« Poll: Obama Leads By Six, But Majority Says He's The "Riskier" Choice | Home | Election Central Morning Roundup »
Vote Vets Ad: McCain Should Know Better Than To Occupy Iraq
Check out this new ad from Vote Vets, set to air on national cable. It does what many anti-war voices have been hesitant to do: Declare that by refusing to formulate a plan for withdrawal from Iraq, John McCain's dedication to the basic idea of freedom has been called into question.
"But Senator McCain would occupy Iraq indefinitely, against their wishes," declares Brandon Woods, an Iraq War veteran. "That's not what freedom means. That's not what we fought for. Senator, I thought you would know better."
Advertisement
Comments (30)
It's quick, to the point, and gets the message across. Nice.
July 23, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah i like it ten times better then that other vet ad that talked about us staying in iraq. it gets right to the point.
Video of Meghan McCain and media get together at McCains house
July 24, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Vote Vets.
July 23, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great. Way to go.
July 23, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch.
July 23, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
he's an iraq war veteran.
how dare he undermine our troops!
July 23, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
He obviously has never felt the all encompassing power of the SURGE.
July 24, 2008 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
OOOoooo...I LIKE this!!!
July 24, 2008 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely rocks. The issue has now become perfectly clear -- it's straight up imperialism. As Matt Y points out, it wasn't okay to say that we were going in for oil, but it has gradually become okay to cite oil as a reason to stay. (See recent WaPo editorial.) Someone has to call them on it, flat out.
July 24, 2008 12:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, there are the occasional yellow bellies in every war and it looks like we found one here. Pfft.
The troops that I communicate with through everysoldierdotcom definately DO NOT feel the same way. They are proud of what they are doing and see HUGE improvements all around them.
The two things they most often ask our group to do are:
1) "Please tell the people at home that the news they see is BS. Tell them we want to finish our jobs!"
2) "Send us hard candy and soccer balls for the Iraqi kids. Our 'Winning Hearts and Minds' program is working great and when the parents see us making their kids happy along with the other things we're doing it is great! They are a wonderful people."
The young man in the ad is the exception and not the rule by any means. If you care about our troops and knowing the truth as I do I invite you to visit the website above and get involved. The guys write and email when they can and you will get the REAL and factual truth directly from them.
McCain 2008
PUMA
July 24, 2008 1:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Correction to the site. It is anysoldierdotcom.
:)
July 24, 2008 1:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yawn. Perhaps I'd take you seriously or even respect your opinion and believe what you say if you didn't flaunt your PUMA pride, there. That kinda debilitates you from the get-go. =\
July 24, 2008 1:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess for some it is easier to disrespect/disbelieve others who have diferences of opinion rather than actually doing something to help our troops. Oh well. As for me, I will keep on helping and trying to make a difference.
I respect your decision to support Obama. I just disagree that he is ready for the responsibility yet as he lacks experience in my opinion.
I feel Hillary would be the best choice to balance getting the troops home as soon a possible yet responsibly while taking care not to lose the progress made. I don't want to risk having an even larger problem by leaving too soon with an unstable situation for the Iraqi people.
To me, the only moral choice in these unstable times, if HRC is not a choice, is someone with adequate experience like McCain. I may not agree with him on many issues but I trust his judgement where our troops and the Iraqi people are concerned.
That is why I am a PUMA. I really so wish that we could all get back to respecting each other regardless of the candidate we support. We each have a right using our own best judgement as to who we vote for.
Peace :)
July 24, 2008 2:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I just disagree that he is ready for the responsibility yet as he lacks experience in my opinion."
Then we know you certainly never supported Shrub or Cheney. ;-)
July 24, 2008 5:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey look, your meds are kicking in...
July 24, 2008 8:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
After disrespecting and name-calling our troops for opinion differences, the same joker then whines about being disrespected for opinion differences. Yeah, yeah, you'll get that respect.
July 24, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny thing is, I don't seem to recall Hillary pushing to stay in Iraq.
July 24, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
(hit send too soon) ... But you launch into your attack here by telling us that the real troops want us to stay. You give us the usual Republican bullshit.
There's no reason to respect swine like you -- really, an honest Republican I respect though usually vehemently disagree with. You're just a clown trying to fit into a Democrat's pantsuit.
July 24, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
a lot of troops are missing their own children's childhoods with 3-4-5 deployments.
July 24, 2008 3:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Trolling for a new husband on soldier web sites? That's really pathetic, Lori, and given that you're not forthcoming about being a Republican here, I'm guessing you don't tell them that you're a racist cat lady who obsesses over Obama as a symbol of all the men who [wisely] left you for the less obviously crazy alternative. You should really be ashamed.
July 24, 2008 8:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually I have a husband that I've managed to keep for 28 years so no need to 'husband troll'. I am also the mother of 3 sons and 3 Shih Tzus (dogs) so no cat lady here, but good try. LOL
July 24, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The military exists to be led and to be commanded and not to dictate policy. Review MacArthur and Truman for a history lesson on the American constitution--you know, the part where the military is controlled by civilians. Our latest lesson on military "inclination to obedience" is with Colin Powell who put loyalty to his team well above breaking with obedience and telling the truth--unless you think Colin was wrong in stating that his performance in front of the UN was the worst "mistake" of his life?
You can present a theoretical position that McCain's service to our country means that he always knows the best path for our country. I just flat cannot connect the two points. I agree with the connection with a battle-hardened general like Eisenhower. I could also have agreed with perhaps MacArthur--except for the fact that MacArthur thought he could dictate policy on his own without heeding the President.
McCain was wrong on supporting the pre-emptive war with Iraq--unless you believe he was right so present your case. McCain is in the Bush-boat on this one. Obama is not.
The other element is personal courage. I just don't see how having that connects to being a better president or even cabinet leader. Rumsfeld certainly exhibited personal courage when he helped those wounded with the crash of a plane into the Pentagon. I don't see that this led to better American policy.
Connect these up for me, if you please, and perhaps you can start a discussion. Toys and candy aren't enough.
July 24, 2008 8:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't even bother. One minute it's advocating against the very idea of withdrawal, the next minute it's saying Clinton's withdrawal plan is the best idea. The lousy troll can't even keep its persona straight, but this is typical for those who continuously fall back on the PUMA bullshit as flamebait.
Say what you will about Billy Glad and fogu2, at least they now how to stay in character.
July 24, 2008 8:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Every once in a while I refuse to let the crap sit there unchallenged as if it was wisdom dripped down from on high.
July 24, 2008 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Best wishes with the hard candy and soccer balls. I know people who have been over there as well. Only Obama will ensure that the troops can finish their job -- which is to leave Iraq a free and sovereign nation.
McCain has refused to commit to that goal in any specific and credible way ("eventually" is not a plan). Plus, his advisers have been deeply involved in wringing oil money out of client states. I fear that the crowd he would bring into power would end up undermining the freedom and national self-determination the troops have sacrificed for.
July 24, 2008 1:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
See, now this is interesting. Isn't Vote Vets not only not connected to the Obama campaign, but something Obama's heavy backers were supposedly being discouraged from donating to? It's encouraging if they're able to operate as an independent progressive voice anyway.
July 24, 2008 1:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, Obama has requested that 527's not be used in this campaign.
You have somehow assumed that "Obama's heavy backers" are supporting Vote Vets. Prove your assumption.
July 24, 2008 8:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
*scratches head*
Either I was unclear or you misread me? What I was saying was that I had heard Obama's heavy backers were not supporting vote vets, because they had been asked not to.
July 24, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent! I hope to see it up and running very soon.
July 25, 2008 2:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's frustrating to me is the media never ask McCain about the permanent bases in Iraq he was talking about only a few weeks ago. Or the 50 some bases that Bush was trying to press Iraq to agree to until they finally stood up to him recently. Do the journalists not do any research anymore before an interview?
Why didn't Couric call McCain on those two mistakes right when he said them? Network anchors are supposed to know their stuff, not have only one word on their card that they keep pressing over and over. Couric proved herself incompetent as a journalist in that interview because she permitted two mistakes to pass by her. Not to mention CBS switching the answer to a question. Possibly they were actually covering Couric's lack of aptitude for the job. She needs to go do something more in her skill range, like The View.
July 25, 2008 2:55 AM | Reply | Permalink