McCain Takes Page From Clinton: Attacks Obama On Committee Chairmanship

Here's more evidence that John McCain is looking to the primary campaign of Hillary Clinton as a template for his own race against Barack Obama.

On Tuesday, Sen. Jim DeMint, a surrogate for the Arizona Republican, sent a letter to Barack Obama urging him to hold a subcommittee hearing on Afghanistan (Obama is ranking member of your Subcommittee on European Affairs, and NATO is heavily involved in the Afghan war). If that line sounds familiar, it's because it was an argument repeatedly deployed by Clinton during the Democratic primary.

Read DeMint's letter:

"Dear Senator Obama, In the coming days, I understand you will travel to Afghanistan for the first time and visit with a few of our European partners. Like my travels to these regions, I trust this trip will afford you a unique opportunity to see the facts on the ground firsthand and witness the work of our brave men and women who sacrifice so much to secure our freedom. [...]

I am concerned our Subcommittee has not held any hearings on these issues over the last two years. With oversight of NATO relations and its role in Afghanistan, I believe it is time for us to focus closely on these issues. As Ranking Member of your Subcommittee on European Affairs, I would welcome a chance to hold a hearing on NATO's mission in Afghanistan upon your return.

The success of Afghanistan is critical to the future of NATO and vital to our efforts to defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban. As the situation in Afghanistan grows more tense, it is time for us to hold a hearing on the mission there. I look forward to working with you to schedule this hearing."

As Clinton discovered, the accusation that Obama has failed to pursue his congressional responsibilities on Afghanistan can be politically effective. Obama has been on the campaign trail for the majority of the time since he ascended to ranking member of the subcommittee. And DeMint's letter reinforces the short amount of time that Obama has had on the job (and how much of that was spent running for President).

But the truth is, it would have been somewhat presumptuous for Obama to hold hearings on Afghanistan. Kabul is not in Europe. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on which Obama sits, is primarily in charge of holding hearings on Afghanistan. And Joseph Biden, the chair of that committee, has said that Obama has been deeply involved in that issue despite what DeMint and (during the primary) Clinton have said.

Comments

[JiminNC]

Suits me fine Sidneeee. Follow Hillaroony's plan exactly. You will not come as close as she did. Mrs. C.linton was a viable candidate for president. She will run and win in 2016. You will be drooling at best, wondering whatever happened to Ci.ndy.

[whiteboyblues]

Senator McCain I would like to know why you voted yes on going to war with Iraq?

[EgbertSouse]

Remind me again, how many senatorial votes has McCain made since his nomination?

He couldn't even make a vote for us veterans.

[xmw]

AND HAS LITTERALLY MISSED MORE VOTES THAT ANY OTHER SENATOR. FACT.

[lthuedk 1]

Again...

http://www.light-to-dark.com/soda_jerk.html

It's ideological. It's one flavor.

[coba]

well at least they are acknowledging that obama has enough experience to hold a subcommittee on afghanistan sensico.wo­rdpress.co­m

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

Because you know McCain has made all of his votes in the Senate....The nerves of these people...God forbidden McCain actually does the job he was elected to do.

[zippywpinhead]

I consider it a mixed blessing- while it galls me to no end that the man elected to represent me in the Senate cannot manage to make it into the office more than 40% of the time, most of his votes would have been against my wishes so maybe it isn't all that bad that he's AWOL so often after all...

[ohmercy]

Geeeze Sam, what's the matter? Are you jonsing for some good old fashikoned Hillary Hate?
Getting too boring over here without it?

Just go over to the New Yorker story. There are some tortured souls over there actually trying to twist logic to make Hillary responsible.
yccchhhh.

He didn't hold a hearing, so?
Why would it have been "somewhat presumptuous" for the head of a committee to hold a hearing on the subject that the committee represents?

Somewhat?
Either it is or it isn't?
sounds like more double speak meant to fuel up some more Hillary Hate and enable Obama.
sheesh.
grow up. He does fall short on occasion.
So?
Is it always "Mommy's" fault because someone calls him on it?

[thehardertheycome]

This is not about Hillary. This is about a used worn tactic.

Calm down.

[neesy08]

And advice that Rove gave Hillary!

[Soothsayer08]

Hillary Clinton and her "scorched earth" campaign has written the playbook for John Mcain. She is too blame for several of the attacks they have launched against Obama

[Herekitty]

McCain is show just how stupid he is.

Didn't Hillary lose!?

[Daly]

Following a looser strategy is sure to win wars

[ChiGuy]

Thanks, Hillary.
For absolutely nothing.

[ConcernedAmerican]

Did WcCain's campaign happen to notice that Hillary lost? Who imitates a loser?

[zippywpinhead]

he wants to be the third term of GWB, 'nuff said...

[philosopherkingtomas]

McCain-Bush is missing all the time,

[JustAnIdea]

I hope Senator McCain's campaign takes lots of pages from Senator Clinton. She lost.

[Actionmac]

to the point PERIOD.

[NickNas]

shhhhhhhhh­hhhhhhhhhh­hhhhh He might hear you!!!!!! : )

[StephenS]

With McCain missing so many votes on so many issues, I doubt that Obama will be hurt by this.

There's a small vulnerability here because, despite the support from Biden in the article, apparently Obama did miss 2 out 3 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on Afghanistan, and Obama missed the only SFR committee hearing on U.S. ambassadors to Afghanistan and Iraq.

[useyourbrain]

But he made a speech against the war when he wasn't a Senator. That's all that counts. Not that once in the Senate he voted for every war appropriation bill and voted against the Feingold amendment to set a time table for withdrawl. And he voted for FISA, and, on and on.

Does anyone else have buyer's remorse?

[Yurdelite]

"Does anyone else have buyer's remorse?"

No, considering the alternatives.