Taking Obama's words "I agree" and he's "right" out of context is slippery and dishonest [View All]

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The folks who using this to criticize Obama are highlighting petty little areas where Obama certainly should have replied in the affirmative. We shouldn't buy into the tactic of ignoring the parts of his answers where Obama immediately outlines his where he disagrees with McCain. Some examples:


-- Senator McCain and I, I think agree on the importance of energy. But Senator McCain mentioned earlier the importance of looking at a record . . . Over 26 years, Senator McCain voted 23 times against alternative energy, like solar, and wind, and biodiesel . . . And so we've got to walk the walk and not just talk the talk when it comes to energy.

-- I think Senator McCain and I agree for the most part on these issues (Russia and Georgia) Obviously, I disagree with this notion that somehow we did not forcefully object to Russians going into Georgia.

-- And I have to say, Senator McCain and I, I think agree on the importance of energy, but Senator McCain mentioned earlier the importance of looking at a record . . . Over 26 years, Senator McCain voted 23 times against alternative energy, like solar, and wind, and biodiesel . . . And so we've got to walk the walk and not just talk the talk when it comes to energy independence.

-- Well, I think Senator McCain's absolutely right that we need more responsibility, but we need it not just when there's a crisis.

-- Well, Senator McCain is absolutely right that the earmarks process has been abused . . . But let's be clear: Earmarks account for $18 billion in last year's budget. Senator McCain is proposing -- and this is a fundamental difference between us -- $300 billion in tax cuts to some of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the country, $300 billion.

-- John mentioned the fact that business taxes on paper are high in this country, and he's absolutely right. Here's the problem: There are so many loopholes that have been written into the tax code, oftentimes with support of Senator McCain, that we actually see our businesses pay effectively one of the lowest tax rates in the world.

-- Senator McCain is absolutely right that the violence has been reduced as a consequence of the extraordinary sacrifice of our troops and our military families . . . But understand, that was a tactic designed to contain the damage of the previous four years of mismanagement of this war . . . And so John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007.

-- John, you're absolutely right that presidents have to be prudent in what they say. But, you know, coming from you, who, you know, in the past has threatened extinction for North Korea and, you know, sung songs about bombing Iran, I don't know, you know, how credible that is.

-- Senator McCain is absolutely right, we cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran. I do not agree with Senator McCain that we're going to be able to execute the kind of sanctions we need without some cooperation with some countries like Russia and China


I hope we don't fall into the trap that disruptors of our campaign are setting for us in criticizing Obama for this handful of insignificant points of agreement in the debate where he merely spoke reasonable truths to McCain's horseshit. How about we stick to highlighting what our candidate actually said in opposition to McCain? To pretend that Obama gave up any significant ground to McCain over these areas of 'agreement' just doesn't square with the facts.