Senator Obama's Curious Comments on Meet the Press
I support Senator Clinton's White House bid because I believe she is the one candidate with the strength and experience to actually end the war in Iraq.
I thought Iraq was the wrong war at the wrong time and have been fighting to get the Administration to stop its failed policy and bring our troops home.
In 2005, I was the first member of Congress to introduce legislation calling for an immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.
Senator Obama has been trying to use his early opposition to the 2002 authorization to use military force as a way to bring attention to his campaign. And that's fine -- that's politics.
I have great respect and admiration for Senator Obama. But he should be more careful, because his record doesn't always line up with his rhetoric.
That became clear when Sen. Obama appeared on Meet the Press last Sunday, Tim Russert reminded him of comments he made about Iraq during the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Talking about how he would have voted on the '02 authorization, Mr. Russert flashed a quote from then-State Senator Obama on the screen that said: "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports. What would I have done? I don't know." In response, Senator Obama said it was probably the wrong time for him to speak out on the war.
I simply disagree. I don't believe there has ever been a wrong time to oppose this war.
Mr. Russert also reminded Senator Obama about this comment he made in July of 2004: "There's not much of a difference between my position on Iraq and George Bush's position at this stage."
Sen. Obama now likes to say that people shouldn't act like George Bush on national security. It's one thing to keep quiet about the war during a convention, it's quite another to say you support what George Bush is doing.
All the Democratic candidates for president say they are for ending the war in Iraq. That is a welcome development. But, as LBJ said, it's easy to get into a war, but hard as hell to get out of one.
I'm not interested in who was "first" to oppose this awful war. I'm more interested in what's next.
When it comes to ending the war, the question needs to be: Which candidate has the experience, maturity, skill and ability to safely get our troops out of Iraq and bring this sad chapter in our history to an end?
I believe Hillary Clinton not only wants to end the war, she can end the war. If I didn't believe that, there is no way I would be supporting her.
We could argue until we're blue in the face about the past, but our focus must be on how can better shape the future.
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Hillary is the most qualified and has the most impressive resume.
But whether voters are smarter today than they were the SECOND time they voted for Bush again---
I DONT KNOW. I have no confidence and will have to wait and see.
"I believe Hillary Clinton not only wants to end the war, she can end the war. If I didn't believe that, there is no way I would be supporting her."
Go look at how many votes she has cast to CONTINUE the war (and to support a war on Iran), then come back and tell me she wants to end it. Go on. I'll be right here when you get back.
Finally, a non Kool Aid drinker! I, too, agree that of all the panelist only Hillary has the balls to end this war, and has the understanding to run this country. I can relate to Hillary as a woman who has been severely fire tested by her own country, a country who tried to wear her brand new ass. This is the woman who has withstood her own trial by fire with the impeachment of her husband, who strayed, and who was hated on so badly that all the insane clown posse chased them down, hounded the hell out of them. And isn't this the same woman on whom they put the beat down on with her far reaching health care program at the time? And of course she took a hit recently for just saying that she understood what Spitzer was doing, not agreeing with him, as Edwards, Dodd and Obama all attacked her for right there on the stage for saying. To me, they all became self serving liars, and I lost respect for them instantly. Michelle Obama somehow thinks that just because I'm black that I owe my allegiance to her husband. Like hell I do. While Hillary Clinton has been categorized as many things, as a woman I see her as a savvy white sister who has experienced a great deal in her life, has weathered some shocks, and is far ahead her time as a politician. Edwards was the one who previously had my support, but after examining my own Kool Aid drinking ways, I changed my mind and I'm glad I did. Unless Hillary does not win the nomination I have no intention of changing my views again.
thank god - I am so sick of Ariana, Chris Matthews and rest of them shove the Reverend Obama down our throats... I assure its making me gag on hope.
Obama has been lock step voting with Sn Clinton since coming up from Springfield - enough with the trumped up indignation and feigned moral high ground.
I want a warrior who will get the job done - and that is Hillary.
Rep. Jim McGovern, the experience argument won’t cut it among reasonable Democrats.
SENATOR CLINTON DOES NOT HAVE MORE ELECTED EXPERIENCE THAN OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
Can I claim the professional experience of my spouse on my resume? What kind of feminist would ever want to get into a leadership position by citing the professional achievements of her husband?
If the experience line is used based on the husband’s experience, then she has to accept the failures as well.
Amazing how the power held by the Establishment Candidate Hillary has made many people loose their respect while trying to protect her from her obvious tendency not to tell the truth. I am waiting for many more career politicians to embarrass themselves before the primary season nomination season is concluded.
I continue to be surprised by how the powers–that-be in the Democratic Party Machine are continuing to push and protect the candidacy of the most flawed “front-runner” of our party.
Most people know that the majority of the leaders in the Democratic Party personally owe too much to the Clintons but don’t these leaders know that they owe even more to the future of their party and to the constituents they represent?
No amount of attacks on Obama or other democratic candidates is going to change the facts on the ground and on tape – thanks to the internet and it great equalizing power provided to us ordinary citizens. We all know Senator Clinton voted for the Iraq war, she continues to support the Iraq and Iran war and no amount of noise or articles is going to change this. We have so many tapes saved on Hillary’s continued solid support for the Iraq war and so do the Republicans so please stop treating us like we are so dumb as not know the truth.
Rep. Jim McGovern, please do not throw away your reputation since it is the one thing that always defines a person and is the most precious thing one has. No politician other than your self is worth throwing away your reputation and especially not a very flawed one who will continue to embarrass the party if she were ever to be nominated.
same ole same!!!! he's perfect, well actually he ain't got a chance in hell!!!! let's introduce the next president of these the united states of america, barak bakalava sadam hussien osama...ge
hou u during????
What about her vote to "send a message" to Iran? Her hollow "mea culpa" stretch of the imagination on Iraq? What about her sham health care plan that involves more Corporate Welfare for health insurers, but not so much health care future for Americans (because pandering to profit-driven health insurers with legal loopholes and our tax dollars among other things will bankrupt Medicare)? What about NAFTA for God's sake? And Bill's deregulation of media conglomeration (possibly the WORST public policy for "we the people"...
Where is Mrs. Clinton experience? As First Lady or what. Mr Obama has more experience and good jugement than Mrs. Clinton. We are not electing Bill Clinton. If not for Bill Clinton, Mrs Clinton will not be Senator or contending for the President. Democrats wake up.......
Mr. McGovern,
You, Obama and Tim Russert are dealing with left-brain semantics and word definitions.
What you miss by focusing on all this is context, nuance, metaphor and--to wax religious here--"SPI
the Dumocrats? forget about it. Ron Paul will get of out of Iraq, no ifs, ands or buts. (I love DK but he's too New-Agey for the top job, Dodd is a fast talking Pol, Hill is the premier Spin-mister, BO is Mr.profess
,
Thank you Representative, I agree with you in large part, but telling it to some of the people here dead set against Hillary is useless. It's great that fine progressives like General Wesely Clark, Walter Mondale, Barney Franks, John Lewis, and yourself have endorsed her.
And to people who think Hillary would be much worse than Obama or Edwards at ending the war, can anyone really tell me the differences between their Iraq plans. They're really all pretty similar. Hillary has experience they don't have, and that has made the difference for me.
Rep. Jim McGovern, you should see what Gen. Tony McPeak has to say about this.
http://www
"experience" ... Exactly... Im sorry but as a 24 year old, I'm sick of Babyboomer generation that is responsible for the state we are in as a country. Move over Baby-Boomers- you F*ed it up and your children will clean it up.
How can you equate an off the cuff comment that was meant to give cover to stupid Dems who voted for the war, to an actual vote for war?
You say that one comment equals "his record" yet the candidate you support was cheerleading for the war for years before reality and polls forced her to triangulate about it. Talk about rhetoric not matching a record!! Do you really think Americans are THIS stupid?
I defend Hillary plenty around here. Most Hufsters think I'm a die-hard HIllary supporter. But I certainly can't defend your comments here, Representative.
This is another misleading blog by an establishment Democrat and Hillary apologist. We can all expect more of this in the weeks to come.
Edwards and Obama represent clean-up in DC, and few establishment Democrats will be up for any of that.
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