McCain blows Obama’s cover on Iraq trip?
posted at 7:47 pm on July 18, 2008 by Allahpundit
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No, Steve, I’m not afraid to mention it, and yes, it’s perfectly fair to call it an error in judgment, although I’ll pass on the barely veiled accusation of senility per the word “confusion” that all the hip lefty kids are using these days. Also, I’m not sure why the cycle of outrage and victimization or the studious ignorance of information damaging to one’s own side is supposed to be unique to right-wing bloggers; those are standard garbage blogospheric dynamics that cut across ideological lines. Wake me when Think Progress goes after some lefties, ok?
I don’t know what McCain was thinking here. Maybe because of the intense media coverage he figured Obama’s itinerary was already known, or maybe he was just guessing as to the scheduling. That’s what it sounds like:
“I believe that either today or tomorrow — and I’m not privy to his schedule — Sen. Obama will be landing in Iraq with some other senators” who make up a congressional delegation, McCain said at a Republican fund-raiser.
McCain’s campaign spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan insisted to reporters later: “He doesn’t know when he’s going. He’s not privy to that information. He was speaking in broader terms, about when Obama does land in Iraq.”
Either way, it’s sloppy. Guess we’ll find out tomorrow if Obama turns up in London whether McCain really was in the dark or not. Honest question: If Reuters thought this incident was dangerous enough to warrant a full news story, why didn’t they redact the part of McCain’s quote that specified when he thought Obama will be arriving? I chose not to redact here myself because the cat’s already out of the bag and on the wires, but how about rewriting it this way: “I believe that either [on X day or on Y day] — and I’m not privy to his schedule…” Or would that have made it sound even worse than it was, like McCain was giving specific dates?
Update: Keep your eye on Memeorandum as the leftist reactions pour in and prove Steve right that only right-wingers contrive extravagant uproars over innocent mistakes for political advantage.
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Almost as bad as spilling the beans about Isreal’s nukes a la Carter or discussing CIA operations out of embassies a la Obama.
Oh, who am I kidding. McCain must want Obama to be killed in Iraq because he is black and has a funny name. Down right treasonous if you ask me. And rascist and bigoted. But mostly treasonous.
VolMagic on July 18, 2008 at 7:52 PM
I don’t see what the big deal is, Obama has been announcing that he was going to Iraq for weeks.
Chakra Hammer on July 18, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Why would McCain know where he is going? It is sloppy though, and poor judgment regardless.
Still I have to make the obligatory joke though, that since, as Michelle informed us, Obama’s life is in danger every time he goes to a gas station, Iraq c.2008 should be a walk in the park for him.
Spirit of 1776 on July 18, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Nothing to see here folks. If BHO and his friends weren’t scared than they would tell the people the exact time and day of arrival.
I’m soo tired of spinless politicians. Where are the real leaders those leading from the front instead of hiding behind skirts?
unseen on July 18, 2008 at 7:55 PM
McCain should have had his girl Hillary announce it. But seriously, way too much hyperventilating over this.
Buddahpundit on July 18, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Commissar is such a sniveling twit, dude went Nutroots ages ago.
doubleplusundead on July 18, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Is Obama going to be making that speech at the Brandenburg Gate also? LMAO.
Chakra Hammer on July 18, 2008 at 7:58 PM
I don’t see how this is a big deal either…but he’s a Republican hence the “outrage” Anyway, I’m giving in and donating to McCain’s campaign… I can’t stomach the thought of O being prez…
CCRWM on July 18, 2008 at 7:58 PM
A small “oops” but definitely an “oops”.
More seriously, the age question is, let’s face it, a legitimate one.
SteveMG on July 18, 2008 at 7:58 PM
BTW Politico’s Ben Smith is a piece of scum IMHO.
Chakra Hammer on July 18, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Reuters decided to exacerbate the issue by reporting what otherwise wouldn’t only been heard by a few people to the world.
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM
I’ve said so myself in posts here. But age doesn’t equal senility. If you’re going to accuse him of dementia, make that charge with a little more medical evidence than “he said something absentminded.”
Allahpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:01 PM
McCain is dangerous to Obama. Does this make him a racist, the confused, old koot?
Entelechy on July 18, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Yeah, because what would Obama’s excuse be?
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Inarticulate speech…
Entelechy on July 18, 2008 at 8:03 PM
It might be best,not to say a word!
After all,the MSM will tell exactly
what street and address Obama will go
to!
And if that ain’t bad,I’m sure Obama,
given enough rope,might say where(Flip)
he might be going,or not going (Flop)!
canopfor on July 18, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Gramm quits McCain campaign.
WoosterOh on July 18, 2008 at 8:05 PM
True or False:
Shoe on other foot, the right wing blogs would be going totally bat guano?
commissar on July 18, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Oh for Heavens sakes. Cut McCain some slack. Who cares? The major news networks have promised to turn this trip into something akin to the Olympics anyway, with constant coverage and photo ops all over the world. McCain went to Afghanistan and Iraq and no one made a big deal out of the press knowing about it. It was not some big secret, although the press was not all that interested either.
This is just another excuse for these whiney ass cry babies to make a big deal out of nothing. How they think pretty boy here will be able to stand the rigors of being the President when he can not even run a campaign without being a wuss is beyond me.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:06 PM
You mean “inartful.”
misterpeasea on July 18, 2008 at 8:06 PM
commisar:
False.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:06 PM
It sounds like McCain has roughly the same idea that I have. If someone had asked me, that’s probably what I would have said.
DaveS on July 18, 2008 at 8:07 PM
I’m more concerned with issues of health and withstanding physically the pressure of the job, although the Reagan example also springs to mind (i.e., combination of health problems and age contributing to memory failures).
Nothing to me indicates any dementia (my late father suffered from it so I think I can recognize it). These guys are in brutally long campaigns; fatigue effects everyone regardless of age.
Anyway, it seems to me – anecdotally – that Obama’s made more verbal slips and foulups than McCain.
SteveMG on July 18, 2008 at 8:08 PM
In fact commisar the press usually knows in advance when McCain is going to Iraq, it was not considered a big deal if other people knew. Lindsay Graham actually did some reserve duty over there. No one made a big deal out of it and carried on like babies.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Newshoggers.org:
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:09 PM
For me, if they gave McCains itinerary, no, but Bush’s, yes.
WoosterOh on July 18, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Mostly true.
They’d argue it was evidence of Obama’s inexperience on national security and military matters.
I’d probably be in that club, to be honest.
SteveMG on July 18, 2008 at 8:09 PM
To his credit, Josh Marshall notes:
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:09 PM
What I’ve read in the last two weeks:
Der Speigel: Berlin, July 24
JP: Ramallah, sometime after June 20
I agree that Johnny Mac should have just passed on any specifics, but the arrival dates, while mum, are NOT hush hush. These governments have to prepare, coordinate crowd control, TV coverage, press credentials, hotels, etc etc. While exact dates should raise questions the McCain whoopsie is hardly a starchamber moment.
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 8:10 PM
One of my best friends died of brain cancer at 41. That is younger than McCain or Obama. Youth does not guarantee mental or physical health.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:11 PM
But they all LOOOOOOOOVE Obama over there! No-one could possibly bear him any ill-will, so how is it a problem for everyone to know his itinerary? They’ll just throw rose petals at his feet.
I’m only being partially facetious. I can’t think of what advantage the bad guys would get from assassinating or even threatening Obama while he’s over there. He’s their best chance at getting a pacifist, suck-up, tip-toeing PC American president that will let them get back to doing whatever they want.
aero on July 18, 2008 at 8:11 PM
BlueGirlRedMissouri:
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Indeed. Thank you, misterpeasea.
Entelechy on July 18, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Wouldn’t it be fairly easy to find out where Obama will be by looking for local security’s notification of merchants and residents about which streets will be blocked off and when?
Especially in Berlin where Obama the Vain is giving a public speech in front of the Victory statue? If he wants a huge, adoring crowd, he has to give them notice. They can’t all beat it over there because they suddenly got a message on their cell phones.
Wethal on July 18, 2008 at 8:14 PM
And I’d be here doing what I do pretty much every day and tell you guys to quit acting like moonbats.
DaveS on July 18, 2008 at 8:14 PM
I don’t care if it was a slip, an opps or otherwise. No one is perfect and sometimes you do things to other people to make a point… I think McCain is making a point.
But what I wanna know is.. who are the “other Senators”?
upinak on July 18, 2008 at 8:15 PM
“Inartful speech” or he could have been “verbally maladroit”, that’s all. All else is your problem.
Entelechy on July 18, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Why? He wasn’t revealing anything he knew… Nothing more than we all already “knew” or suspected or thought or speculated about Obama’s trip.
Its a 5 or 6 day trip, going a handful of places. There’s not too many different days that he could be going to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The story is nonesense.
seanrobins on July 18, 2008 at 8:16 PM
amerpundit:
Aren’t they smart? Gee, if going to Iraq was such a winner for Obama, why did he wait so long to do it?
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:16 PM
The better part of six decades and that word has nevah…NEVAH!….appeared in a Texas newspaper. ;)
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 8:17 PM
What’s this thread about???? Someone’s itinerary ? This is some kind of conspiracy ?
This would be interesting if WJC comes up MIA in the next day or so….otherwise…
Non issue.
jerrytbg on July 18, 2008 at 8:19 PM
American tribal politics, ca. 2008.
SteveMG on July 18, 2008 at 8:19 PM
upinak:
That is a good question.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Not a big deal the Secret Service is there to pick up the slack. In fact, obambi probably has more guns protecting him now than his last nation of islam rally.
elduende on July 18, 2008 at 8:19 PM
SOLD! Check in the mail. ATP has found a home!
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Headlines kind of long I think the Messiahs pressitudes prefer the shorter version:
“McCain Blows!”
dhunter on July 18, 2008 at 8:21 PM
It IS a good question and no one in here has addressed it.
Who are these “other Seantors”? If mccain supposedly blew B.H.O.’s cover then he blew these other Seantors cover as well.
This has no point… So I am going to assume that the Senators do know. And I am GLAD McCain said something… my TAXPAYING DOLLARS sending Seantors to the Middle east AGAIN!
upinak on July 18, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Actually, ignorance is a defense, Newshoggers. And it’s ignorant to think otherwise. No mens rea, no crime.
misterpeasea on July 18, 2008 at 8:21 PM
From Politico. Ah yes, Andrea Mitchell. The one who said on national news that everyone in DC knew Valerie Plame worked for the CIA. Were you drunk this time, too, Andrea?
Wethal on July 18, 2008 at 8:22 PM
I hope it’s not Ed McMahon showing up at my front door ’cause my guess is right about now he’s asking for us to give him a check.
SteveMG on July 18, 2008 at 8:22 PM
So much for being Mr. Security…
the old cook probably doesn’t have a clue what OPSEC means.
Just stick with the managing beer distribution in your twilight McCain…sheesh
TOPV on July 18, 2008 at 8:22 PM
If it was OPSEC, then why does he know that B.H.O. and “other Senators” are going.
Please, I am sure the Seante knows who is going.
upinak on July 18, 2008 at 8:24 PM
How many “innocent mistakes” can America afford?
Zero.
Keep Grandpa home in the arms of his wealthy child bride…for our own good.
alphie on July 18, 2008 at 8:25 PM
If the shoe was on the other foot, your side would be praying his transport got shot out of the sky. Get bent, Commissar.
doubleplusundead on July 18, 2008 at 8:25 PM
As even lefty bloggers have noted, McCain likely guessed. In fact, the Wall Street Journal opened an article with this this morning:
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:25 PM
I saw Hillary handing out Hussein Obama’s schedule over the fence in the green zone.
malkinmania on July 18, 2008 at 8:26 PM
jerrytbg on July 18, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Ah, and the classless arrive.
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I have heard CNN speculate all day as to when Obama will land in Afghanistan. It would make sense for him to go to Afghanistan, then Iraq then Jordan/Israel, etc.
bnelson44 on July 18, 2008 at 8:27 PM
How is nonstop coverage by the world media brought along by Barry supposed to make this a secret of some sort?
And I would guess the jihadists will be protecting Obama more carefully than our own security.
Wouldn’t want to lose a perfect sucker.
profitsbeard on July 18, 2008 at 8:27 PM
“Heh, that’s why you are the white gun-toting, bible-thumping, white men, as I said to the billionaires in San Francisco. Then you’re the ones calling me an elitist” ~ ~ Barack Obama
p.s. I see alphie came to the scene – so, are you really a conservative?
Entelechy on July 18, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I ask again…. where’s Bill?
jerrytbg on July 18, 2008 at 8:28 PM
If you ignore it, it might go away.
upinak on July 18, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Haartz: July 22, 23
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Cats love the mice :)
Entelechy on July 18, 2008 at 8:29 PM
alphie:
How many mistakes has Obama made? He is such a screw up the only thing that is saving him is a compliant press and an idiot base.
I knew Obama was going to be in Iraq because his campaign and their fan club in the media said so. No one bothered to keep McCain’s trips a secret, but then he is not a big baby.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:30 PM
At the Drudge Report right now
so I mean this idea of speculating over a weekend arrival as some big bombshell is stupid.
Topsecretk9 on July 18, 2008 at 8:30 PM
I don’t watch the broadcast news, but aren’t the three anchors going to be attached to Obama’s hip on this trip? I doubt very much they’ll spend a week over there and I doubt they’ll be there more than a day in advance. They’ll be telegraphing Obama’s visit as much as McCain has, if they haven’t already given hints.
Dusty on July 18, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Lefty moonbats will say the Jooooooooooooos leaked dates of Obama’s stop in Israel because they think Obama ia a Muslim in 5…4…3..
Wethal on July 18, 2008 at 8:31 PM
MEOW!
And with that said, I have to depart. Night all! Have a GREAT weekend!
upinak on July 18, 2008 at 8:31 PM
You too upinak – stay safe. You’re our better!!!
Entelechy on July 18, 2008 at 8:32 PM
I wonder if guys like alphie know that old people vote. Keep insulting them.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Yep. Over 24 you are out the door!
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Wear the pink dress!
jerrytbg on July 18, 2008 at 8:33 PM
John! Don’t reveal Obama’s itinerary!
Jesse’s trailin’ him, carryin’ some big scissors!
jgapinoy on July 18, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Limerick;
I went out that door a long time ago.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 8:37 PM
Shh! Don’t interrupt the narrative that it was a top secret date McCain broke to hurt Obama.
amerpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:37 PM
[Topsecretk9 on July 18, 2008 at 8:30 PM]
LOL. But it’s McCain’s fault becauae everybody knows terrorists can’t figure when in a week someone might be in Iraq by eliminating all the days that person says he won’t be in Iraq.
Dusty on July 18, 2008 at 8:37 PM
Jesse’s gonna know right where to find Obama now so he can cut his balls off. This is an outrage.
Buddahpundit on July 18, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Big deal! Obama has this european tour planned and any moron can figure out he will also go to Iraq at the same time.
Blake on July 18, 2008 at 8:44 PM
The way that the MSM keep talking about the trip, any idiot could figure out that O was headed to Iraq today, tomorrow or Sunday.
But keep whining Leftists.
baldilocks on July 18, 2008 at 8:45 PM
ok…..
By the way, my collie said Barry would be in Berlin on July 24 and Ramallah and Israel on July 22, 23. That leaves the 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th, for Iraq, Afghanistan, Paris, and London, according to my collie that is.
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Curious: Is
OsamaObama using Senate CODEL (Congressional Delegation {i.e., Boondoggle]) funds to pay for this obvious campaign trip or is he using his own campaign funds? Oops, a rhetorical question.Dingbat63 on July 18, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Well, we are talking the Left here. I guess maybe you should change that to anyone who is not an idiot could figure it out.
WoosterOh on July 18, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Actually McCain doesn’t need to know Obama’s schedule, he just needs to read the AP to figure it out:
“BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will begin his planned tour to Germany and Italy on Monday and will also meet Pope Benedict XVI, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Thursday.”
So unless the messiah isn’t supposed to meet Maliki, it would have to happen this weekend.
Zaggs on July 18, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Okay, and I linked this post an item up at Conservative Grapevine, so I don’t want to hear whining about it not getting covered. And yes, if he did blab to the press, it was a f*cking stupid thing to do.
As for commie’s whining, I think McCain is only marginally more competent to be president than Our Lord and Savior, so I’m not particularly Outraged! or surprised he’d do something so stupid, so this stupidity elicits more of a *facepalm* than anything. I’d probably react the same way if Obama did it, both of them make Bush look qualified and competent, which I thought to be outside the realm of human possibility.
doubleplusundead on July 18, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Integrity? What the hell are you trying to do?
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 8:51 PM
I think the Iraq trip part is on the taxpayer, as he is on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Wethal on July 18, 2008 at 8:53 PM
All the talk about age reminds me the episode of House {Spoiler Alert} where he helps to diagnose an Air Force pilot without admitting her because she was on track to become an astronaut and any health issue could get her kicked out of the program.
One of the doctors asked House why he helped her hide it from NASA since her medical problem could be an issue when she’s piloting the shuttle. House said that she’ll be the safest pilot in the air because she’s knows she’s got a problem and she’ll have it checked regularly which makes her much less dangerous than the guy next to her that doesn’t know he’s got an aneurysm ticking away in his brain.
Obama may be young, but, age is no guarantee against death….it just ups your odds a bit.
JadeNYU on July 18, 2008 at 8:56 PM
You can’t compromise operational security unless you’re privy to operational details.
IF anyone compromised operational security, it would be anyone, presumably either within the press or talking to the press, who confirmed that McCain’s speculation was accurate.
However,
IF this junket was considered so dangerous that it couldn’t even be spoken about, then none of us would know it was about to take place, or it wouldn’t be taking place at all.
Finally – as others have pointed out, McCain didn’t say anything that wasn’t obvious to anyone smart enough to read, and to add and subtract using numbers no greater than 5. I realize that’s a stretch for some of our friends on the left, but still… this is a non-story being turned into propaganda by the left with cooperation from others on the right. Keep it up, and maybe we’ll get some idiotic non-apology apology from the McCain camp to keep the story going for another half day.
CK MacLeod on July 18, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Dismissing commissar’s argument that ZOMG YOU WINGNUTS WON’T COVER THIS!!1!1eleventyhitlerburton!1
Cover’s blown already if Our Lord and Savior is to descend from the heavens into Baghdad, so I might as well dissolve one of their talking points.
doubleplusundead on July 18, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Sheesh! And that is directed to anyone who thinks this is a big deal, or any kind of deal at all.
Pal2Pal on July 18, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Terrye,
Sure old people vote, but they also know when to quit driving…and politics.
McCain’s child bride has $100,000,000 worth of spendin’ cash to keep her old Johnny happy.
What’s he need to go and loot Social Security for?
Spite?
alphie on July 18, 2008 at 9:03 PM
doubleplusundead:
I honestly do not see how anyone could look at Obama and McCain objectively and think McCain is only marginally better suited to be president.
And I honestly do not think McCain did anything stupid here. The hype around Obama and where he goes and who he talks to is constant. For the press to treat the man like a cross between Princess Di and John Kennedy and then claim there is anything secret about his trip is absurd. When Bush makes a secret trip to Iraq, he just shows up there with no advanced notice. This is something completely different.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 9:05 PM
How’s are those “extravagant uproars at Memorandum” coming?
commissar on July 18, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Just doing his part to spend YOUR contribution. ;)
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 9:08 PM
This is a non story.
No one but the “leg tingle” MSM and Obambies (Obama Zombies) cares where Obama is or what he is doing. If any terrorist organization really wanted to know Obama’s schedule (so they can plan a pep rally, most likely), they’d already have it. Nobody on Obama’s staff is that competent.
Honestly, if someone asked me where Obama was tomorrow I’d probably say “isn’t he on that overblown world ego-boosting tour? Pick a country with sliced arugula and fine wine, if he isn’t there now, he will be tomorrow.”
BKennedy on July 18, 2008 at 9:08 PM
alphie:
McCain signed a prenup and he gets disability.
Besides what does Obama need to use taxpayer money for his trip for, he is rolling in the bucks. Why does his wife complain about paying back school loans when she lives in a mansion? They made more money that McCain did last year and more money than Bush did too.
And the child bride crap is stupid. Some of the richest people in the country are bankrolling Obama. Just like they did Kerry and his rich wife.
The truth is alphie you are an obnoxious and unpleasant little toad and people like you usually end up losing the election for your candidate.
Terrye on July 18, 2008 at 9:09 PM
If Obama wasn’t such a vain publicity hog, this wouldn’t be an issue. He could have scheduled family down time, and then quietly taken off for Iraq.
But noooooo, he has to combine it with his Grand Tour of Europe. And he has to haul along three network anchors. Plus the rest of his press entourage, and his usual collection of lackeys.
He can’t imagine that he can visit all these places, and not have every one knowing in advance when he’ll be in their country.
If he’d gone to Iraq or Afghanistan before, as part of his responsiblities on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he wouldn’t be in this situation now.
Wethal on July 18, 2008 at 9:10 PM
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