McCain camp releases statement from 'Black Hawk Down' pilot criticizing Obama over canceled visit

[sabra]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/?loc=interstitialskip


Republican John McCain's presidential campaign has released a statement from Michael Durant, the U.S. Army helicopter pilot at the center of what became known as the Black Hawk Down incident in Somalia, criticizing Democratic contender Barack Obama for canceling a planned visit last week to wounded U.S. troops in Germany. Durant says, in part:

"I've spent time at Ramstein recovering from wounds received in the service of my country, and I'm sure that Senator Obama could have made no better use of his time than to meet with our men and women in uniform there. That Barack Obama believes otherwise casts serious doubt on his judgment and calls into question his priorities."

:crazy:

[TwilightGardener]

1. Swiftboating in progress. Dems, where are you???? Battle stations! A-roooo-ga! A-rooo-ga!!

[ellacott]

5. Yes, where are they

This is starting to bother me. They need some surrogates to hit back hard with this. Bring up all McCain's votes against funding for the veterans.

Sometimes I think Dems are too nice.

[nc4bo]

9. I just dropped a suggestion to Moveon.org for a petition to......

our high level democrats which would basically ask wtf are they? Maybe folks can drop moveon or other high profile orgs to help move the idea along?

Petition pressure time. Let them know how we feel.

[ellacott]

12. Great idea, this is what I'll do

I was beginning to feel helpless. Thanks for the suggestion. :)

[Peregrine Took]

19. Frankly, after what happened to Wes Clark - I think I would need the "go

ahead" on what to say from the Obama camp before I plunged forward on my own.

[TwilightGardener]

22. That's fine--they need a coordinated attack. The GOPers throw a hissyfit

on a massive scale (Clark's remarks, Betrayus ad) every time they sense an opening--where is the Dems' coordinated hissyfit, the indignation, the out-of-proportion outcry to this? THAT'S how you fight this shit.

[ellacott]

26. So very true

[ellacott]

23. That's why we keep losing

People don't know how to fight.

Wes Clark was on TV last week speaking for Obama.

[TwilightGardener]

25. Notice that those who come to Obama's defense are ignored by the MSM. Notice that those

who attack Obama are given prime-time, and the attacks are repeated--but not the defense.

[ellacott]

27. Yes, I've noticed that

I was shocked when Andrea Mitchell defended Obama regarding the visit to the hospital. She reported this on Morning Joe and Joe was going along with her. This morning he changed his tune and is condemning Obama for the same thing.

I noticed Donna Brazille was a frequent guest on Stephanopolus' Sunday show but now she on as much.

[nc4bo]

2. no words just a .gif...

:wtf:

[lisa58]

3. This is really getting tiresome...

...this guy was never gonna vote for Obama anyway.

[writes3000]

4. Wow, so sleazy and unethical. McCain just gave away any integrity he had left.

I pray the country sees this for what it is.

The Democrats need to pound him on it. Let Obama stay about the fray.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Michael Durant was never at "Black Hawk Down."

I know a guy who was at Black Hawk Down and he says Michael Durant was back at base nursing a sore knee and eating ice cream.

[Fleshdancer]

7. McCain needs to end this bs right now

Politicizing troops that have been wounded in an illegal war HE helped start and continues to support is beyond me.



June 28, 2008
Obama visits Walter Reed
Posted: 10:32 AM ET

From CNN Political Producer Chris Welch

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama made a private, last-minute stop at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Saturday morning where he presumably visited with wounded veterans, though campaign aides both on and off site would not confirm, and a press pool was not allowed in the facility.

While the Illinois senator was inside, Obama's campaign simultaneously announced he would be making trips to both the Middle East and to Europe shortly this summer.

[MichiganVote]

8. Trying to pull Obama off message.

[Fleshdancer]

15. stupid tactic. Those soldiers are there because of McCain's actions...

Is anyone else grossed out by his constant cheerleading for the surge and then his childish attempt to paint Obama as someone who doesn't care about the very men and women that were harmed in said surge? Seriously, this is some sick and twisted stuff.

[ellacott]

24. So true

We need to change the narrative. McCain's record with veteran's affairs needs to be highlighted.

[rox63]

10. The MSM is leaving out the part where the Pentagon blocked him from visiting the troops

Is anyone ever going to call them on this?

[TwilightGardener]

11. The MSM is actively participating in the swiftboating, just as they did with Kerry.

[BurtWorm]

13. Are we now going to see Blackhawk Down Veterans for Truth?

:eyes:

[ericgtr]

14. Doesn't Obama have surrogates?

It's almost time that some of them stepped up.

[TwilightGardener]

16. Yeah, he has Reed and Hagel. And Hagel isn't even a surrogate--he's

a Repub who is trying not to take sides, and he did the best job so far of smacking this shit down. This situation is getting...weird. Dems should be demanding an apology and raising a stink.

[Hamlette]

17. send Mike an email

[e-mail]

Ask him why it casts serious doubts on Obama when McCain was JUST AS CLOSE to Ramstein when he was in Europe a couple of months ago and he couldn't find time to see our troops?

[1Hippiechick]

18. Wasn't this visit the one that Obama said he would be "damned if he did, and damned if he didn't"?

[Peregrine Took]

20. Obama better get off his "high horse," get "down and dirty" and not make

other people do his dirty work.

[ellacott]

21. He also needs other people

He can't it all. We need strong people to go on tv and challenge the MSM. He can't be everywhere.