Obama- visiting Iraq "Not Relevant"

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Obama- visiting Iraq "Not Relevant"
38
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 2:08pm

Oh...and it's from the AP ;)

Obama considers Iraq visit amid GOP criticism

1 hour, 6 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama — increasingly under fire from John McCain as he appears poised to win the Democratic nomination — said he is considering a trip to Iraq but dismissed as a "political stunt" an invitation by the Republican candidate to make the visit together.

McCain and Obama have increasingly targeted each other as a November general election showdown between the two men seems inevitable. The discussion about Iraq, largely sidelined during the primary battle, is likely to factor prominently in the general election and Obama has rallied to counter McCain's criticism that he lacks foreign policy experience.

The Democrat, vying to become the U.S.'s first black president, told The New York Times that the possible trip would be to talk to the U.S. troops and commanders and not to "try to score political points or perform."

McCain, a decorated Navy pilot and former Vietnam prisoner of war, has built much of his candidacy on his foreign policy and national security experience. While he supports continued U.S. military involvement in Iraq, Obama has called for a quick withdrawal of the troops.

In a campaign appearance in Nevada, a western U.S. state where both candidates have recently sought to shore up support ahead of the November race, McCain said Obama was "driven to his position by ideology and not by the facts on the ground"

McCain, who has been to Iraq eight times, said the first-term Democrat senator "does not have the knowledge or the experience to make the judgments. Presidents have to listen and learn. Presidents have to make judgments no matter how popular or unpopular they may be."

The Republican Party joined the fray Wednesday by launching an online clock to count the days since Obama last visited the war zone. By their count, it has been 871 days.

Obama, who spoke to reporters on his airplane Wednesday night as he flew home to Chicago, said it's "not relevant" that he has not been to Iraq since 2006 and that McCain was using the argument as a diversion.

Obama made his only trip to Iraq in January 2006 as part of a congressional delegation.

McCain, who was on a fundraising trip with events in Los Angeles and Reno, Nevada, seemed offended that Obama characterized the invitation for a joint trip as a political stunt, saying it showed Obama's "lack of appreciation of the importance of this issue."

(Rest of article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080529/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_rdp)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 5:03pm
wow Jr Senator that can win a Presidential Nomination..
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 5:33pm
I think this
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 7:29pm

"We are all just guessing or giving or opinion,we have no idea what is really on in these candidates minds. "

Well, since I'm not a mind reader ACTIONS will have to speak louder than words, and since my opinion = my vote, you are right.

And no, this has nothing to do with me liking or not liking Obama. Frankly, for a long time I liked him more than Clinton. It's just that now that I am learning more about his ACTIONS and not just his pretty words, I'm realizing who he really is.

I don't care if he goes with McCain so much, and that's not even what this article is about! I just care that he GOES!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 9:49pm
What if he's there for purely political reasons and could care less about the troops? What if he is using Iraq to garner votes? Would you respect his visits then? I am not one to be impressed over dog and pony shows.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 10:29pm
Are we talking about Obama or McCain here? Because you are right. Obama just simply can't touch a candle to a POW like McCain. But nonetheless, I WOULD like to see him visit over there, absolutely. If Obama is the kind of man he says he is, it wouldn't be a dog n' pony show now, would it?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 10:37pm
I was actually referring to McCain's visit
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2005
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 10:51pm

What if he's there for purely political reasons and could care less about the troops? What if he is using Iraq to garner votes?


I was going to stay out of the rest of this conversation, but these comments drew me back. Do you seriously think that McCain doesn't care about the troops??

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 10:52pm
The big deal is that he HAS experienced war. That he DOES know FIRST hand what's going on. It also, absolutely, lends credence and credibility to his opinions and thoughts (IMO). It also says to me, that having experienced military life, his 8 trips had more to do with the troops than a one time visit right before the general election. Unfortunately for Obama, it appears that he is now in a no-win situation. He goes, it's a dog n' pony show all for votes (because if not, then why hasn't he been there before?!?!) and if he doesn't go, well, then he's just as out of touch and inexperienced as his critics say he is.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 11:53pm

The big deal is that he HAS experienced war. That he DOES know FIRST hand what's going on. It also, absolutely, lends credence and credibility to his opinions and thoughts (IMO)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2008
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 11:57pm

Do you seriously think that McCain doesn't care about the troops??


I have my doubts! He has plans to "stay in Iraq till 2013 and then they can be reunited with their families". I would like to hear about getting more people into the service to go along with his plan to stay there.I'd like to see some long term mental health plan for troops once they return from the "war".