Obama: I'm Immune To GOP Attacks

Says His Foreign Policy Record Puts Him In Better Shape For General Election

(AP)  Presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Thursday his foreign policy record leaves him immune to Republican attacks likely to be lodged in a general election campaign.

"My Republican opponent won't be able to say that we both supported the war in Iraq, because I didn't," Obama told a crowd packed into a high school gym.

"My opponent won't be able to say that I haven't been open or straight with the American people or that I've flipped and flopped my positions, because I haven't. I've been consistent this whole time."

The Illinois senator added to his argument his opposition to a recent Senate resolution branding Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. He described the resolution as a step toward another war. He did not vote against the measure when it came up in the senate because he was campaigning in New Hampshire.

"My Republican opponent won't be able to say that, 'Well, we really agree about using the war in Iraq to justify military action against Iran, or about a diplomacy of not talking and saber-rattling, because I don't agree with those approaches," he said.

Obama's remarks appeared pointed at his top rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the only Democratic candidate to vote for the resolution. The New York senator also voted to authorize the war in Iraq. Obama was not in the Senate at the time of the vote, but as a candidate running for Senate said that he opposed the war.

Obama did not note Clinton's support of either measure or mention her by name in his remarks.

The senator did take direct aim at the White House, noting President Bush's recent comment that if Iran could make nuclear weapons, it could lead to World War III.

"This kind of 'bring it on' rhetoric is dangerous, it's irresponsible, it leads directly to the increased threat from Iran and America's decreased ability to leave the war," Obama said.

The White House has said the comment was only meant to be rhetorical.

Obama's stop in Nevada was his first in six weeks. The state has drawn increased attention from presidential candidates since Democrats allowed it to hold one of the earliest nominating contests.

Obama began his day in Reno, where he held a large rally and delivered similar remarks. He told the crowd there that President Clinton's attempt to reform health care in 1993 failed partly because Hillary Clinton, then first lady, worked only with "her own people" and shut out other potential allies.

Hilarie Grey, spokeswoman for Clinton's campaign in Nevada, said that unlike Obama, Clinton has a plan to deliver universal health care and is the "candidate that voters trust the most to end the war in Iraq."

"Its unfortunate that Senator Obama is abandoning the politics of hope and instead employing the same old attack politics as his campaign stalls. Nothing says politics as usual more than that," she said.

[adian1-2009]

Obama''s attack on Ms. Clinton for her vote on the Iraq attack and invasion seems to be his sole campaing flag agaist her. He has said it so many times that I, a Democrat, am getting fed up of the argument. It is easy for him. He was not there to cast his vote and he had not been briefed with well concocted Bush/Cheney lies to seduce all members of the Senate. In fact, a majority of the people of the whole US, believing that our leaders were telling us the truth, supported the attack and invasion. If you are immune to Republican attack on foreign policy it is because you did not have the obligation to cast your vote then. So, tell me positive things about your ideas and how do you intend to change Washington. Trashing Ms. Clinton for casting a vote that AFTER THE FACTS Democrats and Republicans as well are not satisfied with, is not the way to win our votes.

[nmsuip]

Why is a Republican like a scud missile?

Both are offensive & inaccurate.

[grazinggoat]

"What do you mean - Democrats ARE running a dead goat!
Posted by speakinup"

I think he meant ''''cow''''.
Democrats are running an old ''''cow'''', who is DECEPTIVELY supporting and WILL carry on the same old FAILED policy being instituted now by a Certified Idiot, and our President. LOL
Posted by Agnim at 03:49 PM : Oct 19, 2007

-Thanks Agnim for sparing the spirit of my dead-goat grandma! though she would''ve been of great help kicking some elephants'' assses around, altogether with our democratic donkeys! LOL!

[kansas1946]

I like Obama, and would vote for him in a New York minute. I don''t care if he is black, purple, or has pink spots. He is no more black than he is white. 50/50. He is intellegent, articulate, wise, has made it this far because of those qualities, not because of an accident of birth, in fact, you couldn not ask for a better candidate. Now we will see how smart the Democrats are. If they will go with him.

[suhaalnafa]

actually why cant we right in the main topic?

[agnim]

"What do you mean - Democrats ARE running a dead goat!
Posted by speakinup"

I think he meant ''cow''.
Democrats are running an old ''cow'', who is DECEPTIVELY supporting and WILL carry on the same old FAILED policy being instituted now by a Certified Idiot, and our President. LOL

[speakinup]

"Simple fact the Democrats can run a dead goat and win. Everyone almost is mad at the Republicans including many of the Republicans. Posted by antoniof123

What do you mean - Democrats ARE running a dead goat!

[speakinup]

"By the way, while he was prodding Musharif the other foreign policy Gurus in both parties were deafly silent on what to do.

Sometimes it is better to remain silent and look the fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Ah yes - you are right he did not say he''d take ''Unilateral'' action - what he said was (from CNN)

Obama said. "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will not act, we will."

Now since he would be president and not the head of the UN as well as the veto powers, presumeably he meant the US when he said ''we''. Is that not ''unilateral'' ? PLease explain if it is not.

[antoniof123]

Simple fact the Democrats can run a dead goat and win. Everyone almost is mad at the Republicans including many of the Republicans.

[realpatriot1]

Speakinup, He didn''t say he would take unilateral action, he said that if Pakastan didn''t act he would.
In other words, he was giving Pakastan the first shot but also giving them the incentive to take the lead.

Whether or not that''s the answer, we''ll soon find out because Bhutto has already committed to do just that.

By the way, while he was prodding Musharif the other foreign policy Gurus in both parties were deafly silent on what to do.

He was right on Iraq and right on Pakastan. He''s the only one who knows what he''s doing on foreign policy.