McCain Uses Image Of Petraeus In Uniform To Raise Money And Attack Obama
Looks like the skirmish between Obama and McCain over Iraq is going to continue today -- and this time, General Petraeus is getting dragged into the fray.
The Obama campaign is holding a conference call this morning to respond to this fundraising pitch from McCain, in which the Arizona Senator uses the image of Petraeus in uniform to raise cash and attack Obama...
In the email, McCain sought to keep the issue of visiting Iraq alive, blasting Obama yet again for refusing to accompany McCain on his next "Baghdad Stroll."
"He has only been to Iraq once, on a trip two years ago. Senator Obama speaks openly about his willingness to sit down with our enemies and engage in open talks, but he hasn't gone to Iraq in over two years to meet with our leaders and see that progress is being made on the ground," McCain's email read.
"Something is wrong with your judgment when you want to sit down unconditionally with Raul Castro and Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but you don't take the opportunity to sit down with General Petraeus and learn about the situation in Iraq firsthand," the email continued. "My friends, this is not the `change' we need in our next president."
Late Update: McCain's full email is after the jump.
Late Late Update: The Obama campaign responds.
My Friends,I have long said that this election will present the American people with a clear choice in electing our next president. The differences between my vision for national security leadership and that of Senator Obama's could not be greater, and this is why I am writing to you today.
I think you all know that this war has been long, hard and tough. And it has meant enormous sacrifice on the part of Americans in blood and treasure. But after four years of a badly mismanaged war, our new strategy is succeeding and we are now winning in Iraq thanks to the service and sacrifice of the brave Americans who are serving.
I have visited Iraq on many occasions because I think the most vital decision that any President of the United States can make has got to be about the security of this nation and the lives of the young Americans who are serving.
But I cannot say the same of one of my opponents, Senator Barack Obama. He has only been to Iraq once, on a trip two years ago. Senator Obama speaks openly about his willingness to sit down with our enemies and engage in open talks, but he hasn't gone to Iraq in over two years to meet with our leaders and see that progress is being made on the ground. Something is wrong with your judgment when you want to sit down unconditionally with Raul Castro and Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but you don't take the opportunity to sit down with General Petraeus and learn about the situation in Iraq firsthand. My friends, this is not the "change" we need in our next president.
Our next president cannot just talk about leadership; they must demonstrate it. Senator Obama is the chairman of an important subcommittee that has oversight of our efforts in Afghanistan. Yet he has not held one hearing on Afghanistan, a place where young Americans are in harm's way every day. When a chairman of a subcommittee can't lead, it's bad; when a president doesn't lead, it's unacceptable.
I am convinced that my experience, knowledge and every challenge I have confronted during my years of service to our country and its ideals make me better able to lead and ready to serve as our Commander in Chief on day one. That is why I am asking you to make a financial contribution of $50, $100, $250, $500, or any amount up to the limit of $2,300 right away. Our national security is too important to hand over to someone who does not have the knowledge or experience to make judgment calls on Iraq. Thank you.
Sincerely,
John McCain
P.S. My friends, it's clear Senator Obama was driven to his position on the War in Iraq by his ideology and not by the facts on the ground. He does not have the knowledge or experience to make the judgments necessary to keep our Nation safe, prosperous and strong. Presidents have to listen and learn. Presidents have to make judgments no matter how popular or unpopular they may be. I believe I am better prepared to make these judgments, leading our country as your next president, and I ask that you make a financial contribution right away to my campaign so that I am able to take my message of experience to the American people. Thank you.
Maybe Obama doesn't want to sit down with Petraeus because Petreus is a hack mouthpiece for the GOP.
Or maybe Obama realizes that policy is set in the white house, not in General Petreus's office.
Off topic, but check out this great rundown on McCain's health and Cindy's wealth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxAwcwUjAd8
May 30, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
ctfu!!!
that was hilarious
May 30, 2008 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's treading on thin ice. Obama could easily make mincemeat of him on this.
I suspect, though, that it's all he's got.
May 30, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Especially thin ice. Didn't DOD just admonish all its military that they must not take part in politics?
Seems to me it's up to Petraeus to get this ad removed!
Apparently this is more thing McShame missed!
May 30, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
How can McCain mention "...the lives of the young men who are serving"? when thousands of these lives have been lost in this goddamn pointless war. The he laughably mentions "...the successes"in Iraq. Dear Lord! What successes when you cant take a stroll in downtown Bagdad without a squandron of Apache helicopters swarming the sky, backed by platoons of soldiers? Judgement Mccain judgement is what we need.Judgement to have the wisdom of not engaging in this kind of war in the first place.
May 30, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Making Mincemeat of McSame
Some excellent quotes from the 100 Year Warrior in TomGram: The McCain Touch
http://tomdispatch.com/post/174937/cerf_and_navasky_the_mccain_touch
May 30, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is just dumb enough to make Iraq the centerpiece of his campaign.
May 30, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
No picture of McCain strolling freely through the Baghdad Market to purchase groceries?
May 30, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Petraeus approved the use of this photo, he will have to be fired.
May 30, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was going to point this out as well. Petraeus is walking a very fine line here and quite possibly has crossed it.
May 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Grampy McSame hiding behind Patraeus is just fine with me too.
He's in a time-warp and running in a different election year than 2008.
May 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I'm sure I saw Petraeus endorse Obama a while back... think it might have been on SNL.
May 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing like politicizing the military.
May 30, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, isn't McCain getting Petraeus into possible trouble.
There are military rules that prohibit campaigning, particularly in uniform.
May 30, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/25/america/pent.php
So the old warrior wants to play at odds with our military leadership's wishes?
Brilliant, Sen. McCain!
Just frickin' brilliant!
May 30, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was just thinking about that. It's possible Petraeus didn't give his permission, though. Or he gave wink-nod permission so he could get it pulled if there was an uproar.
May 30, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it's likely Petraeus gave his permission. What stuns me is that McCain's persona is so dependent on his military career and yet he's willing to do something that, at the very least, is counter to the spirit of Mullen's directive.
May 30, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Like so many other things he probably isn't AWARE of the directive!
May 30, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
True enough.
May 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
You don't have to have a public figure's permission to use a photo him in a political ad.
May 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
But what a bad precedent for the troops...
He needs to demand McShame pull the ad!
May 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is it not totally inappropriate, and probably illegal, to use images of uniformed members of the Armed Services in partisan political ads?
May 30, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
As I've indicated above, it certainly would appear to run counter to a directive to our troops for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
May 30, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Every time I hear him say "my friends," I want to punch someone in the face.
May 30, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
AGREED!
May 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
More disgusting, divisive, bs coming out of Obama's radical church.
Pathetic.
May 30, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did Obama's church send out this McCain mailing?
May 30, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know, right! Churches give up their first amendment rights when one of their members runs for higher office, but Obama's church is too uppity to do that.
Go get em, grrl!
May 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just found shocking, I MEAN SHOCKING, footage of your hero Hillary. This never before seen footage was taken when Hillary was but a child. She hadn't even started campaigning for Goldwater.
You won't believe your eyes!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAu39I5QOUc
May 30, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whatcha talking about goatlife?
May 30, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is an effective attack on Obama. Not legitimate since congressional tours of Iraq are highly scripted potemkin tours but effective.
The Republican strategy seems to be to question his Americanness. It is leveraging peoples unconsious racism and giving them reasons to legitimize their antipathy. Its not that he's black it's because he's practically a foreigner.
May 30, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
This has been the GOP strategy since 1988.
Nothing has changed, except the Democratic target.
I don't think it plays anymore, unless you ignore it completely ala Dukakis and Kerry.
You hit back on its craveness, then get a harumph from the perpetrator and it soon goes away.
May 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think your analysis is spot on. How should Obama counter?
May 30, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
A 60 minutes softball piece about Obama's homelife would be useful. Lots and lots of small events where the 15 second nightly news has a picture of him interacting with individual voters instead of the stadium filling events. Cast him as a hard working middleclass father of two in a faithful loving marriage, and subtly contrast that with Mccain's rich lifestyle of priveledge. I can't believe McCain has continually emphasized his father and grandfather being admirals. That just reeks of priveledge. Has anyone questioned how someone who came 894th in a class of 899 got to become a naval aviator?
May 30, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Prediction: Petraeus will be seriously considered to be McCain's VP. But in the end God will intervene and choose Walker Texas Ranger.
May 30, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!
May 30, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's lying again - he says there's something wrong with your judgment if you sit "unconditionally" and Obama has never said that.
He's lying. Again.
Keep running on Iraq, McLame. That's a real winner, that is.
May 30, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
So he's going to try and do battle with Obama on judgment? This ought to be real interesting while it lasts....
May 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a general rule -- sorry about the pun -- I don't think politicians should use ads that include photos of senior military personnel.
Because you never know when you'll need to award them a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
May 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, that is one hilarious post.
May 30, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
New rule: every post relating to McCain should start with "My friend"
May 30, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
ROFLMAO!
May 30, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
And end every one with "Thank you."
May 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, when Petraeus testifies before Congress does he not provide accurate and complete information on the status in Iraq or does he save that information for those who make the visit?
May 30, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is one rambling and poorly written appeal. "My friends" is going to drive me up the wall!
And a P.S.?!?! This isn't a letter to Aunt Susie.
(Not to mention that, as Tena points out, he's lying.)
And "my friends" is going to drive me up the wall.
May 30, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, BRING BACK EDIT!!!!!
May 30, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, I concur with your statement. Please bring back the edit function.
May 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, the time has come to demand, yes, demand that my opponent give us his plan for an edit function! Platitude will not get us a "preview" button.
Mere oratory is not enough. Why doesn't my opponent learn to proofread on his own? Why is he asking for a preview button?
My friends - could it be that my opponent says he wants a preview button because he isn't prepared to post it right the first time?
My friends, perhaps if we get an edit function, that will put a stop to this anti-American, anti-McLame, anti-Clinton, anti-white nonsense!
Thanks you.
May 30, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
If McCain is so willing to use images of our men and women in uniform maybe he'll change the policy against showing the coffins coming off the planes on their return to US soil.
Or perhaps next he'll use the pictures of a hundred solidiers, armored vehicles, and guard helicoptors around him in that Baghdad market to say how much the common soldiers support him.
May 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
The "my friends" thing always creeps me out because that's what the "friendly angel" (played by Melvin Belli) always called the homicidal kids whose minds he was controlling in the Star Trek episode "And the Children Shall Lead."
May 30, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends...
hmmm.... forgot what I was going to say....
Your friend, McShame
May 30, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, I hope he picks Petraus as his running mate. That ticket would get slaughtered in November. McCain would lose indies by 60 points or more and even moderate republicans would be turned off big time. People would interpret an active general (of course he would resign to run, but that would be immaterial) running for vp as we finally turned the page on officially becoming a banana republic. Thank you.
McCain/Petraus 08.
May 30, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, it's a great idea!
Think of all those troops who, due to Petraeus' surge were forced to stay longer, go back sooner, and so on.
This gives the troops a way to vote for or against their former general!
May 30, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Add in family and friends as well. Can we say landslide. Awesome ticket for the dems. McCain/Petraus 08.
May 30, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, we could call a McLame/Petraeus administration: Arms and the Old Man.
May 30, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friend:
If instead he picked an Admiral, then we could have The Old Man and the Sea.
Probably that's what we've got already! Former Navy Guy: The Old Man and The Sea.
May 30, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well I'm rethinking now, my friends, and think they really should try to cut into Obama's base by calling themselves:
G-Unit + 65.
my friends, I thank you.
May 30, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, are you sure? Did you factor in the facts on the ground?
Thank you.
May 30, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, if you want to know about the facts on the ground, I challenge you right now to accompany me on a tour of The Ground.
Thank you.
May 30, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, ahem: A fact finding tour.
May 30, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, while I accept you're challenge, there is a broader reason for concern here. Namely, why are the facts on the ground? Obviously, someone is playing fast and loose with the facts and left them there, on the ground, carelessly.
Not only is that littering, but it is unpatriotic and shows a lack of judgment and leadership. I will never leave facts on the ground, but will always take the care to pick them up and dispose of them properly.
Thank you.
P.S. How's Aunt Susie?
May 30, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, you demonstrate your total lack of understanding about these facts on the ground. Don't you see that it is our duty, my friend, to go and pick those facts up off the Ground?
Thank you, my friends.
May 30, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
...Aunt Susie is fine. We're a little worried, however, over "Uncle" Louise. Been looking a little under the weather.
May 30, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
What exactly did McCain learn from his stroll through the market with helicopters and snipers protecting him?
May 30, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, I'm going to tell the uncomfortable, straight shooting truth right here:
McLame is running on his much vaunted military "experience." Let's get real - he flew a handful - I'm thinking 2, but I'm not positive - missions before he was shot down. He spent the entire war in prison. I'm terribly sorry for that - though not very much now that he thinks it's peachy to violate international law and torture other people. McLame has almost no combat experience at all.
He's itching to really fight a war, finally, I think.
May 30, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
You may be right, but that is gonna be a tough comparison to make, given Obama's extensive combat experience...and sounds a little too close to swiftboating.
I think we'll do fine if we just stick to the "judgment" thing.
May 30, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not trying to run Obama's campaign.
I'm just shooting straight.
And there's not one damn thing wrong with surrogates taking McLame on over his "service."
May 30, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
You always shoot straight. That's why we love ya!
May 30, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awwwwwwwwwww - my friend!
LOL!
thanks.
May 30, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is what u meant:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859,00.html
May 30, 2008 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I quite agree. All the evidence indicates that McCain was not a very good pilot - he was involved in the loss of three other aircraft, I think.
If I were going to vote for someone on the basis of military service, I'd rather go with someone like former Senator Glenn, who flew 59 combat missions in WWII, and 90 combat missions in Korea, and was never lost an airplane (although he landed a couple in pretty bad shape).
Anything other than honoring McCain's time as a POW would undoubtedly be a losing proposition, although I think we should hit him hard on his mushy stance on torture -- if anyone should be against torture, even if it's called enhanced interrogation, it should be John McCain.
May 31, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friends..I like your humor here...great for an old man to laugh at himself!
May 30, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm beyond weary of hearing the phrase "on the ground" in the context of Iraq("boots on the ground," "facts on the ground," etc.). It was a clever construction designed to a) absolve Bush of any actual decision-making and b)suggest that the media didn't have the facts about the war, but it's outlived its shelf life in my opinion.
May 30, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never realized how much of jerk McCain is.
May 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man.
Doesn't such doublespeak make you want to scream?
With McLellan's recent picking at the selling of the war sore, I've been considering my own delusional thinking about this life and death business that calls for the blood sacrifice of our young. All called up for TOTAL BULLSHIT conjured by the ruling oligarchy that had some special interests to attend to, at the peril of millions and millions of human beings.
God knows, MSM outlets may not even mention it all on a daily basis anymore. They are going to help us blink this thing away from the forefront of our minds. Indeed, McCain and Co. with the talking heads make every effort to get us to spend some wishes upon a star with Jimminy Cricket so that we don't feel motivated to look at the dire need to alter this brutal insanity that WE NEVER HAD A CHANCE IN HELL OF "WINNING".
I'd love to give him a whack with a slapstick.
May 30, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am SO sick of this "My Friends" bit and it's really stupid of McCain to keep using it since the electorate appears to be paying more attention this go around.
Whom does McCain thinks he's addressing when he says "My Friends..."?
Whenever I've seen him use it, he's always been talking to HIS constituency and NOT to the American public as a whole.
Isn't this what Bush did (govern the nation in a manner which benefitted his "friends")?
Does he not think that at least 50% of the population might find it insulting rather than endearing?
I wish a pundit would point this out because I find it to be revealing about McCain's intent of whom he wants to serve and it ain't a whole bunch of Americans.
May 30, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Our next president cannot just talk about leadership; they must demonstrate it."
Grammar lesson for McCain campaign:
The correct pronoun to use in conjunction with the word "president" (which is SINGULAR), is "he" or "she", not "they."
May 30, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Take a look at this:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859,00.html
May 30, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink