McCain's Double Standard on Campaign Visits to Military Bases

Learned something new (0.00 / 0)

Thanks Brandon, this all makes sense now.

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by: Colonel "Joe" USAR @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 11:48:51 AM CDT

Absolutely correct-- (4.00 / 2)

And the timing of McCain's campaign statement was a deliberate thing. They wanted to do something--anything--to stop the positive momentum of his visit and the Landstuhl issue was their hail mary pass.

Anyone who thinks a President McCain would do anything for Veterans is kidding themselves.

He is now prepared to say anything at all to be President.

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by: WarrenStreet @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:44:31 PM CDT

I agree (0.00 / 0)

The McCain campaign was looking for anything during Obama's tour to show that Obama is inexperienced on the world stage and they found nothing.  Absolutely nothing of major consequence.  So, it appears to me at least, that this blocking of  campaign visits to military bases by the Pentagon was the best and last thing that they had to throw out there to the public.  From the looks of things though, it has failed miserably.  All of the headlines that I have read are praising Senator Obama's overseas performance.  He was well polished and deliberate in everything he did.  His campaign  left nothing to chance and Obama committed few if any gaffes while on the tour.  Many were even speculating that Obama's speech in Germany could be compared to those given by JFK or Ronald Reagan.  I don't think his speech in Germany is or was the big issue.  The big issue to me was Obama's tour as a whole and from what I saw it was Presidential in every way.  It was almost picture perfect and what I would expect from a Presidential candidate.  McCain has a very tough act to follow that is for sure.

"Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home."

Marcus Tullius Cicero 106 BC-43 BC

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by: mettycat @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 14:13:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

McCain spoke to a GI group in Denver today ... (4.00 / 1)

Did anyone there ask him why he didn't support Webb's GI bill?  Any then after it passed .. why McCain tried to take credit for it?

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by: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 16:03:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It is on CSPan right now... (4.00 / 1)

5:20 edt

link also at
http://cspan.org/

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by: deMeme @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 16:21:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

He's been asked ... (4.00 / 2)

But asking him a question and actually receiving an answer (so much for "straight talk") are two entirely different things.  See the below links.

In the first video, I inferred from one comment that he was perhaps trying to convince folks that he didn't vote for it because it didn't cover ALL vets vs. just since '01.  (This, like a lot of his defensive rationalizations doesn't make any sense, given that what one would do in such an event is vote for the existing bill and then fight for introduction of a bill to expand the coverage.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

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by: Fxston @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 17:05:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What I saw was a 'speech' and a handshake (4.00 / 2)

...didn't look like a very large audience. In fact it looked rather small.  

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by: deMeme @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 17:05:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

NO PRESIDENT MCCAIN! (0.00 / 0)

We do not need, nor do we desire, a president McCain.  I'm not convinced that a president Obama will be much better.

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by: JD @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 20:12:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was so p#ssed when Mornin' Joe started spewing this vile spam (0.00 / 0)

I quickly e-mailed the correct info and switched to USA.

Went back several hours later and  Contessa and that cutie wimpy Scarborough little sir echo baby face were rerunning the same thing. They had some fat flabby GOP schill pitching from the same pile of dung.

Switched to the Impeachment hearings.  

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by: deMeme @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 13:37:26 PM CDT

Unfortunately ... (4.00 / 1)

we must get used to this.  Over three months to go, and McCain clearly feels this is the only type of card he has to play.  (Couldn't possibly tell folks what he's going to do for them and the country aside from "achieve victory!" ... whatever the hell that means.)  

There's little hope that the "low information" voters/citizen cattle will pay enough attention to figure out the truth.  All we can do is hope a large chunk of them are too lazy to hit the voting booth in November (say, there's no crafty Rove equivalent of the gay marriage ban on the ballots to draw them out this time).  Or, if they do vote, they happen to vote for O despite half-believing what they've heard, thinking he is or is not the Antichrist, did or didn't do this, does or does not intend to do that ... or whatever the frack it is he will be accused of being, not being, saying, not saying, doing or failing to do between now and then.  

Don't know about the rest of you, but this is the third time around I'll be holding my breath on Election Day (if it's your first time since, say, the '90s, welcome!).  Only question for me is whether it's "third time is the charm" or "three strikes you're out" (in other words, our being almost irretrievably fracking doomed).  

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by: Fxston @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 15:23:45 PM CDT

I disagree (0.00 / 0)

First off, the major thing here is this is an overseas military base with our wounded soldiers in it.

Secondly, its not April, its near end of July. Last I remember McCain or Obama were not their parties presumptive nominees yet. Perhaps McCain was by then, though I don't specifically know.

I think those are pretty significant differences. But thanks for the read.  I just disagree entirely.  I understand how they are similar but I see enough differences here to point them out.  I'm a fair minded person after all.

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by: Gman @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 16:56:42 PM CDT

McCain became the presumptive nominee on March 4 ... (4.00 / 1)

after winning the primaries in Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode island.  The next day, Bush endorsed him.

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by: Fxston @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 17:09:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think the key point here (4.00 / 2)

is that they WANTED to go and the Pentagon told them that they COULDN'T go.

Had Obama went after being told not to--and had met with wounded soldiers in an un-covered event (the press wasn't invited originally) then they would have lit Obama up for that too.

Damned if you do, Damned if you don't.

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by: WarrenStreet @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 17:25:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Perhaps this helps clear it up (4.00 / 1)

BERLIN--A scheduled visit by presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) with U.S. troops Friday at a military base in Rammstein, Germany was cancelled because the Pentagon told the campaign it would look too political.

Obama and his campaign entrourage--press, staff and security--was to have flown to Rammstein this morning before heading to Paris to meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace. After the afternoon meeting and press conference, it is wheels up to London.

Though the Rammstein visit had been planned for days, Obama senior strategist David Axelrod said that that Pentagon notified Obama military advisor Scott Gration only yesterday or the day before that he should not come.

The Pentagon "viewed this as a campaign event and therefore they said he should not come," Axelrod said. Obama has been at the base in previous overseas trips. He visited with troops--even played basketball--when he touched down in Kuwait during the Iraq and Afghanistan leg of his swing.

In other words, the Pentagon canceled his trip.  Obama had no choice.

Why did McCain actively work against the new GI Bill, then take credit for it after it passed?

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

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by: Chris LeJeune @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 17:27:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well ... (4.00 / 1)

Why did McCain actively work against the new GI Bill, then take credit for it after it passed?

I dunno, 'cause he thinks there's no such thing (or forgets there is such a thing as) as video, newspapers, television?  ... or perhaps thinks everyone has dementia/Altzheimer's?   :)

I'm expecting him to at some point assert that he actually voted for/deny that he voted against it.    

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by: Fxston @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 17:36:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No, The pentagon didn't cancel his trip. (0.00 / 0)

A U.S. military official tells NBC News they were making preparations for Sen. Barack Obama to visit wounded troops at the Landstuhl Medical Center at Ramstein, Germany on Friday, but "for some reason the visit was called off."

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama's representatives were told, "he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers."  In addition,
"Obama could not bring any media.  Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama's visit."

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

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com...

I feel sad for the wounded military personnel at this hospital that were looking forward to seeing the next commander in chief.  Obama most certainly had the choice to go.  This isn't just some military base, its a hospital.  As to "what if" Obama went forward on this trip sans media, it would show his sincerity  on supporting the troops.  Perhaps the media would have gotten upset but that would be VERY easy to deflect that sort of criticism.  

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by: Gman @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 18:57:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's yesterday's news to which you're linking. (4.00 / 2)

Chris's is more recent and more correct.  The facts are not on your side on this one.  Try again.

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by: Brandon Friedman @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 21:20:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah, that can burn you (4.00 / 2)

when your intention was to get at what might have really happened.

The reason why I did my diary and why this post holds up so well is precisely because of that initial reaction you cited--I firmly believe the DoD helped the McCain campaign perpetrate a deliberate smear on Obama, right down to the "it's always appropriate to visit our wounded troops" slam that had to have been scripted out.

The problem is as Brandon explains--it falls flat.

Now, the next diary for some lurker could be--is the Pentagon at war with itself over who to support--Obama vs McCain--and are there people caught in the middle who realize they're not supposed to take sides?

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by: WarrenStreet @ Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 22:08:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Two ass, no head (0.00 / 0)

There is also the simpler fact that some will ignore and others are simply ignorant.

Typical civilian thinks that the Army works as one efficient machine in which all parts have access to and use a perfect relational database.

I hate to bust the bubble but DOD does not know what Army is doing, Army sure has no idea what Air Force is doing, and Bravo Platoon often does not have a clue as to what Delta Company is doing. Hell, how many S-3s know what the S-1 is doing?

Here we have several articles all with "Unnamed US Military Official."

Pssst, "Unnamed US Military Official" is a different person!!!!

I have no doubt, none, that certain Officers and Non Commissioned Officers assigned to the Medical Facility were ready and eager to welcome Obama. I hope they aere getting ready. They need to be ready for VIP visits everytime that a VIP is going to be within 100 miles of their location, just in case.

I also have no doubt, none, that DOD pulled the plug on the visit because it was a Campaign Trip!!! Everyone knows that Obama was on a Campaign journey!!!!

Finally, I am confident that DOD did not discuss this at all with the people that were getting ready for the visit at the facility. DOD seldoms talk to DA let alone an actual unit. They do not do that, never have, never will.

This is the danger of the unnamed "US Military Official." The reporter could at least clarify with unnamed "US Army Officer" or unnamed "DOD Assistant to the assistant."  

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by: Colonel "Joe" USAR @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 05:43:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes, but what we're talking about (0.00 / 0)

is the public affairs section, which has a head and many tentacles.

I would argue there is coordination of the Pentagon's public affairs stance on many issues, communicated from the top down, and that there is a comprehensive effort on many fronts to keep their message consistent. They have private companies helping them manage their press release efforts and contractors to help compile and analyze press material--

A June 11, 2005, Washington Post article reported that the Pentagon had just awarded three contracts, potentially worth up to $300 million over five years, to three companies it hopes will inject more creativity into its psychological operations efforts to improve foreign public opinion about the United States, particularly the military. Lincoln Group won one of the three contracts, Science Applications International Corporation and SYColeman, Inc., a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, the other two. All three companies declined to comment for the article.

The efforts of that group, combined with the leadership that directs it, makes for a massive public relations and public affairs apparatus.

That apparatus is bigger than people reallize, more coordinated than what you suggest, and has a contract that runs through 2010 to operate in its own interest.

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by: WarrenStreet @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 07:44:35 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah..I agree that they left the hospital in the dark..twisting (4.00 / 1)

in the wind..hoping to cause the maximum distress to troops and staff!  Except DOD had been in communication with General Gration for 3 weeks before this!  He was the contact man for Obama..and they likewise knew all along that NO press was going..and that no campaign staff, save for Gration, was going either!  They knew..and they still waited until the Senate delegation and any staff was long gone in Jordan..and then dropped the hammer! What a pile! Obama, to his credit, saw what kind of games they were playing, and  choose not to make troops a DOD/McCain Kodak moment.  He took the high road, laying himself open to the kind of garbage they're dishing out, while McJerk took a dip in the sewer with the rest of the cr@#!!      

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by: Trumanbaby @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 16:09:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Heh, no. (0.00 / 0)

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com...

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones and NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube
ON PLANE EN ROUTE BERLIN TO PARIS -- In a briefing aboard the flight to Paris today, Robert Gibbs, a senior strategist for the Obama campaign, came to the back of the plane at least three separate times to explain to reporters that the decision to cancel the senator's trip to Ramstein and Landstuhl came after word from the Pentagon that it would violate Defense Department regulations.

The impromptu briefing stemmed from confusion about two statements put out by the campaign -- one from Gibbs and the other from Gen. Scott Gration -- about the cancellation. Gibbs' statement had not mentioned the discussion with the Pentagon, while Gration's did.

"The statement that I sent out and the statement that Gen. Gration sent out are consistent in that what Gen. Gration learned from the Pentagon that the trip to Ramstein and Landstuhl will be viewed as a campaign stop," Gibbs said. "The decision that Sen. Obama made with that information was that we would not put our warriors in the position of being involved in a campaign stop. Therefore, he made the decision not to make the stop."

Gibbs explained it was the use of the campaign plane and staffers that would have violated the rules. "He could go as a United States senator, but it was pretty clear from the guidance that we received from the Pentagon that the trip would be viewed as a campaign stop," he said. "Given the information that we had received, Sen. Obama made the decision that we were not gonna have wounded men and women become involved in a campaign event or what would be perceived as a campaign event."

He said campaign was aware that Obama would be criticized either way -- for going or for canceling -- by his rivals and he reminded reporters that Obama quietly visited wounded troops at Walter Reed a few weeks ago and did it quietly.

The view from the Pentagon
Did the Pentagon discourage Obama from visiting Landstuhl? "No," says Pentagon spokesperson Bryan Whitman.

Did the Pentagon tell Senator Obama that it was inappropriate for him to visit because he is on a campaign trip? "No. That's inaccurate," Whitman said.

Was Obama's Senate office told that he and his Senate staff could visit the facility? "Absolutely."

"As a sitting United States senator, Obama obviously has an official interest in the well being of our service members and how the wounded are being treated," Whitman said, adding:"He is welcome to visit a military medical center any time that he wants to. As you all know, we do have certain policy guidelines for political campaigns and elections and what is appropriate and what's not appropriate in those situations," Whitman said. "The Pentagon did not tell the senator that he could not visit Landstuhl."

"If you are both a sitting senator and a political candidate when you are doing things like a visit to Landstuhl, you need to do it in your capacity as a sitting senator or you have to do it with the restrictions that apply," Whitman added. Those restrictions include the law that campaign events may not be conducted on a military installation.  

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com...

Believe what you want, obviously thats what you do.  

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by: Gman @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 10:01:25 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think we're splitting hairs on a basic catch 22 (4.00 / 1)

If Obama had visited the troops the headlines from the right-wing would read: "Obama Uses Troops As A Campaign Tactic, Against The Orders Of The Pentagon."  If he doesn't visit, the headlines read "The Muslim Obama Hates Our Troops And Wants The Terrorists To Win."  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Believe what you want, obviously thats what you do.

This is why I generally stay out of purely political discussions and try to focus on actual experience.  Do I know what really happened with the Oama campaign on this visit? No.  Neither do you.  But I do know Iraq, very well.  As do many other commenters/writers here.  So I try to just stick with that.  Besides, arguing on the internet is like competing in the special olympics - even if you win, you still look retarded.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

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by: Chris LeJeune @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 10:44:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hey! Hey! (0.00 / 0)

The olympics one is good!

Boots

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by: boots @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 12:28:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

McWhine and the Catch-22.... (0.00 / 0)

Big Mac uses Sat. radio address to launch his new counter-offensive.

A 'perfect' example of the way the of the 'spin'. "My Friends,
[cough, clear throat] he said the [slight giggle]...

http://politicalticker.blogs.c...

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by: deMeme @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 13:25:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Get it straight..NO PRESS was scheduled to go in the first place! (4.00 / 1)

This is just more McLie hype!  No one but Obama, his security and General Gration had been scheduled to go to the hospital, and the press with him didn't even know about it!! Plus, General Gration had been the guy making the arrangements with DOD for 3 weeks!  They knew who he was, that he wasn't Obama's Senate staff, but was associated with Obama's campaign..and would be the only other person going!  Still DOD waited until after the Senate staff had left with Hagel and Reed in Jordan..and on the day before he was to go to the hospital (scheduled for Friday morning during a lay-over on his flight from Berlin), they decide that only Senate staff can go! What a crock!  This was as obvious as could be that they were playing games about this..the DOD and McBush were the ones using the troops for their political gain..and still are..especially with this new ad!!  It's total garbage!  Obama knew what they were trying to pull and that Johnnie's hit squad was gonna make him out the bad guy, either way. When it came to choosing whether the troops were kept out of it or not, he took the high road, while McSlime chose to swim in the sewer, once again! What a louse!    

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by: Trumanbaby @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 15:50:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well! Well! (0.00 / 0)

We are so fortunate here in Panama City, FL. (2hr E of Pensacola, FL) to have Mcshame coming to visit in Aug. He will have some country star with him, and he will be at the Muninciple Audatoriam. Tickets for anyone intersted are $10.00.  (Just Kidding)!!!!!

We have here in PC, the Naval Coastal Systems Center, EDU, The Naval Diving School,etc...and Tyndall Air Force Base, Army Reserves.

He has never been here before, in 2000 he never showed up! He has been all over Florida already campaining, our Gov., Gov Christ has been so far up his butt he can't see daylight! He has been to Pensacola, Jacksonville, blah, blah, blah! I think I may run down and see how many show up though, I don't know if I could sit through it to ask a question, I'm not that well!:)

I hope he brings his team of memory cells with him, I think they are desparate myself! I have gotten too the point now I can actually watch him and laugh, he sounds like a mean old testy man that cannot talk about anything intelligant, he cant focus, he is in the defense mode against Obama always, Obama stays focused, he stays calm, and he does not cut everyone to shreds.

Boots

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by: boots @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 13:01:36 PM CDT

Sooo...Where was the "seismic event" last April, that McCain threatened (4.00 / 1)

Sunday on "This Week", if he was "EVER told he couldn't visit the troops"!  Yeah, right. Fraud.   Steve Schmitt..Slimeboat empresario..is a real kick. "We follow the rules", he says..and yet he's one of the prime architects of this latest phony ad..and probably the so-called soldier's email claiming "Obama blew us off" by ignoring soldiers and not shaking hands in Iraq!!?? Uh..didn't the command there totally arrange and monitor his entire trip, his photos and who he saw and how and when?  

Anyway, the NY Daily News ran an interesting article 7/25 on this fakery (Race for the White House "Army officials refute claim..") and an excellent, thoroughly well-documented expose 7/26 on every sentence in McCain's little hit-job ad (Washington Bureau-Mouth of the Potomac "GOP hammers Obama on troop non-visit..").  Fact is..General Gration was to be the only staff member going along with Obama to the hospital..a logical choice.

Gration had also been the contact person..with whom the Pentagon had been dealing for THREE WEEKS!  They knew full well he was not Senate Staff (yeah..and why shouldn't a retired general be allowed to go on-base..if for no other reason than he was a retired general?).  They also knew full well that any Senate Staff had left with Hagel and Reed, in Jordan. Yet, they wait until the day before to issue a memorandum that Obama could not have anyone but Senate Staff (and security) accompany him!

Is it not clear that they were playing games here!!  It was a set-up..a hit job.  Then, they have Bryan Whitman announce that "of course" Obama wasn't being told he "couldn't go"..smirk, smirk!  For those who don't recall, Whitman is the source of the ginned-up film last January we all saw..with the Iranian boats buzzing our ships in the Straits of Hormuz..while an ominous voice-over threatens to blow up the ships in seconds!  Later, we learned this was a huge farce..and again, Whitman was the organ that provided the shaft.

Of course, previously we'd had Conartista Rice instruct her minions that the embassies were not to provide comfort to the Obama campaign..and no employee was to attend his speeches..but, hmm..did they issue all these dictums during John's trips and speeches?  This whole thing was a sham..designed, after seeing what a success Obama was abroad..and how bad McDolt looked..to stick a knife in his back.  You'd have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to see what was playing, after all this!

I don't doubt General Gration was ticked off!  We should all be ticked off at how readily..how easily McCain is willing to use those wounded troops for his own political gain!  After years of supporting Bush's anti-troop measures, plus voting against the GI Bill and other pro-troops bills, it really should not be a surprise!  Once again..Obama takes the high road and McCain chooses to swim in the sewer!

Of course, the ads..two..were both already in the can..one if he went, and one if he didn't! It's getting very annoying that the MSM press keeps referring to "differing accounts", when no information has been changed whatsoever..only added to.   Obviously the press corps isn't used to investigating anything..their careers are just one big Entertainment Tonight sound bite..so they weren't capable of recognizing the concept of "additional information"!    

Every vet and vets' group should be standing together to throw this back in McHypocrite's face and take out an huge ad in the NYT or on TV where McSlime is running this trash ad of his!  I'm pretty broke..but I'd sure cash in my pop bottles to send what I could!  This garbage is gonna go on until November, and it needs to be stopped now!  We all deserve better..especially the troops in Landstuhl!  

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by: Trumanbaby @ Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 15:30:21 PM CDT

Open Letter to John McCain (0.00 / 0)

 North Carolina veterans urge McCain to stop playing politics with troops    Print
Thursday, 07 August 2008

In response to Sen. John McCain's efforts to spread false information about Sen. Obama's support for U.S. troops, a group of North Carolina veterans today wrote an open letter to the Republican candidate, calling on him to end his divisive attacks:

An Open Letter from North Carolina Veterans to Senator John McCain:

As Americans and North Carolina veterans, we are disappointed in your treatment of Sen. Barack Obama and his visit to our troops while in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq. You may differ with Senator Obama on the strategy in Iraq, but we should be united in support for our brave troops and their fight to protect this nation. When you attempt to distort Sen. Obama's actions - at a time when we face enormous challenges abroad - you do not honor your promise to run a civil campaign. While we respect your service to our country, we cannot stand by while you falsely attack Senator Obama.

Your campaign knew that Sen. Obama planned to visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany but he did not want the trip to be perceived as a campaign appearance. By using false advertising and television interviews to question Sen. Obama's motives, your campaign accomplished exactly what he sought to avoid and what you yourself had previously warned against; doing a disservice to those who fought by playing politics with their service. These false accusations do not honor our troops - it demeans the debate in this campaign.

Your attempt to sully Sen. Obama's intentions is particularly discouraging because your own record on veterans does not measure up to his. While Obama consistently voted to provide funding and badly needed equipment for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, you voted to authorize President Bush to send troops into combat without adequate vehicle and body armor. Sen. Obama supported the 21st Century GI Bill from the beginning - giving every returning veteran a real chance to go to college. You opposed it when your support was really needed. Sen. Obama voted for increased funding for military and veterans hospitals when a $1.2 billion shortfall was identified. You did not. Sen. Obama introduced legislation to improve the disgraceful conditions at some of our military hospitals, but your support of wounded veterans has so neglected their needs, the Disabled American Veterans consistently rank your record at below 50 percent.

Sen. Obama knows that support for troops fighting today must continue when they become veterans returning to the country they served. He visited American troops last week to express his deep gratitude for their dedication - a gratitude he makes good on with his support of veterans here at home. We ask that you put an end to these attacks and conduct the honest and honorable campaign you promised the American people.

Glen D. Howard, US Army Veteran • Fayetteville, NC
Martin A. Dyckman, US Army Veteran • Waynesville
Grier Martin, US Army Reserve • Raleigh, NC
Rodger Koopman, USAF Veteran • Raleigh, NC
Michael L. Buie. ET1(SS), US Navy Veteran • Garner
Valencia Applewhite, USAF Veteran • Fayetteville
Catherine M. Bowen, USAF Veteran • Durham, NC
Russell T. Bowen, USAF Veteran • Durham, NC

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by: RussB @ Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:58:41 AM CDT