Obama Camp: Joint Chiefs Wouldn't Approve Of McCain's Petraeus Attack On Obama
As noted below, the McCain campaign is already using a member of the military -- General Petraeus, to be precise -- as a prop in an attack on Obama, sending out a campaign email bearing Petraeus' image to raise money and slam Obama on Iraq.
The Obama camp's response? On a conference call with reporters moments ago, Obama advisers pointed to a rather relevant letter sent out just a few days ago by the Joint Chiefs urging that members of the military stay out of the presidential race.
"The U.S. military must remain apolitical at all times and in all ways," wrote the Joint Chiefs chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen. "It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway."
On the call, Obama spokesperson Josh Earnest argued that McCain had used Petraeus' image politically even though the ink was barely dry on the Joint Chiefs' directive. "It's interesting that just days later, the McCain campaign jumped in with both feet," Earnest pointed out, adding that the McCain camp had both politicized Iraq and used Petraeus to raise money.
Petraeus himself, presumably, wouldn't want his image used in such a context, given the Joint Chiefs' preference. Indeed, as it happens, Petraeus' own spokesperson has already weighed in on this topic. Last September, when Rudy Giuliani used Petraeus' image in a political ad, Petraeus spokesperson distanced the General from it, saying he had "not condoned the use of his photo" in the spot.
Late Update: Here's the audio from the Obama campaign's conference call:
We have a BINGO!
May 30, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now let's apply the same rule to the Commander in Chief. If the military must remain apolitical, then what about the Commander Guy?
May 30, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Prez is a civilian. The Commander in Chief thing is a way to keep civilian control of the military. Those Framer-guys were smart, but no match for a dimwit "gut player" like GWB.
May 30, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
the President of the United States has historically only been referred to as the "Commander-in-Chief" during wartime. it's only during the Bush presidency that that moniker has become a sort of constant subtitle to the title of President instead of a temporary title the officeholder takes when directly engaging with the U.S. military.
May 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Still.... I think the idea has some mileage.
You're right of course. But that never stops the other side!
May 30, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, there that goes.
May 30, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, let's all get over this. Who cares, my friends, if I break campaign laws, I'm not going to win anyway, so why bother protesting?
Yours Truly,
John McSame
P.S. - Get off my lawn!
May 30, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, I believe that McSame will stammer and try and explain that he is showing leadership here by NOT adhering to the wishes of the military. He is, after all, a Maverick and he does Mavericky-stuff. Thank you.
May 30, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, perhaps he might even use a photo of a 1975 Ford Maverick in his next fundraising appeal.
'Cause, you know, Ford was a Republican.
And there's the mavericky thing again.
Thank you.
P.S. Damn clouds!
May 30, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Petraeus -- reject and denounce NOW!
May 30, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is doomed. they just aren't prepared.
May 30, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
There are no rules for the gop.
The Dems have silly rules that punished two States but not the rest.
The Dems are bringing words to a war.
Spineless.
May 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did your parents lock you in a closet when you were a child? Or drown your puppy?
May 30, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
What is "dropped him on his head repeatedly," Alex?
(I hope that was the Daily Double).
May 30, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your whining and tears fuel my engines of destruction. My apprentice Oldi One McCain thanks you for the continued dissent and distraction to which you contribute.
Emperor Cheney and I thank you for your support
-Endless war, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
May 30, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg:
Thanks for that link back to the Guiliani ad flap. It reminds me just how far we've come since September when it was all but assumed that the New Yawkers would be the two nominees. My how the mighty have fallen.
May 30, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
pssst - don't tell anyone, but I think the east coast liberal establishment is really chagrinned that a midwesterner is going to be president and will get lot of help from the South getting there.
I can taste their discomfort and I have been tasting it for months.
May 30, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
i'm sorry, i'm a lifelong NYer, and i couldn't be happier that both parties have rejected their NY candidates.
May 30, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a New Yorker, I can testify that we're quite accustomed to presidents being from anywhere but here. The last New York prez was FDR and the last prez just from the Northeast was JFK. I really didn't consider Hillary "one of us" anyway. As far as the GOP: the prominent Republicans here (Rudy, Bloomberg) are way too socially liberal to be nominated.
May 30, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm an east coast liberal, and I couldn't be more delighted that neither New Yawker will be their respective party's nominee.
May 30, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
O you sillies - since when were you "Establishment"?
D'oh. I wasn't talking about "the People."
LOL!
May 30, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary Clinton is to New York state what Alan Keyes was to Illinois.
sorry, but it's true.
May 30, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
We iz the People!
May 30, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I iz one too!
LOL!
May 30, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a people?
I'm a people, you're a people, wouldn't you like to be a people too?
That Dr. Pepper jingle just won't leave my brain, no matter how many years have passed.
May 30, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, well, Nas just sampled it in a fairly new track and I can't repeat the chorus here.
But you are most definitely not the only one who remembers it.
;)
May 30, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're not a people. Silly cat.
May 30, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, NAFTA democrats won't be happy, at least.
May 30, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even if McCain removes his picture, the point still remains that our potential future commander-in-chief has not met with the our current commanding general in Iraq.
That's going to stick with a lot of military families.
May 30, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, I think the fact the McSame and others have their loved ones involved in a protracted, multifactional civil war with no military solution and no political will to bring about a diplomatic solution sticks a helluva a lot more than whether Obama has met with Petraeus in Iraq. Coupled with McSame's unwillingness to provide for these soliders and their families (e.g., the new GI Bill), I think this episode unscores that you need to review your tea leave-reading materials. Thank you.
May 30, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is a YouTube of Obama questioning Petraeus 9/11/2007. Let is NOT be said that Obama refuses to talk to Petraeus.
It is well known that wingers wish Obama ill - from their 'jokes' to their wish to send Obama to Iraq. The market place where McCain took his well guarded stroll looks like this today.
May 30, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Drat. The above was in reply to BKinDaHouse. Sorry.
May 30, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even if McCain removes his picture, the point still remains that our potential future commander-in-chief has not met with the our current commanding general in Iraq.
That's going to stick with a lot of military families.
May 30, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Probably stick just as hard as the dead children of those military families.
May 30, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, I believe we are both on the same page. Thank you.
May 30, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean the families of all the soldiers who prefer Obama?
As for the "not meeting with our current commanding general in Iraq" b.s.? Easily remedied once Obama is the nominee.
This ploy by McCain probably doesn't have wings.
May 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey CT, do you have numbers about soldiers who prefer Obama? Is there a poll somewhere that I missed? That would be great ammo for Obama in the CiC fight with McCain right now.
May 30, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Soldiers have donated more to Obama's campaign than any other candidate. I'll try to dig up that factoid.
May 30, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
See link provided by buckeye, below.
May 30, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks to both!
May 30, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bullcrap.
What's going to resonate with military families is that John McCain wants to keep their husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mother and fathers at war for the forseeable future.
May 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could you place it just a little higher on the tee next time?
May 30, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice!
May 30, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friend, nice retort! Thank you.
May 30, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh is that why more military people have contributed to Obama's campaign than any other except Ron Paul?
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3601542
May 30, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
The regular military - not the brass - as I understand it, almost overwhelmingly support Obama. That's got to spread out to their families - I can't imagine it wouldn't.
May 30, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
try this
http://electioncenter.military.com/2008/05/why-veterans--2.html
May 30, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
44 Obama donors from the the military for a grand total of $27K.. That's a sign of support from the military?
May 30, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you think the soldiers whose families are having their homes repossessed have a lot of money to donate?
Are you honestly that clueless?
May 30, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they shouldn't have taken out toxic mortgages...
May 30, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Many in the National Guard and Reverves...left good paying jobs when they got activated, and instead of collecting their regular paychecks had to live on substantially less.
Many ended up serving 15 months in country and another 2 months (1 mo before and 1 mo after) for pre and post deployment.
They definitely took a big hit in the pocket book.
May 30, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame? Iz dat you?
May 30, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a disabled vet and he got my rebate!
May 30, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
"My Friends..I'll be the Commander-in-Chief come January 09...so please ignore the Joint cheif of staff policies"...and "donate your dollars to me to fight the extreme left"...
Absolutely...a great here slap by the Obama team against McShame...love it!
May 30, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like Grampy McSame will have to back-pedal on this one.
Nicely done, Team Obama.
May 30, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it me or is it a LOT more fun making fun of McCain than Clinton? I'm so glad this primary crap is over.
May 30, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes!!!!!
May 30, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's certainly less conflicting.
But to break with you for a second:
May 30, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, most frogs would MOVE before you punched them. Clearly that frog was dead....
May 30, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I like about that saying is that it mixes a complete lack of logic with animal cruelty.
May 30, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary to South Dakotans: I'm a frog!
Oooooooooookay.
May 30, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
There goes the PETA vote.
May 30, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
roflmao!
I love those comments - you slide them in under the radar and I only pick them up sometimes when I'm scrolling, which is a shame.
the very definition of wit.
May 30, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude: it's not just you.
May 30, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think pointing out all the ways in which the Republican party have politicized the military (among other organizations) and linking McCain to that practice is a great strategy. However, as a response to McCain's charge in the flyer that Obama hasn't met with military leaders in assessing the situation in Iraq, it feels like a dodge to me. I'd like to see him take this head on. There have been some great suggestions here around ridiculing McCain's Baghdad stroll and pointing out that those military personel who opposed the war were fired. I think something like that would be more effective.
May 30, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I expect Obama will take him on directly today in Montana and this weekend in Puerto Rico.
May 30, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
And next week, when he is finally the nominee.
May 30, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, they can read the tea leaves.
Too bad McBush can't.
May 30, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink