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McCain: Obama Has No Experience in National Security, Warfare

March 31, 2008 6:48 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovel Reports: Speaking to reporters as part of his biograhipic tour, Republican Sen. John McCain attacked Democrat Barack Obama for what he called a "fundamental misunderstanding" of the history of national security and warfare in the twentieth century.

The critism of Sen. Obama, of Illinois, was some of the sharpest language to date that McCain has used against his potential general election opponet.

"Well then in all due respect he does not understand the elements, the fundamental elements of national security and warfare," McCain said, when he was asked about Obama’s comments earlier in the day. Obama had said that McCain’s had not offered a clear definition of what could be viewed as success in the war torn country.

McCain went through a litany of 20th century conflicts and the American military bases they begat, including bases in Korea, Germany, Japan and Kuwait.

Obama, he said, "displays a fundamental misunderstanding of history and how we’ve maintained national security, and what we need to do in the future to maintain our security in the face of the transcendent challenge of radical Islamic extremism. And I understand that because he has no experience or background in any of it."

He said he is not worried about Obama's interpretation of McCain's infamous "100 years" comment catching hold with the American people.

"No I think the American people are smart enough to figure that out. And I underst- they’ll understand over time if they don’t know that he has no experience or background on these issues."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton responded with a statement. "Barack Obama doesn't need any lectures from John McCain, who has consistently misunderstood American national security and the history of the Middle East in arguing for an invasion and 100-year occupation of a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.

Instead of spending trillions of dollars on permanent bases that the Iraqis don't want and that won't keep the American people safe, Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq and finally press Iraq's leaders to take responsibility for their future."

March 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (74)

Obama Claims Characterization of McCain's Statement on Iraq is Fair

March 31, 2008 5:16 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Part of Sen. Barack Obama's stump speech is claiming that John McCain wants to be in Iraq for 100 years.

"John McCain has suggested that we might leave our troops in Iraq for a couple of hundred years," he said at a Penn State rally Sunday.

Obama is playing off a byte from January 6th in Derry, New Hampshire which McCain responded to a questioner who asked about President Bush talking about staying in Iraq for 50 years.

"May be a hundred," McCain cut the man off, "Make it a hundred….We've been in South Korea, We've been in Japan for 60 years. We've been in South Korea for 50 years or so. That's be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed. Then it's fine with me. I would hope it would be fine with you if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where Al Qaeda is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."

Today at the Wo Go gas station in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Obama defended his characterization of McCain’s statement.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

"I don't think it's unfair at all," Obama answered when questioned by ABC’s David Wright, "John McCain, I mean we can run the youtube spot, has said that we will stay there as long as it takes and if it takes another 100 years he’s up for that commitment and that implies that there is some criteria by which we would understand how long it takes. John McCain has not been clear about what exactly would lead him to decide its time to pullout……I think it is entirely fair to suggest that unless he’s got some criteria where by at some point we would be able to pull out our troops that for him to argue that, which he has repeatedly, that any suggestion that we withdraw troops is surrender. That implies that we will be there as long as he thinks it's necessary for us to be there."

Obama said this is different from his proposal for withdraw troops in Iraq but then leaving a small force to protect embassies and to maintain a strike force in the region, "That’s very different from saying that we're gonna have a permanent occupation in Iraq. And it’s certainly different from saying that we would have a high level of combat troops inside Iraq for a decade or two decades or as John McCain said, perhaps 100 years."

At the end of the exchange Obama admited that he understands McCain is talking about the Korean style bases and not a hot war like Iraq, "Well we’ve been in South Korea for 50 years and he’s used that as an example as George Bush has and that is decades and we’re spending 10 billion dollars a month in Iraq right now. Which means that John McCain is willing to sign up for the prospect of spending as much as $150 billion or more each year for who knows how long. That is something that the US cant afford and I think that is going to be a debate we are going to have in the general election should I be the nominee."

March 31, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (21)

On Econ Tour, Clinton Says She's a 'Big Believer in Attitude'

March 31, 2008 4:19 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: A gum-chewing Hillary Clinton greeted truck drivers outside in rainy Harrisburg, PA. The drivers were protesting the high oil prices – and Clinton stopped to share their frustration and explained to a few of them what she will do address their concerns, including opening up the petroleum reserve to ease the high prices temporarily. Clinton stood in the rain for about 10 minutes taking questions and listening to these concerns before stepping into a diner to hold an economic roundtable.

On the forth day of Clinton's 'Solutions for the American Economy' tour (or as her advisers put it "Econ-a-palooza") the Senator addressed the economic news today. However, more interesting, was a possible insight to the way the Senator's thinking about the race for her party's nomination. When speaking to a young woman who voiced her desire to pursue a career in medicine, Clinton urged the woman not to give up.

"This will work out. I am a big believer in attitude. You know sometimes it looks pretty daunting but you have to believe you will be able to make it work for you to get the resources you need that something will happen and hopefully one of the things that will happen is that I will get elected president."

Clinton neglected hitting her Democratic rival, instead focused her efforts on the Republican frontrunner. "Senator McCain recently gave a speech on the economy and best I could determine his plan was not to have a plan. If he got the 3am call on the economy he would just let the phone ring and ring and ring."

Clinton left the attacking of her opponent to the Mayor of Harrisburg, Steven Reed. "Senator Clinton didn't just show up on our doorstep in 2008 and say 'I'd like to be president because I think it'd be a neat thing.' She's been busy working for us for years and years and years and frankly, I'm getting a little tired of people who try not to give her credit for that." He continued "Senator Clinton has been working for us and it didn’t start when she became a candidate for president. It didn't even start when she became a candidate for the United States Senate in our neighboring state. She's a Pennsylvanian who cares about American values and Pennsylvania values."

Addressing the news from the Treasury Department ,Clinton said “Today the administration through the secretary of the treasury has announced that finally the Bush administration is going to take some action to better regulate the financial markets. Well after years of a wait-and-don't-see approach to the regulatory failures that let to the housing and the credit crisis they've announced a plan that comes late and falls short."

Clinton said, "No amount of rearranging the deck chairs can hide the fact that our housing and credit markets are in crisis and they are sinking deeper every day."

March 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (43)

New Dem Wave Cresting for Obama

March 31, 2008 2:10 PM

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports: When Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for President today, she buttressed his lead in a small but interesting subset of the already exclusive club of Democratic superdelegates: the Democratic New Wave.

Democrats retook the Senate in 2006 when they elected six new members and replaced a Democratic-leaning Independent from Vermont with another Democratic-leaning Independent from Connecticut. They lost a member in Joe Lieberman, but he still votes with them in all issues that don't have to do with the Iraq war and Indy Joe is supporting John McCain for President.

It may not be the largest sampling of lawmakers, but in the subsection of superdelegates, Sen. Obama has a lead over Sen. Clinton.

In fact, of the five new Senate Democrats that took office in 2004, only Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has endorsed Sen. Clinton. Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania have all backed Obama. McCaskill has been one of the most vocal supporters of Obama's campaign and Casey stumped through Pennsylvania last week with Obama. The all-important primary there is the next battle in the protracted Democratic nomination fight and Casey hit the trail with Obama even though polls show Sen. Clinton with a substantial lead in the Keystone State.

Democrats, under a road map drawn by Clinton supporter and New York Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer, made a point of recruiting moderate candidates in purple or even red states like Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It was part of a move back to a big tent sort of platform; McCaskill of Missouri opposes most Democrats where it comes to immigration. Casey of Pennsylvania is pro-life.

It is important to note that while Obama has a slight lead among New Democrats in the Senate, Clinton still has time to make up the deficit. While McCaskill is with Obama, the other poster boy for the New Democrats is Sen. Jim Webb, a former Republican and Reagan cabinet secretary. Webb may be necessarily uncommitted. He has been rumored as a possible running mate for either Clinton or Obama (Webb says he isn't interested in being Vice President). But Obama campaigned for Webb in 2006.

Liberal Democrat Sherrod Brown of Ohio and independent Bernie Sanders of Ohio also remain uncommitted, though as an independent Sanders is not a Democratic superdelegate.

In the House, another notable New Democrat, Rep. Heath Shuler, D-NC, is according to some media reports going to go with Obama, although those reports are unconfirmed. Shuler is notable because he comes from a conservative district and got elected only after distancing himself from Democrats on issues like immigration.

March 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (294)

Obama: No Evidence of the "North American Union"

March 31, 2008 2:01 PM

ABC's Sunlen Miller and Z. Byron Wolf Report: During a town hall meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Obama was asked about the “North American Union.”

The NAU is a theoretical governmental union merging the United States, Mexico and Canada that some conspiracy theorists and Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul have used as a rallying cry.

Obama responded that he sees no evidence of a cabal in forming this union.

“I see no evidence of this actually taking place," he said.  "I think this is something that has been ginned up on certain blogs on the internet,” and mentioned Congressman Paul buying into the theory.

Obama said a lot of the speculation that these three countries were forming an European Union-like partnership was due to a highway being built in Texas that would make it easier to facilitate more transportation between Mexico, the United States and Canada. 

Congressman Ron Paul said during the CNN/You Tube debate in November that, "there is a move on toward a North American Union, just like early on there was a move on for a European Union, and eventually ended up. So we had NAFTA and moving toward a NAFTA highway. These are real things. It's not somebody made these up. It's not a conspiracy."

"There’s no evidence that that’s taking place,” Obama repeated again and then reiterated his opposition to NAFTA.

“NAFTA helped to break down barriers on trade between those two countries and I was opposed to NAFTA because I thought it didn’t have the labor and environmental and safety standards that would look out for US workers. But I don’t think there’s some conspiracy to create this one you know, continental government between Canada and Mexico,” said the Illinois senator.

Obama was also asked by the same questioner what his status is with the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan foreign policy group which has also been targeted for similar reasons by conspiracy theorists.

“I don’t know if I’m an official member. I’ve spoken there before, it basically is a forum where people talk about foreign policy, and so there’s no official membership,” Obama respond, “I don’t have a card or a special handshake or anything like that."

March 31, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (25)

Day 1: McCain's Service to America Tour

March 31, 2008 1:54 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports from Meridian, Mississippi: For those members of the general electorate who have not read Faith of my Fathers, Sen. John McCain's bestselling memoir, worry not – the presumptive Republican nominee has delivered a speech for you.

In remarks Monday kicking off his "Service to America" tour in his ancestral home of Meridian, Mississippi, McCain told many of the stories in the early pages of his book, about the military service of his father and grandfather.

That the week-long campaign theme was initially billed by campaign officials as a "bio tour," is appropriate. McCain will spend the week traveling to the locations of significant events or time periods in his life as part of his tour. He will highlight formative experiences in his upbringing, and how they have shaped his character and political experience.

Monday's speech, focusing on his family, touched on many of the themes of his standard stump speech through that prism.

Taxes, McCain said, "must not rob parents of the means to care for their children."

Job training programs are important because "children learn as much from observation as instruction. The mother or father who has lost hope along with their job can unintentionally impart that hopelessness to their children."

And government spending "must not be squandered on things we don't need and can't afford, and which don't address a single American's concern for their family's security."

McCain's "Straight Talk Express" bus has been re-branded for the week with the words "Service to America." It is only the second time the campaign has changed the name of the bus; the first was during the "No Surrender Tour," in which McCain relaunched his campaign after a difficult summer of campaigning.

The Arizona Republican will visit Northern Virginia; Annapolis, Maryland; Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida; and Prescott, Arizona, on the tour, which ends Saturday.

March 31, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (3)

Obama: Long Primary Has Been "Great for America"

March 30, 2008 3:54 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Following Sen. Hillary Clinton's interview with the Washington Post in which she vowed to keep on fighting in the primary race, Senator Obama renewed his assertion that the long primary race has been a good thing, contrary to what some are saying.

"As this primary has gone on a little bit longer, there have been people who have been voicing some frustration. They’ve been saying, ‘Oh, you know – the campaigns are going at it back and forth and you know we feel like that initial hopefulness that we had now is kind of slipping away.’" Obama said but then countered, "I want everybody to understand that this has been a great contest. Great for America. It’s engaged and involved people like never before."

Obama told reporters yesterday that he believes talk of Senator Clinton withdrawing is premature, but he also insinuated that it would be best to have a nominee after the June contests finish.

"I think it’s terrific that Sen. Clinton’s supporters have been as passionate as my supporters have been, because that means that people are invested and engaged in this process," Obama said today, "And I am absolutely confident that when this primary season is all over, Democrats will be united because we understand what’s at stake in this election."

Speaking before a crowd of 22,000 at Penn State University, Obama chose rather to focus on Senator John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee, saying that he is "clinging to the past, he is running for George Bush’s third term."

Obama, on day three of his six day tour throughout Pennsylvania, started the day playing basketball with PA Senator Bob Casey. Afterward he took a tour of the dairy complex at the Pennsylvania State Agriculture Facility where he fed a calf milk though a bottle.

March 30, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (92)

Clinton Supporter Gov Rendell Supports Cuomo Plan to Guarantee Dream Ticket

March 30, 2008 12:31 PM

ABCNews' Mary Bruce Reports: Clinton supporter Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell backed this morning Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo's proposal to guarantee a "dream ticket". Cuomo has suggested Obama and Clinton agree now that whoever does not win the nomination will become the vice presidential candidate regardless of the outcome. "Well, I can't speak for Senator Clinton, but I would love that," Rendell said in an exclusive "This Week" interview. "I think that this duo, regardless, is a history-making duo.  They are both tremendous candidates.  They both would make great executives, and I'd love to see that happen," Rendell said.

Obama supporter Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., however, disagreed. "That's the privilege of the nominee, and it's certainly one of the options available to him, and it would be terrific in a lot of people's minds.  But you have to leave the nominee that option," he said. But Kerry also noted that "whatever judgment he [Obama] makes will be the right judgment."

In addition, Kerry said he believes a nominee can be determined by July 1st. "I think that the superdelegates ought to decide early. I would even say earlier than July.  As a former nominee, I will tell you, this time right now is critical to us.  We began four years behind George Bush, and I think every day does give John McCain an ability to organize nationally.  So the sooner we resolve it, the better, but it has to be resolved, obviously, by letting voters have their say."

Rendell supported Sen. Clinton's plan to continue the fight until the convention. "Hopefully, the Obama forces will allow all 10 states that remain on the calendar vote, and allow Florida and Michigan to vote. It's a disgrace that the Obama forces say, well, he's won the popular vote so he should be the nominee. There are 10 states left.  I think Senator Clinton's going to eat into the popular vote," he said. "I think if Michigan and Florida actually voted again, Senator Clinton would come out on top of the popular vote.  So I think the key is to let the party -- it's too late for the states, but let the party run the primaries in Michigan and Florida."

March 30, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (93)

Obama: 'Clinton Can Run as Long as She Wants'

March 29, 2008 5:55 PM

ABC News' David Wright, Sunlen Miller and Alyssa Litoff report: On day two of his six-day bus tour throughout Pennsylvania, Sen. Barack Obama said he does not completely agree to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy’s assertion that Sen. Hillary Clinton should get out of the race.

Responding to reporters' questions in Johnstown, Obama said the calls for her to withdraw are still premature in his eyes.

"I hadn't talked to Pat about it," Obama said. "My attitude is that Sen. Clinton can run as long as she wants. Her name is on the ballot ... she should be able to compete and her supporters should be able to support her for as long as they are willing or able."

Obama did hint to a time frame, saying he thinks a nominee should be chosen as quickly as possible after the contests wrap up in June so that person can start preparing for the general election.

"Some time in early June that at that point there are no more contests and I think it is important to pivot as quickly as possible, for the super delegates or others to make a decision as quickly as possible so that we can settle on a nominee and give that nominee some time before the convention to select a vice president or presidential nominee to start thinking about how the convention should be conducted," he said.

In addition to the need for general election prep, Obama added that after the June primaries there will not be any further information to be had.

"We will have had contests in all 50 states plus several territories," he said. "We will have tallied up the pledge delegate vote. We will have tallied up the popular vote, we will have tallied up how many states that were won by who. And then at that point I think people should have more than enough information to make a decision."

Obama said that he also does not agree completely with the idea that the Democratic Party will be hurt by the length of this nomination process.

"I think that the notion that the party has been divided by this contest is somewhat overstated. There's no doubt that among some of my supporters or some of her supporters there’s probably been some irritation created, but I also think that in every contest you've seen in every state huge jumps in Democratic registration, including independents and Republicans who are changing registration to vote in the Democratic primaries," Obama said. "Those are people who are now invested in what happens. I think that bodes very well for us in November. I think the party is going to come together."

Recent polls that found large percentages of Citon and Obama supporters said they would either vote for Sen. John McCain or sit the election out if their candidate is not the Democratic nominee. But Obama said that he’s sure Clinton’s supporters will be able to support him over McCain in the end, and vice versa for his supporters if Clinton were the nominee.

"You can't tell me that some of my supporters are going to say, 'well, we'd rather have the guy who may want to stay in Iraq for a hundred years because we are mad that Sen. Clinton ran a negative ad against Sen. Obama," he said. "I think the converse is true as well. I think Senator Clinton’s supporters will ultimately look at a comparison and say we think an Obama administration will be very different from a McCain administration."

Obama admitted earlier in a town hall that his road in Pennsylvania will be a hard one. He called himself the "underdog" in the state, where polls have consistently found Clinton to be ahead in the polls.

The campaign, launching the six-day bus tour across the state from west to east is an attempt to introduce Obama to voters –- with smaller town halls and events planned aiming at some voting blocks Obama has struggled with, such as white blue collar voters.

Obama said that he didn’t think it was naturally a difficult state for him but rather blamed it on Clinton’s name notoriety and institutional endorsements such as that of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

"I’m not as well known as Sen. Clinton is in this state, which is reflected in the polls, and she’s got a popular Democratic governor who gave her a good head start, and provided her with some institutional support," Obama said.

On the other hand, Obama admitted his recent endorsement by the state's Sen. Bob Casey Jr. helps in Pennsylvania but he still downplayed expectations.

"We may not be able to win, but I think we’ve got a good chance and we’re going to work as hard as we can," he said.

This morning Obama and Casey hit the basketball courts before a full day of campaigning, shooting hoops at a local high school.

"You were boxing out, which is what we need," Obama said to Casey, insinuating that they will need a good defensive effort off the court as well.

March 29, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (417)

Chelsea's Choice: Will Mom or Dad Be a Better President?

March 28, 2008 5:27 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: It was Chelsea's choice: who would be the better president, her father or mother?

"His question is, 'Do I think my mother will be a better president than my father," the former and aspiring first daughter said during an event at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Penn.

Then came her choice.

"Well, again, I don't take anything for granted, but hopefully with Pennsylvania's help, she will be our next president, and yes, I do think she'll be a better president," Ms. Clinton said.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

Asked about the exchange at a press availability in Hammond, Indiana, Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., seemed surprised and smiled as she replied, "I have to talk to her before I answer that question."

No word yet on from former President Bill Clinton, who is campaigning for his wife in North Carolina, though he frequently tells crowds that his wife is and will be his better half including in a potential role as the second Clinton in the White House.

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf contributed to this report.

March 28, 2008 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (239)