Thanks for Nothin’, Joe!
EmailSen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his allies have been hitting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, for not holding any hearings to examine the role of NATO in Afghanistan in his perch as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs.
"He’s never had a hearing," McCain said Tuesday, "so I am not surprised that all he has done is said, ‘Well, we need more troops.’"
In a letter to Obama earlier this week, McCain-backing Sen. Jim DeMint R- SC, wrote, “With oversight of NATO relations and its role in Afghanistan, I believe it is time for us to focus closely on these issues,” DeMint wrote, suggesting a meeting of the subcommittee upon Obama’s return from a much anticipated trip abroad.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Del., had previously told Meet the Press that "the reason Obama didn’t hold a hearing on NATO, I chair the committee. Every one of those committee hearings are held at full committee."
But today Biden decided to take his defense of Obama one step further, writing to DeMint that there have been plenty of hearings on European Affairs, they’ve just been held at the "full committee level."
"On the particular issue of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan," Biden wrote, "We have held three Full Committee hearings in the last 22 months: one under Senator Lugar’s chairmanship (September 21, 2006: “From Coalition to ISAF Command in Afghanistan: The Purpose and Impact of the Transition”), and two undermine (March 8, 2007: “Afghanistan: Time for a New Strategy?” and January 21, 2008: “Afghanistan: A Plan to Turn the Tide?”). At all three of these hearings, we were fortunate enough to have the expert testimony—in addition to other witnesses, both in and out of government— of former NATO commander and Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, Gen. James R. Jones (USMC, ret.)."
But Biden’s letter brought attention to the fact that Obama did not attend two of those three hearings — and for the third, on March 8, 2007, Obama only asked one question, one unrelated to Afghanistan.
How do I know the latter fact? From an August 2007 press release from Biden himself, when he was running for president.
"BIDEN CAMPAIGN CONGRATULATES SEN. OBAMA FOR JOHNNY-COME-LATELY POSITION," it read. Noting that at the March 2007 hearing, "Sen. Obama asked one question that was unrelated to Taliban or Afghanistan."
Thanks, Joe!
Also interesting: eagle-eyed ABC News Senate reporter Z. Byron Wolf notes that Sen. DeMint — the gentleman complaining on behalf of the McCain campaign that there haven’t been enough hearings on NATO and Afghanistan — missed both relevant Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings — in March 2007 and January 2008 — during which he was a membert of the committee.
And Biden himself missed that first hearing of the three he mentions, in September 2006.
- jpt
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
ouch
Posted by: katmandu | July 17, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
A letter from Joe during primaries elections does not mean a lot, the competition is over and Joe has to tell the true now, so let us make a difference between a candidate running and a post primary senator.
Posted by: BKMC | July 17, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
This is my biggest remaining hurdle with Obama. No experience, no experience, no experience. A measly two uneventful years in the U.S. Senate. He had power — why didn’t he use what he had to make the changes he talks about now? He is leapfrogging the political food chain like nothing we’ve ever seen. We just don’t know really who he is or what he will do. Remember Bush passing himself off as a “compassionate conservative”, saying he would surround himself with his father’s advisers and other smart folk. Campaigning Bush said our military forces were stretched too thin all over the world. Bush was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. There’s definitely a risk involved here with Obama.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | July 17, 2008, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
When are people going to wake up and realize Obama knows NOTHING! He is all talk arrogance and ego. We are all still reeling from Bush and his if you are not with us you’re against us. We do not need Obama’s group if you are not for Obama you’re a racist. Be careful of change we saw what it meant to Bush. I am also very wary of people who follow the party blindly and do not look at the canidate. Obama has spent his entire time in the senate running for president.
Posted by: maryintampa | July 17, 2008, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
A note to BKMC
What truth are you talking about? Either Obama was there or he was not. Easily checked. Keep following that party blindly!
Posted by: maryintampa | July 17, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
“He is all talk arrogance and ego.”
And a ship-load of money and mobsters.
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 17, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Obama has branded himself and been marketed wondrously. But I think it is safe to say as others have that he has spent his entire (brief) time in the Senate running for president. I believe he is right on the issues and better than the alternatives, but there is a real risk. If I were making a hiring decision I don’t know if I would want to gamble my company’s future on him.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | July 17, 2008, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
Obama is becoming the gift that just giving and giving but we do not like his gifts.
Posted by: William Moore Plano Texas | July 17, 2008, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
bkmc ,you mean now biden has to drink the koolaid dont ya.
Posted by: don tufts | July 17, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
MCCAIN YOU HAVENT EVEN BEEN IN THE SENATE TO DO ANY VOTES YOU OLD MAN!
Posted by: angie | July 17, 2008, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
He felt so strongly about wanting to champion these causes that he ran for president. But we see no evidence that he has a track record of championing these causes previously. It’s very odd to say the least.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | July 17, 2008, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
yea macs doing real bad,according to rassmussen they are dead tied even.yea in a year when we should be up by 15 or twenty points.
Posted by: don tufts | July 17, 2008, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
Obama missed 2 out of 3 meetings, How many votes and Key votes did mcSame missed or did not vote on? Such as the farm Bill, The New GI BILL, FISA and a host of others. Scutinize both Candidates thouroughly, in particular their policies and goals. I am happy that ABC is beginning to report on the gaffs and mispeaks of McSame and colleagues with although not quite 50-50.
I loved the ABC video from Jan 08, where
Mitt Romney stated what the result in November will be. I think I’ll make another donation.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!
Obama 08
Posted by: James | July 17, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
Obama admitted in the debates – after claiming to have foreign policy experience because he serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee with Hillary – that indeed it was a sub-committee and that, even though he chaired that committee, he hadn’t been able to call a meeting because after being appointed to it he immediately began his presidential campaign.
So who are we supposed to believe?
I almost feel sorry for these Democrats that have to cover Obama’s tracks, often making themselves look inept rather than him.
Posted by: HoosierSue | July 17, 2008, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Thanks Jake for letting us know the truth!
Posted by: 30yrdem-not any more | July 17, 2008, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
and mccain has not been seen in the senate since he started running for the presidency, where is the report on that?
Posted by: johnosahon | July 17, 2008, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
When was the last time that John McCain voted on a Senate bill? What percentage of Senate votes has McCain missed since beginning his campaign for the presidency (around 70%+ last I was aware)? Since he’s changed his policy toward Afghanistan this past Tuesday, has he determined where the additional troops that he would deploy to that country would come from (since he apparently has no plans to reduce the troop depolyments in Iraq beyond those added for the “surge”)? Just wondering.
Posted by: mary | July 17, 2008, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
I, as a Dem will vote for McCain before I’d ever vote for the inexperienced “I’ll say or do anything” flip flopper that Obama is.
Posted by: Yo | July 17, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
I, as a Dem, will vote for McCain before I’d ever vote for the “I’ll say anything or do anything” to win this election Obama.
Posted by: Yo | July 17, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Nat Turner
Did you miss the article that even with his 52 million he is still behind McCain and the RNC? Just wondered.
Posted by: maryintampa | July 17, 2008, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
“he has done is said, ‘Well, we need more troops.’” , isn’t that what McCain is saying also. Does this mean McCain is criticizing his own talking points or is he confused again?
Posted by: JR | July 17, 2008, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
hopesprings52 wrote:
“…YOU OLD MAN!”
Is this really necessary? Does it make you feel better? Do you realize one day you will be older? Karma has a funny way of coming around least when you expect it.
The stereotyping and prejudicial attitudes in this campaign season are deeply troubling.
Posted by: Lee12 | July 17, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
maryintampa | Jul 17, 2008 2:54:30 PM
keep on living in FANTASY LAND, just like hillary did not know what hit her (she was busy hoping on big states instead of ALL-50-STATES and looking at VOTES as opposed to POINTS) you and mccain are looking for general polls when what matters in STATE-BY-STATES polls, have you checked that lately Obama is 312-293 (270 to WIN) electoral points while mccain is no where to be found.
Posted by: johnosahon | July 17, 2008, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
“They know McCan’t doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in a dry sauna of becoming POTUS.”
That’s why they’re not really going to NOMINATE McCain. Try to grow a brain.
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 17, 2008, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
dean,
boy (nephew)home fron 2nd tour in Iraq says he & most of platoon are for Obama, has smarter agenda on war on terror
Posted by: watching | July 17, 2008, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
Obama lived in another country as a child and I will vote for him because of that. All you haters out there just don’t understand him, he is like a spirit gift from another world. Embrace him. he is beyond us, he will change us with the light from his eyes.
Obama 2008 – forever!!!
Posted by: Larry | July 17, 2008, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
I guess B O’s followers relish the idea of a leader whose chant is “change” and whose methodology is
avoiding all responsibility by absenting himself from any involvement.
I don’t quite agree with this psuedo-philosophy…… so I’ll just have to vote for:
HILLARY OR MCCAIN
but always taking into consideration:
*****COUNTRY OVER PARTY******
Posted by: between the ears | July 17, 2008, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Mccain maybe you can bother to show up to the senate sometime this year?
maybe even cast a vote for… i dont know a new GI bill… oh wait that was done..
oh maybe a fisa… wait nope done
farm… done
god is anything important to show up for senator?
oh the running for president thing… right, i see that takes a lot of time…
oh but you think obama should be holding these committee meetings?
well at least hes still showing up to vote in the senate
Posted by: bhrandon | July 17, 2008, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
No you are wrong Nat,
Obama will be in the Whitehouse forever. Once he is in, we will make it so. We have found our next step to a more enlightened world, the bridge to cross the divide, and it is him. Only he can enlighten us and bring us up from despair. This country and world will never be the same. Thanks be to him.
Obama 2008 – forever!
Posted by: Larry | July 17, 2008, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
Why doesn’t some one hold a hearing to decide charges against McCain’s financial advisor ex Sen Graham?
He’s now a VP with USB bank – these guys lied to the US govt about helping the wealthy steal tax money from the US.
This guy is WORSE the the Keating 5!
Posted by: DAVID NH | July 17, 2008, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
Talk about having no experience…. what experience will McCain give to you??? He has been there for 30 years and look at were we are… the statement that Obama has no experience makes me mad… I will give Obama, who has no experience according to most McCain people, then to vote McCain in and have the same crap I want out of.
Posted by: becky | July 17, 2008, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
Yes rrr,
you are unavoidably correct! Obama is truly the wind beneath our wings. I have a poster of the original Obama Rolling Stone cover (the 1st one with Obama) on my front door. It is amazing how many people comment to me about it. A few times I had to replace it since people liked it so much they took it. I have ordered copies of the second Obama Rolling Stone cover (I can’t decide which I like better! The second one shows his coy side, playful yet modest). He is perfect in every way. He will no doubt cause countries like Iran to denounce their pursuit of any harmful nuclear weapons, due to his message of hope. He isn’t like other politicians – he will deliver us from them!
Obama 2008 – forever!
Posted by: Larry | July 17, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
“He will give us all things if only we believe, big houses, crow and mustard, all to the faithful. I close my eyes and dream of his goodness and change!”
Dream on, and pay protection — oops: “make a donation”.
Just don’t let the Democratic “leadership” nominate this fraud (and if they do, and if there’s actually an election — maybe The One has an as-yet-unrevealed plan to end-run not only the Democratic Convention, but the so-called “election” — vote for ANYbody else).
The bait-and-switch “democratic” seizure of state power didn’t work out well in Europe in the 1930s, either. But they’re STILL trying.
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 17, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
RUT ROH
Posted by: Jill L | July 17, 2008, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
My friends,
The Silly Season Express needs a total overhaul…..How can I win?
I don’t have any support from true conservatives, women or National Labor organizations………
I can’t speak without a teleprompter and/or someone whispering in my ear….
I tried flip flops and the DU-Pod, but I couldn’t figure out how to hook em up together…..
Now, I’m being outraised 2-1.
My friends, I’m hurtin. Hurtin bad….Even I know I don’t have a porkchop’s chance in a piranha tank of becoming POTUS.
I’m this close to going Federally Postal…………
Well, it’s not about winning, just as long as you get to play the game, right???
Is that a good spin on how dismal things are for me?
John McCan’t
Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Lee 12-
I never wrote “You Old Man”. That was someone else named “Angie”.
African-American, or whatever age, all I’m interested in is who can be the best president, up to the task of leading the country through one of the most challenging times in its history.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | July 17, 2008, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
“He is perfect in every way.”
Except for the way his tiny little painted-on eyes roll around.
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 17, 2008, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Remember, Obama came from chicago, the most corupt political machine in the country. He has aligned himself with radical people, he is eletist, just like his wife, he is more liberal the Hillary, I would vote for Hillary, but I will never ever vote for Obama.
Posted by: W. Orrin Eldred | July 17, 2008, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
“Obama came from chicago, the most corupt political machine in the country.”
And now he’s hijacked the DNC there.
Ain’t democracy grand.
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 17, 2008, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
‘MCCAIN YOU HAVENT EVEN BEEN IN THE SENATE TO DO ANY VOTES YOU OLD MAN!
Posted by: angie | Jul 17, 2008 2:49:35 PM
——————–
and where oh where has Obama been?
not only is his attendance equally shy… he couldn’t even take time away from his heavy campaigning to celebrate Martin Luther King Day….. though the other candidates did.
Then again…. Martin Luther King’s dream must take 2nd place to B O’s
glossier, shinier gleam dream…
Not in My book!!!!!
Posted by: curious | July 17, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
“he is more liberal [than] Hillary”
Possibly by blabla, but not by his voting record. And he can’t hold a “liberal” position for ten minutes NOW, while he’s trying to sew up the nomination.
How many MORE of his pretty promises/platforms/positions would The One “change” if he WERE to become the nominee of the “Democratic” Party??
This “post-partisan” placeholder is NOT “liberal”. If he WERE, he wouldn’t have voted for FISA . . .
That Obama was run by Ayers and Dohrn early on in Chicago isn’t exactly a sign of “radical” thought — Ayers and Dohrn talked a good game, but are about the only Weathermen who got a pass from the polizei — which is suggestive of deeper Chicago doo-doo than is presently discussed.
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 17, 2008, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
Someone please buy Joe Biden a clue – Second Request
Remember yesterdays gaffe-filled diatribe by Obama surrogate Joe Biden regarding Middle East issues? Well, Bidens at it again today, and it has only gotten worse. In response to the letter Senator Jim DeMint, a McCain surrogate, sent to…
Posted by: Sister Toldjah | July 17, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Who needs experience anyway? When he needed to pad his resume in the State Senate, they propped him up with bills that other people were fighting for long before, and in one year he got the credit: instant experience! Weeehh!
Oh, but he’s so inspirational, so transformative, that’s what we need, a President that ‘inspires’ us, because we need to find inspiration somewhere to go on with our lives…
Posted by: Savant | July 17, 2008, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
The truth always surfaces! I really don’t know how Joe can respect Obama after he called him a racist during the primaries! I guess the new slogan for the Dems is “Party before Country”.
Posted by: Beckie | July 17, 2008, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
STOP ATTACKING MCCAIN BECAUSE OF HIS OLD AGE!! SO ITS OKAY TO BE AGEIST WHEN YOU SAME HYPOCRITES FLIP OUT AT ANYTHING THAT CAN BE TWISTED AS POSSIBLY RACIST. YOU PEOPLE ARE BRAIN WASHED BY THE 90% LIBERAL MEDIA AND ANTI-AMERICAN MARXIST PROFESSORS WHO THINK THEY ARE INTELLECTUAL BECAUSE THE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LATTE AND CAPPUCCINNO.
Posted by: jessica | July 17, 2008, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
The Democratic Party should change the Donkey for a Parrot Then every morning the Parrot in Chief will utter the holy talking points to the rest of the desperate wainting masses. Amen
Posted by: Mfb | July 17, 2008, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
“The truth always surfaces! I really don’t know how Joe can respect Obama after he called him a racist during the primaries! I guess the new slogan for the Dems is ‘Party before Country’.
Posted by: Beckie | Jul 17, 2008 8:16:01 PM”
Hey Beckie,
Was wondering if you could supply a source for that claim there because I follow the news fairly closely and I don’t recall that one. Thanks!
Posted by: phi | July 17, 2008, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
I had heard some think Obama is a messiah, some of these comments here are scary:
1-”Obama is truly the wind beneath our wings.” (there is a hymm w/ that phrase-On eagles wings)
2-he will deliver us from them! (like deliver us from evil?)
No wonder people are flying to the denver group!
Posted by: rrow | July 17, 2008, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
Oh come on!
Biden was competing against Obama at the time. All Presidential wannabes try to bring down their competition.
That was then. Now Biden is doing all that he can to help get Obama elected.
Posted by: jillian | July 18, 2008, 3:17 am 3:17 am
Nat Turner seems to think there are teleprompters at townhalls. If there were, Obama would be attending them. Can’t wait till he gives the Fahrvergnügen speech at Brandenburg Gate, though.
Posted by: barrycuda | July 18, 2008, 7:39 am 7:39 am
McCain with a democratic congress — that is what we need — the perfect balance for our time. Obama and a democratic congress will take this country down an extreme liberal path which will be hard to recover from. No OBAMA, NO WAY!
Posted by: newtrina | July 18, 2008, 7:52 am 7:52 am
phi, remember when Biden praised him on being a good orator: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy … I mean, that’s a storybook, man.” Obama’s surrogates (I stand corrected – it was not Obama himself) played the race card, causing Joe to try to explain what he meant, and likely ending his presidential aspirations. I don’t remember Obama standing up for Biden (a Dem like himself), which he should and could have…
Posted by: Beckie | July 18, 2008, 10:59 am 10:59 am