McCain adviser attacks Obama judgment

Posted: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:24 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
On a conference call after Obama's press conference, McCain's senior foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, took off the gloves and launched an attack at the foundation of Obama's foreign policy argument: his judgment.

The other participants on the call -- Rep. Heather Wilson (who lost her Senate primary in New Mexico earlier this year) and Sen. Sam Brownback -- emphasized that the difference between McCain and Obama on the issue of Iraq is that McCain's strategy is not based on the calendar but rather conditions on the ground.

VIDEO: At a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, Sen. John McCain criticizes Sen. Barack Obama's plans for withdrawal in Iraq.

But the merits of this sort of civil differentiation seemed lost on Scheunemann, who launched into a long diatribe questioning Obama's record and where his judgment on foreign policy comes from. After first saying that Obama's recent comments while overseas prove that he "seems to forget that we have elections in this country not coronations," Scheunemann made the point that Obama's approach to the situation in Iraq is based on ... nothing.

"He refuses to credit Gen. Petraeus and Gen. Odierno for their leadership; he disparages their strategic judgment and trumpets his own," Scheunemann began. "What is Sen. Obama's judgment based on? His tenure at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when he did not hold a single substantive hearing? His years in the Illinois state Senate or as a community organizer? Or is it based on his international experience gleaned while he was in junior high school in Indonesia or on a college spring break trip in Pakistan? Or is it based on the memos and briefing papers from his 300 foreign policy advisers?"

"The reality," he continued, "is that Sen. Obama's judgment on the most important national security questions facing our country in 2007 was wrong, and it demonstrates both his inexperience and his ideological rigidity."

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Comments

"The reality," he continued, "is that Sen. McCain's judgment on the most important national security questions facing our country in 2002 and 2003 was wrong, and it demonstrates both his inexperience and his ideological rigidity."

RollaMO (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:30 PM)

Scheunemann: What a putz!

GOP: Gullible Old People (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:30 PM)

Umm, McCain campaign, your uh, slip is showing.

I, CO (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:32 PM)

TRUTH!!

The Truth (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:33 PM)

What Senator Obama's judgement is based on is his inteligence and common sense. Also, his personal observations.

Donna A. Reuter, Bremerton, WA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:33 PM)

I’d for one like to thank Barack for what he’s doing overseas. I can’t remember the last time we had so many world leaders and citizens of other nations as anxious as they are now in hearing what one of our premier political figures has to say.

Not to mention when he speaks, he actually knows what he’s talking about and is able to construct constructive and articulate statements. I’ve grown accustomed over the past eight years of people domestically and abroad running from the presence and words of these ‘politicians’. Barack appears to be genuine in his ability to actually want to hear the concerns of these individuals.

It will be amazing or should I say less so, the criticism he will face for being liked by those other than left of center Americans or those disaffected by the last eight years. Who knew being liked around the world would be such a bad thing.

Lee-- Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:33 PM)

OMG!!...LMAO!!..the GOP has become a party of WHINERS!!!....IF SENATOR OBAMA HAD HIS WAY, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER INVADED IRAQ IN THE FIRST PLACE!...THEY HAD TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THEY CREATED!!!

Alison, FL (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:34 PM)

McCain is accusing Obama of treason.

At todays town hall he said, ""it seems to me that Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign."

First Read, can you imagine if Obama had said the same thing? Why is the media ignoring the validity of these outrageous charges, and merely parroting them, like in this First Read post? You should be examining and questioning these charges, especially if they involve calling a senator a traitor!

Brian, Wausau, WI (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:34 PM)

Ohh, oh. Obama's little minions of hit men will be out in force now. Watch your ankles Scheunemann. These poeple are like raging Pomeranians.

Dog Whisperer (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:35 PM)

This type of argument is going to be a loser for Sen. McCain, so it's not surprising that two hack politicians like Sen. Brownback and Rep. Wilson are the ones launching it.

I'm not saying that Sen. Obama is right on everything. But if they want to talk about national security, all Obama has to do is bring up the specter of Afghanistan, which he's been talking about since his anti-Iraq War speech in 2002. The political ads almost write themselves.

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:35 PM)

McClown and his posse are grasping for straws now. B.O. has been well-received by all on this trip, and McClown is sensing his one 'advantage' evaporating, hence the desperation... He needs to take his flip-flopping toukas (spelling?) and go away, rather than dying a slow, undignified death over the next few months. Further desperation and mud-slinging will only hurt our country more. We need to unite behind the only rational person left in this Presidential race and start moving forward...

Lone Democratic Warrior in North Texas (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:37 PM)

The reality is the GOP and all its members were wrong on the war on IRAQ and you sir are part of that decision. So it seems we can say that you demonstrate inexperience and ideological rigidity. Better add stupidity to that list for Randy Scheunemann

David Gregory (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:37 PM)

MSNBC just refuses to report the most significant part of this conversation, but Huffington Post is on the job.

Congresswoman Heather Wilson Said this:

"He'd like troops to come home earlier than 16 months if the conditions allow it," said Congresswoman Heather Wilson of New Mexico, on a conference call with reporters just now. "Senator Obama has said it's a 16-month timeline no matter what."

Talk about pandering and just how does MSNBC MISS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION WHEN SEN. MCCAIN'S SURROGATE WILSON DOES A FLIP FLOP ON THE IRAQ TIMELINE WHICH SEN. MCCAIN KEEP SAYING HE DOES NOT SUPPORT

YET..............WILSON SAYS HE MIGHT BRING THE TROOPS OUT SOONER THAN 16 MONTHS................

NOW THERE'S THE STORY

gg, fl (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:38 PM)

Boy is the McCain camp frustrated. If one picture of Obama in Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan is worth a 1000 words each, the McCain camp might as well keep on talking. (Shouting at Clouds) No body is listening. If their frustration is high today, Tuesday: by Thursday it will be through the roof.
A gaffe a day, wrong side on the issues, unable to get traction trying to hit Obama. Next they will be attacking the Media.

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:38 PM)

WHAT A REPUBLICAN CAMP OF WHINNERS, WHINNERS, WHINNERS

vl, fl (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:39 PM)

Man will they shut up already. Its like taking a cross country trip with 3 screaming children in the back seat.. They are beginning to make the Clinton machine look humble and accepting.

jim GR (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:39 PM)

Didn’t Hitler occupy must of Europe for fascist expansion?

Didn’t USSR occupy Eastern European Countries for political reasons?

Didn’t Sadam occupy Kuwait for oil?

So my question is this to the McWar Camp and the GOP; are we the United States occupying Iraq? They do not want us there and the McWar and the GOP are not listening to the Iraqi people and there leaders. So what are the reasons for our occupation in Iraq? I never thought the US would take this approach for expansion of democracy, political gain and for oil. It will be a sad day in America if we continue to force our values and ideology on this country.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:39 PM)

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,
I wish ya'll could play a tape of these desperate rantings of Mccain's surrogates! What an idiot! As if any Obama supporter would go " Oh, yea, you might be right" I know that I have been following Senator Obama for over a full year now and I know that he is without a doubt the candidate I will be casting my vote for this November. Mccain's camp has been providing a good bit of laughable material lately though, so I am enjoying their clownish antics.

Obama/Biden 08

Obama by a mile (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:39 PM)

Man will they shut up already. Its like taking a cross country trip with 3 screaming children in the back seat.. They are beginning to make the Clinton machine look humble and accepting.

jim GR (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:40 PM)

How can obama have judgement when he has NO experience. He has no idea of whats goin on, he didn't vote for anything except present. Now he thinks he can be judgemental about Iraq> What nerve and arrangance. Again just show that this man does not belong in the White house. Maybe he should go back to doing what he has done, be a community organizer, or judge a beauty pagaent.

Independent Texan (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:40 PM)

Has anyone ever notice the McWar campaign does nothing but criticize and complain about everything. No new ideas, no positive message, just criticize and complain. They must wake up everyday and have there morning meetings and say ok guys what can we criticize and complain about today. These guys must be angry old men that are suffering from ED. How does Cindy Mcwar live with this guy, I give her credit for hanging in there. God Bless Her.

McCain; criticize and complain, criticize and complain, criticize and complain, criticize and complain, criticize and complain, criticize and complain. If the MSM counts how many times McWar puts; out a negative messages to the public it must be a 50 to 1 ratio.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:40 PM)

geeez McSame and company had a clock ticking down until Obama went to Iraq and Afghanistan. Now all they can do is whine. Give it a rest. Next time be careful what you wish.

Obama/Biden08, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:41 PM)

Geeze, can you believe the way they are trying to fight back? As if judgement only comes with age.

Regarding the coronation quip, that really takes the cake since we have had almost eight years of "King George".. who doesn't believe he has to follow the constitution.

J. Chase (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:41 PM)

I find this diatribe - funnier than a skit on SNL -- maybe he should trail against his guy for getting pertinent facts mixed up daily. This is really funny..really..wow...

Lauri Smalls, Providence, RI (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:41 PM)

The McCain surrogates cited in this article are nut jobs with no credibility...the only people who will listen to them is the choir to whom they already preach.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:41 PM)

Looks like the McBush camp is getting hyper and desperate.

Norm, Columbia, MD (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:42 PM)

The MSM really needs to expose Scheunemann - he is a neocon lobbyist who played a major role in the run-up to the Iraq war in the first place. I wouldn't trust one thing to come out of his mouth. http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1347.html

Andrea Westchester (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:43 PM)

WOW. This diatribe is getting personal. This is begining to seem desperate and pathetic. Why cant the McCain campaign focus on policy and relevant issues?

Junior high, spring break, Obama has never referenced McCain's school or any of his personal stuff - not even the crashing of five planes, or visiting strip malls, or breaking virtually every rule wihle in navy school.

J. Richter (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:43 PM)

Like every other politician Obama constructs his views by selecting a team of advisors. It's funny that the Whitehouse & Iraqi's agree with Obama. I rather have his nothing than this blood for oil 100 year war.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:43 PM)

The McCain spokesmen are starting to sound shrill and petulant. Heather Wilson on the same conference call actually said McCain might withdraw troops BEFORE 16 months and then she had to "walk it back" (the pundit phrase du jour). That and Scheunemann's ugly screed on Obama's character shows that the McCain message is increasingly undisciplined and that his folks are getting dangerously close to losing their cool. If this keeps up, the biggest sound bite this week might be McCain finally unleashing his infamous temper in public. The sublime irony of all this is that McCain goaded Obama to go to Iraq, which might go down as his biggest strategic blunder of the campaign.

Kris Fort Lauderdale (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:43 PM)

Whoa!

lol

The McCain campaign really is in a tizzy eh? :)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What is Sen. Obama's judgment based on? His tenure at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when he did not hold a single substantive hearing? His years in the Illinois state Senate or as a community organizer? Or is it based on his international experience gleaned while he was in junior high school in Indonesia or on a college spring break trip in Pakistan? Or is it based on the memos and briefing papers from his 300 foreign policy advisers?"

---------------------------

The answer is an emphatic YES! :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:43 PM)

The is getting boring. Yawn!!!!!!

Lani In California (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:44 PM)

Actually Scheunemann is going to get his in the next week... for his definite involvement in the Bush library scandal.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/20/scheunemann-payne/

ya know (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:44 PM)

Obama has been against Iraq because it was a dumb war. Every day we spend there is a day we are fighting people who want their home back, rather than where we should be, which is Afghanistan, fighting people who are killing for the sake of killing.

Big difference.

Matt, Idaho (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:45 PM)

What is this FOOL Scheunemann even talking about? Is this supposed to be advocacy or a chance to show how off their rockers members of the McCain campaign are?

Just Wondering (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:45 PM)

To all:

Apparently Obama isn't the GOP's worst enemy...

Envy is.

Paul, Riverside, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:46 PM)

Dog Whisperer, no, Randy should be given the microphone as often as possible. Every time he opens his mouth, he shows how desperate the McCain campaign is. Keep talking Randy. PLEASE.

Big Fan of Randy S (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:46 PM)

Scheunemann seems to have difficulty keeping his brain in gear when his mouth is moving. McCain's camp pressed for Obama to go overseas, and now doesn't like how it is going. They are whining that McCain didn't get the same coverage, but didn't invite the major news networks to go with him. They complain that he is uninformed and bases his information on his 300 advisors, when actually, advice is being filtered up to Obama's top advisors. could this complain possibly be based on the fact that their top economic advisor thinks Americans are Whiners? Is this a case of 'Advisor Envy" or "People Envy" or just is the McCain gang of sour grapes -- just another gaggle of geezers -- or a case where sometimes you get what you asked for, not what you wishe for.

Kay P Tempe, AZ (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:46 PM)

My Gosh! It was McCain who suggested that Obama make a trip overseas. If Obama had not made the trip McCain and his surrogates would be attacking Obama for not making a trip. Now that Obama has made the trip they are attacking him for making a trip and for not coming away in agreement with everything they say.

This is purely politically driven especially based on the fact htat Obama is having a successful trip and visits with heads of States. Do McCain and his surrogates truly not realize and understand how desparate their comments and attacks against Obama appear to the Amerciian people? It is pathetic.

An NO media representatives. Obama has not made a blunder yet. I realize that Anderason Cooper from CNN as well as som,e others have implied that Obama should not be negotiating U.S. foreign policy as he is not yet President. But the fact is he is NOT negotiating U.S. foreign policy. If leaders as Malaki want to make comments they agree with Obama's long time proposal for a deadline to get U.S. Troops out of Iraq that is their business. They decided the timing of their comments, not Obama.

I am sick and tired of the media and press doing all they can to try and find a blunder or error by Obama while on this trip. It is not going to happen. While at the same time you have McCain making blunder and gaffe after blunder and gaffe, and he is not even traveling overseas at this time. His campaign is pathetic and the press is becoming pathetic. Both need to lighten up and get over it. Obama is going to be the next President.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:47 PM)

the other thing... who cares about the surge working? Had we taken Obama's advice and not invaded Iraq (which McCain whole-hog supported) we'd be in Afghanistan bombing the hell out of the idiots that brought down the WTC buildings and killed over 3000 people.

McCain can talk surge all day... it hasn't done what it was supposed to do... stand up the Iraqi government. Besides that... he's too dumb to know that Iraqi's weren't responsible for 9/11 anyways.

ya know (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:48 PM)

Isn't it a little early yet for the McCain campaign to reek this blatantly of desperation? Usually this kind of shrillness is saved as a last resort, when the election's all but a foregone conclusion and they've nothing left to lose. Seriously, Big Mac, you're already struggling to raise money; are you tactically bankrupt as well?

Oy (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:48 PM)

Senator Obama was RIGHT when he OPPOSED the Iraq War.

General Shinseki was RIGHT when he said we needed a MUCH LARGER force if we were going to invade Iraq.

These two facts trump any and all other arguments. Period.

You can't make up for one of the biggest foreign policy blunders of all time with a bandaid.

It's like saying to a patient - "We amputated your hands instead of your feet, but we caught on to our mistake before we amputated your arms."

Not a huge comfort.

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:49 PM)

this ass wipe is attacking obama judgement!! oha as we say in the HOOD, don't go there girl friend!!! his judgement is a hell of a lot better than john McCains!! his judgment, ok here is some of his judgement!!

1st going in to Iraq was a mistake, a lie that GWB put to the american people, in stead of going along with everybody else his said then that we are taking our eye off afganstan.
2nd he said that we must attack along the pakstain border because of the attacks from the afganstan border.
3rd he said that we needed a time table for withdraw, and guess what the iraq governemt agrees!!
4th it it me or did the US send a rep to listion to what Iran had to say, when GWB and john mccain said we must not talk unless there are conditions!!
ok you attacking obama judgement!!
please, yesterday it was obama fault that gas was so high, the months before it was he has not been in iraq so how can he judge what going on there!!

GUYS WHAT WILL IT BE NEXT, YOU KNOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE STOPED LISTIONING TO YOU!!! YOUR A BUNCH OF IDIOTTS!!! I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE DEBATES!!!! I'M GOING TO TAPE THEM AND SHOW THEN TO MY GRANDCHILDREN. AND IN 20 YEARS SHOW THEN HOW STUPID THE REPUBLICAN WERE IN 2008!!!!! YOU GUYS ARE MAKING GWB LOOK SMART!!!

jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:50 PM)

LOL, McLoser sends his minions out to yell at clouds.

Kate, Atlanta (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:50 PM)

This is predictable and it is not unsusal...Republican are bankrupt of idea and they are a little jelous of the new kid on the block

Bee (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:50 PM)

Notice how the McCain camp came out with those videos about the medias affection towards Obama. I think they are just jealous that McCain is not getting the attention in 08' as did Bush in 00' and 04'.

Sorry GOP, you can't blame us for your downfall. Blame King George II. The Obama Movement is nothing more than an uprising. The majority see the good in Obama, and what he can do for this country, while there are those that are either to stubborn to accept the inevitable or just simply racist. Plain and simple

Paul, Riverside, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:51 PM)

What Senator Obama's judgement is based on is his inteligence and common sense. Also, his personal observations.
-------------------------------------------------
What personal observations? He's been declaring what he's going to do in Iraq as President for a long time. He's changed nothing after getting (finally) some observations. He claims to be against the Iraq war from the beginning (real bold statement from an Illinois state senator) and voted against the very thing that made ending the war even possible. Where is his brilliant judgment?

Community Organizer (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:51 PM)

Thanks Randy Scheunemann, for speaking the truth.

The Truth Hurts (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:52 PM)

Lordy, those McCain surrogates are getting showing their fear.

K, Portsmouth, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:53 PM)

This is so stupid of the republicans to keep saying and pretend Obama does not respect the military leaders on the ground.
The repukes wants to continue to throw the military people into the equation for political folly, but tell the military personnel to not mix military and politics.
Well the McCain camp needs to discipline themselves as well. This is ridiculous and what they are portraying is inaccurate.

***While I am at it, the media gives McCain a free ride on many of these substance issues when that camp is clearly wrong. Oh, but if Obama does something it is talked about for weeks.

Then you wonder how did we end up in Iraq, so I guess the media believe they have no blame, the media needs to think again, because the same behavior the republicans have on display has been here for the last 8 years. This behavior is not and the media once again are not holding these people accountable.****

Michelle Zee (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:53 PM)

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