Lugar: Obama ad 'accurate'

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:29 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Republican Sen. Dick Lugar (IN) today said an Obama campaign ad which features him is "accurate." The ad makes the point the Obama previously "reached out" to Lugar to "help lock down loose nuclear weapons."

Lugar is widely considered one of the most knowledgeable in the area of nuclear weapons proliferation and the coauthored of the 1991 Nunn-Lugar Act on cooperative threat reduction.

"He did" reach out, Lugar said. He explained that in 2005, Obama asked if he could join Lugar on a trip to Russia and other countries to visit sites under the Nunn-Lugar program.

"After that, we had legislation that we cosponsored together which passed" dealing with dangerous missiles. "So I am pleased we had that opportunity to work together," Lugar said. "I'm pleased we had the association Sen. Obama describes."

But Lugar made clear up front that while the ad was accurate, and he's comfortable with the association, "There is no chance I will consider running with Barack Obama."

The ad will run in more than a dozen states, including Lugar's home state of Indiana.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

If Lugar is on tape saying this, that should be Obama's next ad.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:35 PM)

I'm sorry, did I miss something?

Did someone ask him to join the Obama Campaign as VP Nominee!!??

I think he SHOULD join the campaign, [In Support of the Democratic Nominee], but those that will do the most good are not 'asked', they join because they 'get it'!!

You have got to love this...Republicans can't even agree with a Democrat with a straight face!!

GA GUY (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:37 PM)

I have to say that it is nice to see senators from different parties be cordial and acknowledge each others work without being petty or underhanded. maybe some more collegialism and cooperation rather than party line grnadstanding would do more to help out the country.

Todd M Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:37 PM)

Republican after Republican have said that what Obama has stated is true or that they agree with him.

They are going as far as to say, they agree but won't run as his VP.

Senior republicans and nationally known republicans like Lugar, Hagel and Anrold Schwarzeneger siding with Obama.

What does that tell you about the Republican candidates ideas, message and integrity?

He has lied, flip-flopped and misrepresented his position so often his own party cannot stand the embarassment.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:38 PM)

Surprise, surprise! One single intelligent republican.

Obama 08 (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:40 PM)

Just what nuclear weapons are now locked up Obama? Can you name just one? Can you point to a passage, a sentence, a word, or a letter, in the bill that you penned? Can you point to one subcommittee meeting where you came up with a plan, an idea, or even one thought, that contributed to the safe "locking up" of a nuclear weapon?

Thought not.

What a joke this man is. It's amazing his arm is not broken from patting himself on the back.

Ned Jankowski, Lincoln NE (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:43 PM)

Which goes to show that Lugar sense of humor. Wow, a Republican acknowledging that Obama has worked in the Senate, not just 'window dressing'. So many NoBama posters will be saddened to hear that.

I should point out that he has actually worked on veteran issues to and has a significantly higher Veteran rating then the Veteran himself. Not all vets came home, ditched their loyal wives and married younger heiresses. Not saying they didn't deserve to, they just weren't able to pull themselves up by those particular boot straps.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:43 PM)

Hee Hee Hee....I love it!

Yesterday was hard, today is great!

Thank you Senator Lugar for making your statement without that awful repub spin. G-D bless you sir, and all whom you love!

donna (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:44 PM)

Ads don't make people safe. Action does.

Action is not a word that has ever been associated with Barack Hussein Obama.

Artie Rouse, Madison WI (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:45 PM)

It's nice to see when politician is honest enough to put aside partisanship for the truth. And that statement goes for both sides.

Whomever should win, reducing partisanship is important and should be a goal/mode of operation of that administration. G.W. Bush has failed on many levels to run a successful administration, but near the top of that list is his embrace of partisan practices and partisan attacks--to which he yet continues today.

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:45 PM)

I would like to see the so-called conservatives try to attack Sen. Lugar now. I'm sure even Dick Lugar knows that McCain is a hothead with the wrong temperament to lead America. I don't know what Obama's chances are in Indiana but I'm positive that being seen working with Lugar can only help him. I believe that Lugar would endorse Obama if he could. I'll look for his endorsement by the lack of campaigning for McCain. That would be good enough.

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:45 PM)

The latest national poll shows Obama beating McCain by nine points, 50% to 41%. I wonder if FirstRead will have anything to say about this. I know polls don't mean a whole lot at this time, but this one kind of shoots holes in the preferred corporate media narrative that Obama isn't doing as well in the polls as he "should" in their esteemed opinion. Could we please stop hearing that nonsense? Pretty please?

Houston (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:47 PM)

Not to get off subject, but go to davidHorsey.com (he's a cartoonist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) to get a fresh satire look at the flip side of the New Yorker coin!

laughaday (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:47 PM)

Ira - "What does that tell you..."

Actually what I'm taking out of all this cordiality toward Obama by some Republican senators is they suspect chances are pretty good Obama is going to win, so they're making sure not to burn bridges.

Sure, some of it might be genuine. All of these people are capable of partisan hackery, self interest and true statesmanship, depending on the circumstances of the moment. We are complex beings.

My guess, though, is this is a combination of statesmanship and self interest, at the expense of hackery.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:47 PM)

So Obama essentially did his job as a Senator. Wow, that's quite impressive.

Hank (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:49 PM)

Jerry/Corpus Christi...spin this!

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:50 PM)

Nice! Love that Lugar confirms its accuracy.

Marihelen (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:50 PM)

Senior republicans and nationally known republicans like Lugar, Hagel and Anrold Schwarzeneger siding with Obama.

Didn't Arnold endorse McCain or atleast "the republican nominee" at one point earlier this year? Just because you side with someone on one item doesn't mean you agree with everything they do.

I agree that McCain is a moron on some things, but I also think he would serve this country better than Obama would.

John, MI (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:51 PM)

This is a perfect example of why we Obama fans consider him a uniter. This is why I preferred him over Hillary. It is amazing what a little olive branch to your enemies will do, as long as you resist the temptation to view the world in terms of good & evil. Good & evil are man-made concepts, there is no good or evil in the animal kingdom. There is social or anti-social (pro-society or anti-society). This is why his policy vis a vis Iran will be more effective than the current policy of holding our breath until our face turns blue. The terrorists would have a much harder time radicalizing Muslims if the U.S. tried harder to take the high road.
McNeedsACane doesn't know how to use the internet, he doesn't know that Czechoslovakia is no longer a country (when was that? 15 years ago?)...just more recent examples that representative government is impossible when your representative lives in a different world.

Barry, Irvine, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:52 PM)

Mark, Salem, CT (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:55 PM)

At leat Obama is cognizant of the real threat of rogue nukes...McCain hasn't said squat about this issue. Shows Obama is on the ball with Foreign affairs and McCain doesn't, since he still thinks Czeckoslavakia is still a nation.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:57 PM)

Thank you Senator Lugar.

Gee there is a republican that really makes since. Sure wish few more could learn to work together. Obviously the Bush McSame group don't get it yet, thanks to the msm.

Iowa (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:58 PM)

First Read: you guys missed today's announcement that after McCain visits Czechoslovakia, he's going on to sit down with the Prussian delegation in Siam.

Just a quick note (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:00 PM)

donna (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:00 PM)

Ned Jankowski, Lincoln NE wrote:
"What a joke this man is. It's amazing his arm is not broken from patting himself on the back. "

Dude.

It's called "running for President". I am willing to wager that Senator Obama is the first candidate for President ever criticized for this - he is labeled cocky instead of confident - presumptuous instead of prepared.

Soon you (and the media) will get used to seeing people who are not like you being successful. Just give it some time.

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:01 PM)

THANK YOU Mr. Lugar, on this site today obama has been getting hammered, if he talkes that black fathers are not there for our wifes and kids, he gets hammered, if he talks about the situtation in iraq, he gets hammered, its nice to see that there are people that are past the point of party verces party!!! so all you sick puppies get a life!!!
also please stop not posting comments with in a hour after you post. i had something to day about the NAACP speech and you stop at 32 comments!!! shame on you MSNBC

jeff D Evanston IL (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:02 PM)

Secondly jordon,

You lie when you say they are tied in most polls. Obama is consistently ahead in the polls, and he's winning big in battleground states.

donna (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:05 PM)

Ideally, we would be decommissioning, if not destroying, any terrible nuclear weapons we'd have to lock down in the first place. Still nice to see this sort of bipartisanship, though.

game kid (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:05 PM)

jordon,

He is tied in most polls because Obama has to overcome vicious slanderous lies, and the ruling race's resistance to sharing power!

That's a head wind the pundits, and closed minded people like you choose to ignore.

donna

--------

And here I thought it was because Obama is an elitist condecending snob with no resume or accomplishments to speak of.

jordon (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:09 PM)

Nash-fan
It's called "running for President". I am willing to wager that Senator Obama is the first candidate for President ever criticized for this - he is labeled cocky instead of confident - presumptuous instead of prepared.

Soon you (and the media) will get used to seeing people who are not like you being successful. Just give it some time.

----------

Duuude.

I'd like to see Obama be successful, . . . . at anything. The only thing he's been successful at is enriching himself. Confident is when you've done something in the past, and you are certain you can continue to do it in the future. Cocky is when you've never done anything, and you think you can do it. Obama is cocky.

Vince Workman, Middle Tennessee (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:12 PM)

I have been on the fence related to these two candidates for some time now. I agree with McCain on the drilling issue for the short term, and gisagree with him on taxes. I agree with Obama on the war and Aphganistan, disagree with him the proposed spending. But to think that the leader of the free world, in the most powerful, technologically advanced country in the world CAN NOT ACCESS THE INTERNET on his own, makes me cringe. To me it shows just how out of touch he is with the rest of the country. Oh and the whole leaving the crippled wife who was loyal to him all those years in NAM and marrying a youg airess tells me more about him (Intergrity and Loyalty) than any war story ever will.

gman (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:12 PM)

Please America can anyone tell me what the Iraq War was for?

MCCAIN DIDN'T READ THE INTELLIGENCE REPORT BEFORE THE INVASION OF IRAQ! NOW MCWAR BRAGS ABOUT HOW GREAT THE SURGE HAS WORKED. THE BIG QUESTION REMAINS WHAT HAVE WE REALLY ACCOMPLISEHED IN IRAQ?

Bush, McCain, voted to send 4200 troops to there death and for what? That is the real story here!

1. Is Iran stronger or weaker since Bush/McCain’s invasions of Iraq?

2. Has Osama bin Laden been killed or captured since Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?

3. Are we paying more for GAS now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?

4. Is our economy better of now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?

5. Is the White Houses creditability better now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?

6. Is the budget deficit higher now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?

7. Is the Middle East more peaceful now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?

8. Do we have more American Solders dead or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of IRAQ?

9. HAS THE SURGE PRODUCED ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN IRAQ BEFORE THE WAR EVEN BEGAN? MCWAR HAS NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT.

MCCAIN WANTED TO GO TO WAR WITH IRAQ EVEN BEFORE BUSH DID. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR THIS MAN. I LOVE AMERICA TO MUCH TO RISK THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY TO MCCAIN'S POOR JUDGEMENT.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:13 PM)

i love bipartisanship

mccain lies about voting record on veterans issues
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/mccain-lies-about-his-voting-record-for-veterans/
or

http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:13 PM)

Obama is a left leaning centralist whose approach to solving an issue is to look at the issue from the 'left' and 'right' sides and from the bottom up.

This is a how bipartisanship should work and how change will happen in Congress.
Mark, Salem, CT (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:55 PM)

--------

So, whats Obamas excuse for his 100% liberal voting record for the last 3 years?

Need to Know (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:13 PM)

[[Ned Jankowski, Lincoln NE wrote:
"What a joke this man is. It's amazing his arm is not broken from patting himself on the back. "

Dude.

It's called "running for President".
Nashville_fan]]
--I think you are both incorrect. Well, I do agree with Nashville_fan that he is indeed running for President. But the reason Obama pushes these issues in the manner he does is because his resume is relatively thin. He is padding his resume (understandably) with the importance of his accomplishments. Frankly, I'm surprised the right doesn't attack him there. Oh well. On the other hand, I, personally, don't believe that his comparatively thin resume proves lack of wisdom/judgment, nor do I believe that it will make him a less capable President/Commander in Chief.

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:15 PM)

He is tied in most polls because Obama has to overcome vicious slanderous lies, and the ruling race's resistance to sharing power!

That's a head wind the pundits, and closed minded people like you choose to ignore.

So donna, if I read this right, you think Obama is not getting a far shake from the press? HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!

And what in the world are you talking about "ruling race"? Wow, that sure is a step into the deep end of the pool when it appears you can't swim.

Ty Reed, Ft. Collins CO (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:17 PM)

Ned...

you want bills sponsored by Obama? One's he actually penned?? Here's a link.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/172059/936

Now, why don't you do the same for McCain... I won't count the GI Bill he claims he was ALL FOR but was truly against...

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/10/on-gi-bill-mccain-really-is-full-of-it/

ya know (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:17 PM)

The latest poll from red South Carolina finds Obama trailing by only SIX points (http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/07/15/tuesday-polls/), a sign of how much trouble McCain is in right now.

Daniel, NY (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:18 PM)

Senator Lugar is a truly honorable man. He has always been for country over party.

Question: Donna just cause I am curious. Why do you never spell God God?

sotiredofignorance (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:19 PM)

THANK YOU Mr. Lugar, what a great show of bi-partisanship for both of you. The “maverick” doesn’t walk the walk, or talk the talk. The immigration vote is just one of the maverick’s flop.

Even if tried to walk the walk, or talk the talk. His brain won't let him. He might bump his head or think he's in Prague. This is not a joke.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:21 PM)

Ads don't make people safe. Action does.

Action is not a word that has ever been associated with Barack Hussein Obama.

Artie Rouse, Madison WI (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:45 PM)
............................................
You mean action like wanting to invade Iraq in 1998.
How about voting for a war based on falsified intelligence, lies and fear mongering?

How about action on the energy crisis like a gas tax or off-shore drilling or a $3 million dollar prize for inventing a battery?

How about his 95% voting records with Bush?

Is that what you were talking about?

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:22 PM)

Leave Obamma alone he is sooooooooo great he can do no wrong just like the great divider I mean uniter BUSH look at how Obamma unites us BLACK and WHITE for that matter look how he brought the Blacks together lately gender need I say more SWEETIE or how about republicans and dems or democrats for that matter religious people are split can they trust him on gays abortion nope he is the great uniter.
kenn
****

You are such a moron.

DV, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:24 PM)

I really enjoyed Oberman last night. Rachel Maddox interviewed many who said that Obama was way ahead of the Bush/McCain team on Afganistan and Iraq. The segment showed that this intelligent man has good military judgement. I think that sometimes people are sent to us as a gift. I think that of Eisenhower and Patton. I also think this of Obama. Come on American wake up, we have someone intelligent who wants to help our country. I hope that we can use all of the intelligent people that we have to get this situation corrected. We need Democrats and Republicans to work on this one. The nature of our country's security should be bipartisan with all helping.

karen bourland overland park ks (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:25 PM)

For those of us that actually Pay Attention, you would've already known about this Bipartison work done by Barack &Lugar.However, the GOP's still building Submarines with Screen Door's, so don't expect too many of them to know this FACT.

On Andrea's show at 1pm, Eric Cantor(GOP) still trying to make the case that we must Protect Isreal before we hunt down Bin Laden. Screw Isreal until Bin Laden's Head is in the good ole United States Of America.

Our Troop's, with Barack in the oval office are coming to the Pakistan's door, because if You Pakistanies won't do the Job, Our Troop's Will.This is why the Troop's on the Ground will Overwhelmingly Vote for Barack, because they know he mean's business when it comes to Bin Laden & the other perpetrator's of 911.

GWB, with McNothing by his side did nothing but Run & Hide from the Fight. Won't be the case with Barack OBama, he's been a Fighter All his Life!
God Bless America!!!

Rick,Ky (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:28 PM)

Ned (Lincoln, Nebraska):

Why don't you ask Sen Lugar that question? Sen Lugar said the ad is accurate and that he and Sen Obama worked together on this issue. Are you calling Sen Lugar a liar?

It must be terrible to hate someone so much that you accuse him of anything and anything and can't accept that he has actually accomplished good things in his career. How does hating someone that much actually feel? I feel sorry for you.

Obama '08

Liz, NY (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:28 PM)

WOW
I am noticing a coming together or a "uniting" you might say

Kinda Scary

Jack, Canton, Oh (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:28 PM)

McCain just announced that he "knows how to win wars." It's good to hear that. Why hadn't he imparted that knowledge to the President or the Republicans some time in the last seven years?

Seems to me he's blowing smoke.

Democrat (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:31 PM)

How cant you like a guy whos own party would vote for obamma after all the mistakes the neo cons and religious right has made Macain is hated by all the groups the dems cant stand and obamma is supported by the evangelicals and repuckers like Hagel, anyone check hagels stand on abortion or gay marriages just the conservitive the dems are looking for in a vice president .HAGEL is alot like obamma supports funding a war he wants to end.SEEMs TWO FACED

kenn (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:33 PM)

Remember DEMORATS Obamma said it right the republicans have been the party of Ideas for the last 15 years or so thats right that was said by the democratic presidential hopeful but he said it when he was running against another democrat seems two faced to me maybe Hilliary was right and you all picked another george Bush

kenn (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:35 PM)

John from Mi

Did you really mean you would accept a " moron " as POTUS? If so, I think you need to rethink that one!

jeanwny (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:42 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=1200047