Clinton Surrogate: Obama Can't Milk The Iraq War Cow

The Clinton camp's attempts to call into question both the sincerity of Barack Obama's call for an Iraq troop withdrawal and his ability to serve as commander-in-chief took a bizarre turn on Monday, when farming metaphors were deployed for the first time in the campaign.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard, a Clinton supporter, compared Obama's stance on Iraq to a person who could "recognize a cow" (ostensibly, the perils of the war) but not milk it (get the troops out? has conflict-management experience?).

"Just because you recognize the cow doesn't mean you know how to milk it," said Ballard, who was playing off his time among cows in Louisiana. "I think body of experience, learning what you have to do and how to do it, is very important... No one can tell you how to milk a cow; you have to do that yourself."

That wasn't all.

"No doubt in my mind he can probably milk a cow but his body of experience means he probably doesn't know how to milk one," continued Ballard, before getting a bit more specific. "When I look across the aisle at Sen. Obama, other than a great speech, I really do not see the same body of experience to deal with that issue. I see a statement that says I have a great staff that can advise me. I think you need a great body of experience to deal with the recommendations your staff is bringing to you."

Campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson called into question Obama's capacity to be the vice president, claiming "We do not believe that Senator Obama has passed the commander-in-chief test. But there is a long way between now and Denver."

In addition to Ballard, the conference call included Gen. Wesley Clark, and Lee Feinstein, the Clinton Campaign's National Security Director, all of whom attacked Obama for not being entirely committed to a troop withdrawal. As evidence they cited recent remarks by former Obama aide Samantha Power which suggested that the Illinois Democrat would reconsider troop withdrawal once elected, given the account of conditions on the ground.

"[Sen. Clinton] has been unwavering in her commitment to support withdrawal," said Ballard. "People know when they vote what they are exactly going to get. And in the case of Sen. Obama I don't think we are quite that clear."

Moooo.

Comments

[Moshe]

Is Hillary the one in the yellow jacket?

[DietrichMoody]

MILKING IRAQ FOR ALL IT'S WORTH. Is what it comes down. Can the General be more careless.


But then again, Hillary should know a lot about milking things long past their expiration date.


Milking Iraq for all it's worth is exactly what he, the General, meant.

[Tankan]

I hear tell Hillary's so ready she's gonna try milking a bull!

That should be fun, bulls dont like icy fingers!

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

So let's carry this analogy a little farther. . . . Hillary, apparently, knows how to milk the cow, she just doesn't know a cow. Did Hillary try to milk a bull?

[NotWaldo]

Hilary Clinton wants people to believe that she is tough. But she lacks the first qualities of a good leader : judgement and integrity.

A few days ago she said : "Senator McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the campaign, I will bring a lifetime of experience, and Senator Obama will bring a speech he gave in 2002".

John McCain is the old FOOL who sings about bombing Iran, wants to occupy Iraq for 100 years and promises more wars to americans. No democrat should be praising that man!

What the hell is wrong with that woman ? She will stoop to anything, even back stabbing. She's practicing the politics of party destruction. She has no judgement, no integrity and she shouldn't be the democratic nominee, PERIOD.

[amagila]

As a city girl, I can say that I not only recognize a cow but am able to milk one. Come to think of it, I didn't need a body of experience to get it right the first time. Huh. I have a sneaking suspicion that a new metaphor is in order.

[tbone99]

I'd love to see a contest between these two on who will deliver the most to the peace movement.--maybe we can start start seeing some very specific commitments on ending the war, renditons, torture and private security contracters.The war is one of the things that has made it a buyers market in this election, but you'd never know it from the debates.Maybe this stalemate will start to thaw some of that releuctance to address the issue.

The Dims only have to start tying the economy to the war and we're home free.But both these candidates are up to their ears in corporations benefitting from war.--- will they start getting desperate enough to actually promise some peace for votes?

[KaAp]

I do not know what to say or what bad pun to use udderly delicious ... how they can milk the same old lies and spin or how much cheese can one nation handle?
How about something about walking in their own cow dung, I know I cannot say anything about appearances because that would be unfeminist of me (and I am a woman) but some of you know what I am thinking and how about something about a cow tipping contest ... Or, it is 3 AM and the phone rings and they answer "got milk?" Or, actually the voting public got milked by the Clintons ... or how bill would squeeze any teet in front of him ... I wish they were prancing around the farm with pigs ... since there campaign seems so much like Animal Farm

[freedomis]

KaAp;The whole thing was udderly fantastic and you did not puntificate.Tony

[brijit]

Sam Stein? Are you sure this wasn't written by Andy Borowitz?

[combatveteran]

Come on Obama, get your henchman out there!

It doesn't look like you are going to be able to save it for McCain, use it on Clinton.

Its about the war stupid. The economic and health care woes flows from it!

[KDH]

He can't do that, remember? He represents a new kind of politics that stays above the fray and partisan bickering. He's a uniter not a divider, and he's all about change.

[combatveteran]

Where was Ms Clinton's experience when she voted on Res 114 in 2002? Where. There were 23 Democratic senators who had the wisdom and experience. Where was hers?

Its about the war stupid, its not about cows.

[slr51]

In 2002 the alleged "35 years of experience" she claims was almost ALL available to her to use in her decision making.

Sure did a lot of good. Reading the National Intelligence Estimate associated with that vote would have helped. Too bad she couldn't be bothered with it.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/05/report_clinton_.html

I'm sure the mothers and fathers of our soldiers who haven't made it home appreciate her "experience".

[vlebje]

It is indeed about the war. The blood of many men is on the hands of Hillary Rodham Clinton. As for experience, she would probably claim that she is an expert on waste management because she goes to the bathroom! Away with this person!

[johnnygoodwud]

nice picture, is that the cows running mate?

[combatveteran]

I hope Americans can see through this. But I doubt it.

[Spesabsquemetu]

Well, since cows are being milked, I suppose HIllary can't milk the "I've got more experience cow", since Laura Bush would be far more qualified as a candidate for president than Hillary with Laura having two wars under her belt and 8 years in the oval office. And Laura was a teacher.

Laura Bush is far more qualified to run for president. And I'm betting that she even knows how to milk a cow.

As for Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard, with all due respect, many have experience, but few have self-awareness
( that significant quality that shapes one's ability to understand the world and others around them, which leads to WISDOM) - and GOOD JUDGEMENT.

As for Harold Wolfson, he ought to try milking the cat.

[ntmessage]

Sam

This one just cracks me up. Take any colloquialism or metaphor and spin it into outrage!

However, on this particular issue you are not deflecting you are reinforcing. Obama needs to stop attacking his opponents with his own greatest weakness. His credibility is damaged the more the public stays on this subject. He cannot defend himself since the speeches do not match the reality.

His overseas trip to presumably get Just In Time foreign relations training will be seen as obvious political ploy and reinforce his negatives on this issue. The opposition will say he made a speech and took a trip and now he is an expert!

The rookie mistakes from his top aides on the international stage last week did not help

These generals are serious people involved in serious business.

[peascott]

LOL 35 years Experience/ Commander in Chief Hillary Clinton.
First she said: "Even though the resolution before the Senate is not as strong as I would like in requiring the diplomatic route first and placing highest priority on a simple, clear requirement for unlimited inspections, I will take the president at his word that he will try hard to pass a U.N. resolution and will seek to avoid war, if at all possible.

"Because bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely and, therefore, war less likely, and because a good-faith effort by the United States, even if it fails, will bring more allies and legitimacy to our cause, I have concluded, after careful and serious consideration, that a vote for the resolution best serves the security of our nation ...

"This is a very difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make ... but I cast it with conviction ...

THEN SHE SAID:

Her public statements since October 2002 reflect a slow, relatively steady evolution in her thinking -- or at least in her talking points. She has gone from 1) voting for the use-of-force resolution, to 2) questioning the intelligence that formed the basis of that vote, to 3) arguing that the Bush administration distorted the intelligence, to 4) saying she didn't regret giving Bush authority to use force but did regret the way he used that authority, to 5) saying the resolution never would have come to a vote if Congress knew then what it knows now, to 6) saying that Congress wouldn't have voted for the resolution if Congress knew then what it knows now, to 7) saying that she wouldn't have voted for the resolution if she knew then what she knows now.
Rookie mistake?

[ntmessage]

A speech is not the same as a vote. Obama had nothing on the line except defending a seat that was uncontested until Keyes carpet bagged.

Obama may win this silly conflated rhetorical battle, but loses any tangible argument on commander for chief foreign policy. This is not an intellectually equivalent contrast.

Until the Obama supporters can come up with real tangible reasons to vote FOR him as opposed to against someone else, he loses in the general against McCain.