McCain rips Obama on cancelled troop visit
The John McCain and Barack Obama campaigns continued their back-and-forth today over Obama's cancelled visit to wounded soldiers in Germany.
Obama said he did not want to bring presidential politics to hospital bedsides, and his campaign said the Pentagon also was concerned about a campaign visit. But military officials said he could have visited as a senator without campaign officials, as he did in Iraq, and Republicans have been piling on incessantly.
This afternoon, McCain's campaign issued a statement from retired Lt. Colonel Joe Repya, a 30-year veteran of Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars.
"The most solemn duty of a commander in chief is to fulfill his responsibility to the men and women who serve this country in uniform," Repya said. "Barack Obama had scheduled a visit with wounded American troops who have served with honor and distinction in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he broke that commitment, instead flitting from one European capital to the next. Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington. For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn't be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes."
Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor replied in a statement: "As Senator Obama said today, the last thing he wanted was to have injured soldiers get pulled into the back-and-forth of a political campaign. That's why we imagine Senator McCain would be surprised that his campaign released this wildly inappropriate accusation that politicizes the issue. Senator Obama and Senator McCain share the belief that we must do everything we can to honor and support our troops, which is why Senator Obama has met with our men and women in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan this week and visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed numerous times."



I AGREE WITH OBAMA MCCAIN NEEDS TO STOP COMPLAINING AND STOP DEFINING EVERY WORD OBAMA SPEAKS IN A NEGATIVE WAY
The merits of a hospital visit aside, it is a sad commentary indeed, that such a big deal is being made. Personally, I would have made the visit, but I understand Senator Obama's reason for not doing so. For Senator McCain to have made such a big deal demonstrates a lack of confidence with the actual issues.
McCain wants it both ways, visit the wounded soldiers and its a political ploy, do not visit and you are not fit to be Commander n Chief. John
McCain was once a respected leader is now in the category of George Bush saying one thing and doing the opposite. The republicans and the Bush administration cut funding for troop armor, substituted cheap metal in Humvee s and let horrible conditions go on a Walter Reed. They do not even give the dead soldiers a ceremony when arriving back home. Shame on these two faced lying republicans. The American public was stupid enough to get fool by such tactics twice by Bush and his cronies, three times will be the death nell for our nation.
I like McCain's ideas but I don't trust him and am annoyed by his desperate mud-slinging.
Good lord McCain! Stop the negative crap already! Do you know why many of us conservatives are voting for Obama? It's because you come off as worse than the liberals in the areas we hate most about them: whining, complaining and blaming!
If you want to win over conservatives, you have to use the old fashioned approach: show some leadership, make us all proud to work together to solve our problems and inspire us with a vision we can believe in. That's the conservative way and that's why Obama is going to win.
Do we really need a president who cries and whines like McCain does?
Fighting words coming from McCain's camp - - McCain having voted against the increased GI bill, and just voted to limit medical help to only veterans injured in battle, whereas since the 1930's any injuries suffered while serving under the US flag have been included.
Haven't we heard enough of McCain's tantrums and whining about Barack Obama's trip? For god's sak, McCain taunted Obama and said that unless he went to Iraq he was no good. Then when Obama went to Iraq and Prime Minister Maliki agreed with Obama, ever since McCain has been bitter and jealous and looking for trouble.
Grow up, John McCain, and start behaving like a presidential candidate and not a spoiled little boy, or a grumpy old man, looking for a fight. Get back in the cheese dept, because your behavior is definitely cheesy!!
It is becoming tiring listening to an old mans constant complaints while he sits around doing nothing.
The Pentagon informed Obama that they would not allow press coverage if he visited the hospital in Germany simply because it would not sit well with their war efforts seeing traumatic injuries on American soldiers. It would have a negative effect similar to have the casualty list published during an election year.
McCain should know this is true yet he takes advantage of every situation turning them around and creating unnecessary problems instead of keeping his mouth shut.
My god, how desperate is the McCain cult here to accuse Obama of avoiding some bizarre notion of presidential, commander-in-chief duty by canceling a scheduled visit to wounded American soldiers. It was the Pentagon, oh McCain followers, which suggested to Obama that his visit might be inappropriate, that it might be seen as using the troops in a political skirmish between the two presumptive candidates.
Obama deferred, oh McCain followers, to the Pentagon on this issue. Any problem with this? Obama is still a presumptive nominee; he is not yet the president. I continue to be baffled at the inability of the McCain campaign to get many things right.
I
Reasons why Veterans, active duty personel, and anyone who cares about them should not vote for McCain:
*AWOL for May 22nd vote on GI Bill. Expressed opposition to bill saying "it was too generous to Veterans".
*Voted against Bill in September 2007 that would have mandated adequate rest for troops between combat deployments.
*Voted No on $1.5-billion increase for Veteran Medical services (money would have come from closing corporate tax loophole).
*Voted No on establishing a trust fund to bolster underfunded Veteran Hospitals.
*Voted No in May 2006 against $20-billion allotment for expanding Veteran Medical Facilities.
*Voted No in April 2006 to increase Veteran Outpatient care.
*Voted No in March 2004 another $1.8-billion reserve for Veteran Medical care (again funded by closing corporate tax loopholes).
Bottomline, McCain is more interested in taking care of big business then the men and women he wrongly sent to fight in Iraq.
Common . . . Mr. McCain is now spinning his wheels, Obama has recently spent time visiting troops . This is one canceled event and not a major issue. Lets talk about your energy goals , the economy , something of real political substance. McCain should respect the Pentagons wishes not to use the troops for campaigning purposes. I support our troops 100% and believe both candidates should be careful not to cross the line. Believe me , if Obama would have made that event McCain would be crying foul just the same . . . . Stick to the issues !
obama only interested in his world citizen status -- not US men and woman in uniform. SAD
Well, you know the old saying: "He's damned if he does, and he's damned if he doesn't."
Obama would rather have tea with european leaders than travel to see injured troops, and we are suprised why? Everyone knows that he and his wife don't love this country.
Looks like McCain is demonstrating further evidence of memory loss and initial dementia. He has completely forgotten that he publicly challenged Obama to go on the foreign tour. Just as he forgot Iraq does not border Pakistan, or that the Anbar Awakening led to the Surge and not the reverse, or that he promised to abide by the Iraqi government call to leave Iraq should that arise.
And he needs to do something to be relevant for news coverage. Mr McCain, to get in the news you must get off your a--, get beyond your 4-day workweek and get out there. Or perhaps you do not have the stamina to pursue such a strenuous job ?
Can McCain do anything else besides criticizing others in the most pethetic and Un-American way? Only if the media would have told the real story of McCain when he went overseas, people would see just how reranged he was, and IS!
Good Old McGrumpy and the Audacity of Anger.
Can a Senator not be a simple human being or just a concerned American citizen and just visit a veteran hospital alone - - no cameras - - no reporters, only genuine concern like you or I might show? Last time I checked no one needs permission to do this. If you don't want it political Senator Obama, simply insist that it won't be. Can't a public figure have a private experience?
Obama has given a lame excuse for not visiting the wounded soldiers..He is a coward with a mouth that worms him out of tight situations.. He is a good BS artist
McCain will take anything he can get. His campaign is in sad shape.
A perfect exmple of Obama's immaturity and unreadiness for the office he seeks.
All sizzle and no steak.
This is a crock. Gamesmanship by the ALWAYS Right-leaning military, nothing more. Does anyone really believe Obama is so daft he couldn't predict this type of reaction? It's the military brass who engineered this fiasco who should be ashamed for using their own troops as pawns once again.
McCain can't issue a statement himself? He needs a retired military guy to do it for him? It's funny that they are wagging their fingers at Obama for not visiting these soldiers when that's what he's already done in Afghanistan. Why isn't McCain over there visiting? And by the way, Obama is not yet commander in chief. The statement from McCain's people says it's the C in C's job to support the troops. Obama isn't there yet..............but he will be!
In this case the Republicans are absolutely right. Obama was too ambitious for his ownself and showed a pretty unpleasant side of his personality. More of that is to come I'm afraid.
does anyone expect anything else from him , do not everyone not see that he is a foney he is being groomed by madison ave.told what to do and say at all times
Give McCain a few more days, he will come out and say he agree with Obama all along. He always does.
Repya has utterly failed to gain traction in Republican Party politics. The man tried and failed to gain election to the Wright County Republican Central Committee. His campaign against Republican Senator Norm Coleman crashed and burned. Now this disgruntled, wannabe politician is trying to curry favor with the Party leaders by out-hawking the hawks. Surely this information is relevant to your article.
I was an independent voter, not expecting to make up my mind until a few weeks before the general election. However Senator McCain is showing himself to be a bitter old man. Whatever Senator Obama does, e.g visiting the injured trrops or not, he will have some bitter comment or other. He has now convinced me that he is "Yesterday's Man" with out of date ideas that simply will not serve the country in "Tomorrow'World", with all the very very real problems that must be faced. Where good leadership skills are becoming more and more critical in our new leader, Senator McCain is demostrating by his ongoing bitter comments, that he will create more problems rather than solving those we must face, in partnership rather than in aggression, with the rest of the World. We need the leadership skills demonstrated by President's Regan and Kennedy, and General Eisenhower.
So when doesn President Bush start his duties to our soldiers, he's only had 8 years to step up!
Hello everyone, As you know I am not a very political
person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan
for about an hour on his visit to "The War Zone". I wanted to share with you
what happened. He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got
to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here
at Bagram. As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off
and didn't say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the
General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big
top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with
weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again
shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service. So
really he was just here to make a showing for the American's back home that
he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going to make an
effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that are providing
the freedom that they are providing for you. I swear we got more thanks from
the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one
of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States . I just
don't understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and- Chief. It
was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for
him and our great country.
If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know
what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all
fake.
In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier
****************************************************
Man, how desperate are McCain's people? This is an embarrassment to Republicans.
MCCAIN: OLD TIRED IRRELEVANT
Only a Republican could make the resounding success of Obama's journey abroad sound like a bad thing. Obama gained the respect and support of leaders from Iraq, Israel, France and Germany. Moreover, over 200,000 people came to hear his proposals in Berlin. By the time they left they were in cheering support of Obama's proposals. In this global society facing the global issues that we face, Barack Obama has shown the skill and ability to pull people from all over the world together to fight for our common interests. This is a skill that McCain does not possess and it is a skill that is sorely needed to face the global issues we are confronted with. From the Economy to fighting terrorism, to saving the environment, the ability of our leaders to reach out globally is needed now more than ever, especially after the tarnishing of America's image and credibility over the last eight years.
If McCain had any balls, he would have met Obama in Germany and spoke with that same crowd instead of showing up at a German restaurant to down weiners.
If McCain had any balls, he would have met Obama in Germany and spoken to that same crowd instead of showing up at a German restaurant to down weiners.
I was thinking about all the people who want to vote for McCain, and then it hit me. The reason why people want to vote for this type of person and candidate is because he reflects who they are as Americans. It is the same reason why Bush won twice in a row. This election is going to come down to numbers. How many people in this country are like Mr. McCain, and how many people are willing and able to vote for Mr. Obama.
Put simply, this is a classic socially divided election. I will be blunt. The real question is, are there enough people of substance and of a progressive nature in America, who are able or willing to be led by a black man and not feel uncomfortable. Mr. McCain has been absolutely awful when it comes to decency and gentlemen-like behavior. But that doesn't matter, as I see it. It is only if there are enough decent Americans to finally say, we are as good as we espouse ourselves, and our Constitution, says we are and claim to be. Without the showing of enough of these "real" Americans, we will just be what we are becoming, a ship of fools.
American politics is such a strange beast. What the heck does this kind of crap have to do with whom will best lead the country?
This is just silliness that belongs in a grade school playground.
I Just received this letter from a Captain in the war Zone;
Hello everyone, As you know I am not a very political
person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan
for about an hour on his visit to "The War Zone". I wanted to share with you
what happened. He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got
to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here
at Bagram. As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off
and didn't say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the
General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big
top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with
weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again
shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service. So
really he was just here to make a showing for the American's back home that
he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going to make an
effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that are providing
the freedom that they are providing for you. I swear we got more thanks from
the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one
of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States . I just
don't understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and- Chief. It
was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for
him and our great country.
If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know
what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all
fake.
In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier
****************************************************
Scoffing and sour grapes are the best McSame (but older) can offer.
McCain = Bush
Obama = Psalm 1
Wow. Even I didn't think McCain was this slimy. He really is another Bush. This is pure Rove ugliness.
McCain is using the troops as political tools.
He's got no McShame.
McCain's petty campaigning is a disgrace to the honor of our troops.
McCain is such a piece of McCain...like the yiping little mutt that keeps nipping at you heels...sit John...have a cookie and quit wetting the floor!
I really have very low expectations for Senator Obama. He however, has succeeded in lowering them even further.
I believe that Senator Obama should get more experience before trying for the highest office without the real background to be president. Most important I think that senator Obama is lying about not sharing the views of his pastor because I go to church every Sunday and if my pastor talk the way his pastor talk I would not stay in the church. I was a democrat untill the non thinking people of the USA dicided to choose Obama to run as our democrat candidate and I don't understand how people anyone can entrust our county to someone who just think he can run our country but has no real experience . And his name olong makes every one I know nervous. I am hoping that McCain wins. Some of my friends that are democrat are saying there are just not voting, it's a mess If he had any sense he would just take himself off the ballot.
Repya is at odds with a Pentagon statement that 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. They told Obama that after his Senate staff had already left to come back to America with along with Reed and Hagel. Only Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel were fact finding Senate trips. Germany, France and the UK are being paid for by Obama's personal presidential campaign money. He could not go to see the troops under the law. If he had tried to sneak off and go see them then Obama would have been in legal trouble.
You can always tell when a Republican politician is starting to feel desperate. He begins to launch Bush-style personal attacks that question his opponent's character, patriotism, etc. In McCain's case, he's resorting to this tactic awfully early. Too bad his voting record of supporting the troops when it comes to due benefits doesn't nearly match his opponent's.
Lt. Colonel Joe Repya said it perfectly: Obama clearly chose partisan politics over a chance to honor America's finest men and women. Obama is an empty suit. His utter lack of regard for the reality and hardships of war is mind-boggling. He just wants to be "President" because he is ambitious He does not care about this nation one bit. It is a power grab and an ego booster for him. Ask yourself what you REALLY know about this man - and the answer is nothing because he is all empty speeches and platitudes. If you vote for him, you obviously have no conception of politics or reality. How sad it is that this great nation of ours has been so gullible as to fall for such a fool.
Sometimes you have to get to the basic issue. Obama should have visited the troops, and his reasoning makes no sense for not going. Why pull 200,000 German citizens into the back-and-forth of a political campaign, but not pull injured soldiers from your own country, who would have had a lot to add?
Very desperate. Bush used the troops as a political advantage frequently, despite the fact that they are far from unified behind him. McCain seems to be trying the same approach, but is remarkably less convincing. Maybe it's because I'm all jaded after falling for Bush's shameless lying, but it's McCain's insistence that Obama "shoulda', woulda', coulda'" (and that soldiers are perpetual victims to be used for campaign benefit) that I find rather disgusting.
Give Obama a break. He is working hard to overcome the many disadvantages he has, such as: lack of experience; lack of conviction; lack of courage; lack of first-hand knowledge; lack of patriotism; lack of concern; lack of ability to form domestic or foreign policy; lack of ability to speak clearly except in front of a tele-prompter; and, his race. He is just a poor disadvantaged black guy trying to make his way in life. Give him hope. Hope! Change! Change! Hope! Just ignore that he is a freshman senator who voted merely "present" 43% of the time. OK, so McCain actually served in the military, voted against Bush more than he voted for him, has been in the Senate for 20 years, outlined the correct plan of attack in Iraq since Day One, has sound domestic and foreign policy, and was a POW. Change! Change! Change! Give Obama a chance. He badly needs it!
And if he had visited the troops McCain would have complained he was using the troops for political purposes. Just as they have critcized his trip to the Middle East/Europe after they pushed for it thinking he would look bad.
Who sent whom to Iraq ? Who made the agenda , and at what stink ! Mc.bush should hand out his own lollypops , and stop skimming off Mr.Obama !
Senator Obama is unfit to be President or Commander-in-Chief. His main concern is political success, not the best interests of OUR country. His flowery "eloquence" and charismatic, but arrogant, brash talk-down-to, empty, meaningless platitudes for change and hope are insincere, variable speeches in content. He present someone else's prepared speech agendas well, but without true conviction. He is all fluff and no substance. He is inexperienced, shows poor judgment, and is a huge risk for this country to take. He bashed OUR country and leaders in his Germany speech with regard to foreign policy and world diplomacy, when he DOES NOT KNOW the real facts nor background and circumstances. If Americans elect this empty suit, no-stance, pretty boy mouthpiece, we will all have to live with the consequences of his dangerous military and defense reduction and destruction, huge tax increases, and the manipulation of truly skilled and experienced diplomats and world leaders certain to take full advantage of the vulnerability and gullibility of Obama. Americans can blame only themselves for electing someone truly unknown who does not stand for anything firmly, nor does he represent ANY significant achievement of anything. He has been a poor attending, do-nothing senator, without real experience and statesmanship.
Of course had Senator Obama visited the troops, against the direction of the Pentagon, McCain would be ripping him for "politicizing our wounded heroes". The McCain campaign is so incompetent as to be laughable, and reduced to trying to get attention by going 100% negative.
Very sad...and a strategy that will not work. While Obama is visiting heads of state around the globe, McCain is posing in front of a sausage house. Perhaps he should pay attention to his own sad campaign instead of crying over every move the Obama campaign makes.
John McCain is just a joke.
Are you kidding me.
He is just jalous that he will never be able to attract so many people like Barack. Also, there are some white people like you and me who cannot just imagine themselve having a black guy as president of USA.
If Obama was white, the poll right now would be 60 % for Obama and 25% for McCain. That's all I have to say.
Good luck guys.
Obama's not going to visit the troops if he wasn't allowed to bring the media with him....no photo ops, no visits. simple.
I am incensed that the McCain campaign would stoop to such petty sniping about a canceled troop visit when such pressing issues loom over this nation's future well-being. I want to hear real solutions to real problems not asinine tit-for-tat sound bytes crafted to nudge opinion poles a point or two.
Mr. McCain first lost my respect when he let George Bush walk all over his 2000 campaign in SC. Then he sank further when he coddled up to "W" like a long lost friend for he sake of party unity. Mr. McCain might be a war hero for making it though an experience I would not wish on my worst enemies. Then again, if we are to believe his former captors, he was treated with compassion and respect and the prison experience is a complete fabrication. I don't know. Regardless, he abandoned "straight talk" a long time ago. What I hear now is more Bush-speak bullshit, only without the fake twang.
Come on Mr. McCain. If you want to be my President, win back my respect and stop bashing the candidate I currently endorse.
Let me see, the criticism is that he shouldn't be acting Presidential. But, the concern about having canceled a visit is that that is what a commander in chief should do - visit the troops. It seems to me that somewhere in there is a Catch-22. Obama was smart to cancel -- if he had gone, McCain would be saying Obama is acting like the commander in chief already. It's pretty transparent that the Republicans have no way to deal with Obama, who has the superior policies and strategy. All they can do is criticize. Let them whine. Certainly no one would've wanted to have the troops drawn into a political campaign.
Mccain cannot become relevant by attacking Obama. He needs to contribute in this election cycle which he is unable to do. This is happening because time has overtaken mccain and his ideas.
how lame can this election get ? are mccain and the republicans really that desperate to grab for these types of opportunities. geez....enough already !!!!
Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king.
-Bob Dylan
Nice job Foon tying to soften this as much as posible...Obama couldn't bring the press and was limited to a couple of staff members, that is why he didn't go but you do your best to pussy foot around it, whatever you do don't just come out and say it!
Once Barack Obama and his righteous "movie star" campaign heard they were not allowed to bring press in to see the wounded heroes with him, they saw no benefit to "wasting their time" and seeing our wounded soldiers.
Besides, as pastor Wright has said in Barack's head for 20 years, "America brought terrorists on itself!", and therefore by that nonsensical deduction, perhaps Barack thinks our wounded soldiers deserved what they got.
If he was going to visit the troop that are injuried,then he should have continue that commitment,meybe he just dose not believe that these solders are important enough
McCain is the one guilty of exploiting injured soldiers for political gain. As a veterans, he should be ashamed. This should not be an issue.
As a former US Army officer, I am both saddened and incensed that someone with aspirations to be the Commander in Chief did not see it fit or necessary to visit wounded servicemen and women as he had previously committed. There is no acceptable excuse for what he did (or rather, didn't do). He would rather diss the United States in front of a foreign audience instead of visiting wounded US soldiers.
This is what you get from a presidential candidate who has not held a leadership position in the military, much less volunteer to defend the very country that has given him his opportunities. He also doesn't have any leadership experience in the private sector and minimal, at best, in the public sector. How can we expect this neophite to lead our troops??
Obama is a narcissistic politician. He thinks only of himself. He will not think of our US troops and he will not think of you. Shame on Barack Obama.
He argues for "change" and yet he cannot define "change from what" nor "change to what ". He does not know himself that's why.
The McCain campaign is deperate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
" For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn't be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes."
Regardless of your political beliefs, you have to admit, this is one of the most briliantly worded put-downs of a politician we have seen in a long time.
Every action of a candidate or leader gives us insight into future responses. John McCain would do well to remind us that he and his party are against abortion while Obama and his party see no harm in abortion.
Barack Obama is not offering change. Moving troops from Iraq to Afghanistan is not change. Creating more jobs, and projects paid for by taxes we pay is not change. Getting foreign troops to fight wars we started is not change. This is not the unity and international relations nations want.
We need someone who recognizes we are going the wrong way and only a drastic change will solve world problems. We are making life more difficult than it has to be. The goal in life is not employment; that caused our problems. The goal is retirement in a garden paradise that we create here and now. That restores our health, stops pollution, energy-food crisis, global warming, immigration, wars, and social security concerns all at the same time.
If John McCain or Barack Obama want the retirement lifestyle for us, they must present it. It is the only sustainable development for people and the land. If they don't want it, a new candidate will quickly arise. In the meantime we can start planting food bearing plants and choosing pets that produce food. These Victory Gardens will indeed give us a victory that will be long lasting and well meaning speeches and desires will not captivate us into our same destructive lifestyle.
Senator McCain and his campaign continue their double talk. John McCain voted against additional benefits for veterans on the most feeble of excuses. Furthermore, he has supported a President and an administration that allowed health care and medical support for the military to plummet to the lowest level in recent history. Having served in the Senate for twenty five years and claiming to support the troops how could he allow this treatment of the military to develop while serving as a leader in the Senate? Senator O'bama has been a leader in supporting additional benefits for the military and improving conditions at our military and veteran hospitals. The straight talking express continues in the double talking lane.
To use the troops for political purposes is a serious offense. Ironically that is what the McCain campaign has done and not the Obama campaign. We all know Obama failed to visit the troops in Germany. My husband and I accept the explanation Obama made since we are not the type to see nefarious plots behind every political statement or action regardless of who the candidate is. Judging from the reaction of the McCain campaign to this mixup, I am certain McCain would have had another spin if Senator Obama HAD gone to visit. Most likely they would have accused him of using the troops for political purposes instead of failing to honor them with a visit. One can see there is no winning here; it is a mere political ploy on the part of McCain and his surrogates. As a former McCain supporter, what has happened to this former, delightful independent senator whom I admired? He has grown tempermental and is leading a whining, critical, negative campaign. What a disappointment this is. Also, when making these spiteful accusations, I would prefer if McCain would step up himself and not hide behind the skirts of his surrogate, Lt. Colonel Joe Repya. Are we heading into ugly Swiftboat territory again? Let's get back to issues and stop this nonsense.
Obama is a coward and making excuses.
I am a Soldier and he is NO LEADER.
I may have to reconsider my career if he wins.
He couldn't take his "posse" with him and that's why he didn't go.
If there's no photo op, why should he waste his times visiting the ones who've sacrificed more than he ever will.
oBUMa couldn't take the pressure of being filmed amongst fellow Americans without his political "handlers" at his side. The dude is an embarrassment!
Somebody call the WAAAAAAAAAAMBULANCE for John McCain.
So McCain is ripping Obama for not visiting our injured troops in Germany? Let us not forget it was the right wing war mongers like McCain, Bush and Cheney who sent those brave, unfortunate soldiers off to the horrendously wrong and immoral war in Iraq in the first place. Now Obama is the bad guy? Go figure. Imagine the flak Obama would have taken "for pulling the injured soldiers into the campaign" from these hateful asses if he DID visit the hospital.
The best thing we can say about the Obama trip is that the teleprompter did not malfunction. Watching Obama's daily adjustments in his Iraq policy; and, his repeated attempts to explain what he REALLY meant to say on the issue the previous day, portrays the man as a truly sympathetic figure who is analogous to an athlete mistakenly entered into an Olympics level competition when in actuality he has yet to qualify in the Pop Warner leagues. Obama delivered the final blow to his multiple reversals when he petulantly refused to admit the obvious success of the SURGE that he had vehemently opposed; and, announced his politically expedient pledge to adhere to his previously announced withdrawal timetable PRIOR-TO his Iraq trip; and, then with unabashed duplicity stated that he would be going to Iraq to investigate the ACTUAL conditions on the ground in that intensely critical region of the Middle East. In other words, his so called fact-finding trip was a total sham to paper over his confused and contradictory policy statements. Having previously said that IF al-Qaeda and Iranian surrogates were reintroduced to Iraq subsequent to his unconditional withdrawal, (a foregone realization by any intelligent observer), that he would re-deploy American forces to AGAIN evict them, Obama, by his own self-admission, would discard an imminent victory in Iraq; and, commit our Nation to a 3rd Iraq war to compensate for his totally recalcitrant ignorance on the subject. Obama is unequivocally the least qualified Presidential candidate ever nominated by a major political party. If the man were auditioning for a role as a replacement for Jay Leno as a stand-up comic we all could see the humor in his embarrassing predicament; but, this inept clown is actually running for the Presidency of the most powerful nation on earth. All Americans of good will had best begin to ask where is the source of Obama's enormous campaign contributions? They most certainly are not coming from, as Obama describes them: "Bitter folks in small town America who cling to their religion." Is Obama the best Manchurian Candidate that foreign source money can buy? The Democrat Party must certainly realize by now what a grievous error they made in initially nominating him; but, for our Nation's sake let's not carry this terrifying charade beyond the Democrat convention. Greg Neubeck
That's "Slobama for" you...
Slow to Get It !!!!
Obama's true colors are showing here. He does not care a twit for our troops except to use as a photo op. Since he could not take his campaign entourage in with him he nixed the visit. In addition, when he visited Baghram AFB in Afghanistan he refused to shake hands or speak with any of the soldiers lined up there. Instead he was escorted into the tent where he could "play hoops" for another photo op. Never did speak to any of the troops. What a phony!
Since when this democratic republic has found it necessary to pay routine homage to its soldiers? Being a soldier is just another job. Cut it out! Wall St. has lost half of its wealth and we have to focus our attention on economy; without which there'll be nothing to fight for.
First of all I'm not a Veteran. Second, all you liberal un-American Misfits would be better suited in Muslim attire. You ungrateful slugs owe a debt of gratitude to these men. You don't realize that if you don't fight them on their turf, you'll be fighting them on ours. Wake up and be glad someone is willing to fight and die for your freedom. When freedom is lost, it will only be obtained with the blood of those who have the desire to fight for that freedom. It's obvious you'd rather be bound, gaged and tortured like so many Iraqi people. If Obama really cared he would have left the news media behind and made heart felt visit by himself to the troops.
Foon Rhee, you only print the Heavy Liberal comments. Those that are strictly in line with your beliefs. How many conservative comments have you trashed? You're are as bad as the rest of liberals. Enjoy your notoriety.. I isn't worth the web space it's written on.
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