McCain Mocks Obama's Iraq Comments

AP reports:

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain mocked Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday for saying he would take action as president "if al-Qaida is forming a base in Iraq."

"When you examine that statement, it's pretty remarkable," McCain told a crowd in Tyler, Texas.

"I have some news. Al-Qaida is in Iraq. It's called `al-Qaida in Iraq,'" McCain said, drawing laughter at Obama's expense.

Obama responded quickly, hitting back hard:

Mr. Obama, in Columbus, responded soon after. "I have some news for John McCain," Mr. Obama said at a large rally at Ohio State University. "There was no such thing as Al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq."

Mr. Obama mocked his potential Republican rival as he answered Mr. McCain's charge that he lacks sufficient foreign-policy experience for the presidency.

"I've been paying attention, John McCain," Mr. Obama said, speaking to a crowd of 7,000 in the St. John Arena on the Ohio State campus. "So John McCain may like to say he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell, but so far, all he's done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq."

What goes unmentioned is that McCain distorted Obama's original statement by taking it out of context. During the Democratic debate on Tuesday, moderator Tim Russert laid out a hypothetical situation: what if al Qaeda "resurges" as a powerful force in Iraq after U.S. troops withdrew? The Obama statement that McCain is mocking -- "if al-Qaida is forming a base in Iraq" -- came in the context of that hypothetical.

Here's the full exchange:

MR. RUSSERT: I want to ask both of you this question, then. If we -- if this scenario plays out and the Americans get out in total and al Qaeda resurges and Iraq goes to hell, do you hold the right, in your mind as American president, to re-invade, to go back into Iraq to stabilize it? ...

SEN. OBAMA: ... Now, I always reserve the right for the president -- as commander in chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests. And if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad. So that is true, I think, not just in Iraq, but that's true in other places. That's part of my argument with respect to Pakistan.

I think we should always cooperate with our allies and sovereign nations in making sure that we are rooting out terrorist organizations, but if they are planning attacks on Americans, like what happened in 9/11, it is my job -- it will be my job as president to make sure that we are hunting them down.

Video of the back and forth is here:

Comments

[forpeace]

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Taxi to the Dark Side

On the Sunday following Sept. 11, 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney told the truth. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he said regarding plans to pursue the perpetrators of that attack: “We have to work the dark side, if you will. We’re going to spend time in the shadows.”

The grim, deadly consequences of his promise have, in the intervening six years, become the shame of our nation and have outraged millions around the world.

President George Bush and Cheney, many argue, have overseen a massive global campaign of kidnapping, illegal detentions, harsh interrogations, torture and kangaroo courts where the accused face the death penalty, confronted by secret evidence obtained by torture, without legal representa­tion......­.....

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080227_taxi_to_the_dark_side/

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[sqwerl]

Can any1 here tell me how the Obama, the most liberal voter of 2007, will unite republicans and democrats when his one way voting record conflicts his rhetoric? Also I would like to know Obama's stance on affirmative action.

[researcher]

obama is a politician he makes promises and he gets elected. What else is new in America? this country is as divided as it has been since the civil war and he is going to undo that divide. don’t think so.

bush is getting ready to veto a bill that wont give 18 billion in tax breaks to the oil companies.

the interesting part people line to vote for these folks who are hell bent on making them have nots. that is my point about dumb and dumber.

the more you screw the American people the better most of them seem to like it. huff post contributors the exception.

huff post made the o riley show tonight as he believes we are all wackos and the owner of huff post is like a Nazi.
.

[wyorange]

I have been posting on HuffPost over the past few weeks that there is very little chance that Sen. Obama will be able to get the republicans to work with him on very much of any significance. Might be a few moderate republicans that occasionally will pay heed to what Obama has to say but it is highly unlikely that there will be much unifiying. I think it is just a bunch of campaign hype that Obama knows will sell real well with the public because the American people would like to see our politicians work together to accomplish something good for us.

I really don't think Sen. Obama has really had enough experience in the US Senate to know that compromise is the key to getting things done. And it is obvious from several of his votes that he has the GW stubbornness of "my way or no way." I really do not expect to see much improvement in Obama getting things done in a unified fashion. Fact is quite frankly I think Sen. Clinton has shown more of ability to work across party lines; she certainly understands that compromise is the way most things get done.

I haven't any idea of Sen. Obama's stance on affirmative action. Imagine his bio, etc. makes it sound like he is on the right (correct) side of any argument about it.

I am a life-long registered republican (66 yrs old) supporting Sen. Clinton. I feel she is proposing realistic and responsible changes. In addition, from what I have read of her and Sen. Obama's proposals, Sen. Clinton seems to provide funding sources whereas Sen. Obama appears for the most part to be relying on increased taxes. Larry Kudlow wrote an article about 10 days ago saying that Sen. Obama's proposals so far total $800 billion which is more than the amount that could be collected by repealing GW's tax cuts for the rich. Just who do you suppose will end up paying for the remaining part of those proposals? Once again the middle class will be taking it in the shorts and more than likely our children and grandchildren.

If it is a McCain/Obama contest I will be voting for Sen. McCain. I think he is far superior on national security. Figure he and Obama probably will not be much different on being concerned about our national debt.

[MIHOP]

"I have been posting on HuffPost over the past few weeks that there is very little chance that Sen. Obama will be able to get the republicans to work with him on very much of any significan­ce."

If Obama becomes President all the Dems will need is a simple majority to pass legislation. As long as Dems retain control of both houses, he should be able to get a lot done.

p.s., you are the first Republican for Clinton I have heard of. Even here in UT we have many Republicans for Obama...

[sparkandy]

A Republican for Clinton! There's no such thing! If you're a Republican, or ever were, you HAVE to be for Obama! Didn't anyone tell you that? How dare you think for yourself. Well, don't worry. Any minute the Obamaniacs will crawl out of the woodwork and call you a troll, because if you're a Republican for Clinton, then you can't possibly be a real person. They're convinced that disaffected Repbulicans are ALL voting for Obama and cannot conceive that any of us would prefer Clinton. I'm in the same boat. I'd vote for Clinton over McCain, but NOT Obama over McCain.

[AnninCA]

I hear ya. I have been amazed that he's getting credit for being Mr. Unity. Heck, she's the one who worked well with Republicans. He's never done anything substantive to claim that he can unify people other than throw a darn good rally.

Oh well, our message of action not words fell on deaf ears. Ironic, eh?

Or maybe completely apropros considering the upside down nature of this year.

[kevenseven]

I'd like to know how you can be stupid enough to believe that Obama is the most liberal senator and still remember to breathe?

He's more liberal than Boxer? No. Feingold? No.

Kennedy? No. Sanders? Sanders is a Socialist, so, no. I dare say that there are four or five others clearly more liberal than Obama. Perhaps twenty.

And I bet he has a narrow stance on affirmative action.

What you really want to know is his stance on miscegenation, right?

[Ping]

Liberal is OK with me. Right now "Conservative" means a corrupt sexually repressed hypocrite.

[Seattlelite]

What affirmative action? Obviously you are a bit out of touch. Conservatives use the title liberal like its a nasty word, I'm a proud "LIBERAL" why? because we practice what conservatives pretend they believe in.

[researcher]

the repubs have an hidden card that can trump the demos. A dumbed down society call Americans.

In a dumb downed society fear mongering and war mongering works. Been working for over 60 years. Americans actually think that mega military budget is for defense not offense.

most Americans actually believe we are in Iraq to fight terrorism. Only in a real dumbed down society could that be possible.

finally someone has written a book called the dumbest generation. I have traveled Asia and Europe and Americans are the dumbest.

they think we are nuts or war mongers or whatever when they see how easy it is for our politicians to control the American people.

both the Iraqis and the afgan people will throw our war mongering butts out of their countries as soon as the Chinese credit card runs out and there are no jobs left in Ohio that state that put bush jr into office.

You want dumb move to Ohio where they will either vote for Hillary i.e. Mrs. nafta or mc war that wants to be Iraq 100 years. Can’t tell if they are dumb or just love to be losers. Maybe they like working at wal mart as greeters.

[MIHOP]

"Maybe they like working at wal mart as greeters."

LMFAO

[icemama]

Does anybody really care what McCain says? Seriously?

[forpeace]

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icemama

Does anybody really care what McCain says? Seriously?

======

NO.

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[KQuark]

"I got to give you some straight talk my friends this is a tough war we're in. It's not going to be over right away. There's going to be other wars. I'm sorry to tell ya, there's gonna be other wars. We will never surrender but there will be other wars. And right now we've gotta...we­'re gonna have allot of PTSD
to treat my friends. We're gonna have allot of combat wounds that have to do with these terrible explosive IEDs that inflict such severe wounds. And my friends it's going to be tough." John McCrazy

Anyone who says this cannot be trusted as president.

[imsosure]

If I were Obama I'd spend a lot less time paying attention to or responding to much of anything McCain or Clinton have to say for the remainder of the event. Just sit back and watch them self-destruct as they are both morally bankrupt and ethically embarrassing to themselves and there parties. He has the easiest job in the world right now, just keep to the points that have gotten him this far and let the others do their own dirty work, watch them screw up day after day and then viola, welcome to the White House President Obama.

It's truly Hillaryous and well deserved for McCain and what's her name to feel this distraught, hell they have earned it, they're over achievers, they ought to be proud of themselves, bwahahaha!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173

[Didi47]

Headlined on Canada's National News Station this evening: Barrack Obama lied to the American people during last nights debate. Obama said he would rescind and/or cancel NAFTA; and then had his representative contact the Canadian government today - to let Canada know - his statement would exempt Canada. Again it headlined the news.. Then to top it off Obama's people called in Hillary's name saying the same thing. Hillary has given Canada all right's to release the person's identity because No one from Hillary's camp called.

This is the REAL Obama. He's telling American's anything they want to hear and already reassuring Canada that NAFTA is safe! Go to CTV National News ... for a replay and hear it and see it for yourself!

I'm a Canadian and am appalled that the American news has not mentioned one word about his deceit to the American public.

What is going on??

[Ashall]

It's American politics as usual - don't be so quick to believe it was Obama's people that made that call - could have been Bill Cunningham for all we know. . .

[ConnectTheDots]

Wha??? Didn't you even *see* the debate last night? Obama didn't even remotely say hew was going to "rescind and/or cancel NAFTA" (sic).

He said the he thought Clinton's answer was correct and that he, too, would look to renegotiate.

wow. It's going to be a long election season :(

[TAC]

Bloomberg's out...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/opinion/28mike.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[chronic]

Was he ever in?

It was just pundit chatter for viewer ratings.

[MIKEBC]

HEY YOUNG PEOPLE, IF YOU WANT A FREE TRIP TO IRAQ OR IRAN THEN WAR-HAWK MC BUSH IS YOUR GUY!

[Ramirez]

OR YOU CAN VOTE FOR OBAMA AND LET IRAQ AND IRAN COME TO YOU!

[HLMerkin]

To quote your guy: "bring 'em on."

I am not scared.

[chronic]

Look, they are under your bed!


Boo!

[forpeace]

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Ramirez

OR YOU CAN VOTE FOR OBAMA.....

=========

It seems like you type all caps, when you get excited!

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[MIHOP]

"OR YOU CAN VOTE FOR OBAMA AND LET IRAQ AND IRAN COME TO YOU!"

Because of course they can't fan out into multiple locations, what with there decentralized cell structure and all. Please, take your kindergarten analysis back to the Fox sandbox, where such thoughts as "we're fighting them there so we don't have to fight them here" (and forget the implicit immorality in that strategy) actually only get play but stick, like all the other right wing fallacies about, well, everything­...

[iswearington]

you forgot...a­merica does not fight countrys who have boats and planes that can reach our shores. america only attacks poor third world countrys populated by little half naked brown or yellow people who can not even afford uniforms.if they have oil...they are really at risk. i ten times double dog dare bush to attack the countrys that are really messing with us...russi­a...red china...an­d north korea. it will never happen.the russians..­.red chinese...­and north koreans have uniforms and boots instead of pajamas and shower shoes like the iraqis.the­y also have boats..pla­nes and tanks...ju­st like us.this country did not need to go to iraq. all they had to do was send the NYPD and THE LAPD. those two gangs love to beat kill and torture minoritys.

[realitytrumpsbull]

They're both fired. No, make that 'all 4 are fired, for dereliction of duty'. The country is at war, and they're not in their chairs administering their authority as set forth in the War Powers Act of 1973. The light switch that was stuck 'on', the door that was accidentally or deliberately left propped open at the end of WWII let in a 'little spider'. Either I'm certifiable, or I'm certifiable.
I say, 'stop the bickering, stop the shade-tree psychoanalysis, cancel the campaign for the duration of the war, the goal is to have our troops home before the vote is to take place'. EXecute! Consider it an 'order' from one of the People. All in favor say, 'aye'. That's how it's SUPPOSED to go. End the fraud, shut off CNN, and put on your 3-pointed tinfoil hat everybody, time to play, 'are you smarter than a candidate'? And, if the answer is 'no', god help us all...

[ltfcrazy]

Are you saying you'd like Bush to declare marshal law and remain as president until the war is over?

A few people in the world may have a bit of a problem with that.

[Ramirez]

"Marshall Law"!


That would be bad.

[doinaheckofajob]

McCain is InSane eh.

[Dragon5616]

Insane in the McCain.

[MissingAmerica]

Statistics back up Senator Obama, showing that global terrorism grew over 70% since Bush and his posse lied to start this bloodbath in Iraq.

It's time to leave Iraq and impeach Bush, Cheney and their cohorts and charge them with crimes against humanity and treason.

[forpeace]

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MissingAmerica

It's time to leave Iraq and impeach Bush, Cheney and their cohorts and charge them with crimes against humanity and treason.

===============

Amen to that, when?

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[wyorange]

But impeachment is off the table! Do not think any US president would support having Bush and Cheney charged with war crimes (although they damn well should be).

[research]

We can't Win a WAR CRIME!

Impeach!

[NicoleAnonymous]

Are there actually people who are paid to work at this place? Because it's run as though it's not.

They will "approve" some posts immediately but right now there are over a hundred responses "pending approval" on another topic and then they will approve them all at once so they all appear at the same time. Everyone assumes people know about this place but I don't.

Are they really making a profit here? Why would anyone pay them when they can't even figure out how to monitor discussions?

[NicoleAnonymous]

I'm beginning to sound like a broken record - always whining about the same thing.

This place is take it or leave it - what else can you expect from some online place. Now I'm not only talking to myself I actually had a dream about a discussion from here last night. Very scary.

[Ramirez]

Nicole.

Are you talking about the John Lewis thread? I tried to jump in and got a "pending approval" hold on that one. Didn't seem to make sense.

[ltfcrazy]

It's not a chat room. It's here to give your opinion AND read those of others so you can get an actual feel of the general consensus. It is far more accurate than the polls I've seen. Count the number of comments supporting each candidate and you get a general idea who will win. So far Barack has gotten more positive comments and won more delegates.

[passport]

the whole AQI thing is a US military PSYOP program aimed at making resistance to US occupation in Iraq anomalous with Osama bin laden It has been highly successful and has not only worked in Iraq but here in America. Reality is somewhat different and some of our own officials in the intelligence community estimate that only 10m -15 % of the violence in Iraq is caused by " al Quida in Iraq" it is estimated that only 800-1000 of these terriosts exist and most are native born Iraqis.sti­mates for AQI numbers range from 850 – about 3 to 5 percent of the Sunni insurgency – to several thousand.[­1][14] In 2006 the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research estimated that AQI’s membership was in a range of "more than 1,000," putting AQI’s forces at less than 1 percent of the insurgency. In 2007 the State Department dropped its base-level estimate, because, as an official explained, "the information is too disparate to come up with a consensus number".

According to both the July 2007 National Intelligence Estimate and the Defense Intelligence Agency reports AQI accounted for 15 percent of attacks in Iraq. However, the Congressional Research Service noted in its September 2007 report that attacks from al-Qaeda are less than two percent of the violence in Iraq and criticized the administration’s statistics, noting that its false reporting of insurgency attacks as AQI attacks has increased since the "surge" operations began

[passport]

sorry... I posted before editing.

[Ramirez]

If you believe that AQI is a military PSYOP program, why do you care about NIE and State Dept estimates of AQI?

Am I missing something here?

[imusintheevening]

well said. Since it is still so unsafe for journalists in Iraq, notwithstanding McCain and Graham's "I bought 5 rugs for 5 bucks" claims to the contrary, there is NO independent journalistic verification that there is Al Qaeda in Iraq. At this point, the pentagon and the administration have no credibility.

[Bendersky]

The only thing Obama will have to be careful about is not hitting too hard and opening the door for a sympathy vote for McCain.

Bad strategy, Desmirl. Gore did this in 2000 and got his ass handed to him. You go out there, stick to the issues, hit McCain again and again, and let him make a fool of himself. The republicans have nothing to stand on. You DO NOT want to play it safe.

[Ramirez]

Obama will play it safe. It's part of his mystique. He did not get where he is today by taking bold stands and laying it out there.

[Didi47]

Headlined on Canada's National News Station this evening: Barrack Obama lied to the American people during last nights debate. Obama said he would rescind and/or cancel NAFTA; and then had his representative contact the Canadian government today - to let Canada know - his statement would exempt Canada. Again it headlined the news.. Then to top it off Obama's people called in Hillary's name saying the same thing. Hillary has given Canada all right's to release the person's identity because No one from Hillary's camp called.

This is the REAL Obama. He's telling American's anything they want to hear and already reassuring Canada that NAFTA is safe! Go to CTV National News ... for a replay and hear it and see it for yourself!

I'm a Canadian and am appalled that the American news has not mentioned one word about his deceit to the American public.

What is going on??

[chin075]

"We're gonna change the way we do business in Washington" is not bold? "We can change America and the world" isn't bold? I don't hear Clinton or McCain making those kinds of far-reaching promises..­. they're a lot more "conservative" if you know what I mean...

[kevenseven]

But no sighing or eye rolling.

[ltfcrazy]

Gore didn't get his ass handed to him, he got the rug pulled out from under him.