The good news about this is that I expect Obama's camp to respond shortly and vigorously to this. Have you noticed how none of these attacks have gone unanswered? Usually at a certain point the candidate himself speaks up.

By the time the evening news rolls around, the media has not just McCain's attack, but Obama's counter-attack to report.

Obama wants to have it both ways.

And once again he's busy clarifying and explaining. Always reactive, never proactive. Never a leader.

I'd like Bin Laden to suffer in prison for years to come, tethered only to his dialysis machine attached to a backup power generator that sporadically goes out of power every once in a while.

On this one, if it hits MSM, I believe Obama will come out on top. He was very precise on his views and what he meant. This post looks like McCain is grasping at straws with each phrase Obama makes. Has McCain yet to talk about real issues?

Get f***ing real, John McCain. You want Bin Laden executed, but you don't even bother to catch him.

The Republicans are obviously relying on sloppy work on the part of people reporting these back and forths.

And with good reason, because sloppy work is prevalent. For instance, NPR told me this morning that Barack Obama was going back on his pledge to accept public financing. Since Obama never said "I pledge to accept public financing", and said, instead "I will agressively pursue my options with regard to public financing", NPR badly mischaracterized the situation. As did MSNBC, CNN, and Fox (given).

So McCain's campaign is betting that the media won't do its work, and this smear will spread.

Thank you, Greg, for being a watchdog on this.

Obama yesterday:
"What would be important would be for us to do it in a way that allows the entire world to understand the murderous acts that he's engaged in and not to make him into a martyr"

Meaning, for idiots like fogu2, that we don't want hero worship terrorists idolizing him, but to realize he is a criminal. He sited the Nuremberg trials as an excellent example of history's treating criminals as they should be.

I don't even like guns and I would volunteer to personally shoot Bin Laden.

Mcbush is flailing all over the place. Obama wants bin laden hanging from the end of a rope, not going down in glory. Duhhh! I wonder if they figured out the difference between sunnis and shias yet. Maybe someone should ask them on one of these stupid conference calls.

Also, once again, McCain attacks and leaves himself WIDE open for a counter-punch.

Talking about how to prosecute Bin Laden reminds people of the fact that he still hasn't been found!!!

lol the McCain camp is throwing these softballs at Obama.

Easiest answer: McCain and his support of Bush's policies make him ineligible to have an opinion on this matter. They have chosen not to catch Bin Laden, and therefore their opinion on the manner of serving justice is not something they have the luxury of being able to make a political debate of.

this response is hilariously bad. McCain's campaign is so unprepared.

McCain is targeting his message at fence-sitters who aren't paying attention much to what's going on.
The problem is, he's trying to create a gaffe or even a full-blown Wright scandal out of everything coming from BHO's mouth. These attacks are losing their effectiveness because everyone knows they are always only half true at best. I think Obama's going to get more fence-leaners on his side by talking about Christianity and courting the blue/purple "reagan dems" with more positive ideas/ rhetoric.
The positivity will seem like a breath of cool air after a decade of Republic party hot air negativity.
This will eventually make McCandidate look small and childish while giving people the gut-feeling that BHO is the adult of the pair.

As Ronald Reagan once said: "Facts are silly things".

Greg, serious question. When a McCain staffer outright lies on a media conference call like this, is there anyone there that calls them on it? Or does everyone just listen and play along, and either report or debunk their stuff later on?

Also, in your opinion, how do statements like this effect their overall relationship with the media as they cover their campaign?

Top headlines on Reuter's has whole Obama speech. Very good. Part of it, for the glasses idiot above, is:

"I think what would be important would be for us to deal with him in a way that allows the entire world to understand the murderous acts that he's engaged in and not to make him into a martyr," he added. "And to assure that the United States government is abiding by basic conventions that would strengthen our hand in the broader battle against terrorism."

This is simply more of what George Carlin calls prick waving. There's only one way for a man to look tough in the world of politics and that is to be very willing to resort to killing, especially in the name of patriotism. Never mind that the death penalty does nothing to deter violent crime, and in the case of bin Laden, would no doubt galvanize the terrorist world even more against the United States. Want to make a martyr out of him? Be my guest. Advocating the death penalty at all is immoral. Advocating it for someone like bin Laden? Just plain stupid.

Whatever happened to that black sheep Hillary troll? He/she disappeared after Obama won the nomination. Hellooooo??? Black sheep?? Where are yooooou???

Maybe McCain will talk about his own candidacy some day.

Critics say the media loves Obama. Hell, Obama is all that MCCAIN wants to talk about either.

There is only one candidate for President this year.

This is just pathetic.

Sure, McCain camp. Please do bring up bin Laden. Because it reminds us that these dumbshit Republicans took their focus away from him and that almost 7 years after Rudy's favorite day in the world, the guy is still roaming free. It also reminds us that McCain's best pal said he doesn't "know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."

What to YOU think we should do to Emmanuel Goldstein?

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