McCain: Obama Needs to ‘Listen and Learn’

Obama keeps rattling off polices of war and foreign relations, and keeps flubbing up with his lack of knowledge.

Old man continues to yell at cloud.
Obama doesn’t need to go to Iraq again to see what a mess it is, when McCain keeps going there and fails to see that even though it stares him in the face. Then again it is pretty easy to see how safe and successful Iraq is now becoming from the “safety” of the green zone.
The odd photo op in Iraq doesn’t make him seem more patriotic, only make him seem more patronizing. Maybe if McCain was still in the middle of a primary fight he wouldn’t have had the time to go over there and let Joe Liberman whisper in his ear the difference between Al Quaeda and Iran, or the difference between Sunnis and Shias.
Talking to our enemies may be appeasement, but knowing who they are might help.

I agree. McCain claims he has experience. Experience of what?
Is it the same experience that convinced him to vote for a war in Iraq.
Or caused him to fip-flop on the Bush Tax-Cut
Or caused him 3 weeks to figure there was a Housing problem in the United States
McCain should learn from “experience” the Bush policies are not working and yet he wants to continue them.
I see no experience. I just see an elderly/old/warmonger man who has no business in the oval office.

Sigmond, Obama even lied about quitting smoking. Journalists have admitted they continue to smell smoke on his breath.
Liar. Fraud. Anti American.
No thanks. Vote McCain.

Good advice but directed at the wrong person. McCain needs to take a good long look at himself. Maybe he should read McClellan’s book.

Even though I am a lifelong Democrat, what Senator McCain says does make sense.
Obama’s only been to Iraq once, a couple of years ago, yet he presumes that he will be able to end this war if he gets elected. How can you put an end to something when you don’t even know how it’s operating to begin with?
I also see how much of a reality his pledge “to reach across the aisle and work together with Republicans to solve problems” actually is. He gets invited in good faith to accompany Senator McCain to Iraq and observe the operations first hand with someone from the other party, but can he step up to the plate? Of course not??
Me, Me, Me, and more Me. It’s all about Me and I won’t share the spotlight with anyone.
That’s why he always hated debating Hillary. He couldn’t stand to share the spotlight.
I think his problem with traveling to Iraq with Senator McCain is that he doesn’t want to be upstaged by a former war hero, and also does not want to show how little he actually knows about
foreign policy and military strategy.
If he really wants to start campaigning in the general election, why not start right here and deal head on with the main issue he’s been so critical (“I’m the only one who spoke out against the Iraq war”)of everyone else about??
As someone who wants to be commander in chief, you’d think he would anxious to travel to Iraq and show his support for the troops he hopes to lead.

Who would you rather listen to?
Petraeus? He was given control of our military in Iraq by Bush. Bush lied to us about Iraq.
Or thousands of soldiers who tell the same story? Iraqis don’t want us there.
Remember, the military leaders in Vietnam kept lying to us. Soldiers on the ground told us we should get out. McCain fails to realize that soldiers on the ground are the ones who get to know the mood of the people.

SandyB, he does not want to travel to Iraq with McCain right now because that would essentially be using taxpayer funds for a publicity stunt. As president he will have many opportunities to visit Iraq.

Obama lied about his like an uncle Rev Wright who did not liberate Auschwitz.

If he expects to withdraw troops from Iraq (or begin to, anyway) 90 days after taking office, given his terrific lack of experience in such matters, I would say he needs to get some first-hand perspective on the matter ASAP.

I listened to McCain and learned:
1. he doen’t know who heads Iran
2. he doesn’t know the difference btn. Sia and Sunni.
3. he doen’t know Iran has not rel. with al-qaeda.
4. He ZigZagged about tax, talking to Cuba and Hamas, torture,…
5. His judgement and vision chambers is empty, and he proved that by voting for the dumb_war
6. He is still supports the war like a_fo?l.
7. His foreign policy knowledge is so poor that he needs another ZigZag Lieberman to correct him.
The list goes on….
…..

What causes Obama to lie so much and the media support him? Have the News media chosen this man?

Scholar John Lott Recalls Obama Stating: “I Don’t Believe That People Should Be Able To Own Guns.” John Lott: “In fact, I knew Obama during the mid-1990s, and his answers to IVI’s question on guns fit well with the Obama that I knew. Indeed, the first time I introduced myself to him he said ‘Oh, you are the gun guy.’ I responded ‘Yes, I guess so.’ He simply responded that ‘I don’t believe that people should be able to own guns.’” (John R. Lott, Jr., “Obama And Guns: Two Different Views,” Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com, 4/7/08)

Obama says he will pull out of Iraq if elected this is also not true.

Obama says he is not a ordinary politician…this is also not true. The news media should ask the people in Chicago about this.

If all you can complain about is McCain’s age, then you are obviously immature. Next you’ll be saying his mom wears army boots. Grow up. And you Mal are the epitome of an ahole.

Obama is one stupid monkey. How can a unpatriotic terrorist supporter be trusted with this country, he can’t. That chimp doesn’t respect the flag or the anthem. That baboon actually thinks there are 57 states. Somebody ever teach their pet monkey to count stars on that flag that he hates so much.
Now seems the ape doesn’t want to go to Iraq and talk with Gen. Patraeus. How is this ape supposed to end something he knows nothing about. Other than of course to oppose it because that is what good little liberals do. Oppose war and embrace terrorism and the terrorists with appeasment.

After all John McCain didn’t liberate Auschwitz but he was a hero.

I can’t wait for the teleprompter to go out on Buttermilk McCain.
He’s virtually going to s*** his Depends when it happens, and you know it WILL.
With a meth’d out wife for a companion and right wing snake stomping evangelicals calling you all day combined with forgetting where he left the buttermilk, this guy is gonna wish he was in Vietnam by the time this campaign is over.
Out with the Old and in the the New and Improved

We were first told that ‘elect Obama because he is black”, now it is “elect obama because he is young.” Both of these should not be the reasons to qualify him. Indeed, he is unqualified. I will not vote for him.

We were first told that ‘elect Obama because he is black”, now it is “elect obama because he is young.” Both of these should not be the reasons to qualify him. Indeed, he is unqualified. I will not vote for him.

Yes, Obama hasn’t been in Washington since birth…he’s been in the cesspool of the political arena (Chicago)that makes Washington DC look like the Peace Corps.
Thanks Vanessa, you made my point again!

You’re an ageist, Jack. Agism is just as bigoted and retarded as racism. There’s nothing “new and improved” about you or your candidate being Neadtrathals.

I don’t know……… McCain’s newfound condescension is not at all attractive.

Bush Jr…failed to stop 9/11, failed in Iraq (now a suburb of Iran)…failed after Hurricane Katrina…failed economy…failed to catch Osama Bin Laden…etc etc etc. About the only thing he’s succeeded at is raising the price of gasoline from just over a dollar to more than four dollars a gallon. I’ll wager he manages to make it hit FIVE dollars a gallon before he retires back to his fake ranch in Texas. Even Senile Old Songbird McSame won’t be capable of failing so miserably if he gets power.

Obama’s already been to the market – and I believe that unlike Senator McCain, he can actually understand the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite and remember the difference for more than one day. I believe he can also understand that we should never have gone to war in Iraq, that we will never establish an American democracy in Iraq and that the most challenging issue facing the American people is not capital gains tax. Maybe it’s McCain who needs to listen and learn. He can start by watching some old tapes of the real John McCain – the one who did mot support torture, the one who did not take money and have campaigns led by lobbyists, the one who did not pander to insane evangelicals who believe that hurricanes happen because of sin and 61 Million Catholic in America are following Satan.

McCain is desperately attacking because he knows he is in trouble. Looks like the Scott McClellan book is going to totally reopen the debate on how Bush misled us into this bogus war in Iraq. There will be new investigations and hearings. John “100 years in Iraq” McCain will suffer politically, no doubt, because he continues to support Bush’s war and Bush’s goals in Iraq. McCain is toast.

Is Obama Sunni or Shiite?
Posted by: Just Curious
==========
Wouldn’t matter to McCain.

I don’t think people give Obama enough credit.
The Clintons have been hear since the 19th century (sarcasm) and Obama is relatively new to the scene.
Clinton the “inevitable” nominee and now the inevitable loser has lost.
No one saw the Obama train/movement coming. No caucasus plans, no after “Super” Tuesday plan, no strategy. The Clinton camp has been flawed from day one.
The Obama camp has ran an extra-ordinary campaign.
This primary season will go donwn in the books has a modern version of David vs. Goliath.
Obama will prevail and beat John McCain.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said today: “President Bush had more pressing matters with which to deal than comment on Mr McClellan’s book” — like I presume cooking up more schemes and bogus claims to justify an attack on Iran.

If elected president, Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said one of the first things he wants to do is ensure the constitutionality of all the laws and executive orders passed while Republican President George W. Bush has been in office. Those that don’t pass muster will be overturned, he said.
During a fund-raiser in Denver, Obama — a former constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago Law School — was asked what he hoped to accomplish during his first 100 days in office. “I would call my attorney general in and review every single executive order issued by George Bush and overturn those laws or executive decisions that I feel violate the constitution,” said Obama.
============
That’s exactly the kind of things we want and need to hear from our future POTUS!

McCain used to be a good man until Rove killed him in South Carolina and turned him into a soulless zombie.
Nice of him to jam it to the enlisted folks by saying one hitch isn’t enough for real college financial assistance. Apparently he is all about SUPPORTING the troops so long as that doesn’t mean PAYING them even half of what they deserve for what they do.
OBAMA needs an education from MCCAIN????
In what, how to defraud the electorate?

Old man zombie yells at cloud, says MMMMMM..cloud looks like BRAINZZZZ…

Genius…the Supreme Court makes those decisions, not the President, no matter what he “feels”.
=======
The SCOTUS sure didn’t stop Bush from steamrolling many of our most precious laws of the land.

armchairgenius
For instance?
=======
Habeous corpus, for a start.

Since taking office in 2001, President Bush has issued signing statements challenging over 1,100 laws, claiming that he has the right to bypass them if they interfere with his alleged presidential powers. Though signing statements have been utilized by most presidents, Bush has used them to object to more laws than all previous presidents combined.

genius…if Mccain never met Mclellan, wht do you think he should say? Do you know any different or are you just making things up to get attention?
Posted by: Sigmond
=====
I would just expect something a bit more substantial from someone who wants to be future POTUS.

April–how could anyone in such a well-informed society make such ludicrous and despicable statements? How could you possibly justify your outrageous slander?
Let me get this straight–I respect John McCain. Even if I do not like his current ideology, I would not attempt to discredit him in the vile and stupid way you did.
The McCain I know would never stand for the hateful misinformation I’ve read here today.

Obama is totally unprepared and unfit to be president. He is a joke and an arrogant mf.

None of the Above–McCain made the offer on Memorial Day, at the same time he was offering to educate the dunce Obama on the flight over. rather than being gracious, this was nothing more than grandstanding. McCain’s conduct was not very becoming to say the least.

McCain sounds like a fool about “visiting” Iraq. Unless he can walk through the streets like he does in the US, I will even grant that he should have the basic secret service protection he would get here, then he is foolish about the change in Iraq? That place has been changed from a prison of sorts under Sadam to a hell-hole.
Additionally, McCain needs to know that there was no Al Qaeda in Iraq until McCain got his war. It was a stupid decision. Bush #1 had a good solution and Bush #2 screwed it up.

How can you win a war that is against people who consider it a honor to blow themselves up.
How can you win a war where the people will not fight for their own country.
How can you win a war where the enemy is unrecognizable and forever changing.
How can you win a war where the factions have been fighting since biblical days
How can you win a war where the other countries in the region have nothing to do with it.
How can you win a war you cant WIN.

Anders Scooper wrote:
Obama says he is not a ordinary politician…this is also not true. The news media should ask the people in Chicago about this.
********************************
While he is probably not an ordinary politician, he IS a typical politician.
I lived in Chicago for a year. It’s a cesspool.

I agree, McCain needs a psyche evaluation before we can be sure he can handle the pressures of the POTUS.

What SandyB says.
And I too have been a lifelong Democrat.

McCain: Obama Needs to ‘Listen and Learn’
MCCAIN IS AN ARROGANT JERK WHO CARES LITTLE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN IN IRAQ. HE IS TRYING TO USE HIS PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE AS SOME SORT OF GODLINESS. WELL HE ALREADY COST THE COUNTRY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY GETTING SHOT DOWN. HIS TEMPER EVENTUALLY WILL BLOW UP ON HIM AND HE WILL PAY DEARLY.

Sotero No
Hmmm let me see
relation with a slum lord
continuation of 4000+ dead
NO BRAINER.

Vanessa wrote:
I don’t think people give Obama enough credit.
The Clintons have been hear since the 19th century (sarcasm) and Obama is relatively new to the scene.
Clinton the “inevitable” nominee and now the inevitable loser has lost.
No one saw the Obama train/movement coming. No caucasus plans, no after “Super” Tuesday plan, no strategy. The Clinton camp has been flawed from day one.
The Obama camp has ran an extra-ordinary campaign.
This primary season will go donwn in the books has a modern version of David vs. Goliath.
Obama will prevail and beat John McCain.
***************************
Sweetie,
It’s “here” not “hear”.
If Clinton was the inevitable loser it’s redundant to say she lost. And this is an opinion NOT fact.
I believe you mean “caucus”. Caucasus refers to a geopolitical region in between Asia and Europe.
The Obama camp didn’t “has ran” anything. The Obama camp “has run an extraordinary (no hyphen required) campaign. (Again, your opinion NOT fact)
It’s “down” not “donwn”, but we all make typographical errors.
I believe you mean “as” a modern day version of David and Goliath (hardly, if one knows history. But at least you spelled Goliath correctly. You get a gold star).
I thought all Obama supporters were educated and incapable of spelling and typographical errors, unlike us peasants.

Do you mean to tell me you have to go to Iraq to get a better feel of an ill advised ill waged ill managed war.
NOOOOOOOOO
McCain as a us senator and presidential candidate gets fort knox-style security when he goes to Iraq. He is getting a skewed assessment of the war.
You only have to go to Arlington cemetary to see the effects of this war.

The top U.S. Navy official in the Persian Gulf warned in an interview with ABC News that war with Iran would be “pretty disastrous,” with “echoes and aftershocks” reverberating throughout the region. Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, the top U.S. Navy official in the Persian Gulf, told ABC News that war with Iran would be “disastrous,” and that the ideal way to interact with the country is through diplomatic methods.
==========
What does John McWar have to say about that?

Who does Grampie think he’s talking to. Obama is not your son you dufus.
“Come along son let me show the country you are a young impressionable little understudy as I look superior and presidential in my flack jacket.”
NICE TRY U WALLMART GREETER

McCain reminds me of the night manager of some creepy motel.

McCain sounds a bit desperate to deflect the failed policy in Iraq. Has McCain at least learned how to pronounce Ahmadinejad’s name yet? It might be a good idea.

I don’t think you need to go to Iraq to see that the good old U.S. of A. just spent $800 billion and counting and lost 4,500 soldiers and counting trying to find WMD’s that were never there. Or was it to overthrow a ruthless dictator that posed little or no threat to national security? By the way, where the freak is Bin Laden?

I keep seeing Republicans posting here…the same one’s who’ve supported Bush Jr’s endless incompetence and failures for all these disastrous years. Let’s get something straight: If you EVER voted for the incompetent failure Bush Jr…nobody in America cares what you think anymore. You just don’t matter anymore. Now here’s what you do: Put your over-inflated ego in a deep hole…shovel yourself in…and let America begin regaining her respect and power in the world. Nighty-night…and good riddance.

Nahh, I just know dumb when I see dumb. Going to war with Iraq was really really dumb. Not trying to cut our losses and get out as quickly and as safely as possible. That takes the cake.

We can not trust McCain. As Someone from Arizona I dont want The Keating 5.
Anyone who votes for McCain needs to apologize to both thier kids and Grandkids!!!

Listen here Sigmond, I attended several of Obama’s rallies and that is what he said! If you don’t like it, take it up with him, if you have the guts.
He will bring about the much needed change in this country to get everyone healthcare, out of poverty and feed the hungry while ending racism and the vile hatred towards Muslims and blacks.

And when Clinton speaks it’s 95% pure fiction. When McCain speaks it’s 95% pure Bush.

McCain needs to learn the difference between Shia and Sunni!!!

Rose, congratulate the teleprompter, because without it Obama is just an average speaker.

I would be more willing to believe Obama could clean up Washington DC, if he had attempted to clean up his own cesspool of a backyard (Chicago and the sleazeball political machine) first.
But he didn’t. He can’t. And he won’t.
Adios Obama – say hello to President McCain.

wow sooo many obama haters in the blogs…

“No I won’t run for president in 2008 because I won’t have enough experience”
Barack Obama
2004
Trust me Obama, we all agree with you!

“I don’t think my church is particularly controversial”
Barack Obama 2008
And THAT is why you won’t EVER make it to the Oval Office!!

The plate remains vacant for the one to move mountains and institute fundamental change. This nation has heard the high road promise, and we are ready to believe that the person to bring to full glory the noble visions of Dr. King has come.
Alas, the one does not speak from the pulpit, he speaks from the political platform. The implication is that he seeks the personal glory coming from the president’s office, not his stated quest to unite, to help bring food for the hungry, to bring more books and funds to the ignorant and to the needy, to provide more jobs to those who seek work. Heaven seems to be the path of his vision, yet good intentions have paved the way to hell.
His programs of government are only one of the many options of governance, not glorious goals as he wants to portray. In an election year for one who wants the presidency, the promise for fundamental change can only lead this country to unfulfilled hopes. The hoodwink may not seem obvious to uninitiated, hopeful constituents, but the deepest craving is for his own meeting with destiny, not the true creation of the real, pure destiny to greatness.
He has formed expectant hopes in millions of hearts. I myself will follow him with unadulterated loyalty, if he now forsakes his unholy greed for the presidency covered in hopeless promise for fundamental change..
He will truly be in the right path to greatness, to unconditional service to his fellowmen, to unquestionable love and honor from everyone, if he can now divorce himself from that glorified quest for the presidency and lead the young, the educated, and the minority groups to his dream, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s visions.
The time has come for his own personal defining moment. The corpus to move this country forward just requires him to declare his independence from political dirty webs. His following is great in numbers, he called himself the noble precursor of great future, and he all he needs to do is to prove.
This road that is now ready for the taking, if he chooses to ignore and continue to seek for his own glorification, may never come again in this format. The matrix is ripe for the taking, of this fruit that is largely of his own making.

geevill, what are you talking about. I hope it’s just not the Obama supporters jumping all over McClellan’s book. Get off Wright, this is much more important.

The main stream media has given Barack Obama numerous passes on a lot of gaffes including: mixing up Poland and Germany, the number of States in the US, what State and City Obama is in while on the campaign trail, telling a Memorial Day audience of Veterans that he sees the “fallen” among them, stating that Afghanistan needs Arabic translators, when Afghanistan people do not speak Arabic. and so on and so on and so on. One gaffe could be excused perhaps. However, without a teleprompter in front of him, Obama is prone to making numerous gaffes which shows his basic lack of a knowledge when it comes to geography , American and World history . Further, most people would agree that if Senator McCain had made similar numerous gaffes the media would be all over it day and night. So why is the MSM not letting the public know about Obama’s obvious lack of knowledge when it comes to history and geography? Question what does this say about the MSM ? Is the MSM corrupt and in the tank for Obama? In my opinion Yes.

Mr. Coffee
An American in Canada for David?
Sounds like an draft dodger. What kind of name is that?
************************
A Draft Dodger, how old are you?
What kind of a name is Mr. Coffee?
My name is significant to David only!
Maybe you can tell us why Obama is hiding and why he can’t answer question for himself?
I will bet you take your coffee black!

Obama has twenty speech writers and without a teleprompter in front of him. Obama is prone to making a lot of gaffes. These gaffes are very telling and show Obama has very little knowledge of history or geography which is one of the many reasons I will not vote for him and view him as very unqualified to be President.

Now to reply to you Vanessa, this war costs an enormous amount of money to operate, I assume you’re fully aware as you write very well.
I don’t know, with an economical crysis in the U.S, injecting billions of dollars and raising that 10 trillion debt probably seems like not such a bad idea, judging from your post.
I believe that all of the U.S money should be diverted towards raising U.S friendly regimes that take a lot of time to be established.
The well being of all of North American citizens, depends solely on the investment of American resources in destabilizing countries that have a good developing economy instead of developing and improving the now struggling U.S economy?
Yes, worsen another country’s citizens living conditions while spending billions is definitely a sound idea. In fact, since so many soldiers are needed, you should just abolish education spending as well. Hell, it would be a great idea to turn Harvard into a military school along with a few other ones.
Can you imagine what kind of surges could be done then?
Iran would definitely not mess with the U.S.
Because the Chinese will sell their 1.4 trillion USD and that represents 14% of the US debt.
Now I’m not an economist, but I have an idea over what could be expected to happen. North American markets will crash, the US and Canada will likely fall into a second grave depression and the U.S will be finished.
Now all sarcasm aside, I hope Obama gets elected, at this point McCain is just trying to attempt to secure Irak as an investment, his resources is the treasury of the U.S of A, US taxes, American Citizens (legal & illegal)
American money is sinking in Irak, vast inventory “problems”
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31050-2004Nov6.html)
Psychological problems for thousands of kids who fight there, investments into helping them try to return to a normal life.
The U.S.A need to stand up and vote for Obama, he is a much better and smarter candidate than McCain.
Someone who will be able to speak on an equal level with leaders of other countries and not some clown who will get ridiculed and scolded at the UN every time he tries to say the word democracy (please look up Putin comment on mr. Bush’s remark on the deterioration of human rights in Russia)
Although mr. Bush had a point and human rights in Russia are an issue, he got scolded like he’s never been in his life by mr. Putin in front of the UN assembly.
mr. McCain has no own opinion and follows the whole little thug band that mr. Bush organized
Come on!!!
Quote
Posted by: Vanessa | May 28, 2008 5:47:44 PM
Even though I am a lifelong Democrat, what Senator McCain says does make sense.
Obama’s only been to Iraq once, a couple of years ago, yet he presumes that he will be able to end this war if he gets elected. How can you put an end to something when you don’t even know how it’s operating to begin with?
I also see how much of a reality his pledge “to reach across the aisle and work together with Republicans to solve problems” actually is. He gets invited in good faith to accompany Senator McCain to Iraq and observe the operations first hand with someone from the other party, but can he step up to the plate? Of course not??
Me, Me, Me, and more Me. It’s all about Me and I won’t share the spotlight with anyone.
That’s why he always hated debating Hillary. He couldn’t stand to share the spotlight.
I think his problem with traveling to Iraq with Senator McCain is that he doesn’t want to be upstaged by a former war hero, and also does not want to show how little he actually knows about
foreign policy and military strategy.
If he really wants to start campaigning in the general election, why not start right here and deal head on with the main issue he’s been so critical (“I’m the only one who spoke out against the Iraq war”)of everyone else about??
As someone who wants to be commander in chief, you’d think he would anxious to travel to Iraq and show his support for the troops he hopes to lead

i wonder what did mccain have learned from serving as a senator for over a decade.. and i wounder where mccain have learned foreign policy.. at least obama went to colombia to study political science.. even as a roky senator.. he proven to be more knowledgable about the outside world than mccain does..!!!
this is a senator from arizona who don’t know whether he is democrat, republican or in-between..
i think he should add liberman to his ticket so he can learn from him the differnce between ‘sunni & shia’ or “alqueda & iran”..
what a joke.. mccain is finally talking foreign policy..

Anders Scooper
What causes people like you to be so blind to the truth?

Foreign Policy is the #1 issue and it is the mother of all our current problems:
High oil prices, inflation, economic stagnation, huge budget deficit…
The choice is between the doctrine of tough diplomacy vs. the doctrine of strike (preemptive or not).
That is what separates Obama from Clinton, McCain and Bush.
He has the right idea. He should not change it. He has the moral high ground here:
It is the first duty of US president to protect the lives of American troops and protect the interest of American people, even if it means talking to enemies. There are plenty of precedents in the US history.

Senator Obama has ran his campaign on hope and change:
HOPE–that uninformed voters will believe him and his bogus promises.
CHANGE–that our democratic nation will become a Socialist nation.
I don’t think the voters will go along with this corrupt politician’s agenda.

Right. Obama needs to follow McCain’s advice.
Then he would come to the same idiotic, overly-simplistic conclusions about Iraq.

If Obama listens to McCain, he will be killed while visiting Iraq BEFORE the general election. McCain knows who has to provide the protection for Obama; why else would McCain feel the need so strongly to have Obama travel to Iraq at this time?