WTF???Obama apologizes already? Is this the tough candidate?

[The Count]

Obama apologizes for saying troops' lives 'wasted'

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/13/obama.apology.ap/index.html

NASHUA, New Hampshire (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is apologizing for saying the lives of the more than 3,000 U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war were "wasted."

During his first campaign trip this weekend, the Illinois senator told a crowd in Iowa: "We now have spent $400 billion and have seen over 3,000 lives of the bravest young Americans wasted." (Watch Obama announce his candidacy)

He immediately apologized on Sunday, saying the remark was "a slip of the tongue."

[marmar]

1. Apparently he didn't pay enough attention to the Kerry campaign...

One day, a Democratic candidate will stop fearing his/her own shadow.

[ClassWarrior]

2. The "apology" meme is a RW/Corporate Media trick.

Don't fall for it. He didn't apologize - read the article.

NGU.

[Dhalgren]

6. I did read the article and he did apologize.

I don't see why he retracted his statement, but he did. How is this not an "apology"?

[ClassWarrior]

13. It's amazing how many people will trust a lying, Corporate Media whore...

...headline writer over one of our own people without giving the matter any scrutiny or analysis. Some of us are as bad as the "sheep" we so despise.

He said, "I would absolutely apologize if any (military families) felt that in some ways it had diminished the enormous courage and sacrifice that they'd shown."

To my mind, that's totally appropriate. And it's not an apology. And let's not forget that he actually got the "wasted" meme out there and people are talking about it.

NGU.

[Dhalgren]

20. So, I'm a "sheep" now, because you and I disagree on what constitutes

an "apology"? Nice.

"Even as I said it, I realized I had misspoken," Obama said. "It is not at all what I intended to say..."

So, again, how is that not an apology? He said he had "misspoken"? What does that mean? Does it mean that he didn't mean what he said or that he phrased it badly? If it was not at all what he intended to say, why did he say it?

I am not anti-Obama. I think he is a very good candidate. But, I am not sure why he feels it necessary to retract (I would say apologize for) his statement. I think that here was an opportunity to explain and expand upon how Bush has completely wasted our military and the military and the parents, wives, husbands and families should be pissing-mad at Bush for doing so. By retracting his statement he is saying he was wrong and Bush hasn't wasted the troops lives - which Bush most certainly has.

Oh, and BAAAAAH.... :evilgrin:

[ClassWarrior]

23. You sure you read the article?

"...telling reporters he meant to criticize the civilian leadership of the war, not those serving in the military." Who knows what else he said along those lines? Do you? Do I? No, methinks only some Corporate Media whore editor does. And he's not sharing with you and me.

What's so wrong with tacking, "I didn't mean to use a word that can be emotionally charged in the eyes of people who are hurting" onto "my intention was to criticize Bush/Cheney**?" You think his criticism of Bush/Cheney** would be better received if he was insensitive and belligerent to grieving families?

NGU.

[devilgrrl]

3. That's all it's going to be...

A dem candidate will state something - anything. The MSM will twist the meaning around and the candidate will be pushed in the corner wasting valuable time defending/retracting/apologizing for whatever was stated and not the issues at hand. That's all we're headed for.

[deutsey]

5. Yep. We really don't learn very quickly, do we?

I recommend people read up on US involvement in the events leading up to the fascist coup in Chile, 1973.

A lot of the tactics used by the CIA then to thwart democracy there are being used in America now, and have been since at least 2000.

[MUAD_DIB]

4. Sometimes there is a better way of saying things.

You don't want to tell somebody that their kid's or spouse's of parent's life was wasted.

Needlessly Lost might be better.


jus sayin

[Dhalgren]

8. If this is a bogus war, then the lives lost were "wasted". You might put

it more softly, but it isn't incorrect...

[MUAD_DIB]

21. Obama can always say it was a bogus war, but if you want to win the

hearts and minds of the families of the fallen then link their deaths to Bush. If you must use the term wasted them make damn sure that you say it was Bush that did the wasting.

It's all context.

[jannyk]

7. Dear Mr Obama...

...say what you mean and mean what you say, have the courage to stand by it - or better still, just shut the fuck up!

[derby378]

9. If he keeps this up, he won't be our next President

And then we'll be stuck with someone like Mitt "Embryo Farm" Romney.

[panader0]

10. Most Americans can't face the awful truth

Their lives were wasted. So was the money. But when you actually come out and say it, Most people go into denial, like little kids who make noises so that they don't have to hear something unpleasant.

[Seen the light]

11. It was so obvious he was referring to their deaths

And he's right about that, we can never "win" in Iraq, so their deaths have been in vain.

[Kahuna]

12. When I heard Obama make the remark in real time I knew the media

and repukes (one and the same) would call it a gaffe. It's smart for Obama to apologize and take it off the table. Too bad you can't see the wisdom in his move.

[jannyk]

15. But obviously not smart enough not to make the gaff

in the first place? Played right into their hands didn't he?

[ClassWarrior]

18. Yeah, he shouldn't say anything that could be distorted.

He should just shut up. Perhaps do a mime routine till November.

:eyes:

NGU.

[Kahuna]

22. Whatever.. He is without sin... I'm sure you're perfect..

unlike Obama and the rest of us. :eyes:

[gatorboy]

16. I can see the wisdom.

And it's understandable from a military family's point of view why someone would be offended.

[fla nocount]

14. Trying to support this guy is like riding a roller coaster.

The money and the lives WERE wasted and someone needs to say it. Then someone needs to ask what a win looks like and how do we know we have one.

Mr. Obama needs to call the DLC and tell them to tear up his phone number and stop calling with advice.

[Done]

17. What, * doesn't have to apologize for wasting those lives? n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. Of course not! He's the "Decider". He can decide to waste those lives

for whatever reasons and everyone can just STFU about it! Nice huh? I really really really despise that sorry excuse for a human! :grr:

[nolabels]

24. The government may be wasting a lot of money but the lives are not being wasted ?

The homeless guy down the street life is being wasted but not a soldier that wants to help project US / Corporate dominance across the globe. Too sad that is to me, an unexamined life. Obama or anybody else should not expect to get acceptance by telling truths to people who follow illusions.