Obama on McCain’s Iraq Position: “Simply Stubbornness”
At a rally in Bangor, Maine, today co-Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama talked more than usual about the likely Republican nominee, John McCain.
“I honor John McCain’s half century of service to this country and you know, he has done some heroic stuff,” he started pleasantly enough. “But his basic proposals are to perpetuate the failed Bush domestic policies and the failed Bush foreign policies,” Obama continued to applause from the 7,000 in the Bangor Auditorium. Obama then spent several minutes knocking McCain on the economy, earmarks, and the Iraq war, before bringing his chief Democratic rival back into the fray.
“Awhile back [McCain] was interviewed and he said, ‘You know what? I’m not really good with the economy.’ He said, ‘I bought Alan Greenspan’s book. I’m reading up to find out what’s going on.’ You don’t need to read Greenspan’s book, you need to go to Nicky’s Diner and talk to folks and find out what’s been happening in the economy here in the United States of America,” Obama said, referring to the local diner where earlier in the afternoon he met with four locals to talk about middle class tax fairness. “You don’t need to read a book. Talk to some of those workers who’ve been laid off. Talk to those retirees who are, have to figure out how to pay for the heating bill. You know, John McCain used to oppose the Bush tax cuts. He said it was it was irresponsible to cut taxes for the wealthy when we were going into war. And then he started running for president and suddenly he’s for ‘em. I’m happy to have that debate, because he was right the first time and he is wrong now and we are gonna convince the American people that we need a new direction.”
The crowd erupted into applause, but Obama wasn’t done yet. “I am happy to have a debate with John McCain about fiscal responsibility,” he continued. “He goes out there and complains about earmarks, but it was his party, the Republican Party under George Bush and a Republican Congress, that presided on the biggest increase in pork barrel spending that America has ever seen, and that is what we’re gonna change when I’m president of the United States of America.”
He saved his biggest criticism of McCain for last. “And when it comes to foreign policy, John McCain says he wants to fight a 100 year war! ‘A hundred years,’ he said. ‘As long as it takes.’ That is not designed to make us safer. That is simply stubbornness. That is designed to try to make a bad decision look better,” Obama declared.
And then he remembered that candidate he has to overcome before he has that much-talked about debate with McCain. “By the way, you know, it is gonna be a lot easier for me to have that debate with John McCain than Senator Clinton ’cause she supported the war. So, you know, John McCain won’t be able to say that I supported the war in Iraq ’cause I didn’t. He won’t be able to say that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt when he was beating the war drum against Iran because I haven’t given him support on that the way Senator Clinton did. We can offer a clear contrast on foreign policy in this next election and move us in a new direction. That’s why I’m running for president of the United States of America.”
Tags: bangor, clinton, Debate, earmarks, economy, Iraq, Maine, mccain, obama
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Funny, last time I checked, Obama voted the same as CLinton on all the Iraq bills in the senate. BUt RIIIIIGHHHHT, he did not support the war. I forgot. The question is, when and where did he not support the war? Sure, as a state senator, he was opposed to the war but once he got to the senate, he’s “for” it. whatever. Time to get off the high horse.
Obama is absurd. Sure small businesses are critical, but the economy is more based on large businesses. When we need 15,000 new jobs, no one is calling Nikki’s diner on the phone to get them!
Obama voted FOR a ban on cluster bombs, Clinton voted against the ban. Obama voted FOR a ban on land mines (that hurt and maim children), Clinton voted against the ban. Obama voted for funding to support the troops already in Iraq. He has always supported the troops. Clinton’s husband tried to twist this fact into saying Obama supported the war, but twisting the facts backfired.
Mir, don’t be taken in by what the opposition says about Obama. Check for yourself. The internet makes that possible.
Clarification here, Obama voted to finance the failed war for the sake of our soldiers who were stuck in Iraq. Thanks to President Bush and pandering, wonky, democrats like you know who.
Obama is such a flip flopper. When is he going to stick to his beliefs and stop telling us what he thinks we want to hear? He also copied Hillary’s education and health care plan and then claims he came up with it on his own.. Okay, sure !!
RIIIIIGHHHHT, let’s vote for more of the same that we’ve had for the last 8 years, it’s been wonderful, look where we are today …
… fighting a war that sucks funds from the real battle against terrorism and an economy that goes from one popping bubble to another …
… we need a heck of a lot more than 15000 new jobs, we need a National Guard that guards our Nation, we need closed, secure borders and corporations that don’t outsource MORE jobs to China and India. We need someone from Outside the beltway that will listen to “We the People” and unite our country, not divide it further. Hillary OR McCain will only serve to give us the status quo, 8 more years of Bushism, 100 more years of an Iraq war, more outsourced jobs, nonsense border policies, an ever increasing trade deficit and and a runaway National Debt.
… Barack Obama is our ticket out of this mess folks, I don’t want 8 more years of the same, downward spiral, DO YOU?
FOR ALL OF MY LIFE, SINCE THE 50’S, THIS NATION HAS CHANGED, EVERY YEAR.
IT GETS BETTER OR WORSE DEPENDING ON YOUR VIEW AND OR AGE AT THE TIME.
IF YOUR PERSPECTIVE OR NATURE IS OPTOMISTIC, OR PESSAMISTIC,
HALF FULL VS: HALF EMPTY? THEY, YOU AND I SEE THE SAME THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
THE ONE THING WE CAN AGREE ON THOUGH, IS THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
IS OUR COUNTRY. LOVE IT OR HATE IT, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NURTURE AND DEFEND.
THIS FRAGILE AND BEUTIFULL FLOWER CALLED FREEDOM.
WE CAN RIP IT UP AND FIGHT ABOUT THE REASON OR FOUNDING OF THE COUNTRY BY;
THE ROOTS BORN IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION,
WITH AMMENDMENTS, SHOULD OR NEED TO BE REVISED? WE FOUGHT OUR OWN CIVIL WAR,
OVER THE RIGHT OF STATES TO BE FREE, OF THE GOVERNMENT TOO.
LET’S NOT MAKE IT ABOUT RACE ONLY, THOUGH THAT WAS AN ISSUE THEN TOO.
THAT WAS THE 1860′S THEN, THIS IS 2008. THE WORLD HAS CHANGES FROM THE 1960′S,
AND THE SAME ISSUE DOES NOT APPLY TODAY, WE AS A COUNTRY ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
NOW AND I BELIEVE MORE CAN AND PROBABLY SHOULD BE DONE, ON BOTHE SIDES OF THE ISSUE. BUT BY THE PERENNIAL NATURE OF IT, WILL LET IT PUT FORTH NEW AND VIBRANT ROOTS.
AND, HELP THE WHOLE NATION TO KNIT ITSELF BACK TOGETHER. INTO WHAT IS REALLY,
A VERY UNIQUE AND VERY REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT!
” AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, FROM SEA TO SHINNING SEA. ”
FREEDOM. - TRUST. – ARE BOTH, EARNED AND CHERISHED! BY EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE.
FOR GENERATIONS HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING TO COME HERE,
AS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY ATTESTS, BUT THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH! MY FRIEND.
NOT FOR CONGRESS, OR THE SENATE OR THE OFFICE. THERE IS NO MONARCHY IN AMERICA.
NO DYNASTY TO FALL BACK ON, OR FOLLOW FOR THE ARISTOCRATIC CLASS WAREFARE,
THAT THE ELITIST MEDIA AND POLITICAL MACHINES RELY ON, AND DEPEND ON TO STAY IN POWER.
THE VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE FOR THE COUNTRY, NOT THE PARTY. FOR OUR CHILDREN, NOT TO BURDEN THEM WITH THE COST OF THE ELECTION AND/OR,
FOIST VIEWS THEIR PARENTS WOULDN’T UPON THEM.
LEAVE THE INTERNAL NUCLEAR FAMILY ALONE. WE DO BEST WITHOUT GOVERNMENTS INTERVENTION IN OUR EVERY DECISION AND THEN; EXPECT US TO FUND THEIR BOONDOGLE TOO?
SO VOTE, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRATE OR INDEPENDANT, OR DON’T VOTE.
BUT INDECISION IS STILL, A DECISION. WHICHEVER, IT IS YOUR VOICE,
AND YOUR CHOICE TO VOTE.
END TRANS: MARV!
An interesting look at the upcoming campaign in the general election and the weaknesses Juan McCain will bring to the table.He has staked out a series of liberal positions in the Senate, and now must -if not abandon them,at least try and mollify the conservative base by parsing the syntax of his votes.Democrats will jump all over him when he does,accusing him of flip -flopping on tax cuts,and pointing out his admitted weakness on economic policy.Every move he makes to the right he will lose some of his moderate-independent supporters.Every time he reaches out across the aisle more conservatives stay home in November.Alas!The perils of being a man with no convictions!I can’t think of anyone more worthy of his dilemma.This conservative will work hard to restore conservative majorities to the House and Senate and laugh all the way to the polls to write-in a conservative name for President.I can hardly wait to hear Juan’s potty mouth that night!
Heather, due respect, but while large corporations certianly have the limelight of attention, and their importance in the economy not be devalued, we are a country nevertheless of small businesses (over 24m of the 25m companies in this country are small businesses). That’s simply the fact. So as a small business person myself, the candidates that include small business in their discussion are the ones that both have my attention and have the right focus if we are to regain our economic footing. Easiest way to generate jobs, especially in the service economy…support the candidate that can provide the economic stimulus for small businesses (in saying so, I also mean the candidate that understands equally that 2/3rd of the GDP is consumer spending, and has rational related policy)
There goes Kerry Marvin with his boring posts again…I guess this guy can’t form his own opinions!
WITH MR OBAMA’S COMMENTS ON WORLD AFFAIRS, I QUOTE THIS:
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FOX NEWS, GET A RESPONSE FROM ALL THA CANDIDATES, AS TO THEIR RESPONSE TO THE BUILDUP AND LACK OF RESPONSE FROM NATO, FOR THE U.S AND THE SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA FROM THE NATO COMMANDERS ALSO. AND THE FOLLOW UP, WITH WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH OUR WAR ON TERROR AND FORIEGN POLICY IN LIEU OF THIS INFORMATION,
FROM THEN ON.
(QUOTE):
MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin accused the West of military expansion and laid out an ambitious agenda for his successor to restore Russia’s economic and military clout in a farewell address Friday.
With less than a month before the presidential election, the speech signaled that Putin’s doctrine of assertive economic and military policies and unwavering centralized power would continue under his chosen successor, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Medvedev is expected to win the March 2 vote easily, and he has indicated he will name Putin as his prime minister.
The West is skeptical of how free and fair the vote will be, and the election monitoring body of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Thursday it would not send observers because of “severe restrictions” imposed by the Kremlin.
In his televised speech to government officials, cultural figures and religious leaders, Putin dismissed those concerns, saying that “attempts of foreign interference in the course of the political battles within Russia are not only immoral, but also illegal.”
Putin spoke strongly against NATO’s expansion into former Soviet bloc states of eastern Europe and said Moscow would respond by modernizing its military and weapons systems.
He said the West has failed to respond to Russia’s security concerns about U.S. plans to deploy missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic and new military bases in Romania and Bulgaria.
“We haven’t seen any real steps toward compromise,” Putin said.
He warned that a new arms race is under way. “It is not our fault because we did not start it,” he said.
NATO defense ministers, meeting Friday in Vilnius, Lithuania, said there was no need for such heated rhetoric.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say we don’t hear Russian concerns, and I might add that NATO countries want as much as possible to meet those concerns, but we have to, of course, take into account the interest and security of NATO countries as well,” NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
Washington says its plan to place 10 missile defense interceptors in Poland and a radar station in the neighboring Czech Republic is not aimed at Russia, but is part of a global system to protect against any missile attacks by Iran.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey said he had not seen Putin’s comments. But he said the U.S. missile defense would be “a small and limited system, defensive in nature, and poses absolutely no threat to Russia’s strategic interests.”
Listing the domestic successes of his tenure, Putin noted the country’s rising birth rate and growth of the middle class. He said the rule of law had been restored after what he described as the chaotic years of the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“One can say with confidence now that political lawlessness for the people of Russia has ended,” he said.
And he returned to the issue that helped propel him to the presidency — terrorism in the North Caucasus and his decision in 1999, as prime minister, to order federal troops back into Chechnya, starting the second war to ravage the region in less than a decade.
He said Chechnya is on the road to recovery, and he warned of the danger of allowing separatist movements to develop.
“If we were to ever allow ourselves in the future to fall into this sort of partition, it would be endless and it would destroy the country,” he said.
Putin also laid out a plan for the development of the country over the next 12 years.
He said Russia’s economy is “extremely inefficient” and had harsh words for the government’s bloated bureaucracy, which “significantly blocks and unmotivates the development of the country.”
Russia should do more to encourage innovation and develop value-added manufacturing instead of relying solely on exports of its abundant natural resources, he said.
(END QUOTE)
END TRANS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE. MARV!
Mir writes…
Obama voted the same as CLinton on all the Iraq bills in the senate. BUt RIIIIIGHHHHT, he did not support the war.<<<
The funny thing is that so many people believe Obama voted against the war. The truth is that he did not vote AT ALL. That makes it real convenient to come out and talk about his opposition when in fact he never really took a stand one way or the other. And again I ask the question that no one answered me on on a different blog…why DIDN’T he vote for the war? Granted hindsight is 20/20 but every bit of “intelligence” and evidence we had said Iraq had WMD (lets face it, they had used them before on the Kurds and on iran and had a much more developed secret nuclear weapons program then even the IAEA suspected) and they were prepared to use them. Logic said they were a threat….and yet his position was “do nothing”. Again hindsight is 20/20 but I have more respect for Hillary who says “according to the information on hand at the time it was the right call” than I do for Obama whose position seemed to be “just pretend it’s not there”. Honestly I am not comfortable with that kind of attitude in the Commander in Chief. I mean at least Jimmy Carter TRIED!
Dave writes…
… fighting a war that sucks funds from the real battle against terrorism and an economy that goes from one popping bubble to another …<<<
This is one thing most people and certainly Obama doesn’t understand. The purpose of the military, when you boil it all down, is to protect the economy. This has been true since hunter and gatherers ran out of berries on their bushes and had to attack the neighboring tribe to steal their berries. Not a lot has really changed. Military action is motivated by economics. I don’t think Obama really understands that and the super-doves certainly don’t. Empires don’t fall because of a military failure, they fall because of economic failure. It’s all tied together. So the question people should really be asking is “what does Iraq have to do with our economy?” and the answer is EVERYTHING. Oil is our lifeblood not because we use it as much as no one can use it WITHOUT us. OPEC regulations state that oil can only be legally sold in American dollars and as such it doesn’t matter to us who actually OWNS the oil, we get our cut regardless and because the world needs American dollars it enables us to default on our massive debt. Why do you think our economy never REALLY suffers despite our debt? It’s simple…no one can do anything about it as long as they need American dollars to buy oil. If we lose that we are completely shafted. Iraq started selling oil for Euros to France and Germany and THAT’S why we are in Iraq and that’s why France and Germany were so against us invading Iraq. We blew their oil deal. If we allow that the consequences could be disasterous. The worst case scenario is a depression that would make the Great Depression look like a bull market.
Oh heck….don’t take my word for it and don’t listen to the media or the politicans either. THINK. Research…follow the money. People get worked up about Haliburton…LOL. That’s like being upset over the minnows when the sharks are circling. It’s so much bigger than that.
I think Obama is not who everyone thinks he is. I saw this video on another post and it was very disturbing and I was speechless.. EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE THIS VIDEO AND FOLLOW THE OUTLINE IF YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND ALL THE WORDS BEING USED!!
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/a-message-of-hate-from-obamas-pastor-via-youtube
SCOTT,
THANK YOU. SOME MORE REAL WORLD REALITY, NOT GRIST FOR THE BASHERS. JUST THE FACTS.
BUT THEN, THEY PROBABLE DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT EITHER.
MARV!
Well, good luck to all the remaining players in the primaries. I wonder what everyone will
think when the so called republican liberals lose miserably and we have four disastrous years
coming up. Like the old saying goes, you asked for it, you got it. The best man left the
race a few days ago with integrity, character, and a whole lot of intelligence. Good luck
to you all.
Winghunter on Obama’s ignorance;
“You’ve got a long way to go to get a clue.”
TO ALL YOU STUPID IDIOTS THAT SUPPORT OBAMA– YOU NEED TO GO TO THE “OBAMA, CLINTON TO ATTEND VIRGINIA GALA TOGETHER” BLOG AND READ WHAT JIHAD IS WRITING!!! THEN I HOPE YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SLAP THE CRAP OUT OF YOURSELVES. YOUR A BUNCH OF STUPID IDIOTS THAT ARE GOING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Republican party is heading for disaster. You did not see Democrats change their core values as ludicrious as they are after they got their butts handed to them in 04′. Why did we? Until we get back to our core values of securing our borders,language, and culture is when we will gain control of both houses of congress and the presidency. As much as the establishment has moved left, it may never happen again. I feel there should be no parties and should elect a man or women based on their record and plans for future policy. I guarantee you our economy would be up and our congress would actually get the necessary things done. If there has to be a party system, then there has to be a third party called the ” American” party.
Obama did not vote for the war, but for War Funding; beacuse we had troops on the ground.
Get your facts straight!
Wow. Everyone has their opinion, and should be heard. On the other hand, this whole blogging thing seems to attracted an industry of people who don’t want to argue rational points. What a waste of space.
Sorry, did not want to devalue those with good points, even those with whom I differ. But we all now who we’re talking abot….those who manipulate the “bloggosphere”…or whatever the word is that people use for this thing.
All Obama supporters please read this. I’M SOFA KING WE TODD DID!! Thats right! Say it again.
I’M SOFA KING WE TODD DID!! Much better! Try it one more time. I’M SOFA KING WE TODD DID!!
Probably the first correct thing you’ve said in a long time
Are we nominating Obama as a Dem candidate or an Independent one. It seems like the party has been kidnapped by the so called Independent voters. Wake up, suckers Democrats
Duran writes…
Obama did not vote for the war, <<<
Actually Obama didn’t vote AT ALL which makes it pretty convenient for him now huh? I have more respect for Hillary who voted for it and now regrets it than for Obama who refused to take a stand.
To all those ‘intelligent’ folks who are complaining about Obama not voting on the war - he wasn’t a member of the Senate during that vote, he was a member of the Illinois Legislature. From my memory of 8th grade civics, state legislators do not get a say in whether this country goes to war.
He was elected to the Senate in 2006 and was publicly against the administration decision to war in Iraq, but has voted monetary resources for the troops on the ground since taking office. Does that make him a flip-flopper? No, it makes him a spokesperson for the average American. We may disagree with war but we want the best for our troops so that they can return home in the same mental and physical shape as when they first shipped out.
I’d rather have the president who realizes that economics are not his strongest suite, and goes to experts like Alan Greenspan for help, than the president who thinks he learned economics hanging out at Nicky’s diner. That has to be one of the stupidest things Obama has said thus far. Fine, he’s spoken to some laid off workers. Does he REALLY think that those workers have taught him how to FIX the problems in our economy? Anyone can complain about the economy. A liberal Democrat trying to fix the economy, without understanding how it works, will just lead to another Jimmy Carter 20% interest rates, massive inflation disaster.
I watched the video posted above from Southern girl and I must say that I am no longer a Obama supporter! It’s clear that this is Obama’s pastor and for the safety of my family I will not vote for this man. NO WAY!! That is not how true Christians talk or behave. You all need to reconsider your vote IF you are true Christians!!
I have to agree, that video convinced me that Obama is not who we think he is. He brags about his church and his pastor and then you see this video and think ” wow, this is who Obama respects”? I sit and scratch my head thinking about all the minds Obama has brain washed and I wonder how this country will survive if Obama wins the presidency. I wonder how many people will also stand up and be accountable for their vote when they realize they’ve been dooped. I did further research and Obama did and still does admit that he was raised in the Muslim religion and he did carry the Koran. Now he says that since entering the USA he has turned Christian? How is that possible? Or, is it just a front? I found my answer within that video and it is very disturbing for anyone who has the stomach to watch it!
Wow, Doris. It is truly disturbing to know there are people out there who determine their vote for president based on the words of some pastor. Is having your own mind overrated now? Become educated about politics, learn about each candidates’ policies, and make a decision based on those facts. We are fortunate enough to be a country with a strong history and reverance for the idea of separation of church and state. What’s scary is that there are probably thousands of people out there just like you who are so easily swayed by the opinions of others, no matter how irrational. And since when do YOU know who “true Christians” are? Your statements, as well as the statements of Southern Girl and Marvin, are laughable. Like I said, become educated about candidates’ policies and our political system in general, so that America as a whole can benefit and be saved from distorted ideas of reality like your own.
Leigh, I just read your comment and couldn’t agree more. Some people should simply refrain from arguing, period, because their opinions are irrational and have no legitimate basis whatsoever. It’s important to have opinions and respect others’ opinions, however it is extremely difficult to take seriously an opinion that is impulsive, incoherent, and simply far from reality. Become passionate about your opinions after thoroughly researching them, and then argue them as diligently as you want. Don’t just argue for the sake of arguing. It wastes people’s time, and most likely wastes your own energy.
It’s not really an elction of policy. People vote their gut. That’s why they voted for Obama.
It’s pretty scary when a person is running for President of the United States and can not talk with proper English. To the “Obama Supporter”…please speak English. What kinds of Ebonic trash just came out of head?
Of course, Obama is the same man that failed to salute the flag. The same CHRISTIAN that attends a church where it’s a paid membership! The same man that talks like a racist. Just what we need for President!
How can he past judgement on McCain about foreign affairs. What the heck does he know about them?
What does he know about Economics? He could take Econ 101 from Greenspan.
BTW….Doris, you are absolutely right!