Obama Campaign Responds to Questions of Patriotism
(CBS)
From CBS News' John Bentley
MEDFORD, ORE. – After Bill Clinton seemed to question Barack Obama’s patriotism yesterday, the Obama campaign fired back today during a town hall meeting with a rebuttal from a retired four star general. “Both Barack Obama and John McCain are great patriots who love this country and are devoted to it,” said Gen. Tony McPeak, who went to high school about 30 miles from the town hall in Medford. “So is Hillary Clinton. Any suggestion to the contrary is flat wrong.”
McPeak was responding to a quote from Bill Clinton, which he read aloud to the several hundred who attended the town hall. "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country," McPeak said, quoting the former president. "And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."
Saying these kinds of tactics had no place in a presidential campaign, McPeak said he was “saddened” to see the president make the comments. “He, of all people, should know better because he was the target of exactly the same kind of tactic when he first ran 16 years ago,” McPeak continued. “They had no place then, and they have no place now.”
McPeak introduced Obama at a rally last night in Eugene, but in an unusual move for this campaign, Obama had already started speaking today when he brought McPeak up to the stage. Obama himself did not address Clinton’s statements, but thanked McPeak and compared the 72-year-old general to a 77-year-old movie star. "Let me just say that not only do I consider Gen. McPeak a friend and an advisor, but I just think the fact that he looks and sounds like Clint Eastwood is cool. That's what you want a general to look like and sound like,” Obama said. “If you mess with him, you're in trouble."
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 29 CommentsVOTE GOP in 2008 is a vote against Americans.
Martin E. Marty, a widely respected religious scholar said today that Wright''s speeches were mostly hopeful and uplifting. Before 9/11, Wrights radical comments - aka "GD America" and "chickens coming home to roost" were mainstream.
Evangelical pioneer Francis Schaeffer "called for the violent overthrow of the US government, yet was often solicited by Reagan and Bush Sr.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/obamas-minister-committe_b_91774.html
Like Wright, Pat Robertson also believes God allowed the 9/11 attacks as punishment for our evil country. Yet President Bush consults him on the Iraq war.
Huckabee understands the importance of keeping such bile in context
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/19/72716/0494/229/479797
By listening to hurtful words for twenty years, Obama speaks profound truths that every American should listen to (with their children). Frankly children get their cues from their parents'' reactions to radical ideas, not the ideas themselves. It is now time for this country to grow up and stop judging a man''s patriotism by what he chooses to listen to at church or whether he wears a lapel pin at a time when displaying symbols had become a defacto test of one''s patriotism.
I would dare to guess that were Bill Clinton asked directly if he thinks Obama is loyal, he would say yes -- and mean it.
My liking Obama has nothing to do with former President Clinton who, in retrospect, wasn''t a bad President at all. Even if he did suffer, um, a "judgment lapse or two."
I don''t answer why I stayed with a church for over 20 years that preaches racial hatred. I want everyone to be all above that kind of hatred talk anyway. Except me of course, cuz I have to go after Bill Clinton and Ferraro like there is no tomorrow. Oh Yeah, we are all above it man. heh, heh, heh
Our country is facing some serious issues and we need serious and real change in Washington that neither Hillary or Senator McCain can bring. I am very disappointed that John Edwards has not come out and endorsed Senator Obama because I thought he would make the best VP.
OBAMA ''08
Fu Fox Flan people comment here? Is the comment section only for Republi-clan voters?
http://OsiSpeaks.com
THE PEOPLE OF BOTH STATES SHOULD THANK THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
NOT THE CANDIDATES'' FAULT!
Your right, truth does matter and it is un-American to block millions of people from voting for political gain!! He is afraid that he wouldn''t win. Remember early on obama said that the delegates of Fl. and Mi. should be seated as EVERY voice should be heard in the Democratic process. Now that he can''t win those states, he is blocking progress for political gain, and that is un-American.
The truth hurts but it is the truth!!
I beg to differ about the Clintons getting back in the White House. What won''t be pretty, is a candidate that STILL has not been vetted by the media. We have no idea what other skeletons will walk out of his closet as the contest trudges on and that is what isn''t pretty!
I also think fiscal responsibility I.E.: 1990 Clinton W.H. is something that would not be pretty but BEAUTIFUL!!
Hillary has been vetted by a $70 million investigation that revealed NOTHING! obama can''t hold up to someone looking at his church. If you don''t want 4 to 8 more years of the Mcsame better vote Clinton!!!
hillary4change
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