"Country First," Part 2

Yesterday morning, my nationally syndicated newspaper column asked whether, in fact, Republicans really do put "country first?" On the afternoon of the same day, Barack Obama asked the same question.

Here's a snippet of my column:

In 2004, the Republican White House called outsourcing "a plus." In 2006, the Republican commander-in-chief okayed the sale of critical infrastructure to foreign dictators. And today the Republican presidential nominee is demanding more NAFTA-style trade pacts that eliminate American jobs. This, says the GOP, is putting our country first.

Here's Obama in a speech in the afternoon of the same day:

Obama Implies McCain Puts Other Countries First

ABC News, September 12, 2008 4:05 PM

A pretty scathing charge from Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., this morning as he spoke to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and assailed Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., position on free trade.

"Just ask the machinists in Pennsylvania who build Harley-Davidsons," Obama said of McCain's record. "Because John McCain didn't just oppose the requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles, he called Buy American provisions 'disgraceful.' Just ask the workers across this country who have seen their jobs outsourced. The very companies that shipped their jobs overseas have been rewarded with billions of dollars in tax breaks that John McCain supports and plans to continue.

"So, when American workers hear John McCain talking about putting 'Country First,'" Obama said, "it's fair to ask -- which country?"

Let's be clear: I'm not saying my column in any way influenced Obama's speech. What I'm saying is that this line of questioning may be exactly what starts resonating and starts being echoed by the entire Democratic/progressive machine.

I say keep it up, Barack. It's a good question to ask.

Comments

[JDen]

01:27 PM on 09/13/2008

Maybe the good Senator needs a new slogan about Energy and Change We Can Believe In and keep pounding it home. I believe it would trump the reform and change slogan the Republican ticket is trying to sell. It pulls in all of his narratives...education, reforming industry, economy, world leadership, bipartisan cooperation, etc.

[ksyellowdog]

12:49 PM on 09/13/2008

It's about time something influenced him David. It might as well be a progressive such as yourself.

[freebeer]

12:47 PM on 09/13/2008

Yes David, we all need to put serious pressure on Democrats to do the right thing.

On issues where Democrats fail, they need to feel the heat from all of us.
FISA, and telcom immunity.
Rejecting their Constitutional oath and refusing to impeach Bush.
Offshore oil drilling, (in Congress and the Senate this week)
Afghanistan policy.

I make numerous comments here on these issues and attempt to get people to admit that Obama is often on the wrong side of the issue, and that we should be giving holy hell to the Democrats when they behave like Republicans. Roughly 1/4 of these comments are censored by this site.

Good advice for all of us David. It is OK for us all to pressure Democrats to behave like real Democrats, in fact it is our duty as decent Americans.

[sharonrj123]

04:57 PM on 09/13/2008

What is a true democrat? That has changed over the years. I would really like to know. I keep hearing a true democrat or republican. When did we begin to identify ourselves as a party and not just a "decent American who loves their country and want was is best for everyone not just the lobbyist, Corp America. From where I set both parties have sold out

[Montanus]

12:33 PM on 09/13/2008

When you vote Republican you vote for hard times.
Repeat. When you vote Republican you vote for hard times.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Make 'em defend their record from the simple truth.