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July 30, 2008 at 09:20:14
Promoted to Headline (H2) on 7/30/08: by Brent Budowsky Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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John McCain personally told Larry King that Barack Obama wanted to bring reporters, cameras and campaign aides to a meeting with wounded troops in Germany. When he said this, John McCain was lying. Let me spell this correctly: L-Y-I-N-G. Obama never intended to bring reporters, period. That is a lie. Obama never intended to bring cameras. That is a lie. Obama never intended to bring "his campaign staffers" (to use McCain's words). That, too, is a lie. The only person Obama intended to bring was retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, who is an unpaid military adviser. Credit to Dan Balz in The Washington Post today for laying out the facts. Shame on many in the political, cable, pundit and commentariat classes who have allowed McCain to get away with what are several clear, unmitigated and outright lies (spell that L-I-E-S) about Obama and wounded troops.
One can understand McCain's frustration. He taunted Obama to make the trip and it was a major success. One can understand McCain's anger. He was reduced to a photo-op on an oil rig that was canceled by a hurricane, and while he dished his talking points at Schmidt's sausage factory, Obama was greeted by a quarter of a million people, many waving American flags, and praised extravagantly by the conservative leaders of Germany and France.
One can understand McCain's problem. His record on veterans’ issues over many years is far weaker than that of most Democrats and most Republicans. He recently unsuccessfully opposed the strong version of Sen. Jim Webb's (D-Va.) new GI Bill, irritating many veterans’ groups, again, while the bill passed with bipartisan support over McCain's objection.
That is no excuse for lying. That is no excuse for repeating the lie in campaign statements and paid television ads approved by McCain.
While credit is due to the front page of The Washington Post for reporting the facts in the paper this morning, it is an outrage that many in the media, whom McCain has long called part of his political base, fail to report this story with integrity, clarity, facts and truth.
Posted at The Hill where comments are welcome.
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| 9 comments |
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Swiftboating again.
Clearly, the swiftboating has started; and like with Kerry, the more absurd the claims, the better. Whatever he does, Obama is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. I hope his campaign is not going to take it lying down, like Kerry. If Obama, or his staff, does not systematically and forcefully dispel these absurd attacks, he is toast. by francine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 385 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 10:07:06 AM  (0+)
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Reply: I share this concern
Unfortunately, it seems that we live in an increasingly "dirty" world of evil and greed. As despicable as McCain's actions are, if they can propogandize enough, they may take the day. It is a disturbing thought and everyone who is sitting on their hands and not paying attention will pay the price afterJan. 9. As an aside, who needs a President who publicly calls his wife ugly names of four letters? Or have we already forgotten that "gaff"? by Ivan Hentschel (12 articles, 0 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 302 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 11:55:43 AM (0+)
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JUST KIDDING! YOU CAN COME OUT NOW, IT WAS ALL A HOAX
Top Advisor to U.S. Military Confirms The War on Terror Is a Hoax: “There is No Battlefield Solution to Terrorism” George Washington’s Blog A leading advisor to the U.S. military, the Rand Corporation, just released a new study called “How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering al Qa’ida“. The report confirms what we have been saying for years: the war on terror is a hoax which is actually weakening national security (see this, this and this). As today’s press release about the study states: “Terrorists should be perceived and described as criminals, not holy warriors, and our analysis suggests that there is no battlefield solution to terrorism.” Can we drop the “war on terror” charade now? by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 1:12:11 PM (0+)
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I guess the PENTAGON is lying, as are reporters...
Obama never intended to bring reporters, period. The Pentagon spokes people said that he was not allowed to bring reporters or cameras.... So, if Obama never intended to bring reporters, period, then why did he NOT show up?? He was not denied access. McCain is not a good candidate, but calling this to a dirty campaign tactic is absurd.... But the strategy backfired a bit when Obama canceled plans to visit wounded troops at a military hospital in Germany. <snip> The decision to cancel was made after the Pentagon raised a number of issues about its policy against campaign activity at a military base Ciao, CZ by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 831 comments [52 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 1:30:07 PM (0+)
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By the way....
"Nobody denied Senator Obama the opportunity to visit our wounded being cared for at Landstuhl. Obviously, as a sitting senator, he has an interest in that and can certainly visit in an official capacity," said Bryan Whitman, a spokesman for the Pentagon, who added that there are "restrictions on what you can do as a candidate for political office, that stems from trying to maintain political neutrality and not have the military involved in politics." "The senator's staff was informed of the limits on what the military can do with respect to a political campaign and how we could support a senator's visit to Landstuhl and, quite frankly, I expected them to have the visit," Whitman said. Here is another article Ciao, CZ by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 831 comments [52 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 1:37:25 PM (0+)
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WHY ARE OIL INDUSTRY STOCKS ON 7/30/08 FLYING HIGH?
by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 2:46:02 PM (0+)
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Reply: I'm sorry
but I really can't figure out what that has to do with the topic... Ciao, CZ by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 831 comments [52 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 at 2:43:02 PM (0+)
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Witness Needed When Meeting With People That Work For Bush
The Pentagon said it would be a campaign visit if Obama brought retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration. What difference did it make if Gration visited the troops? I am sure the troops would have enjoyed anyone that visited. There has been some discussion that the campaign staff made the decision or provided advice, possibly Gration. The Pentagon has been inconsistent in approval of candidates visiting military installations. (See below) After reading the Department of Defense regulation, I do not know how the Iraq pictures taken by the military were illegal. The same for when McCain was there in March 2008. The regulation says that a military person cannot be in a photo while wearing a uniform. Any candidate that visits a military base is in the position of influencing voters. DODD 1344.10 (Military) and Hatch Act (civilian employees) http://www.rs.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123105411 -- "Want to attend Congresswoman Smith's rally on base? Let's hope there isn't a rally on base. Installation commanders must ensure that candidates who visit military installations do not engage in any political campaign or election activity" McCain Knows Better - Navy Would Not Approve Visit Pentagon walks fine line in 2008 campaign http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/03/mccain.pentagon/index.html by Julie Johnson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 30 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 7:30:56 PM (0+)
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Reply: Actually, the Pentagon has certain rules regarding
visits from politicians... A sitting US senator, as a senator can visit anywhere he wants to visit... As a CANDIDATE, he is not. If he wanted to visit, he could have done so with no fanfare... he chose not to, and people are blaming McCain for his decision... Sort of misplaced complaint... Ciao, CZ by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 831 comments [52 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 at 2:45:37 PM (0+)
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