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Obama-Biden War-Funding Split Draws Fire
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ShareAugust 22, 2008 5:22 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis, Arnab Datta, and Rigel Anderson Report: The GOP is planning to step up its attacks on Barack Obama's war funding record if the presumptive Democratic nominee taps Joe Biden to be his running mate.
"Our argument will be that the Biden pick only underscores how inexperienced Barack Obama knows he is," a Republican official told ABC News, previewing the GOP's possible line of attack. "Obama's vote against funding our troops was an example of inexperience and poor judgment. The fact that his more experienced running mate made the right call highlights Obama's mistake."
"Whereas to date that vote hasn't gotten a lot of attention," the Republican official added, "now it will."
Obama national security spokesperson Wendy Morigi declined to comment when contacted by ABC News, saying, "We're not commenting on any aspect of any potential V.P."
Biden, who serves as chairman of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, is not the only vice presidential prospect who was at odds with Obama on the May 24, 2007 war funding vote.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., for example, also broke with Obama by voting to fund the U.S. missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Biden, however, is seen by Republicans as offering more ammunition on the war funding issue.
That's because Biden, as a former White House hopeful and staple on the Sunday morning talk shows, has been more pointed than any other Democrat in contrasting his views on war funding votes with those of Obama.
"I am not going to fail to protect these kids as long as we have a single, solitary troop in Iraq," said Biden during a Sept. 9, 2007 appearance on "Meet the Press."
"This isn’t cutting off the war," he added. "This is cutting off support that will save the lives of thousands of American troops."
Watch it here.
Biden's son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, is set to deploy to Iraq by October as a JAG Captain, according to a spokesman for the state's National Guard.
The GOP's possible plans to target the Obama-Biden split on war funding include emailing youtubed versions of Biden's remarks to reporters, putting it in a web video for supporters of the Republican Party, and, perhaps, even using it in a television ad.
"We have it pulled and ready to use as necessary," said the GOP official, referring to Biden's remarks on "Meet the Press."
August 22, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (69)
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Obama's in a pickle. Of the possible VP candidates associated with him, all are either flawed or at odds with his ultra-liberal stands on things.
Posted by: Martin Slueg, jr | Aug 22, 2008 5:49:00 PM
Let the GOP go after Biden, or whomever Obama picks. They can expect the same, but even more forceful when McCain picks his vp.
Posted by: jillian | Aug 22, 2008 6:05:34 PM
Martin Slueg, jr, could you tell us what is the result of 8 years of the conservative government under WBush-Cheney and McSame: a disaster in terms of economy, foreign policy and national policy. God save America from McSame i.e. another 4 years of faillure and disasters. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Aug 22, 2008 6:07:27 PM
Biden vs. Romney
No contest. Biden would out shine Romney in any debate.
Obama08
Posted by: Vanessa | Aug 22, 2008 6:13:56 PM
It dooesn't matter who Obama picks the GOP is comming after whoever it is.
Posted by: Thinking | Aug 22, 2008 6:15:51 PM
ahhhh duh!!! its politics people. BOTH parties are going to attack the other on the v.p selection. kind of a pointless talking point. it would make sense that obama picks a more conservative running mate though. he definately needs to do that.
Posted by: tim | Aug 22, 2008 6:24:10 PM
Yeah, Republicans have made an art of mean-spirited character assassination. Their hatred is palpable. But you can bet that they all claim to be Christians and go to church on Sunday. Of course, real Christians aspire to live their lives as Christ-like. I think if they would spend more time in the New Testament rather than the Old, they would find that their behavior is likened to the Pharisees. I'm thinkin' Jesus condemned the Pharisees regularly.
Posted by: DaveM | Aug 22, 2008 6:26:46 PM
ya know the funny thing to me though.. think about this for a second, and tell me if it really makes any sense... whoever he picks for his v.p is going to have ALOT more experience than him!! i guess it just seems weird to me. the dems wouldnt give biden a chance in hell of becomming their presedential canidate, so they pick some die hard leftie with no experience to be their guy and now will choose biden as his v.p??!! it just dosnt make any sense at all to me.
Posted by: tim | Aug 22, 2008 6:28:02 PM
davem...
quit playing the partisan game. people from BOTH parties use character assasination. they BOTH accuse and name call. dont make it into a partisan issue.
Posted by: tim | Aug 22, 2008 6:30:58 PM
McCain's Bundler benhind Obama Ayers ad
The spokesman for the American Issues Project, the independent group whose ad is the most negative of the cycle and links Obama to terrorism, says the group just filed a report naming its sole donor.
The donor, spokesman Christian Pinkston said, is Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, who made his first fortune in chain pharmacies and is now listed as the 73rd richest person in the world, with a net worth estimated by Forbes at $2.1 billion.
Simmons, a major Republican donor, gave maximum $2,300 contributions to Senator John McCain last year, as well as to former Governor Mitt Romney and to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
He's listed as a bundler for the McCain campaign on McCain's website, which says he's raised between $50,000 and $100,000 for the Republican candidate.
He's also contributed to Rep. Chet Edwards, the Texas Democrat who has been mentioned as a possible Obama running mate.
Simmons was reportedly a major donor to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004.
He's also a backer of a controversial plan to store nuclear waste in West Texas, which his waste management company would administer.
Posted by: Thinking | Aug 22, 2008 6:35:01 PM
and the point here would be?????
Posted by: tim | Aug 22, 2008 6:37:50 PM
The Bush legacy might be more aid for Africa and AIDs mitigation than any other administration and No Child Left Behind. Individual schools, despite poverty levels and immigrants, have to meet reading, writing and math standards. That's a very good thing for the poor rather than the previous approach that warehoused those kids.
Posted by: moi61537 | Aug 22, 2008 6:55:40 PM
McShame is trying to win on he war expereince only. It is the economy that will make people vote for Obama. Everybody konw McWar is a war worrier.
Posted by: gl | Aug 22, 2008 7:06:02 PM
How car about the GOP attaches on Joe Biden. He is the best for the job. They are trying to make Obama choice Hillliary because they will have a field day with the Clintons.
Posted by: gl | Aug 22, 2008 7:07:31 PM
That just one bill McShame didn't vote for any Troops funding bill.
Posted by: gl | Aug 22, 2008 7:08:48 PM
I can not believe admits they will come out and attack Job Biden. GOP IS ATTACK WORRIERS. THEY DON'T CARE THE ECONOMY IS A MESS BECASUE OF WARS WE are fighting for lies of the Bush Administration!
Posted by: gl | Aug 22, 2008 7:10:50 PM
It dooesn't matter who Obama picks the GOP is comming after whoever it is.
You are right becasue the GOP can not win on the issues that is important to the American People. War, War, and More War is all the American People can look forward to if McWar is elections. Get you sons ready for the draft. He will not get my son. I will go the jail before I let this Nut Draft my only son!
Posted by: gl | Aug 22, 2008 7:16:32 PM
tim - The Republician are in bed with character attaches. It is their specialty!
Posted by: gl | Aug 22, 2008 7:19:08 PM
Obama wants VP who can "step up" and be President if necssary. If he wins, it will take about 10 minutes for him to realize he is in way over his head and say ---- "What hmm, uhh , duh, I do now??" to his VP and 300 foreign advisors.
Posted by: susie | Aug 22, 2008 7:19:15 PM
Only reason Mccain will do this - is because Cindy has warned him that if he doesn't win the White House she will divorce him. That is the only house she does not have yet added to her collection.
LOL
Posted by: abby | Aug 22, 2008 7:19:37 PM
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