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New McCain Ad Bashes Obama for Not Visiting Troops Using Footage of Obama Visiting Troops

July 26, 2008 10:53 PM

Sen. Barack Obama's landing at Chicago's Midway airport this evening was greeted with the news that rival Sen. John McCain launched a new TV ad attacking Obama for that canceled visit to see wounded troops in Germany.

Obama told me earlier today that the trip was canceled because of "a concern that maybe our visit was going to be perceived as political. And the last thing that I want to do is have injured soldiers and the staff at these wonderful institutions having to sort through whether this is political or not or get caught in the crossfire between campaigns."

McCain's ad asserts that Obama "made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras."

The McCain campaign provides no evidence for the assertion that being told he couldn't bring media had anything to do with the trip's cancellation.

Oddly, when discussing Obama's trip to the gym, the ad uses footage of Obama playing basketball with US troops in Kuwait over the weekend.

- jpt

UPDATE: Obama campaign spokeswoman Linda Douglass says, "We told military officials explicitly that Senator Obama had absolutely no intention of bringing any members of the media or photographers in with him to visit the wounded warriors. In all of our communications with the military, we stressed that this was to be a private visit by Senator Obama."

July 26, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (165)

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Is this all McToast has to offer. Attacks on Obama for the smallest BS possible. He John, what happened to running a clean campaign? When you have no substance of your own, you attack your opponent.
Looks like the wheels are falling off of the Flip-Flop Express.

He Mayor McCheese, Let's see who really supports the troops...

McCain keeps mentioning his "service." I believe the only Veteran he backs is himself. MCCAIN: ‘I Received The Highest Award From Literally Every Veterans Organization In America"The recognition McCain has received from veterans groups is not "high awards" but FAILING GRADES:Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)In a list of "Key Votes," Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain "Voted Against Us" 15 times and "Voted For Us" only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)Vietnam POW Activists Called McCain ‘Songbird’ and ‘Manchurian Candidate’ We aren’t talking about a bunch of republican paid and funded operatives, we’re talking about all those who had to suffer at the hands of the Cong while McCain received special treatment.Sequentially, integrity is what I look for in someone running for President. Self-aggrandizement without end is a characteristic flaw that cannot be overlook in anyone running for that same position.
Some Vet's might have forgotten, most haven't.

Posted by: BarackStar | Jul 28, 2008 11:30:58 AM

"Obama at the very least ignored, and regardless of the reason, showed a basic lack of respect for the wounded troops. "

By attempting to respect their privacy? Respect for wounded troops is dragging a camera crew into their hospital and taking pictures?

You people are diseased.

Posted by: Bob | Jul 28, 2008 10:36:10 AM

Great ad.

The more lefties whine about it, the better.

Posted by: drjohn | Jul 28, 2008 10:19:23 AM

If only McCain today could channel the McCain of 2000. Then this would be an exciting election. Right now this is Obama vs. Farinelli. And I feel bad for Republicans who really understand and believe in their party platform because they have not had fair representation in years.

Posted by: jo | Jul 28, 2008 10:15:37 AM

Al from NJ, there is no courage in that ad. Pure fear is the only thing that leads a campaign to put out BS like that. Looking like Obama is headed for about 310 EVs right now. Your invective is wasted.

Posted by: Ryan | Jul 28, 2008 9:36:34 AM

Independent -

Obama visited with troops in Iraq. They gave him a rousing welcome. He visited wounded troops in Iraq.

I'll bet if he did visit the wounded in Germany, most of you haters would be screaming about that.

You haters will never like Obama. There's something else inside your minds other than the stanndard hate of Democrats in general.

Posted by: KenM | Jul 28, 2008 8:32:20 AM

What is wrong with the Media? Why can't they investigate all of Obama's stories and keep making an issue about them. He's applying for the most challenging job in the "world".

Thank God McCain has the courage to stand up for Americans with his ads.

Just one of many issues surrounding Obama is enough for me and my community.

Obama has minimal government experience, an anti American Pastor as a mentor, many co workers that are radical leaders, a non practicing Muslim father and an Atheist as a mother. Obama is a fast talker, flip flopper and a racist man running for President: The media and the authorities should be investigating this man.

Just knowing that Louis Farrakhan, anti Semitic, radical, Nation of Islam leader supports Obama should be enough to make our hair stand up on end.
Watch Louis Farrakhan and his followers on you tube

Farrakhan held a rally with 20,000 Islam members in Chicago just a few months ago.

Many questions need answering. Obama's father was a non practicing Muslim. How do the Muslim nations view Obama? Aren’t we at war?

Why shouldn't that be a proper question to ask Obama?

Obama is risky and scary. The media should be talking about Obama's relationships with radical leaders and anti American supporters as much as they should be reporting about a nominee that was being supported by the KKK.

The reason Clinton supporters will not vote for Obama is because they are embarrassed of him, his life, his unfair tactics and his beliefs. And they still don't know all about him.

1. They don't want a candidate that has been in a twenty year relationship with Reverend Wright and the Trinity United Church of Christ.

2. They don’t’ want a candidate that has a twenty year relationship with Father Pflaeger as his compass in life

3. They don’t want a candidate that went to a church that supports Louis Farrakhan, an anti Semitic racist.

4. They don't want to defend Black Liberation theology.

5. They don’t want a candidate that lies about his relationship with Tony Rezko, the Syrian Criminal that sold his property to Obama and supported his campaign.

6. They don't want a candidate that could work with a domestic terrorist, William Ayers.

7. They don’t want a candidate that Hamas supports.

8. They don’t want a candidate that Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam support

9. They don’t want a candidate that has a wife that has just now realized she was proud of our country.

10. They don’t want a candidate that denies Florida and Michigan their voices

11. They don’t want a candidate that mentions 57 states in his speeches. 50 states in the USA and 57 states in the Nation of Islam (IOC website)

12. They don’t want a candidate that fights unfair and steals Michigan delegate votes from his opponent.

13. They don't want a candidate that is inexperienced.

14. They don’t want a candidate that considers it a loss to not to be able to attend his anti American, racist Church.

15. They don’t want a candidate that has a “non practicing” Muslim father, but avoids the entire discussion of his father.

16. They don’t’ want a candidate that won’t debate

17. They don’t’ want a candidate that misleads the youth with an ‘Obama girl and her behind in their face”

18. They don’t want a candidate that says he’s an African American and missed the MLK Remembrance Day and the Louisiana Black Caucus meeting

19. They don’t want a candidate that enjoys laughing at sexism

20. They don't want a candidate that switches his position on gun control, FISA, the war in Iraq, religion and government....

21. They don't want a candidate that showcases his daughters on TV shows.

22. They don’t’ want a candidate that has poor judgment.

23. They don’t' want a candidate named; Barack Hussein Obama

24. He is embarrassing.

25. He scares them to death.


Posted by: Al from NJ | Jul 28, 2008 5:28:47 AM

McCain is really dumb to think that voters are so simple-minded to think his twisting of the facts will work to get elected. We tried dumb, it's time to try smart.

Posted by: Helen | Jul 28, 2008 4:47:25 AM

McCain is throwing sand in our eyes. Please see clearly!

Obama has visited troops many times, but only in his official role as senator. These so-called "congressional delegations" are taxpayer funded and bi-partisan.

For example, Senators Chuck Hagel(R) and Jack Reed(D) were with last week in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Instead, the German hospital visit would have been campaign financed and not bi-partisan.

The visit was canceled because the Pentagon and Obama wanted our military to remain non-partisan and not political. The issue had nothing to do with camera's or his exercising.

The McCain camp is depending on your ignorance about this and so many issues. We are all in this as American's and we need you to see this for what it is.

Posted by: tdot538 | Jul 28, 2008 4:00:52 AM

I can see the PUMA's have found this site. Using riverdaughter as a source of psychoanalysis is pathetic, and the vast majority of the 18 million have have already committed to Obama. He's already reached roughly the same percentage of Democratic voter support that Kerry and Gore had. So most of that 18 million have repudiated you and your propaganda already. But that's all right, Obama and his team will still advocate for the issues you claim to support.

Posted by: nickrud | Jul 28, 2008 3:06:03 AM

McCain "supports" the troops even though he refused to cast a vote on Webb's GI bill and is now proposing to substantially roll back health benefits for veterans, but Obama disrespects the troops because he doesn't go to see them after being told it's a political trip? (Even Sen. Hagel, who was also on part of the trip, agrees that Obama shouldn't have gone: "I think it would be totally inappropriate for him on a campaign trip to go to a military hospital and use those soldiers as props. So I think he probably, based on what I know, he did the right thing.")

But of course none of that matters; because Obama doesn't wear a flag pin and has a funny name, he must hate America. And even though McCain is completely out of touch with everything going on right now, thinks Pakistan borders Iraq, and tried to schedule a campaign stop in the Gulf when Dolly was bearing down on them, none of that matters, either, because he was a POW and therefore understands the military and foreign affairs?

Oy. We're in for a long three months until Election Day.

Posted by: EWG | Jul 28, 2008 2:31:56 AM

Sissylalaland says "All Obama had to do was turn off the cameras and walk in to the Veterans hospital" to see the trooops.

I guess s/he doesn't know that
the hospital is hundreds of miles
away from Berlin.

The wingnut MO is: "I've made up m
my mind - don't confuse me with
facts."

Posted by: Silvio Levy | Jul 28, 2008 2:30:12 AM

Well that was stupid, how are you going to try to bash someone for not visiting troops using footage of him visiting troops.

Posted by: Jimmy | Jul 28, 2008 1:58:37 AM

When is McCain coming out with an AD that criticizes Obama for going to the doctor to treat his sore hip.

pathethic.

Posted by: John Rawlings | Jul 28, 2008 1:48:21 AM

It just amazes me how John McCain
can get away with falsity
that intellectual challenged people
believe concerning Barack Obama.
Just use the old nogging for a
moment Obama would never snub the
troops, hes to smart to do something
that would be used against him as the
world watches.
This is just a dirty smear a desperate
mean McCain is throwing out to damage
him.

Posted by: Janice Milligan | Jul 28, 2008 1:44:24 AM

One word: McDole.

Posted by: Erik | Jul 28, 2008 1:38:11 AM

You can give me a president with an ego and brains over a president with just an ego any day!

Posted by: R.M.B. | Jul 28, 2008 1:30:25 AM

Frankly, (yawn) the most whining comes from the followers of the broken down
donkey kong party which force-fed your egomaniacal presumptuous candidate on at least 18,000,000 Democrats who didn't want him.


Posted by: JUST THINKING,,, | Jul 28, 2008 1:23:02 AM

It becomes more and more obvious that the right wing is in a panic when I read the spitting drivel that passes for comment on sites such as this one. It really stands out that the leftist approach is one that incorporates reason, while the rightish approach is oozing with rage and personal bias.

From Hal, who I'm sure is a wonderful fellow:

"You must admit, however, Sen. Obama has done poorly in most debates. I'm sure you also take notice that he is beyond the pale in his arrogance, cockiness, narcissism, vacuousness and blatant pandering."

Yeah, Hal, he got his ass handed to him, didn't he? And, Hal, as to that second sentence? Look in the mirror. All of those things you mention would seem to describe someone who would use invective in place of reason and, you know, actual facts.

Kind of like someone you know and love, if you are a twenty-something percenter.

But Hal, you make a great representative of your ilk. Keep it coming.

Posted by: smike | Jul 28, 2008 1:21:07 AM

The way the math works out, Obama's polling for a majority of electoral college votes, even if you give all the toss-up states to McCain.

Keep whining Republicants. Keep whining.

Posted by: chris joseph | Jul 28, 2008 1:14:08 AM

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