Obama To McCain: On Iraq, "You Were Wrong"

This was one of the most satisfying moments of the entire debate -- Barack Obama stepping up to the plate and telling John McCain that he was wrong on Iraq.

I know, you know it, everybody in America knows it -- except for John McCain. He was wrong, and that's not the judgment we need.

Here's video:

Update: Here's another video I put together with the evidence -- in John McCain's own words -- for Obama's line.

Comments

[MaDmOnKy]

Even Hans blix agreed Saddam never accounted for his WMD

http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/Bx27.htm

[allwrite]

You mean, he did not account for WMD he did not have.??

[bogues]

After watching the debate between Obama and McCain last night, it became clear to me why McCain is always talking about the town-hall meetings. In those meetings, he filibusters and tells one war story after the other. He does not answer questions that would reveal how he really feels and what he would actually do as President.

[cyndeewi]

Excellent Post Jed!

[BeerRun]

Jed that video was awesome. I personally think Obama won the Debate hands down. I notice CNN never talked about their ticker at the bottom of the screen as they always do, Why could that be, maybe that most of the Independents, and some Republicans like Obama better than McCain? I think I will personally enjoy watching the down fall of the Republican Party.They deserve every thing they get, you made your bed now lay in it.
One last thing for all of those who thinks Obama with his Health Care and other plans are leading us to Socialism. You better wake up because the Republicans are on are their game. Look at all the freedoms and rights we have given up under there rule. Plus now they want 700 Billion Dollars before they leave office. Sure sounds like Socialism too me. So Vote Republican and promote their Socialist Agenda McCain/Palin 08.

[hutch64]

Wow, great video. The Obama campaign's next ad?

[julescator]

If you want to know what you would get if McCain is President just look at:

The way he has run his campaign with gimmicks, stunts, lies and distortions
Look at his erractic behavior. He says one thing one day "The fundamentals of the economy are strong" on Monday. On Tuesday - "We are in a serious economic crisis". If this were a life and death decision that involved pusing the red button - he would have pushed it on Monday and you don't get a "do over" on Tuesday.

[deliriousgod]

mccain ran his campaign the way a car dealership runs a sales promotion

[BuddhaStar]

Why did McCain not look at Barack? What is he afraid of?

McCain is a angry bitter man.

Barack Obama was awesome in the debate. 2 thumbs up!

Obama/Biden 2008 and 2012.

[DS1Roger]

Flip side why didn't Obama look at Mcain either?
Both candidates were pontificating.
There was no real conversational exchanges. I would not expect that since it isn't one of Obamas strong points.
Nice to see that when Mcain had a point everyone here ignores it.
I would expect nothing less.
Why can't Obama admit any military sucesses? He can sure comment on their failures.

In the long run regardless of party we need to "Kick All of the old bums out office!" There is too much posturing for position and power games where the real Americans get ignored. All of Washington seems to believe the world revolves around them. It doesn't.

[speeddeeps]

I dont think we watch the same debate, but O did look McKeating

[alilamos]

Obama definitely addressed McCain repeatedly by John. When Obama spoke, he generally looked back and forth from the audience to McCain to Jim. When McCain spoke, Obama looked back and forth from McCain to his notes, to Jim. Throughout the entire debate, McCain did not once address Obama directly by his name, and never let his vision even veer past Jim, which is why he is always looking towards the right, away from Obama. Extremely disrespectful in a debate. Obama probably would have engaged more, as Jim kept urging them both, but, if you keep trying to talk to someone and they refuse to look at you or address you directly, you generally step back a bit, because you can't build a dialogue.

[alilamos]

Looking at the attached video, I am laughing that you could say Obama didn't look at McCain either. Did you watch the video on this page???

[cyndeewi]

No flip side dS1Roger.. Obama was looking that man straight in the face when he was telling him that he was wrong.. Jealousy gets you no where!

[bitterindependent]

mmmmm....i don't know what debate you were watching, but clearly obama was staring mccain down throughout the entire debate......just admit that mccain was stinking up the podium.....we know that you don't want to vote for him..

[jayronc]

Im having trouble reconciling two statements by mccain. he says on one hand that the surge has been a success. he then turns around and says that it is fragile and could fall apart at any moment if we leave. that to me doesnt sound like success. that sounds like a crutch. sure it will hold you up while youre using it, but pull it out, not so much any more. so which is it?

[scared4ALL]

I never thought of that and it's so true.

[All in All]

Jed Lewison, that Video was Great, however take a look at these Videos, one of them show McCain making the same Points and also a part of the clip shows McCain saying "Some People thought that the war was going too be easy, etc But I don't know where they got that from, Someone lied to those People.."

I'm just mentioning that part of the Video too You just in case You might want to use it in a remake of the Video that You already made (Your Video Is Great, Don't get Me wrong)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

It's in one of these Videos, trust Me it would add more Contrast too Your Video, if needed or wanted!

[JagPop]

"Bully" for you Obama supporters.

(Disclosure: I support America)

After Obama said "you were wrong about"
quick war, wmd, being greeted as liberators, no Shia/Sunni violence,
Obama said "the question is"
who is better equipped to make good decisions about how we use our military.

Obama wasn't a senator in 2002. He didn't have a vote to give, a decision to make. In 2002 he gave a talk to local voters -- TALK, LOCAL.

AIPAC wasn't listening in 2002.

In Sept 2007 he had a vote to give, a decision to make. It was time to demonstrate how he would lead. The Kyl-Lieberman Amendment was designed to authorize Bush to attack Iran. This amendment is the closest parallel to the 2002 decision to authorize Bush to attack Iraq. These two decisions are the MOST IMPORTANT a senator could make thus far this millenia.

How did Obama demonstrate his leadship qualities? He led by diving under his desk! Obama didn't even vote! If Obama had voted against Kyl-Lieberman he would have lost his invitation to speak at AIPAC.

He didn't lose your support or vote.


Hmmm...perhaps he IS equipped to make good decisions. He understands YOU perfectly, he knows how to lead YOU. If the Democrats do not try to impeach Cheney, if the Democrats continue to fund the war, if the Democrats support FISA lawlessness well they do not lose your support or vote.

(Full disclosure: I vote for those that represent ME, I vote Nader)

[mazees]

Nader does not represent you because he hasn't been elected to represent you, and won't be elected this time, either. The fact is, for better or worse, this country will not elect a third party candidate in the near future. I am an independent who has trouble finding a viable candidate every election that supports all my views. Therefore, I prioritize my views and vote according to the most important. For me, getting out of Iraq, reversing the ridiculous tax breaks for corporations, and the environment are the top three. It's clear to me which of the 2 candidates that have a chance of winning supports my priorities.

[JagPop]

Nader represents: what I believe in. Get it? Don't play democrat.

Getting out of Iraq is your priority. So the guy that said he would do one thing with respect to FISA *before* he nailed the nomination and something else *after* he nailed the nomination
is going to "withdraw" from Iraq?

"Withdraw" can be parsed many ways and politicians are pros at it. Or did he say "withdraw combat troops"? That can be parsed many other ways. I'll tell you what he will do. He will withdraw into large AIR bases from which we can protect ours and Israel's oil pipelines. A few Special Forces will be required too. Air attacks are great because our casualties are lower (too bad that collateral damage is much, much higher; but, we will simply put toe tags on them labeling them all terrorists).

Every time someone says something equivalent to "I want to vote for someone that can win"
they weaken our democracy (as if it could get more anemic). The democrats don't have to listen to voters that repeat loser lines like that. They don't have to listen and they don't. Did they seriously try to impeach Cheney. NO. And why not? Because they don't have to listen to you (anemic democracy). Did they stop funding the war? NO. And why not? Because they don't have to listen to you (anemic democracy).

Every time one of you surrender your vote to the lesser of two evils you weaken our democracy, our country.

[julescator]

What does all that have to do with mcCain being Wrong on he said we would be seen as liberators, Wrong on Saddam had WMD, Wrong that Sunnis had never fought with the Shia, Wrong on going to Iraq in the first place? What does what you wrote have to do with the fact that Obama was right in what and said and McCain was wrong on the war in Iraq????? Please explain.

When asked a question - answer the question. Don't go on a diatribe of what the OTHER person did or didn't do. That really doesn't answer the question. It's called evasion and it makes it obvious that you agree with statement or you have no answer. This doesn't fly.

[bogues]

Nader is more behind the times than McCain. He had his day and it is now past. Period.

[Poyda]

BIGGEST GAFF OF THE NIGHT!!

McCAIN CONFUSES 'STRATEGY' AND 'TACTICS'

A strategy is a plan for achieving broad objectives. A tactic is a way of performing that strategic plan.

The strategy for Iraq is something along the lines of deploy economic, diplomatic and military power to create a stable democratic Iraq that is able to stand as an ally against terrorism in the Middle East . . . blah blah.

Obama correctly referred to the 'surge' as a 'tactic' - a way of practically arranging military forces so as to reduce insurgent violence in certain parts of the country. This being one tactic among many others, such as economic reconstruction etc, aimed at moving the US toward achieving its strategic objective. The surge, as a tactic, may be a stellar success, while the strategy remains unattained.

Of course, the strategy for Iraq has not been achieved (hence, troops coming home 'in defeat' language). So, if the 'surge' is a success, it cannot also be the strategy for Iraq.

This gaff is the largest gaff of the campaign. It reflects McCain's lack of any grasp of military concepts.

As Obama pointed out, we should not be arguing about 'tactics' (if so, let's talk about economic construction tactics etc), we are deciding who will be determining the strategy! And on the strategy, McCain/Bush have been spectacularly wrong. It is time for a new President and a new strategy that puts America first.

[gladys46]

An 8 year "orgy of spending" ... Obama remains a statesman, dignified and most presidential! I'm proud to support him wholeheartedly !!!


Obama/Biden08

[DevRock]

WHO CARES??? Do you really think Joe Blow American gives a crap if either guy knows the diff between a strategy and tactic? Talk about petty, microcosmic drivel.

[xigxag]

Obviously McCain cared since he was the one who condescendingly tried to play "gotcha" with Obama about the definition of tactic. So thanks for admitting that McCain's arguments were just "petty, microcosmic drivel."

[Thomaticus]

Well the war in IRAQ will be won, however, the war on TERROR cannot be considered victorious if Bin Laden isn't captured or killed. We've Identified Bin Laden as the perpetrator of 9/11 and its been 6 years.. yet he is still free. Our military, or intelligence, can't bring ONE man to justice? I know that they our Military could find Bin Laden, however, due to poor leadership their efforts are misplaced. You know its like searching for a needle in the haystack, but instead of searching the haystack you're searching in the grass first.

[Scott3843]

It cracks me up that in a recent interview, John McCain said that he knew how to find Osama bin Laden and he'll do it when he's President.

OK, so you've been a senator for umpteen years, and you have this little secret as to how to find bin Laden, but you're not going to tell anyone how to find him until you're in the Oval Office?

Preposterous. McCain is looking more and more pitiful as the seconds pass. Amen for that.

[CalifroniaMark]

Did anyone catch how McCain tried to make Obama look naive by saying Obama wanted to meet with Ahmadinejad without Precondition? Obama quoted Kissinger VERBATIM and McCain said Obama was wrong because "Kissinger never said the President, THE PRESS and Ahmadinejad should meet without precondition" The Press? Who said anything about the press? Obama corrected Him over and over again but McCain still ignored the reality of what was being said to live in His fantasy world.

McCain plays mind games and twist words so He can be right and look like He knows what He is talking about. What a sinister Idiot. Obama just ignored Him because He knows that McCain is not all there because to argue with a crazy person only makes you look crazy too.



OBAMA/BIDEN 2008

[lastmove]

The world is better off that Sadam is gone. Bush made mistakes but the war was a good idea.

[MRb1000]

YEAH I WONDER DID YOU FIGHT OVER THERE? WHO WAS IT GOOD FOR? WHY DID WE FIGHT. WHERE IS THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. HEY THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD GUY IN THIS WORLD, BUT SHOULD WE BE THE POLICE OF THE WORLD! WELL WE WOULD BE IN FIGHT WITH MANY COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD. I THINK YOU NEED TO SUITE UP. I DO NOT CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE! PUT YOU MOUTH WHERE YOU HEART IS!

UNTIL THEN SHUT UP!

[I See Lipstick and a PIG]

I signed up for an account on Huffington Post just to answer this idiotic post. I agree to the first person that responded to this. There are people like you that should either get a little more education or stick your head in the ground. The world is much worse off today, regardless of what psycho-therapy drugs you must be taken.

Someone needs to be held accountable for Iraq. And if America's children are going to be killed over there, we should be drafting them so Bush can provide an equal opportunity to all citizens: an unsure life span, bad veteran care and broken promises for education for our soldiers. That seems up his alley.

Before making uneducated comments, grow up. Don't sound like someone with a small brain.

[Whatashame]

Lastmove you are the dumbest person. How could you say the war was a good idea. WAR is NEVER good. Innocent Americans soldiers DIED for a LIE that was created by BUSH. This is costing us 10 BILLION dollars every freaking single month. Talk is cheap that is why you use diplomacy but WAR is expensive, and deadly. How could you be so simple minded.

[gladys46]

"Good idea" ... for whom!?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RqMQFQ028M

[julescator]

That wasn't our call. Saddam was the leader of a soverign nation. He never attacked America. We don't get to bully and kill leaders we don't like who have not attacked America or an American Ally. We had virtually no allies in the War in Iraq.

[jinchoung]

obama MUST SHUT DOWN mccain's constant harping on "experience"... easy easy EASY to NULLIFY:

"john mccain, you claim to have years of experience and yet when JUDGMENT MATTERED MOST, about whether to invade iraq or not, what did those years of experience buy you? NOTHING. you were wrong. and about a matter in which you consider central to the security of america. you can harp on experience all you want but your experience does not serve you well."

of course he brought the iraq decision up but he didn't use it directly to nullify mccain's attacks. he should never let an attack go unanswered. let mccain get nasty first but then pay back double. mccain says obama is dangerous, start quoting congressman who call mccain dangerous - experience doesn't neutralize a frequently fiery, impetuous and unwise temper.

one in the hospital, two in the morgue.

anyway, great performance by obama. can do better. more memorable quotes. more decisive, direct and immediate rebuttals.

every time mccain claims years and experience, point out a gigantic flub that is all the more embarrassing and distressing - john mccain IS experienced enough to KNOW BETTER.