Pentagon: It Was Obama Camp's "Decision To Cancel" Visit to Troops
(CBS)
(BERLIN,GERMANY) UPDATE, 1:30pm ET Barack Obama spent the morning working in his room at Berlin's Adelon Hotel after the campaign canceled a planned visit to Ramstein Airbase and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Late last night, the campaign canceled the planned troop visit because they said they did not want to politicize the meeting.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told CBS News today, "The senator is more than welcome to visit any military facility, he always has been and always will be, as a senator."
"The Pentagon was willing to accomodate the fact they were on a campaign trip," Morrell added, saying that the Pentagon would have kept the campaign staff and traveling press outside while Obama was inside visiting the troops.
"It was their decision to cancel the visit," Morrell said.
On today's flight from Berlin to Paris, Obama campaign communications director Robert Gibbs tried to clarify why the meeting at Ramstein was canceled. "He could go as a United States Senator, but it was pretty clear from the guidance that we received from the Pentagon that the trip would be viewed as a campaign stop. Given the info that we had received, Senator Obama made the decision that we were not going have wounded men and women become involved in a campaign trip."
Initially, Gibbs said Obama thought it would be "inappropriate" to visit troops on a visit funded by the campaign. The troop meetings in Afghanistan and Iraq were part of a congressional delegation trip, not paid for by the campaign.
This morning, senior adviser Gen. Scott Gration shifted the blame to the Pentagon, saying they advised the campaign against the visit.
"We learned from the Pentagon last night that the visit would be viewed instead as a campaign event," Gration said. "Senator Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors percieved as a campaign event when his visit was to show his appreciation for our troops and decided instead not to go.” Gration is currently traveling with the campaign.
After the cancellation was announced yesterday, a McCain spokesman hammered Obama in a written statement: “Barack Obama is wrong. It is never ‘inappropriate’ to visit our men and women in the military.”
Gibbs responded to the criticism this morning saying, "We might have gotten criticism for going, we have been critcized for not going."
CBS News' Steve Chaggaris contributed to this report.
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See all 82 CommentsSENATOR MCCAIN, YOU HAVE DISHONORED THIS COUNTRY AND ALL AMERICANS.
John McCain Please listen, you are doing a terrible diservice to the troops by using them to score a cheap political shot.
Very subtle, but we see what you are doing with your word choices.
NOT THIS TIME!
truthmatters-so just how is mccain performing a diservice to our troops?? Has he called them murderers, rapists, akin to gengis khan?? Has he slandered them like murtha?? Has he called them failures??
You best look to your own party and compare who is doing the dissing. And that''s the TRUTH.
The orders went to all overseas posts and told government employees not to do anything
Officials issued Thursday, the day the presumptive Democratic candidate left Washington for a much-watched trip to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and Europe.
Rice''s orders give examples of things embassy employees should not do, such as arrange high-level meetings for visiting candidates or get involved in nitty-gritty logistical details.
As an example of inappropriate logistical help, Rice''s memo, sent late Thursday, said, "If the campaign staff wants to rent a bus for press, tell them where they can rent a bus. Don''t arrange it for them.
A new report in the German press says that Bush administration officials are unhappy with the idea and privately said as much to representatives of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
If Bush officials are privately trying to nix a speech that would give Obama a major boost it''s an interesting development and raises more questions, such as whether the administration is possibly letting efforts to help McCain intrude on back-channel diplomacy in other areas.
McCain also had a second statement prepared in case obama decided to make the stop, which said Obama is wrong, it is always inappopriate to use the troops as a campaign stop.
What exactly did he do as a community organizer? Yes, he is an excellent speaker when the teleprompter is on. Listen to the Senator answer questions....where is the "smoothness" in his replies?
How is he going to give everyone everything he promises?
How is he going to deal with real adversity (terrorists) when he''''s afraid to appear on certain so called "conservative" television?
For the wealthy, liberal lemmings, remember, it''''s your money he is going to tax!
For those who are against ILLEGAL immigration, remember, he''''s the one who will give amnesty and possibly not secure our borders.
Again, research the facts before you vote!
I vote for MCCAIN!
Obama''s unscheduled visit to Walter Reed to talk with injured vets before he left, done without media notice or attention, was a much better honoring of the soldiers.
McCain''s trying to put a critical and cynical slant on Obama''s every action or inaction is pathetic. If Gramm thinks America is a nation of whiners, McCain seems to be running to be Whiner-in-Chief. He needs to take Lincoln''s advice: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."
Again, research the facts before you vote!
I vote for InSane!!
Again, research the facts before you vote!
I vote for InSane!!
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Posted by Mattcat25 at 10:51 AM : Jul 25, 2008
I''m for Obama, but his plan to fix the immigration problem isn''t much better than McCain''s. BOTH of these candidates need to re-think their positions.
%u201CLord %u2014 Protect my family and me,%u201D reads the note published in the Maariv daily. %u201CForgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.%u201D
" ME, ME ,ME,ME " IS ALL HE EVER SAYS.
HE IS NOT A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE!
Posted by notblue at 10:10 AM : Jul 25, 2008,,,
The headline is bogus and fails at scoring points trying to make it look like Sen. Obama avoided intentionally visiting wounded troops! NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams is traveling in Europe with Sen. Obama and yesterday while interviewing him pointed out that the Pentagon actually suggested it may be inappropriate for Sen. Obama to visit wounded troops on a campaigned sponsored trip. Sen. Obama canceled his visit to wounded troops on the side of caution, but he would have been criticized if he went and everyone knows it. It was a catch-22 situation, dammed if he did and dammed if he didn''t!
WHAT THE....
Posted by fenner at 01:05 PM : Jul 25, 2008,,,
Spin Meister fenner, when Sen. Obama travels as a U.S. Senator the government pays for it, when Sen. Obama travels as a Presidential Candidate his campaign funds pay for it, the Pentagon merely pointed out to Sen. Obama that it wasn''t enough to say it wasn''t a campaign trip because if his campaign was paying for the trip, how it got paid defined what kind of trip it was! Therefore since Sen. Obama paid for the trip with campaign funds the trip would be viewed as a campaign sponsored event and with this in mind Sen. Obama did not visit wounded troops because clearly pictures would have been taken and then people like you would have complained Sen. Obama was using and exploiting wounded troops! Once again a catch-22 situation, dammed if he did and dammed if he didn''t!
Friday, July 25
Race Poll Results Spread
New Mexico Rasmussen Obama 49, McCain 43 Obama +6.0
Pennsylvania Rasmussen Obama 51, McCain 45 Obama 6.0
New Hampshire Rasmussen Obama 49, McCain 45 Obama 4.0
National Gallup Tracking Obama 47, McCain 41 Obama 6.0
National Rasmussen Tracking Obama 49, McCain 44 Obama 5.0
Thursday, July 24
) 2008 WorldNetDaily
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=70454
JERUSALEM %u2013 Sen. Barack Obama''s campaign plastered the entrance to the Western Wall %u2013 the holiest site in Judaism %u2013 with official campaign posters, WND has learned.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed to WND posters that adorned police barricades erected at the Western Wall plaza for Obama''s visit were distributed by the presidential candidate''s campaign.
"These posters were his campaign and not the doing of the police," said Rosenfeld, whose police department coordinated security and provided protection for Obama''s visit today to the holy site.
Asked if it was traditional practice for politicians visiting the Western Wall to bring along posters or campaign materials, Rosenfeld replied, "No."
Was Israel a campaign stop or "official" stop?
Also, a little arrogant of the Dem party for putting political signs at the temple wall!
Posted by Ariel133 at 01:35 PM : Jul 25, 2008,,,
Sen. Obama actually did visit some wounded troops earlier in his visit, just not those wounded troops at the main hospital. Does that help? Sheese
And the LAMEstream media is covering for him....as they are for Edwards. Tisk, tisk.....here''s his wife dying of cancer and he''s brushing his hair in hotel rooms with his ''ho''.
Guess that''''s a resume enhancer for democrats, though. :)
It is not too expensive to start illegal wars to have them go and be killed and maimed. It is too expensive to take care of them afterwards. Shame on the Greasy Old Pervert party.
July 25, 2008
"He ventured forth to bring light to the world"
"The anointed one''''s pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a miracle in action - and a blessing to all his faithful followers"
by Gerard Baker
"And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.
The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk
/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/art
icle4392846.ece
Asked who would be the better commander in chief, again 53 percent said McCain, while 25 percent said Obama.
Respondents favored McCain by a 38 percent to 30 percent margin as being consistent and standing up for beliefs, and 42 percent to 31 percent as having strong leadership qualities.
Also, 55 percent said Obama would be the %u201Criskier choice%u201D as president, compared to 35 percent for McCain.
Friday, July 25
Race Poll Results Spread
New Mexico Rasmussen Obama 49, McCain 43 Obama +6.0
Pennsylvania Rasmussen Obama 51, McCain 45 Obama 6.0
New Hampshire Rasmussen Obama 49, McCain 45 Obama 4.0
National Gallup Tracking Obama 47, McCain 41 Obama 6.0
National Rasmussen Tracking Obama 49, McCain 44 Obama 5.0
Posted by tbweb at 01:19 PM : Jul 25, 2008
=======================
Poor guy can''t catch a break.
Posted by Ariel133
Of course McCain has more experience he%u2019s got more experience then most people living in America today. The problem is that he%u2019s had it too long!
Is the experience and ability to type on a typewriter better then the ability to type on a computer?
Grampy McCain needs his jammies and a nice cup of tapioca.
Posted by rharrin1 at 02:45 PM : Jul 25, 2008
Agreed! But to go into another''s country and post your political adds in front of one of their holiest sites is a little over. By the way, I don''t care for either candidate.
...because that''s exactly what Obama did.
Friday, July 25
Race Poll Results Spread
New Mexico Rasmussen Obama 49, McCain 43 Obama +6.0
Pennsylvania Rasmussen Obama 51, McCain 45 Obama 6.0
New Hampshire Rasmussen Obama 49, McCain 45 Obama 4.0
National Gallup Tracking Obama 47, McCain 41 Obama 6.0
National Rasmussen Tracking Obama 49, McCain 44 Obama 5.0
Posted by Joereed007 at 02:39 PM : Jul 25, 2008
report abuse
When Obama comes back and shows Mc Bush there are so many problems in our country beside Iraq, and going back to Vietnam, and if they do not speak of them soon, the economy could be such we can''t continue the war. So Mc Bush had the opportunity to speak about this economy while Obama was away on his observing tour, but instead decided to try to shoot Obama down after every stop, and continues to gaffe his words over and over, and accuse the press when in fact he monopolizes the pres even if he is in a super market. He is pitiful and the world knows it.
...because that''''s exactly what Obama did."
Posted by OneAmerican_
at least Barack Obama is able to hold a basketball...
Posted by danstoned at 03:49 PM : Jul 25, 200
This is so right and we as Americans better take a deep look if Mc Bush gets in there it would definetly be a continuation of the Bush policies, and so help me if you want to your country to end as we knew it to be, and work for a foreigner who Bush is letting them to buy anything, and everything, in this country, go with it, but I will tell you this, in my opinion, this would be the biggest mistake this country had ever done.
...because that''''''''s exactly what Obama did."
Posted by OneAmerican_
at least Barack Obama is able to hold a basketball...
Posted by Mattcat25 at 04:00 PM : Jul 25, 2008
Do you honestly think that those troops didn''t love to watch Obama hit that 3 point long shot. I know that the mc Bush folks would have loved to see him miss it, and it would be on tv over and over, but he made it, and by the yells by the troops they loved it, and needed to see something like that. When Mc Bush goes there let him do it if he wants and then we can laugh
John McCain Please listen, you are doing a terrible diservice to the troops by using them to score a cheap political shot.
Posted by truthmatterz at 09:19 AM : Jul 25, 2008
It is the truth, and all he has said is, War, War, troops, troops, haven''t these wonderful troops been through enough, and he should be ashamed. With all his all fired experience he is suppose to have, he needs to stop using these troops to win a campaign. They have a vote, but as it is, can''t say anything, everyone will know who they are for when it is over, You can bet on that.
...because that''''s exactly what Obama did.
Posted by OneAmerican_ at 03:28 PM : Jul 25, 2008
Keep living in your delusion - apparently it serves you well.
Did you KNOW that there are RULES prohibiting campaigning on military bases?
Do you KNOW that Obama''s trip is being paid for by his campaign?
Therefore, if Obama went to the base to visit the troops, WHILE it was being paid for by his campaign, he would have been in violation of the military''s rules - just something else that you''d be whining and crying about.
So grow up, and give it up.
Posted by fstop100 at 04:02 PM : Jul 25, 2008
What tax dollars?
Unlike McCain, who''s been living off the public his ENTIRE LIFE, Obama is paying for this trip out of his campaign funds.
And he DIDN''T need 200 soldiers, 5 tanks, 3 APC''s, 5 Huey''s, and 2 Apache''s either, like McCain did in Baghdad!!!
Posted by danstoned at 03:49 PM : Jul 25, 2008
Posted by starleo14672 at 04:02 PM : Jul 25, 2008
That''s because McCain of 2008, is running AGAINST the platform of McCain of 2000.
How can ANYONE keep track of his position on the issues, when he flip flops so much?
The Bush Administration has concocted a formula for determining what could be counted on as a war casualty in Iraq. The Soldier must be facing an attacker in a gun fire fight, or blown up by an incendiary, or explosive device. Any other injuries such as being shot from behind, or carried off the battle field alive are not counted as casualties of this war. Soldiers that expire later (like in Ramstien), commit suicide, or suffer life long sustained injuries are not counted.
This Administration hasn%u2019t wanted the American People to know the exact tally of injured, permanently disabled, or killed in their war to alleviate Saddam Hussein of his Nuclear and Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction to be used against the United States. Imagery of the Pine Box Caskets draped in American Flags haven%u2019t been allowed to be taken, or shown to the American People, I assume the Pentagon is following the Bush Administrations Policy of cloaking the actual casualties even in an Army Hospital on an American Base in Germany.
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