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Obama on McCain: 'I Repeated Exactly What He Said'

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April 02, 2008 7:47 PM

ABC News' Talal Al-Khatib and Sunlen Miller and Report: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., glossed over his past distortion of Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., position on Iraq while appearing Wednesday on Hardball’s "College Tour."

"John McCain got upset, I think today," Obama told MSNBC's Chris Matthews, "apparently because I repeated exactly what he said, which is that we might be there for 100 years if he had his way."

While there are occasions when Obama has accurately characterized McCain's support for keeping a U.S. troop presence in Iraq out of harm's way, Obama's comments on MSNBC overlooked occasions (such as Feb. 9 in Bangor, Maine) when he explicitly accused McCain of having said that "he wants to fight a hundred year war." 

Rather than calling for a century-long war, McCain has talked about maintaining a U.S. troop presence in Iraq following the cessation of hostilities similar to the way the U.S. has stationed troops in Japan and South Korea following wars in those countries.

Obama was asked by Matthews what he would do if he was president and a similar scenario to 9/11 happened under his watch, to which Obama demurred about answering a hypothetical completely.

"I don't think anybody predicted 9/11," Obama commented, "And, so, we don't know what kinds of circumstances are going to come up," but did say the mot important thing a president needed in that type of "3am scenario" would be the facts, gathering the intelligence, and someone who could analyze the situation accurately.

A good portion of the interview with Matthews was spurred by a student questioner from the audience who asked Obama about his controversial former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright

"I am a Christian, and I pray every night. And when you're running for president, you pray even more," Obama joked of his faith he needs in this presidential race.

Obama called the controversy with his pastor and church a "flap" and a "difficult moment" with a "good man" who said some things he disagrees with, but brought up the fact that the Christian faith forgives people and tries to understand people.

"God is going to be somebody who's making judgments about many of these things."

Obama said contrary to what some say, he does not think that the Clinton campaign is using the dog whistle by talking about Wright, "Look, I think that's fair game, in the sense that what my former pastor said was offensive."

Obama, winding down the last day of a 6 day bus tour thought Pennsylvania ,was questioned by Matthews about the road ahead after the last contests finish in June and what will happen to the stalemate between himself and Senator Clinton.

"If I have the most pledged delegates, meaning after all the votes have been cast in caucuses and primaries, if -- I also think we will have had the most popular vote and we will have won the most states. Then I think most of the super delegates who have not yet decided, I think, will recognize that we've earned this nomination."

Obama also revealed a little lack of discipline about one of his habits he gave up at the start of the campaign: smoking, "I fell off the wagon a couple times during the course of it, and then was able to get back on. But it is a struggle like everything else."

On a more healthy, sports related note, Obama said was asked if he was ready to bowl, yes bowl, from day one, an ode to Clinton’s recent bowl-off challenge and his, no infamous low scoring game with Senator Casey, "Obviously I am not…..basketball I can play," he countered jokingly.

Matthews then brought out Philly Sport Magazine to show Obama a new endorsement of his. "Forget issues like who's ready from day one or who do you want answering a 3:00 AM phone call in the White House or the ramifications of NAFTA. To us, the most important issue is very simple and one that no one is talking about in the battle for the Democratic nomination for president. Who's the biggest jock?" the magazine reads.

April 2, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (32)

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Recently, we heard Barack Obama and his campaign rant about how the hate, treason, and racism of Jeremiah Wright was nothing more than words taken out of context.

According to Obama, his supporters, and his campaign surrogates, Jeremiah Wright is a good and decent man and we should not judge him too harshly by words he spoke in a sermon.

Now, Obama wants to apply his version of situation ethics to take one sentence of a John McCain statement and use it for political advantage.

Typical Obama doublespeak.

By the way, if Hillary Clinton or John McCain had "spiritual advisors" or "old uncles" who spewed out the venom and treason that Jeremiah Wright is guilty of, would Obama give them the same pass he wants us to give him?

I think not.


Posted by: Jayhawk | Apr 3, 2008 10:38:04 AM

OK Idiots!!!!Hilary Clinton have said the same exact thing about McCain.... go figure....Words taken out of context sound like the same goes for Rev Wright...You all are so afraid to live!!! Please vote for MccCain and continue the same Bush path Vote for him and shut-up We dont need votes that are not Democratic at heart.

Posted by: maxx | Apr 3, 2008 10:42:00 AM

I will not vote for Obama, and he can not win. It's my personal opinion, that he has an identity problem, and needs to see a Psychiatrist. In his first book he talks about purging the white blood from his veins. He really enjoyed reading Malcolm X books, and doesn't really know who he is.He may win the Democratic nomination, but when voters see how he has mentally abused his little children, by exposing them to the GD Wright, they will not vote for him.Of course, we will hear Rezco all Summer. Just think the 28% crossover vote if Hillary loses will also hurt a little. MCCain will get all these votes. People need to read the new book that is out titled Obama a bound man, and why he can't win. I think obama's double talk may also hurt him. While he is pulling troops out of Irac, he talks about sending them back, at the same time. When he said he would give Gore a job, he did not realize that Gore may be insane. Of course this is my opinion. Gore said the farmers should grow all alcohol corn and soybeans for biofuel. Gore is so ignorant, that he does not know that if we took all the corn America grew last year, and all the soybeans that was grown and turned it into fuel, it would only meet 7% of our energy needs. We then would not have any food to eat. The grain fed cattle would starve. no chickens or pork. There would be no food to feed them. It cost a gallon of gas, and 685 pounds of corn to fill up an suv with Ethanol. As you can see Obama and Gore, are not very intelligent. Of course the man who invented the internet would figure it out. Ha Ha Ha.

Posted by: Rockey | Apr 3, 2008 12:57:23 PM

As I was reading some of the comments I could not help but think back to the 2000 election and the Al Gore situation. In retrospect we now see what a great opportunity this country let slip by because people voted w/their hearts and not their minds. I can remember the debates and how Mr. Gore's intelligence showed through while Bush presented himself as a guy you could sit down have a beer with and "trust". That election should not have been close enough to steal, and instead of electing the Nobel Price winner we elected a real "winner". Does this sound familiar? Clinton is more qualified, smarter, and mentally stronger; hands down the best candidate in my opinion. Feelings should not dictate your vote, it has not worked in the past and will not work now. Obama is a great orator and motivator but that is called selling it and I hope voters realize that. If something sounds to to good to be true it usually is. Vote for Hillary and prevent disaster.

Posted by: micky | Apr 3, 2008 1:36:50 PM

"...thought Pennsylvania..." should say "though Pennsylvania" toward the end. "Mot" is not a word. Couldn't help but notice. Good article.

Posted by: picky person | Apr 3, 2008 2:02:16 PM

Now it has come to a he said, she said, Bull S.... we warn our kids not to get wrapped up in. And people question qualifications? These candidates and campaign is absurd! Not a one of them are the "real deal". This country needs a leader not a reciter, ex figher, or possibly a her. What happen to genuine, honesty, common sense, and all that rightious that make great things happen to stay. People should fear more than we do and I am not talking National Sec. fearing.

Posted by: regionfive | Apr 3, 2008 5:02:23 PM

November 12, 2003: Sally Perdue, who told the London Telegraph in 1994 that after she was threatened with physical violence, her car windshield was broken and spent shotgun shell was left on the seat. Perdue abruptly relocated to China a few months after talking to the Telegraph, shortly after Paula Jones sued Mr. Clinton for sexual harassment."Anthony Pellicano, the L.A.-based private investigator and O.J. defense team veteran Sexgate provocatuer Lucianne Goldberg told Peyser that Pellicano's services were bought and paid for by the Clinton White House. When Peyser confronted the Los Angeles private detective with Goldberg's claim, he didn't deny it. "You're a smart girl. No comment," Pellicano told the Post reporter.
November 12, 2003: Pellicano Tapes Could Implicate the Clintons.
Anthony Pellicano web library is the source

Posted by: jojobo1 | Apr 3, 2008 6:30:41 PM

The truth is that McCain wants to maintain a presence in IRAQ of some sort for 100 years or "as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed". The question then will be - Are we going to put troops every where we have Al-Qaeda for 100 years. The point is that Obama is interested in addressing the mindset that took us to this WAR. Thus what he has done is to brand McCain as war hero who want us to be in IRAQ for 100 years. I think Mccain and Bush, should come clean and tell us when it will clear that we have succeeded in IRAQ and when the troops will be brought home.

Posted by: Ton | Apr 3, 2008 8:39:51 PM

This is the most blantantly biased "news" article I've ever read from amajor new organization. So much for journalistic integrity and "objectivity". Were you guys at the McCain BBQ in Sedona, getting trashed with your favorite candidate ever? You corporate media McCain-Do-No-Wrong GOP sycophants are pathetic excuses for journalists.

What exactly is the focus of this article? There is no focus. And there is no analytical framework. Just "the facts" selectively chosen to portray McCain as Right on Iraq and the young Obama as "falling off the wagon" and unsure what he'd do if there were another 9-11 or a "3am phone call". And more Wright non-news. Total BS.

BTW anyone who thinks our corporate media complex is "liberal" needs to take some anti-psychotics and get back to reality.

Posted by: Jimbo | Apr 3, 2008 9:11:34 PM

Can the dems please stop knocking the religious right already. Obama bragged about being a Christian and praying every day, just yesterday on Hardball. He mentions it in every speech he gives as does Hillary. McCain keeps his religion a private matter: always has.
If you recall, there were several christian leaders that said they would not support McCain just a few months ago. If you think that you can compare McCain to Bush you haven't done your homework. Remember the anti-McCain campaign by Limbaugh, Hannity, and Laura Ingraham? They have the largest radio audiences in the country, and they
beat up on him incessantly day in, day out for more than a month. Ann Coulter threatened to vote for Hillary if McCain was nominated. She accused him of being a bigger liberal than Hill. Why do you think that McCain has had a decades-long reputation for being a maverick? Because, he did not go lockstep with Republicans on dozens of key issues. He did not support Bush's tax cuts for the rich. He partnered with Kennedy to sponsor immigration reform laws that inflamed every Republican that I know. He fought against unnecessary military spending which resulted in billions of dollars saved for the taxpayer. He has never once added an earmark to any bill that he signed in twenty-four years of government service. Last year, Hillary
added 181 and Obama 51. Don't tell me that they don't payback their special interests. If you recall a few months ago, he flew in coach, pulled his own luggage,and cut his staff in half. Boy,
if that's not the comeback story of the
year, I don't know what is. When Obama was in his twenties, he was snorting coke and smoking the ganga. When Hillary was in her twenties, she was "not inhaling" pot with Billie. when McCain was in his twenties, he was being tortured relentlessly by the Vietnamese and refusing early release unless his fellow prisoners joined him. John McCain has already been vetted by the press more than Hillary and Obama have. Reporters have lived on his tour bus and traveled with him for months every time he has campaigned. If you recall, he ran for president against Bush in 2000. Even back then, reporters lived with him 24/7 for months at a time. Compare this to Hillary's arm's length approach to the press. She didn't even take any questions from the
press at any of her speeches until about six weeks ago. There's nothing bad to discover about McCain. Everybody already knows all the bad. The Republicans have yet to expose juicy tidbits about the democratic winner. Remember, it has been democrats that have always accused Republicans of dirty tactics. I hope they will deliver. But judging by the dirty tricks between your two canditates, it looks like Republicans still have a lot to learn in this department. Don't kid yourselves McCain will not be that easy to defeat.
He has twenty plus years of experience in government, Obama is still trying to find the bathroom in the Capitol building, while Hillary is just holding it till she gets home.


recuced his campaign staff because the
moneymen in the Republican Party

Posted by: ed jones | Apr 3, 2008 9:22:06 PM

AT THIS POINT OBAMA IS PLAYING THE GAME TO WIN THE NOMINATION, AFTER THAT, HE WILL FAIL- AND WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIANCE OR QUALIFICATIONS TO BEAT A WAR HERO- & USA PATRIOT- WHO HAS BEEN PROUD OF COUNTRY HIS WHOLE LIFE. HE IS A SUPPORTER OF A WAR THAT KEEPS THIS COUNTRY OUT OF HARMS WAY OF TERRORISTS. HIS WIFE HAS DONE TREMENDOUS THINGS FOR THIS COUNTRY- OBAMA'S WIFE HAS NOT. THE 'AUDACITY' OF AMERICA TO THINK OBAMA IS THE ONE TO PICK ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. CLINTON IS TOAST, TRUE, BUT OBAMA IS TOAST, TOO.

Posted by: JACK | Apr 4, 2008 9:14:47 AM

I like the last sentence in this article. It's funny. LOL

Posted by: ChayaFradle | Apr 17, 2008 8:46:07 PM

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