- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Obama Focuses Iraq Attacks on McCain
March 20, 2008 12:25 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Barack Obama is looking back on Iraq and forward to the general election.
For the second day in a row, Obama, D-Ill., delivered an Iraq-themed speech pegged to fifth anniversary of the start of military operations on March 19, 2003.
In a 26-minute address, the Democratic contender criticized both nomination rival Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and potential general election foe Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., but Obama mentioned McCain's name nine times and Clinton's name only once.
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
"Because of the Bush-McCain politics, our debt has ballooned. This is creating problems in our fragile economy," Obama told the Charleston, West Virginia, crowd.
Much of the speech was spent attempting to connect McCain with President Bush uin an attempt to paint McCain as responsible for the negatives of the war.
Obama complimented former President George H.W. Bush, saying he understood how important it was to manage the costs of war, but reserved no mercy for the current President.
"None of this has been the case in the war George W. Bush and John McCain have waged the current Iraq war," he added.
Obama asserted that McCain "refuses" to learn from the "failures" of the Bush years and claimed instead of offering an exit strategy from Iraq, McCain is offering a 100-year occupation.
"John McCain seems determined to carry out a third Bush-term," Obama said.
Obama also criticized McCain for his stance on Bush's tax cuts saying, "John McCain once opposed these tax cuts –- he rightly called them unfair and fiscally irresponsible. But now he has done an about face and wants to make them permanent, just like he wants a permanent occupation in Iraq."
The candidate's sole mention of Clinton also involved McCain.
"At that debate in Texas several weeks ago, Senator Clinton attacked John McCain for supporting the policies that have led to our enormous war costs," Obama said, "But her point would have been more compelling had she not joined Senator McCain in making the tragically ill-considered decision to vote for the Iraq war in the first place."
For all the latest from the campaign trail, read The Note every morning exclusively on ABCNews.com
March 20, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (261)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
As well OBAMA should, after all JOHN MCCAIN will not be ready on day one. He doesn't have the helpful advice of a trustworthy guy like REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT on his campaign to help him.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 20, 2008 12:42:12 PM
Obama is trading on fear - and disrespecting an American Hero before the debate even starts. So it appears there is lttle difference between Obama and Hillary. It is a shame this is what the Democrats have become. Debate the issues face to face instead of throwing S---t against the wall and see what sticks.
I for one would like to know what the Democrats have accomplished since taking control of both houses. Let me guess Palosi and reid -- ZERO -- great let put a democrat in the White House and finish the job for the liberal left and media. Has everyone lost their mind? Wake up - The democrats are only good at one thing and they have down to an art form they HATE REPUBLICANS OR ANY ONE WHO DISAGREES WITH THEM. SIGNED FED-UP
Posted by: A CITIZEN | Mar 20, 2008 12:49:12 PM
Will Mr. Obama go visit the troops in Iraq? He doesn't seem to care about them. All the others have gone. Is he above it all and doesn't he want their votes?
Posted by: Kathy | Mar 20, 2008 12:54:28 PM
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 20, 2008 12:42:12;
...Obama doesn't have the helpful advice of a trustworthy guy like REVEREND JOHN HAGEE on his campaign to help him.
Posted by: Ken | Mar 20, 2008 12:54:43 PM
WestcoastMessenger:
Is your Pastor your financial and spiritual advisor? Do you listen to him 100% and follow what he want you to do? Have you ever cursed Government and your country for being where you are today? in economical recession. Did you always followed and did exactly what your parents or uncles advised to you? If answer to these questions is yes then only you can attack Obama. He is grown intelligent man. He knows what is good for the country. You can only ask other people not say bad things but you cant sew their mouth.
Posted by: samyr | Mar 20, 2008 12:56:30 PM
McCain "refuses to learn from the
failures of the Bush years"!
Well John McCain saw the failures in the Bush strategy for the war and
strongly suggested the "surge" be instituted by the president and to his credit Bush changed his policy and we are now winning the war thanks to John
McCain! That is known as thinking outside the box, Barack!
We don't need a president who will look at a failed policy or one that is failing and just give up and move on to the next "flavor of the month" issue!
We need a problem solver and that is
John McCain!
That Bush Third Term Nonsense will not work! John McCain is nobodys clone!
Posted by: reaganfan | Mar 20, 2008 12:59:10 PM
Get real CITIZEN! You have it totally backwards. Republicans don't care who the President is as long as it is a Republican. Democrates challeng each Democratic opponent to see which would be the best!
Posted by: Curryz | Mar 20, 2008 12:59:32 PM
WestCoastMessanger has nice words for McCain and not for Obama as her/his candidate Hillary is a great friend of McCain. Organizing tea parties for foreign visitors will never prepare some one to be ready on day one. Day one request judgement and that is what is missing with Hillary. Someone who was not able to manage her family while "things" were happening, somebody who has managed her campaign as a Rhum shop in Castries, that person cannot manage America. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Mar 20, 2008 1:01:50 PM
If there any common sense remaining with Americans, then it is common sense to end this war. Anyway, anyone knows what is the definition of the war? Invading someone else country is not war victory, its called bullying others. That is why whole world is saying that America has created more enemies than 8 years back. We need a messenger who will bring the peace to the world and regain the respect of Great America. Read and listen to What Obama said during his speech. countries like China and India are prospering and WE Americans are fighting on this issue of race and war.
Posted by: samyr | Mar 20, 2008 1:03:45 PM
Whew...What to do ?? Our choices are:
Hilary...many dislike. Obama...many distrust. John Mc...can't lead 3 donkeys to water. Whew...What to do ??
Posted by: roger king | Mar 20, 2008 1:06:53 PM
This much hate for either of the candidates has really gotten out of hand. We are supposed to be a "Super Power", the civilized nation, and yet, we cannot just support our respective candidates without the nastiness and divisiveness. Come on people, GIVE IT A REST. Obama and Clinton are no different on issues. If she was anyone other than a Clinton, she would have been asked to leave the race. I don't know much about McCain, but I do know that he needs a strong running mate to make it to the white house. I am an independant, and right about now, all I want is for all the bickering and nastiness to stop. I guess my vote will go for the candidate who can address the issues and conduct themselves in a respectible manner. I'm not fooled by the Day One nonsense either. Anyone of them who makes a decision at 3AM (when all our brains are foggy that time of the morning) without first consulting advisors, in my opinion lacks the necessary judgment that great office requires. Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: Shen | Mar 20, 2008 1:07:32 PM
Reaganfan said: We need a problem solver and that is John McCain! Would that include his sick "joke" as a solution: "Bomb, bomb, bomb ... bomb, bomb Iran" ??
Posted by: malthusian77 | Mar 20, 2008 1:11:44 PM
I think that Mr. Clinton is right, if we want the first civilized general presidential campaign in the recent history, campaign which any normal person can look upon without revulsion, campaign of substance without any nonsense like race card playing, swift boating, moveon.orging - we should have campaign between H. Clinton vs. J. McCain. The respect which both candidates have for each other preclude them to resort to any of questionable tactics and lack of support of them from the fringes of both parties will tone the ugly passions down. The race issue which still exist in our society is no priority now for any group and we made actually big progress in this. Mr. Obama candidacy on the other hand just unnecessary inflamed the issue and divide us on healing scars. I am not saying that any black candidate will cause this. This is specifically Mr. Obama problem. His lack of
experience was substituted with above average politician rhetoric skills initially and race card playing later. I do not think that Mr. Powell for instance will have this problem at all.
Posted by: Paul | Mar 20, 2008 1:11:47 PM
Kathy, Obama loves the troops in Iraq. He did not want them to be there at the first place. He wants them to get out there.
It was Hillary and McCain who sent them there.
Posted by: Peace | Mar 20, 2008 1:12:15 PM
Better for Obama to drop out of the race to unite the party and country!!!
Posted by: John | Mar 20, 2008 1:12:55 PM
Better for Clinton to drop out of the race to unite the party and country!!!
Posted by: malthusian77 | Mar 20, 2008 1:16:04 PM
Obama is dividing the country now. He used race card to gain benefit in SC AND MS. and now he is the black candidate.
Posted by: John | Mar 20, 2008 1:18:09 PM
Draw attention off of me. Lets pick on McCain now.
Posted by: Jim Rod | Mar 20, 2008 1:18:20 PM
Please Obama continue to remind this nation where we went wrong and how to correct it. You are my Hero.
OBAMA 08
Posted by: wycliffe | Mar 20, 2008 1:19:12 PM
Obama is absolutely inept. He wouldn't recognize success in Iraq if it jumped up and bit him in the backside. It's painful just to listen to his babble.
Posted by: rplat | Mar 20, 2008 1:20:29 PM
Post a comment



