Senator John McCain’s campaign, and Republicans in general, have criticized Democratic nominee Barack Obama for not visiting American soldiers stationed in Germany when he visited that country earlier this month. The reason for the cancellation of the scheduled trip to the (wounded) soldiers is, according to some that is, that no tv network was willing or able to accompany Obama on his visit.
Republicans and the McCain campaign specifically jumped on the opportunity to blast Obama, and to portray him as an opportunist who does not truly care about ‘the troops.’ He canceled because the trip would not be covered, they say. That proves that he is merely an opportunist.
Despite not being a fan of Obama myself, I have to agree with the New York Times that the attack is unfair. Obviously the NYT goes too far by arguing that the attack means that a John McCain presidency would be a continuation of Bush’s, but it has to be said that this is indeed a ‘Rovian’ strategy often employed by Bush in recent years (by ‘Rovian’ I don’t mean as in the person Karl Rove, but as in ‘dirty.’ I believe that all politicians use these attacks when convenient, not just those advised by Rove). The man who often talks about campaigning in a civil manner would be wise to refrain from launching such low attacks. With many people he’s hurting himself more than Obama.
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I disagree. He should have done it without the cameras, if anything to prove that he did not need photo ops every 10 seconds. As president, he will be making decision where he will not want photo ops, and yes, there will be gossip (always will be) put eventually someone from Landsruhl would vouch for him and verify his visit. Instead, the world, whether they like it or not, now see him as ignoring the troops. The clincher for me was this FactCheck argument similar to the NYT:
We note here that Obama might still have gone on the visit, leaving Gration behind and accompanied only by Secret Service security. But with or without Gration, there would have been no news reporters or news photographers to record the visit.
Hence, it was a personal decision, not one Pentagon cornered him into.
There’s not even any proof that Obama canceled for the reason cited. It could be that he just ran out of time, and the Rovians jumped on the chance to make it into a scandal.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902286_pf.html
The Washington Post, in a pleasant turn towards unbiased and researched journalism, is calling McCain out as well. Obama only wanted to bring one military advisor in the first place, and had to give up the visit when Pentagon officials thought the visit could become political. McCain is now getting some recoil from the media, which is just what he deserves.
Let’s face it, an Obama presidency would be JUST SICK all around… we don’t have to point out why. The reasons are too numerous and too obvious to anyone with a brain…
Obama could not decide on the proper jeans to wear. To make matters even worse, CNN, Fox News and the Inquirer photographers neglected to bring the proper lighting for this precious photo opportunity.
McCain was in the mortuary being embalmed, and could not be reached for comment.
CAMPAIGN FOR LIBERTY ‘08 is your only hope!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in Obama’s camp. I’m a fiscal conservative. But there’s no reason to make stuff up – his policy issues are the stuff that McCain should be attacking. I mean, that’s what we’re supposed to base our votes on, right?
Actually I agree with McCain’s attack on Obama.
Obama could have visited the troops in the hospital but decided that he could simply forget about it since the media would not come.
The Pentagon denied Obama access to media / cameras. However, the Pentagon said it allowed Obama access to meet the troops in the hospital.
Obama’s camp says that the Pentagon disallowed his visit… ONLY AFTER, John McCain’s campaign called upon Obama as to why he didn’t visit the troops.
It proves Obama is an opportunist. We already knew it but we couldn’t be sure. Now we know who Barack Obama really is… A celebrity, not a leader.
John McCain should continue attacking him like this. These attacks have helped him in the polls because they are RIGHTEOUS attacks. No one was complaining when Obama’s camp was calling John McCain "McBush" or "McSame" or "Bush’s Third Term".
But when Barack Obama is attacked everyone gets all angry.
I still think Obama should have tried going in alone, but I also agree that the McCain attack is uncalled for, especially when he portrays Obama as going to the gym by showing him in Kuwait with the troops.
Right on Rachel ! What a poor excuse for Obama to not see our troops. He’s just a showman, nothing else. He’d be better off in Hollywood where the cameras can follow him right into his shower of he so chooses LOL
To the commenters who are simply regurgitating the line about Obama not going to see the troops because media couldn’t come, this has been proved to be false.
Obama did visit troops IN IRAQ with no cameras present.
The Washington Post said that the charge lacks evidence.
Andrea Mitchell, who was THERE AT THE TIME says that the charge is "literally not true".
You keep repeating it, please show some evidence that it is actually true.
Seems to me like many, but I’m not saying most, of Obama’s detractors are projecting their own detachment from facts and substance on to him.Seriously, the man is doing a lot of the things expected from a candidate – he is matching McCain that respect – yet he is supposed to be some kind of duplicitous hippie who just reiterates the lyrics of Sweet Harmony by The Beloved.I’m not seeing it, people.
If Americans want REAL change, vote 3rd party!!! Whether its The Green Party, Independent Party, Constitutional Party, Libertarian Party, etc. Look at all candidites who are running for President!!! Rep. and Dem. have such a strong hold over this country that you must vote 3rd party!!! I ask you when or if ever have you read the Constitution?? Neither Rep. or Dem. represent America and/or the Constitution that all elected officials take an oath to. It is that simple. Read and understand the Constitution and then look at both of McCain and Obamas voting record and both will and should be eliminated!!! Wake Up America!!!
DeAnn..I couldn’t agree with you more. There is no such thing as a wasted vote, so vote your heart and not your party.