McCain Camp Rips Obama for Cancelling Troop Visit

Well that beats the heck out of the “sightseeing” reason in the previous post

Huge embarrassment? Did you see how he was mobbed by supportive troops in Iraq? You’re delusional. Also, how does advocating ending the war equate to prolonging it? If anybody is looking to prolong this war for political purposes, it’s the GOP.

Tom, the germans are saying um, Barack, we’ve heard that speech already.

Wow- looks like VISITING WOUNDED AMERICAN SOLDIERS is the ONLY thing BO WON’T DO on the campaign dime.
This guy makes me sick.

Might have been a good idea for him to see our wounded troops. He has the money to pay for the visit. Was planned what happened. I guess he spent his money on other activities. Has no idea of the strength of our military and its resolve. Another bad for SLICK WILLIE 2.

“Might have been a good idea for him to see our wounded troops. He has the money to pay for the visit. ” william
__________________
That’s pretty shoddy!
He treated the troops in Iraq with similar disdain.
What IS he thinking?….or has early Alzheimers integrated with his overzealous ego to morph into an unthinking egomaniacal misfit?

This trip proves several things: The other side of the world wants a leader of the free world that can’t make a decision, has no convictions, is unscrupulous and doesn’t know how to deal with them. That way, by 2011, we will be the United States of the World.

OBAMA is acting as if he has already won, and representing our foreign US policies before he gets elected by the people. What deals has he been making over there? The speech in Berlin was typical Obama HYPE, he can fix everything for everyone. Doesn’t this man know that America is made up of a LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE that have been working on these same problems.

I am an avid Obama supporter, but I see him as wrong here. Get out there and see your people Obama. Screw the conflict of interest. You have disclosed the conflict. Get permission then go. At least have some of them see you And join you shopping. Unlike many of the GOP and I don’t have Obama envy. Still, wrong is wrong folks. Loved the speech though. How many there?

So Jane you and Obama must then support America overthrowing a dictator in Iraq?

aston
Mccain, Hillary, Bush bill clinton…
all have other writing staffs for their speeches and in your definition also “steal” or lift from other peoples speeches…
Obama is the head of his speech writing team of two…and they write almost all of Obamas speeches.
as opposed to most pols who other teams of people write most of them
so get another argument

“Karma….it’s always watching.”

Obama is a total jerk. Can’t stand his arrogance; he really thinks he’s all that –and more, but in reality he is a just complete loser.

Belle Star,
At least Obama showed up to vote for it. McCain didn’t even bother.
I don’t like FISA, but I DO understand why Obama voted for it.
And Don’t worry, under McCains Health CAre Plan, you wont have ANY insurance.

This trip is similiar to a traveling circus and Senator Obama is the head clown making a fool of himself. He is a dud.

How does it show “respect” to use campaign funds which supposedly come predominantly from un-rich AMERICANS to spout prattle to Germans, but shrink from using campaign funds to visit the soldiers he’s always spouting about?

“If we can get over this epidemic of fatal Obuma infection we can win the war on phony politicians!”

“and if he went to see the troops would you all be like
“How dare he campaign stop on military grounds when that is not supposed to happen!!!” whaw wha wha … “tell him to stop! tell him to stop”

again Belle
keep up
did you see how welll Petraeus and Obama get along?
and did you hear Petraeus (and Gates) say he would work well with Obama weeks ago?

Well, thank you, HP.

obuma wants MORE of our tax dollars to feed the world’s poor, and medical care/insurance to illegal aliens.
obuma wants to DISARM our military.
obuma, the former community leader/activist wants to be the President of Our Country.
It’s like a Boy scout Leader to run for the General in our Armed Forces.

katmandu
not sure what the point of that post is…
this is our time to make changes to this crappy misguided cold war direction that Bush, Mccain have led the world down.

Trixie you are right and so is the mcCain campaign who discussed this months ago.

I can not believe that Obama said during his speech that the US had no better friend in Europe than Germany. Might as well come home because he shot himself in the foot with England and France.

Well, thank you, HP.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Jul 24, 2008 2:45:19 PM
————————————
You are so welcome, I sincerely believe you are one of two posters here of superior intelligence! (chuckle)

This speech will help many people make up their minds about Obama. Watch for his numbers to start falling.

Wow Debra, kinda judgemental arent you? So you are assuming that his mother and grandparents werent good people? Sure seems they raised a good man.
I bet it feels pretty awful to have such a closed mind and empty heart.

Why wont McCain be the Nominee?

-I don’t think it would have been appropriate to visiting a military hospital as part of a campaign stop.
It would have been like the troops were being used.-
He could make a friggin private visit without his traveling paparazzi. Stop making excuses for this megalomaniac.

HP Boston,
I hope you and your family are all in excellent health, with zero pre-exisiting conditions. Otherwise you will be denied health care under McCains plan.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 24, 2008 2:52:28 PM
————————————–
Not to worry, as if you give a crap.
I have the AMERICAN EXPENSIVE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE!
I am sure when I retire my 400k in savings(stagnation, inflation, taxes will eat any hope of saving more) will just about cover the premiums for a couple of years. Big insurance companies run our government along with the rest of the greedy Companies.
Never going to change. Congress and the House support the Military Industrial Complex and ALL BIG Business!
So ask your doctor about all the new drugs they are pushing, gobs of money to be made. Drug companies kill more people than diseases do, yup!

“I am told that when one of Obama’s campaign staff was told he or she would be denied access, the visit was canceled.”

Good for Obama for keeping it classy and playing by the rules, as usual.

I don’t think it would have been appropriate to visiting a military hospital as part of a campaign stop.
It would have been like the troops were being used.
**************************************
No, it would have been RESPECTFUL to visit them and THANK THEM for their sacrifice. Obama’s numbers regarding ability to be CIC and be a leader are in the toilet. Americans do not trust this guy and it is more evident every day why this is true. Like all liberals he despises the military and cannot even force himself to keep the hatred in check. This will NOT play well at home as the GREAT majority of us love and respect these men and what they sacrice for us and our nation.

Funny how the fact his campaign financed his visit here didn’t keep him from photo ops and press conferences at Fort Bragg. Obama is rather obviously lying, and does not want to be around those he no doubt views as baby-slaughtering spree killers and torturers.
American servicemen in both Afghanistan and Iraq have sent letters stating that Barack Obama refused to meet with U.S. servicemen in both bases, promoting one in Afghanistan to write about Obama, “he blew us off.”
That probably isn’t a surprise, though, because the feeling was generally mutual.
I can’t imagine why the average soldier would prefer not to meet with a man who has mostly ignored the military except to try to minimize their sacrifices.

1. “Americans do not trust this guy and it is more evident every day why this is true.”

He should have not even went!
His lil’ trip cost us allot!

Obama is damned if he do, and damned if he don’t.
This is getting pretty annoying, but only makes us more determined than ever!

It’s really quite simple. The man who wants to be Commander in Chief is friends with a completely unapologetic bomber of the Pentagon.
To anyone with a brain, which excludes the vast majority of nobama supporters, that presents quite a problem.

Belle Star – “Republicans still HAVE a base, remember. And if they’re short on “charisma”, they’re long on discipline.”
_______________________________________
Is that why our country is 10 trillion dollars in debt? Discipline and republican = oxymoron.

I honestly havent seen this many crybabies since in the maternity ward with my newborn.
A pamper change, a pacifier, a bottle of formula, burping, a rattle,
whatever it takes for you to stop crying. this is pathetic for grown people. GROW UP

My last post, and this is regarding McCain……this week has shown him in a completely different light, and it is far from flattering, in fact….it’s a glimpse of what kind of a President he would make, and all American’s should be very, very afraid. I read his memoirs of POW, and realize that his vision of a future is jaded because of his unfortunate personal experience, and his attempt to emulate President Nixon’s actions during the Viet Nam war, may not necessarily be the best course of action for the time, place, and war we are fighting today.
It is time for a change!

Maybe if the geriatric wonder wasn’t such a stiff you would have something positive to say this election season.

Who wants to travel with mccain anyways
I would want to be taking in that old smell on a 15-20 hour flight.

Belle Star
…. and he is going to win by a lansdslide… amazing isnt it!!!

Senator O-bla-bla-bla, you wear me out with your speeches.

Dean says “My God people wake up” about Obama..
Hmm.. that sounds very familiar.. oh, right.. it’s what I’ve been saying over & over again for 8 years.

I wonder if Gen. Petraeus considered using the crossed-fingers coercion sign that they teach in survival school while talking to Barry. How great was that when a soldier did that so obviously in a picture taken with Hillary?

“Barack Obama is wrong. It is never ‘inappropriate’ to visit our men and women in the military,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.
Heaven forbid, that a politician was actually somewhat reticent to use troops as political props.
Perhaps if someone in the Republican Party had informed W. that the military wasn’t a toy to be played with, Sen. Obama wouldn’t need to worry about these considerations.

Another slap in the face to the military. The person who is running for the position of commander in chief can’t even bother to go see the troops. Amazing!

I wonder if he told the troops “he’s to busy running for president” to visit them. I’m sure they would understand just like his supporters understand that he couldn’t hold any meetings regarding Afganistan.

If the “New Dawn in the middle east” didn’t blow up The One’s feet of clay, saying it’s “inappropriate” to visit injured troops probably WILL.
Why ELSE would the stock market have crashed??

You beat me to it Deanna. To support that empty suit, you have to actually be that gullible or mentally ill. Seems to be running about 50/50.

He plans on replacing the Military with his civilian force of Obamabots anyway once he is annointed.

-He plans on replacing the Military with his civilian force of Obamabots anyway once he is annointed.-
From his speech: ..a Civilian National Security Force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
And the operative word “if” instead of ‘once’ anointed….

“If you were truly a Democrat, after 8 years of the current Bush brand of Republicanism, you would vote for a Democratic candidate whoever it was.”

-If you were truly a Democrat, after 8 years of the current Bush brand of Republicanism, you would vote for a Democratic candidate whoever it was.-
There is an enormous difference between:
a true Democrat voter
and
a truly democratic voter
The former is a danger to the democratic process. The latter is what has kept this country a democracy since its inception as a republic.

But you know McCain and the GOP wold immediately pounce on Obama for “politicizing” U.S. military wounded.

I don’t need Barack Obama to apologize for America on my behalf. I do feel really bad — as an American — that Europe and the Middle East are witnessing the Empty Suit World Tour.

I’m a little confused, why can’t Obama visit troops because he is traveling on campaign funds? Don’t the troops get to vote also. How many Germans are going to vote for him? But that’s ok, at least they will like us.

Just in case you missed his speech yesterday, Obama did thank the men in service from the bottom of his heart. He did shake their hands and thank most that he could reach out to. I do not know who is worse in this election McCain who is running or the people following the loser.

Poor John. All he can seem to do is react to Senator Obama and complain. Not very presidential.

Strike A Pose: I am sorry, but what “Intel” would that be? I am serious, not facitious; I really haven’t heard of anything like that? It would be interesting to know.

He won’t face them because he’s afraid someone might ask a tough question, one of substance since his groupies and his press corps(the mainstream media who fawns over him) want to protect him from being found a fraud. God forbid we find out what an educated idiot he is and that he has accomplished nothing in his lifetime. Don’t believe me? Ask those who are voting for him what is a major accomplishment other than fooling the idiots who follow him and elect him.

Oh, come on. He visited troups in Iraq. There’s more to the story. How about doing a little investigative reporting, somebody…please. And do the whole story and not just the bits that create controversy.This is so childish and stupid. Lost in translation.

Hmmmm. Did he say he was wrong about the surge? No.
Changes in “politics as usual” means you admit when you are wrong. The surge worked. Admit it O’bama. You’ll feel better and people will trust you.

would a future commander in chief avoid seeing the troops????? this one would, because he never was in the military and knows most are voting for mccain anyway. so he does not care.

Obama has the courage to do the right thing. What a leader not using the military wounded as political props. Unlike McCain who touts his POW story every chance he gets.

tim..watch a little news wouldya…Obama ate breakfast with the troups in Iraq. Eggs, bacon and oatmeal. And it was good.

Why aren’t all of these alleged McSame supporters going out to hear him speak? The poor man is struggling to get an audience in a supermarket aisle.

I would never vote for someone as president who thinks its okay to to have dinner parties with a terrorist named william Ayers who bombed the nyc police department, u.s. capitol, pentagon, and many other places. This guy got off because of some lawyer crap “illegal surveillance” and has said that he has no regret for his past.

Little do you know Obama frequently visits wounded vets but without the press. He would never use wounded soldiers like the John McCain does.

We are giving the troops less credit than they deserve. They can read through a phony photo-op and Obama spared them that. McCain, on the other hand has been using their sacrifices in Iraq for his own political gain since the campaign began.

“And do the whole story and not just the bits that create controversy.This is so childish and stupid.” Bea, Karma is a bitch and after what you Obama supporters did to Hillary, you Obama supporters deserve whatever comes back to bite you in the booty!

Lawmaker always stop by Landstuhl!! Whats Obama’s problem visiting the troops at the hospital their? He had no problem making a speech to GERMANS, thats just crazy.

Of course guys’ iam just being funny but Barack, The truth is John McCain love to use the troops as photo -opt , thats why he was surprise Barack didn’t do like what he would when he take his many trips.

Just one more reminder to the whole world, that like any good bolshevik, Obamov has nothing but disdain and contempt for our military personnel.

From the opening paragraphs of Obama’s Berlin speech: “I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen…”
So let’s get this straight (or at least as straight as we can in Obama’s twisted doublespeak). It’s okay to spend his self-proclaimed mom and pop donor dollars to address the German people as just a citizen, but he won’t spend those donor dollars to show support for our troops – who by the way, can actually vote in November’s election. Is he campaigning or not? If he isn’t campaigning, then shouldn’t the cost of this trip be coming out of his own pocket and not his donors?
Just more poor judgment from Obama!

Obama “08″ failure we can live without!
i like that.

Obama is the only man the troops respect. McCain voted against the GI Bill. Enough said.

The German crowd was a more valuable asset to him today, not the little soldiers. Silly us – we should know better, it is always about Obama and what best suits him, not the “little” people. I mean really, all the solders do is sacrifice themselves and protect the best interest of our nation and protect and keep little wimps like Obama safe.

Obama dont care about soliders!!!!!!!!

Obama-
You know how to respect the wounded troops by not using them for photo ops. You are a true leader. I hope you will be my Commander-in-Chief.
Iraq Vet

Just like the Oregon speech a couple of months back when the media was reporting how hundreds of thousands of people were there to see him, turned out that a very popular band was playing before him and most were there to see the band. Now, when 200,000 (not millions) Germans show up, the media makes it out that they are there soley to see him, when in fact, there were two rock bands playing a concert before his speech…hmmmm, I guess rock n roll is more fun than visiting injured soldiers on your own money…

Obama shame on you for not going to see my fellow comrads! I hope the American people see your true colors and vote no to Obama!

I read a blog from a soldier at Bagram, Iraq who stated that he and 2 dozen soldiers stood in line to greet Senator Obama. When he disembarked, he walked right past them without acknowledging them and got into a vehicle went straight to his photo op with the troops and the 40ft. basketball hoop. He said he was surprised and very disappointed. Now, of course, he can’t visit soldiers in a hospital because it would be inappropriate, but he can give an arrogant self-serving address to Germans. Americans want quick fixes and easy answers to complex problems. Go ahead, vote for this man and you will get an additional 8 years of mediocrity. I watched his speech in Germany where he admonished the Germans to get with the program, his messionic message I guess he fitures will save the world, according to him.

Just for the record, my brother is Iowa National Guard, everyone is for Obama, he cares about them and he will fight to get them what they need and deserve and they all know this.
McCain has voted against them so many times, they also know this.
God Bless Our Troops.

thats why that BBC poll along with a few others show 8 out of 10 soldier is in favour of Obama , they know he wants to provide them with every benefit they so deserve.
free medical with no strings always a free home should they be homeless and free tuition and Gi bils.
Of course all that McCain said was ‘TOO GENEROUS’
The soldiers that in favor of Mcain was the higher ups who give the orders.

For the people who say that it could have been because he doesn’t have enough time, well, he canceled his meeting with our troops, but loves Berlin so much that he has decided to stay longer then expected and will be flying to Paris 2-4 hours later because he wants to spend more time in Berlin….So let me get this right, he couldn’t find the time to visit the troops, but he was able to make more time for himself in Berlin…

Yeah i was their when Obama came to Bagram, he was a total sham!

Erroneous spin from the McCain campaign let it generate that this trip was at the taxpayers’ expense. For three days McCain supporters were slamming Obama for use of taxpayer money. When that proved to be false and the Obama campaign staff clearly provided facts that the trip was not being paid by taxpayers and Senator Obama would therefore not use campaign money to visit military hospitals and let the McCain camp then spin that as use of the injured for political purposes (of which there are two separate e-mails floating around the McCain blogs drafting such as that) it was then reverted back to he now snubs the military. This is standard for the McCain campaign staff now ran by the surrogate of the Karl Rove staff. Karl Rove naturally as the world knows was number one in the belief that negative campaigning has the best reward of keeping the opposition moving in the direction you want them to – which of course is stating the truth as Rovians spin another falsehood. The trouble with this so early in this election cycle is that it is before (operative word before) national conventions, VP announcements, party platforms and convention and post-convention endorsements which is clearly indicative of desperation.

This seals it. Obama has removed all doubt that he is an ultra-liberal, America and military hating, elitist Socialist. A borderline Marxist!!! The truth hurts!
His excuse for not visiting the troops is so lacking of logic, I can’t believe it was made public by his campaign. Be afraid of Obama …. very afraid!!!

According to an online German news site, there were a couple of security incidents in Berlin before Obama spoke. I’d speculate that his not visiting the base could be security related rather than making time for a breather. There’s obviously more to the story than what’s written.

SENATOR OBAMA IS SHOWING HIS GOOD MANNERS AND THOUGHTFULNESS.WHY BOTHER THE SICK AND WOUNDED ROUTINE DAY,RECOUPERATING,WITH THE LARGE GROUP OF MSM IN TOLL.HE DOEN’T WANT TO USE THEIR PAIN FOR GAIN.I CAN APPLAUD HIM FOR THAT AND YOU SHOULD TOO.

I guess Captain Porter’s accessment on how Obama truely feels about the troops was accurate. However, I’ll put it even better, Obama does not give a rats a**
about the troops being killed or injured.
Obama, It was never about the troops. You only used the war to differentiate yourself from the other candidates.
The Washington Post was correct in pointing out that Obama and his radical minions are no longer screaming for an end to the Iraq War, as had done months ago. Perhaps the surge he never supported has actually worked and now he wants to shift troops in Afghanistan.
So now he just can’t stop talking about Afghanistan. Well Obama, as Chairman of the Senate Committee in Afghanistan, you have failed to call a meeting, because your exucuse was “I was too busy running for president” Yes Obama,it was never about the troops. Now go shoot your hoops!

I guess I’m missing something. He’s on a campaign trip, why would he feel it’s inappropriate to visit potential voters? I would think that his speech today and his visit to Germany would be aimed at Americans, since it is a campaign-funded trip? McCain may have been wrong on the issue regarding how exactly this trip is being funded, but I gotta side with him on this one – it is never inappropriate to visit troops, especially when those troops are serving this country in a foreign land.

For all of you undecided on who to vote for know this. McCain has voted against funding for Vets at every opportunity. Obama has supported Veterans legislation at every opportunity. You decide who has the interest of soldiers in mind.
Thank you Obama for not making the wounded soldiers into a photo op.

“why would he feel it’s inappropriate to visit potential voters?”
Because he didn’t want to make the wounded soldiers into a photo-op.
Obama has voted for Veterans benefits at every opportunity. McCain has voted against Veterans benefits at every opportunity. You should ask McCain why he voted against benefits for Veterans.

McCain just opposed the increase in veterans education programs. Basic reason was rewarding those who have served less time (there were others like retention, etc.) but common sense again lacks McCain. When is it good enough to be in the military and die and have served less than 4 years, but if you live you’re not good enough for improved education benefits? Answer – better dead than educated? McCain – you above all others should see the ridiculouslessness of your position, but then again you should have been the first to yell and scream about conditions at Walter Reed, etc. But no – now in the political campaign you manipulate Karl Rove negative campaigning and let your hatchet creeps prepare negative positions for whatever Senator Obama does. Enough already – we suffered through Swift Boat, we have suffered for 7 years, we have suffered during a war of choice which you voted for and now you use every opportunity to negatively attack someone who is apparently receiving information, representing this nation well and making this nation look decent. Oh yes, ask your campaign manager the last time he talked to the Swift Boat financial people and then do a quick follow-up – was that also before or after the conference call with Karl Rove? Hint – you have a leak in the organization.

Obama voted against funding for equipment and supplies for the troops. Thankfully enough democrats voted for it(like Biden) and stuck to their guns and wouldn’t short change the troops just to make a politcal statement. I remember Biden early on saying “some things are worth losing an election over.” But this election is only about Obama.

“All the empty-suit ever does is photo-ops. He’s a farce. Did he bring his gaudy, faux presidential seal with him to Germany?”
Yes.
He Can.

Oh the outrage!
Check it out:
It is against DoD rules for political campaigns to be on Military bases.. that is why it would be inappropriate
McSame breaks those rules…

Pretentious! Yes, arrogant. As a Hillary Democrat, my hope is the party will realize its mistake and do the right thing at the convention and cast votes for Hillary as the nominee of the party. Let us get past the dis-unity that this charade has caused and elect the First Woman President of the United States of America.

“What is he scared of?”

If he visited the troops it would have upset our enemies too much. You know, the enemies that he would like to sit down with with any pre-conditions.

Probably something else grabbed “Curious Obama’s” attention.

To Mack and the other morons who seem to believe that simply meeting world leaders is bad:
What do you think presidents do? I know that the past 8 years of “cowboy diplomacy” must’ve been heaven for you, but let’s face some facts…leaders meet other leaders, and it’s important. Particularly when the specter of war floats overhead. That’s how you solve problems….by talking about them, not by threatening to bomb them.

Obama stands for “Hoops before Troops”

John: McCain does not break the rules. Obama didn’t care about seeing the military he was only concerned about himself and places to go where he can get a lot of attention. He craves for attention. I believe that was an insult to the soldiers. I am happy that he didn’t get to speak at the Gate. I think Bush squashed that. Good for him. And that world tour doesn’t mean he is getting any more votes. There are thousands of minorities living in Europe that’s why they like Obama. I will not vote for him due to the fact he was racist, anti-american and hated whites, attended a racist church for 20 years and would still attend if his pastor’s video was not on TV. I don’t believe he loves this country but using it to make history for himself. He wants to copy MLK like he does speeches. How did he ever graduate from Harvard.

Is anyone surprised here? Obama wants to be Emperor of the World – the heck with America. Why waste time with the American military. He’s on the world stage now. He wants to rule the world. He has no interest in America and very few ties.

“so far HIS campaign manager(who/whereever)has not spoken of the reason he turned it down DID THEY!..
We as the American people NEED TO FIND THIS OUT…Eventually it MAY COMEBARACK & BITE HIM;-O
We need to get to the bottom of it & LEAK IT TO THE PRESS.”
He’ll blame it on one of his 300 assistants. That’s what he does.

The most appropriate and sincere thing he ever could have done for his country would have been to enlist.

Hmmmm… a man leading the United States that is actually respected and listened to by the world. And, he’s respected for something other than threats of war and destruction. Many people on here are sounding very scared of such a thing. Scared of someone really smart and one that uses his mind as a weapon more powerful than bombs might lead the way we once did. Plus there is a thinly disguised veil of racism going on too. That’s very sad.

I see change coming unlike any change we have seem before. Islam desires world power and will take down America. It is in the Bible. Obama is the open door for their cause. So, you do not like the war in Iraq well ask yourself if you will like the war on American soil. It is coming…again you can read about it in the Bible. (Ezekiel)
Furthermore, this man is a racist. Both him and his wife dislike America. Speak English…please it is the International language. Hello? I was in Eurpoe, they all speak ENGLISH. When my grandparents came to AMERICA…they had to LEARN ENGLISH. Be proud to be an AMERICAN and SPEAK ENGLISH.
Remember WW II…hello we still have troops in Germany. Oh yes, Japan too! Wow, we have troops in Korea! Matter-of-fact we have troops all over the world playing police for peace and freedom of all mankind.
God help us now….I pray.

“Hmmmm… a man leading the United States that is actually respected and listened to by the world. And, he’s respected for something other than threats of war and destruction. Many people on here are sounding very scared of such a thing. Scared of someone really smart and one that uses his mind as a weapon more powerful than bombs might lead the way we once did. Plus there is a thinly disguised veil of racism going on too. That’s very sad.”
Yes afraid of an empty-suited liar that has done nothing except run for office and who will say anything to anyone to get elected. Open your eyes.

Ryan -making up polls again? I do not believe for 1 second that 8 out of 10 military prefer Obama. My husband is active duty military and I can tell you right now that the majority prefer McCain…by a landslide.

I do not know what is more embarrassing, that Obama cancelled meeting wounded troops or that he delivered a speech in Germany and spoke English!
I thought us dumb Americans visiting foreign countries and speaking English was a no-no to Barack Obama?

KevinB
That was my argument this morning. I am glad someone else notice.
The Republicans know the only way to win this is to trash Obama. McCain the POW only goes so far. As far as 40 years ago.
More accomplishments … you things you liked that he did. He did a lot with the democrats….. heck he even wanted to be a democrat’s VP.
Note. Flipflopping is not an accomplishment ok.

“Remember when candidates were off-limits when they went overseas? John McCain apparently doesn’t, even though he claimed this time and time again. Oh well, McCain is behaving like a child because he knows he’s already dead in the water. Good riddance John….hopefully the THIRD time you sell your soul will be the magic number…”
Say what? No candidate for President has ever campaigned overseas before! So how can you make the statement candidtaes over seas are off limits?
I think what you mean to say is that Presidents were usually “off limits” when traveling overseas.
Just for your information, Obama is not the President!

“Note. Flipflopping is not an accomplishment ok.”
That is why I will NOT vote for Obama….without flipflops he has no accomplishments!! McCain has years of political and military service…what does Obama have? Oh, that’s right….no experience, no military services, but plenty of terrorist friends and a racist anti-American preacher.

Susan – my son is in the military – third tour of duty in Iraq – my nephew on his second – there is no way McCain is going to win the military vote by a “landslide.” Only in your dreams.

Anyone else feel like they’ve gotten bored of Obama? I’ve been following him since the early part of this year, during the primaries, and really he’s just repeating old slogans. I really feel he’s outlived the fad, and this most recent media blitz really just killed.
Obama is BORING.

Actually I’m finding his ever enlarging ego fascinating to watch! I’ve only seen the likes of it come from Hollywood. Do you think he’ll get a star on Hollywood Blvd and a new line of clothing?

“Well at least he did provide them with a great college tuition plan and he’s trying to get elected so he can get them out of Iraq”
Draw them down in Iraq and then send them off to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Eight out of ten military for Obama? Typical Marxist example of deceit, if you are stuck with negatives, reverse the facts to make them look positive. Did anyone notice that just after the recent polls came out with lopsided support for McCain re.foreign policy and national defense, two days later all kinds of headlines showing Obama as the “Expert” on foreign policy and national defense? That’s also why there is so much effort on the part of Obama supporters to diminish Mccain’s POW years and military record. Chop away at the opponents strong points.

It is hard to believe that any parent would want their son or daughter serving under Obama. First, it was, WE HAVE LOST THE WAR IN IRAQ and need to come home. Then, the Surge will not only NOT WORK, the Surge will create even more martyrs and chaos in Iraq. Then, OK, maybe the Surge is working, but not the political solution. Then, “I didn’t expect the political factors to work.” Then, the only reason the Surge has worked is because the military passed around money to the Iraqi leaders. THIS GUY SOME OF YOU WANT FOR YOUR LEADER?

JJ – there IS nothing BUT on-the-job training for a president. No other job in the world like it. So get off your high horse.

Sandy.
Obama’s lack of insight on Iraq IS EXACTLY WHY THE PRESIDENCY WOULD CERTAINLY BE OJT EXPERIENCE FOR OBAMA, BUT NOT MCCAIN. Incompletion of only one lackluster term in the Senate does not give Obama the experience he needs to become president. It Obama had some leadership experience in the military – perhaps, but when you toss in all the negative baggage Obama has and his very questionable areas of judgement and character – Obama just does not measure up.

Amazing!! This guy is so full of himself…he would rather talk about World Citizenship than take care of his own people. How dare he do such a thing!!! How are the people of Berlin more important than his own wounded countrymen? If the Military was in doubt before, they just got his answer. Hope this was the death nail for this media driven hollywood circus…

Fact; the only way Obama(Howdy Doody) can fulfill his campain promises is to RAISE OUR TAXES ! Yes, if he becomes president he will raise taxes to pay the europeans and middle east more money. Because it’s in America’s best intrest ? I don’t think so. Don’t be fooled, do you really want higher taxes ? I sure don’t. Obama means higher taxes…More money for other countries but not ours.

McCain doesn’t know how anything in the Middle East works. He doesn’t even know the difference between Shia and Sunni, the two biggest sects in Iraq. McCain is an empty suit getting emptier by the day.
And believing that the ‘surge’ actually reduced violence instead of realizing that it was *ACTUALLY* Shia and Sunni factions reigning in their militias for self-interested reasons is just more evidence that MCCAIN, BUSH, THE GOP, AND HALF THE MEDIA HAVE LITERALLY *NO IDEA* WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE MIDDLE EAST, MILITARY AFFAIRS OR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
This incompetence and arrogance of McCain and the GOP on this matter is simply staggering. These people must think the US an empire, responsible for all the little children out in the world who can’t take care of themselves. I expect this of 19th century Britain or the Soviet Union, not the United States of America.

Obama, the man of much talk, but little action. Our military deserve better. Obama never wore the uniform…

William Hames
GOP with fear and weakness? McCain will go anywhere to be interviewed or campaign. WHEN WILL WE SEE OBAMA BE INTERVIEWED BY BILL O’RIELLY? PUT MONEY WHERE MOUTH IS. OBAMA HAS BEEN INVITED BY BILL MANY TIMES – SO FAR NADA. MAYBE IT’S LIKE ONE OF OBAMA’S SUPPORTERS ON THESE BLOGS SAID; “FOX IS NOT A LEGIMATE NEWS SOURCE!!”

If Obama is just half as smart, as he thinks he is, he should have known about the speech policy on military bases. Community organizer, maybe, president, not. Can you say, “empty suit”?

Pentagon explains why Obama can not go to the military bases because it would be a campaign event.
This rule is STRICT.
Interesting article which shows that it would be inappropriate for Obama to go.
McCain almost got in trouble a few months ago for this.

It is hard to believe that any parent would want their son or daughter serving under Obama. First, it was, WE HAVE LOST THE WAR IN IRAQ and need to come home. Then, the Surge will not only NOT WORK, the Surge will create even more martyrs and chaos in Iraq. Then, OK, maybe the Surge is working, but not the political solution. Then, “I didn’t expect the political factors to work.” Then, the only reason the Surge has worked is because the military passed around money to the Iraqi leaders. THIS GUY SOME OF YOU WANT FOR YOUR LEADER?
Posted by: Manitu
*******************************************
Our present administration f—-d this thing
up royally in the first place! Don’t use your whinny
lame excuses on someone who is trying to rationalize this Iraqi quagmire of mistakes.

The Obama campaign was not aware of the (Rules?) concerning visits to military sites? Something smells fishy here or maybe just bad planning? So, what else is new?

He cancelled the trip because of the rules … candidates are not allowed to campaign at military bases and facilities.
In Iraq and Afghanistan it wasn’t campaigning because he was part of a congressional group, visiting the bases. The current European trip is different. It’s paid for by his campaign and would be considered a campaign trip.
Posted by: CountryJoe
******************************************
Thank you for explaining. Some of these people
let their fingers doing the talking, instead of the
brain doing the thinking

PENTAGON SAYS NO TO CAMPAIGN APPEARANCES
on military bases.
FROM BELOW ARTICLE:
“…The staff discussions came as the Pentagon recently updated a military directive spelling out restrictions on the U.S. military during political campaigning.
Candidates for office have long been prohibited from engaging in political activities at U.S. military installations or using U.S. military personnel in their political appearances. Presidential campaign staffs generally are very familiar with these military rules.”
As you can see, Obama is correct in this assessment. McCain is the one who is WRONG.

Trixie 8:38:01 – Excellent post. It shows that McCain is not only being trivial, but that he knows Obama was right to do what he did. McCain is behaving more like Bush every day.

maybe just bad planning?

“It is never ‘inappropriate’ to visit our men and women in the military.” -John McCain
It is when the Pentagon tells you it is. Get a clue old man.

200,000 Germans were more important than wounded AMERICAN soldiers.

In their rush to slam Obama for something (picking his teeth – really Trixie, is that all you have?), many of these posters are failing to see that Obama canceled the visit because he didn’t want to bring a media circus to the hospital. That IS respect for our troops.

“It is never ‘inappropriate’ to visit our men and women in the military.” -John McCain
It is when the Pentagon tells you it is. Get a clue old man.

The bottom line for Obama, “if I can’t give a speech – then I won’t go”. I think our military is better off without Obama.

Trixie,
Thanks for posting the article. That article clearly shows that Obama would have breached Pentagon protocol by visiting the military bases since the campaign paid for the trip to Europe NOT CODEL.
Senators Obama, Reed, and Hagel were able to visit military bases when in Iraq and Afghanistan because it was part of CODEL.
Visiting military bases NOT part of CODEL would have been forbidden which would have happened in Germany.
I am glad Obama checked with the Pentagon before going. That would have been very bad if Obama had gone and could have been a national incident.
Retired Major Gation explains that well too.

It’s probably because rockstar Obama-rama is too busy visiting his sellout crowds all over the world. He has a busy schedule, you know.

I don’t want a European lifestyle (the taxes are too high). Obama is just plain arrogant. While he is over there getting his ego stroked, McCain is over here, campaigning with the people he wants to govern (oh wait, maybe that is what the magnificent O is doing as well).

Republicans are in an tizzy because Senator Obama pulled in 200,000.
——-
Hello! They can’t vote here. It doesn’t matter!

“Obama is a US Senator. He could have gone to the hospital without the cameras.”

Am totally sick and tired of OLD McSame moaning about everything that’s “wrong”!! Who the hell is he to judge when he is the one who is fumbling and bumbling his confused way throughout. He is so envious of what Obama has accomplished on this trip that he is turning “green” even to his eyeballs. McSame should just retire to his old folks home and leave well enough alone. He seems to have nothing of substance to say about the economy, muddled his world affairs, fists clenched in barely controlled anger, and messing up time-lines. He is showing all the best reasons why we should not and cannot vote for such a personality.

Debra -McCain can answer questions “off the cuff” – in what universe? McCain has made so many gaffs my list is in the 50′s already – to name a few:
“Obama is responsible for high prices at the pumps.” Sure he did, all by himself, and with no experence so you folks keep touting.
McCain says Iraq was the first major conflict after 9/11. Was Afghanistan not major enough for him?
Referring to Vladimir Putin of Russia.
The Iraqi/Pakistan borders – gee,only off by 750 years(oops) MILES….OMG.
“Somalia” for “Sudan.”
Said troops in Iraq were “down to pre-surge levels” when in fact there were 20,000 more troops than when the surge policybegan.
Last week referred to “Czechoslovakia,” for the FOURTH time which has been divided since Jan. 1, 1993, into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He also referred to Czechoslovakia during a debate in November and a radio show in April.
Cnnot tell the difference between the Pittsburg Steelers and Green Bay Packers even though he has told that story over and over again.
He said the surge worked forgetting that the Anbar province started the work months before the “surge” took place.
McCain says he can win a war. And which war was is it that he has won?
Admits he knows nothing about the economy but his pal Phil Gramm does – you know – that same Phil Gramm who engineered the Enron loophole, the same Phil Gramm who engineered the dereugulation of the oil and mortgage industries?
McCain graduated 894 out of 899 at Annapolis and expects to run a country?
Today Senator Obama spoke to over 200,000 people while McCain sat in a sausage shop – and when he did appear before the cameras McCain was grinding his teeth because he was having problems with his dentures and finally put is hand in his mouth to try and fix the problem and was wiping his nose with his hand. YUK!
Sure, McCain really looks like presidential material – NOT!!!
Posted by: sandy
***************************************
Don’t forget his unprecedented knowledge of
computers. I bet he still trying to figure out
how to plug in a computer.

Andrea Mitchell reported that this was the Pentagon’s decision and Obama went along with it.

200,000 does matter.
Republicans are constantly whining about it.

HonestAbe – McCain is friggin pathetic! He’s a one issue candidate – all he ever talks about is Iraq, Iraq, Iraq – NEWSFLASH: NOBODY CARES!

McCain’s constant whining about Obama’s actions just proves that there is no pleasing a cranky old man.

Jerome – are you as befuddled as old man McSame? The Army advised Obama not to come, so he didn’t come – McSame is a shameful and disgusting old man to try and use this against him. McCain was an honorable man once – it shocks me to see how low he has sunk since then. Totally pathetic.

Anybody want the real news about Obama, not the negative spin done by Jake Tapper, go see Keith Olberman on MSNBC.

If it’s so “wrong” then McCain should run on over there himself… Oh that’s right he spent the day stateside in some U.S. German bar?

Excuse me but, he planned on visiting the troops and was told not to by the military command. Ya, gotta wonder if Bush had anything to do with it so he could give McShame something to bitch about.

Pentagon told the Obama campaign NO.
End of story.

The McCain camp appears desperate which really makes them appear frighten. They do nothing and say nothing but analyze and dissect Obama’s every word and every move. They turn everything he says or does into something negative, which doesn’t prove Obama wrong, it just proves how desperate and scared McCain and gang are. With the exception of attacking Obama at every turn if anyone notice, McCain and gang really don’t have a plan at all. They’re trying to deflect attention away from their own flaws.

“The official said “We didn’t know why” the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. “He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him.”

For those of you accusing the reporting of being less than honest by stating the Pentagon told Obama not to visit, try living by your own advice. The Pentagon advised the Obama campaign that the visit would be construed as a campaign visit (WHICH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN) and they decided that they didn’t want the perception of using the military personnel for campaign purposes (which was clearly their intention) It was a campaign decision not a Pentagon one. Obama is a presidential CANDIDATE not the POTUS. This trip was one big campaign tour and to try and claim it was anything else is downright lying.

Tamrya: there’s always a story. Both campaigns have and will visit military facilities from time to time. Probably Obama had expectations that couldn’t be facilitated – like bringing in 100+ reporters and making a huge campaign rally vice a private, low-key gathering.

They wouldn’t allow him to bring his tele-prompter with him.

I guess you cannot please all the people all of the time.
I am happy to see those of you who are well informed about this candidate being so supportive , for the rest who hold a grudge apparently I would like to point out they are electing a president to make our country a better country and it would be wiser to become well informed about the candidates rather then support a party who has not lived up neither to its ideology not to its oath to the country and the constitution.
We are free to vote unlike people in other countries, let’s take our duty seriously and search the character, abilities and vision of each with an eye to the world situation.
It is obvious to me that smarter and better informed people than I am, have checked sen Obama from all angles and seen the possibility for America to finally have a president they can be proud of not only for his brilliance and accomplishments but more for his character and ability to bring our country together, as he has proven already, behind a common goal.
He is a true leader and even foreigners are able to discern that.
After the Bush gaffes and ignorant leadership he will raise the standards 1000%.
I have done my home work and Obama comes way ahead in my estimation.
Do your duty as an american and learn before you use your judgement and your vote.

BUSHIEs BOMB OBAMA – This is part of GOP stategy to weaken the effect of Obama’s trip. Cony Rice sent out a memo for embassy personel not to help Obama on his trip, Bush pressured Merkel not to have the speech at the Brandenburg Gates and the Pentagon was who nixed the visit to troops in Gemany.

How many of the folks erroneously criticizing Senator Obama have visited a VA hospital or thanked a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine lately? How many have written their elected representatives in the House and Senate and asked them to go visit our wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed?

“Do your duty as an american and learn before you use your judgement and your vote.”
America first, Obama never.
He and his bots can go join the European union. This country didn’t fight for it’s Independence to end up giving the reins to this empty-suited fool.

All I know is McCain didn’t attend a church for 20 years and listen to the advice of Reverend Wright “like a father to a son”, When nobody backed him in his first congressional run he befriended nuts like William Ayers and his kook followers. Mccain didnt hang out with scum bags like Tony Rezko and the rest of the sleazy Chicago south side slum lord political machine. Obama has accomplished nothing, he left his State Senate district is in shambles always following the spotlight. This Democrat is voting for Mccain – Country first over political ambition!

All McCain does these days is react to what Obama does, and his only rationale for being elected is that Obama should not be. He may be the better candidate, but that is not an inspiring argument in my eyes.

Paul, false information?
1. Saddam Hussein agreed to all of the conditions of the 1991 cease fire. But he failed for 12 years to comply with any of the conditions; and failed to comply even after the final ultimatums issued by the UN Security Council and President Bush;
2. Saddam Hussein failed to prove that he had destroyed the WMDs (which was supposed to have been done under the supervision of the IAEA).
Those were violations of the 1991 cease fire. So President Bush ended the cease fire according to the UN mandate. No false information there!

maybe Obama could not contact Rev. Wright and pray together before the speech.

Obama not only didn’t get a ‘bump’ from this trip he actually lost voters. This snub will be the last straw and Barack (not Michelle) will be the reason for losing the election.

Sarah,
The “bump” always takes about 4-5 days. Stayed tuned. Its coming. The man was so outstanding, it HAS to.

I noticed while on tour/vacation, Obama was using parts of Ronald Reagan’s speech. Then giving the snub to our military, is the icing on the cake. What a “fake.”

Where was rev. jesse jackson?

Did Obama bring his “presidential seal” for his meetings and speeches, while on tour?

First he cut on McCain’s military career, then he snubbed the military in Germany. I think he was a member of Trinity church, way too long.

This is my only second election. But Obama, despite the media crowning, would have to kick me in the groin, elbow my ribs, punch me in the temple, crack both of my legs, and tackle me to the ground, would I even let him see my vote, which I protect to give it to Hillary and now to McCain.

He has a lack of respect for our military.

This is amusing. There are McCain retorts and press reports demeaning Obama for acting like he’s already President, and here we are told that military bases are feeling neglected because Obama decided not to visit them. He’s a Senator, folks, not a President.
Look, he was cultivating allies while McCain was eating sausage.
Think leadership.
P.S. Is McCain using campaign funds to visit military bases? Interesting …

THis is like Obama, his attendance is terrible. Obama was appointed to head a foreign relations sub-committee and he has been a “NO Show”. Obama actually gets paid for not doing his job.
Posted by: Ben in VA |*********************************************
Does it bother you at all that McCain can’t even remember that he is a senator and hasn’t voted on a single issue for 16 months? Or that McCain is the ranking Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committe but hasn’t attended any of the last 6 meeting that were held on Afghanistan?
or is this just something that you were told to be outraged about?

Folks who say they will never trust Obama, for some strange reason have no problem trusting McCain. This is a man who had no problems cheating on and lying to his wife.
His new wife, after 28 years and four children, keeps a pre-nub in place. If she doesn’t trust him, then why should we?

We need to be honest with ourself about McSame is not the president we need right. He have no clue about enconomy just war and more war. This is not what the world want to deal with when they have to deal with American.

The Middle East trip was a Congressional fact finding mission.
The European leg of the trip was paid for by Obama’s campaign.
The White House had the Pentagon call and inform Obama’s staff that it would be a campaign event. (meaning the white house and Mcwhiner would be playing it up as using the troops for a photo op). Obama chose not to use the troops as a political ploy the way Bush and McCain are willing to do.
The white house is playing politics with the troops and once again you fools fall for it.

Obama goes to Germany and McSame goes to a German restaurant.. nuf said.

Obama was also invited to Ft. Hood for a town hall meeting to speak with soliders and their families. He said he could not work it into his schedule.
I guess speaking to citizens in a foreign country is more important. Ft. Hood doesn’t provide the “photo op” and he would have to answer some tough questions.
He won’t debate. He was terrible in the debates with Hillary. So many hmmm, uhhh, duh’s.
Go Puma — at the Democratic Convention!!

Hey,RoBoTech. This is about the 4th copy of this letter I’ve seen today. All the same, but the signature changes. Has the Republican lie machine been busy making up these things?

Bet McCain is still counting his money from the Keating 5 scandel. How soon we forget. Obama is handsdown the best qualified for the job. Being 68 years old myself I wonder how people could vote for a 71 year old man for president who is without a doubt not up for the job

Lame excuse. obama could have visit the troops without the cameras & his entourage and kept it private. His true color really shows…..no pun intended.
Obviously, due to his narcisistic personality, he rather spend most of the time in front of a large crowd giving one of his bs speeches.
Our troops deserves better, they don’t need this idiot using them as props.

It would be inappropriate to use our troops as a campaign prop. there would be no real way to hide it with all the press around him.
Obama was on a fact finding mission the first half of the trip.
The second half is a wolrd tour paid with campaign money. Obama made the right choice.
Mccain spoke with out knowing details.

sandy-did John McCain force your sons to join the service? Did they not know when they joined a possibility of going to war was why they trained as they did?I had 2 brothers that served in Nam, one served twice. I didn’t blame the President for them going. They knew the chances. I hope they return safely.

Obama looks, acts and speaks like a president. McCain looks, acts, and speaks like an old man. I am an old white man that remembers WWII and have seen our country soar under the leadership of the “Greatest Generation” Neither of these gentlemen as yet measures up to that generation that put the country above self and party but Obama offers more promise.

young_voter – I bet you are not young just want to stir things up on this board becasue you no so so many young voters are supporting Obama and that hurt your old feelings becasue no one wants to hear from you old whining fools that wouldn’t let go of the pass and live for the future. I can see that most older people over 60ies are still stuck in the 60ies. Old people rarely like change and Obama knows this and that’s why he camp out at colleges to get young voters to vote for change. McSame don’t even know how to use a computer and he is not by himself becasue old people his age once again don’t like change. Old people votes and loads, but alot of them don’t vote for change. They are the main ones that put Bush and twice and Bush have cut a lot of Senior citzens programs, but they are too old to figure this out. Obama will help them as well as helping the young.

“Obama giving a speech in Germany makes him a foreign policy expert like me spending the night in the garage makes me a car.”

McCain is so darn negative, I can’t stand it. Why isn’t McCain focusing on promoting himself on? All he’s doing recently is tearing down other people at every possible moment. I can’t stand negative people like him. We need people who inspire, like Senator Barack Obama. McCain is just a too darn negative and short-tempered, like Bush. We don’t need another George W. Bush. Let’s vote for change. Let’s vote for Senator Obama.

Obama has to be the most self-absorbed, self-righteouse bs artist on the planet. The only thing Obama loves to do is talk about himself and how we all need him. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for”. I am sick of hearing about his “world tour” and how important he is. Blah, Blah, Blah.
He traveled to Iraq by standing on the shoulders of John McCain and his bold and knowledgeable correct decision about Iraq and the surge last year…a visit Obama today could not have safely even made had McCain not argued for a surge of troops to stabilize the country. Obama opposed the surge and incorrectly said it would fail. Now he has the nerve to fly in there and conveniently bs the world on how he has the answer to Iraq. Obama is a liar and a thief! Meanwhile John McCain is IN AMERICA right now talking to AMERICANS about the problems we face and the challenges we must overcome. Barry Obama is riding around the globe like a diva and spewing his rhetorical nonsense.
“This change is the change we’ve been waiting to change! That has been my position all along and our campaign is proud to be here with you tonight!” Listen to this guy speak…it’s a utter nonsense.
This guy is a candidate for President? What the hell is wrong with you people?

It is a shame that Michelle should not go with Obama on this trip. Obama could have asked Michelle to visit the troop since he was campaigning, as he does in the US.

AHHHHHH! The right-wingers are turning a lovely shade of green!

McCain is the one who won’t vote for veterans health and benefits and the GI bill. Of course the media narrative is always that the Democrat is somehow unpatriotic. This is the straw they are currently grasping at, but some people are falling for it as always.
Annoy the media, support the troops with more than just visits, vote Obama.

No hating at all. Just the facts. We all know it. Obama will lose in November. It’s coming.
God Bless.

So sad to dislike a person who is trying to united all americans and bring back respect we lost during President Bush term.. Some people would rather continue to see America divided than to be united. Go Obama Go 08

Got to hand it to Obama. Evita seduced a country, He’s seducing the world. Not with anything he’s done, of course, it’s nothing, but with his rhetoric, which he changes to suit the listener. He’s a master. It’s scary.

Pentagon itself was categorical
that BO would be campaigning on
a military base if visited the
hospital in Germany. That’s
what prompted the cancelation.
McCain is blowing smoke.

Daisy:
“Some of these postings are hilarious. Obama defamers are so transparent in their green envy”
You’ve got it wrong, sweety:
The only thing that’s “GREEN”…
is B O Plenty!

I love it. Senator Obama is dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn’t. If he would have visited, McCain and all the right wing neo-cons would be crowing from the rooftops that he had used the visit as a photo op for the campaign. Now they’re howling like wolves because he didn’t visit. What they should be more concerned about is just why McCain voted against 97% of the legislation in the 109th and 110th Congress designed to support our troops and veterans.

I think some people have already made up their minds. How can you criticize anything Barack Obama did on this trip. If your candidate of choice did exactly the same thing it would be fine. You don’t have to vote for Obama, but give it a rest already. Your mind’s made up; let the rest of us do as we will.

WE ALL KNOW OBAMA IS A POSER.

It sure is common to hear the libs call for the people who see Obama for what he is to just go away. why don’t they move to France where they welcome leftists. Because the left cannot understand the American way of life they want to destroy it.Obama talks to people who have money to invest in his presidency. I wonder what he is going to give them? Maybe sell America to the highest bidder.

Sounds like someone got in the Pentagon’s ear to make this happen. Obama is screwed if he does, screwed if he doesn’t on this one. Hopefully minor things like this don’t end up dominating the election, but McCain is grasping for straws and I wouldn’t put it out of reach of the GOP. This could be the first step towards Obama getting “swift boated”. Sad.

USA-No1 – and McCain’s past? and McCain’s gaffs? And McCain’s flip-flops? (my list has 91 MccCain flip-flops so far). And then, of course, there is getting the Anbar timeline wrong, not knowing world geography, I mean as long as McCain wants to “bomb-bomb” Iran, and we turned Iran into a DMZ zone, I guess Iraq would then border Afghanistan, and having 6 people show up at his lunch in Ohio today and adjusting his dentures and wiping his nose with his hand while giving a news conference (attended by a few reporters and one of McCain’s hanger-oners) , not even filling a small hall yeterday for a town hall meeting while Obama was talking to 200-250K people today, attacking your rival while he’s visiting a Holocaust memorial, and accusing him of willing complicity in genocide is beyond belief – the panic and desperation emanating from the McCain camp is overwhelming. The GOP was desperately hoping for Dukakis and got Will Smith instead. Oh my how McCaint’s challenge has backfired on them.

Still waiting for the first pro-McCain commentor… are any of you out there? Could a GOP backer write something not anti-Obama but pro-McCain for a change?
::crickets::

Sen. McCain said today: “I am going to campaign in all thirteen colonies. My campaign will employ all the latest technology: the telegraph; the carrier pigeon as well as the pony express. John Adams showed me how to use all this new-fangled stuff – we were best buds.”

Grammy Barb, You can’t vote democrat and vote for a republican. I don’t know if you got the memo, but we have two different political parties here.

McCain graduated from the US Naval Academy 894th in a class of 899. He wrecked five jets before they finally got rid of him. Obviously he is not the brightest bulb on the tree. He was shot down by an out-of-date Soviet missile by men with no experience in anti-aircraft warfare because he did not follow the rules of evasion taught at the Academy. Let’s just say the man has only one oar in the water.
He disses two in five people on the face of the earth by referring to all Asians as “Gooks.” He may be viewed as a “hero,” but I don’t think being shot down qualifies him for the job of president.

Freddie Mac-Fannie Mae-medicare-Social Security….on and on and on.
Both parties are corrupt. Nothing less than a full blown purge of the system will get our government back.
Yet the citizens sleep and follo he status quo offering up 2 cardboard cutouts with nothing new to offer in policy and a Congress that feathers it’s own nest.

Grammy Barb – do you people EVER do any research or watch for the updates on articles posted? Or are you just as dumb as the things you post? The PENTAGON itself was categorical
that Senator Obama would be campaigning on a military base if visited the
hospital in Germany. That’s
why his visiting the soldiers was cancelled. GET WITH IT!

MCCAIN 08! – live with it – McCain’s time is already up!

Top reasons to vote for McCain:
1. National Security.
2. Supports the ending of genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
3. Regularly has been visiting hurricane Katrina victims to grasp a true understanding how he can assist them
4. Tough as Nails
5. He is not an elitist, but rather a regular guy– one who served his country with honor
6. Protects the 2nd amendment
7. Will be visiting the Dali Lama Friday- as he supports the rights of Tibet
8. McCain supports alternative energy
9. He’s a maverick and thinks independly
10. McCain is NOT George Bush

Are we not sick of all these politicians who are eager to provide lip service to our men and women in the military but do little else. On their watch they let down our military by providing substandard care to the physically and psychologically wounded men and women. They seem more than eager to put our men and women in harms way for profit motives.

obama thinks there are 57 states.
Posted by: USA-No1 | Jul 25, 2008 12:55:52
AM
____________________
Obama knows there are not 57 states. he was referring to the number of primaries and caucuses he ran in. These included Puerto Rico, Guam, and other territories, etc.

USA-No1 – Senator Obama was speaking about 57 primaries not 57 states.
I have a list of 91 flip-flps of McCain’s, another list of his gaffs.
McCain does not do well on his own unless Liebermann is at his elbow or one of his staff to correct his mistakes.
I watched him on Tuesday at a town hall meeting and he read his speech word-for-word off the teleprompter. He blew his interview with CBS – TWICE!
Today I watched him at a news conference attended by reporters and he had to straighten his dentures during the interview.
And the there is his VIAGRA moment – cannot remember his own voting record.
McCain did not show up to vote on the GI BIll (which BTW he later claimed credit for even though he fought it tooth and nail ), the Medicare Bill (Ted Kennedy was there even though he was recovereing from brain surgery), the FARM bill, or FISA. Too chicken to get his vote on record?
It turns out that presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain has attended even fewer Afghanistan-related Senate hearings over the past two years than Obama’s one. Which is a nice way of saying, McCain, R-Ariz., the top Republican on the Senate Armed Service Committee, has attended zero of his committee’s six hearings on Afghanistan over the last two years.
The Nevada Republican Party decided Thursday not to reconvene its scuttled state convention this month, claiming it couldn’t generate enough interest to reach a legal quorum to elect delegates to the national convention in St. Paul, Minn.
I could go on, but you get the idea.

Obama is a JOKE.

SANDY, you’re full of crap. I’ve heard the “57 States” comment and he WAS NOT talking about primaries. Go drink the kool-aid, IT’S YOUR TIME!!!

God Bless America specially senator MCcain and help Him be ready because Obama is the us President and there is nothing He can do about it.

:ryan
You’re wrong. He made the comment on March 9, in the middle of the primary season.
And he meant to say 47 states: he hadnt been able to go to hawaii or alaska, and he had one state left to go. 50 minus 3 equals 47. Big deal.
What’s your point? You know that he is aware there are 50 states. Anything else is just disengenuous. Are you saying he can’t mispeak once?
Give me a break.

USA-N01: If elitism was the required qualification; your kind would be the first to voiced his disqualification, yet with lack of it…you charged him of been one.

Ryan – you are really on a roll – cannot maintain the temper because you are handed only garbage and do not bother to do research yourself? – Sorry but Senator Obama was talking about the 57 primaries and caucuses. And Obama supporters do not need off-handed kool-aid attacks – we are long past that kind of simple-mindedness. Besides, I prefer Pepsi myself.

Obama is campaigning for the title of “Commander-in-Chief” during War-Time . He could have took the Secret Service with him, and left the photographers, there is no justifiable excuse for not visiting our American Service members who have been wounded in a combat zone. Obama was right there. The lack of courage that he exercised while avoiding our Service members speaks volumes about his real character and judgment. I would think that his campaign supporter’s would have been proud of him. This was a bitter slap in the face to our “wounded warriors” and every other American Service member who puts their life on the line to protect America against enemies Foreign and Domestic. He should really be ashamed of this cowardly action. Don’t even try to say the Pentagon advised against this (I read the little qoute) , Obama has done exactly what he wanted to do this entire trip, he’s to arrogant to listen to anyone’s advise. Speak to a German crowd of Thousands with photo ops ? Or … go visit our “wounded warriors” ? Obama made his decision … Politics over People. McCain 2008

To McCain 08!:
So Bush is your guy, too, huh? Regular folks should run this country? So what should all the folks with high IQ’s and common sense do? Maybe if your regular-folk president would do something to stimulate technology and high paying jobs in this country us “intellectuals” would stay out of your politics, where evidentally you must have an IQ of 100 and make plenty of mistakes to be considered for office.
All we need is another 8-12 years of “regular” guys running the presidential office for America to finally, once and for all, lose its footing as the greatest nation on Earth. I can’t wait. Makes me proud to be an American…
GET A GRIP!!!

The U.S. president needs to either have a high degree of intelligence and a solid memory or must have the ability to persuade others.
McCain has neither.
Amusing anecdotes about McCain’s checkered flying history:

Let’s see now…The year was 1931…70 million Germans all cheered Adolph Hitler, in Berlin….And we know how well that turned out.

The military must always remain
apolitical. Military bases
cannot be used as political
arenas by candidates running
for national office.
The Pentagon conveyed that
message to the Obama campaign.
In response, BO did the proper
thing by canceling his visit
to the military hospital.

Europe can have him. We’ll even throw in the other America haters, Wright and Ayers.

Isabella 789:
Had Obama visited the troops during his campaign trail, against the wishes of the Pentagon, what would your feelings be then?

The Republican Party believes in the sanctity of life. Most of us believe that life begins at conception; therefore taking the life of the unborn is murder!
The Republican Party believes in the sanctity of marriage–between a man and a woman. I, personally, believe same sex couples should be allowed to have civil unions.
The Republican Party is for increasing our supply of domestic oil in order to end our dependence of OPEC oil. But we also believe we should develope alternative sources of energy, especially nuclear power.
The Republican Party believes in capitalism and the free market.
And the Republican Party believes in self-determination, personal responsiblity and the American Dream–every man and woman has the freedom which allows he or she to achieve success, fame and wealth through thrift and hard work.

What is witless about moving away from oil and extremism?
Well if you have a plan you’d better share it with Barry since he doesn’t have one. 300 advisors and they can’t come up with a coherent plan. No oil, no nukes, no coal. The country will have to run on hopes and dreams.

anon: (KevinB: It would be one of the few times that I agreed with Obama, and quit spinning the Pentagon angle – that’s BS !). This is a Politician running for the position of “Commander-in-Chief” during War-Time. Obama himself stated that this was a non-political – listening, and sharing of views tour. Since it is those in uniform making the ultimate sacrifice, I don’t think it would have been inappropriate for a United States Senator to visit wounded American Service Members in the hospital. [“The Pentagon conveyed that message”] – What exactly did the Pentagon say : “ Senator Obama, do not under any circumstances go visit the America Service Members who have been wounded”. Hello … He is an American Senator ! He was right there ! It is inexcusable to have not stopped in and briefly visited our American Wounded ! Appears to me that Obama’s supporter for our Troops is limited … to the lens of a camera. McCain 2008

Solutions -
Quit investing in oil production. Did you know ConocoPhilips just raked in over *eight billion dollars* in profit as gasoline prices have skyrocketed? The biggest quarterly profits every for ConocoPhilips!
Instead of such immense profits going to a single corporation, further investment into energy storage is a must. Solar and wind technology are currently capable of providing power beyond our consumption – the issue is storing that power.
A big start would be to upgrade our grids to allow citizens to “give back” the power that their solar and wind grids create. Some areas in California already implement this and you can earn energy credit by pumping energy into the grid during peak sunlight when your solar cells are most active.
And the production of this energy, as I said, is nearing maturity. Entrepreneurs in Israel have developed technology that can collect solar energy in cells magnitudes smaller than what most consider the typical solar panel.
Upgrading our power grids to allow citizens to contribute their own power and intensifying research on power storage would be a good combo start and would resolve a multitude of issues we currently face… or, in the case of many, choose to ignore.

Daisy…don’t even compare the coverage of McCain’s trip to Iraq or London to Obamassiah’s. The guy could have visited (without photographers) soldiers in Germany on his OWN FRIGGIN DOLLAR, IF HE WANTED TO….oh I forgot we have to pay for the 75 Secret Servicemen this guy has surrounding him at all times….his posse.
Shouldn’t have scheduled it and then cancelled it…..either way it doesn’t matter. Our servicemen know he doesn’t support them or relate to them…..80% of them will vote McCain in Nov….and Obama knows it….so visiting wounded soldiers won’t help him.
McCAIN ’08

I’ll leave the thread with this:
By pollsters, over 70% of this country has already made up its mind.
Here’s hoping that our country’s independents manage to stay above the fray and make rational voting decisions based on the things that affect their lives, rather than on feelings and emotions.

“We need a leader who lives in the present!
And is not afraid to vote PRESENT…over..and over again.

James:
The question is not if, but when we will pay $8/gallon in today’s dollars if we continue increasing oil consumption. I’m sad you only consider yourself in this equation and not those younger than you, because you’ll likely be dead when gas hits that price anyway. Concern for the environment (i.e. the future of the human race) is another issue you’re disregarding.
Also, your history is iffy – the original Bush enacted an executive ban on off shore oil drilling himself. I suppose that, had we drilled out those 4 years worth of oil back in the 70′s when the debate raged, maybe then we’d all be driving electric cars by now? I don’t entirely follow your logic of drilling 30 years ago being a solution to today’s problem.
Speaking of death, I agree that universal healthcare is a poor choice – only those that work should receive healthcare, and only the elderly and those under the age of, say, 14 should receive unconditional healthcare. Womb-to-teenager and Retired-to-tomb is the healthcare I believe in. I will be interested in hearing details of Obama’s plan to “fix” healthcare, on that note, at least it’s something he’s considering in his campaign.

”
If the visit to the military
hospital in Germany had been
scheduled as part of his
Congressional Delegation tour,
there would have been no
objection to it from the
Pentagon. But this part of
his trip in Germany was funded
by his own campaign.
His previous meetings with the
troops in Kuwait, Iraq and
Afghanistan took place as part
of his Congressional Delegation
tour paid for by the government.”
Pathetic excuses. He needs to man up for once in his life and take some responsibility for his actions. The silver-tongued lawyer bit has gotten real old.

Isn’t it funny that we only seem to care what the rest of the world thinks when we want it to help us fight our silly, ill-planned neo-con wars? Vote for McCain and get the same stupid crap that’s dragged our nation down for the past 8 years! Good lord, but I think it’s time a man of reason, like Obama, steered our nation rather than a dottering, old coot of privilege like McCain!

KevinB, you wrote: “…based on the things that affect their lives, rather than on feelings and emotions.” Right now the majority of Sen. Obama’s supporters ARE basing their support on their feelings and emotions. Just listen to or read their rhetoric. I can certainly understand why. Sen. Obama is an extremely charismatic and charming person to listen to; and he is very attractive and carries himself with grace and dignity. But most people have no clue as to the consequences that will be incurred by implementing his policies.

Obama could not have visited
the soldiers at the military
hospital no matter what some
think. Rules are rules. No
exceptions.
I don’t think Obama’s trip
was poorly planned. It was a
roaring success. Don’t expect
a campaign to be familiar
with every little rule,
restriction and technicality.

Funny not enough $$$ to visit our hospitalized military in Germany, BUT enough $$$$ to ask a German rock band, Reamonn to play before his big speech (and Reggae musician Patrice). These guys are slick…..200,000 turn out for a 2 minute Senator from Illinois and community organizer? I knew they got them there somehow….it’s just the MSM never covers this….just like in Oregon when he spoke to 70,000 (at a free concert)!
Why won’t the news media report all the facts?
I never heard it once today about this big concert Obama arranged to get the crowds. Reamonn’s myspace blog says “We’ve been asked to play before the speech from Barack Obama tomorrow in Berlin….” Now I get it. These guys are slick….marketing experts.
NEVER OBAMA!!!

Gee, it wasn’t a problem when they scheduled it initially, but they suddenly had pangs of conscience?
Some people will believe anything that comes from the mouth of whatever pied piper they are following.

and some worse than others CARLA!!!!!!

Jeff’s got it right. It’s always about Obama and he could have discretely stopped by to show gratitude, but everything with him had to be staged and on a grand scale for photo op….like the 200,000 he lured to his speech with free concert by German rock band Reamonn. This fact got absolutely no coverage today tho.
NEVER OBAMA!

I have read several outrageous posts of Obama’s action on this blog. It’s interesting that no one seems to know that the Bush administration have issued a warning to all American Embassies abroad, not to assist any presidential candidiate, a day before Obama travelled abroad on his visit. Meanwhile, McCain in all his trips abroad were assisted by the US embassies. Furthermore, McCain is back here spending the whole week heckling at Obama, just like most posts here.
In the past Obama has made discrete visits to Military bases and Hospitals inside the US and anytime he does that, the McCain camps hollers “it’s a political move”. My question to all these hecklers on this blog is simple: When will you guys stop heckling and do something for the McCain camp? All you do is find fault in Obama and heckle at every little thing he says or does. If you are that upset about the situation, join the McCain camp. and work hard to make it succeed…
It’s a free country and we are free to say whatever we want, but please get the facts clear first and then make constructive criticism. Is there anything Republicans will find good in a non-Republican? Natsomething good from Nazareth. Nathanael once asked phillip in the oldest book in the world: Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
Truth be told: Obama is not Jesus and will never be. He is as flawed as anyone of us. That’s why I am voting for him. I will be surprised
if he is so clean w/o issues. For those who wants a perfect president, look where the perfect candidates
McCain, Bush, Hillary, etc have taken us to – Home foreclosures, economy almost in a recession, a war in IRAQ that cost about $12billion a month, we are now in debt and borrowing money from China, etc. I strongly believe
we are the smartest nation on earth, but seems to me we lack the talent to choose a good leader – Pathetic

Obama couldn’t make time to thank our military in Germany….he was too busy rocking out to the band Reamonn and performer Patrice who they hired to play a free concert to the 200,000 that turned out. Just like in Oregon, when he spoke to his 70,000 crowd after a free concert. Great marketing tactics.
Too bad he’s never supported our troops and thank God they won’t be voting for him in Nov.
McCain ’08!

“What is supporting our troops?”
Don’t bother to ask Obama – he’s way too busy refusing to visit them to answer. Instead, he choose to do some sight-seeing, do a bball photo-op and sip very dry vodka martinis as America’s wounded troops lay waiting for his promised arrival. Hopefully the bands he hired to play the free concert and draw the Berlin crowd for him entertained him with some delightful drinking songs.

I saw on the news last night that the RNC has paid shills that go on website blogs like the ones at the end of news stories and try to overwhelm the website with neo-con rhetoric and noise. I wouldn’t be surprised if the shills on this site aren’t some sort of paid idiots like this. Tell me something cons: how come if 83 percent of the American people think the country is on the wrong track largely due to George W. Bush and if 74 percent of people say McCain is basically the same as Bush in all his policies and beliefs, then how can there be a roughly 47 percent Obama/41 percent McCain split among the electorate. If that many people don’t like Bush and think McCain is just like him, how can so many be for McCain? It doesn’t add up. I think these polls are skewed by the right-wing pushers who put them on the major mainstream media news. I don’t think McCain has as many people on board as their phony polls would make out to be since most think McCain represents the same failed policies as Bush. The numbers don’t square up. Somebody is lying through their teeth trying to trump up support for McForclosure/McSame.

“Obama HATES our wounded troops!”
We can’t say that – since Obama refused to keep his promised visit to America’s wounded we don’t know _what_ he would have expressed to them. Although his fear that the troops might express _something unpleasant regarding him_ was very likely what scared him off.

OK Schill: here’s a question for you. John McCain just got through saying that “Barak Obama would rather lose a war for our country in order to win a political campaign”. Now McCain turns around and says “it’s never inappropriate for someone to visit our troops.” McCain just got through calling Obama an unprinicipaled traitor.And now he wants him to visit the troops or else he is snubbing our troops. If McCain thinks he is a traitor, why does he want Obama to visit the troops? He had no regard for him the other day when calling him a traitor but suddenly he wants Obama to be his version of patriotic and go to the base at Landstuhl. And if Obama had gone, McCain would say Obama was only using it for a photo op to bolster his PR about being commander in chief material. So if Obama’s a traitor, why the noise about him not visiting the troops? And why doesn’t McCain visit every military base he is near when he goes to raise money? And why is the television full of John McCain’s slander when Obama is overseas on a right schedule and can’t even be here to defend himself? McCain is dirty, below the belt and unfair in his two-faced hypocrisy. NO, it is YOU who didn’t read the article. Obama is not allowed to have any reasons to change plans when he’s on an hectic whirlwind trip meeting foreign leaders, while McCain comes out of the back alley to throw knives while Obama can’t give it his full attention to deal with the aggressive, underhanded slander campaign that McCain is doing essentially stabbing Obama in the back when Obama can’t be here to face him and has to be different places on a busy timetable. I thought McCain was going to keep this campaign “respectful” : that’s what he said a while back. Now he darts out and accuses Obama of treason essentially while Obama’s hands are tied up on his trip overseas. That is very DISrespectful to do guerilla backstabbing when a person is helpless to take time to respond. You McCain people are DOWN and DIRTY.

HE PLANNED TO VISIT THE TROOPS!!!!. HE PLANNED TO VISIT THE TROOPS!!!. It was a scheduled part of his trip there. That tells me that he respects, honors and care for our troops. The visit was CANCELLED when the PENTAGON contacted him. After the speech on yesterday. In case some of you don’t know. Yes, he visited the hospitals and meet with wounded troops in Afgan and Iraq with NO PHOTOS and NO PRESS. The visit in Germany was to be the treated in the same respectful manner. The Pentagon knows that. Obama would have taken crap from this no matter what choice he made. Just image the flap he would be getting if he’d disregarded the request of the Pentagon. He’s arrogant, an elitist, won’t listen to commanders — yada yada yada — Andrea Mitchell on Morning Joe explained it this morning. I’m not going to tell you what she said, look it up.

“he visited the hospitals and meet with wounded troops in Afgan and Iraq with NO PHOTOS and NO PRESS.”
That’s correct and ao that explains why he refused to visit the wounded troops in Germnay – he learned that such visits generated no carefully planned photo-ops, so why bother?
It’s all found by Googling the phrase:
“Why Obama snubbed the troops: no photo op allowed”
Glad we got that fully answered, thanks for the confirmation.
Enjoy your day, folks!

He was not told that he couldn’t go, he was told he could only take two or three of his staff members but no media. The only photos that were going to be taken would be by military personnel. Without the media there really was no reason go go then.

Obama is making lame excuses for not attending.

McCain had every opportunity in the world to talk about specifics regarding his solutions for the gas situation, the economy, the MidEast with no back flap during Obama’s trip to Europe. Instead what we got was below the belt digs, double talk, and more whinning about why Obama gets more press. Someone needs to tell the old man that if he wants more press, he needs to say something more substansive than his cutting remarks about Obama. We are all tired of the smear campaigns. We had enough of that during the primaries. Let’s get on with it and talk turkey. Maybe then McCain will get the press he is craving.

hageeisahoggie, Sen. McCain NEVER called Sen. Obama a traitor. Sen. McCain was making the statement as a parody of his own feelings that he has stated numerous times: “I would rather lose an election than lose a war. My opponent would rather lose a war than a political campaign.”
Had we pulled out when the Democrats wanted us to (throughout 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and to this day); had we pulled out when Sen. Obama wanted us to (throughout 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and to this day), there is no question that doing so would have given al Qaeda bragging rights to a military victory. Public opinion has been for several years now to just pull the plug on the battle of Iraq and bring our men and women home regardless of any potential consequences. Sen. McCain was and IS saying that he believes so strongly that winning this war is more important, and more vital to our national interest, then winning an election. Handing a military victory to al Qaeda will only embolden them and make the fight against their jihad against the United States and the Civilized World even more difficult than it already is.
Now as for visiting our troops. Sen. McCain has a valid point. Regardless of what Sen. Obama’s views are of the war, as a member of the U. S. Senate Committe on Veteran’s Affairs, he should have taken the time to visit some of the wounded veterans. Our troops understand that Sen. Obama can’t see everyone. But to see none of the wounded troops in Germany is a slap in the face to all of our veterans. Sen. Obama not only would rather win the election than win the war, he would rather give a campaign speech to the world than spend even 30 minutes with a few of our wounded troops. That shows where Sen. Obama’s priority is. And that solidifies Sen. McCains comment even further. Sen. Obama IS more concerned about winning the election than even spending time cheering up a few veterans for whom Sen. Obama wants to be their Commander-in-Chief. For a man that is supposed to be so smart, he has just kissed away a lot of votes from veterans!

The entire trip was a campaign event. Obama doesn’t deserve to be our President.

What is even more Scandalous is that McCain did not support the New GI bill and other Military spending designed to help the veterans and their families.Obama supported this bill and it passed overwhelmingly, No thanks to McCain. Sen Obama has the support of all major Veteran organizations not McCain. Google it. I guess when McLame’s guru “Phil Gramm” stated that America is a nation of whiners, I truly think he was refering to McCain & the Reps!

Will the press EVER do its job and explain a situation? Here’s the deal: the trips to Afghanistan with Hagel and Reed were a congressional delegation; the trips to Berlin, Paris and London are not and as such are paid for by his campaign. Because the trip to visit troops in Germany would have been paid for with campaign funds, the Pentagon viewed it as a campaign event and strongly discouraged Obama from visiting the base. It’s taboo to use military bases and hospitals for campaign events. So, out of respect for that convention, Obama cancelled the visit. Period.

As opportunistic as Obama is (like using rock concerts to draw his crowd in Germany then sending out an email with the DONATE button attached)If he really thought visiting the troops would have benefited him, he would have. He doesn’t have the military’s support…that’s why he didn’t visit. No rock star smitten crowds there.

It just shows you one major flaw Obama has. He is a coward! He is probably afraid of the reception he would get from the soldiers. And if he was worried about it looking like a campaign event. DON’T LET THE PRESS COME WITH YOU!
When will the Obama robots see this phony for what he is? He is nothing but canned speeches about hope and change. He wouldn’t know an original idea if jumped up and bit him on the rear. He is afraid to go on Fox News Sunday because they might ask him a tough question. He is afraid to debate McCain in an open town debate. He is afraid to admit the bravery, sacrifice, courage and performance of our troops during the surge is what made it work. And he is afraid to admit he was wrong about the surge all along. He is afraid to do anything that is not carefully scripted.

It is extremely sad to see how many people are willing to follow McCain’s lead with his willingness to use the Troops in order to make a cheap political shot.
You all DISHONOR THE TROOPS, THIS COUNTRY and all AMERICANS!

All the “McBush” type comments reveal the image of an unhappy Sociology major sitting in a dark coffee house. Seriously, McCain is very “unBush” he has been a source of headaches for conservatives for years. A fact that is amply demonstrated by Democrats holding him up in the past as a “principled Republican”. Of course this was before he became our parties nominee. Of the two running for President, only one person has any record of stepping into the aisle to get things done…that’s John McCain.

Boy, that’s strange. I think I’ve noticed a pattern here. The McCain campaign criticized Obama for not going overseas, then they criticized him for going overseas. They also criticized his visit to the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and now they’re criticizing him for not visiting troops in Germany.
Its almost as if they were planning to criticize him no matter what he did!
Good job, Jake Tapper, for continuing to bring these important events to our attention!

Lets see Obama does not visit the troops in Iraq, just a handfull for meidia pis, does not see them in Afghanstan, He states before he leaves that this is NOT a Campaign visit but a Fact finding visit
But then all he does is campaign!!
He could of went and visited the troops without his employees from the media and just talked to them, but then again for him to give credit to our troops was like pulling teeth!!
All this trip was for was a publicity stunt!!
Anybody but Obama for President 08′

John McCain
Pro Life
Pro Military
Love of the “USA”

“Once the Pentagon got involved, Obama had to follow their “orders” or his good would be spun. ”
Wrong.
Here is the Pentagon’s official statement.
“The Pentagon in a statement cited longstanding Defense Department policy that prohibits military personnel or facilities from association with partisan political campaigns and elections.
“We told him he could visit Landstuhl (Regional Medical Center in western Germany) with his Senate staff, but not with his campaign staff,” said Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Hibner.”
Here is Obama’s Campaign’s version
“”The decision that Senator Obama made with that information was that we would not have our wounded warriors put in that position of being involved in a campaign stop,” the spokesman, Robert Gibbs said.”
Looks like Obama does what he does best, “misspoke (lied)”.

What many of you are failing to understand is this: The Pentagon was going to view the visit as originally scheduled as a campaign event. Military installations are not allowed to be used as campaign events. Therefore if Obama wanted to visit he would have to do so as a Senator. Which also would mean no campaign airplane landing at the base. These last minute changes made it logistically impossible to go on with the visit. Obama did meet with wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why couldn’t Obama have visited the troops with a minimum of staff and no media coverage…you know, to actually thank the troops without trying to reap any political benefit to himself? Would that have been so hard?

Forget all the reteric.THANKS to Obama,McCain WINS!!! THANKS to Kerry and Gore Bush WON.These Libs will never learn. “THANK GOD”

Obama caught lying again. The military told him he could visit with his Senate staff-not his campaign staff and media entourage. He decided if he couldn’t make a media spectacle out of it he wasn’t going to see the troops. Now this is pathetic. Anyone voting for this fool needs their head examined.

McCain practiced two “unscripted” speaches. One to slam Obama if he went to visit the troops as part of a campaign stop and one to slam Obama if he didn’t go to visit the troops. Luckily, McCain remembered the right speach this time. Can McCain do anything other than whine about Obama. Maybe Phil Gramm was talking about McCain when he called us a nation of whiners.

tamdar wrote
“It was the Senator who decided that leaving the campaign staff behind was less acceptable than visiting wounded US troops – with his Senate staff!”
Tamdar, we keep splitting hairs over this non issue. How about talking about Mc Cain’s oil rig cancellation due to 400,000 gallons of oil spilled along 29 miles of the Mississippi? Is this of less concern than Obama’s inability to make his planned military hospital visit? He had already visited one military hospital in Baghdad. Let’s get real. Cancellations are not part of a nefarious plot. Things happen!! Enough of this ugly gottcha politics on both sides.
Greg Sargent at Election Central reported the following on 7/25:
“The Pentagon did in fact tell Obama that in this case, it was not only “inappropriate,” but against DOD rules, for him to conduct the visit with campaign staff.
“We have longstanding Department of Defense policy in regards to political campaigns and elections,” Pentagon spokesperson Elizabeth Hibner told me. “We informed the Obama staff that he was more than welcome to visit as Senator Obama, with Senate staff. However, he could not conduct the visit with campaign staff.”
It’s unclear how Obama could have made the visit at all, given the Pentagon’s last-minute directives. NO SENATE STAFF WERE ON THE TRIP, and the Obama camp says they received the Pentagon’s directives on Wednesday, after they (staff) were already abroad and out of Germany.”

Elitist, just keep spreading the half-truth! Sen. McCain did not support the GI-Bill that passed because he co-sponsored another GI-Bill that never came up for a vote. Sen. Obama is such a supporter of veterans that he snubbed the wounded veterans while in Germany yesterday. Now he may have lost most of the veterans’ support that he once had because of that!

Robin, The NYTimes refused to publish McCain’s OpEd. He didn’t refuse to provide one. Better check with Batman next time.

The tide is turning against Obama and rightly so. He wants to be CIC but won’t even deign to visit our troops unless it’s a Kodak moment for his campaign. Then he tries to spin it as some high and mighty “I didn’t think it was appropriate blah,blah,blah”.
Shunning the troops=Obama’s macaca moment. Good riddance! If Europe wants him, they can keep him!

how many of you go to veterans hospitals and thank them for their service to our country? ahhh maybe less than 1% of you? and yet the thought of someone else not doing that disgusts you. I love my America and hope Obama can bring us back to the glory we once had on the world stage. Mccain could never draw half such a crowd like we saw Obama bring in Berlin. The world wants to love us again and I have to admit it felt good to see people from Europe cheering for Obama and the hope for a brighter future that can come from an America with better international ties with countries other than a reluctant Britain(and rightly so). Britain’s like an old friend that’s always been there through thick and thin and yet lately can’t believe what we’re up to but follows along based on all the good we’ve done in the past, but I feel that’s wearing too thin as well….

Bill, the news media is reporting that the visit to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center was “cancelled.” That implies that it was scheduled before hand. It’s one thing to not schedule the visit. It is quite another to cancel a scheduled visit. IF in fact it was officially scheduled (as opposed to an internal “hope-to-do”) you have to believe that the veterans at the medical center were probably notified of the visit. So they would have been expecting the visit. IF THAT is also true, then the last minute cancellation IS a perceived, if not an actual, SNUB. Furthermore, the fact that Sen. Obama is on the U. S. Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs makes that snub even worse.

I see Obama bought more cheese to go with his whine.

The Republican spin on Obama’s visit is sad. They dared him to go to Iraq-counted the days since he was there- said he couldn’t handle the world stage. Obama went and has been a huge success. McCain went overseas earlier this year – but no one even remembers. So now the Republicans critize Obama for playing to big crowds of foreigners. Obama offered to visit the wounded soldiers in Germany but was waived off by the Pentagon, told they were sensitive to it being a campaign event. So Obama cancels rather than being accused of using our wounded soldiers as campaign props. Now he’s critized for not doing the visit. We really have to just ignore this nonsense. Obama’s done extremely well under great pressure. We’ll be proud to have him represent us to the world.

I’ve scrolled through and read virtually all of these comments. I’ve concluded that almost no one is willing to be intellectually honest enough to look at FACTS, analyze them and use their judgement. The complete and utter determination of each side to convince the other why their candidate is better is sad. No one seems to want to actually engage in a constructive debate and analysis.
Democrats/liberals all want to use the DNC talking points, i.e., McCain = more of the Bush policies. Republicans/conservatives want to demonstrate why Obama is not really the stateman the media would have you believe. The TRUTH lies somewhere in between. McCain DOE NOT equal Bush, it’s a simple way to try to attach Bushes pitiful performance to someone who stands for many things different than Bush. Obama has great poise and is eloquent — and very intelligent. Does he have the experience and judgement – we’ll not know until and unless he’s elected.
90% of you making comments here are wasting your time trying to convice the others of your position — it isn’t going to happen so go talk to those who share your beliefs rather than looking like fools with your petty and inaccurate arguments!

Typical, typical, typical Obama true form. If it won’t serve his purpose or help him get elected than it is not on his agenda. He is like a spoiled little child. The rest of the universe has to revolve around him. He should grow up! I am a disillusioned Democrat voting for McCain in November! Obama is the worst thing that ever happened to the Democratic party this year.

When all is said and done, McWhiner is the best campaigner that Obama could ever have on his staff. Keep up the good work McWhiner. Oh by the way, kudos to the brilliant McWhiner staffer that encouraged him NOT to attend the Unity Conference where he would have had a lot of media coverage as it was a conference of ‘journalist’? Talk about bad judgment? I believe it is McWhiner who…say it with me now…just doesn’t understand.