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McCain Questions Obama's Decision to Cancel Troop Visit
July 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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"there would have been a seismic event" YEAH, McCain, always ready to throw a temper tantrum.
Posted by: JR | Jul 26, 2008 6:20:14 PM
Ryan we talked about this before and now I have the same reponse. The bill McCain was proposing .. he himself said it was too much. Now tell me how could his be better?
You are spinning yourself silly.
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 26, 2008 6:22:48 PM
Shouldn't you be face down next to an empty kool-aid cup Omentum. You're all a bunch of lemmings. You'd follow the "Golden Child" into the abyss.
Posted by: Ryan | Jul 26, 2008 6:24:02 PM
Does McCain have even a single idea left? His campaign narrative for the last week has been nothing but petty sniping and attacks. Hey, John. Try and see if you can come up with even one idea. Just one. Or is petty, envious attack mode all you've got left?
Posted by: ElodieStClair | Jul 26, 2008 6:27:11 PM
Ryan, is McCain old? Then it's a valid point, isn't it?
Posted by: JR | Jul 26, 2008 6:27:27 PM
Candi, first of all show me proof that Obama has raised more money than anybody. Second of all the democrat controlled congress is responsible for a lot of our problems too. It's not just Bush's fault. Have you seen congress' approval rating lately. It's at 17%. I wonder why we never hear that from the liberal newsmedia. It couldn't be their biased.
Posted by: Ryan | Jul 26, 2008 6:27:47 PM
Obama made a cold political decision: The visit to Berlin gave him greater worldwide news coverage than a trip to K-town to visit wounded military personnel. In two months Obama and his campaign will do to McCain what they did to his opponents when he ran for the U.S. Senate. He smeared, smeared, smeared until all competition was destroyed. The question is: Why is the media so in love with this guy?
Posted by: Percy | Jul 26, 2008 6:31:05 PM
So Ryan
You blame a 17 percent rating on the democrats??? Remember, republicans are there too. They may not have the majority but bush's veto is the equalizer.
We will not have that to concern us when Obama wins and the dems will gain seats in the house and senate.
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 26, 2008 6:32:33 PM
What were those ISSUES again John?
Without Republican lies and warmongering those troops would not have been wounded.
Posted by: Michael L | Jul 26, 2008 6:34:20 PM
I want to hear more about these psychological economic problems we are having too.
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 26, 2008 6:42:37 PM
With Obama's approach, ZERO American soldiers would have died in Iraq, and we could have focused on going after Bin Laden and al Qaeda. With McCain's approach, over 4,100 American soldiers have died, al Qaeda is stronger than ever, we've lost 3 trillion dollars, and America is less safe.
It is not even debatable; Obama, in objective terms, has far superior vision.
Posted by: ElodieStClair | Jul 26, 2008 6:42:37 PM
I guess they are psychological when your biggest struggle is deciding which mansion your were going to for the weekend.
McCain is soooo out of touch.
oh yeah
He is confused too.
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 26, 2008 6:44:09 PM
Just keep in mind, the last time McCain had much to do with the Pentagon, it involved writing letters in support of EADS, parent of French Airbus, and that support ultimately resulted in thousands of lost jobs for Americans. But it did gain large donations for McCain's campaign plus jobs for six Airbus lobbyists who now work for his campaign. That's not even mentioning the French now possibly having control over America's air defense re-fueling fleet. Also for a man who has consistently voted AGAINST legislation benefiting our troops and veterans, legislation that may have prevented some from being in that hospital in the first place, he doesn't have much room to talk.
Posted by: devilkev | Jul 26, 2008 6:46:35 PM
How sad that McCain is resorting to such petty accusations- is this the best he has? Obama dared to take time to work out instead of visiting every single point of interest? I'm sorry but I can't be everywhere I'd LIKE to be. Especially if I'll be accused of "politicizing" something. If he visits, he's being disingenuous. If he doesn't visit, he's selfish. McCain's tactics makes people hate politics.
Posted by: Sheila | Jul 26, 2008 6:47:43 PM
Did you see Obama sink that 3-pointer. This guy is just a winner no matter how you look at it. Soon happy days will be here again.
Posted by: candi delight | Jul 26, 2008 6:52:22 PM
If McCain cared so much about our troops he would not support keeping them in Iraq. How could anyone justify sacrificing our soldiers for a war for profit justified by a pack of lies. Shame on all the politicians who would say or use anything as a wedge to divide and conquer.
Posted by: worldsam | Jul 26, 2008 6:52:49 PM
If people are very observant they should know that Obama is very intelligent. He knows he has two opponents in this election: the white house and Senator Mccain.When his opponent was planing his trip to the place there was no call and when Obama was going, he was phoned. I am at all fronts in support of his decision to allow the sleep dog to lie there more time to show the Army that Obama feels for them.
Posted by: ANTHONY EGBE SON | Jul 26, 2008 6:53:44 PM
Don't panic - BHO still has more than enough times to change his mind several more times.
Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jul 26, 2008 6:56:10 PM
I think what is fair game here is to question the Pentagon about their policies and ask why they seem to be administered in an inconsistent manner.
As for McSame's threat of a "seismic event". . .well, that's what John McCain is known for around Capitol Hill - an uncontrollable temper. This would fit perfectly in with a character who didn't love his country until he was 31, didn't stop playing around on his wife until he was in his 40's, and whose only real examples of being a "maverick" is openly defying his own families long and proud tradition of military service by landing at the bottom of his class.
These Rovian attacks are going to backfire, Senator McCain.
Posted by: kevinbgoode | Jul 26, 2008 6:56:29 PM
John McCain forgot to add that Obama actually CALLED US troops in Germany, and spoke to them.
I find it very disgraceful for John McCain to use US soldiers to try to score political points.
John McCain is just becoming more, and more digusting a human being!!
Posted by: Paul | Jul 26, 2008 7:01:50 PM
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