Obama: I considered joining the military
posted at 8:01 pm on September 7, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Tom Maguire’s skeptical given that he’s conspicuously failed to mention it until now, but I’ll take Barry at his word simply because there’s no way to prove he’s lying — a point which didn’t give a moment’s pause to our nutroots betters in their hot pursuit of the shocking truth behind McCain’s cross-in-the-dirt story a few weeks ago. (The shocking truth: Two other POWs remember Maverick talking about it in the early 70s.) I trust Sullivan will be taking a breather from his 24-hour Palin baby watch to track down the facts behind this dubious, politically self-aggrandizing personal anecdote. As for the e-mails I’m getting pointing out that he couldn’t have registered for the selective service in 1979 because it wasn’t reinstated until 1980, yes, that’s true — he simply spaced on the date. His registration went through in September of the following year.
That’s the first clip. Below that you’ll find The One floating the argument that there is indeed a candidate trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Iraq — and it ain’t him. Which, in fairness, earns him an extra smidgen of respect from me just for having the sheer balls to attempt it. Even Ace, who can pop out a 5,000-thousand-word rant effortlessly, is left well-nigh speechless at the thought of Captain Withdrawal accusing someone else of fumbling the ball out of bounds on the way to the end zone. A golden moment.
Update: “Vote for Barack Obama — It is only due to bad timing he didn’t get to kill livestock, cut off ears, ravage villages, blow up bodies, and behave in a fashion reminiscent of Jenjhis Khan.”
Update (Ed): I’m not terribly skeptical of this, for the simple reason that I did much the same thing as Obama. I looked into enrolling in the Air Force ROTC in 1980, after graduating from high school and being unsure of what I wanted to do in college. In fact, I had an offer for a non-scholarship position that I just needed to have my parents co-sign (I was 17), but in the end I decided against it. The AFROTC was only being offered at a college 50 miles away from the one I attended, and the commute between the two discouraged me from going. I regret that decision to this day; I think it would have been very beneficial to me in many ways.
I’m pretty sure that many people thought about doing the same thing at about the same time, and deciding against it. I’m not going to judge Obama for not enlisting or pursuing the ROTC path.
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“That’s not the Selective Service registration I once knew” —
Barack Obama
seanrobins on September 8, 2008 at 6:41 AM
Holy Crap was a pandering imbecile. Does he really think he can get away with this. What’s next. “I once thought about having a baby with Down’s Syndrome, but you know
Marines for Mccain on September 8, 2008 at 6:45 AM
I thought about joining the Air Force and the Navy. In the end, I joined the Army. It was beneficial and was a nice step toward my college degree financially.
matthew26 on September 8, 2008 at 6:56 AM
Of course, not. But the problem with Obama’s account, is that given his track record of political duplicity, and that fact that this has never been mentioned anywhere at any time, there is no real to believe any of it from the start.
seanrobins on September 8, 2008 at 7:13 AM
Holy Crap was a pandering imbecile. Does he really think he can get away with this. What’s next. “I once thought about having a baby with Down’s Syndrome, but you knowNo!
He once thought about having a Down’s Syndrome baby, before he thought about not having one.
seanrobins on September 8, 2008 at 7:14 AM
No!
He once thought about having a Down’s Syndrome baby, before he thought about not having one.
seanrobins on September 8, 2008 at 7:23 AM
The inclusion of the word actually is very interesting here. It is usually used in this fashion to support a statement that would draw amazement or disbelief.
The fact that Obama would choose to answer in this fashion tells us much. It is one of those small things that it is difficult to edit out of your speech because it is a natural way to express your point. It is done without thinking about what it really means.
A respectful and patriotic Obama would has answered with
“Of course I did.” or maybe just “Yes, I did.” as a matter of fact response. But by saying the word “actually” we now know that he deems it amazing and unusual to consider joining the military.
Hawthorne on September 8, 2008 at 7:36 AM
The appropriate follow-up would have been : ‘Whose Army?’
Fuquay Steve on September 8, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Obviously an effort to attract miltary voters. So, here are Obama’s next two revelations:
“I seriously considered becoming a woman”; and
“I seriously considered becoming a Down’s Syndrome child.”
All threee claims are equally credible.
__________
RJGatorEsq. on September 8, 2008 at 7:46 AM
People, this is not a thing that you should use to attack the man. I personally considered the NAVY several times in my 20s. I needed money for school and I wanted to see the world. I even talked to a recruiter. But I never pulled the trigger. I’m not ashamed of it, nor proud of it, joining the armed forces is just something that most young American men consider. Note: This does not endear Obama with his base.
fleiter on September 8, 2008 at 7:47 AM
I think this is a PERFECT issue with which to produce another add. They need to make sure it doesn’t slam him for flip flopping or something nonesensical like that (as fleiter pointed out, lots of young men do think about joining).
No, the correct approach is that this has never ever ever come out in any of the vast writings of the One in the last 25 years. That is huge if you actually think about it. After all, he’s written pages and pages about much lesser decisions that he taken and options that he considered, and to leave this major issue completely blank leaves no other conclusion: The thought of registering or enlisting outright has never crossed his mind, or else he would have written about “wrestling” and “praying” on it, etc etc.
You can’t just “make stuff up” as Obama recently complained about Palin’s speech at the convention.
Waterboy on September 8, 2008 at 7:54 AM
In 1978, I had a chance to go to West Point. But at the last minute I chickened out.
I regret that decision to this day.
MarkTheGreat on September 8, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Ha, nice.
I would imagine an army with the following easy to construct title:
_____ for the ______ of _______
Helpful suggestions below:
People’s
Movement
Society
Anarchists
Liberation
Establishment
Destruction
Emancipation
Palestine
Angola
Mozambique
South Side of Chicago
East Rutherford
Waterboy on September 8, 2008 at 8:02 AM
Oh ya, sure. He almost joined the military…
He DID however, join a racist church for 20 YEARS!
Urban Infidel on September 8, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Might be a good idea Barry, try again maybe they’ll still take you . . . but try the French Army, you’d be much more comfortable there.
rplat on September 8, 2008 at 8:31 AM
Mr. Obama (what he was really thinking):
I considered joining the military when I saw how well it worked for John McCain at his convention. Damn! I thought it was a complete dud for John Kerry. What was I thinking?
Mr. Joe on September 8, 2008 at 8:42 AM
That is it in a nutshell. You nailed it.
Dasher on September 8, 2008 at 8:49 AM
He wanted to join, but Code Pink had taken up all the parking spaces…
right2bright on September 8, 2008 at 8:53 AM
Michelle was at the OB/GYN asking how you get a down baby…
right2bright on September 8, 2008 at 8:54 AM
And yet none of this about Obama thinking about joining the military is in either one of his books….
I have my doubts Obama would get in the military back then. Drug tests were top priority and frequent in those days (I was in the Air Force during that time).
If Obama was experimenting frequently and freely with cocaine and marijuana as he said in his book, he would have a tough time passing the stringent military drug tests.
albill on September 8, 2008 at 9:26 AM
Wow! He deserves a chest full of medals and all the honor due a real war hero cause he thought about it!
JellyToast on September 8, 2008 at 9:27 AM
It is possible but not likely. The campagin is reaching to make a personal connection to the military, no matter how tenuous.
Very few parents plop down the fees for an elite education (punahou tuition for the 2008-2009 school year for Grades K-12 is $16,675) only to watch their kids join the military.
Presumably, his grades were good enough to leave Hawaii for an Ivy league education but he thought about joining the military?
Not likely. In times of peace, most people join the military as a way to pull themselves up an economic rung or two and avail themselves to education opportunities.
If no one picks up on this subtle point his campaign might be encouraged to try and further burnish his military/defense credentials.
Given the campaign’s seeming desire to create a movie-like narrative (complete with foreign speeches, meetings with foreign leaders, a faux Air Force One, Faux Presidential Seal, etc..)
Is anyone else looking for the next dukakis/tank moment?
For a photo op, maybe Merrill McPeak can don his uniform and can point to troubled spots on a map. In the foreground Barry practices looking intense (something the campaign calls the Putin stare down) at a convened faux cabinet meeting of 300 adoring advisors.
moxie_neanderthal on September 8, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Anyone else see this as Obama’s potential Dukakis tank moment? I mean just the idea of this idiot in the armed forces is enough to make one giggle.
YellowDawg on September 8, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Yes those comments are something I would exspect to see on a site like the DailyKOS. I also graduated from high school in 1979 and remember registering for Selective Services, but I had no idea I did it a year after I graduated. I guess maybe my old age is showing. :-)
JeffinSac on September 8, 2008 at 10:07 AM
I think he was smoking some really good sh*t and had just watched the movie “Patton”. After a long laugh, he never thought about it again – until running for president.
la.rt.wngr on September 8, 2008 at 10:09 AM
He must have thought the poster said, “We are looking for a few good crackheads!”
ARom on September 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I considered winning the lottery once but………..
VikingGoneWild on September 8, 2008 at 10:23 AM
He’s telling an audience the other day “they must think you’re stupid (as a counter I guess to “clinging” comment McCain is using and now he’s claiming this about Iraq. He seems to really be on the defensive these days. The pattern seems to be to look at the arguments being made against him then just turn around and make same argument about McCain, regardless of how inaccurate it appears. How completely intellectually lazy. This is fast becoming a worse run campaign than Billary put forth in the primaries…
Ozprey on September 8, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Yep. This dork…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evoMTW1eso0
eanax on September 8, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Sorry to disappoint everyone, but here is a picture of Obama’s first kill as a soldier.
Once again showing he is THE ONE.
right2bright on September 8, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I don’t give this guy the benefit of the doubt on anything. And Ed, please don’t make comparisons between you and Obama; he couldn’t carry you’re jock.
tomk59 on September 8, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I once considered being the ruler of the known universe; you will all be pleased that I chose not to…..you’re welcome
BobMbx on September 8, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Well Obama may have “considered” joining the military, but did he dress up and play soldier, cause that’s when we know he’s really serious about something.
PC14 on September 8, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Barry You lying &%%(O*&$#^)*&%%^…………..
…never mind.
Old Hippie Vet on September 8, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Spaced on the date?!!!!! LOL
……..that and 57 states and a ton of other things that have fallen out of his mouth.
Sometimes when you try and pull a rabbit out of your a$$ you get S*%$. Bullwinkle Obama is batting 1000% and smelling funny.
Old Hippie Vet on September 8, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Big A,
I am a bit dumbstruck about the snatching victory stuff m’self. Why in the world would you draw attention to one of the issues that can be brought down on you so hard?
As for the “I considered joining”… I can only wonder why the heck anyone would throw out a gratuitous line like he did. It just doesn’t compute.
And I thought I was tired. At least I have the fact that I am deployed as an excuse for it.
major john on September 8, 2008 at 1:03 PM
He only signed up at Selective Service because he would not have qualified for Government College loans and future Government employment if he didn’t.
This is typical ploy, also done by Hillary, to convince voters that thinking about entering the Military qualifies him to be the Commander in Chief.
While I served in Vietnam I had thoughts about possibly becoming a POW. So, using the Hillary and Obama thinking process, I am also a POW.
Thank God I don’t think like those two.
Helloyawl on September 8, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Welcome Home Brother.
Old Hippie Vet on September 8, 2008 at 1:52 PM
To think that the Big O thought about joining the military. He missed his big chance to shoot himself in the butt and get three Purple Hearts like his predecessor.
It makes you wonder though–why didn’t McCain get any medals for his REAL wounds in the Hanoi Hilton?
Steve Z on September 8, 2008 at 2:29 PM
But then again all he could say would be “merci beaucoup”…What would his fellow global citizens think of him then?
in_awe on September 8, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Before you dismiss the fact that Sarah Palin is *just* Commander of the Alaska National Guard consider this.
Alaska it’s the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It’s on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.
She’s also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security’s counter-terrorism plans.
Is Governor of Alaska, Palin briefed on classified military issues, homeland security, and counter-terrorism?
I’m not saying.
However, according to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.
BDU-33 on September 8, 2008 at 4:24 PM
…but when the recruiter explained to him our military didn’t have community organizers…
Sergeant Tim on September 8, 2008 at 4:26 PM
uh uh well but .. but but but .. so so here’s what I think .. .. uh
argos on September 8, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Marines for Mccain on September 8, 2008 at 6:45 AM
Only from a jarhead.
DanKenton on September 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961. He did not register for the draft in 1979:
Sergeant Tim on September 8, 2008 at 4:35 PM
FYI: Obama only said he graduated in 1979 and that he had to sign up for the Selective Service. He did say when he had to sign up or when he actually signed up. I doubt his memory is that good. It is not a gaffe.
Sergeant Tim on September 8, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Maybe when he said “I actually did”
He meant he ACTUALLY DID!
Pakistan 1995?
KZnextzone on September 8, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Obama is endorsed by Hamas, Hezzbolla, and the American Communist Party; that’s all I need to know not to vote for him !!!
golfer39 on September 8, 2008 at 5:08 PM
LOL I graduated in 68 and I can tell you the day, month, year and time of day I took the oath….and I was drafted.
Bullwinkle Obama is full of crap and all he is trying to do is look/sound good……
HEY BULLWINKLE….How’s that workin out for your Socialists/Communist A$$? LOL
Old Hippie Vet on September 8, 2008 at 5:25 PM
I considered joining the military but the Iranians were holding me hostage
tip on September 8, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Until I found out they expect you to act like a man…
right2bright on September 8, 2008 at 5:58 PM
You know, he actually did! Whoa. Are you all feeling woozy too?
argos on September 8, 2008 at 6:19 PM
I’m Barrack Obama and I considered joining the military.
JellyToast on September 8, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Vid’s wont play (Fire Fox grr)…But does obama say the American military?
christene on September 8, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Even if he joined he’d a washed out before he graduated boot camp…little too swishy.
Shame, I woulda liked to have him in my Marine rifle platoon and let the boys have a little fun with him.
Alden Pyle on September 8, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Even if he joined he’d a washed out before he graduated boot camp…little too swishy.
Shame, I woulda liked to have him in my Marine rifle platoon and let the boys have a little fun with him.
Alden Pyle on September 8, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Damn, son, the Gomer jokes must have been unending for you. It would take a Marine to bear up under that.
SKYFOX on September 9, 2008 at 5:42 AM
Unless of course, that’s a pseudonym…
SKYFOX on September 9, 2008 at 5:42 AM
Registration for selective service was suspened in 1973 and reinstated in 1980. BO stated he had to sign up for selective service in 1979, but no he didn’t have to register.
Another lie???? Maybe signed up for selective service in Indonesia, but her sure didn’t have to sign up in the US!
jbh45 on September 9, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Ah, but BROOMS don’t take up many spaces you know.
leftnomore on September 10, 2008 at 2:53 AM
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