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

[foreffectivegovernment]

Laura Bush said of George W. Bush, "He's learned a lot about ranching since that first year when he tried to milk the horse. What's worse, it was a male horse."

This is a very good comparison between Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and George.

[rmabelis]

Time to face reality. This is a war we cannot win and cannot end. The only way to get out is to simply withdraw our troops. Iraq then descends into chaos. The Iranians and possibly the Turks invade. The Republicans have a field day as they call the Democrats gutless cowards. But if the troops stay the United States continues to drain its wealth into a rat hole in an effort having no possibility of success. We end up as an impoverished second rate power. This truly is a no-win scenario. One for which Hillary has no better answer than anyone else.

[foreffectivegovernment]

Senator Joe Biden is the only one who has a workable plan. When he is in the new Clinton administration, he can put it into practice and both get the troops out and save the country of Iraq.

I think we should let him try. That is my dream team since Senator Obama refuses to join my old dream team of Clinton/Obama because of his ego. "If you don't play by my rules, I'll take my ball and go home with my young college educated first-time, (meaning temporary), voters.

Many of them have stated they will "riot in the streets" and "vote for McCain" if Obama doesn't win so they can rightfully be called "Temporary Democrats" as opposed to those of us who have stuck by the Democratic Party through thick and thin.

[amberbreeC]

Exactly rmabelis,
We are not only becoming one of the dumbest countries of the world, but poorest (with many meanings). Our financial and moral debt increases, while our families decrease.

[cafemocha]

Cowadunga Hillary! It's 3:00 AM, do you know it's time to milk the cow? Sheeeeesh, what an udderly silly tact for HRC Animal Farm to adopt. The only usefulness of the cow milking skill is to be the 3:00 AM Cowmander in Briefs. She should steer her horns at McCow and state the following:
Frankly, anyone who goes around singing "Bomb bomb bomb Iran" and "There's going to be more wars, I'm sorry to tell you this, there's going to be more wars" is someone wholely unfit to be the CIC.
Meanwhile back on the ranch, remember that the more negative a campaign become, the more likely "nice people" and "new voters" will get turned off, become disillusioned, and stay home, IMHO.

[wmholt]

HRC Animal Farm - maybe that explains why Hillary believes that all states are equal, just some states are more equal than others.

[AWest]

Ha, great post "cafemooocha"! Thanks for a good laugh. We can all use one I think.

One thing I wonder is what Wesley Clark is doing hanging out with that shady bunch. I thought he had more integrity than that.

[amberbreeC]

Haha, great comment cafemocha. Point driven home!

[ginnypoo]

Yea, the 'new' dems that threatened us....nice people....gonna give us war if they don't get their way....seems to me if you are really against it you will vote dem, if you vote repug then you are voting to destroy America....so why would you stay home? Oh, because your a big baby and wish death on your opponents....yea, they really are very nice (sic).

[CMLA]

Has anyone asked themselves why this post even ran? Or why it was put all the way at the top as a headline? Why does an obscure general, making a hickoid comparison between milking cows and getting out of Iraq get top billing?

[Grannysue]

yup, I just bet Bill and Hill have milked alot of cows!

[efranklin]

We need a president that has real-world experience milking cows ... with Sinbad and Sheryl Crow (http://tinyurl.com/32u36b).

[sammy333]

.. but Hillary must be allowed to milk the 3am-call fear.

[mcfried]

It has been hours since one of my comments have been posted. I am beginning to hate this site. The issue I have with the cow comment, is the dismissiveness reguarding the war. I am attaching a video clip on the subject that was posted yesterday. I think it proves my point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwLaCb07lAs

[tester]

Another "I INVENTED THE INTERNET" moment.

The press (and I include prominent bloggers) should be careful not to create more "I invented the internet" or "Obama's campaign is a fairy tale" myths. Reading the Lt. General's comments left me quite a different impression than the headline suggests.

[petecook5]

I am a bonafide liberal. But I will vote McCain before I vote for that cow. How does decorating the white house christmas tree count as "experience?"

[TheRealMacDaddy]

Well folks in Mississippi know how to milk cows, and they know not to count their chickens before they hatch.

I just finished making 100 telephone calls to people in Mississippi and only had TWO say they were not going to vote for Sen. Obama. Both immediately stated they were Republicans and politely hung up.

But of the rest there was not a single one who said they were voting for Sen. Clinton. There were 4 who said they were undecided but were leaning heavily to Sen. Obama but would not commit until they cast a vote tomorrow.

As a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant (one who served in Commands under both Gen. Wesley Clark when he Commanded NATO and Gen Ballard when he was a Bird Colonel), I find it difficult that Gen. Ballard could make such a statement. Because we in the Army were basically always told when you have a mission you will do everything you can to accomplish it. So if I was told go milk that cow I would either milk it or I'd figure out how to milk it (it doesn't hurt that I worked at T.G. Leee Dairy in Orlando before joining the Army :>) ). I guess what General Ballard is really saying here is that the Senior Leadership in the Military does not know what it is doing. Because all President Obama would have to do is say, "I want to start withdrawing our soldiers from Iraq NOW" "Bring me a plan to make it happen". You know, kind of like the exact opposite of what Pres. Bush did to get us in there.

And as far as Sen. Clinton's being a person who could "recognize a cow" (ostensibly, the perils of the war) and not milk it (get the troops out? has conflict-management experience?), I offer this...She was not able to recognize a quagmire or a boondoogle so how can we be sure she can recognize a cow? After all she had an NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) that she would not read that said this isn't a COW this is a Rhinocererous, mess with it and you will get hurt.

[Viper]

I just want to know what Clinto0n's Military experience is?

Was it hosting the W.H. Christmas Party each year?

Neither was in the Military. Its really not much of a contrast, other than one supported the biggest foreign policy and miltary blunder in modern times and still cant bring herself to say, its a screw up that should never have happened..

Regards

[kishaaann]

Because of Clinton's vote FIVE MORE AMERICAN SOLDIERS DIED TODAY!!! I say Obama go get her.

[cdnnewsjunky]

It's obvious this brainchild doesn't have a clue about cows, himself. It's easier than falling off a barn to milk a cow, as long as that cow is yours!

Maybe, if you didn't try to milk other people's cows, you wouldn't get kicked in the head so often!

[rbspickles]

I can't believe they are equating a bloody disasterous war with milking a freakin' cow. How many cow milkers get blown up daily? How many women and children get mutilated by milk cows? This is the most ASSININE comparison I've EVER heard! I would have exploded at anyone who exploits our troops in this manner. Ridiculous and foolish!