Video: McCain and the “seismic event”
posted at 2:25 pm on July 27, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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John McCain continued to press Barack Obama on the aborted visit to Landstuhl today. In speaking with George Stephanopolous, he underscored the event as a demonstration of poor judgment and skewed priorities by Obama and his campaign. He scoffed at the notion that the Pentagon would tell a Senator that he could not visit wounded troops on a trip abroad, and McCain told Stephanopolous how he would react if told that:
In Landstuhl, Germany, when I went through, I visited the hospital. But the important thing is that, if I had been told by the Pentagon that I couldn’t visit those troops, and I was there and wanted to be there, I guarantee you, there would have been a seismic event. And so, I believe he had the opportunity to go without the media. And I’ll let the facts speak for themselves.
Yesterday, my friend Lt. Col. Joe Repya, a retired Army officer who returned to active duty in his 50s to serve in Iraq, commented on the Landstuhl decision. Joe originally worked for Fred Thompson in this campaign and now is a member of Veterans for McCain, and his statement got picked up by Fox News:
The most solemn duty of a commander in chief is to fulfill his responsibility to the men and women who serve this country in uniform. Barack Obama had scheduled a visit with wounded American troops who have served with honor and distinction in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he broke that commitment, instead flitting from one European capital to the next. Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington. For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.
Interestingly, Joe just joined the blogosphere a few weeks ago, and he’s discovering this weekend what it feels like to get recognition: the hate mail has begun to flow heavily to his inbox. I teased him yesterday that he’s finally arrived, but people probably should know Joe’s lifelong commitment to service for his country before sending hate mail his way — especially given the truth of his remarks, and the (unexpectedly) even tone in which Joe delivered them. Joe feels passionately about supporting the troops, and rightfully so.
The incident has overshadowed the European tour, and for good reason. No one thinks that Obama needs to visit every military base in the world, and had he never arranged to visit Landstuhl in the first place, this never would have been a problem at all. However, Obama did commit to the visit, and he canceled only because the campaign got into a snit over the fact that a senior military adviser could not accompany Obama. In effect, Obama took out his frustration on the troops that had looked forward to the high-profile visit as a morale booster.
That shows immaturity, a lack of judgment, and political idiocy on the part of Obama and his campaign. All of that is very much fair game for McCain to highlight — and for voters to consider. Obama gave an demonstration of his priorities, and thanks to his media entourage, the nation saw it.
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The people sending him hate mail probably don’t care.
amerpundit on July 27, 2008 at 2:33 PM
No surprise on Obama’s part, really, if you think about it.
Obama’s core value system, just like the Democratic Party’s Platform ever since McGovern, is simple:
Surrender
Socialism
Taxes
There’s no room in that “Platorm” for Love of country, the Troops/US Military, confronting America’s enemies, economic growth, capitalism, etc.
It’s all about Hate & Blame America First.
We all saw the Adoring, Worhipping Crowds in Germany, for his EXALTEDNESS, the New MESSIAH, Barack HUSSEIN Obama (PBUH)(SAW)(SWT); why is that?
Because Europe is all about Anti-Americanism, Socialism, Surrender to the Jihadis, Taxes!
See the connection?
Very Simple…
Someone should turn it into a Bumper Sticker:
“Do you believe in Surrender, Socialism & Taxes??
Vote Obama in ‘08″
Dale in Atlanta on July 27, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Obama wanted a photo op with the troops. He was denied that as too political.
Which is would be and highly inappropriate.
So his handlers, string pullers, along with BarryO made a decision.
Probably a line of bad decisions should he ever be,,,, shudder, POTUS.
Kini on July 27, 2008 at 2:35 PM
On Meet the Press, Senator Obama minimized the role of the surge, saying that “to try to single out one factor in a very messy situation is just not accurate.”
bnelson44 on July 27, 2008 at 2:37 PM
He wanted the photo op with the troops and with some generals in the shot as well to show how Commander in Chiefish he is. GAG!
SouthernGent on July 27, 2008 at 2:39 PM
So he’s sticking to that, huh? At least for now.
Glynn on July 27, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Heh, welcome to the blogosphere, Joe.
doubleplusundead on July 27, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Well played, Mack.
silverfox on July 27, 2008 at 2:44 PM
This little stunt tells us a lot about Obama, and it does not inspire confidence.
Terrye on July 27, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Obama probably never really wanted to visit the troops anyways, and as soon as a bit of an argument arose as to who could come with, he called it off, knowing he could blame someone else.
WisCon on July 27, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Translation: The increased number of US troops (which I opposed) adn the strategy of four-star who wrote the book on coutnerinsurgency (with whom I disagree), and the sacrifice of the US military in carrying out that strategy didn’t matter that much to single them out as significant factors.
What a stupid, rookie thing to say.
Almost as stupid and rookie in refusing to go to visit wounded soliders without your
military advisorpuppetmaster along.Wethal on July 27, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Same thing, only more so, when questioned at the “Unity Conference” or whatever it was called.
Obama and the Democrats’ difficulty now that they always believed the war could be won and never thought it was already lost is that they want to pose as believers in the troops without having to embrace their achievements. A visit to Landstuhl puts Obama in the position of saying “Thanks for your pointless sacrifice!” - which may rate only slightly above a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to soldiers who prefers to believe that what they’ve done isn’t merely symbolic. More broadly, it means that Obama wants to embrace the results of the surge - to the point of siding with the sovereign Iraqi government on how to protect and defend itself going forward, and to the point of applying “Iraq the Model” in Afghanistan - without confessing that he’s also embracing its rationale.
The McCain campaign needs, I think, to highlight the fact that Obama wants to protect Iraq and escalate in Afghanistan: In short, Obama promises a war presidency, but proves over and over again that he lacks the qualifications for or even the minimum understanding of war leadership. He’s obstinate where he needs to be flexible, arrogant and inconsiderate toward the troops when he has the opportunity to be sympathetic and inspiring. Most important of all, he and his party were unsteady to the point of blind defeatism when the going gets tough. That’s not a formula for victory in Afghanistan or anywhere else. It’s an invitation to the enemy to re-double its efforts.
CK MacLeod on July 27, 2008 at 2:55 PM
The European euphoria doesn’t surprise me in the least. Most of the brave Europeans came here a century or four ago and left a void of courage in the gene pool. We will always be called upon to save their asses, and no amount of visits by Obamessiah will change that. They don’t have many folks with guts left.
Too much dilution might not be a good thing.
eaglesdontflock on July 27, 2008 at 2:56 PM
seismic: 1: of, subject to, or caused by an earthquake; also : of or relating to an earth vibration caused by something else (as an explosion or the impact of a meteorite)
;-)
Karmi on July 27, 2008 at 2:57 PM
The only people upset over Obama blowing off the wounded troops were probably going to vote for McCain anyway.
The lefties are probably applauding and sending in more money.
Beto Ochoa on July 27, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Obama has no character and it is becoming clearer and clearer every day.
If he watned to visit the troops, he would have. He chose not to. Case clsoed.
When it comes to energy, lower taxes, and supporting the troops, Obama’s motto is “No, we can’t.”
JustTruth101 on July 27, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Yeah, I’ll bet you’re right.
JustTruth101 on July 27, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Test..
Dale in Atlanta on July 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Testing testing…
doubleplusundead on July 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
There was a temp glitch, just now, saying no one could leave comments..
Dale in Atlanta on July 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
McCain outclasses Obama.
Hey democrat party, you know how you have these big plans to take my country away from me so you can spit on it and defile it with your filthy Marxist utopia?
Well, you can’t have it.
jeff_from_mpls on July 27, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Okay, let’s see if this works,
I’d say his abandonment of that Kenyan school is as bad.
doubleplusundead on July 27, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Okay, awesome, seems to finally be working.
doubleplusundead on July 27, 2008 at 3:08 PM
I’d say his abandonment of that Kenyan school is as bad.
doubleplusundead on July 27, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Don’t forget his abandonment of his Slums in Chicago….
Dale in Atlanta on July 27, 2008 at 3:12 PM
I’m almost considering moving into the maybe column on voting for McCain based solely on the argument that if he wins (and he shouldn’t, this is Our Lord and Savior’s to win) it’ll send the left over the friggin’ edge.
doubleplusundead on July 27, 2008 at 3:14 PM
And it will, quite. They’re very concerned about the Supremes.
OT: McCain was excellent on This Week. Very good showing. He and his campaign just need to keep repeating the message.
Purple Fury on July 27, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Oh yeah, forgot about that. You know what amazes me about the elite left is that they’d rather spend time forcing you to care for a problem for them instead of just taking the time to address it themselves. Obama could have easily set up charities for the projects and the Kenyan school, he’s a powerful guy(like it or not), and he could have brought a lot of attention to those causes and a lot of donations, yet he chose to let them languish.
doubleplusundead on July 27, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Being as he is so adverse to our military in general and has proved he doesn’t seem to have time for our wounded…..can you even begin to imagine him making calls to parents and widows of the fallen?? When my husband passed away unfortunately Clinton was in office, so my ‘from a grateful nation’ certificate came signed with his name. I tore it up and threw it away. If BO were to sign it, well, TP would still be too good of a use for it. I simply can not imagine a more disingenuos man as commander in chief.
dustoffmom on July 27, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Lt. Col. Joe Repya,
We salute you, sir.
Obamouth hasn’t the sensibilities of anything substantial. BHO would rather dump on wounded vets than show up to say hi to them. BHO would rather BLAME the wounded vets for his tissy fit than admit that he decided to dump on them. BHO dumped on wounded vets so that he could visit a gym and take pictures with a Deutsche Fraulein. Is that what motivated the Fox Sunday News panel blonde female to quip that unless it’s Hillary, the USA would never accept Obama’s choice to run with any other white female on his bi-racial ticket?
maverick muse on July 27, 2008 at 3:31 PM
nyrofan on July 27, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Obama does not like his views to be questioned. I really feel his need for “immunity” from being scrutinized will be his downfall. Feraro was right. The only reason this naive and clueless individual is in the position he is in, is because of his race. The democrats being the master of playing the race card will brand every caucasion in the country a racist if he loses. They only “unite” if the masses follow blindly down the path of their choosing. Free speech to a democrat is the enemy.
volsense on July 27, 2008 at 3:42 PM
“EarthQuake McCain” kinda has a nice ring to it.
Nelsa on July 27, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Someone on another thread, can’t remember who, presented the possibility that bHo got wind that those guys really didn’t want to see him anyway. I agreed then and still do.
jerrytbg on July 27, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Should be enough of an incentive.
p.s. it will also save your country from an expedient oblivion, versus a slower one.
Entelechy on July 27, 2008 at 3:50 PM
The rules and regulations concerning the visit to the wounded soldiers in the German hospitals were in effect when Obama scheduled the trip. They did not change. Obama’s petty excuses for not going just demonstate that he feels he can override the Pentagon’s clarification statement and people will believe him over them. This guy has been a senator less than 5 months and he thinks he is smarter that Petraous and the Pentagon on matters he does not have a clue. This is the epitome of arrogance and very dangerous in the hands of one so ill-informed on how to lead a nation.
volsense on July 27, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Obama is showing his communism in every speech. I wonder if anyone notices? Forced service, internal security forces, sky high taxes, government take over of industries, handouts for every one, that’s American values, isn’t it?
What’s Santa Claus going to do when the bag is empty. The usual approach is you resort to the bayonet.
tarpon on July 27, 2008 at 3:59 PM
The left keeps saying that the right is blowing this waaay out of proportion, its a “non-issue”. That Obama was “respecting” the troops by not letting a visit to be a political stunt. That all the media wouldve followed him there. I heard one lady say…he visited them in Afghanistan and Iraq. I guess she didnt hear how they were run out of the mess tent so he could have his photo op…which was all this trip was about. I am soo sick of this a$$.
becki51758 on July 27, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Ok this is it, its time. Its time Allah, Ed, Michelle and all republican, conservative voters on this site and around the country to get 100% behind McCain. Done deal.
WE CAN NOT AFFORD FOR OBAMA TO WIN! HE IS A JOKE!
I never thought I would say it buy, I am 100% behind him, come on and join me.
Good Lord just think what is Obama was to win. Oh my God!
kara26 on July 27, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Very nice!
What a sorry-ass motherf***er.
funky chicken on July 27, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Is Senator McCain coming unhinged…?
J_Gocht on July 27, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Well it is really difficult for me to get behind McCain nor offer him any real support….after all, he doesn’t seem to support my conservative values. So no bumper stickers on my car, no signs in the yard, no vocal hoo-rahs when his name is mentioned. But I will do for him the only thing that really matters….when I enter that booth come november it will be his name I will tickmark. Luckily for him the Dems decided to go with the biggest numbnut they could find. Could have been a harder decision otherwise.
dustoffmom on July 27, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Ed:
You forget, the whole campaign is about OBAMA, no need to show concern about injured soldiers. If you thought the Clinton years were the “I and me” years, you haven’t seen anything if the Obamassiah gets elected.
GarandFan on July 27, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Obama’s entire Iraq “military program” is RUN AWAY, RUN AWAY!, so this telling incident is indicative of Barry’s core code of craven coddling:
“If we really, truly must surrender in orderto win, we surely shall!”
profitsbeard on July 27, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Imagine where the hate mail would be directed if something like this had happened during WWII.
Democrats have changed, a lot.
Too many liberals are seething with hate for their own nation.
Speakup on July 27, 2008 at 6:33 PM
On Meet the Press, Senator Obama minimized the role of the surge, saying that “to try to single out one factor in a very messy situation is just not accurate.”
bnelson44 on July 27, 2008 at 2:37 PM
He had no problem singling out the surge as a single factor that would not work and would instead increase violence.
This guy is getting ridiculous. Has he parsed the word “is” yet?
Sorry to reveal my racism by noting these things ;)
aikidoka on July 27, 2008 at 6:42 PM
*practices checking McCain boxie on ballot*
F’ it, #*&‡°(^%$%
I can do this.
RushBaby on July 27, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Too many Liberals are seething with hate for their own nation.
Speakup on July 27,2008 at 6:33PM.
Speakup: There has got to be a way, to harness all this
pent up energy in the form of hate coming from
these Democrats,another energy source untapped
into,such a shame,haha!:)
canopfor on July 27, 2008 at 6:48 PM
I can do this..
RushBaby on July 27,2008 at 6:45PM.
RushBaby: Ahoy,RushBaby,where ya bin,floating on some
transom out in the political waters? haha:)
canopfor on July 27, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Talking to the tooth fairy again, Ed?
pabarge on July 27, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Greetings, sweet friend.
No, I have plugged in to my local (county) group, and asked about what I can do, realistically. to help.
Turns out we have less than a dozen people running at the county level. It’s a pittance for me to help. And I’m there.
And when I commit to the GOP, I commit to John McCain.
I hereby commit, with my heart and my pen and my acidly stinging tears:
For the good of my country. For the good of my little county in Texas, which has been a historic bellwether of Texas politics:
I commit to judge “Republican” candidates for the principled positions they take in all matters of public policy.
I commit to opposing all office-holders and seekers-of-office whose reflexive exhortations appeal to individual grievances rather than national security.
As someone who has committed to work for the GOP and do my part locally, I understand and accept that there are no MCCAIN coattails to sieze.
I can still take pride, as a conservative, in knowing that President McCain will have us to thank, in a few months to come, for security of my family…which by the way spans Canada, U.S., Mexico, and Europe.
Obaaaaaahma = Giggling Suicide.
F. That.
RushBaby on July 27, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Thank you Senator Fred Thompson for delivering McCain to us. McCain better thank us for delivering the Office to him if he wins.
kara26 on July 27, 2008 at 7:41 PM
That sentiment is felt no poignagnlty than here.
RushBaby on July 27, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Obama runs away rather than face wounded troops.
This is becoming a consistent pattern: when the going gets tough, the Obama hides.
This guy could not survive as the mayor of a medium-size city: much less as president of the US. If elected, he would spend nearly all his time hiding under the desk in the Oval Office…albeit for a different reason than Bill Clinton did!
landlines on July 27, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Anyone paying attention has learned, after the fact, about many high visibility celebrities who visit the troops. They go without cameras, and sound technicians. No publicists or PR handlers. For whatever reason, they just go.
When The Obama was told he couldn’t bring cameras, he said (more or less) “Fine, I don’t need to see them anyway.”
That tells you everything you need to know.
Chris Wallace had some (D) hack turning everything upside down. I lasted about 30 seconds, and turned it off. I get more satisfaction out of watching the bit counter count the bits being downloaded from some remote computer.
rockhauler on July 27, 2008 at 8:19 PM
hehe
- The Cat
MirCat on July 27, 2008 at 8:37 PM
McCain isn’t going to get too much mileage out of Obama’s pass on the troop visitation. That’s partly because Obama isn’t going to mention it, so it won’t be a major issue.
And McCain is completely missing the opportunity to seriously damage Obama. Here’s how.
Obama claims that McCain has changed his Iraq policy to fit Obama’s with slight variation involving conditions.
That WAS NOT Obama’s position, but the Republicans haven’t effectively countered it because they haven’t stated Obama’s position in simple straight-forward words condensed into one sentence, combining two inseparable Obama facts. Here it is.
OBAMA’S PLAN WAS TO PULL TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ 1) IMMEDIATELY A LONG TIME AGO 2) WITH NO SURGE WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS IN CHAOS!! That has been sort of been half-heartedly stated but generally separately. Obama has adopted the Bush-McCain plan to end the war!!!. Why have I not seen campaign adds pointing that out? Instead, McCain has allowed Obama to claim just the opposite. It’s the perfect opportunity, and it needs to be articulated in simple, straight-forward terms, preferably in one or two short sentences. Repeat it constantly, on every occasion.
under on July 27, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Obama first! Troops? Somewhere down the list, probably just after “lose war in Iraq.”
Nobama. He’s a twit and appearing now to be a pathological liar. (There’s probably a tie in there with those years in the madrassa, but I’ll leave that for now.)
desertdweller on July 27, 2008 at 10:44 PM
J_Gocht on July 27, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Joe, don’t worry about the kool aid drinkers. They abound about every damn corner and make you want to puke with thier socialistic views.
upinak on July 27, 2008 at 11:48 PM
No kidding. In a previous life I was the Personnel Officer of a line aviation squadron. Nothing motivated me (and my Commanding Officer) more than a love note from the Navy Congressional Liaison Office, stating that a Member of Congress had taken interest in something, no matter how trivial, about the squadron’s personnel. Even if WWIII were raging, Heaven and Earth were moved to comply with the “request”, whatever it was.
I won’t say that Obama personally snubbed the military since my guess is that he was just told what to do. His advisers are the idiots, especially the military advisers. They should have known better. The political advisers should have guessed the ramifications, but they also appear to be not ready for prime time.
TxEngr1 on July 28, 2008 at 10:13 AM