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McCain Questions Obama's Decision to Cancel Troop Visit
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ShareJuly 26, 2008 5:12 PM
ABC News' Mary Bruce reports: Sen. John McCain suggested today that it is fair game to question Sen. Barack Obama's decision not to visit wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany during his recent trip to the country.
"If I had been told by the Pentagon that I couldn’t visit those troops, and I was there and wanted to be there, I guarantee you, there would have been a seismic event," McCain told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in an interview to air Sunday on "This Week".
Obama's campaign reportedly cancelled the trip because Pentagon officials told the senator he could not make the visit accompanied by his campaign staff and because of concerns that the visit would be viewed as politically motivated.
But McCain questioned his rival's justification: "I know of no Pentagon regulation that would have prevented him from going there -- without the media and the press and all of the associated people. Nothing that I know of would have kept him from visiting those wounded troops."
McCain went on to note that "in Landstuhl, Germany, when I went through, I visited the hospital. ... I think people make a judgment by what we do and what we don’t do. He certainly found time to do other things."
Also, in a new ad released today, the McCain campaign criticized Obama for canceling his Landstuhl trip while finding time to work out.
"He made time to go to the gym," the ad said, "but cancelled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras. John McCain is always there for our troops."
July 26, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (640)
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Really, this old guy has nothing substantive to offer anyone, and has resorted to just passing judgment on his opponent. How sorry can he get?? this is why he insists on extending an unjust war, ramming a war down the throats of the Iraqis who also want us out of Iraq. So who cares if each candidate make their own schedule and visit any location or country they wish. Why should the other person question it, unless they have nothing else to do,or to offer? The sooner McSame shuts up, the better it would be for him, for he is showing that he is really nothing more than just hot air!!!
Posted by: Karen | Jul 26, 2008 5:32:09 PM
McCain should just put a sock in it. I'm sick of hearing his whining. If he has nothing to say about what he plans to do to get this country out of Iraq or improve the economy, I really don't want to hear him. All he does is attack his opponent--even down to the most trivial detail. But what are his plans for the country? What does he plan to do as president? He makes error after error and gaffe after gaffe. He should probably pay more attention to what he is saying and doing.
Posted by: mary | Jul 26, 2008 5:34:06 PM
Obama should make an ad that McCain didn't have the decency to show up to vote on the GI Bill for the troops.
Posted by: Gertrude | Jul 26, 2008 5:40:47 PM
McCain is becoming unravled before our eyes
Posted by: Thinking | Jul 26, 2008 5:48:29 PM
Does anyone really care what McCain thinks about this.
Posted by: erin | Jul 26, 2008 5:49:02 PM
Get it together, McSame. With all of the foreign policy gaffs that you made this week, don't you have anything of substance to state toward moving our country forward??? It seems as if you're simply desparate on all fronts! You Republicans definitely need a different leader to carry your banner!
Obama in '08.
Posted by: Howard Gallas | Jul 26, 2008 5:49:41 PM
Gertrude, you've got it so right! Thanks.
Posted by: Colorado Dem | Jul 26, 2008 5:50:06 PM
"there would have been a seismic event"
Is that to show his great regard for the military or his inablity to control his temper? Either way, it shows how McCain feels himself above others.
Posted by: JR | Jul 26, 2008 5:51:57 PM
Gertrude, what are you talking about? isn't it over experienced people that are currently in washington and the white house that has collapsed our economy? what in the world are you talking about?Mccain is an experienced manipulator of the Game. You do not want him in the white house for your sake.Trust me on this one. Not that Obama will be perfect, but Obama will be a change. don't you want that?and how can u support a candidate always smearing or talking negative stuff about his opponent? ALWAYS! he should stick to the issues, period.
Posted by: Misha | Jul 26, 2008 5:52:19 PM
I wonder how many gaffes McCain would make if he didn't spend all his time crying about everything that Obama does.
Didn't this guy say he was going to run a respectable campaign?
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 26, 2008 5:52:54 PM
This past week we have seen McCain 4.0, and it sure is ugly.
Posted by: Thinking | Jul 26, 2008 5:53:16 PM
The real story here is that McCain is using the wounded troops for his own political gain. Pretty cynical and not very presidential.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | Jul 26, 2008 5:54:14 PM
McCain wants to give the troops a handshake and a photo.
Obama wants to give them a college education.
Any questions?
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 26, 2008 5:56:29 PM
Seriously, what's up with this grumpy guy? First he rails about Obama not having been abroad in a long time. Now Obama takes the trip he'd dared him to take and he is all over him for what everybody and by most standards has been called a successful tour. Can someone tell McCain to shut up if he doesn't have anything substantive to say about the issues that ail this country?
Posted by: Eben | Jul 26, 2008 6:02:44 PM
How can any Obama supporter knock McCain for criticizing him. You're all delusional. Obama is the one that has nothing substantive to talk about. He does nothing but go around and give speeches. He's nothing but a black Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: Ryan | Jul 26, 2008 6:06:48 PM
Apparently it's only ok to criticize your opponent if you're a democrat. The double standards in this country are embarassing.
McCain '08
Posted by: Ryan | Jul 26, 2008 6:08:47 PM
While McCain thought it important to have pictures taken with the troops, he felt it important to vote against improving the G.I. bill. If I were an active dury soldier I'd tell him to take the straight talk express to somewhere hot and write a letter to Barack thanking him for his support, and we'll take pictures later.
Posted by: terrence McSweeeny | Jul 26, 2008 6:14:17 PM
So McCain says that if he doesn't get his way, he will explode on somebody. Nice measured reaction.
Posted by: Last Call | Jul 26, 2008 6:14:51 PM
McCain is a disgrace. He didn't even show up to vote on the GI Bill.
Posted by: Gertrude | Jul 26, 2008 6:15:54 PM
McCain is a disgrace. He didn't even show up to vote on the GI Bill.
Posted by: Gertrude | Jul 26, 2008 6:16:06 PM
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