Starting Gate: A Fudge Too Far?
“Don’t be confused. I will bring the Iraq war to a close when I am president of the United States of America.” That was Barack Obama, forcefully pushing back against growing questions about his commitment to the anti-war position that helped propel him to the Democratic nomination.
His suggestion last week that he was continuing to “refine” his position on the war was the latest in a series of shifts on a variety of issues which have befuddled and angered his political base. Thousands of his own supporters launched a protest on the official Obama Web site after he announced his support for the Senate compromise on FISA, for example. And conservatives have crowed about his seeming support for Supreme Court decisions on gun control and the death penalty that put him in the same camp as Justice Scalia.
Most of those semi-minor shifts could be forgiven by Democratic activists smelling a November victory in the air as attempts to solidify his position among centrists and inoculate his candidacy against the Republican attacks to come. But not when it comes to the war in Iraq. That’s an issue on which progressive activists have little wiggle room.
In 2006, Democratic candidates rode a wave of anti-war sentiment to a Majority in the House, ending nearly six years of Republican rule in government. Hopes were high among those who had organized, blogged and raised money for candidates whose primary goal was to bring the war to an end by any means necessary.
For their efforts, anti-war activists were rewarded not with a reduction of the war in Iraq but an escalation. Democratic leaders have at times talked tough about ending the conflict but have made no serious effort to cut funding or force a change in the administration’s overall policy. Now the party’s presidential candidate, who reminded primary voters at every turn that he had opposed the war from the beginning and would end it within 16 months of taking office, seemed to be backing away.
That could be a fudge too far. Obama is in a delicate position on Iraq as he plans a trip there this summer. If he doesn’t talk to military leaders on the ground and at least appear to be open minded, what’s the point of going there at all? He has in the past said that as president, he would dictate the broad strategic goals, leading to the assumption that he would have very little use of his general’s assessments of how the war is going. He’s also up against the reality that even if he insists on an end to the war, it may take longer than 16 months to get there.
Nevertheless, it’s an issue that lies at the heart of Obama’s candidacy. He argued in the primaries that judgment, not experience, is the key to leadership. Looking at his forceful push-back on the Iraq issue and charges of flip-flops, he may have slightly misjudged how little wiggle room there is on the war.
Around The Track
John McCain told reporters that the U.S. will withdraw from Iraq “with honor” and that an end to the war would be dictated by “the situation on the ground,” reports CBS News’ John Bentley. McCain was responding to a statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki suggesting that the two countries should set a timetable for U.S. withdrawal. “We will be able to withdraw with honor, and I am sure that it will be dictated by the situation on the ground,” McCain said. “I’m confident that is what Prime Minister Maliki is talking about, since he has told me that for the many meetings we have had."
McCain was also asked about a recent report about the increase of U.S. exports to Iran, especially exports of cigarettes. Before the question was finished, Bentley reports, McCain jumped in and said, "Maybe that’s a way of killing them." He quickly added "I meant that as a joke."
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton take another step in their newfound friendship tonight when they get together for a round of fundraisers targeted both to help bring Clinton donors into the Obama effort and to retire the New York Senator’s debt. As the New York Times reports today, it’s a shotgun-marriage for some supporters on both sides.
Just because Obama’s two daughters took part in a full-family interview with “Access Hollywood” this week doesn’t mean that they will be doing anymore. In a round of interviews with the network morning shows this morning, Obama said he was having second thoughts about the wisdom of putting his daughters in the spotlight and said that the family will avoid doing so in the future.
His suggestion last week that he was continuing to “refine” his position on the war was the latest in a series of shifts on a variety of issues which have befuddled and angered his political base. Thousands of his own supporters launched a protest on the official Obama Web site after he announced his support for the Senate compromise on FISA, for example. And conservatives have crowed about his seeming support for Supreme Court decisions on gun control and the death penalty that put him in the same camp as Justice Scalia.
Most of those semi-minor shifts could be forgiven by Democratic activists smelling a November victory in the air as attempts to solidify his position among centrists and inoculate his candidacy against the Republican attacks to come. But not when it comes to the war in Iraq. That’s an issue on which progressive activists have little wiggle room.
In 2006, Democratic candidates rode a wave of anti-war sentiment to a Majority in the House, ending nearly six years of Republican rule in government. Hopes were high among those who had organized, blogged and raised money for candidates whose primary goal was to bring the war to an end by any means necessary.
For their efforts, anti-war activists were rewarded not with a reduction of the war in Iraq but an escalation. Democratic leaders have at times talked tough about ending the conflict but have made no serious effort to cut funding or force a change in the administration’s overall policy. Now the party’s presidential candidate, who reminded primary voters at every turn that he had opposed the war from the beginning and would end it within 16 months of taking office, seemed to be backing away.
That could be a fudge too far. Obama is in a delicate position on Iraq as he plans a trip there this summer. If he doesn’t talk to military leaders on the ground and at least appear to be open minded, what’s the point of going there at all? He has in the past said that as president, he would dictate the broad strategic goals, leading to the assumption that he would have very little use of his general’s assessments of how the war is going. He’s also up against the reality that even if he insists on an end to the war, it may take longer than 16 months to get there.
Nevertheless, it’s an issue that lies at the heart of Obama’s candidacy. He argued in the primaries that judgment, not experience, is the key to leadership. Looking at his forceful push-back on the Iraq issue and charges of flip-flops, he may have slightly misjudged how little wiggle room there is on the war.
Around The Track
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 40 CommentsThat reminds me, the press missed the one yesterday about Obama saying that kids should learn to speak Spanish and that he''s ashamed that most American''s can only speak one language? There they go with that being ashamed of America again. Too bad he wasn''t ashamed when his minister shouted, "GOD DAAAAAAM AMERICA",
......Oh yeh, and the issue of Obama''s patriotism.....look for it to come back, big time.
"Leave with Honor" we did that once before and didn''t work very well. I always thought a war was over, when one side says "Uncle"
Posted by dmw1167
Would you like it better if he wore a flight suit and did it on the deck of a aircraft carrier?
Ya%u2019ll come%u2019n out and git%u2019r done!!
Vote for:
Perpetual War, Mismanaging of Federal Treasury Funds, and Fear Mongering.
Increased Governmental $pending while cutting Taxes to the Wealthy.
Unfair Taxation of the Middle Class.
High prices for GASOLINE, Electricity, and Everything Else!
High Medical Costs and Prescription Drugs.
Pollution.
Invasion of Privacy, and disregard for our Constitution.
Corruption, Corruption, Corruption.
Religious Hypocrisy and Abuse of Tax Laws.
Politicalization of the Justice Department.
Degradation of our Infrastructure.
Continued export of American Jobs to overseas Slave Labor.
Decline in US stature and respect of the World Community.
Vote yes in favor for all these pertinent issued or, I%u2019ll stick a boot in yer @ss!!!
Heeee haaawww!
You''re correct that Obama voted against the bill. The following quote explains his vote:
"I believe the American people understand in order to succeed in our society, immigrants need to learn English. But the amendment would do a number of things that are problematical. The first is that it is contrary to the provisions of law that exist in many States. For example, in New Mexico, you have in their State Constitution, a provision that says that many of the documents within that State have to be provided in both English and Spanish. The same thing is true for the State of Hawaii. I believe this is a States rights issue, and those constitutions of those States ought to be respected. I do not believe it is a matter we ought to be imposing here from Washington DC."
"Also, this amendment would undo an executive order conceived by President Bill Clinton and implemented by President George Bush. Both recognized it is important that people who have limited English proficiency receive the kinds of services so they can understand what is going on in terms of the interface between the Government and themselves."
Makes you wonder why the other senators voted for it. Could it be political grandstanding?
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Posted by max0010
Did you check your facts before posting?? IL senator has no affair on NATIONAL issues! Your neo-con tail is showing!
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Posted by peanutcrisp at 12:40 PM : Jul 09, 2008
Check your facts, skippy. Obama was a US Senator from Illinois in June of 2007. They do deal with national affairs, IIRC.
Lets see%u2026.AWOL from the Alabama Air National Guard (because of drug test issues).
Years of partying and living off his old man%u2019s money.
Running various Oil Companies bankrupt.
Stealing land to Build a BaseBall Stadium, and trading Sammy Sosa.
Over seeing the illegal realignment of voter districts in Texas, advances in Pollution, and Corruption as Governor.
Thus, Bush has used all of his previous experience to run The United States Bankrupt, Lie the US into an unnecessary war, pilfer federal treasury funds and divert to his private sector cronies, politize every government agency possible, and commit 35 impeachable offenses against the people of the United States of America.
Does America want to continue another full (if McCain can make it) term of more Conservative Corruption?
Having family in Africa who are Muslim makes Obama neither African nor Muslim. He is an American, period. He is a Christian, period. Your constant attempts to suggest anything else are both disgusting and dishonorable.
If you want English only, you should move to maybe ENGLAND (where they also speak French, German, Dutch and Whales).
American Children should learn Spanish along with maybe French, German, Dutch, or possibly Norwegian. It%u2019s simply language, people speak different languages in the various parts of this country.
The next fact that might shock the typical single language person living in America is going to be using public funds to teach Spanish to Native Speaking Spanish Immigrants living in America.
The problem isn%u2019t Spanish to English, or English to Spanish. The problem facing America is illiteracy. Most Spanish Native Speaking Immigrants aren%u2019t properly literate in Spanish. If the US Schools (which they are now doing) would teach literate Spanish first to immigrant children the would be able to immerse themselves more easily into the American Culture along with acquiring the necessary English Language Skills.
Adios mios, I can%u2019t wait for the Right Wing to come unglued at the thought of teaching Spanish to native speaking Spanish immigrants%u2026
The Detrimental Policies have caused War, Unemployment, Pollution, High Energy Prices (and everything else) and a General Breakdown of all Governmental Functions.
Republican Supporters in the face of the abhorrent results on the American People by the Conservatives is can only be regarded as:
%u201CIf%u2019n we don%u2019t git my permanent warz I%u2019ll stick a boot in yer @ss!%u201D
%u201CIf%u2019n we can%u2019t pay more for Gasoline at the pump and more for food and housing, I%u2019ll stick a boot in yer @***!!%u201D
%u201CIf%u2019n we can%u2019t have a corrupt, inept, and inefficient Government, %u2026I%u2019ll, STICK A BOOT IN YER @***!!%u201D
%u201CIf %u2018n we can%u2019t have more pollution, I%u2019ll stick a boot in yer @***!%u201D
%u201CIf %u2018n my job (if I had one) doesn%u2019t gitz shipped off to some foreign Country%u2026I%u2019ll stick a (foreign made) BOOOOT IN YER @ASSS!!!%u201D
such is the logic of a typical (down to 30%) Republican Supporter%u2026.
NOTHING LIKE THE MEDIA GIVING THIS IDIOT A FREE PASS ON EVERYTHING. I CAN''T WAIT UNTIL HE FALLS FLAT ON HIS FACE. THAT DAY WILL COME. WATCH & SEE.
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Posted by max0010
Did you check your facts before posting?? IL senator has no affair on NATIONAL issues! Your neo-con tail is showing!
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