Obama Frames Iraq Plan
Americans Divided Between His Approach and McCain's
July 14, 2008— -- As he gears up for his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan some time later this month, Barack Obama will outline his strategy for bringing the war in Iraq to an end, finishing the fight in Afghanistan and will frame the larger global strategic interests of the United States, per his campaign.
The rollout started with a New York Times editorial today and continues Tuesday with a speech at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC which his campaign is deeming a "major policy address on Iraq and national security."
Per ABC News' Sunlen Miller, Obama will contrast his positions on national security with those of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and will emphasize his opposition to the war in Iraq. Expect Obama to reiterate what he said in today's New York Times editorial, and a key point the campaign wants to get across -- "As I have often said, I would consult with commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government to ensure that our troops were redeployed safely, and our interests protected."
New ABC News/Washington Post poll
As Obama emphasizes his plans for the war in Iraq, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that Americans are divided evenly between his and McCain's approaches to the war in Iraq, while McCain gets higher ratings on his abilities as commander-in-chief, ABC News Polling Director Gary Langer reports.
From Langer:
"Despite broad, longstanding dissatisfaction with the war, just 50 percent of Americans prefer Obama's plan to withdraw most U.S. forces within 16 months of taking office. Essentially as many, 49 percent, side with McCain's position – setting no timetable and letting events dictate when troops are withdrawn."
"The public's dissatisfaction with the war, furthermore, has not translated into a clear preference on what to do about it. In previous ABC/Post polls there's been no significant demand for immediate withdrawal, given concern about what might follow – a result buttressed by the split in this survey even on whether or not to establish a timetable."
McCain hit back today in a media avail saying that Obama was wrong for not supporting the surge and questioning the policy and wrong now.
"[Obama] said that the surge couldn't succeed. He said he opposed the increase in troops. The surge has succeeded. We were losing when we put the 30,000 additional troops in with a new strategy. He said it would fail and he still refuses to acknowledge that it is succeeding," McCain said.
McCain added, "Senator Obama was wrong when he said it wouldn't succeed. He was wrong when he said we've lost the war, and he is wrong today when he says that Iraq is not the central battleground. That's what General Petraeus says and that's what Osama bin Laden says, that Iraq is the central battleground. We are winning there and his proposals would jeopardize the fragility of the success we've achieved. And his refusal to acknowledge that success is remarkable."
NAACP convention
Tonight Obama speaks to the NAACP convention, an appearance that is certainly going to be met with an enthusiastic welcome for the presumptive Democratic nominee. With last week's brouhaha over the comments of Rev. Jesse Jackson still fresh in people's minds, Obama will talk about collective responsibility at tonight's event in Cincinnati, but will not shy away from addressing his critics who say he has been too tough when speaking to African-American audiences.
In prepared remarks released by the campaign, it looks like Obama will give a little bit of something for everyone – personal responsibility for those who approve of his semi-tough love talk to African-American audiences and a focus on economic issues facing African-Americans, which is what Jackson said last week he wanted Obama to stress on the campaign trail.
"Now, I know some say I've been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff," Obama will say. "I believe that in the end, it doesn't matter how much money we invest in our communities, or how many 10-point plans we propose, or how many government programs we launch -- none of it will make any difference if we don't seize more responsibility in our own lives."
Speaking in Ohio, Obama will contrast serious responsibilities shouldered by past generations -- "whose shoulders I stand on here today" -- with those responsibilities he says must be taken up today for future generations.
"We have to change this country for them. We have to leave them a planet that's cleaner, a nation that's safer, and a world that's more equal and more just," Obama says.
McCain addresses the NAACP convention on Wednesday.
On the congressional campaign trail. . .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has purchased ad time in Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District targeting Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, the Republican challenger who is looking to unseat Rep. Paul Kanjorski. It begins running on Scranton-area stations on Tuesday and is scheduled to stay up for several weeks.
This is the first ad of the general election cycle from the DCCC, which already has reserved advertising time in 31 congressional districts at the cost of about $35 million. Those buys are scheduled to begin between early September and early October and run through Election Day.
On the campaign front. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 12:00 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Albuquerque, NM.
-- 5:00 pm ET: Attends fundraising event, St. Louis, MI.
BARACK OBAMA
-- 10:45 am ET: Speaks on foreign policy regarding Iraq and national security, Washington, DC.
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 1:05 pm ET: Participates in a photo opportunity with recipients of the 2008 MATHCOUNTS National Competition Award, White House.
SECRETARY OF STATE RICE
-- 7:00 pm ET: Speaks at the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign's ceremony in honor of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Washington, DC.
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