McCain troops ad gets blowback

And what was McCain doing while Obama was overseas? Playing golf with Bush Senior...not visiting VA Hospitals or the troops here. McCain is just as bad as his golf partners!!!!

John MCCain is spending way, way too much time attacking Obama for pithy, little reasons. He just sounds like a fussy, bitter, cranky old man. Let's get to the substance, John. I am not a registered Democrat and in the beginning I seriously thought about voting for McCain. Now, I am beginning to agree he is just to angry, too confused and too damn old to perform the most difficult job in our country.

McCain has every right to call out Obama and his campaign on this. Every single thing that Obama did on his ObamaEuroTour was a political photo op. You are blinded by the Obama Koolaid to think otherwise. To say he couldn't visit the troops because that would be viewed as a political photo op is either the absolutely dumbest thing he has ever said or just one more example of his flip-flopping. He bypassed every chance he had to visit with the rank and file troops. He preferred photo ops with Generals and staged basketball games.

EVERYTHING about Obama is staged.

As a military officer I can't believe Obama shunned my wounded comrades in arms. He has zero leadership experiences (nothing in the military, nothing in the private sector, and minimal in the public sector). His whole term as a US Senator has been spent running for the presidency. He has not held ONE (1) single committee oversight meeting on the troops in Iraq. He has FAILED our troops by not voting for their financial support in the appropriate legislation opportunities. He is NO friend of us in the military.

More Patriotic -

Is that something like saying Sen. Obama is "soft on Communism"? I didn't realize we were replaying the 1950s all over again. By McCain's standards, George Bush may be the most "patriotic" fool we've ever put in the White House.

I admire Senator Hagel for being honest and not partisan. There's no place for this behavior during war time. John McCan Not is a disgrace to our country. Religious Right, the man has no character. You can't fix all the things wrong with this man. He detest you and think you're crazy, you know this. He can not verbalize his faith, but he can criticize you. His wife appears frightened of him. He has no metals, he's called a singing canary for talking while being held captive, he's been in Washington 26 years and what has he done for the troops but put them in harms way. Please America, John McCan Not is dangerous. He can't remember what he said two hours ago. He's confused by the borders, he's confused by the tribes fighting, he's unsure of a country that is non exitance. If elected McCan Not will have to be babyset all the time. Every time he opens his mouth will bring a threat or embarrassmnt to the country, even worse than Bush. We will never be the super pwer again with another year of Republican's leadership. We have no more money for McCan Not to spend or even veto spending? He complained for a week about a media that was his friends during his primary. Remember all the great press he got which boosted his campaign? Has he forgotten his media friends or is he just lying to be saying something? Ask all those Republican candidates about the so called "liberal media" that treated him as a prince? He's even forgotten saying they were his friends. He is unfit to run for president. Not only should we take notice that he is unfit, the world is certain, he is unfit. Lately his campaign has said, Barack doen't understand. Excuse me, Barack has been right and even Bush is following his lead. Barack understands and can lead this country without any doubt. We've had one senile president at the end of his presidency. Let's not elect a man that is showing these signs at the beginning. That's crazy!!! The Republicans should really think about his temperament or when they get in the voting booth, vote for Barack Obama, he's the only candidate. You will be ablr to work with him, he's intelligent and so far has been right on most military fronts. It's insanity to say Obama is more riskier. Wake up America, please.
We can't afford or trust McCan Not, he's not qualified, competent, or right on any of the issues.

McCain's straight talk has become twisted in the mire of political muckraking!

McCain's only recourse in getting out from Obama's shadow is to further prove he has little to no political wherewithal and is out of touch. Neo-conservatives, your come-uppance is nigh! Which is hilarious because they have begrudgingly had to support McCain.

McSame's record regarding the Armed Forces has not be great. He recently refused to back the GI bill which President Obama supported, so for McSame to say that President Obama does not support the troops is a desperation on his part. The funny thing is that the video McSame is showing of President Obama playing basketball was with the troops when he visited Kuwait. How dump is that.
No substance - nothing to run on.
All I have to say is that right now President Obama is setting the agenda. McSame and lier Bush are doing everything that President Obama has suggested, troop withdrawal timetable, sending more troops to Afghanistan, diplomatic talks with allies including Iran etc., etc. I love it.

God Bless President Obama

The fact that McCain is so willing to jump in the slime barrel shows he lacks the judgement and moral compass to be President.

Hagel is absolutely right. It doesn't matter to McCain's campaign what Obama does or doesn't with or without cameras. They will make up something negative about even the best of deeds. That's how desparate they are and to how low they stoop. I'd like to see them continue this path as I believe it's helping Obama's campaign.

Every day I'm just a little bit more disgusted with John McCain. It's really sad how he's become such a whiner and consistently negative and disingenuous campaigner.

Petty Politics

This is John McCain's campaign? Instead of focusing on what he will do he is focusing on what Obama is not doing. Nice strategy. All that says is "I have no plan other than what is already in place. Elect me and I'll keep things exactly the way they are". No thanks, it's time to give something else a try. I don't believe that Obama is the Messiah or anything but at least he's making an effort. Oh and by the way, being a Prisoner of War is no qualification for being President. It says I served my country under the most horrific of circumstances and persevered. It says my patriotism is unquestionable. It says I have a lot of baggage that goes along with that. It does not say I am qualified to be President. More of the same election year character assassination from a guy who's character was assassinated in 2000. He must be thinking, "hey it worked for GWB it may work for me".

Obama did a nice gesture by not bringing press with him. This shows he really wants to win the Right way. McCain on the other hand is goin back to Bush's campaign methods. Sleezy......

This presidential campaign is developing into a classic battle of a professional versus an amateur . Clearly, Obama is a professional. Perhaps surprisingly, McCain is showing himself to be an amateur. My sense is the McCain campaign is dizzy and confused. They are doing nothing to assert to voters, the reasons they should vote for McCain. Instead, they watch Obama make news every day, and they say "nee nee na na nu nu." They say Obama's tie is too bright. His hair is too short. He plays too much basketball. His speeches sound great but where's the action?". When Obama gives them action, they criticize him for not having said exactly what action he'd take. The McCain campaign, thus far, is inept, pitiful, and laughable. And they are not smart enough to beat Obama. Good for America!

Chosing to Loose the war in order to win the election is insulting our troops for his own groop benefite is really a dirty plan.

Country is belonged to every single American, but it is not owned by any group. American people need to wake up to see that.

Withdrawal ttroops from Iraq to create another war in Afghan. is not a decision of a one who understands minimum strategy of military. Country is in a terrible dangerous situation, Obama is not the right leader to choose.

Senator McCain is dedicated to winning by negating the opposition, while Senator Obama is presenting us with a candidtate to vote FOR, not against. Again, a very clear cut choice.

More than ever, my vote goes to the candidate I respect -- Barak Obama. He is not the lesser of two evils. He represents a future of positive change.

The ad is right and appropriate. Obama will never admit when he is wrong and was scheduled to visit the troops, so what other reason is there besides it couldn't be the photo op he wanted. I would never trust him to be Commander in Chief.

McCain's dream of becoming President is turning his once Maverick self into a seemingly jealous and bitter man. Stop talking all the time about foreign affiars and start putting some oof into your Economic plans, Mr. McCain. As one of the people who is supposedly in your camp, age wise, gender wise, color wise, I am tired of hearing all the negative advertising. Start looking presidential and stop whinning, Since I know you can't, I'm voting for Sen. Obama.

It seems to me Senator McCain with "Say Anything" to get elected.

I though your surge had stopped the violence. Did you read where 57 people were killed. And stop stealing Barracks idea transform than and use them for you own. Barack is so much sophisticated than you. Eg 16 months timetalbe pull out, changes in Washington.

McCain can only resort to desperate Karl Rove-ian tactics, as he watches his campaign sputter from gaffe to mis-managed gaffe. It's really quite disturbing to watch...and quite pitiful. I thought McCain wanted a "serious debate on the issues".
Oh that's right....he'll lose by enormous margins if that's the criteria for electing the next administration, so he'd better skew negative on his opponent.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think that the job of a president consists solely of being Commander-in-Chief. It seems like that's the only thing these candidates focus on.

Wonder when McCain is going to fuel up the swift boats?

Obama's trip had a very positive purpose. It is so upsetting and disappointing to have McCain's campaign twist every aspect of it. If McCain really disapproved of the dastardly comments of the campaign he would surely be able to control his staff.

OB's life is about photo ops. No photo op in german hospital, instead photo op working out. If you held a rally and had free music and drink , you to could get 200,000.

Obama just used this as a photo opportunity overseas. Maybe if he spent more time focusing on what we need as president instead of kissing the media's butts by posing as the "ultimate" family man he might have a better chance of winning. There is no way this phoney will ever be president.

McCain is between that proverbial "rock and a hard place." His war hero credentials are wearing thin in light of our current concerns: devaluation of the dollar; inflationary prices of everyday necessities; home foreclosures; etc. He boasts no new taxes--but not reduced taxes for the lower and middle classes, the majority of the American population. His medical plan translates to tax credit for those who have income to report (on itemized deductions). His mental confusion becomes more evident with each public statement. Revisiting the McCarthy era with irrational attacks on Obama's patriotism is his last resort.

McCain voted against the improved GI bill, and against increased funding for health care for returning troops.

At least the Republican tactics are going to be predictable........

This has become the classic response of the fossilized right-wing status quo:.....

Create a grotesquely distorted caricature, broadcast the delusion at the top of your lungs, and hope that you manage to reinforce just enough cynicism and hopelessness to ensure the election of someone who truly cares only for funneling all of the country's wealth and power into the hands of a tiny, corrupt elite.

God Bless president MCain, obama can get his luggage

Since today, 247 people were injured and 41 killed, in Baghdad in the worst suicide bombing in the history of Iraq and Baghdad was where "the Surge" was deployed.......I think it's time McCain zipped it and stopped his attacks on Obama over the big success of HIS surge....as well as telling America that Maliki didn't mean to support a 16-month timetable for troop withdrawal and HE, John McCain knows this because HE knows Maliki. So, was he accusing Maliki of being a public liar, along with accusing Obama of treason, naivete, stupidity, and poor moral character.
These accusations are becoming odious, this little old man in the glasshouse must stop throwing stones, or he will soon be getting stoned himself. What happened to his big "civility" claim?

I never respond to such stupidity but this is the exception. First of all OBAMA is NOT the president. It now seems like we are taken back some 250 + years when at least then the presidency had its problems but it still was an honored position, but WE worked through it, didn't we. Read some history not just fiction you may learn something. And by God and all his nature he should NOT be president at any time in his life. He HAS NOTHING to show. I am sorry but I am wrong, he is one thing, he is a "show boat" and nothing else. Where was he when all this began? Now he has "change"! Change of what himself? To ignore the wounded as he did shows his character. When will you all wake up? Why ignore the wounded? Not that McCain is better in the long run but to choose between the two one of whom is still wounded and will be for the rest of his life, McCain still knows his business.

Now I ask one simple question and please if you have the GUTS answer it, were you, any of you visiting a hospital over the weekend? So I guess that makes us ALL similar to McCain doesn't it?

By the way, I am and always will be an Independent and show NO allegiance to any party. I am also happy to stay this way after seeing what is out there and the stupidity of those trying to make a point with little or NO information, I am real glad I am.

The neocon kool-aid has a very negative impact as demonstrated by Senator McCain's pathetic, tragic, tired attempts to diminish Senator Obama. The same neocons that advised Bush and got us into this colossal mess in Iraq are now advising McCain. Advice from neocons is not based on military experience, since they get other to fight and die in wars they instigate nor is advice from neocons based on moral authority. Neocons have diminished America's credibility, security and standing in the world and neocons and McCain have become synonymous!

I hope Americans will wise up and not allow the neocons and this inept old fossil
to further diminish our country, squander our tax dollars and kill our soldiers.

America deserves better than McCain and the neocons!

Chagrined

Sad, sad, sad for old Johnny. He taunted Obama for not visiting Iraq and was running a timer. Obama went to Europe and did the tour, and now it is a phot op. When Obama was in Germany, johny was in a German restaurant/pub? was he trying to prove something to the Germans here as well? He should have gone to an Irish PUB, or visit more wounded soldiers( since he is more patriotic than anyone in the land). McCain is an angry old man, and is trying to use his war credentials to earn pitty. It seems to me that if you were not a prisoner of war and injured, you can not claim patriotism in the country. He should challenge OBAMA on pricipal issues without getting so bitter, and belicotic. Obama should watch out for McCain on the floor because he might get the stick. What happened to Straight talk? It is venom talk.

One trip to visit the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan does not qualify Obama as a presidential candidate who cares for the troops. One visit to foreign leaders in Europe and the Middle East does not give Obama the experience need to be the leader of the greatest nation ever. Two years in the Senate does not equal a lifetime of service to our country. Is there any bill that Obama has sponsored or was his "original" idea? Not a single one. And yet here he is! You have to ask what qualifies this person to be our president? I have yet to hear a logical response to this question. Oh ---we hear that he is smart, young, well spoken, has lots of charisma, but is that all it takes to be president. So, if you graduate from Harvard or Yale, you got a shot at being president! That is absurd and you know it!

We also hear all the time that the next president cannot be McCain because he is old, been in Washington too long. Given me a break! I believe that would be age discrimination -- which no one is brave enough to say! Also, wouldn't Obama's two years in the Senate make him beholding to some of those special interest groups as well? How about all that money he received from these groups - do you think he owes them something? We have already seem him make a statement to a pro-Israel lobby group that he later contradicted in his trip to visit his friends in the Middle East.

By the way, is he campaigning to be "our" president or the leader of some sort of Middle East/Europe super-nation! How about talking to us...without a speech or a tele-prompter!

The bottom line is Obama would not be here is it were not for the DNC ignoring the vote of the people in Michigan and Florida. I hear all the time that W. was not "elected" president because votes in Florida were not counted in 2000. While if you believe that, how can you say that Obama has legitimately won the Democratic primary? Think about....

How long is the Republican party going to let John McCain pretend to be the nominee?

John McCan Not ???

(SEDONA, ARIZ.) – The Veterans Administration should concentrate on treating soldiers with serious injuries and get out of the business of routine health care, John McCain said today.

“We have got to spend more effort and devote more time to the treatment of the battle wounds both seen and unseen,” McCain said, appearing via satellite at National Forum on Disability Issues. “I believe we need to relieve the burden on the VA from routine health care, put more of our assets in the unique capabilities of the VA for the treatment of combat wounds, both seen and unseen.”

McCain advocates giving each veteran a card that they can take to any doctor’s office, so the VA can concentrate on more serious, combat-related injuries, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“If you have a routine health care need, take it wherever you want, whatever doctor or health care provider and get the treatment you need, while we at the VA focus our attention, our care, our love, on these grievous wounds of war,” he said.

While McCain has been criticized for not supporting some types of funding for veterans programs because he believes they are not cost efficient or encourage soldiers to leave the armed services, the U.S. government spent over $80 billion on veterans in 2007, the largest expenditure in history.

Yeah McCain is no friend to veterans the same as Bush
-------------------------

You know, CNN had a story on this last week sometime, Thurs or Fri. They said he had planned to go and that the Pentagon was strongly against it. So, say he goes against their wishes...then he'd be accused of not respecting the wishes of the Pentagon and its leaders. He'd be accused of using the troop visit as a campaign stop. Instead, he respected the Pentagon and the thoughts of senior politicians who advised him and did not go. Is every decision he makes going to make everyone in the country happy? No. But thats common sense.

John McCain did nothing during this trip to bolster his own campaign. Is it not pathetic that when Obama was in Jerusalem, McCain went to Bethlehem PA? ANd when Obama gave his Berlin speech, McCain ate German sausages in Ohio? Its ridiculous. He's not running a campaign, he's trying to destroy his rivals campaign and hopes to win that way.

Thats how Bush won both elections.

Please people. Stop. Don't believe the crap you see and hear on TV. They're sound bites for ratings. READ about the candidates and what they want to do and EDUCATE yourselves. Then vote.

I hope Obama turns this on him and calls him out for having a civil election.

Since McCain was all for it...it would be really entertaining for him to try to explain how he hasn't gone negative in the last two weeks.

McCain's is begining to see the odds stacked up against him, and unfortunatly is throwing the kitchen sink out.

McCain is in DC most of the time when not campaigning. Since 2003 and prior to campaigning, how often did McCain give up his golf afternoons and lobbyist functions to visit the seriously injured troops in Walter Reed Hospital or any of the other military hospitals in the DC area? It would be nice for his campaign to publish this. Maybe instead of acting jealous of Obama's photo ops in Europe, McCain should have just quietly visited a military hospital here...but maybe his real concern is getting is own photo op time and creating controversy where none really exists.

mccain went to england a few months back for a campaign fundraiser in london. While he was there he did not visit our air force troops stationed only 40 miles away from london. someone should bring that into account.

I an a veteran this ad gets under my skin. McCain does NOT support veterans issues. He has voted against or been adsent for any and all improvements to the health care of veterans, better college benefits, and things like dwell time which assured our troops of some time with their families.

People, if he won't even support improving programs and services for us veterans then he won't do anything for the rest of you. Wake up.

McCain is trying to lie his way into office. I used to respect him as a maverick, but no more. As a veteran I hate that he says, "I have always been there for veterans." It is a LIE! If you don't believe me check his record. Says it all.

And what he says about Obama is basically that he is treasonous. I can't respect that at all. Obama has supported programs and services for us veterans at every turn. That shows patriotism to me and a good understanding of what should be our priorties in this country.

Vote for somebody who will improve the U.S. or keep going down the same road as Bush. Obama and Change or McCain and more of the same. Easy choice.

What a bunch of idiots - not just the candidates, but the morons posting here. HAHA LOOK AT ME I CAN MAKE FUN OF MCCAINS NAME AND MAKE HIM LOOK BAD IM SO CLEVER, etc. Talk about a lack of substance? Look no further than your own comments. Morons.

Obama is an empty suit, this trip was nothing more than a well-orchestrated campaign event.

McCain is a disappointment.

God help America.

People, please don't get too excited over McCain's dirty pool. It is just exposing his true angry character to the nation, and even die hard republicans will think twice before getting out of bed to vote for such
a despicable human being. Oh by the way, his wife does look like she is on pins and needles when she is by his side. Why?

I was kind of excited by the prospect of either McCain or Obama as president. It seemed like a win-win to me. But now I just feel sick when I see McCain. He is petty and mean. I respect his heroism and I am sure his quirks helped him endure his captivity, but some quirks just don't make for good leadership at the national level. I was lukewarm about Obama, but now he is looking like a much wiser and more stable candidate.

Of course, nobody in MediaCorp is bringing up McCain's absurd trip to Iraq when he marvelled at how safe it was ... as he strolled through a marketplace protected by dozens of soldiers with air support.

As politics go, Obama's visit to Afghanistan, Iraq and Europe was another empty political statement where he said nothing of substance and acknowledged little of what has been accomplished. In fact, apologizing for the US's involvement in world affairs when every other western government (except the UK) turned their back on the terrorist problem is another glaring example of his lack of insight into the world we live in today. To all you Obamaniacs drinking the press force fed KoolAid...JUST SAY NO to the Obama mind rape drug. Our independence and way of life depend on this man not getting elected.

Nothing surprises me about McCain's campaign anymore. The fact that he is cozying up to the Bush/Cheney corupt cabal is reason enough to vote for anyone else but John McCain. Can this country tolerate 4 more years of the same corrupt policies that we subjected ourselves to for the last 8 years? Not if we want to have any country left to pass on to our children and grandchildren. I thought McCain might have possibilities but the more he acts like a politician the more I see him as wrong for America.

Chuck Hagel is wrong. It IS appropriate to question a candidate's patriotism when he repeatedly trashes the USA.

* He sat in the congregation of a pastor who hates America, for 20 years.
* He refused to wear a flag pin.
* He refused to put his hand over his heart during a pledge of allegiance.
* He refused to visit the troops when the press would not be able to be there, instead deciding it was more important to appease 200,000 Germans.

It is our duty to call him on his so called, "patriotism".

I think that John McCain is grappling with a new reality. I believe that we in America are on the eve of electing our first African-American president, and John McCain has already been relegated to history as a footnote - the guy who got trounced by the first African American president. Of course he's not going to get the press coverage that Obama will get.

I don't think there's anything McCain can do about this but try to distract Obama into doing something terminally stupid (way more stupid than calling somebody "sweetie"). I think that Obama's demonstrated that he has the judgment to avoid such a trap, at least for the next 120 days.

It's too bad, because McCain used to stand for some really important things, like integrity, integrity, and integrity. He's throwing that reputation away in a last gasp run to be president.

I'm very, very grateful that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Grover Norquist, James Dobson, and the other far-righters have discredited themselves and their far right agenda to the extent that an African American president now looks like a sure thing.

This was in my mail box this morning:

Subject: Fwd: first hand view of Senator Obama.
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:37:10 -0400

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 Cheer leaders 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

Well, at least our soldiers know how to put a coherent paragraph together... which is more than can be said for most of you at this blog... CB: John McCain doesn't play golf. His shoulders were dislocated and his arms broken by the North Vietnamese. He can't put his hands above his shoulders.

Wow isn't this site a lib fest, was there a free concert on here that I just missed? Obama is nothing but a dog and pony show. Bring on the presidential debates. Oh wait, this empty suit can't debate. He is nothing without his speech writers. Put a mic in his face and poor little Obama searches so hard for the right words, bless his little heart. Every other utterance is ummm, ahhhh, duh, and I thought no one spoke as slow as Al Gore the lib poster child. I guess thats so the libs can grasp what he is trying to articulate. However with Obama there is no need... the media will articulate it for him.

Is this the same McCain who vowed to run an honorable campaign during the primaries? If this is what his idea of a honorable campaign is, wonder what he thinks a dirty campaign is like.
Sounds like the Bushies have infiltrated McCain's camp.

McCain is old enough to know better.

The most liberal voting Senator in the Senate will never get my vote. I believe H. Clinton is going to look after this. God help my grandkids if Obama Hussein gets elected.

mccain increasingly sounds like a desperate hillary clinton. using the same ol' set of political tricks. in that sense, i'm happy because he's also down the same road that was recently traveled, with a similar result to bear.

Shame on you Mr. McCain. I can remember when you ran against George Bush, and how they treated you and your wife. I even considered switching parties and voting for you. Thank GOD I did not. You spent all of last week harping about Senator Obama's do's and don'ts, instead of yelling from the capitol steps what your plans were and just what you stood for. Please stop listening to those fools that are advising you. If you keep this up you will surely become THE GRUMPY OLD MAN!!!!!

it's too bad that a genuine war hero has lost his heretofore good judgement by using the old right wing tactic of dirt and fasle statements

John McCain - IS SO DESPERATE - SO CLUELESS and why would we want to vote for anyone that wants to continue to add to the DEBT of this nation - unbeliveable and it aint going to happen.

McCain refused to support an improved GI bill for those very same troops McCain wants to keep in Iraq for "50" years. McCain's actions speak louder than words....

Obama supported and voted for the improved GI bill. Obama's actions show his support for our military.

I have a nephew in the Army who has served in Iraq and, believe me, there is no way I would support McCain for president.

"Wonder when McCain is going to fuel up the swift boats?
Posted by Jack Sklwrtztn "
He and Obama's 527's are going to get nasty real soon.
May the best "Swift Boater" win!
It works. And Obama has already proved that his "different kind of Politician" is just "overheated rhetoric" and "misspeak". Or is it a "distraction"?
He is a professional politician from the slimiest. most corrupt political scene in the Nation, South Side Chicago. He'll do ANYTHING to win, including lying to his supporters and putting poison in the Kool Aid.
And the Obama supporters know this down deep in their hearts.

Barrack ran soup kitchens in Chicago, served for three years in the senate without accomplishing one major piece of legislation. The media loves him, the surrender loving Europeans love him, heck he's presidential material. He's a joke. Hitler loved dogs and had oratory skills too.

Mr. McCain... don't. Just don't. From a republican so disgusted by what the powers-that-be have done to my party over the last 8-odd years, I desperately want large adoring crowds to be coming to hear my potential President. I want someone that heeds the advice of Pentagon folks. I want to be working with the leaders of the world on addressing tough problems. I want that guy to be you. But, I am very sorry to say, you just aren't him. Once upon a time, maybe, but you are getting eaten by the neo-con apparatus, and you have resorted to the same old tricks that makes me terribly embarrassed to be a Republican.

I want the world to be better -- not just safer, but BETTER -- for my children. Show me how you are going to make our country better. Here's a tip: stop talking about other countries in the same cowboy language of our current administration. Start showing me how we are going to work through legitimate differences. No more militant jingoism -- we could annihilate any country we choose to flatten, but if that's the only arrow in your quiver, you simply will not get my vote.

According to McCain and his supporters, Obama can do no right.

Never mind that McCain himself has flip-flopped on way more issues than Obama can ever dream of, including his stance on the Iraq War, tortures, economics, gay adoption, insurance coverage of female contraception medications, and even on "how much he agrees with Bush on his policies".

Never mind that McCain's "foreign/military experience" apparently didn't help him understand the Sunnis and the Shia, the timeline of the Surge (which he supposedly understand so well) and the Anbar Awakening, the Iraq War (which he has claimied to be an fast and easy operation), and even the basic whereabout of where Iraq, Pakistan, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Never mind that during the week of Obama's "staged" trip, and the McCain campaign's constant whining about not getting enough news coverage, McCain himself went golfing with Bush, and even managed to cancel a campaign trip to an oil rig in Louisiana when he found out about the Mississippi River oil spill.

With McCain's campaign spending more time on attacking Obama rather than clarifying the many confusing stances on what McCain's advocating himself (including this magical "saving" from "winning the Iraq war" that he'll use to fix our economy), one just have to wonder what it is that McCain has to offer.

Barrack ran soup kitchens in Chicago, served for three years in the senate without accomplishing one major piece of legislation. The media loves him, the surrender loving Europeans love him, heck he's presidential material. He's a joke. Hitler loved dogs and had oratory skills too.

McCain, George Bush and the GOP failed America with Piss-Poor State-Craft - a Bungled Economy and a slide away from the freedoms that America holds dear.

Why would anyone vote for that ?

Fool me once....

Did anyone notice that Obama's paid crew might be here in full bloom? McCain is correct in pointing out that Obama's two-step around our wounded military was a boneheaded mistake.

Obama left his flotilla of adoring members of the press high and dry when he went off to meet with Hillary. He could have easily done this in Germany for a few minutes. He chose not to. This is a self-inflicted wound Obama suffers.

McCain complains about seeming lack of press coverage, but forgets to do anything worth covering. Ask yourself this: Suppose you were a reporter from Mars, with no idea of the backstory at all. You hear about two stories to cover: one is a guy at a German restaurant speaking to 200 people, the other is in a country called Germany speaking before 200,000. Which would you cover?

McCain demanded that Obama make the trip, and then says that the trip was staged. Far less staged and far more open than the stage managed photo op of him walking down the street in Iraq. But then, McCain didn't invite the press there in case something went wrong, which is why his trip was not as well covered. Who looks more presidential, the crank old guy who conveniently forgets what he carped about two weeks ago, or the brash young man who puts it on the line in public and pulls it off?

First Mr. Grumpy-Old-Fart touted his "experience" in Iraq -- going as far as offering to be Obama's crutch. Then when Obama went to Iraq on his own legs, he accused Obama of everything in the kitchen sink. Most sickening is that the media go along with this foolish and rubbish mudslinging, and distract Americans from the REAL issues. Will we ever grow up?

Type your comment here...
My co-worker's husband is in Iraq. It is common knowledge over there that Obama's trip was nothing but a PR stunt. He never shook the hand of one soldier
and never thanked any of them for their service unless camera's were rolling. He put on a Kevlar vest, walked in , took a photo, and split.

My hero..

"Chosing to Loose the war in order to win the election is insulting our troops for his own groop benefite is really a dirty plan.

Country is belonged to every single American, but it is not owned by any group. American people need to wake up to see that.

Withdrawal ttroops from Iraq to create another war in Afghan. is not a decision of a one who understands minimum strategy of military. Country is in a terrible dangerous situation, Obama is not the right leader to choose."

Too many gramatical errors to truly understand what is being said. This is one of 10 or so posts that is actually FOR McCain, and it shares his speech qualities very well.

When you read posts like these, and post about racist/muslim/wright/flag pins, it really makes you KNOW that you are RIGHT about voting for OBAMA.

So, when the Obama surrogates were trashing McCain's military career, that was OK with Obama. As soon as the spotlight is back on him he starts his whining all over again. Double standards seems to fit the flip-flop image. And of course, liberals will promote and support that behavior because they have nothing else to offer.

If you can't take the heat, then stay out of the White House.

IS ANYONE REALLY TAKING THE TIME TO CHECK OUT FACTS. I READ THE NEWS ARTICLES DAILY - AND DO NOT TRY TO READ IN - TO OVER OPINIONATED WRITER THAT ARE ONE SIDED - I LIKE ONES THAT CAN LOOK OBJECTIVELY AT BOTH - I WILL TELL YOU - I SEE ONE THAT JUST LOOKS SO LIKE HE IS READING A SCRIPT - I THINK THAT IS WHY THE ACTORS LIKE HIM - HE IS LIKE THEM -- AND I WILL NOT SAY AN ACTOR CANNOT BECOME A PRES. WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT WITH REAGAN - I WILL SAY THAT I FEEL BETTER KNOWING WHOM I WOULD TRUST WITH THE EVER IMPORTANT QUESTION - WHO WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WITH THE COUNTRY ? I DO NOT THINK SEN. OB. HAS ENOUGH EXP. TO LEAD OUR 57 STATES (HA!HA!) OR COMMON SENSE- HE IS WIRED WITH PLANS FROM HIS ADVISORS - HAS A QUESTIONABLE PAST AND A BITTER BITTER WOMAN FOR A WIFE - HAVE YOU NOT READ HER ESSAY IN COLLEGE - ? THIS IS A WOMAN YOU WANT TO DEEM FIRST LADY ? HA ! McCain may not be perfect - but he is a man of character - a man with good family values and i truly think his experience outweighs any Pretty Picture that Obamas Team can paint-- the Jib - Jab - tells it best - Pretty forest with a Unicorn - i think so --- McCains son is serving in the Military and he has keep that very private- and as for his or Anyones Visit to the Troops- it is not in good taste - To spend Campaign $$ on that type of visit- if he was Visting in the capacity of Senator- and on Senators time -and $$ then that is different - Obama was warned this - this is why he pulled out of the troops visit - It was a Photo Opp. no question - Say what you want - Somone is pulling his strings -- and i really wonder who -- Barbara Striesand for Vice Pres. ?? ? ? pretty people will tell you anything you want to hear --- esp. when they are reading from a script. Simply telling it like it is Scottsdale AZ.

I've lost any respect I had for McCain's war history.

To make him out to be at a gym instead of visiting troops is beyond classless. It's a bold-faced lie.

This says a lot about John McCain.

During Obama's trip, the Iraqi prime minister agreed with Obama's timetable for withdrawing US troops.

That completely undercut McCain's whole argument about Iraq ("we can stay 100 years"), and by extension his foreign policy "expertise".

So instead of discussing the issues, McCain tries get nasty by insinuating that Obama isn't patriotic enough since he only visited troops in Iraq and Afghanistan (not Germany) while McCain was golfing with Bush sr in Maine.

How sad to see McCain sink so low so quickly.

J Fish,

So let's get this straight. The Republican senator that traveled with Obama is a liar, per your co-worker's husband. Either your co-workers husband is the all-knowing and everyone else is evil and lying by saying good things about Obama, or your co-workers husband wants his job to last a few more years.

I'll let you work it out from here.

He might not have played golf Sargent Slaughter (name says it all)...but he sure rode in the cart! One thing is for certain - McCain visited NO troops, here, there or anywhere!!! And if you go on Snopes.com you'll see that person (if he is indeed a real officer) Jeffery Porter, wasn't even there. Nice research! I guess it's true, some will believe anything they read.

Back in 2000 I was very excited about the possibility of McCain being the Republican candidate for President, but something bad has happened to him since then. Perhaps it was the shameless attacks by Rove/Bush questioning McCain's patriotism and military career, or perhaps it is just that he is getting too old for this and he knows this is absolutely his last chance, but whatever the reason McCain has become a cranky old Washington politician. These attacks on Obama for not going to the hospital are truely acts of desperation. McCain knows that Obama didn't cancel because he couldn't bring in cameras. Obama didn't cancel because he was too lazy to go, or because he doesn't care about our troops. In fact Obama has consistently voted to increase benefits to troops while McCain has voted against those benefits. Obama didn't visit the hospital because the Pentagon made it clear that as a candidate he was not welcome.

I highly suspect that Bush had something to do with the Pentagons sudden change of heart. This visit was arrainged months ago and the Pentagon only "advised" Obama that the visit might be construed as "using" the troops, after his wildly successful middle east trip. I am more and more dissapointed in McCain, a man I once admired as being a cut above other politicians.

Type your comment here...
08ama
Actually co-worker's husband is stationed over in Irag and by all accounts wants to come home as soon as possible. I figure Obama would get him home faster as thats what he promises to do. I just passed on an observation of a simple soldier stationed abroad. Take it however you like.

I'll Take the guy that can send an e-mail and use a computer. How the heck can you say McSame can lead us through the Global World Economy -
When he can't even use a computer !!!

Oh - I forgot you Repub supporters will be OK with Phil Gramm (The master of the Enron Loophole) whispering instructions into his ear.

You harp on National Security, when today it was announced we've reached a debt of 400 plus Billion dollars. (without our war costs factured in) Guess who holds this debt. THE CHINESE AND THE SAUDIS. That's a hell of a lot of security. Some of you folks should do a little reading instead of listening to Hannity all of the time.

Too many people think that everything that Mr. Obama does is wrong. Being a man of color is going to lead to more scrunity than other candidates just because of the color of his skin. The media seem to love him, but just let him make one big mistake, whether he is a candidate or if he is president, they will jump all over whatever he does from now and the time that he either is or is not president. John McCain is much too negative and is only out to be elected, not to care about the concerns of the people of this country just like his partner in crime Mr. George Bush. McCain is using childish tatics to run his campaign. Anytime that you have to put down another person to make yourself look good, you are the one that ends up looking bad. Not only so but it shows a lack of character and a lack of confidence in your own ability to do things so you have to put others down to look good and that is not working. Any person that studied psychology in any form would know that. John does not have what it takes to be president and he knows it and if he happens to win, he will probably have a heart attack and not be able to serve one day after the fact. If anyone is so blind (AGAIN), as they were for two terms of Bush and cannot clearly see that this is nothing but the same thing, then they deserve to continue in the same sorry economic downturn that we have been in for the last 8 years. Bush's policies have killed the American dream, they have become a cause of a depressed country and have done the things that the bible have said about Satan, for the devil comes not but to steal (Bush has stolen our dreams of getting better as far as wellness is concerned, and financially we have been robbed by his policies), kill (Bush's policies have kill our spirit for the most part to even dream to far ahead because he had no policies for the people of this country just like John McCain does not), and destroy. Bush destroyed the chances of many Americans to move effectively ahead, but has put so many millions of us well behind. With a record deficit coming for next year and the next president, who knows how long it is going to take to get us out of this and we need some newer ideas and not the old standard that got us here in the first place. Older people sometimes think that the old way is the best they go back instead of moving forward. Thus John McCain is not the one that will move us forward, but will take us further backward. He will not do any of the things that he has been told because he does not want to bust his budget while in the White house. We will not move forward, but will remain behind our Japanese and other countries that are now either catching up or slightly ahead of us because of our lack of progress with the Bush policies. Nothing enovative has come forth from this administration, neither will it come forth from Mr. McCain's debt to society. We will only be in more debt.

Considering the only thing preventing Obama from visiting our troops was OBAMA himself, I see nothing wrong with McCain calling him down for not being a SENATOR and visiting our troops. The press and campaign was not allowed to visit but SENATOR OBAMA had every right too and CHOSE to cancel. Has nothing to do with McCain pointing out the obvious, has EVERYTHING to do with OBAMA having every legal right to do what he SUPPOSEDLY wanted to and making the decision to cancel. If Obama truly cared about the troops who were wounded there he could have gone in his capacity as Senator and this discussion would be moot. It appears though that all OBAMA wanted was to EXPLOIT our wounded in his campaign with his staged circus and photo crew. Thus the pentagon's no.

Chosing to Loose the war in order to win the election is insulting our troops for his own groop benefite is really a dirty plan.

Country is belonged to every single American, but it is not owned by any group. American people need to wake up to see that.

Withdrawal ttroops from Iraq to create another war in Afghan. is not a decision of a one who understands minimum strategy of military. Country is in a terrible dangerous situation, Obama is not the right leader to choose.

Posted by Theresa L Pham
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Teresa, is your nickname Polly, the Parrot? You are parroting John McCain and your really sound foolish and uninformed. Only uneducated and uninformed people would believe McCain's slanderous and disipicable, false rants about Senator Obama. Guess you are so uninformed and uneducated that you do NOT KNOW we are already at war in Afghanistan and have been at war since 9/11. How can you possible believe we will be creating another war there. The Bush administration and the Republicans, INCLUDING McCain, shortchanged Afghanistan when they attacked Iraq. I am positive that had we stuck with the war in Afghanistan instead of CREATING AN ADDITIONAL WAR IN IRAQ, that we would have prevailed in Afghanistan and we would NOT be in TWO wars. Try to do some research and get caught up on what IS going on. Parroting McCain only makes you look like you are sitting in a cage, "Polly wants a cracker, Polly wants a cracker" and repeating every lie, distortion, and slander McCain has claimed. Try getting educated and informed! Yes, I understand, it is much easier to parrot McCain than it is to try to get yourself educated and informed.

Chosing to Loose the war in order to win the election is insulting our troops for his own groop benefite is really a dirty plan.

Country is belonged to every single American, but it is not owned by any group. American people need to wake up to see that.

Withdrawal ttroops from Iraq to create another war in Afghan. is not a decision of a one who understands minimum strategy of military. Country is in a terrible dangerous situation, Obama is not the right leader to choose.

Posted by Theresa L Pham
-------------------------------------
Teresa, is your nickname Polly, the Parrot? You are parroting John McCain and your really sound foolish and uninformed. Only uneducated and uninformed people would believe McCain's slanderous and disipicable, false rants about Senator Obama. Guess you are so uninformed and uneducated that you do NOT KNOW we are already at war in Afghanistan and have been at war since 9/11. How can you possible believe we will be creating another war there. The Bush administration and the Republicans, INCLUDING McCain, shortchanged Afghanistan when they attacked Iraq. I am positive that had we stuck with the war in Afghanistan instead of CREATING AN ADDITIONAL WAR IN IRAQ, that we would have prevailed in Afghanistan and we would NOT be in TWO wars. Try to do some research and get caught up on what IS going on. Parroting McCain only makes you look like you are sitting in a cage, "Polly wants a cracker, Polly wants a cracker" and repeating every lie, distortion, and slander McCain has claimed. Try getting educated and informed! Yes, I understand, it is much easier to parrot McCain than it is to try to get yourself educated and informed.

It's no surprise that McCain has gone negative already. It's the GOP's playbook and it has worked well for them in the past. I actually respected McCain quite a bit for a long time and was disgusted by the attacked the Bush campaign pulled in 2000. However, I lost all respect for the man when he cozied up to Bush and the Evangelical extremists after what they both did to him. I actually think it's sad to see what he's becoming in this election.

And for Charles Kazcor who challenged us all to "read history, not fiction" and stop replying without knowing any facts...Charles, take your own advice and read history and know the facts. "It now seems like we are taken back some 250 + years when at least then the presidency had its problems but it still was an honored position, but WE worked through it, didn't we. Read some history not just fiction you may learn something." FYI smart guy...the constitution wasn't ratified until 1783 and George Washington didn't take the oath of office until April 1789 so we've only had a president for 219 years.

Read carefully, folks. AT NO TIME was there any intention of press or photographers accompanying Obama. He only planned on taking with him retired Maj. General Scott Gration of his campaign staff, who the DoD barred from the base.

J Fish,

What was your co-workers husband doing? Was he his body guard?

My wife doesn't know where I am 24/7. There is a quote from a Republican senator that told us he wasn't only with troops in front of the camera.

Why would you even be so silly to report a speculative contradiction from your co-worker's husband half way around the world?

How's this. I have a gay coworker who thinks McCain is really gay.

There, now my straight talk is just as reliable as you and McCain.

Obama cancelled a visit with wounded troops after finding out he couldn’t bring his camera crew and use them for "props" for his campaign? How about visiting with them privately and expressing his gratitude for their service? Something is definitely NOT right here.

What a lousy job of news coverage the press did on this story. Did Obama not go to see wounded troops because he couldn't get press coverage of it? I still am not sure I know the answer to this question, despite reading several news articles that danced around this central question. At this point I assume the answer to the question is yes because I have not read a direct rebuttal in any news article. In that case, shame on Obama.

Jeffrey S. Porter,

Do you think Obama went over there to establish a ready-plan, or do you think it was to shake every soldiers hands? I'm certain his hurry didn't reflect on the work you are doing fighting the real war.

'Campaigning' for soldiers is why he was told not to go to the military hospital in Germany. It was a no-win situation, just like cleaning up the mess in Iraq. We must restore Iraq and hope the people there understand our poorly-conceived intentions.

It is appalling indeed to see all the right-wing nut cases on here frantically trying to make sense out of George W. McCain's weak ass mutterings about Barak Hussein Obama....how is it "supporting the troops" when the Republicans are willing to use them as cannon fooder when Big Oil has a little problem making money in some far off land...supporting the troops is about use of force only when justified and clearly in the national interest....if GW McCain had been president in the 1970's we'd still be in Viet Nam Today. He cracked then and made a propoganda piece for the Communists and now that weak angry old man has the gall to question BHO's patriotism. Many more patriots like McSame and there won't be a country left to love and respect. Retire the old fart NOW.

McCain is a bitter, angry and jealous old man. His temperament is not fit to be commander-in-chief.

America let us not make the same mistake a third time by voting in another mCbush. we need fresh ideas to move us forward to a better America.

Something doesn't seem quite right. Senator Obama visits troops at Walter Reed without cameras and fanfare, he visits wounded troops in Iraq without camera and fanfare, but he doesn't visit troops in Germany because there were no cameras and fanfare? Doe that make sense? Didn't the our own government provide the photos and video of Obama during his trip. If I recall correctly the press corp was kind of peeved because they were not allowed take the pictures and do the interviewing. It doesn't add up.