McCain: Obama Tried To Legislate Iraq Loss

At Veterans Conventions, GOP Candidate Criticizes Democrat's Opposition To The Surge

(AP)  John McCain told fellow veterans on Monday that his Democratic rival Barack Obama tried to legislate failure in Iraq and has refused to admit he erred when opposing the military increase there last year.

McCain said Obama placed his political self-interest ahead of his country's, a theme the Arizona Republican has often repeated. McCain told a friendly convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars that Obama's positions have changed as his political ambitions grew.

"With less than three months to go before the election, a lot of people are still trying to square Sen. Obama's varying positions on the surge in Iraq. First, he opposed the surge and confidently predicted that it would fail. Then he tried to prevent funding for the troops who carried out the surge," McCain said.

"Not content to merely predict failure in Iraq, my opponent tried to legislate failure."

Obama has acknowledged the surge reduced violence in Iraq but says it has failed in its political goal of facilitating a reconciliation among contentious Iraqi factions. The Illinois Democrat proposes to withdrawn U.S. combat forces from Iraq within 16 months; McCain opposes any timetable for withdrawal.

Iraqi leaders have been pressing the U.S. for a timetable for withdrawal.

"It is hard to understand how Sen. McCain can at once proclaim his support for the sovereign government of Iraq, and then stubbornly defy their expressed support for a timeline to remove our combat brigades from their country," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton. "John McCain is intent on spending $10 billion a month on an open-ended war, while Barack Obama thinks we should bring this war to a responsible end and invest in our pressing needs here at home."

McCain said victory in Iraq is in sight, but much depends on the next president's judgment.

"The lasting advantage of a peaceful and democratic ally in the heart of the Middle East could still be squandered by hasty withdrawal and arbitrary timelines. And this is one of many problems in the shifting positions of my opponent, Sen. Obama," McCain said.

The Republican nominee-in-waiting said Obama's political ambitions have blinded him to reality. He also said Obama has refused to change his positions to reflect new success.

"Even in retrospect, he would choose the path of retreat and failure for America over the path of success and victory," McCain said. "In short, both candidates in this election pledge to end this war and bring our troops home.

"The great difference is that I intend to win it first."

Obama was scheduled to speak to the group on Tuesday. President Bush plans to attend on Wednesday.

[actornaught]

Lying John is his usual form. "Legislating failure"? Whatta pig. Obama should "admit he erred"? Then this article continues to tick off the lies.

Has Lying John admitted he erred in backing starting this war? Has he admitted he erred that this war would be easy? Has he admitted he lied that he never said those things?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-a5T0HsJpw

John''s mind is gone. If that''s what you want for a president, God help us.

[dnsallday]

Yes, and John Kerry is the cause of the U.S. losing the Vietnam war.
And every Democrat that is nominated just happens to be the MOST EXTREME LIBERAL EVER. (The Republicons always do their own analysis to PROVE it).
They would have pushed Obama''s changes as Flip flopping reasons not to vote for him, like they did Kerry, but had to drop that once McCane reversed about everything he has ever said in order to prove he is all of a sudden a conservative.

The Republicons come up with the exact same things every 4 years.
My question is do conservatives ever come up with any original thoughts or do they just expect that all of their supporters are brain dead?

[dagrandma]

You know, I used to respect John McCain, even though I''m a democrat. But he is showing his true colors more and more often. It''s a pretty low blow the equate voting against the surge in Iraq to voting for defeat. I hate the usual Republican stance that somehow being against the war is being against our troops. That card gets played over and over and OVER again. And they accuse Obama of playing the race card.

[liberalme]

There was no victory in Iraq---there IS no victory in Iraq and there will never be a victory in Iraq!!!

[smirk5]

"I didn''t decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president."
John McCain 2002

[lostcause09]

I voted for George W Bush in 2000 and 2004 and will happily vote for John McCain in 2008 WITHOUT THINKING.

Posted by johnpotus

STUPID A$$ STATEMENTS LIKE THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE CAN''T CARRY GUNS ON STREETS

[liberalme]

I voted for George W Bush in 2000 and 2004 and will happily vote for John McCain in 2008 WITHOUT THINKING.

Posted by johnpotus


WITHOUT THINKING???? Is that how repukes vote???? LOL LOL LOL

[smirk5]

What does John McCain call spending a trillion dollars in Iraq to needlessly kill over 4K of our troops with the result of allowing Al-Qaeda to rebuild in Afghanistan/Pakistan?

Answer: Victory

[element51]

I am a Viet Nam era veteran. I served a little over four years. Any veteran that would back McCain after the way he has voted on veteran issues over the years is backing the wrong horse. If you look at his record it is apparent that McCain doesn''t give a dam about us or our brothers and sisters that are serving today. Just a few examples. Senate ammend. 149, increase veterans medical care by 2.8 billion in 2006, Senate amdt. 1852,10 million for counseling services for vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Amdt. 2735, additional funding to shore up failing vet hospitals, Amdt. 2737, would have rolled back capital gains tax cuts to provide funding for much needed equipment for troops. These are just a few and McCain voted AGAINST all of them. And there are many more. Veterans, don''t be fooled by this guy!

[liberalme]

am a Viet Nam era veteran. I served a little over four years. Any veteran that would back McCain after the way he has voted on veteran issues over the years is backing the wrong horse. If you look at his record it is apparent that McCain doesn''''t give a dam about us or our brothers and sisters that are serving today. Just a few examples. Senate ammend. 149, increase veterans medical care by 2.8 billion in 2006, Senate amdt. 1852,10 million for counseling services for vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Amdt. 2735, additional funding to shore up failing vet hospitals, Amdt. 2737, would have rolled back capital gains tax cuts to provide funding for much needed equipment for troops. These are just a few and McCain voted AGAINST all of them. And there are many more. Veterans, don''''t be fooled by this guy!

Posted by Element51 at 12:33 PM : Aug 18, 2008


There''s a website--vietnam vets against Mccain--but I can''t recall the exact web address.

[micma-2009]

McSame has supported Bush''s failed Iraq policies from the beginning.

Let''s break it down people:

The Iraqi people want us out of their country and support Obama''s plan to accomplish this.

The American people want us out of Iraq as well.

What''s their to argue about?

[micma-2009]

What does John McCain call spending a trillion dollars in Iraq to needlessly kill over 4K of our troops with the result of allowing Al-Qaeda to rebuild in Afghanistan/Pakistan?

Answer: Victory

Posted by Smirk5 at 12:33 PM : Aug 18, 2008



Correction, Iraq is projected to cost at least 3 trillion. But who''s counting? Surely not John McSame.


lol!

[Gary Kempf]

I voted for George W Bush in 2000 and 2004 and will happily vote for John McCain in 2008 WITHOUT THINKING.

Posted by johnpotus


My question is do conservatives ever come up with any original thoughts or do they just expect that all of their supporters are brain dead?



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Posted by truthmatterz


You can ask the one above and find out if he is brain dead, I believe his statement already answered your question. "Notice he capitalized WITHOUT THINKING."

[micma-2009]

John McSame has been wrong about Iraq at every step. He expects the American people to step up and pay for his and Bush''s incompetence with an indefinite commitment of blood and money.

John McSame wants to stay the course.

Americans want and deserve CHANGE.

Obama 08!

[broadwayphi]

Well, he''s about half-demented, but he sure repeats his lines good.

[broadwayphi]

Shame on the McCain campaign lobbyist corps meat handlers for handing Long Gone John such stupid lines.

But, you know?

they seem to be working.

My friend.

Keep banging that drum and Joe Sixpak will cut his own throat and vote G.O. Pee

[broadwayphi]

"My opponent is not a good ''merican."

Well then by God we''ll vote for you (to pick our pockets) sir!

Trickle On, John.

G.O.Pee!

[shingles1]

McCain''s message seems to pretty much be ''a noun, a verb and the surge''.

[element51]

broadwayphi....Thanks for the good laugh. I also like G O Pee. Cindy went for her yearly physical. The doctor told her she was in great health and that she still had the bust of a 21 year old. Later as she was admiring her bust in the mirror John came and asked her what she was so happy about. Cindy replied that the doctor had just told her that she had the bust of a 21 year old. John laughed and said, "What did he say about your droopy old arse?" Cindy replied, "Well John, he didn''t mention you at all."

[actornaught]

Posted by shingles1 at 12:53 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Even though he can''t define what the surge is, when it started, what it was supposed to do, what it has done, or how it will end. And nevermind the record deathrate while it was at it''s peak. Otherwise, he''s a genious because he "know[s] how to win wars".

[briannorwood]

McCain: Obama Tried To Legislate Iraq Loss--

THAT''S RIGHT ***! If Obama were president, we never would have gone into Iraq in the first place.

Second, we surely would already be out!

[broadwayphi]

Posted by Element51 at 12:57 PM : Aug 18, 2008
+ report abuse

THANKS for that one!

;o))

[broadwayphi]

McClown''s talk of "surge" all the time seems a bit Freudian.

Gives a new meaning to the term "soft money."

Viagra fund, perhaps?

[mr2258]

Obama was wrong on the surge.Why won''t he own up to it.I guess he is to wonderful to be wrong.

[suedehead91]

BE SURE TO STICK THIS IN YOUR TALKING POINTS AT THE CONVENTION IN DENVER.

H.J.Res. 114 - A joint resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

Partial Roll Call

Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Edwards (D-NC), Yea
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea

**** to all you liberal loonies who want to lay this at the feet of Bush. Your beloved party was presented with the exact same intelligence that Bush had and called it as they saw it at the time.

Oh, and Sen. Obama, He was serving in the Illinois State Senate at the time.

So much for VP pics BAYH & BIDEN. Lets see Howard Dean, David Plouffe & David Axelrod Spin that one.

[lostcause09]

BOB BARR FOR PRESIDENT!!

[mr2258]

The Great Obama-The One-The Cult Of Personality...

[lostcause09]

I voted for George W Bush in 2000 and 2004 and will happily vote for John McCain in 2008 WITHOUT THINKING.

Posted by johnpotus

DON''T THEY HAVE HOSPITALS FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU

[lostcause09]

MCCAIN WILL LOSE TO BOB BARR!

[misha128-2009]

McCain ignored the generals in Afghanistan for over a year and was the last to recommend his personal tactic to "surge" for Afghanistan after the situation had become very bad. Obana was well ahead of McCain in recognising the issues in Afghanistan. Where was Senator "I Know how to Win" McCain before things when bad. With his head in the sand like the rest of the Republicans trying to lose in Afghanistan through ignorance of the situation on the ground and their arrogance not to listen to the generals as they claim.

[wellhell3]

McCain''''s message seems to pretty much be ''''a noun, a verb and the surge''''.


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Posted by shingles1 at 12:53 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Yeah, and Obscamma''s message is ''I am GOD. The heavens have opened, the seas will stop boiling, the rainment has come down and told you to vote for ME!''

Last time we heard this GOD bull *****, it came from BUSH!

[misha128-2009]

johnpotus - people that vote without thinking are the problem not the solution.

[actornaught]

"Obama was wrong on the surge.Why won''t he own up to it.I guess he is to wonderful to be wrong."

You have to be an idiot to ask this question. It requires that one focus on only the escalation strategy, and ignore ALL of the background leading up to it, such as:

If the Surge was such a brilliant strategy (take&hold ?), WHY DID IT TAKE 4 YEARS TO THINK OF IT?

When Addled John says "I know how to win wars", he must mean "I have lots of experience making BAD JUDGEMENTS, let me make more.".

[broadwayphi]

Hussein is starting his downward spiral.
Posted by b48151 at 01:30 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Really? I didn''t know the king of Jordan was losing altitude.

If you are speaking of Barack Obama, though, he''s leading in the polls and is going to be elected President.

I''d call that doing pretty well.

My friend

[misha128-2009]

Shingles -- slight correction a noun and the only verb McCain understands =="surge"

Iraq Surge
Afghanistan Surge
Economic Surge
Drilling Surge

This message brought to you by John "Senator Surge" McBush.

[broadwayphi]

Oh, that Long Gone John.

Have you heard? He''s now adopting "Trickle Down Economics."

Remember?

The great G.O.Pee plasn to shower us with wealth -- just as soon as the rich people were done with it?

Pathetic.

My friend.

[wellhell3]

"Obama was wrong on the surge.Why won''''t he own up to it.I guess he is to wonderful to be wrong."

You have to be an idiot to ask this question. It requires that one focus on only the escalation strategy, and ignore ALL of the background leading up to it, such as:

If the Surge was such a brilliant strategy (take&hold ?), WHY DID IT TAKE 4 YEARS TO THINK OF IT?

When Addled John says "I know how to win wars", he must mean "I have lots of experience making BAD JUDGEMENTS, let me make more.".


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Posted by actornaught at 01:30 PM : Aug 18, 2008

The surge worked, was brilliant strategy, and 20,000 plus active terrorists are now DEAD!

Good job on the surge! Now go get the rest of ''em!

[broadwayphi]

"I can land this thing..."

-- John McCain

I''m sure he was talking about the election -- and not a carrier-based fighter jet.

I hope....

[wellhell3]

McCain ignored the generals in Afghanistan for over a year and was the last to recommend his personal tactic to "surge" for Afghanistan after the situation had become very bad. Obana was well ahead of McCain in recognising the issues in Afghanistan. Where was Senator "I Know how to Win" McCain before things when bad. With his head in the sand like the rest of the Republicans trying to lose in Afghanistan through ignorance of the situation on the ground and their arrogance not to listen to the generals as they claim.


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Posted by misha128 at 01:26 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Because McCain has his head in reality instead of la la land...he knows we have to finish the job in Iraq first.

Obscamma wants to scuttle out of Iraq crying failure, failure! So the stupid speech he made in 2002 looks good!

[micma-2009]

John McCain quotes pre-Iraq War and during Iraq War:

"Because I know that as successful as I believe we will be, and I believe that the success will be fairly easy, we will still lose some American young men or women." [CNN, 9/24/02]

"We%u2019re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad. We may have to take out buildings, but we%u2019re not going to have a bloodletting of trading American bodies for Iraqi bodies." [CNN, 9/29/02]

"But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily." [MSNBC, 1/22/03]

"But I believe, Katie, that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators." [NBC, 3/20/03]

"It%u2019s clear that the end is very much in sight." [ABC, 4/9/03]

"There%u2019s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along." [MSNBC, 4/23/03]

"This is a mission accomplished. They know how much influence Saddam Hussein had on the Iraqi people, how much more difficult it made to get their cooperation." [This Week, ABC, 12/14/03]

"I%u2019m confident we%u2019re on the right course." [ABC News, 3/7/04]

[broadwayphi]

Long Gone John, please trickle us with your P.O.Pee economics. Please, sir.

Because we have too much money and are too well off, sir, and the wealthy need it more than we.

Please?

[actornaught]

I''ll answer my own question, since the simpleminded ''cons are so unfocussed.

WHY DID IT TAKE 4 YEARS TO THINK OF THE "SURGE"?

Because of horrendous bad judgement.

[wellhell3]

"I%u2019m confident we%u2019re on the right course." [ABC News, 3/7/04]









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Posted by micma at 01:37 PM : Aug 18, 2008

So am I! Good job by our troops, the terrorist bastwards are dead and their cronies are scuttling back to Afghanistan to hide in their caves.

[armydog2]

wellhell
did the iraqi government meet the bench marks that the surge was supposed to buy more time for. answer no they did not, the surge failed what it was meant to do, plain and simple.al sadr called his henchmen off, which led to the decrease in violence. Our wonderful Military is being used and abused by bush and mccain wants to continue down this path. They deserve better leaders than the pack of fools they have now and mccain will only make matters worse.

[aj4321-2009]

McCain''''s war stories are pure fictions. Now we have proof that he is stealing stories from Russian authors. How low will McBush go???

[wellhell3]

I''''ll answer my own question, since the simpleminded ''''cons are so unfocussed.

WHY DID IT TAKE 4 YEARS TO THINK OF THE "SURGE"?

Because of horrendous bad judgement.


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Posted by actornaught at 01:39 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Oh bull *****, we had to have the surge because the terrorist were piling into Iraq like rats on a piece of cheese....

Again, good job to our troops, the terrorists are dead and dying fast. Now go get the rest of ''em!

[wellhell3]

WE NEED OUR TROOPS IN GEORGIA! NOT IRAQ! BRING THEM HOME!


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Posted by patsy_owens at 01:41 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Why Georgia?

[ioweign]

Because McCain has his head in reality instead of la la land...he knows we have to finish the job in Iraq first.

Obscamma wants to scuttle out of Iraq crying failure, failure! So the stupid speech he made in 2002 looks good!

Posted by WellHell3 at 01:37 PM : Aug 18, 2008


Why, when asked, Petraeus stated on 9/11/2007 that being in Iraq was not making the US safer...

[misha128-2009]

WellHell3 - Senator Surge called for three US Combat Brigades to be sent to Afghanistan. When his campaign learned (again belatedly) we did not have three US combat brigades to send they said they could be NATO troops. I am still waiting for a McCain''s Staff to get the news from weeks ago that Secretary Gates attempted to get the troops from NATO and wound up three Combat brigades and numerous support troops short even after the French offered some troops. Where is Senator Surge''s answer to his own announced plan to send more troops to Afghanistan? Nothing but another "Katrina response" as McCain and his delusions remain trapped in the alternate reality called McWorld.

[mcvent]

My fellow democrats it is not too late we can still draft Hillary at the convention. Obama has lost already....

Hillary can win.. Take to the streets in Denver and take back our democrats party.