Quote:

---

"Let us build on our common history, and seize our common destiny, and once again engage in that noble struggle to bring justice and peace to our world."

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by deadlockvictim:
Yesterday, I watched as Barack Obama addressed more than 200,000 people at Berlin’s Victory Column, and I couldn’t help but notice a rare sight – citizens of a foreign country actually cheering happily and waving American flags.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Righteous9:
Before he went he was contacted by the Pentagon, telling him that a visit to the wounded soldiers would be perceived as political.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:

It's only "political" when a Democrat does it, right, Zero?

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Righteous9:
Before he went he was contacted by the Pentagon, telling him that a visit to the wounded soldiers would be perceived as political.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Hero:
he prayed at the Wall in Jerusalem...with the press in attendence. I wonder if he would have gone without them...

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Hero:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Righteous9:
Before he went he was contacted by the Pentagon, telling him that a visit to the wounded soldiers would be perceived as political.

---

He was informed that he was welcome to visit in his capacity as a US Senator and could NOT bring campaign staff or reporters.

He chose not to go. He claims it was because he did not want it to be political. That's fine and that's his choice and that's a legitimate concern. But the fact is he found time for the gym and NO time for the troops. That's what happened.

I suspect NOTHING would have stopped Senator McCain from making the visit. In fact, nothing has...he's been many times, in his capacity as a US Senator, without the press...per Pentagon rules.

It goes to other Obama behaivor on his trip. For example, he prayed at the Wall in Jerusalem...with the press in attendence. I wonder if he would have gone without them...

H

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:
How many times has McLame visited the injured soldiers while no one was looking? How many funerals of dead soldiers has he attended with no cameras or reporters or campaign staff present?

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Hero:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:
How many times has McLame visited the injured soldiers while no one was looking? How many funerals of dead soldiers has he attended with no cameras or reporters or campaign staff present?

---

I think the record is very clear the Senator McCain has visited Iraq, Afganistan, and wounded servicemen very many times since 2003. He rarely gets press coverage because he as always traveled in his capacity as a US Senator without his campaign staff and with very little press coverage.

Compare McCain's recent trip to Iraq with Obama's. You can't...it was barely reported in the news.

Its also hard to find a picture of John McCain with a US servicemen...unless its a picture provided by the servicemen themselves.

H

---

Quote:

---

McCain Voted Against Veteran’s Health Care At Least SIX Times. [SCR 18, Vote #55, 3/16/05][SCR 95, Vote #40, 3/10/04][S1689, Vote #379, 10/14/03][SCR 23, Vote #81, 3/25/03][SCR 23, Vote #74, 3/21/03][S 936, Vote #168, 7/10/97]

In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would have increased funding for veterans’ health care by $2.8 billion for fiscal 2006 and reduced the deficit by $2.8 billion. The amendment failed 47-53. [SCR 18, Vote #55, 3/16/05]

In 2004, McCain voted against an amendment that would create a reserve fund to allow for an increase in veterans medical care by $1.8 billion. The amendment failed 46-51. [SCR 95, Vote #40, 3/10/04]

In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would reduce the amount provided for Iraqi reconstruction by $5.03 billion, and redirect that funding for domestic programs, including $1.8 billion for veterans’ health benefits. The motion to table the amendment passed 59-35. [S1689, Vote #379, 10/14/03]

In 2003, McCain voted against increasing spending on the veterans’ health care program TRICARE by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The amendment failed 46-51. [SCR 23, Vote #81, 3/25/03]

In 2003, McCain voted against increasing spending on veterans’ programs by approximately $1 billion and putting the same amount toward deficit reduction. The amount would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts. The amendment failed 49-51. [SCR 23, Vote #74, 3/21/03]

In 1997, McCain voted to table an amendment that would require the Defense secretary to transfer $400 million to the secretary of Veteran’s Affairs in fiscal 1998 for veteran’s benefits. The motion to table passed 58-41. [S 936, Vote #168, 7/10/97]

Not to mention the latest GI bill that McCain railed AGAINST, then didn't even bother to show up to vote on, and then basked in the credit that Bush gave him for getting it passed.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Righteous9:
According to Andrea Mitchel, who was there, who also mentioned that Obama visited injured soldiers in Iraq and Walter Reid without reporters or media coordination,

Obama had planned to visit those troops, was ready to visit them, without any reporters accompanying him. She was a reporter on the scene, who wasn't being invited. She said the Mccain ad "literally is not true".

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
They knew in advance there could be no cameras or campaign activity with the wounded, that's always been Pentagon policy. Obama wanted to go with his campaign manager only, but was told only Senate staffers could go, not the campaign manager. That's when he decided to not go. Either way, it's not a big issue. McCains' "insta-attack" ad is so over the top I can't believe grown men would come up with such juvenile crap.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Hero:
...the Berlin speech came off poorly (no getting around the historical visual of 200,000 Germans cheering your speech). He didn't think it was a big deal, after all look at all the BIG IMPORTANT stuff he was up to. I see it as a poor decision that stands out because the rest of the trip came off so well. One bad day out of this whole trip is a plus.

McCain played his whole anti-trip very well...until the ad on this issue.

---

Quote:

---

I agree that McCain's ad was pretty bad. But its entirely factual.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Is it "entirely factual" to state the fact that McCain has indeed surrendered to the enemy (he did)?

---

Quote:

---

Is it "entirely factual" to state the fact that McCain has repeatedly denounced his nation and its illegal wars (he did)?

---

Quote:

---

and the Pentagon (the POLITICIZED Pentagon) threw up obstacles at the last minute

---