Obama Makes A Gaffe: Says He's On Banking Committee

Responding to an Israeli reporter's question Wednesday on his commitment to protect the Jewish state, Barack Obama pointed to a bill "we passed" in the U.S. Senate Banking Committee that tightens sanctions and authorizes divestment from Iran. "My committee," he called it.

Except that he isn't a member of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

"Just this past week, we passed out of the out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee - which is my committee - a bill to call for divestment from Iran as way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don't obtain a nuclear weapon," Obama said at a press conference in Sderot, Israel.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[LucieLee]

Why is this even an issue? I just went to Obama's Senate website and he indeed was the author of the Iran Sanctions Enable Act of 2007, in which he worked with both chairman of the House and Senate banking committees, Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd. This bill had to go through both these committees before he went to the floor of each chamber, so the very fact that he referred to the banking committee as "his committee".....in the case of this particular bill, that he was referring to, it was his committee at the moment, because he worked with it to get this bill passed out of committee. Incidently the bill was passed.

[rollingdivision]

What a none issue, he makes serious policy shifts for personal political expediency which are important.

[rollingdivision]

Old fool, he doesn't know what committees he's on.

[joeyp404]

Thank you for that!

[PixelMarx]

And you don't even know what planet you're on. This was a slip of the tongue. When you insert "Bill" instead of "committee" into that sentence, it's a lot clearer and factually accurate. Let's see if you can go through a day without confusing one word...

[rollingdivision]

From what I can tell he was against the bill he mentioned that had just came out of committee and for a different bill which didn't. But he claims the bill that came out "includes provisions Obama offered last year in the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007 (S. 1430).". Whatever sanctions on Iran Obama supported in 2007, however, apparently did not constitute saber rattling of the kind, at that time he was raking Clinton over the coals about threatening Iran. So what was passed may have some element of what he proposed in S.1430 but his bill didn't get out of committee. And what he's bragging up to the Israelis, "saber rattling" aimed at Iran, is exactly what he's on record against. Maybe he was against it before he got to Israel and then he became for it.

[keepemhonest]

Unfortunately for Obama he misspoke. Too bad he did, the truth about the Bill is very impressive because IT WAS OBAMA'S BILL.

[lomein987]

Yeah - because Obama is hashing out Bills left and right. LoL.

At best, when they had time, an Obama aid probably read over the bill and told him "hey, its probably a good idea for you to tag your name to this bill"... A bill that someone else did all the leg-work on.

Writing a bill and sponsoring a bill while on the campaign trail are two completely different things...but Obama even wants more credit than that because apparantly it also came out of HIS committee.

I notice hes also been trying to take credit for the surge in Iraq lately also - saying that he always knew the surge would work. Yeah, hes a new kind of politician. LoL.

wow.

[lomein987]

it was alot of peoples bill...
several sponsors and about 60 co-sponsors.
i supposed Brownback should receive the same sort of credit for the bill.... no???

[kid5rivers2]

I pass!

[phae100]

What can be done about the msm? This election period has pulled back the curtain and revealed, for once and for all, that our media is an unrepetentaly biased pawn of the corporate elite, and virtually worthless in terms of reporting real news. We all see that. There's no use complaining about them or holding our breath and hoping they finally "get it" and give us balanced reporting. They are doing what they have always done, keeping the rich white guys in power. This is their job. Black people in America have always known this and that's why we are used to blunt conversations about the hypocrisy in America, such as the things Rev Wright said.

But now that we all see the corporate media for what it is, what is to be done? When blacks were the only ones who saw this blatant racism, unbalanced reporting, vilification and hypocrisy day after day, the response was to talk about it in private, affirming the truth among ourselves, while the situation got worse and worse until the black race, in the public mind, became synonymous with crime, poverty, and degredation.

Now that all democrats' eyes are open to the media's tactics, our response can be more powerful. Let's not sit on our asterisks waiting around for the media and "powers-that-be" to have a moral awakening, or get tripped up in their lies and change. That was what blacks have tried for decades - centuries, actually - and it doesn't work.

[joeinvt]

Hey at least he didn't give LBJ an important role in passing civil rifgts legislation.

[joeyp404]

Yeah, because LBJ had nothing to do with that. As no president would. So why do we elect these guys anyway?

[vbwr1]

When Obama said he he was on the banking committe, he said "which is my committe". What he clearly meant to say was "which is my bill" -- meaning the divestment bill.

Not a good idea to attack him on this issue since The Hill reported in June that McCain was not even aware that Obama had introduced the bill: http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2008/06/04/mccain-unaware-of-obamas-iran-divestment-bill/

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

There are what I call verbal typos and mistakes that show a candidate does not know what they are talking about. 0bama has made his fair share of verbal typos but very few mistakes. The underling facts are what you say 0bama did contribute important language in this bill. Then it was sent to the Banking committee. So it was never more than a hiccup.

This is far different than McBush all of a sudden saying he named the Steel curtain football players instead of the Green Bay Packers OL when interrogated in Hanoi. This was a deliberate attempt to pander with a lie because he was being interviewed in PA.

The same is true about McBush's two latest Anbar Awakening gaffes or lies. McBush changed the facts to try and attack 0bama. The Anbar Awakening started far in advance of the surge and the sheik McBush mentions that was protected by the surge actually was killed during the surge.

Also McBush's gaffes and lies are a pattern that shows he is far past his prime and will say anything to get elected.

[lomein987]

that is because Obama wasnt the only one sponsoring and introducing the bill...
it had several sponsors and in the neighborhood of about 60 co-sponsors.

[realtalk]

I find it funny that the RNC wants to jump on this gaffe by Obama when John McCain has never made ANY effort at all to try to stop the American government from working with US companies which do business with Iran. Obama at least took a step to make sure that Iran was NOT benefitting from government money!

John McCain ON THE OTHER HAND, voted AGAINST a 2005 legislation that would have toughened sanctions against Iran.

John McCain voted AGAINST legislation, which would have barred foreign subsidiaries of US companies from doing business with the Iranian regime.

MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK JOHN McCAIN WHY HE DID THAT!!

[Scott1560]

I find it funny that whenever Obama makes a mistake, a "gaffe," it is almost always countered & excused on this site by pointing out a mistake/gaffe made by McCain. Of course, this is a tactic taken on most political sites, be they left or right so not exclusive to HuffPo. Enough already!

Would it be too difficult to ask that the mistakes be debated on an individual basis, that both men be held to the same standards? Face it, they both make mistakes and both the DNC & RNC will respond, but that's politics & spin. For voters, the proverbial two wrongs do not make a right should apply. If McCain decides to rob a 7/11 for extra funding it does not give Obama a free pass to do the same. They'd both be behind bars.

[realtalk]

I find it funny that the RNC wants to jump on this gaffe by Obama when John McCain has never made ANY effort at all to try to stop the American government from working with US companies which do business with Iran. Obama at least took a step to make sure that Iran was NOT benefitting from government money! WHAT DID JOHN McCAIN DO

John McCain ON THE OTHER HAND, voted AGAINST a 2005 legislation that would have toughened sanctions against Iran.

John McCain voted AGAINST legislation, which would have barred foreign subsidiaries of US companies from doing business with the Iranian regime.

MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK JOHN McCAIN WHY HE DID THAT!!

[realtalk]

I find it funny that the RNC wants to jump on this gaffe by Obama when John McCain has never made ANY effort at all to try to stop the American government from working with US comapnies whcih do buciness with Iran. Obama at least took a step to make sure that Iran was NOT benefitting from government money!

John McCain ON THE OTHER HAND, voted AGAINST a 2005 legislation that would have toughened sanctions against Iran.

John McCain voted AGAINST legislation, which would have barred foreign subsidiaries of US companies from doing business with the Iranian regime.

MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK JOHN McCAIN WHY HE DID THAT!!

[PumaAnn]

Obama's "gaffes" reveal his character.

[pupbayer]

Yep.

[Danigirl65]

Speaking of gaffes - I don't suppose you remember any McCain gaffes?? If you can't remember them, I suppose it is because of the massive quantity of them!!!

[zippywpinhead]

indeed they do. O.bama misspoke, saying 'my committee' rather than 'my bill', an ancillary and inconsequential mistake due to the fatigue of his whirlwind tour. Meanwhile, Mc.Cain makes huge blunders on issues that are of central importance to his campaign positions, errors that expose his fundamental lack of understanding on the subjects he addresses. Also revealing is the manner that each candidate reacts when they err; the O.bama camp simply pointed out that he misspoke and gave the context. Whereas the Mc.Cain camp, when confronted with his many gaffes, becomes defensive and tries to further spin and distort, while also attacking O.bama, going as far as to accuse him of desiring holocaust or wishing failure in Iraq- both rather disgusting and contemptible, even for a republican...

[tlk221]

check out -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPyGJ6D7Bcg

[CocteausTwin]

Since I do not go to CNN for anything, was their video?

[LORISNJ]

Damn, Senator O*bama is the smartest man on the planet. Seriously.

Think about what this "gaffe" did...he misstated and the Republicans jumped (like the fools that they are) and to make their point, the country gets to find out that junior Senator Obama sponsored and introduced a bill in May 2007 and it was passed in committee.

"An Obama spokesman tells CNN "it was his bill, not his committee," referring to the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act that the Illinois senator sponsored and introduced in May 2007. The measure was then referred to the Banking Committee, and passed a vote of 19-2 on July 17." FROM THE ARTICLE

Senator O*Bama - brilliant!

[layman]

It will be his committee when he's president.
He's the confidence to say it.

[pupbayer]

That's not a gaffe. That's a lie.

[CocteausTwin]

Yeah like claiming you were ducking sniper fire with your daughter in Bosnia. Difference same, eh?

[pupbayer]

BIG difference. I can't defend her saying it but it was an exaggeration. At least she was IN Bosnia and was told there might be sniper fire.

This is an out and out lie from Obama.

[Birdman]

Really hmmmmm McCain does this several times a day, but we hav ebeen polite enough fo rth emnost part to say it was a gaffe well from here on out if McCain is not right on soimethign I will yell IT"S A LIE. I will say one thing my voice will be pretty tired saying it daily till November.

[GoldCanyonGal]

He doesn't what Committee he's on...he hasn't been in his Senate seat enough to remember...evidently he doesn't know about whatever Afaganistan Committee thing he on (or Chairs) since he hasn't been there at all....

[DRaymond]

He said that it was his committee rather than his bill...If anything it was an UNDERSTATEMENT of his involvement.

This is nothing compared to saying that there is a border between Iraq and Pakistan or having the timeline of the surge completely wrong.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I lie would be taking credit for a bill he did not write part of or cosponsor. 0bama did both on this bill.

Try again, this was a verbal typo that did not change the fact that 0bama had the idea to go after Iran investments.

[BrighterStar]

This is far worse than any of the McCain gaffes that have been hyped on this site. This was more than just a slip of the tongue. He was trying to make a significant argument that depended on him being on that committee.

[neenj]

are you serious? please tell me you are being sarcastic.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

He wrote amendments to the bill and cosponsored the bill which means he had a major part in getting the bill passed in the committee. This was a verbal typo, not one of McBush's attempts to change reality to attack 0bama.

A lie is McBush trying to blame 0bama for high gas prices when McBush was in congress for 26 years and did nothing to lower the price of oil or ween us off of oil. McBush never voted for alternative fuels while 0bama has. Worse yet McBush voted against offshore drilling and has not put a bill through congress to start offshore drilling. McBush has no honor or ethics.