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

[research]

Now we know you know, Obama: Perceived Weakness is the Democrats greatest Weakness.

Attack, attack, attack,

nastiness, as appropriate.

[DebbieinPhx]

Obama had better have a pit bull in the wings for VP. I keep light candles and hoping for Colin Powell, but I know that's a pipe dream. Still.... if only......­..

[insanityfollows]

You can't possibly be serious about Colin Powell!! He gave himself up to the GOP, was used as a pawn, and wasn't allowed to nor did he use his good judgement after that. As a civilian who just keeps up with the news, when he sat in front if the UN trying to justify the reasons to go to war in Iraq, my stomach turned, because I knew it wasn't true, and I couldn't believe that Colin Powell was saying it. He knew damned well, what the truth was. Obama's the man, but Powell??? No, never.

[research]

Clark is THE pit bull Obama needs.

[Tulka2]

"The best part of his life was the leaving of it".

That's been rattling around my head. I don't know where it's from, but it makes me think of McCain's prisoner of war experience because that is certainly the best part of his life. It's the only good thing that he ever did and he sort of slipped on a banana peel to get there. All the rest of his life, before and after, is a story of dissipation, beligerence, betrayal (of his wife and first family) and the selling of his soul. Even the much touted McCain/Fiengold campaign finance refore bill allows both parties to now shovel more money into the media maw than ever before in history. No wonder he wants to tell (and maybe even steal) war stories.

[Agentlady007]

I like the way you write. I like what you have to say.

[dartagnan]

I kinda suspect Obama has been layin' in the weeds (as we say out here in eastern Ory-gun) and is now ready to get in there and tear into McBush. Sure hope so anyway.

[BlueZoo]

It's about damned time! I've been mighty sick of Obama parrying when he should have been thrusting against McCain's jugular! McCain's an experienced politco who is well-versed in the ways of political campaigning. Obama's a neophyte by comparison but he'd better be a quick study or he will lost this election!

[dartagnan]

Obama was schooled in Chicago politics. That's a tough school. The neo-cons who call him "Obambi" and think he's soft are in for a nasty surprise. As was Hillary. (Remember Hillary?)

[BlueZoo]

I really doubt Obama was anywhere near the infamous Daly machine, mainly because it was before his time. I don't believe Obama's soft, just inexperienced. As for Hillary, that broad is Tough with a capital "T" and knows the old campaign ways as well as anyone around today. Obama could and should take lessons from her! It's time to take the gloves off! I'm, frankly, worried about the outcome of this election. It can still be lost by the Democrats, despite all the beating of chests in here. I've watched far too many elections lost with the word "soft" - soft on crime (the Willy Horton ad), soft on defense (the Goldwater ad), etc. Republicans had Swift Boaters way before Kerry ran but they were in back rooms in those days. We've got to get serious about this election!

[Tulka2]

Are you going to believe McCain was in a "cone of silence" because they tell you so, or are you going to believe your lying eyes and ears? Also...? Both candidates should have been required to pee in an Olympic cup, cause baby, i ain't never seen such an old nag so juiced up. Double negative. Coloquial. Wow.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Pfizer to the rescue.

[Agentlady007]

I wish for one day all of you people would pay more attention to George Bush Jr. instead of fighting and alalyzing life as we know it for the new contenders yet to come-and help the Bushies during their final hours with Georgie boy as president. He could use this energy.

[Tulka2]

I think you say an interesting thing, but cannot be sure. Do you mean to say we should put good energy into our surrvival because G. W. Bush is still president and who knows what he might get up to? Amen to that.

[Agentlady007]

Yes I do mean that. Thank you. Ignoring a president so much during this critical time of fascism and transition is not in the the best interest for this country. Yes, we need to stop the totalitarian dominance, and at the same time, comtinue to exist in a social order to conform. With this in mind, Bush deserves us to still keep an eye on him in check.

[BlueZoo]

Small point but there is no George Bush, Jr! There's George Herbert Walker Bush and our current President, George Walker Bush. The latter is the one who phoned Phelps on his eighth gold medal and said "Tell your Mother that me and 41 were honored having our photo taken w/her." That idiot didn't even acknowledge that "41" was his own Father! I was mortified at his total lack of respect.

[Agentlady007]

Sometimes it's hard to remember he was just an ordinary drug abuser, and then recovered and became our president.

[solvseus]

If you're trying to infer that Clinton and Edwards aren't honorable men because they cheated on their wives (which I actually somewhat agree with), then you should also have a problem with McCain, who also cheated on his first wife. After she was in a car accident. Then left her for his current, richer wife. Funny that everyone forgets that part when attacking people like the Clenis. Who's still with his wife. They are also joined by "honorable" men like Rudy 9u11iani and Newt Gingrich, among others. Not excusing either Dem, but why ignore the Repubs? IOIYAR?

[mccabe49]

McCain is another George W. Bush. Perhaps worse I fear. He was a poor student and apparently a subpar pilot. When I think of McCain two things come to mind: Grandpa from the Simpsons (which someone has already stated) and that Pink Floyd song ......and the worms ate into his brain. McCain is very creepy. - "My friends."

[fedupwiththis]

This is more like it! The best think Barack can do is get Johnny flustered and frustrated and he can only do that on offense. If John gets rattled his true self will come out and it isn't this super nice, well controlled and modulated "friend". It's a nasty wicked tempered troll. Love to see the MSM deal with THAT.

[Mecklen]

We all need to tear into McDeath and the whole sorry sub-nation of neocon rethugs and their wacko holy-roller base. C'mon, it's a war. Kumbaya would have been great, but the other side wants blood. Let's eviscerate them - starting with that posturing warmongering phoney who heads their ticket.

[Redrover666]

Good gravy!!
When do you go out? Could you please post your hours? Cause you're freakin scary!

[MeanGreenMachine]

Scary like Blackwater scary?

[Querent]

Scarier than some schlub who uses the "number of the beast" as part of his logon?

[gurukalehuru]

The thing I loved about the speech where he said Republicans act like they are proud of their ignorance, was the line preceding that. "They know they are lying." He said it in an off hand way, not mean or angry, and it passed without a ripple.
He needs to keep repeating that. "They not only are lying, they know they are lying."

[PAposter]

You can hug him, as long as your twisting a knife in his gut at the same time. Come on Barack you're a basketball player, start trash talking. You know he has a temper, keep baiting him until he explodes, like a witness being questioned by Perry Mason, then act surprised and concerned about his behavior.

[rosal]

I was at the Town Hall meeting. He was strong, direct, full of knowledge and facts, and to the point. He is down to earth, practical, common sense, and very presidential.
McExxon cannot win on the issue of judgement. Once he voted for the war, and voted 95% of the time with Bush, he lost the claim of good judgement. All we need is to look around to the state of this county.
If anybody thinks that he has as good of a judgement as his twin, they are beyond help.

[dartagnan]

LOL! One of McBush's ads begins with the words: "Washington is broken"? Hello? John McBush has been in Congress for 26 FRICKIN YEARS! He is one of the most powerful people in the Senate! If Washington is broken (which it definitely is) he helped break it. And now he expects us to let him fix it? Please.

[JADE2002]

I wish they would use your words in an ad, it would really hit home.

[mccabe49]

excellent point dart and great post. I agree with Jade. Obama should use that in one of his ads

[madhatter123]

Could someone tell me how to get all this advice through to Obama? He does need to get tougher and to go back to his message of change and stop the flipping! As a supporter from the beginning, I feel O's message got lost after the primaries. Is it just me?

[Cloud7Raymaker]

McCain has been running a ton of negative ads in our area, with little in the way of response from Obama on the airwaves. Obama needs to tie McCain to the Republican party and tie the Republicans (rightly) to the massive number of governmental & policy failures over the past decade.

The entire media system is also right-leaning unfortunately - I see McCain get a lot of free passes from "journalists" that wouldn't happen if we had thorough and accurate reporting from the MSM. Therein lies part of the reason O's message continues to be lost.

[kylie]

People need to let the networks know how biased they are.

Boycott the sponsers, find out the products they are trying to pitch.

Call in large numbers.

MSNBC/CNN/­(FOX--don'­t bother--it's a given.) It's going to get worse unless viewers speak up.

[Ish11]

I feel the same thing, but the change massage in the primaries didn't have substance. If it wasn't for HRC's pandering on gas, he would have lost the nomination because the change massage was played out. He need to tell the people the substance now.

[djnoll]

Here's a thought: Maybe instead of demanding that Obama, who has his hands tied until he is the official nominee and has a platform to work from (albeit a Clinton controlled one at best), why don't Americans who still have functional brains and know how to call someone a liar and a coward, stand up and do so! Do it loudly, clearly, and constantly at every political rally, town hall, and anywhere the media is broadcasting! Senator Obama said on March 18th of this year "Not This Time!" He was right, and now it is up to us to say it too.

As for Obama's handlers, David Axelrod et al., write them (use the contact page at Obama for President site) and let them know that you want a stronger, more easily understood attack on McCain. It is time for them to let this man have at McCain. People make a big deal about McCain's explosive temper, well, how about Obama express the explosive temper of out of work steel workers or clothing workers or teachers who cannot teach or just parents who are watching helplessly as their children's futures are compromised with poor education and expensive food and homelessness. It is time for political correctness to take a backseat to honesty, truth, integrity, and simple, honorable solutions to this nation's problems. It is time for the real Obama to step up and show how to fight and win, Chicago-style!

[abetteramerica]

I am amazed at the individuals who watched the town hall mtgs atRick Warren's church. McCain didn't answer one question with a sense of concrete ideology; when asked about who is rich "With at least 5 million" and "I want everyone to be rich" What idiotic statements. First of all everyone won't become rich so what is McCain's philosophy to help middle class and the poor? Then he wants to put more money in Iraq, wants to bomb Iran; interested in pursuing an incident against Russia, well McCain since you won't raise any taxes how will you continue to pay for the stupid war, in case you haven't noticed we are in a recession and cannot go on as business as usual. McCain a christian , since when???? Just because you attend church doesn't make you a Christian. McCain is a joke a scary joke