New Vets For Freedom Ad Alleges That Obama Voted Against Funding Troops
The pro-war group Vets for Freedom is going up on the air tomorrow with a new ad -- which the group hasn't yet released -- that hits Obama on an array of foreign policy fronts, chastising him for supposedly voting against funding our troops, not holding oversight hearings on Afghanistan, and making only two trips to Iraq.
Here's a copy of the spot, forwarded to us by a source (we're trying to determine if this is the final version, and will keep you posted)...
"Barack Obama skipped 45% of Senate votes, but did manage to show up to vote against emergency funding for our troops," the ad says.
The allegation that Obama voted against funding our troops has also been made by McCain, and it will continue to be key to McCain and the Republicans' efforts to paint Obama as both unprepared to be commander in chief and insufficiently respectful of the military.
The only problem with the charge is that it's bogus. If Obama can be said to have voted against funding the troops on the basis of opposing an Iraq supplemental without a withdrawal timeline, then McCain, too, voted against funding our troops. He voted against an Iraq funding bill with a timeline.
What's more, the charge that Obama didn't conduct oversight hearings on Afghanistan is similarly bogus. The Afghanistan issue before Obama's subcommittee was, as a matter of policy, handled through the full Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is chaired by ... oh, yeah, the man Obama picked to be his Veep candidate.
We'll bring you details of the buy when we get them.
Late Update: A Vets for Freedom spokesperson tells me that this is in fact an earlier version of the ad and that a spot like this will be going up. We'll bring you the final version as soon as we get it.
More lies from the right-wing bullshit machine.
Their lies get bigger and bigger the faster their campaign sinks in the polls.
the public ain't buying it anymore...or at least the majority of them.
September 30, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well I expect a counter ad with the fact that McLame voted against the new GI bill and I wish that ad would get here.
Tom Udall has an ad running here about that - just the GI bill.
September 30, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, strictly speaking, McCain didn't vote against Webb's GI bill.
He vocally opposed it, put forward a poorly received alternative, failed to show up for the vote on Webb's...and then went on the trail and gushed about how happy he was that it passed. Personally, I like that narrative even better. :-)
The response ad I want to see involves ratings from the DAV and Veterans for Common Sense. That should put some more holes in the fuselage of Air Straight Talk.
September 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
September 30, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, technically he didn't vote against it cause he didn't vote.
Well, that's enough AFAIC. It's worse in a lot of ways. He didn't care enough to go on record with his vote -
September 30, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, technically he didn't vote against it cause he didn't vote.
I thought he did vote against it. Hm. I was wondering why O didn't bring this up in the debate when McCain began to ramble about his deep love for veterans.
Also Tena, what does AFAIC mean? Sorry. I've seen you use that several times, and can't seem to acronym it out...
September 30, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Working off memory here, but I'm pretty sure the vote was 75 up, 22 down in the Senate.
Further, if memory serves, the three MIA Senators were Kennedy (brain cancer), Johnson (brain cancer) and McCain (credibility cancer).
Oh but wait - there's MORE! :-) With McCain's absence, that means there were 48 GOP Senators present. Assuming every Democrat voted "yea", that means even the Rethugs gave the bill majority support - after Maverick McCain maverickly mavericked against it.
September 30, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
You said this:
I agree. Which is why I said this:
September 30, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you, eastside. That's exactly what I had in mind, "John McCain says he supports veterens, but he's not telling the truth. Veteren's groups rank him near the bottom (show graphics of 20% support and/or C- ratings, whatever), ...,
... and he even voted against emergency funding for our troops in Iraq."
Finish with the same exact charge that this group is making against Obama (with the same justification).
This would have to be done by a 527, of course.
-- ARG
September 30, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks again, Steve Clemons, for initiating the easily discredited "no sub-committee meetings on Afghanistan" canard back during the primaries.
September 30, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
BTW, this was also perpetuated by Amb. Joseph Wilson in his pro-Hillary smear jobs on the HuffPo.
September 30, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Amanda, please send Messrs. Clemons and Wilson each a bottle of Mad Dog with my compliments on 5 November. Thank you."
September 30, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sheesh. They're still on this pack of lies?
So, after the GOoPers rack up their seventh (or eighth...like McAncient's houses and cars, I lose count) "Pants on Fire" rating, what's left?
Next, they'll drop an ad claiming McCain and Carly Fiorina testified before Congress about capping CEO compensation. Yikes.
September 30, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please!
Can someone put out an ad hitting McCain on his shitty support for Veteran's issues?!?!
September 30, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah... like this is gonna help them now. The vets and their families know the truth. They will bash this ad bigtime. And for everyone else... well, it's the economy, isn't it?
These folks are like life forms that have died out. And their ads reflect it.
September 30, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
They're still wiggling their feelers...but don't sweat it. I got yer Raid right here! :-)
September 30, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Intrade: 63.3 for Obama
McShame.... sell price is 36 (that's the number to watch)
September 30, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the "buy" for Obama is now at 63.9.
September 30, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is that a photoshopped Obama head on somebody with their feet up on a desk? It sure looks like it to me.
September 30, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a Vanity Fair photo.
I kind of doubt the "Vets" got permission to use it.
September 30, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are right. I guess Obama just has an abnormally large noggin.
September 30, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm. Maybe people would care if $1.2 trillion didn't just leave the market yesterday. This crap isn't going to work right now. But I do appreciate the economic stimulus with the ad buy.
Pufferfish
September 30, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was up on the air in Ohio last night - I saw it.
September 30, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was gonna say... I saw something a lot like this in southwest Michigan last night. I didn't note all the details, because I just don't pay close attention to bullcrap.
September 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
The ad struck me as exceptionally lame.
September 30, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain has consistently voted AGAINST veteran's and their issues every time he has had the oppurtunity.
If you don't know McCain's voting history on veteran's issues- look it up. The hypocrisy is mind-blowing!
September 30, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is campaign has made serial hypocrisy into an art form.
September 30, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cereal Hypocrisy: Breakfast of Losers!
September 30, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
PhotoShop, please!
September 30, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ask, and ye shall receive.
September 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd.
September 30, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
But I still want the photo shopped picture of:
Cereal Hypocrisy: Breakfast of Losers.
September 30, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose here and there you'll find someone who's moved by this ad to oppose Obama. But, right or wrong, the electorate is not paying attention to Iraq or Afghanistan right now, so I don't see this ad having anything like the effect of the Swift Boat Liars' ad.
September 30, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, nobody who's not a hard-core wingnut is listening to this garbage now. Everybody else is wondering whether they'll ever be able to retire.
September 30, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain and his allies are still focused on foreign policy while the rest of the country's attention is focused on the economy. This bullshit ad only confirms how out of touch McCain and his party are. And if McCain wants to talk about funds and troops, Lets talk about the many bills for veteran aid McCain has opposed.
September 30, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny how he didn't mention that other governor who became President recently. Old what's-his-face.
September 30, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think I want to punch McCain in the face more than when he does his sarcastic air quotes.
September 30, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
That they would commit themselves to "knowingly" lie says all we need to know about this group.
Proving once again that vets can be dumbshits too, willingly to lie for the 'good' of the country.
September 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
What does any of this have to do with S. 636, The Reduce Wasteful Tax Forms Act of 2007? It seems to have only one sponser: Hon. Sen. Schumer(!).
September 30, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
as far as I'm concerned!
September 30, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was a translation of AFAIC.
September 30, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
"The only problem with the charge is that it's bogus. If Obama can be said to have voted against funding the troops on the basis of opposing an Iraq supplemental without a withdrawal timeline, then McCain, too, voted against funding our troops. He voted against an Iraq funding bill with a timeline."
Except US commanders on the ground in Iraq opposed a withdrawl timeline; Al-Queada commanders support a with drawl timeline.
September 30, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
First, how do you know Al-Quaeda supported a timetable? Did they send their lobbyists or what?
Second, it's not the same issue at all. If you want to release an ad saying "Obama voted for a timetable for withdrawl, while our commanders opposed this move" you'd be making a fair statement.
That's not the same as saying he voted to cut off funds to the troops, implying that he wants to starve them or something.
September 30, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a Counter Ad by the other vets for Obama group.
"Soldiers live by a code of honor, and soldiers, even retired soldiers should not lie.
So why are some retired soldiers lying about Barack Obama's record?
The facts are:
He always voted to support our troops and has a plan to end the war and bring our troops home.
And he supports finishing our fight against Al-Queda where it started in Afghanistan.
He has been a leader in the Senate to get better care and opportunities for veterans.
Barack Obama has stood by our soldiers in war and when they come home, So we will stand up for him."
September 30, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's easy to see why this Congress has devoted one-quarter of its legislation to renaming post offices. (Probably involve dead people, unlikely to complain if getting overlooked.)
Most of the bills coming up for vote in Congress are loaded with different, often unrelated, proposals. Voting against one of the proposals results of course in voting against the entire bill. The practice of loading should be disallowed since often good and needed legislation doesn't pass because of the inclusion of the bad or unnecessary rider.
September 30, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
These lying smear merchants forgot to mention McCain aggressively opposed the GI Bill and instead of voting for the bill McCain went to a fundraiser instead. McCain has a rating of 20% with some veterans groups while Obama rates 80%
It’s very unbecoming to be a warmonger
September 30, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
The doctored shot of Obama lounging looks... well doctored. Looks like his head was copy and pasted on.
September 30, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad ran last night in Omaha, Nebraska.
As I remember the text, roughly, it did not mention how often he's missed votes, but did accuse him of voting against emergency funding necessary to our troops, which would have resulted in needless American lives lost (or something along those lines)...
September 30, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink