. As a former POW I lived in one for five years.
As I look at all the damage and rat infestation, all I can say is that as a former POW, you'd be surprised at the kind of meal you can make out of a rat.
But he doesn't like to talk about it. ;)
Snoop, today on the ABC show, Kerry said that McCain was "a PRISONER of the Right Wing" for being forced into making Elaine the choice, mentioning Limbaugh etc. Should be a headline for the Cons tomorrow.
Anybody hear Romney or Mayor 9/11 talk about how disappointed they must be. The Cons say Hillary was dis'd....Compare Biden to Elaine and then Elaine to Mitt or the Mayor. YIKES....
That'll be a given. The big news will be the hurricane though. Watch as McSame gives his acceptance speech from the big easy and revel in the GOP's greatness as they turn the RNC into a political fundraiser who's intent will be to show the GOP "compassion" by giving all that money to the expected victims. (Minus 90% to cover pandering and heavy military protection, of course!)
And expect one of our resident hipocrites, Ms. Daisy Dee, to come here and admonish us because we hold our "ideology" above common decency as she spouts indignation and then puts down everything not conservative as she holds her idiology above common decency. Personally, I think Ms. Daisy is just mad that she lost her driver...
About the hurricane, why is God doing this again to New Orleans? No gay parades...these people suffered enough. Maybe it wasn't God the last time.
I believe these politicans, R & D should stay the hell out of this possible tragedy and allow FEMA and those in control take care of this. No milking for votes. But they can't help themselves. (As will the Oil Companies help themselves to higher prices).
God does not like an ingrate.
He feels the people of NO weren't sufficiently thankful enough for the trailers.
If they were true believers, no amount of formaldehyde vapor would have mattered to them.
He'll show 'em.
UK, are you referring to the MMFA item, or my pile of nonsense?
If it's the latter, that's what we call "takin the p*ss outta them" over here. I quit caring about their delicate sensibilities a long time ago.
My only concern was about the special needs kids stuff being taken the wrong way, so I may have to come back with my apologizing hat on later.
WK, I can't see your picture. I've got another "bragger" of the Jingomobile, though.
Great picture. I'd love to see some pillow fighting marines.
Here's my second attempt at that picture of the Point Pleasant Worrierking Family.
Great fun. Make fun of people with people with disabilities.
Actually this is pretty disapointing. I'd expect it from some of the cons around here but......
Pretty sad.
Col. You are my favorite poster on this site. You are certainly the funniest, but you went really dark on this one. I don't think you were deliberately trying to make fun of people with down syndrome but you were using them to make fun of Gov. Palin.
Just my opinion, probably not shared by those that decided to add to the "joke" but what do we say to the right wing pundits and bloggers that say "Media Matters posters make fun of Gov. Palin's child". Do we say "Oh lighten up, it was only a joke." Sounds like the same argument that we reject when the righties use it.
(oops) I don't look down on these people,but I don't elevate them to the sacred-innocent status that some do, sometimes, in my view, to the point of exploitation. Although some of the people I know amaze me with the way they deal with their lives, to the point that they can make me feel not worthy of taking up a relatively "regular" body, I know they're just like me.
The circus thing was referencing something that goes back a way with Worrierking.I won't speak for him, but I'll tell you that I more closely identify with the sideshow people than I do with the average All American soccer mom.
But your point is taken. Even if some other posters "got it", I know it's an area of higher sensitivity for you, and I can see how it can be taken as at least a problem as far as encouraging nasty behavior. I've read enough of your posts to see that you're pretty smart, and not prone to knee-jerk reactions, so I will make a mental note that I failed at what I was trying to get across.
And your point is taken too. I absolutely hate those inspirational movies about the noble person with the disability. They are rarely done well and are usually explotation.
I may be too PC but I think that political correctness is just another name for good manners
skipp wrote:
"Actually this is pretty disapointing. I'd expect it from some of the cons around here but......"
Only on MMFA can a liberal post a blatantly offensive picture that ridicules people with disabilities plus have another add sophomoric comments and then have another liberal like you skipp project this appalling lack of taste by taking a swipe at conservatives rather than the liberals who are guilty of such offensive posts.
The hypocrisy on the left, in this case, is amazing.
That's me on the left, with the feathers.
Wow! King I didn't know you were Big Bird :-)
King, you don't have permission from the family to publish those pictures!
And by the way, I thought we weren't suppose to tell anyone we're related!
I found the Colonel's family tree rather confusing, but as a niece I do look up to you, j.j. You must be the original juliajayne, not the junior daughter, and I'd love to try the moose and caribou. I'll try it if you do...a big hunk of bear kabobs would be the topper. I love Alaska and salmon and the only thing hard to swallow is their penchant for electing hard right-wing officials to office.
Still thumbing through my New Testament to find any support for anti-gay homophobia or railing against abortion or support for everyone carrying weapons. I suspect that actually reading the N.T. is where CHRINOS would have an issue with me.
Jeez, Mary, is it that tough?
wow, the colonel really mixes it up!?* That chart doesn't show how I'm related to Martha Washington and Herbert Hoover...and hopefully, Pearlene. Sometimes down in S. California they get into the mushrooms, or that Napa Valley vino, and dream themselves up some geneology.
Colonel, the roots of both our family trees seem to intertwine with the Truck Stop Hooker.
Did you also have a red headed milkman somewhere in there? If so we may be long lost cousins.
My sweet Julia,
It's obvious the Colonel must have been drunk...everyone here knows you MY baby mama. And I'm your baby daddy.
Here's a picture of our brood, cute ain't they? Me & Mama are so proud:
God, our youngins' are so adorable! How could they not be with a pop like you! :-0)
But since the colonel is my second cousin, maybe he got me mixed up with his first cousin who he did indeed marry. Her name is Juanitajayne and he just got cornfuzed in his drunken state. Either way, it's JJ Jr. Or JJJ like he said. I still want the keys to his SUV or at least his hummer. I like driving big vehicles. Makes me feel like a real woman :-0) Sorta like that studly Palin chick.
Here's a picture of our brood, cute ain't they? Me & Mama are so proud:
I didn't even know Pete Rose could play the piano.
What? Is there no room for a capt in your family?
I mean...... I thought we went way back? lol
A great post none the less Colonel..... I mean.... um.... sir!
Who cares who visited the National Guard troops or when they visited?
Even George W. Bush visited the Texas Air National Guard once or twice.
A National Guard training year (October to September) is made up of two weeks of annual training and 48 unit training assemblies, or UTAs. One two day drill equals 4 UTAs. Putting in time to make up a missed UTA is called "split training". To get credit for a year's time in service, which affects enlistment agreements, pay, and retirement, a Guard member needs to accumulate a minimum of 50 points. A UTA is worth 1, a day of AT is worth 1, and a Guard member receives 15 for being an active member of his or her unit.
I tell you all that as the setup to the following punchline:
When Bush landed in a jet on the deck of the Lincoln and emerged in a flight suit, I told a friend of mine "the lieutenant must be split training for a UTA from 1973. If he does that 35 more times we'll give him credit for a good year."
Oh, Col, love the first entry. You had me at entrails.
How many of his own campaign talking points has McCain surrendered by choosing Palin?
Does he have anything left in his arsenal?
Aside from the more obvious ones, what about his ability to claim that he's not Bush II?
Dubya has an abysmal record of appointing cronies, unqualifieds, incompetents, and political hacks to high-level positions. His VP pick doesn't exactly set the tone for administrative change.
Well he can't be Bush II because Bush II is packing his bags and prepping for debriefing. ;)
But as for Bush III by reason of appointments, I think it's somewhat natural to appoint people you're familiar with, but at the same time you can't surround yourself with ineptitude. Whether or not McCain plans on running for a second term can say a lot about who he may appoint. If he's only in for one term, he has no reelection approval to worry about and as such, he can appoint and nominate who he wants - whether his new (and I think temporary) BFFs in the GOP like it or not. IIRC McCain was rated very highly among the non-neoconservatives before he received the nomination and changed his stance on most issues from a liberal-moderate stance to a conservative stance. I have to wonder if he's still going to have the loyalty of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity once this election is over (especially if the Democrats retain control of Congress [If McCain and the Dems get things done McCain will go back to being a RINO and a liberal]).
And another thing, Bush was a governor and McCain was a senator. Senators are known to be more compromising than governors (or they're supposed to be anyway).
Never thought I'd say this but the last couple years, I'm missing Nixon .
A year ago, according to Palin,(Tribune Review, Scaifes' paper) she did not have a stand of the Iraq War, Immigration or Social Security. What are her views?
P.S. To Gov. Palin....you better read up on which way Rush and Seannie the Sissy lean. Or you will be back in Ice Land herding the moose.
I said this before...she is bieng used a a dupe for Lieberman..Does anyone think the she is Joan of Ark? There is dirt and someone from Rove's team already has it. TICK, TICK, TICK.
Who is rude?
I believe it was the Colonel with a keyboard in the MediaMatters homeroom.
But it was funny. Love the picture...Who is the babe in the middle? Is an intro possible?
By the way, COL., I fully appreciated your hilarious narrative, but share my sadness at the use of the family photograph. But, knowing you, I am certain you meant no harm. You are one of my favorite posters and I respect your humanity.
The family picture is an inside joke and originally it was an attempt to diffuse some con attack with self-deprecating humor.
Didn't mean to offend but like the Colonel pointed out earlier, we on the left have been called freaks and traitors for so long, we've embraced it.
The great reception the Right is giving Mrs. Palin sheds some light on the very poor way they greeted Hillary Clinton during her early active days as First Lady and then during her own run for the Presidency (prior to her being challenged by and overtaken by the non real American Sen. Obama). In their minds she was aspiring to the throne illegitimately. Illegitimately not because as a non-elected spouse she shouldn’t have usurped or been given powers of a healthy elected president, or because a woman shouldn’t be President, or because she was not a real American herself (she is one and they knew that), but because to them she didn’t qualify due to her party affiliation---the Democratic Party (the non real American party) ---for the status of Queen. Her first apparent and then years later overt grasp for power threatened them, as they felt that a woman with real Presidential power married to the then current President, or later to a former President, would legitimate the Democratic Party, make it less the non real American party to some degree because they felt she would be seen by a small but signifigant portion of the country as Queen. Further, a precedent setting Democratric Party Queen would take away from the Republicans the opportunity for them to elect the first female President which for Republicans would most directly be the Queen of the real Americans (basically WASPS) which would have the effect of further bolstering their claim to being the party of the real American. To be clear, for the Dems this de facto title would not be Queen of the real Americans, but instead arguably of America. The real Americans would not accept the status of a Democratic Party elected 'Queen of America’ but they wouldn’t want to have to have the fight, as this is not immutable stuff.
The Republicans would not need to have their Queen first qualify by having been married to a former President. Because she would be Queen of the real Americans, she would de facto be Queen of America as real Americans are the part of America whose opinions matters most (in the minds of the real Americans and importantly the majority of non real Americans---it’s still the zeitgeist).
A related dynamic played out when Bush defeated McCain in 2000 for the GOP nomination. Although both men were real Americans, Bush was effectively a prince as a result of his father having been President. He outranked McCain despite McCain having a father and grandfather Admirals. Bush was a rook to McCain’s jumped up pawn or even ‘half a knight’. Importantly this same dynamic does not obtain for the Democratic Party as they do not have the dominant ethnic/religious group.
But still the GOP would not like to have either Chelsea Clinton or Caroline Kennedy elected President. Even though the real Americans have already set this precedent (parent and child both President) it would still have something of a challenging and competing air of royalty about it, royalty which only they merit (in their minds). (And of course if they were to run before Hillary Clinton or Governor Palin or someone else becomes America’s first woman President, then the above first discussed dynamic regarding Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin would similarly apply to Chelsea Clinton and Caroline Kennedy, although in Kennedy’s case less so as she herself is not a real American, unlike all the Clintons.)
To be completely clear, in the last sentence, last paragraph:
"...the above first discussed dynamic regarding Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin would similarly apply to Chelsea Clinton and Caroline Kennedy"
I did not mean to say that Chelsea Clinton and Caroline Kennedy would have a similar relationship to each other as Hillary Clinton(D) does to Sarah Palin(R). I presume both C. Kennedy and C. Clinton would run as Democrats. In the above sentence I was saying they would be in the same boat.
The Neu Republican Party, starring, Sara Palin....
you'll laugh...you'll cry...buy a ticket and kiss 4 more years goodbye.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn7UzxXv8p4
isn't KUWAIT a vacation paradise, like R&R for the troops ?