More Obama v. McCain

Posted: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:17 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From Mark Hudspeth and Aswini Anburajan
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Has the general election already started?

Obama, with the backdrop of a roaring crowd of thousands behind him at Ohio State University lit into McCain's comments earlier today that he didn't know that "al Qaeda IS in Iraq."

Obama referenced last night's debate in Cleveland and explained Russert's hypothetical question on whether he would send troops back into Iraq to strike al Qaeda.

"I said, well I would always reserve the right to go in and strike against al Qaeda if they were in Iraq," Obama said. "So, you know, this is how politics works. McCain thought that he could make a clever point by saying, 'Well, let me give you some news Barack, al Qaeda IS in Iraq,' like I wasn't reading the papers. Like I didn't know what was going on."

Obama went on to lay the blame for terrorist activity in Iraq on McCain's shoulders. "But I have some news for John McCain," Obama said, "and that was that there's no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq!"

He added: "I've gone some news for John McCain: He took us into a war, along with George Bush, that should have never been authorized and never been waged. They took their eye off the people who were responsible for 9/11, and that would be al Qaeda in Afghanistan that is stronger now than anytime since 2001."

"I've been paying attention John McCain! That's the news," Obama roared into the mic so loudly that he was barely intelligible. The crowd of college students screamed encouragingly.

"So John McCain may like to say he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell," Obama said, "but so far all he's done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq that's cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars."

Obama went on to promise to end the war in Iraq and take on al Qaeda in Afghanistan, repeating, "That's the news John McCain!" over and over again. And repeating a refrain that has come to be his signature line of attack against the 71-year-old senator, Obama told the crowd that McCain represents "the politics of yesterday," while he promised that he represents "the party of tomorrow."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

But, but, isn't Obama not tough enough to take on the Republicans? I mean, that's what the Clinton people keep telling me.

His rapid response is the best I've almost ever seen. McCain just got owned.

Dan, New York, NY (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:39 PM)

All of you who complain Barack is not a fighter will soon get a reality check:

"There was no Al Qaida in Raq before Bush/McCain invaded".

"According to our country's intelligence reports Under Bush/McCain Al Qaida has only grown stronger"

"Bush/McCain drove the US into a ditch in Iraq"

"Before Bush/McCain invaded Iraq oil was $27/barrel. To the benefit of Putin and Haliburton now it is $100"

"Bush/McCain were distracted planning the war in Iraq and allowed bin Laden to escape in Tora Bora"

"McCain says he won't strike bin Laden if the Pakistani government tells him so"

Yiannis, Baltimore (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:40 PM)

Obama has many questions to answer about being a 20 yr. member in a black only membership church who's pastor praises and supports Farrakhan, who is the leader of Nation Islam.

John Doe (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:42 PM)

Obama has many questions to answer about being a 20 yr. member in a black only membership church who's pastor praises and supports Farrakhan, who is the leader of Nation Islam.

John Doe (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:42 PM)

McCain said he'd follow bin Laden to the gates of hell. Maybe Obama should add, in his instructions to McCain, that this probably isn't necessary. He isn't there, and he isn't in Baghdad. We're still pretty sure he's across the border from eastern Afghanistan.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:43 PM)

It will be striking seeing McCain and Obama on stage together. Obama will produce endless fluff on what he's going to do or what he would have done, and McCain will talk about how his decades of experience will lead this country into the future.

roscoe w., denver (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:45 PM)

I know let's discuss how Barack dissed Mccain some more...yawn!!!!
get onto a new topic

wake up ,oh (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:47 PM)

WHOA WHOA that is tough talk from a guy who just stated that the republican party were the party of ideas FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS DISCOUNTING WHAT Clinton AND THE DEMOCRATS HAD DONE IN THE 90S NOW ITS THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE TO BLAME AFTER YOU GET DONE with blaming hilliary it seems everyone is to BLAME except BARACK H OBAMA,he will SAY ANYTHING to get elected.

kenn (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:48 PM)

No, Obama, like all Democrats, you will say that someone not being struck now should be struck. Then, when they can be struck, you will find a reason not to do it. The classic, "See I am tough cause I'd be striking these guys over here who should be struck, not the ones we are striking." This is easy to say because no actual striking has to be done. You see, they are really never going to strike anyone, but it sounds good to say you will strike someone who you can't strike now and never will. Sure as shooting, if Bush has not "taken his eye off the ball" and was striking Pakistan or Afghanistan, Obama and his pals would find fault with that too.

Mike Creganano, Santa Barbara, Ca (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:49 PM)

and i approve this message because it's about time al qaeda paid for the horrendous act in 9/11. it's about time we took him out without resorting to fear to hide our strategic blunder in the civilian command of our military.

an unwavering patriot (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:49 PM)

Ouch ... I think McCain burned his fingers there. McCain though maybe that Obama would treat him as nicely as he did Hillary Clinton. She and her Bill can try to bite Obamas ankles for the time being but that does not mean that McCain can join them without a scolding.

Frank, Missouri (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:50 PM)

It blows my mind how certain politicians treat others like they're stupid, like they aren't right there getting the same news everyone else is, like they don't know the "real story" and are just full of hot air. Barack Obama is a smart man who has been watching everything that has been happening around the world and in this country with a sharp eye for many years. To try to write him off as a light weight is a huge mistake. Clinton has learned this, and McCain will learn this in November. Bluster and fear tactics can only get you so far. People are tired of being threatened with Al Qaeda. We know all this already. We've been listening to it for eight years. Whenever anyone brings up Iraq, certain people throw Al Qaeda out there. The truth is, we went into Iraq for reasons that had nothing to do with Al Qaeda, and turned military attention away from Afghanistan where Al Qaeda actually was! Certainly they have taken advantage of our prense in Iraq and the destabilization we caused there when we toppled Saddam. That is the nature of a terrorist organization. But let's not pretend like Al Qaeda has been the top priority, because it has NOT. And that is a fact. John McCain knows better. And so do the American people.

Megan, Madison, WI (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:51 PM)

If any of you right wing nuts and bolts would actually read stuff for yourself rather than regurgitate whatever Fox News or Rush tell you then you'd see that Obama's Iraq War plan calls for us to stay in smaller numbers to fight AQ in Iraq but to stop fighting the Iraqis. Get your heads out of the sand for once 'republicans' or better yet go buy another yellow ribbon magnet or flag to put on your car to show how patriotic you are because buying those trinkets really help our troops over there, if you cared you'd either volunteer for service, have your kids volunteer for service or you'd actually do something to help our troops. By the way, those yellow ribbons and flags are made in China, how's that to prove your patriotism?

Kevin, Austin, TX (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:51 PM)

This short article represents the extreme bias at MSNBC. How come the focus is on Obama's response to McCain and not McCain's points? I am just amazed that MSNC calls this reporting fair.

John Fry, Augusta, GA (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:52 PM)

how refreshing, a democrat that is not scared to talk to republicans about the debacle in Iraq and how refreshing it is that the person saw the debacle coming and does not have to explain a political vote for war.

jd, staunton, va (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:53 PM)

"Al Qaeda in Iraq" has nothing to do with the original Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has only gotten stronger while the US has been bogged down in the Iraq quagmire for 5 years. The latter has absolutely no control over the former. "Al Qaeda" has just become a label that can be adopted by any bunch of Islamic extremists. And the longer the war in Iraq goes on, the more of them there will be.

Houston (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:53 PM)

I think that anyone with sound, rational judgement knows that going into Iraq was one of the worst decisions in the history of the United States. I think Obama has a point in linking McCain's judgement to that decision, though back in 2002 I was also eager to take the fight to Iraq, I even joined the military as a medic to play a part in the effort. I think most of America is at least partially guilty of the blind rage that led us into this mess.

The future of Iraq is a serious question, and has no clear answer yet. Personally, I think that there is no military solution to Iraq, but we also have to take a hard look at what pulling out would mean for the country and it's people. We should have never engaged in the conflict that has utterly destroyed that country, but pulling out without considering the consequences would be even worse.

I support Obama, and think that he has the best mindset to carefully deal with strategy in Iraq going forward. But I deeply hope that withdrawing troops is something that he considers very very carefully, and doesn't just use as a way to score political points with a war-weary electorate.

I am looking forward to the Obama/McCain debate on this issue, and I hope that voters will put aside their party alegiences, pay attention, and carefully consider who has the best plan moving forward.

Iraq is by far the most important issue in this election, and I hope that it is treated that way.

Eric M, New York, NY (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:55 PM)

Obama has many questions to answer about why he has been a membe for 20 yrs. of this "racists toward whites" church, with a Pastor who supports and praises Farrakhan, who by the way is the leader of Nation Islam.
Do people not check anything out about this man?

He needs to answer the questions.

John Doe (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:58 PM)

failure to reject a hate group like Farakhaan has just signed his own death warrant by a hate group (oposite race) just like he wouldn't steer clear from - live by the sword, die by the sword - I'm afraid it will come true - wow. A Nation of islamist leading our country - big mioney wants a puppet in office to as a "do boy" that is why he has had a free ride in the media. We're doomed - get ready for race rioting

tsg (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:02 PM)

Once again, Mr. Obama demonstrates that he IS Presidential material. All of the 'experience' touters and the 'he is a Muslim' fools need to just shut up and let the grownups have the floor.

M. Boley (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:03 PM)

Senator McCain cannot scare up any legitimate points against Senator Obama, so he's grasping at straws. Senator Obama is going to be asking all Americans to join with him to change America and the world for the better. And they will respond and say, Yes, We Can!

It is not a matter of if one group gains the other loses; it is a matter of all groups being at the table of riches, and participating equitably. Senator Obama and his team of advisers will be ready to show America how to create new wealth. All groups, rich, middle class, or poor, will fare miles better.

In the meantime, look for a landslide in November.

ChenaMax (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:05 PM)

So, uh, John Doe, so what big questions do you want to ask? Don't be shy.

Very confused post, yours. You refer to big unanswered questions, but don't let us in on the secret.

So, dude, out with the secret questions that must be answered, but apparently not asked.

Don't wear yourself out being logical, just start with a little one.

Mark Thieme (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:09 PM)

To John Fry-- if you look a few posts down the line in First Read, you will find that MSNBC indeed put up an entire post (or article, which was your term) about McCain and his points. Now, since Obama has responded, they are reporting on his response.

I really don't understand when Americans became such crybabies about the media being biased. Get over it. Listen to BBC if you want a different news source. And what really baffles me is the republicans who complain about media bias... at least CNN and MSNBC somewhat attempt to be unbaised, while FOX news is complete and utter bologna and everyone knows it.

Lauren, Asheville NC (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:12 PM)

Obama can not win against Mcain in November. The media darling will go down in flames. I blame Msnbc on ruining the best candidate we have to lead our country. Obama has no clue on foriegn policy. I am a democrat who will vote for Mcain in a heartbeat if Hillary does not get the nod. I am not the only one. He can never win the big states.

Kevin, Fl (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:14 PM)

I can't wait to see Obama and McCain in a debate about this. We all know what a hot head John McCain can be...wait till he says "F-you, Barack Obama, and that horse you rode in on, too!!! LOLOLOL- let the games begin(get out of the way Hills, like NOW!)

modernwoman, Anytown,USA (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:15 PM)

Again, Barack blows his own credibility with his own "retort".

Read what he said in his "retort": "I said, well I would always reserve the right to go in and strike against al Qaeda if they were in Iraq"

Notice the word IF. IF. IF they were in Iraq.

Newsflash Obama, they ARE in Iraq. It's not a question of IF.

I can't believe how many people are fooled by this dolt Obama. It's disgusting to see all the bobble heads nod their head and say "yes messiah" at whatever Obama says.

"IF" they were in Iraq. Shees. Way to be a standard Washington Politician Obama.

Darryn, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:15 PM)

How come my comments are never posted?

kevin fl (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:15 PM)

Obama is right 100%. Al Queda is not in Iraq. It is in Afghanistan and it is only getting stronger. That's what I call sound judgement. Who said Obama is inexperienced or not tough enough? Who said McCain has expericence. If this old guy doesn't even know the geography, if he doesn't even know who hit us and where did these guys come from, how does he serve us good as commander-in-chief? It's about time somebody hung a huge global political map in our President's office and teach them geography.

JDK (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:19 PM)

BEFORE BUSH MACAIN THE REPUBLICANS AND A MAJORITY OF THE DEMOCRATS remember you DEMOCRATIC dreamers it was just as much the democrats as the republicans OHHH you democrats are so HOLY

kenn (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:20 PM)

OK Democratic Party, DNC, Superdelegates, Clintonians, Billarians, Hillarian feminists, et al etc., what's the superior argument of the various Senators Clinton here?

And, while I'm here, I repeat -- again -- experience, regardless of longevity and no matter how vaunted, which informs such poor judgement at critical junctures, is to be severely discounted. Yes, deeply discounted.

POLpursun (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:20 PM)

Abdul Rahman Yasin is not in Iraq. Zarqawi was not in Iraq. Saddam had no dealings what-so-ever with Al-Qaeda. There was no WMD ever in Iraq, the Kurds were faking. Terrorist feared Saddam. Saddam never fired anti-aircraft rockets on our planes. Captain Scott Spiker was never shot down in Iraq, he's in the secret society of US MIA's actually in hiding. No reason to invade Iraq. Obama is a girly man who would ignore the threats the same way President Clinton did then when something happens he'll claim the writing on the wall just wasn't there.

Toby Hill (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:20 PM)

WWWOOOOWWWW!!!!

Obama just beat down McCain....yet AGAIN! I thought he wasn't tough.

Wow. Just wow. A rapid & forceful debate-style beat down.

Steve Caan, Boise, ID (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:21 PM)

John,
apparently you must not visit MSNBC very often, because why dont you click back to yesterday and look at MSNBC covering McCain's claims that he made about Obama. Perhaps you should stop listening to the gaggle of buffoons on talk radio and Fox that claim anyone who doesnt endorse their warped brand of thinking is showing liberal bias.

Ryan (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:22 PM)

What's going to happen in Iraq with reference to Turkey? Bush didn't start a war he wiped a nation off the map. Easy to say Iraq is soveriegn state, but now we will have to prove that the new democratic Iraq can defend itself or that we are willing to defend it.

TreyWillow (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:23 PM)

If you're going to judge a man by his friends and acquaintances what about Mcains co-chair in HIS home state convicted of bribery. You would either have to have bad judgment or be senile to have such a man as a co-chair. And why so many lobbyists working right under him, why do so many rats like Charley "Blackwater" Black work for him for free? It sure seems like the old the old Keating five McCain I remember, I wonder if he does?

Matt, Palm Desert, Ca (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:24 PM)

Way to go, Barack! Finally someone, not just with the sound judgement needed to make the right decisions, but also unafraid to let it rip into those who minimize, or misrepresent the facts.

If only, we had this kind of leadership in 2003, we'd have 4000 of our kids still with us, we'd be 2 trillion dollars less in the hole, and Bin Laden would be in a box under some dirt.

Dave, Menlo Park, CA (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:26 PM)

I don't think McCain knows what kind of fight he is in for. Obama has run a brilliant campaign and McCain? well . . . .sort of a cakewalk with no practice at all.

Obama is making me proud to be an American again.

John Fry - go to Fox if you want happy happy joy joy reporting. This was totally fair and a piece about about Obama - not a piece on McCain who has no one to point against. All he can do is campaign against who he thinks is the front runner.

Grinfer Madison WI (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:29 PM)

If a consumate politician like Hillary Clinton got her backside kicked by Obama and his well organized campaign, what chance does a doddering old fool like John McCain (with his anger problems) have against Obama? Worse still, there is always the possiility that a man as old as McCain will get overwelmed at a debate and utter a racial epiteph. I think Obama has been waiting to take on the Republicans this entire campaign. That's where his rhetoric plays best, and it's why he's been easy on Hillary instead of calling her on all her BS.

M McGuff (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:29 PM)

Grinder - Madison WI (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:29 PM)

I find it truly amazing that Hillary touts experience, but Obama has more experience than her as an elected official. Obama "08"

itsyourvoicestupid, Pa. (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:30 PM)

RE: This short article represents the extreme bias at MSNBC. How come the focus is on Obama's response to McCain and not McCain's points? I am just amazed that MSNC calls this reporting fair.

Um, maybe becasue McCain wasn't debating yesterday?

MGW, Dallas TX (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:30 PM)

Obama is not even addressing McCain's comments. Obama is saying Al-Quaeda wasn't in Iraq in 2002, and that the war was a bad idea. OK.

McCain said that now, in 2007, Al-Quaeda IS in Iraq. So pulling out now means leaving them there unopposed.

This election shouldn't be about who was right in 2002, it should be about who is right in 2008. Obama needs to stop living in the past.

Scott, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:31 PM)

If Barak Obama painted himself purple with white polka dots and stood on the corner screaming obscenities at passer bys, he would still be more likely to change the destructive dialogue in this country than John McCain. News: The Cold War is over and we need a President that can at least imagine a world without war than one whose rhetoric is based on globalizing the American Military to an antiquated end.

Gary Mitchcell, Vancouver, WA (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:32 PM)

Mike Creganano...

what?

We've struck the strikers and striked the struckers, but not these other strike-struckered stickers sticking to their Smuckers?

AQI is not AQ, so Obama was right in reserving the right to strike AQ if they built a base in Iraq. AQ is not in Iraq. AQI is.

Tim (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:33 PM)

To Republicans....you rejected nominating this experienced war hero in 2000 and instead gave us the failed businessman, average governor with no foreign policy experience, who accomplished nothing politically prior to 2000 in George W Bush. So I don't think Republicans should lecture anyone on who is a worthy candidate. You have failed in that category.

Al Queda is probably just as strong or stronger in Afghanistan and Pakistan so why do we continue to allocate a huge portion of our resources (140,000 troops and Billions of $ per month) to a country that needs to start learning to function on its own? Isn't it time to reassess what's in our best interest? How long do we stay and do we actually enforce previous benchmarks that were meant to accelerate progress?

These are fair questions and require an answer better than calling me a "terrorist sympathizer" or "we are fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here" type of response.

Jeff, Portland, OR (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:34 PM)

There is some truth to what was said, but I don't think that Obama is the only one to have said it. There was little if any connection between Iraq and Al Queda. I think the only reason that Bush wanted to invade because he knew that he wouldn't last one term without an ongoing conflict. Afghanistan wasn't enough apparently for Bush.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:34 PM)

Very salient points made by Obama. Can't wait to see squeeky McCain and eloquent Obama on the same stage together. Obama is going to work McCain like the old drum that he is. He is going to be a lot easier to defeat than Billary was. Obama is no John Kerry and will fire back immediately and make hits immediately.

Jacques (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:36 PM)

i have voted republican my whole life (now 62 - white married female upper middle income) if given the opportunity i will vote obama this time.

Sharon Beddoe, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:38 PM)

And right on cue, here come all the RACISTS out to slam Obama any way they can. Even with hollow, empty words such as the ones posted above.

Greg, Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:38 PM)

Farakhaan for vice president!

live by the sword and die by the sword (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:39 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=709573