Obama Suggests Press Hasn't Scrutinized McCain

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

GRESHAM, ORE. -- Barack Obama blamed the press today for not scrutinizing John McCain early enough in the election saying McCain was not properly vetted as a consequence of being "written off" in the midst of the Republican primary.

"Senator McCain, you recall, had been written off as not being viable about halfway through last year and he came back," Obama said at a campaign stop at a senior citizens home. "What I meant was during that period, people were not paying close attention but he got wrapped up fairly quickly."

Obama also argued that the press has been preoccupied with the Democratic primary. He said, "It is very understandable that the press focus has been on myself and Senator Clinton because this has been a pretty exciting race on the Democratic side."

He called on voters to consider the differences between himself and McCain, who Obama continued to depict as an extension of the Bush Administration.

"I hope that as we move forward in the general election that you pay careful attention to this debate between myself and John McCain should I end up being the nominee because I really think that after eight years we are in worse shape now than we were when George Bush took office and John McCain wants to continue George Bush's policies," Obama said.

"I hope that once you take a look where we stand on the issues, that you'll choose to support me, even if you are a Republican."

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by javalation May 19, 2008 12:07 AM EDT: If you''re going to use honesty as a critis and tout Hillary, do you remember her turning $1,000 into $100,000 in one year "trading" futures? Anyone who knows anything about investing knows that this had to be a scam for one of her backers to funnel her some money. That is dishonest.; Reply to this comment


by javalation May 18, 2008 11:58 PM EDT: First you said it was experience that mattered, now it is honesty? What was dishonest about his challenge of the voters? Had there not been flaws the challenge wouldn''t have worked, right?

To me it is dishonest for a politician to use his power, or pass legislation, to help his supporters and himself, as McCain has done on several occasions. Look up his part as one of the "Keating 5", or the more recent land swap, or his kicking native people off their land to let a coal company use it cheap. Do searches, learn the McCain legacy.; Reply to this comment


by mrjonessr41 May 18, 2008 11:44 PM EDT: Right and BUSH had a huge resume to pull on. This is the VERY 1st time that Resume''s and Pastors even came up. What is the name of Bush''s Pastor? Bush was doing a terrible Job in 2003 and then he was re elected. Why is the Bar set so much higher for Obama than it has ever been set for anyone else.; Reply to this comment


by eroosevelt08 May 18, 2008 11:11 PM EDT: Javalation:

This seems to be a pattern with Obama. He does something wrong and then he does the ''''hangdog'''' Sorry Act.

Twenty years with Reverend Wright?

Sorry.

Mrs. Tony Rezko land deal where the Obamas got way more than they paid for when they bought their ritzy home.

Sorry. It was a ''boneheaded'' thing to do.

Said he''d meet with every head of state, which includes the terrorist ones without preconditions? Now he''s flip flopping and says there would be preconditions.....

Oh great another flip flopper...

Calls an adult proffessional woman Sweetie? That insults women everywhere. I''m NOT his sweetie.

Sorry!

Sorry!

Sorry!!

Sorry!

Super delegates and primary voters: Vote for Clinton so we can fix this Democratic train wreck before we are SORRY IN NOVEMBER!; Reply to this comment


by eroosevelt08 May 18, 2008 11:09 PM EDT: Javalation:

Abraham Lincoln was famous for his honesty.

Barack Obama is known for turning his back on his mentors when it suits him and for being ''hangdog'' sorry when it suits him.

See this website that appeared in the Chicago Tribune today, May 18, 2008 to see how he sabatoged Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer to get his seat in the Illinois state senate:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,1,57567.story

With respect to Jeremiah Wright, it does not appear that Obama was honest.

With respect to Senator Obama''s comments about Reverend Wright on April 29, 2008: What? Has Senator Obama been in a coma for 20 years? Did he sleep through the sermons? Was he even there? His hangdog story today that he ALL OF A SUDDEN figured out what Reverend Wright is about insults everybody''s intelligence. If he is that dense, why on Earth would anybody want to vote for him?; Reply to this comment


by eroosevelt08 May 18, 2008 10:59 PM EDT: Javalation:

If you want to see how dirty Obama is, look at this story that appeared in the Tribune on May 18, 2008. Go to the link below:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/
news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,1,5756
7.story; Reply to this comment


by javalation May 18, 2008 10:03 PM EDT: ER, to what vast experience of Lincoln''s do you refer? Or Washington''s for that matter. To me JFK was a good, if not great, President and he didn''t have vast experience.

If experience is so important, then why don''t we simply appoint the most experienced politician in America as the next President, which would be Robert Byrd. Do you imagine that he would be a good choice? This notion of experience being more valuable than intelligence and a good planning "style" is obviously wrong thinking.; Reply to this comment


by marty_va May 18, 2008 9:34 PM EDT: To Jone775 and others concerned about Obama''s experience:
Obama''s experience is IDENTICAL to that of Abraham Lincoln. Much academic research has shown that there is no correlation between prior experience and a President''s ability to succeed. We''re all so nervous and scared after the last eight years that we yearn for a combination of Jesis Christ and Superman to present himself to lead us. Won''t happen. Obama is extrememely well educated, thoughtful, genuinely compassionate, proven himself to be dedicated to helping people, shown himself to be able to run a successful campaign. Take a good look at him over the coming months.; Reply to this comment


by jone775 May 18, 2008 9:21 PM EDT: sorry folks, but repukes will not win this year...Go Obama!; Reply to this comment


by eroosevelt08 May 18, 2008 8:55 PM EDT: It is not a question of race. It is just that Senator Obama has such a thin resume so far. He shows great promise, but he has not learned enough yet to be President. The standard of comparison is not George Bush. The standard is George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Senator Obama is just too young and inexperienced for the job. Senator Clinton will go down in history as what America needed in 2008.; Reply to this comment