NYT: McCain demonstrates leadership while Obama vacations
posted at 8:45 am on August 15, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
The New York Times notices that a completely predictable reversal has taken place between Barack Obama, John McCain, and media coverage. Two weeks ago, the national media followed Obama devotedly as he toured Europe, straining to capture every word on what they considered a historic event. Now, though, the media has awakened to truly historical events in the Caucasus, and McCain has commanded their attention with his leadership — while Obama hides in Hawaii:
For the last several days, Senator Barack Obama has seemed to fade from the scene while on his secluded vacation here, as his opponent, Senator John McCain, has seized nearly every opportunity to display his foreign policy credentials on the dominant issue of the week: the conflict between Russia and Georgia.
Only once, at the beginning of the week, did Mr. Obama discuss the fighting in public, when he emerged from his beachfront rental home to condemn Russia’s escalation, in a way that seemed timed for the evening television news. He took no questions whose answers might demonstrate command of the issue.
Mr. McCain and his surrogates, however, have discussed the situation nearly every day on the campaign trail, often taking a hard line against Russia to the point of his declaring the other day, “We are all Georgians.”
It is as if the candidates’ images have been reversed within a matter of a few weeks. When Mr. Obama was overseas last month, Mr. McCain’s foreign policy bona fides seemed diminished, if only because he could not attract the news media attention received by Mr. Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Now, Mr. Obama’s voice seems muted at a time when much of the world has been worriedly watching the conflict.
Team Obama tries to spin this as a quiet engagement on Obama’s part. They claim that he has been in constant contact with his team of foreign-policy advisers while vacationing on the islands. Those advisers, though, can’t agree among themselves, as Susan Rice and Richard Holbrooke demonstrated when they alternately criticized McCain’s approach and then bragged of having the same policy.
McCain spent the week leading the American response in a real way, forcing the White House to catch up. Obama spent the week … body surfing and golfing. For a candidate who already has a confidence deficit on national security and foreign policy among voters, Obama seems strangely disengaged on what is the most crititcal and emergent foreign-policy issue of the campaign. He has taken a strangely passive path, and the contradictory statements by his surrogates have made Obama seem even more vacillating than usual.
Most interestingly, the media has finally started to notice. Michael Falcone’s article acknowledges McCain’s superior performance, an acknowledgment that finds its basis in McCain’s experiential advantage. The media has flocked to McCain for answers on a genuine foreign-policy issue, and more or less abandoned Obama and his team. He has become almost irrelevant in the Georgian crisis, made so by his own abandonment of the field.
It’s an interesting and revealing parallel to the kind of media frenzy Obama attracted in Europe but did nothing to earn. McCain has earned the attention for being prescient and informed on the crisis in Georgia and the nature of Russia. The former is the attraction of celebrity, and the latter the attraction of leadership, and American just got an object lesson in the differences between the two.
Blowback
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Were he REAL clever, he’d be calling for congress to reconvene, to come up with a resolution condemning Russian aggression, and put EVERYONE on the hot-seat.
John?…Are you listening?
franksalterego on August 15, 2008 at 12:24 PM
man, the liberal trolls here are pathetic.
kirkill on August 15, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Entelechy on August 15, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Hi E. Hey I meant to tell you a few days ago when you wrote about your dogs that my first puppy was a Sheltie. Imagine a prim and proper sheltie in the middle of inner-city NYC. She was such a loyal family member and very protective of me. I miss her she died many years ago but I think she’s the reason I love dogs so much.
elduende on August 15, 2008 at 12:29 PM
sorry that post was off topic…
elduende on August 15, 2008 at 12:30 PM
YAY! leading us right back into nuclear brinkmanship and cold war II. That’s an election issue a Republican can really run on.
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:31 PM
HOoray!!! Stupid Russian KGB thug invading another country!!!! Let’s blame the Republicans!!!!!! Because you know, Putin would never, ever, ever, ever do something this mean ever. He’s like a bloody teddy bear.
mjk on August 15, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Hang ten naked, dood!
Akzed on August 15, 2008 at 12:38 PM
I guess my philosophy is that the federal government’s only role is to protect me from foreign forces. What is happening here is that the federal government is specifically putting me at risk because of their foreign policy.
If we let Georgia and Poland wage their own wars, Americans wouldn’t be in danger. Now with the urinating contest, American politicians are intent on putting Americans directly in harms way because of their ‘leadership’ in countries that don’t vote for Americans nor do they pay taxes to DC.
I’m not willing to die for Georgia or Poland. Lots of you here seem to be.
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:39 PM
That sounds familiar…
Georgia is an ally who sent its own troops to die for our war in Iraq. What a worthless pos we would be if we refused to offer help when an ally desperately needs it.
Esthier on August 15, 2008 at 12:41 PM
‘Zackly. He doesn’t want to get caught in a gaffe so close to the convention. And he knows, KNOWS, he would make one.
RushBaby on August 15, 2008 at 12:42 PM
mjk on August 15, 2008 at 12:34 PM
What Russia does is one thing. How we respond is another. Russia is not attacking us. If we engage, we will be attacking Russia. I am not absolving Russia for their thuggery. I just wish that my country and my life were not placed in danger because of our ‘leadership’ and their response to a civil war in a country that used to be a part of their country.
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:42 PM
10 million people died in concentration camps because of attitudes like that. Well done, man, well done.
The real question is What are you willing to die for? Or who? Germans? French? Swedish? I’m guessing you’re not willing to die for anything.
mjk on August 15, 2008 at 12:44 PM
This is a straw man. So now we are supposed to be the policemen for them no matter what action they take? If they were to actually invade Russia, then we would need to take their side because they sent troops to Iraq.
Our forefathers warned about allegiances. This is why. They chose to send troops to Iraq. I wish they hadn’t. I wish we had gone into Iraq on our own to do the job that needed to be done. We have reports that the UK wasn’t really fighting in South Iraq. Who needs ‘help’ like that?
Is Russia doing this with allies, or are they doing it alone?
Again, Georgia isn’t worth my life. I would bet there is a large percentage of Georgians who want to be close to Russia. America doesn’t want it, but that’s the way it is.
I’m getting my bomb shelter ready. I fully believe that Russia will launch nuclear weapons. I don’t think Americans will, but I am certain that Russia will.
Americans don’t want to kill civilians with nuclear arms. . . Russians will. I don’t think anyone posting here recognizes that fact. America will never detonate another nuclear bomb even if we are bombed.
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Forgiveness requested in advance, I just couldn’t help it.
Why? Because it’s there.
(Thanks to another HA commenter for the caption – sorry, don’t remember who, please inform)
Gilda on August 15, 2008 at 12:48 PM
That’s actually true. I’m not like an Islamic militant who loves death more than I love life. I like freedom. I would fight for America. But I don’t want to belong to an army that doesn’t fight American wars.
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:49 PM
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:39 PM –
“I guess my philosophy is that the federal government’s only role is to protect me from foreign forces”
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Me? I’d like to have my posterity, my grandkids, be able to live in a world not under the yoke of an imperialist Russia, or an imperialist anyone. “Provide for the common defense” is but one of the roles of our federal government. Not based on my personal philosophy, but based on our Founding documents.
coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Certainly sounds like an ex/former/non-world citizen.
Exactly, how does ignoring conflict elsewhere on the planet square with the Obmamanian theory of World Citizenship?
Would you be willing to die for Alaska? Nebraska? How about your own State? How close, exactly, does the killing have to be before it deserves your attention?
BobMbx on August 15, 2008 at 12:49 PM
thank goodness we didn’t listen to your predecessors who made the same argument about letting poland, france and the rest of europe fight their own battles in the late 1930′s.
and god help the gal fighting off a mugging or rape as you walk slowly past on the way to your car. she’s on her own, eh?
DrW on August 15, 2008 at 12:51 PM
And I do think it is interesting how now everyone suddenly agrees with the New York Times. Blind partisanship must be a simple way to live.
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:51 PM
DrW on August 15, 2008 at 12:51 PM
You DO realize that we got into the war because of JAPAN, not because of Germany. But of course, revisionist history is wonderful when it supports your current position.
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:52 PM
That’s ridiculous. We won’t start nukes, but we’ll certainly respond with them. If we’re attacked with them, we’ll have no choice but to launch our own.
We pushed the button twice before. We may not want to, but we’ll do it if we have to.
No.
No. Talk about straw men.
And you know that’s not at all what the situation over there is like.
So? That’s neither here nor there. As it stands, we have them. To ignore them would not only be incredibly dishonorable, but it would also make us weak. We’re a strong country, but we can’t fight the whole world and win. There’s a reason we got allies in the first place.
Esthier on August 15, 2008 at 12:53 PM
I have to say, as a moderate, formerly leaning toward Obama. The absence of the Senator form IL vs the Straight talk from the Senator from AZ has pushed my pendulum decidedly right of center.
beefytee on August 15, 2008 at 12:53 PM
ThackerAgency on August 15, 2008 at 12:47 PM –
(Much as I hate to quote a Democrat…)
In this present condition, in our present world
“We have nothing to Fear, but Fear itself.”
And Putin and his kleptocratic minions are depending on fear, our fear, to prevent us and any other nation on Earth from opposing them. Succumb to Fear and we might as well bag it up and learn Russian.
coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Don’t you wingnuts see what’s happening here? There’s clearly been a collaboration between Russia, the McCain campaign and the RNC. This is all about stealing Obama’s thunder after the Messiah’s glorious and most excellent foreign tour.
You rethuglicans will stoop to anything.
Hail the Messiah!
infidel65 on August 15, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Ummm… I know you’re not new here, so this comment is surprising. People here have been saying this long before the NYT. They agree with US, not the other way around.
Esthier on August 15, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I guess the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 escaped your brilliance.
DrW on August 15, 2008 at 12:57 PM
What’s a moderate? Do you simply choose a spot btwn any two opposing positions and call it the high ground? Where’s your philosophy?
What were Obama’s strengths that led you to him? I haven’t been able to find even one in the past year.
JiangxiDad on August 15, 2008 at 12:58 PM
What follows is a prayer, one that Eleanor Roosevelt carried with her during the the Second World War.
Appropriate then. Moreso, today. [W. Stevenson, "A Man Called Intrepid" page 111]
“Dear Lord
Lest I continue
My complacent way
Help me to remember
Somewhere out there
A Man died for me today
— as long as there be war
I then must
ask and answer
“Am I worth Dying For?”
coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 1:00 PM
I would have preferred that instead of his saying, “We are all Georgians”, which sounds to me a lot like saying, ““We are all Victims”, as that’s what they are, victims of Russia’s action and America’s inaction, that he had said, “I will be Patton”.
MB4 on August 15, 2008 at 1:01 PM
coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 1:00 PM
W. Stevenson = Little Bill not to be confused with wild bill donovan
elduende on August 15, 2008 at 1:02 PM
elduende on August 15, 2008 at 1:02 PM –
Read the book, eh? ;-)
coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 1:03 PM
coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 1:03 PM
lol yeah many years ago!
elduende on August 15, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Don’t forget’cher blankie and pacifier.
franksalterego on August 15, 2008 at 1:13 PM
GROAN…
pseudonominus on August 15, 2008 at 1:18 PM
In my opinion, neither one of these candidates had shown particular strength. I was leaning a bit toward Obama because I knew he’d essentially be castrated by a newly elected Republican majority in the congress, and that it may show some good will, and may help to ease some of the racial tensions in this country. I truly feel that neither one of them can do much to help out the country economically, their foreign and domestic policies are deeply flawed, they wash each other out. But I have to vote for someone. I feel that there is very little difference between them when it all comes down to it, or at least very little difference in terms of what they could get accomplished while sitting in the oval office, but again, this is just my opinion.
Obama’s complete absence on this really solidifies doubts I had about him concerning his lack of participation in meaningful votes and debates on the state and federal level. Seems like he’s a great show horse, but he’s a little gun shy and apparently suffers from some serious performance anxiety.
When it comes to my political position…I’m not loyal and will never claim to be. I think what I think on any given issue, and don’t want to be beholden to any particular party position. Last I checked, I was still free to do that. On some things I’m very conservative, on others I would be considered liberal, or perhaps liberal by default because I don’t really care about the issue. My most basic philosophy, from 10,000 feet lets say, is that mankind is inherently good, and doesn’t have to be told what to do all the time.
beefytee on August 15, 2008 at 1:23 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpwdcmjBgNA
…
While the Obamassiah is hanging out on the beach with his choom gang puffing pakalolo, the experienced leaders of this country are standing up and taking notice of what Russia is really up to, and doing something tangible about it.
Georgia is a litmus test for America`s resolve to protect the free world. The Russian bear has woken up, again, and he is hungry. After years of political and economic decline, Russia is stabilizing and feels strong again due to its vast natural resources. As most people inhabiting South Ossetia have Russian citizenship, Moscow claims it felt obliged to send tanks and armored vehicles to its southern neighbor. At the same time, Russian air fighters began to decimate civilian neighborhoods dropping bombs on Georgian state territory – a move that broke every diplomatic convention that Russia has signed. If Georgia falls, we may soon see similar confrontations in Ukraine and the Baltic Republics where a significant number of “Russian citizens” also live. If the Kremlin sees that the West does nothing to protect Georgia`s integrity, it will take it as permission to continue its imperial policy elsewhere, possibly including Europe.
The Defeatocrats may out number the Republicans in Congress, but they are definitely showing their mettle and what we can expect from them in the future when our ALLIES abroad are getting beat up. They’re going to let our allies crumble under the weight of the Bear. And the Obamassiah, who is ostensibly the future leader of America and the free world, is too busy on vacation to take the time to actually demonstrate to the free world that we are behind them, and that we will help them, in their time of need.
Oh, wait, that’s right. He lackadaisically sauntered up to the podium from his beach front rental in Hawaii to yawningly say, “Bad bear.” Then promptly retreated to the other side of the fence to continue body surfing.
Jolly Good Show future President of The United States of America! Way to be there for our allies!
SilverStar830 on August 15, 2008 at 1:30 PM
If you like Pina Coladas, and using a tire gauge
And the feel of the ocean, and not a Prez of way too much age
If you like voting more than once in the precincts of Chicago
You’re the voter I’m looked for and with Hope and Change we will go
MB4 on August 15, 2008 at 1:32 PM
You think we’ll have a majority this election?
Esthier on August 15, 2008 at 1:33 PM
You know I haven’t even done the math to see how many seats are up in total incumbants, “locked” raced (i.e. kennedy kerry in MA). But seriously, if America can’t get its act together to oust a congress that less than 20% of its population is satisfied with, then just what the hell is going on in this nation.
beefytee on August 15, 2008 at 1:36 PM
“Present”
- The Cat
MirCat on August 15, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Good question.
Esthier on August 15, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Considering the fact that virtually nobody is happy the process to select the next president resulted in either an utterly inexperienced empty suit or a bitter liberal Republican; I’d say that Congress is not losing any sleep over the fact that the sheep (i.e. the people) are going to energize enough to do their careers harm.
highhopes on August 15, 2008 at 1:56 PM
your name juxtaposed with your post is somewhat ironic. And by somewhat I mean very.
beefytee on August 15, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Too funny…
SaintOlaf on August 15, 2008 at 2:00 PM
My hope is with the people, as when McCain’s scheme to give away citizenship to the undeserving of Latin America was stopped by the public despite a Congress perfectly content to go along with the plot. Americans taking over the political agenda is the only way these career polticians are ever going to “get it.”
highhopes on August 15, 2008 at 2:03 PM
well said
beefytee on August 15, 2008 at 2:07 PM
“The former (Barry Whosane) is the attraction of celebrity”…
as is illustrated by his extremely pretty picture with the flower necklaces. (I didn’t want to misspell their name or use the usual pun associated with that word.)
highhopes is correct. Altho I have no faith in ObamaNation, I have precious little faith in McAmnesty. It’s up to us.
Christine on August 15, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Yep.
RushBaby on August 15, 2008 at 2:14 PM
All dogs are great. On shelties, there are people, and then there are sheltie people :) Nice to have you in the club.
MB4, you’re spot on regarding McCain/Patton. We need a president with balls, and a Patton too.
The premise is wanting, I believe. Mankind is inherently not good, nor bad, just out to survive. Every moment, many overcome their demons, some better than others.
Nothing wrong with being independent, but Obama?
Entelechy on August 15, 2008 at 2:25 PM
panic attacks can do that to a person
funky chicken on August 15, 2008 at 2:29 PM
heh
funky chicken on August 15, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I’d like to take this opportunity to quash a rumor. It is said that when told about Russia invading Georgia, Obama is rumored to have said, quote:
“I believe we should remain neutral, however should Russia cross the border into Alabama we should then definitely take a strong stand.”
This is totally untrue.
Thank you. You may continue reading the other comments.
kurtzz3 on August 15, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Wow, that’s some leadership indeed. So like… who are exactly those “led”?
freevillage on August 15, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Give Obama a break guys! He is just following the footsteps of the great leaders before him.
Didn’t Nero fiddle while Rome Burned?
Scorched_Earth on August 15, 2008 at 2:43 PM
hey even the one needs to take some time off i mean God took the 7th day off and well Obamamessah surly deserves more then a single day for rest and relaxation.
Mojack420 on August 15, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Exactly. If the Russians refuse to leave Georgia then we need to kick them out. If we don’t, it’s just going to escalate because inaction on our part will give Russia the green light to do whatever they want.
Maxx on August 15, 2008 at 3:24 PM
I feel our nature, and ability to reason nudges us toward “good”. Humans are about the entire species, not just the individual, and I believe this to be something instinctual. If you strip society down to nothing, and a group of humans was running away from something, somebody tripped, that person would more likely be helped to their feet than abandoned. I realize you do have to totally strip away society to reveal the humanity, but I really think this is the case.
Obama really ONLY because McCain had shown me NUTHIN. And at least Obama had catch phrases and almost made you feel good about yourself for a minute. Also, I maintain that neither one of them will be able to get anything of any weight accomplished. The executive branch may be in, or headed to disarray, but that doesn’t even come close to the sh!tstorm that is the congress. Any president will be hobbled by this ineffective, short sighted disgrace to the congresses held in Philadelphia in the summers of the 1770′s
beefytee on August 15, 2008 at 3:48 PM
We may need to kick them out by proxy. I’m not sure we can engage currently.
beefytee on August 15, 2008 at 3:49 PM
So when are we going to get a monumentally historic, tearjerking speech about Hawaiian vacations?
Chuck Schick on August 15, 2008 at 3:58 PM
wow, ThackerAgency is selfishly deluded. As if the entire world wouldn’t eventually be ruled by tyrants except for our little island. Of course, by then, he’d be dead and would have lived his selfish life in peace.
kirkill on August 15, 2008 at 4:56 PM
As soon as Baracky comes back I suppose. He’ll have to talk about how all the native Hawaiians are so oppressed by the Man, that the cost of gasoline is so much higher there that an unwed mother can’t get a decent abortion in the place.
kirkill on August 15, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Right after Fudge Haus McCain makes a speech defending the right of his staff to sell U.S. foreign policy positions to the highest foreign bidder…
alphie on August 15, 2008 at 5:03 PM
man, the liberal trolls here are pathetic.
kirkill on August 15, 2008 at 12:28 PM
‘alphie’ is about as Bad As It Gets
dishonest, juvenile, ignorant, and almost never on topic
Janos Hunyadi on August 15, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Hope he’s having a relaxing time.
By the way, I never caught why he didn’t take his family with him, I thought that was very odd. Anyone know?
4shoes on August 15, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Could YOU relax around that harridan?
pseudonominus on August 15, 2008 at 5:19 PM
How about a quote from Reagan?
“Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.”
VerbumSap on August 15, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Obama will be tanned, rested, and ready when he dazzles his sheep at the Denver stadium. He can ill-afford distractions in the world arena when he is the center of the universe.
onlineanalyst on August 15, 2008 at 5:45 PM
pseudonominus:
I saw the reference to Bush and a holiday and I thought it was strange. Bush is the president no matter where he is. That is not a job you get a vacation from. I am sure there are phones in Texas. I always notice when the media makes a crack like that and think it is silly.
In fact Putin was at the Olympics just like Bush was when all this started. It seems that being a diabolical megalomaniac is something one can do from a distance. Not so with presidents.
The thing about Obama that is different is that he did not even discuss the whole thing, he just did a little press conference and went back to his vacation. Bush does have people on the job who are always in touch with him. He is never really on vacation.
Terrye on August 15, 2008 at 5:46 PM
“Sheep” cold?
How about all the hold-your-nose Republicans who will be voting for McCain even though they hate his guts?
What shall we call these losers?
Losers is good…
alphie on August 15, 2008 at 6:31 PM
There are fewer people following Verizon cell phone customers around in the newest ads featuring their “Can you hear me now” team than Obama must have conferring with him on foreign policy.
And the left came unhinged every time GWB took an August vacation??
Captain Scarlet on August 15, 2008 at 8:12 PM
VerbumSap on August 15, 2008 at 5:41 PM –
Amen.
coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 8:41 PM
“Hey, at least WE didn’t start it.”
“Georgia is even more smaller than Iran.”
“Can’t you let me finish my waffle, sweetie?”
/channeling The One
Sir Napsalot on August 15, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Would YOU want to go on vacation with Michelle Obama?
Mojave Mark on August 16, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Hopefully McCain’s domination on this issue will show in the polls in the coming weeks. What a contrast in toughness, leadership, and strentgh between the two nominees. McCain comes out swinging against Putin and Russia. Obama calls for both Countries to go in timeout. I know now that Obama was for timeout before he was against it, but is this the leadership we seek for the leader of the free World? I hope not.
chief on August 16, 2008 at 1:19 AM
Too funny, chief.
McCain came off as a corrupt old loon controlled by his lobbyist cronies in the Georgia matter.
Not every American wants to die because their life sucks…
alphie on August 16, 2008 at 2:18 AM
Who is this “alphie” dork? Reads like a left wing troll.
John McCain has come off as Presidential in defense of democracy and freedom because he is Presidential, showing his knowledge, experience and abilities with respect to foreign affairs, military matters and national security. His speech “We Are All Georgians Now” has defined McCain as the only serious choice for President.
I have two sons in the military, one is now a U.S. Army Captain who served 15 months as an infantry platoon leader in Iraq (August 2006-October 2007) and the other is a U.S. Marines Second Lieutenant. It is called putting country first and serving a cause larger than oneself. John McCain is the man whom we need as our next Commander in Chief.
Phil Byler on August 16, 2008 at 7:15 AM
The Obama pic on this story on the main page is kinda creepy. Is it just me, or does this clown look like The Joker?
I mean, looks like he must have at least 57 teeth.
cntrlfrk on August 16, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Just wondering… is the Obama vacation a response to the widespread perception that he has suffered from overexposure of late? What is it with a candidate going away for a week in the heat of the campaign? Without his family?
And why is nobody talking about the strangeness of this? I mean the guy get all sorts of static for spending a week touring the world making speeches to foreign audiences, so he comes back and almost immediately bugs out to Hawaii?
Something funny is oging on here, and I wish the VRWC would look into what it is, even if the MSM won’t.
Anyone? Bueller? Kaus? National Enquirer?
drunyan8315 on August 16, 2008 at 10:43 AM
alphie is a left-wing troll.
Here’s Politico on the Georgian lobbyist issue:
As I mentioned earlier, a side-note in the Georgia story is that McCain’s chief foreign policy aide, Randy Scheunemann, lobbied for Georgia.
Equally interesting, though, is who’s pushing this anti-McCain line. It’s not just Democrats shopping that story: Also pointing out the connection is a P.R. person working on behalf of the Russian Federation.
The Obama campaign is pushing the lobbyist angle to the media, at the same time as the Russian government.
Meanwhile, Obama changes his original statement to make it more like McCain’s in speaking up for Georgian sovereignty.
Obama’s people are playing both sides of the issue.
juliesa on August 16, 2008 at 11:38 AM
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