ask.com

Obama Holds First Committee Meeting Before Petraeus Hearing

Political Radar   |  Byron Wolf   |   April 8, 2008 09:18 AM

Read More: Barack Obama, Obama Committee Hearings, Obama Europe, Obama Foreign Policy, Obama Foreign Relations Committee, Petraeus Iraq, Ryan Crocker, Breaking Politics News
Show your support.
Buzz this article up.

Everyone is billing the David Petraeus/Ryan Crocker hearings tomorrow as the foreign policy tryout to the American people. But Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is trying to show off his time management skills and chair a quick hearing in the morning too.

So tomorrow morning, while Senators Hillary Clinton (low ranking Armed Services Dem) and John McCain (Ranking Armed Services Republican) are having their moment with Petraeus/Crocker, Sen. Obama will not be resting on his laurels while he waits for his afternoon appointment when the Petraeus/Crocker road show stops at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (where he sits low on the seniority list). Instead, he'll be chairing a subcommittee hearing on several nominations.

Read the whole story here.


Comments
126
Pending Comments
0

Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to

Hint sample
View Comments:
Page: 1 2 Next › Last » (2 pages total)
collapse Mattie See Profile I'm a Fan of Mattie

wow, I didn't know Obama knew his way to work, has he ever been there before. He only shows up to grandstand for the public, not to ever vote, or do the job he was elected to do. Good for him!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:33 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse StephenS See Profile I'm a Fan of StephenS

Obama has missed 56 more votes than Clinton, but 100 fewer than McCain.

Leaving out Senator Johnson (whose brain hemorrhage had him missing 100% of the votes for a while), the worst Senate vote missers are:

1) 56.8% John McCain (304 missed, 231 cast)
2) 38.1% Barack Obama (204 missed, 331 cast)
3) 33.5% Joe Biden
4) 31.6% Chris Dodd
5) 27.7% Hillary Clinton (148 missed, 387 cast)

Johnson has only missed 7 more than McCain, so McCain will pass him soon...

(In the 109th Congress, McCain missed 58, Clinton 16, and Obama 11.)

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:40 PM on 04/09/2008
collapse Texas4Obama See Profile I'm a Fan of Texas4Obama

Mattie-

You really should learn how not to lie in public - it makes you look silly.

Of course Senator Obama votes in the U.S. Senate - he actually has voted more often lately than McCain has!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:47 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse mreeder See Profile I'm a Fan of mreeder

The title of this post is misleading. According to the Senate Foreign Relations website, Obama held his first subcommittee meeting on Feb. 27, 2007, a month or so after assuming the chair. This hearing also had the purpose of reviewing nominations.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:23 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse roncraw See Profile I'm a Fan of roncraw

He's the biggest faker in the Senate.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:20 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Texas4Obama See Profile I'm a Fan of Texas4Obama

To all the Hillary supporters (so we can understand your position better) please list your top 5 reasons why you are voting for Hillary Clinton. NOT why you are voting against someone else, but what are the reasons you think Hillary would make a good leader. What is it about her or that she has done that makes her the right choice. Thank you.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:18 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Mattie See Profile I'm a Fan of Mattie

is there some reason we have to justify our vote to you. I'm sorry I wasn't aware of that. Thank you for making your demand, but why don't you trying doing your own research and find out why she is the better candidate on your own.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:34 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse MsLiz See Profile I'm a Fan of MsLiz

I've been researching the issue for six months and came up empty.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:18 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Texas4Obama See Profile I'm a Fan of Texas4Obama

Mattie-

I will take that as a 'you don't have an answer' to my question - it was not a demand. Thank you for your reply.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:48 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse frustratedinohio See Profile I'm a Fan of frustratedinohio

Hillary supporters aren't voting against Obama. If Hillary weren't in this race, I'd be voting for Obama. I have looked forward to voting for her since they left office. I value experience very much. Nobody can match her experience in the White House. She works very hard and has resilience and endurance like nobody I've ever seen. I think she can bring back the economy, just like Bill did. I want to see health care for everyone. EVERYONE! Not just a few. I like her background in working for children. It's high time we end the struggles children are forced to endure in this wealthy country. I appreciate the fact that life has not been totally easy for her. I don't want a priviledged person as president.

I could go on and on. I hope you get the point. Not only do we actually really like her for a lot of good reasons, but there are a lot of us. 12.5 million and counting.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:47 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse SamanthaJaneSalem See Profile I'm a Fan of SamanthaJaneSalem

1. It's a SUBcommittee, not a Committee.

2. Democrats didn't control the Senate until January 2007, so it's not like Senator Obama has chaired this subcommittee for very long.

3. Senator Kerry's subcommittee oversees the war in Afghanistan, whereas Senator Obama's only oversees the role of NATO in Afghanistan.

4. If Senator Obama's nay-sayers wanted him to have more Senate experience, then Senator Clinton should have run a better campaign-- she is currently positioning herself much more strongly than he is for another term in the Senate.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:57 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse joeinvt See Profile I'm a Fan of joeinvt

Wow. What news. Obama did something.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:33 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse CAPTAIND See Profile I'm a Fan of CAPTAIND

I thought Obama had so much foeign affairs experience as a child he didn't need to attend these foreign relations meetings. I bet Obama is now going to claim that he can be commander in chief because he has military experience playing video war games or maybe toy soldiers as a child. Doesn't anyone get it- Obama is shallow and without any real background for the job he desperately seeks. I know Obama has some childhood and personality issues, but I am more concerned with Obama supporters who are blinded to being conned.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:01 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Texas4Obama See Profile I'm a Fan of Texas4Obama

If you are trying to persuade people to come over to your line of thinking you will have to learn how to write a factual and intellectual argument.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:09 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse mammaboy See Profile I'm a Fan of mammaboy

Killing two birds with one stone, right Obama? You're such a clock-watcher.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:01 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Texas4Obama See Profile I'm a Fan of Texas4Obama

Great leaders of our time under the age of 50

John F. Kennedy was inaugurated when he was 43
Robert F. Kennedy was running for president when he was 43
Martin Luther King when he was assassinated was only 39

Senator Obama will be inaugurated January 2009 when he will be 47

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:01 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse robXdion See Profile I'm a Fan of robXdion

When King first came on the scene leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott, he was only 26.

There is a different level of acceptance for a black person. There just is. People won't feel comfortable with Obama unless he was in politics for 30 years, had white hair, passed 50,000 bills, was a former Governor of a predominately white state, single-handedly stopped 2 terrorists attacks, dropped kick 2 dictators, saved 3 babies and 12 cats and dogs from house fires, carried 4 grandmothers across the street THEN he might be eligible to be President. Its called the "Black Curve".

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:46 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Politiking See Profile I'm a Fan of Politiking

Poser!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:59 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse rubicon101 See Profile I'm a Fan of rubicon101

"Obama holds first committee meeting before Petraeus hearing"
This headline speaks VOLUMES on the inexperience of Barack Obama!
We might as well just elect some suave, smooth talking social worker from off the street. Part of Obamas appeal is that he is a fresh, new face. It has nothing to do with his experience or lack there of.
The fact that Barack is attracting the majority of 'young' voters is that generaly young first time voters are uninformed on what is needed to run this country in Washington DC today.
Obama has never even attended a committee meeting before! I would recommend that America wake up.
If the Democrat party wants to gain control over the white house come November, they had better consider Hillary Clinton because Barack Obama will not 'cut-it' in the general election.
Reason is that the general election is a 'winner take all' when it come to states and Barack has not won the majority in the biggest states needed to win.
California, Texas, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, etc... if you think he can win the majority in those states you must be wasting your parents college tuition on marijuana and beer.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:42 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Seattlelite See Profile I'm a Fan of Seattlelite

Rubicon101 here's why Sen. Obama is winning this election -- Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton -- millions of us realize continuing this patter means more of what we already have in WA and will not result in the changes necessary to move the country in a new direction. To many favors owed and to much baggage. I will add also that many of us don't consider 8 years as first lady as experience.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:41 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Seattlelite See Profile I'm a Fan of Seattlelite

HIllary supporters never seem to bring up the "fact" that she didn't when these BIG states by any overwhelming margins NY and AK yes, but those were expected her home states. She won OH with a 10 point lead again not a big margin. In the end Obama won TX. AND I will also point out that she was declared the nominee 3 months ago running against a person not many people had even heard of. I don't see it being any different against McCain the more Obama campaigns the better he does, that's been proven.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:44 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Siryn See Profile I'm a Fan of Siryn

She won states that are traditional Democratic strongholds. As if they will suddenly vote for McCain in November is a falsity that she would like to spread.

And by the way AK is Alaska not Arkansas.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:28 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse vincie See Profile I'm a Fan of vincie

OHIO IS NOT A TRADITIONAL BLUE STATE, ITS RED, FLORIDA IS NOT A TRADITIONAL BLUE STATE, PENNSYLVANIA IS NOT A TRADITIONAL BLUE STATE. WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:09 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse rubicon101 See Profile I'm a Fan of rubicon101

well my dear, we bring up the fact because not winning the state outright will get you didley in the general election.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:55 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Hillbug See Profile I'm a Fan of Hillbug

Winning the state's primary DOES NOT mean that you will win it in the GE, and vice versa.

If that was the case, McCain would win NY in the GE.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:10 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Texas4Obama See Profile I'm a Fan of Texas4Obama

rubicon101 -

You are just wrong.

Obama has attended committee meetings before, just not the one SUB-committee that he recently became chair of and has not had a reason to have a hearing up until now.

Not all Obama supporters are young. I am a white 48 year old woman and I am not an uninformed college student.

Obama WON TEXAS. He received more pledged delegates than his opponent.

Obama will carry California, Ohio, Michigan, etc. in the general election. Those states will support the democratic nominee.

Obama is NOT inexperienced. He has practiced law as an attorney. He has served eight years in the Illinois state senate. He is a U.S. Senator.

Besides, read the U.S. Constitution. It states the only requirement to become a U.S. President is that the person must be 35 years of age or older and must be born in the United States of America.

Now go have a beer and relax a little bit.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:51 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse rubicon101 See Profile I'm a Fan of rubicon101

that sounds good but "beer" is not my drug of choice..how about scotch and a puff.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:02 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse MsLiz See Profile I'm a Fan of MsLiz

'ere.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:28 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse TommyMcCarthy See Profile I'm a Fan of TommyMcCarthy

Obama "just recently" took over his committee fourteen months ago and naturally there really hasn't been anything going on to convene a hearing about.......
after all, it's not like it was an important subcommittee or anything...it's only EUROPE.......what could come up about THAT?

Omama better get himself a pretty big wheelbarrow....'cause that's the only way in hell He'll ever carry Ohio......
No big deal, though...besides Cal. and N.Y., he'll still carry Guam, the Virgin Islands, Americans abroad, Hawaii, Alaska, and Iowa, so he's all set.

Of course, theres all those solidly red states that will be going with McCain...so the big "SWING" states with all the votes will again decide the election, as they have for about the last 140 years or so.Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia.

Nice of Obama to drop by and of course it's a complete COINCIDENCE that he felt the need to convene his first-ever hearing while he's in town.

Manybe he can even find time to drop by the Senate to vote "present" on a few things just to show 'em he's still in CHARGE.

I hope someone speaks up in his hearing to remind him that if he keeps dicking around on Fla. (and to a lesser extent, Michigan),,,,,all the "hope-nchange". will END on election day rather than start.

Who knows what the U.S. will look like after four years under McCain??
Maybe it's Obama should "withdraw" gracefully......................................tm

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:40 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Seattlelite See Profile I'm a Fan of Seattlelite

So I guess Tommy -- him winning with big margins in Virginia, Maryland and DC don't count?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:21 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse TommyMcCarthy See Profile I'm a Fan of TommyMcCarthy

"Seattlelite" Howdy to my PNW neighbor.
Maryland is pretty much on that "safely Blue" list a la N.Y. and Cali.....
Either Dem. will win there.

Obama's opportunity to win in Va. is real credible....(rare for a Dem.)......big plus for him.

Seriously, the best thing your guy can do for himself is come out for seating Fla. as is. (Stay with me here, Obamites..........)

If he does that....he only takes the hit for a net of about 40 delegates to Hillary. Not enough to make a difference.......and she still probably can't catch him. Sure he's reluctant to risk giving her an inch, ...understandable.

Thing is,.. in exchange for that,...he gets to point out his great concern that Fla. voters not be disenfranchised,...etc., which will resonate really well, not only with Floridians in the general (critical, critical),......but with his most important audience....which is Super D's.

I've read your stuff alot so I'm aware that you're knowlegeable about both the primary system and the electoral college map. (two very different things, that CLEARLY not all Obamites posting here do).

Your two examples are excellent, ....many others seem to think that a big win in a primary state over Clinton translates into a win in the general when it clearly does NOT.

Seems counterintuitive, but if I'm like you (strong BHO supporter,.....I'm pushing for him to do it. What do you think?

Thx for your response...Regards.........................................tm

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:51 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse vincie See Profile I'm a Fan of vincie

counts the black in virginia and maryland. thats why he won those states. the states with small black populations are the states she won. and don't get me started on undemocratic caucuses.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:10 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Texas4Obama See Profile I'm a Fan of Texas4Obama

Voting 'present' in the Illinois senate is a way to say you have a problem with a bill 'as is'. Don't forget Obama did vote 'yes' and 'no' on over 4,000 bills in Illinois. 100 is a small fraction.

In the U.S. Senate there IS NO 'present' - a U.S. Senator must vote 'yes' or 'no'.

-- Don't forget that it is SUB-committee that has not had a reason to meet up until now. The 'regular' committee has taken care of things that needed immediate attention. Btw, you say since he was in town.... it would have been silly for him to hold a hearing while he was out of town ;)

If you research a bit more before you toss out allegations then I will be more apt to read your posts in the future.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:52 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse TommyMcCarthy See Profile I'm a Fan of TommyMcCarthy

So don't read 'em.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:18 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse rubicon101 See Profile I'm a Fan of rubicon101

I don't have the time to be staring at the 'boob tube' watching CNN where you most likely do your research but I know enough to know that Hillary Clinton would be the better leader of our country.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:57 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse vickic See Profile I'm a Fan of vickic

She lies. When will you know whether to believe her, or not.

We need a leader with credibility, unlike that which we have had for the past 8, no let me change that to, 16 years.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:57 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse kettletop See Profile I'm a Fan of kettletop

Nice try. But Clinton supporters are not interested in Barack Obama. They are currently frustrated because their candidate doesn't really have a snowball's chance, and because their candidate seems to be self-destructing.
But remember that Clinton is not a bad candidate--she is a very strong one who, if there were no Barack Obama in the picuture, you would likely be supporting and hoping would be the first woman president. I would. For many of us 4o something while women, I would suspect that she was our initial choice.
Let's let Barack Obama win the nomination. After that, democrats will have to make some choices which some will see as the lesser of two evils.
In the mean time, let's continue to defend Obama and keep the record straight, but with the courtesy and dignity that has been asked of us. I know that I have been guilty of a bit of ribbing in the past, but we need to realize that she was thought of as inevitable because the base of the party--the people who work with the Democratic Party on the local levels--are mostly Clinton supporters. In our area they are mostly retired ladies and an occasional husband, and they are excited about Clinton and I don't blame them--they are of the same generation. Obama supporters who are you like us (I'm 44 and par of the YOUTH vote!) need to join with our local groups and help see this to the finish.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:17 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse vickic See Profile I'm a Fan of vickic

Serious? Out of his voting demographics, most of his support has been white people. And, there are lots of us middle aged white women voting for him, too.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:59 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse rubicon101 See Profile I'm a Fan of rubicon101

again I said the majority of the young vote for Barack. I didn't say that was all there was.. but without the young voters, Baracks base would be mostly African Americans. I'm not really interested in one persons age and having them say "look at me!" I know what I see as a trend in voters..ie;..who shows up at rallies and at the voting booth.

favoriteFavorite