A One-Two Punch: Obama on Bush, but What About Duncan Hunter?
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama opened up the floor to questions at his Las Vegas town hall in Des Sol high school Friday.
A woman in the audience opened up her question by saying she trusted Obama more “from the year that you’ve been running" than she did President Bush from "the seven years that we’ve had our so-and-so, quote, leader in office.”
Obama stopped her right there.
“Yeah well, he hasn’t done too good of a job," he said. "That’s kind of a low bar. I mean, you’re telling me I’m better than Bush? That ain’t saying nothing.”
The woman continued and said her father, who was a veteran, has a hard time voting for a person who does not have military experience.
Obama’s answer was intended to be diplomatic.
“If his criteria is military service, then frankly he’s only got one candidate left," Obama said. "I mean, he’ll have to vote for John McCain, who is a genuine hero.”
But Obama, in his answer, forgot about the other option, no doubt a third-tier candidate but still in the race for the Republican nomination: Rep. Duncan Hunter, who is a Vietnam veteran.
Obama, not realizing his mistake, went on to explain that a president doesn’t necessarily have to have military experience, in his eyes.
“As commander in chief, my job will be to keep you safe," he said, "and I don’t think you have to have served in the military to understand what is needed to keep the American people safe.”
Obama wrapped up saying that President Bush made a poor set of judgments in using the military in the wrong way in the Iraq war.
Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant used Obama’s remarks to criticize the Democrat’s record.
"Obama is correct that the most important job of the president is to keep Americans safe; that’s why the president [Bush] should be applauded for his strong record since 9/11," Conant said. "On the other hand, Obama’s votes to cut funding for our troops and withdraw in the war on terror would only weaken our security."
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“But Obama, in his answer, forgot about the other option, no doubt a third-tier candidate but still in the race for the Republican nomination: Rep. Duncan Hunter, who is a Vietnam veteran.”
Ron Paul is a 5 year veteran.
Posted by: greg | January 12, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am
Oops, Obama probably forgot the right answer given by his Strategist Axelrod. Axelrod is the one one always giving him the talking points copying from the play book he used in Edwrds 2004 campaign and Patrick (Mass. Governor) in 2006.
Without Axelrod talking points Obama cant function LOL. Obama always uses teleprompter for his big speeches!!
OBAMA is a fake loser
Posted by: Mary | January 12, 2008, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
Beaten to the punch, but when will the media learn????
Ron Paul was an Air Force Flight Surgeon!
And I know that right off the top of my head! How is that the citizens who our free press is supposed to inform knows more factual information than the press itelf?
Come on! Can’t you do better than this?
I thought the ABC debate was brilliant. Don’t blow it now.
Posted by: Jan | January 12, 2008, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Yeah, Obama used a teleprompter on the night of the Iowa Caucus and the NH Primary; so what? Prefer a John McCain that reads off a stack of 3 X 5 cards, looking down all the while and mumbling into the microphone?
Posted by: Yankee Clipper | January 12, 2008, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Ain’t ??? The man who wen tto Havard’s response to a woman giving him a complement was “that ain’t saying nothing.” Not only is it demeening to her and flipent and not that astute but he’s obviously trying to gain vites in certain segments of the population he didn’t do so well with last time. Did he put on his fake Southern drawl when he said ain’t? Perhaps there’s video of this remark. I’d like to see it.
Posted by: s.b. | January 12, 2008, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
Duncan Hunter is the best qualified to “keep us safe”–his knowledge of our enemies, their stragtegies, the military, and the threat of our porous border qualifies him better than the others–and his track record in doing something about that proves he is a leader we can trust.
His low rating in the polls is a direct result of the fact that we had polls coming out before he had the opportunity to make his name and message known. Since people early on select from the names familiar to them, it creates the illusion that unknown candidates have no chance to catch up, which deters others from every saying they support them.
Posted by: Annamarie | January 12, 2008, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
People should certainly be aware of Ron Paul, too!
They should also note that Duncan Hunter is not only a Vietnam Veteran, he has 26 years of Congressional experience and is ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. He has a deeper knowledge of the threats facing our country and knows that to compromise our national security is to invite greater tragedy to America.
God help us all if Obama gets elected!
Posted by: Bethany | January 12, 2008, 11:11 pm 11:11 pm
Here goes ABC again, running a slightly derogatory story about Obama. Oh, well, at least they aren’t totally ignoring him like they are Edwards. In no way does this represent their fear of offending big advertisers. Ummm…
As to the subject at hand, of course the president doesn’t need military experience to defend our country. What the president does need is intelligence in great quantity so he can make good decisions, a healthy ego so he doesn’t surround himself with ‘yes’ men like Bush did and the wisdom to actually listen to the majority of generals instead of just hand-picking a few who give you the answers you want. As in the Iraq fiasco many generals disagreed vehemently with the idea of the invasion and the low troop levels being used.
No one needs military experience to know war is terrible and should not be taken up lightly.
Posted by: Lydia | January 13, 2008, 12:58 am 12:58 am
Duncan Hunter is the ONLY option. Wake up sheeple!
Posted by: Ann | January 13, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Duncan Hunter is the only candidate that will set America in the right direction domestically and foriegn.
You can’t find a better candidate regarding the issues.
Posted by: peaches1 | January 13, 2008, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm