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Obama To Deliver Major Speech On Iraq Tomorrow
Obama spokesperson Nick Shapiro, in a statement:
On Tuesday, Obama will deliver a major policy address on Iraq and national security in Washington. He will focus on the global strategic interests of the United States, which includes ending our misguided effort in Iraq.
As Mark Halperin notes, this comes a day after Obama published an Op ed in The New York Times reiterating that the troops should be withdrawn in 16 months.
Tomorrow's speech will be closely watched by people looking to skewer the "Obama-flip-flopped-on-Iraq" narrative -- and by others, inside and outside the McCain campaign, who are looking to advance it
The Obama campaign will also hold a reporters' conference call on Obama's Iraq plan with Senator Joe Biden and foreign policy adviser Susan Rice today at 12:30, an Obama campaign aide tells me. It appears that the Obama campaign is undertaking a serious Iraq offensive.
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Comments (13)
Greg:
Tomorrow's speech will be closely watched by people looking to skewer the "Obama-flip-flopped-on-Iraq narrative" -- and by others, inside and outside the McCain campaign, who are looking to advance it
Again, the Media will find a way to criticize Obama while failing to press McCain on his solution, which, to my understanding, there is none.
July 14, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Larger question is this: should Obama really be focused on Iraq before he takes his trip, or use this time at home to hammer away at the economy?
July 14, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's solution is to keep stomping on that turd until his foot is clean.
July 14, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
anyone experiencing a delay in comments appearing?
July 14, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
No. Try Huff Post, they should give you guys an award as opposed to their comment policies.
July 14, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good. Control the narrative as best as you can.
July 14, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please God, have Obama excoriate McCain in this speech and remind everyone a simple fact:
Obama has a plan for getting out of Iraq, McCain does not.
July 14, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is exactly what Obama needs to be doing; setting the narative on important policy issues and I think he will nail if with his speech.His speech will have the dual effect of:
* Clarifying any nonsense that he may have been accussed of by the right-wing.
* Setting the pace and building on his lead on the Iraq issue.
It is without doubt that the US military strength has been diluted by the unnecessary tie-up in Iraq, and by extension reduced its global prestige.We need to know what Obama's plan is, as far as rejuvinating our ounce mighty military strength.Its not just about Iraq, Iran and Afganistan. There is the issue of a rising China in the east, a revived Russia,the huge defense budget and military investments on new projects.
July 14, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's plan is to win. How he plans to do that is an "ancient Chinese secret".
July 14, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
So I'm guessing the fundraising numbers won't be released until later this week?
Because no matter what Obama says substantively about Iraq, if the fundraising numbers are out, that will be all anyone can talk about.
BTW, did anyone else hear Andrea Mitchell on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" this weekend? She was asked about the McCain barbecue. She dismissed as occurring several months ago, and gave the overall impression that it wasn't that big of a deal to her.
July 14, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think that it is important that Obama sets the stage on his plan for Iraq NOW because the MSM/McCain campaign is trying to push the flip flop charge on this.
After the trip and Obama discusses Iraq, they would say that Obama is flip flopping some how even if he isn't. Now Obama will go to Iraq and just reiterate what he has been saying thus demonstrating consistency.
Obama is absolutely CORRECT on Iraq. He was right not to start a war in Iraq and he is right that we need to set a timetable to get out. Luckily for Obama the Iraqi government AGREES with him for a timetable so NOW IS THE TIME to take this gift horse and run with it. Because Obama can show that McCain just wants to stay PERMANENTLY in Iraq while Obama wants out.
Obama's so called "moving to the center" was BLURRING THE LINES a little bit between Obama and McCain thus may have caused the polls to shift a little bit where they are now more even (although I doubt that there has been much shift).
NOW is the time for Obama to show the DISTINCT differences between him and McCain so voters have a CHOICE. Iraq is Obama's signature issue. He can NOT afford to look like he is waffling.
July 14, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Taking a strong stance on Iraq will also remind Liberals that in issues which really matter, there is a substantial difference between the two candidates.
July 14, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent op ed. Short, sweet, clear and to the point. Excellent. Let's get out. It is awesome that the iraqis threw obama a softball with the timetable. They want us out as well and have wanted us out for years. Let's get the f*ck out NOW.
July 14, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink