Obama Back On Home Soil After Foreign Tour

Democratic Candidate Lands In Chicago; Deflected Criticism Of His Trip Earlier In The Day

(CBS/AP)  U.S. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama landed in Chicago Saturday night, back on U.S. soil after spending more than a week touring war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan and visiting European allies, CBS News reports.

On the last leg of his trip in London, Obama brushed aside Republican criticism of his overseas trip and stood outside the famed 10 Downing St. to say that both President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain were moving his way on the key issues of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hours before flying home Saturday, Obama also suggested his poll numbers might dip in the coming days, adding: "We have been out of the country for a week. People are worried about gas prices and home foreclosures."

At the same time, he said the journey to two war zones, the Mideast and Europe was important because "many of the issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad."

On The Early Show, Republican strategist Kevin Madden said the risk for Obama on his overseas trip was that some American voters might believe the presumptive Democratic nominee was "more interested in Berlin, Germany instead of Berlin, New Hampshire.

"That's the big risk here. Does he look more interested in appealing to Europeans than the Americans facing everything from rising gas prices and unemployment?"

In Arizona on Saturday, McCain took a swipe at the headline-making trip in a radio address on Iraq and energy that his campaign made available to the media: "With all the breathless coverage from abroad, and with Sen. Obama now addressing his speeches to the people of the world, I'm starting to feel a little left out. Maybe you are, too."

But Obama sought to turn that back on his critics. He said McCain had earlier been "telling me I was supposed to take this trip. He suggested it and thought it was a good idea."

"John McCain has visited every one of these countries post-primary that I have," he said. "So it doesn't strike me that we have done anything different than the McCain campaign has done, which is to recognize that part of the job of the next president, commander in chief is to forge effective relationships with our allies."

The trip was designed by the campaign to show Obama on an international stage in a way that aides hoped would reassure voters who have doubts about his ability to become commander in chief or chart a course for American foreign policy. Jews at home were an audience of particular concern, reflected in his two-night stay in Jerusalem.

Mike Crowley, Senior Editor of the "The New Republic," said the images of Obama over the past week will only benefit him. "Barack Obama was a state senator five years ago," he said on The Early Show. "If people think he looks too presidential, he'll take that good news for him.

"He's going to come back, when this trip's over, hammering the kitchen table issues: gas prices, price of food. He's going to let people know he cares about that, [but he] had to get this done, show people 'I can do the world stage and do it well,' and I think he succeeded."

McCain has long opposed Obama's call for a 16-month timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. On Friday, though, McCain said, "I think it's a pretty good timetable, as we should - or horizons for withdrawal," echoing a phrase Bush used in recent days. "But they have to be based on conditions on the ground."

At his news conference, Obama jumped on that to say there was now some convergence "around a proposal that we have been making for a year and a half."

He also said McCain supports sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, "and the Bush administration acknowledges that as well. I have been talking about that since last year," he said.

The senator also said he had canceled a planned trip to visit wounded members of the armed forced in Germany after officials told him a retired two-star general who is an adviser was considered campaign staff and "it would therefore be perceived as political because he had endorsed my candidacy but wasn't on the Senate staff."

He said that as a result, he scrapped the trip to avoid injecting wounded troops into a political controversy.

Obama's final day in Europe included meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the official residence at 10 Downing St. and with Conservative Party Leader David Cameron in the opposition party's offices in Parliament. Brown's government is unpopular, and his party recently lost a local election that underscored its weakness.

Still, Obama said he had no advice for Brown. "You are always more popular before you are actually in charge of things. And then, you know, once you are responsible then you are going to make some people unhappy, and that is just the nature of politics," he said.

He also breakfasted with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, now a Middle East envoy.

[xpineapple]

To talk about things shinny in this context is not appropriate. Let''s focus on the issues. "Same same" when people called McCain the geezer and such. It just doesn''t help create a good debate. However, if Obama fails to visit troops that he scheduled to meet, and there was "a way forward" in doing so, that''s fair game.

[actornaught]

Posted by WellHell3 at 08:58 AM : Jul 28, 2008

You are just a one-note boneheaded loser. Take a clue from being banned as rowdywitless, and realize you''re too dishonest to be allowed with normal people.

[wellhell3]

Possibly the next president of the USA writes something on a piece of paper sticks it into a wall, a tree, a stump, or hides it under a rock. And he doesn%u2019t think someone will ever ever read it. He may not be quick enough to debate someone but his advisors are not stupid. There was not one thought in his mind that this was a prayer, it was a political statement to be publicized that did just what it was intended to do, put Christian and Barack in the same sentence. If he actually thought that it was a prayer and he was putting it into a scarred wall, the he needs a career change.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by banders6 at 07:49 AM : Jul 28, 2008

Well said!

It''s kindof absurd the lengths he goes to to try to scam people and brainwash them. But what''s really scarey is that people really believe the goon.

[wellhell3]

Posted by brianbwb at 02:29 AM : Jul 28, 2008

Ok, I''m getting really sick about hearing about this illegal war we went into after these Islamofast bastwards killed 3,000 of our people. Frankly the more of them dead, the better as far as I''m concerned.

But back to this illegal war. Who made it illegal? Where is your proof it''s illegal? And what jail are the people in who committed this ILLEGAL war?

When somebody''s been tried, it''s been proven to be illegal by some authority, and people are IN FACT proven to be criminals and are in jail. Then there you have an illegal war.

Until then it''s just a bunch of bull ***** propaganda being spewed out in hate!

Is that simple enough for your victimized, defeatism mind?

[dante805]

What a conceited individual. An elitist lawyer - he already set up a transition team for the WH. This guy thinks he is owed the Presidency. Too condecending for me. We dont need another LAWYER from IVY league school in govt. The Senate is full of them. Enough. Vote McCain or Nader.

[banders6]

Possibly the next president of the USA writes something on a piece of paper sticks it into a wall, a tree, a stump, or hides it under a rock. And he doesn%u2019t think someone will ever ever read it. He may not be quick enough to debate someone but his advisors are not stupid. There was not one thought in his mind that this was a prayer, it was a political statement to be publicized that did just what it was intended to do, put Christian and Barack in the same sentence. If he actually thought that it was a prayer and he was putting it into a scarred wall, the he needs a career change.

[xlib]

brianbwb-and what''s the empty suit going to do with the white part of his shiny tush?? He''s already thrown his white granny under the bus. You keep forgetting he''s as much white as he is black, in fact whiter, raised by white women and all. He just chose to play up his black half for political gain. You do remember rev hate spewing wright don''t you.

[xlib]

hungry1968-so you have the inside scoop on why the empty suit didn''t visit the wounded in Germany. WOW, I''m impressed. So, let''s get this straight, the rest of the trip, one hour here, one hour there, WASN"T political?????? You really buy that?? Typical leeming, make up excuses for your guys.
And say, what''s your take on edwards and his affair and love child??

[xlib]

Since this story has been running for a few days giving us a recap of the empty suits whirlwind tour of the"WAR ZONES" and rock show I still have a question.
SAy, CBS, we know you''re in the tank for the dems, ALL OF THEM. BUT, why still no coverage of edwards and the hotel incident??
I mean, come on, if it were a Republican you guys would be all over it. He''s the guy who was VP candidate last time around with kerry, presidential candidate this time around and you don''t cover his illicit affair???

[abmitus]

johnbush2,

You married your sister didn''t you? And you Mom is also you cousin.

[brianbwb-2009]

"But I say lets just kick Obama''''s shiny black @ss back to the senate." Posted by johnbush2

And should Mr. Obama win, as appears more likely with each passing day, back to where will your shiny "white" one go?

[abmitus]

Welcome home Mr. President.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by ProMacLaura

Seeing as how McSame promises to continue the illegal and unpopular war, it defies logic that it will not be a concern. You state that the surge is working, but like so many, won''t say what it is working about it.

The fact that we illegally invaded and occupy a sovereign nation, committing horrendous crimes against humanity in the process, and losing the lives of 4,100 of our own, and killing more than a million innocent citizens of the victim country will not be forgotten just because a few less US lives are being lost.

McSame is a promise to continue the bloodshed for lies, and this will indeed be a factor in the election, the choice is between the status quo, and a departure from it.

Most of us see the continuance of the status quo, whether war, or "trickle down economics" as not an option.

[hungry1968]

Polls taken by non=MSM shows John McCain with a double digit lead over Obama.

Posted by johnbush2 at 11:01 PM : Jul 27, 2008





johnmccain.com, shows him with a double digit lead?

And that''s surprising to you?

Yeah, to you it probably is surprising.

[hungry1968]

Wouldn''''t that be great to be injured in a hospital and have this sort of thing moving through. A quietor approach was warranted and Barack did not take that. Maybe he could go back now that the first run is through and not make it about himself? How come other Senator''''s get to visit that aren''''t running for President, you''''re info is wrong purely based on that fact. Obama should have put on his Senator hat for awhile.

Posted by ProMacLaura at 10:29 PM : Jul 27, 2008





Obama DID visit the wounded troops, doctors, and nurses at the hospital in Iraq, while it was still a congressional delegation (because Hagel and Reed were still with him).

Once he got to Germany, it was ONLY A POLITICAL trip, and it would have been viewed as using the troops as props. Obviously, the GOP considers the troops as nothing more than "political props", so they''re trying to accuse Obama of something they''re morally incapable of - respecting the members of the military.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by johnbush2 at 10:58 PM

I bet he could kick your white trash azzz all the way back to that catfish fry in your trailor.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by johnbush2 at 11:01 PM

you wish

[johnbush2-2009]

Polls taken by non=MSM shows John McCain with a double digit lead over Obama.

[johnbush2-2009]

Jesse Jackson wants to cut Obama''s nutts off.
But I say lets just kick Obama''s shiny black @ss back to the senate.

[edintex]

Obama Back On Home Soil After Foreign Tour...

I KNEW the air outside started to smell funny at about the SAME TIME. Huh, I wonder...