No more hugs as Obama tears into McCain

RENO, Nev. — So much for hugging in church. A day after Barack Obama and John McCain exchanged an embrace during a faith forum at a California megachurch, Obama called the U.S. economy a disaster thanks to "John McCain's president, George W. Bush," and chided his Republican rival's campaign team for trying to make him look unpatriotic and weak.

At a town hall meeting with several hundred union members, Obama said he had had a great conversation with McCain at the forum at Saddleback Church sponsored by the popular evangelical pastor Rick Warren. The two candidates shook hands, briefly hugged and stood onstage with Warren, the first time they appeared together in public since the end of the primary season.

But Sunday, after praising the Arizona senator as a "genuine American patriot," the Democratic presidential hopeful got back to business _ methodically tearing into McCain's health care, tax and energy policies and criticizing his advisers.

"McCain says 'Here's my plan, I'm going to drill here, drill now which is something he only came up with two months ago when he started looking at polling," Obama said of McCain's energy policy.

The GOP hopeful has become a vocal proponent of offshore oil drilling as a way to ease U.S. dependence on foreign oil and has criticized Obama for failing to embrace it as a way to help bring down oil prices. Obama noted that McCain had long opposed lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling.

The Illinois senator also criticized McCain's advisers as "the same old folks that brought you George W. Bush. The same team." He noted many had been lobbyists in Washington before McCain asked them to sever all lobbying ties.

Obama added, "They say this other guy is unpatriotic, or this guy likes French people. That's what they said about Kerry," referring to the 2004 Democratic nominee who lost narrowly to Bush. "They try to make it out like Democrats aren't tough enough, aren't macho enough. It's the same strategy."

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers responded, "John McCain has never questioned Sen. Obama's patriotism, but he clearly does question Sen. Obama's experience and judgment, and they do have profound differences of opinion on the best way to reduce our dependence on Mideast oil, bring jobs back to America and keep our nation safe."

Earlier this summer, McCain handed day to day operation of his campaign to Steve Schmidt, a veteran GOP strategist who was a spokesman for Bush during the 2004 campaign. Most of his other top advisers are longtime loyalists who have worked for McCain for years.

Even so, Obama stepped to McCain's defense when a voter criticized his Vietnam era record. A Naval aviator, McCain spent 5- 1/2 years as a prisoner of war there after being shot down and badly wounded.

"Respectfully I'm going to disagree with you on McCain and his service," Obama said. "I think his service was honorable. He deserves respect."

Comments

[AnnieinOR]

you can respect him for all of us, O... it's kinda hard to respect a liar and a cheat who plagerizes a russian author and plays like Bosnian sniper fire story... and knows the answer to a question he hasn't even been asked. As my dearly departed dad used to say, respect is earned not given away for free.

[mostlybluedot]

You bet. I've had enough of it for awhile.

[AfricanLived]

Get em Obama- we simply cannot afford to lose the WH for another 4 years... sickens my stomach to think so....

[personalpolitical]

Goooo Obama! Tear him apart! I can't wait for the debates when the media will have to air your responses to McCain's lies and garbage.

[4wehttam]

Just heard McBush wasn't in a "cone of silence" like Warren had said. Most of us here already knew that. His answers were too quick, how stupid does his camp think we are. Obviously he heard O's interview or had a transcript of the questions. The religious right would steal from their own mother if they thought it benefited them. I hope all of you trolls are happy with yourselves for defending and applauding this confused, old goofball that has the audacity to run for potus.

[Americatortures]

What..Christians lying right to our faces on national t.v.?? happens every day on those religious freak shows where the bitter folks send the Christian charlatans their hard-earned cash-hoping some mystery man will pray for them!!!

[NTO08]

It's a contact sport...Obama got schooled in it...it's tough out there, isn't it? Quit whining.

[edwcorey]

I guess you like the old-fashioned world. Maybe we should let them duke it out somewhere, winner take all. Grow up.

[kasinca]

Go Barack! Hit him hard and hit him often. He is a liar even if he is an old man yelling at the clouds.

[NTO08]

And Obama tells the truth? When was the last time you were out of the funny farm?

[wanj]

Go get 'em Obama! Tear that old man into little teenie tiny pieces.... he's getting off too easy with all the nastyness he's been spewing lately!

Obama '08!

[NCYvonne]

I wish Obama would stop with the "McCain is an honorable man" crap. McCain doesn't deserve the deference, especially after essentially calling Obama a traitor. Every speech by him and his surrogates have to go at McCain and put him on the defensive. They need to turn every single question into a dig at McCain.

[starfire426]

Not the way that Senator Obama will be able to win this election...remember, he is the candidate of "change" meaning that his campaign simply cannot use the Bush/Rove/Cheney/Clinton/McCain style of politics (smears, chicanery, lies, etc.). He will win the election by being a man of his word (novel idea, don't you think?) staying on message regarding the many issues we as Americans are facing as well as dealing with global issues as they come to the forefront.

One of the most masterful ways to defeat an opponent is by paying homage to his/her accomplishments...in doing so they are made to look foolish and petty if they continue to attack you and at the same time you've taken the"high road" ...giving your brand credence while diminishing your opponent's.

[Americatortures]

Thanks,Dr.Phil!...Hope Obama brings up the Keating 5 banking scandal by 7:00AM !!

[TheFirst]

I agree! Most people know what McCain went through. Whether they consider him an honorable man is another story. However, it is indeed time for Barack to really ROAR, and let McCain & Company know that there is a list of discrepancies concerning McCain that all people need to know. He needs to fuse those discrepancies with the main issues concerning the people today.

[roshni]

I agree - being tortured does not per se make him honorable, especially considering the rest of who he is.