Obama: Stop Questioning My Patriotism
"I Will Let No One Question My Love Of This Country," Democrat Says
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Play CBS Video Video McCain's Tactical Advantage CBS News' senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield explains why he believes John McCain benefits more from the timing of the Democratic and Republican conventions.
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Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. speaks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008. (AP)
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In-Depth VP Hot Sheet: Obama CBSNews.com ranks the top contenders to be Obama's running mate.
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Addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, Obama reaffirmed his early opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and said the so-called "surge" strategy of sending 30,000 additional troops to Iraq last year had not produced the political reconciliation necessary to achieve lasting peace in the country. McCain supported the Iraq invasion and was an early champion of the surge.
"These are the judgments I've made and the policies that we have to debate, because we do have differences in this election," Obama said. "One of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can't disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Sen. McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America's national interest. Now, it's time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.
"Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country," Obama said to applause.
McCain stood before the same audience a day earlier and said Obama "tried to legislate failure" in the Iraq war and had put his ambition to be president above the interests of the United States. He said the Illinois senator did this by pushing for a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq and by voting in the Senate against a major appropriations bill to help fund the troop increase.
A decorated Vietnam war veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Arizona senator has sharply questioned whether the 47-year old Obama has the experience and character necessary to serve as commander in chief.
McCain has also spoken out strongly against Russia's invasion of the Republic of Georgia, using Obama's absence from the campaign trail last week when he was on vacation in Hawaii to take a hard line against the Russian government. His tough talk led some of Obama's foreign policy advisers to suggest McCain may have complicated the conflict.
Obama strongly condemned Russia's actions Tuesday but said the U.S. involvement in Iraq had imperiled U.S. ability to take a leadership role in the matter.
"We failed to head off this conflict and lost leverage in our ability to contain it because our leaders have been distracted, our resources overstretched, and our alliances frayed," Obama said.
The Illinois senator also praised Joseph Biden, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman thought to be among the top contenders to be Obama's running mate, for calling for an additional $1 billion for reconstruction projects in Georgia.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
- I was under the impression PRESIDENT Bush wasn''t running for another term. Funny that.....
Thank you Mr. Bush for standing firm in your convictions and doing what needed to be done about Iraq. Too bad Clinton didn''t handle it the many times he had the chance. Instead he spent his terms chasing skirts. But, thanks Mr. Bush. It''ll be good to have you back in Texas. - Reply to this comment
- joe_transit
I agree with you about bush. - Reply to this comment
- truthmatters
Yes we bombed civilians in Vietnam. After the communists built bomb factories in the neighborhoods where civilians lived. Atrocities are commited on both sides in any war. - Reply to this comment
- chitown
My senses carried me thru many battles. I trust them. I stated my opinion, now maybe you should examine your delusions about obama, before it is too late. - Reply to this comment
- bretster7
Anyone who is not voting for obama is calledf a racist on here. - Reply to this comment
- blkpresident
Clinton sold out the people who backed her. Even if obama takes her as vp he will lose. - Reply to this comment
- blkpresidenty
If obama would abnswer questions about himself themn he would probably have more supporters. It is an unanswerd question that makes people have doubts about him. To just say it isn''t true is not an answer. - Reply to this comment
- blkpresident
Haven''t seen you on for a while. I thought maybe you had died, got locked up or heaven forbid came to your senses. - Reply to this comment
- Vote Republican
Who Cares about Willie Horton anymore?
Republicans brought hundreds of terrorists into the US at Gitmo and called them detainees.
Republicans at the DOJ now tell us the detainees at Gitmo might get released on US soil, if Congress does not pass a law.
The problem -- the Republicans at the DOJ have no recommendations how to write the law to prevent it. Furthermore they have abdicated responsibility and expect the Democrats to find experts to achieve what the Republicans cannot.
Never fear the Republicans understand National Security well -- The Republicans truly believe National Security IS BEST WHEN LEFT TO THE Democrats.
Republican Contingency Plan
Join the Republican sponsor-a-detainee program and have a real live terrorist living in your own neighborhood. - Reply to this comment
- Bush is a reformed alcoholic, a clueless idiot, and a narcissistic A hole. The wars he created and all the death in his name has profited him and his clan beyond belief. McCain (which is just another way of spelling Bush) is trying to scare us. Did you ever consider that terrorist attack because of Bush''s action''s? Eliminating those Bush policies will eliminate the foreign desire to attack. us. It sound like a campaign slogan but we need a change. It ain''t working now.
- Reply to this comment
- LeftyinTexes,
In response to your question regarding HRC''s strategic importance to Mr. Obama, remember this, terrorist don''t lob softballs or play powder-puff football, sooooo, lil'' missy may want to ask Mr. Obama for a position down in the White House kitchen instead of thinking too highly of herself. - Reply to this comment
- LeftyinTexes,
"Winning"? YOU actually think that old man grampy is "winning"? Once again, he''ll either take the opportinity to throw in the white towel or be steamrolled by the Obama Shuffle. "Winning"? It''ll be more like whining real soon. - Reply to this comment
- You attack Obama''s name and associate it with the man who kept his country in control and at peace. Because you want to evoke fear and you can''t attack Obama''s policies. You criticize how many Saddam killed so you step in and kill more then he did. By looking for WMD''s you become the WMD. We can not afford to continue these wars, maybe you haven''t noticed but we are broke. Only the very wealthy are not hurting now.
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- I respect the elderly McCain for surviving his Vietnam ordeal, but being in a bamboo cage eating rat meat does not qualify one to be president. His action were admirable, but insignificant in the scheme of things. His vision is out dated, how many of us would let our grandpa run their household? Do we really need another rich man with their wealthy distorted views run the majority of people who have trouble putting food on their plates? His vision and problems are far different from mine. I don''t have a six million dollar a year wife with bleached hair. I can''t afford cosmetic surgeries. The oil companies don''t wine and dine me. I struggle just to exist with a reasonable amount of good old American comfort.
- Reply to this comment
- He''s alive and 72. In reality we have 58,151 hero''s that died in Vietnam, let''s not forget them. Many did not want to be there. Nor lets forget the 4144 Americans that died in Iraq. All while old white haired men in this administrating profit from it. Pro-oil is pro-death, dead boys=$$$. Instead of laughing at Carter''s energy plan''s, if we had followed them, would we have the need to acquire oil at any cost? Yes we are addicted to oil, Bush is the "pusher-man." McCain is just another puppet. You can follow him into a grave, because that what he plans on digging and drilling for us.
I oppose any war not on our soil. Those billions spent on war could have provided every American with a college education and heath care for many decades to come. It would have rebuilt New Orleans many times over. - Reply to this comment
- Does anyone here actually think that HRC isn''t the most strategic candidate for BARRY SADDAM HUSSEIN OBAMA to pick for his sidekick.
- Reply to this comment
- Remember, Mr. Obama simply doesn''''t want to steamroll old man McCain without offering him an opportunity to toss in the white towel, sooooo, grandpa better do the right thing or get KO''''d like a lil'''' beeootch.
Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 02:45 PM : Aug 20, 2008
Yeah, it''s common to throw in the towel when you''re winning. - Reply to this comment
- "Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country,"
--Barry Saddam Hussein Obama
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Is this a joke? - Reply to this comment
- bretster7,
Remember, Mr. Obama simply doesn''t want to steamroll old man McCain without offering him an opportunity to toss in the white towel, sooooo, grandpa better do the right thing or get KO''d like a lil'' beeootch. - Reply to this comment
- Consider the average age of a man in a nursing home, then consider old McCain''''s age? Now wonder who will be spoon feeding him and changing his diapers? Unless this guy is super human, I can''''t see how he will meet the demands. Just look at how a presidential term aged all those before him. Electing McCain is like committing murder, both of him and our country. Mark my word, if elected he won''''t live to the end of his first term. The job will grind him into a six foot hole.
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Posted by joe_transit
SAme thing was said about Ronaldus Magnus, and he kicked crummy little liberal a** all day long. LOL - Reply to this comment

Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."





