Obama Clarifies Iraq Remarks

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(FARGO, N.D.) Barack Obama called a hastily organized press conference to clarify an earlier statement where he suggested he'd "refine" his Iraq policy after he visits Iraq later this summer.

What he meant, Obama said, was that the 16 month timetable he proposed last year is not subject to this potential policy shift and blamed the John McCain campaign for suggesting "that somehow we were changing our policy when we hadn't."

The controversy began at an earlier press conference here where he said, "When I go to Iraq and I have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies."

Obama was pressed whether he is backing away from his plan to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq in 16 months; however he argued that his policy has been consistent.

"I have always said that I will listen to commanders on the ground; I've always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability."

His use of the word "refine" opened the door to critics who have been pouncing on him for recently altering positions on a number of issues. Last week, Obama said he would vote for the FISA bill, which includes a provision to grant immunity to telecommunications companies which he opposes.

"The issue with phone companies per se is not one that overrides security interests of the American people," Obama said in Chicago last week.

His decision to opt out of public financing in the general election despite being a strong advocate of public funding has received similar criticism.

The Republican National Committee fired back at Obama's comments on Iraq today, arguing that it evidence of another flip flop. "There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience. Obama's Iraq problem undermines the central premise of his candidacy and shows him to be a typical politician," RNC spokesman Alex Conant said.

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by ometep July 4, 2008 2:20 PM EDT: Scroll to the top of the page. It says it all. "Presented by Exxon Mobile." The corporate media outlets do the bidding of those who own them. ******.; Reply to this comment


by kmccliment July 4, 2008 7:38 AM EDT: Dumbomma new he skrewed up. This is evident by the fact he had to call a press conferance just 4 hours after his first so he could do some damage control. "DNC Obama is on Flameout time to get another candidate ready in the wings"!; Reply to this comment


by spaceguy2 July 4, 2008 3:05 AM EDT: "What follows is not CBS News stuff; it comes from other people and we don''t vouch for it."--------------------Why would you vouching for something make it any more true than what some slob off the street posts here? This is just another corporate media hack mouthing the Republican party line that Obama is a "flip-flopper" while you ignore McCain''s radical flip-flops from being against Bush''s tax cuts to wanting to make them permanent, from being against Bush''s torture policy to voting for it, from being against off-shore drilling as recently as May and then being for it in June.

"His decision to opt out of public financing in the general election despite being a strong advocate of public funding has received similar criticism."

But you''re not going to tell your readers that McCain may have not only broken his promise but broken THE LAw when he reneged on his commitment to take public financing to secure a lone. Are you?

It''s sickening how much the corporate media is coming to resemble the Soviet media back in the bad old days.; Reply to this comment


by ometep July 4, 2008 2:01 AM EDT: Did the McCain camp write the copy for your Obama Iraq clarification story? First you distort his remarks to create a controversy. Then you fail to air his clear and precise repudiation. Pitiful.; Reply to this comment


by xantiphi July 3, 2008 10:49 PM EDT: Poor fellow has mis spoke again.
He is always having to go back and correct things he said.
Oh, well his sister said he didn''t make very good grades in school.; Reply to this comment