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Obama: I'll Debate McCain On Foreign Policy "Anywhere, Anytime"
Obama, at a Q-and-A with reporters after his speech, continued to keep the story of his standoff with McCain and Bush going at full throttle:
"If John McCain wants to meet me anywhere, anytime to have a debate about our respective policies in Iraq, Iran, in the Middle East or around the world, that's a conversation I'm happy to have."
The subtext, or, rather, the not-so-sub text: The general election has begun. Bring it on.
Late Update: Here's the video:
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Game on.
May 16, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's line should be "George Bush and John McCain are the best thing that's ever happened to Hamas and Iran." Then explain about the Palestinian elections and Iraq War.
May 16, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anytime, anywhere.
May 16, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
But he won't debate Hillary Clinton anytime, anywhere. Not after the ass kicking she gave him last time. Anybody think he'll get on the stage to debate her again?
May 17, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Watching the Obama presser now, and am floored. He's being even more bad-ass and effective than he was during the town hall earlier. He knows his shit on foreign policy, and he wants everyone else to know that he knows his shit. He--not McCain--will make this issue central to the campaign. And he'll win.
May 16, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not watching it. I'm "working", supposedly. Well, computing final grades, in between reading TPMElection Central.
But I'm thrilled to hear that he's continuing this theme, and doing so forcefully, apparently.
May 16, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
You'll have to watch the video when you find a moment. It really is very good. It feels so good to finally have a presidential candidate willing to make a full throated case for our side of the argument.
May 16, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg
Could you update with that presser video ? Thanks.
May 16, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, please, really want to see it.
May 16, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've seen it written that Obama is extremely eager to debate McCain on foreign policy. Well, I'm eager to watch, because Obama will hit and hit and simply frustrate McCain. Might be fireworks.
May 16, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
OOOOOOOhhhhhhh yes, the the swearing will began...before we know it he will say FU to Obama.
Dang, I need some popcorn. LOL
May 16, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what I'm figuring. We'll see some of that famous (or infamous) McCain temper.
May 16, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
But, but, Obama can't possibly say anything susbtantive, because he's an "empty suit."
May 16, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bring it on indeed.
Heck, the dems had 21 debates. I don't see any reason why there shouldn't be an equal number during the General Election.
When the American public sees drool running down McCain's cheek right before he succumbs to a fit of narcolepsy and passes out during a debate they'll know the score.
May 16, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone watyching the BO Q & A? Its being carried live on all three cable networks. He was just tearing up McCain and Bush. I think BO is just getting warmed up folks.
May 16, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ladies and gentlemen, Barack Obama is not John Kerry..
May 16, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok I have to admit I am giddy at Obama's "bad-assness"
He ripped Bush and McBush a new one today.
He engaged these dumbasses in ways Gore and Kerry were unwilling or unable to do.
Get ready... Obama is going to win 30+ states and win this election!
I can't belive how beautifully he handled it all!
With guts and fire.....
I get more and more certain every day that Obama is our next President.
May 16, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never had any doubt. I knew that he didn't hit Clinton as hard as he could have because he didn't want to do that to another Dem. Unlike her.
May 16, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
True, and, while it may not be PC to say it, but a black man just can't attack a white woman.
I don't meen to offend anyone, but in many ways campaiging against Hillary was always going to be harder than campaigning against McCain.
May 16, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remember all the hulla-bulla over sweetie thingy. Now, he is free of that anti-feminism bs shackle.
May 16, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, did you catch Erica Jong's blog on that at HuffPo? Sheesh! Comments were overwhelmingly against. She came off sounding so last century feminist. (And she is, really.)
May 16, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans should just concede the election now. The longer it goes on the worse it gets for them. Obama vs. McCain is like Muhammad Ali in his prime vs. Grandpa Simpson.
May 16, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if they choose to, we shouldn't let them. We can use all of the down-ticket advantages that he's going to bring in November.
May 16, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
The down-ticket races seem to be doing just fine on their own. Republican incumbents all across the country are struggling. When Republicans in Alaska are behind their Democratic challengers, this has all the markings of a nationwide landslide.
May 16, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I expect McCain will get better over time. This is just a reflection of how tightly the Democratic nomination was contested versus the Republican nomination. That or Obama is going to get arrested for verbablly abusing the elderly.
May 16, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just don't think McCain will be able to stand up to Obama in head-to-head debate.
May 16, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
By embracing Bush, McCain tied himself to the biggest anchor there was. If he's that F***ing stupid, why would you think he would get smarter?
May 16, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point.
May 16, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's not forget, McCain isn't as stupid as Bush (nobody is) but he is NOT that bright.
May 16, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he's not as stupid as Bush, but then that would be pretty difficult. No, I'm thinking that head-to-head debate with Obama could, our of frustration for being bested, bring out that McCain temper we hear so much about.
May 16, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesomely hilarious snark! Thank you...literally, laughing out loud...
May 16, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
BEST visual I've had in weeks! Can I nominate you for an award for this one?
May 16, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was impressive I mean wow he totally blew that flimsy frigate out of the water with a barrage of precise canon balls that left Mccain sinking with his anchor firmly entrenched around his neck.
May 16, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is what we so desperately wanted and needed in '04.
BARAKARATE!
May 16, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barackarate vs. McPocrisy!
May 16, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
LMAOOOO....barackarate vs mcporcrisy...You know im keeping that...
May 16, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
"We will, we will, Barack you!"
Sorry, I had to jump on the pun train...
May 16, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL....
We are making t-shirts, hope u don't mind (but to the bosses we are working)
May 16, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please...PLEASE...make a campaign poster out of that.
May 16, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON!!
FIRED UP! READY TO GO!!
May 16, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
HIYA!
BARACKARATE CHOP ACROSS YOUR FLIP-FLOP ASSES!
May 16, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's response?
"Would you like a butterscotch candy? Ohhhh I poopied myself"
May 16, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is the hardest I've laughed all day. I don't know what says about me, but thanks.
May 16, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gas tax redux.
Obama is hitting McCain with a double whammy, (1) his politics are divisive and insulting to the American people and (2) his policies are just as wrong and wrongheaded as Bush's.
Another way of putting this is: he doesn't trust you enough to tell you the truth, why should you trust him to address your problems?
"John McCain and George Bush have a lot to answer for."
Indeed.
May 16, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes!
This is a *lot* more fun than the primary.
May 16, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
How true!
May 16, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
OH NOES!!!1!!! McCain is criticizing our candidate!! All is L-- Oh, wait...we're still sitting pretty. Never mind.
May 16, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is anyone still worried Obama won't stand up to the big mean republicans?
May 16, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
He will stand up to them with arguments and facts and the truth--all delivered in his brilliant oratory-- not with equal measures of invective. He will treat the people like adults and they will reward him for it.
May 16, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
He was a gentleman with Sen. Clinton, but the Republicans will face a different Obama.
May 16, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
They have a lot to answer for. Particularly this idiotic-bluster approach to foreign policy. I'm very glad that this was the first salvo in the general election, because it takes aim right at the pulsing heart of the Stupid Monster that has ruled America for eight years.
May 16, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is what I've been saying. Just because Obama had the decency to not tear up a fellow Democrat doesn't mean he is going to be cuddly with the Republicans, even if he is striking a fundamentally different tone in politics.
He is no fool. I never questioned his abilities, he is a prizefighter.
May 16, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
forgettaboutIT!
Hillary's gonna be the NOMINEE.... YOU'LL SEE
May 16, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, you are so last week.
May 16, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol....
May 16, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Have you had your water tested for lead lately?
May 16, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! Dude, that's some great snark.
May 16, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it really is snark. The capital letters make my snarkdar tingle . . .
May 16, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
C'mon Rae- join the fun.
Bush & McCain are today's punching bag and it feels sooooo goood after the last 8 miserable years. Does it really matter who does the hitting?
May 16, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
You still here?
May 16, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Delusional Troll
how sad.
May 16, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary? Who's that?
May 16, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another prominent Republican makes a bizarre joke:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/16/huckabee-jokes-about-obama-ducking-a-gunman/#comments
(CNN) – During a speech before the National Rifle Association convention Friday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee — who has endorsed presumptive GOP nominee John McCain — joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman.
“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”
May 16, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't get it. Like it's not just me being biased and disliking jokes against Obama. It doesn't make any sense.
May 16, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, Democrats are scared of guns?
Not the Huckster's best comic moment.
May 16, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats are scared of guns aimed at them! How silly of them!
May 16, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think there is some context we are missing...
Huckabee can tell a joke, he is a funny guy, we must be missing something.
May 16, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor"
Wow. That's a positive laugh riot, isn't it?
A joke about a gun being aimed at a presidential candidate. That's just damn hilarious.
May 16, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Running on empty they are!
May 16, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, that's pretty remarkable. Unbelievable, in fact. The comments board is nearly unanimous in its condemnation of what Huckabee said -- and that's from Dems and Republicans alike. Very stupid of Huckabee to say that. Very very stupid.
May 16, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
no no
It's not about a gun being aimed at just ANY presidential candidate.
It's the Kentucky NRA that is the punch line.
I'm sure it was all fun and games at the dinner table when Huckabee's son hung that dog.
The family that dehumanizes together stays together.
May 16, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
what is it about these repubs? One's son hangs a dog. Another's dog hangs on a roof! McShame!
May 16, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stark endorses Obama
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/
(CNN) — California Rep. Pete Stark became the latest superdelegate to endorse Barack Obama Friday.
Stark, who has represented California's 13th District for 35 years, said Obama has "captured the imagination of Americans in a way we’ve not seen for decades."
“He’s inspired millions of young people to register to vote and join the ranks of our Democratic Party, he’s consistently opposed the war, he advocates universal health care, and he delivers a message that transcends party politics at the same time," Stark also said in a statement released by the Obama campaign. “I have the greatest respect for Senator Clinton and for her many years of service, but I believe the time has come to unify our party.”
By CNN's count, Obama now leads Clinton among superdelegates by 18, 292-274.
May 16, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I read your headline and for a second I thought, "Wait... Iron Man endorsed Obama?"
May 16, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's in Monday's superdelegate lineup.
May 16, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh good. Now if only we knew where Nightwing and Cyclops stood...
May 16, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
It seems to me that Republicans are like terminally sick people waiting to die in a hospital. They have a little button they can push not unlike the button used to disperse morphine in hospitals. But the GOP button doesn't have morphine, it has fear mongering.
Expect McSame to push that button frequently. But the thing about the button, not unlike morphine, is that the machine will only let you have so much. After a point it cuts you off.
That McSame is pushing the button this much this early truly does not bode well for the Republic party.
May 16, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
The republicans used to be orgnized, on message and consistently aggressive. As evidenced by this, horrid election results and now Huckabee's dumb joke? Disorganized is being generous.
May 16, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think maybe the Democrats have made it too easy on the Republicans for too long and they've gotten lazy. Gore had everything going for him in 2000 and should have won by a landslide. Kerry in 2004...I'll defer to Lewis Black who said it was like a normal person losing in the Special Olympics. We finally get a candidate who knows what he's doing and it makes you wonder why the D's haven't been pounding lumps on the R's every frikkin' year.
May 16, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was the KENTUCKY NRA, and the "joke" was about someone aiming a gun at a black man. And he's such a pansy he tried to get out of the way of getting shot!!! Get it? Yuk yuk yuk.
On the plus side, maybe this will keep Huckabee off the ticket.
May 16, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is not a good debater. He would do well to avoid talking smack when it comes to the military (of which he has no experience) and foreign policy (of which he has no experience).
Clinton, OTOH, shines in the debate setting.
She would take McCain to the woodshed.
Obama would dismiss a debate embarassment as a game of gotcha.
Clinton remains the best choice for the Democrats.
May 16, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton. Who's that again?
I agree with you that she'd take McCain to the woodshed. Pity she won't get the chance.
May 16, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Overdue for your medication again?
May 16, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton who?
Oh, you're talking about that ex-candidate, the pathological liar who always wore god aweful Pander suites?
Whatever happened to her?
May 16, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cute avatar, taken in historical context.
May 16, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is sooooo 19th Century.
May 16, 2008 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
If this is any indication, the major difference in campaign style we will see from Obama this year is that he will not be on the defensive. He will not let the Republicans control the discussion.
Obama is not going to stand up there and say we are more competent stewards of a failed policy, as Kerry did. He will just say that it is a failed policy and we should do something different. And he's right.
Republican policy = failure. Say it. Say again. Keep saying it.
May 16, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maoesque avatar, MMASONM. Reminds me a recent New Yorker cover July 4, '06 or '07.
May 16, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeez, it's all been beautiful to watch this today. He went straight at them, unafraid, sounded confident, controlled, in command of the facts. When was the last time you could say a Democratic was taking the offensive on a national security issue?
May 16, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you missed the press conference, I assume the whole thing will be up soon. It was staggering jujitsu. Way better than than the speech at the town hall event.
This is not your father's Democratic candidate.
May 16, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
A portion of it is now posted as an update to the Obama Responds post. And yes, waaay better than the town hall speech.
May 16, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to be all Mark Penn about it but I will be interested to see the polls in a few weeks where they ask the questions about FP & CIC.
I have to say I agree this is much more fun than the primary. I always suspected that BHO was holding back on HRC but now we know he was. I also think he genuinely dislikes McCain and certainly Bush (and the feeling is mutual I think) which fires him up.
I also think he likes these issues much more. He doesn't want to argue about health care mandates, he WANTS to argue about Bush/McCain FP.
May 16, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are stories floating around suggesting that Obama and McCain really dislike each other. McCain in particular resents Obama making a big deal of ethics reform, which he views as "his" issue.
May 16, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if the fear strategy will work if it's applied so early in the campaign. Will people become immune to it, or will the administration, the movement conservatives and the McCain team be able to scare us into a repeat of '04. An interesting and potentially groundbreaking experiment.
May 16, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
People are already immune to it. It's a hand that's been WAY overplayed by the Repugs. They've got us stuck in a war that they shouldn't have gotten us into and a tanking economy. If they can't come up with real solutions, they're screwed.
May 16, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It didn't work all that well in 2006. I think, if anything, it'll be less effective now, since the GOP has spent the last two years working at pissing on the last scraps of its national security credibility.
May 16, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is true leadership...say what you mean and mean what you say..., no flip flopping or pandering to constituents. That's what I like about Obama...he may apologize for saying it unclearly, but he's no PUNK as so many of our leaders are. Most of our Politicians and These Opinion Makers wake up each morning saying "How can I lie today?" "How Can I Get Out of What I Said Yesterday?"
May 16, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone think that Obama saying Palestine shouldn't have had democratic elections will hurt him?
I'm not saying it was a bad thing to say, just wondering if anyone else thought it might be a debateable point.
May 16, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I heard him say was that the Bush administration pushed for elections for the Palestinian Authority even though the Israelis warned them that Hamas would likely gain some power. To me (and please correct me if I'm wrong), the message was more that you have to be prepared to deal with the results of democracy regardless of how distasteful they might seem (i.e., willing to talk to whoever's in power to work out problems) especially if you're on the outside pushing for the democratic process.
To me, that's quite different from saying you're not in favor of democratic elections.
Those are my thoughts based on my recollection of what he said.
Did I miss something else?
(And, by the way, I'm not a shit-stirrer and issued you an apology in another thread.)
May 16, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I heard in that statement is that Obama is more of a foreign policy realist than an ideologue. In other words, as much as we'd love to promote the spread of democracy, if the policy actually ends up empowering our enemies or threatening our allies, then it is misguided.
May 16, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also, I don't think Obama would have raised that issue if he didn't think he could back it up. It's not like he was put on the spot and was forced to say something he isn't ready to defend. He prepared to make these statements so obviously believes it is a point worth making and defending.
Perhaps he is baiting McCain?
May 16, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know - who is going to be mad at him? The large #s of Hamas supporters voting in November?
May 16, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
We may hear him refine his point, because in fact the problem wasn't in having democratic elections in the Occupied Territories; the problem was that the Bush administration pushed to have them at the least opportune time in order to satisfy his own political calendar. The Israelis and the more moderate Palestinian Fatah Party warned agaist pushing forward with elections so quickly; because in many races they knew there would be several Fatah candidates running against one Hamas candidate. I mean, in a situation like that, what could possibly go wrong?
The Bush administration being the Bush administration, they pushed forward and forced the elections on their own timetable, the utterly predictable (and predicted) occured, followed by the also utterly predictable statement by Rice that "no one could have predicted" a Hamas victory.
The administration then did some Iran-Contraing to get arms to Fatah and fueled the Hamas/Fatah struggle, ultimately got caught doing it, and Hamas ultimately won it and now, for some unknown and unfathomable reason, considers the US to be its enemy, even though the US engineered its path to seizing control of the Occupied Territories.
That's a bit of a mouthful and I wouldn't have expected to hear all of that from him today, but I think you can expect to see Obama explain a bit further that it was forcing the issue on the Bush administration's timetable that ultimately was the problem.
May 16, 2008 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the primer. I hope Obama does raise this issue.
May 17, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain:
“And I believe that the success will be fairly easy” and “There's no doubt in my mind that... we will be welcomed as liberators.” [3/24/03]
“I think we could go in with much smaller numbers than we had to do in the past... I don't believe it's going to be nearly the size and scope that it was in 1991.” [9/15/02]
“There's not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shias. So I think they can probably get along.” [4/23/03]
“Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.” [12/8/05 (Exactly one year before violence in Iraq peaked)]
“By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and -women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom.” [05/115/08]
McDENIAL
May 16, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you just wrote an anti-McCain ad!
May 16, 2008 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, so he will debate McCain but not Hillary. How Obama of him.
May 16, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on, seriously! They had 22 debates! What else is there to talk about?
May 16, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time to move on, Louis.
May 16, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you see McCain debating Giuliani or Romney anymore?
It's over. We're in the general election now.
May 16, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink