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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

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Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Gration and the Landstuhl controversy

Posted: Friday, July 25, 2008 5:50 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski
In his official capacity as a sitting US senator, Obama has every right to stay in touch with America's men and women in uniform. According to Pentagon officials, the problem was that Obama's request to visit Landstuhl included two members of his campaign staff -- retired Major General Jonathan S. Gration and Jeff Kiernan. US military officials in Germany informed the campaign the two political operatives would not be permitted on base.

Pentagon officials say Gration was the campaign's point of contact at Landstuhl in arranging Obama's visit and "got torqued" when he was told he would not be permitted to join Obama. It was Gration who later suggested to reporters that the Pentagon short-circuited Obama's visit.

Are there some in the Pentagon or military resentful because Gration has climbed on board the Obama campaign? Did Gration overreact? As a former policy director for the US European Command, he would surely be disappointed -- if not offended -- by being excluded from the visit. It's also been my experience that even retired generals do not want to hear the word "no."

Whatever the reason, Obama and the troops he would have visited have both missed a unique and historic opportunity. According to one Army lieutenant colonel, "Everyone was excited about Obama's visit. It's a shame."

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Comments

Why does FR criticize the media for being distracted by "shiny metal objects" when they are guilty of of the same thing?  How many posts on this non-story now?  Sheesh...
Boo-freakin'-hoo!  So the general got his undies in a knot because, in his new role as political hack, he was not allowed to visit Landstuhl.  Waaaah!  I'm sure if the Obama campaign showed some flexibility and maturity, all would have worked out for everyone, except possibly Gration.  And really, who gives a crap if it works out for him?
THANK YOU FIRST READ FOR CLARIFYING THE STORY.

IT SEEMS LIKE SO MANY PUNDITS, REPUBLICANS AND SOME HATE-FILLED AMERICANS, HAVE SO DESPERATELY WANTED OBAMA TO FAIL OVERSEAS, THAT EVERYONE IS TREATING HIM LIKE THEY DO HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE.

LIFT THEM UP ON A PEDESTAL ONLY TO PUSH HIM OFF.

WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.

ENVY IS ONE OF THE 10 DEADLY SINS...REMEMBER THAT.

WE SHOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE SUCH A STATEMAN REPRESENTING OUR COUNTRY.

I ONLY HOPE THOSE OF YOU WITH JUDGEMENTAL THINKING REMEMBER...SOMEONE ALSO KNOWS YOUR SECRETS...THE ONES LATE AT NIGHT, IN THE DARK CORNERS OF YOUR MINDS.

HOPE FOR YOUR SAKE SEVERE SCRUTINY DOESN'T BEFALL ANY OF YOU.
I MISS TIM RUSSERT...I DON'T THINK WE WILL EVER HAVE SUCH QUALITY, NON-TABLOID JOURNALISM, IN MY LIFE TIME.

McCain chose to lose the war in Afghanistan when he voted for the war in Iraq.
Let's all pretend that the White House had nothing to do with this.  "Oh my, look at that nice shiny object."
Per the pentagon:

"Obama and the troops he would have visited have both missed a unique and historic opportunity. According to one Army lieutenant colonel, "Everyone was excited about Obama's visit. It's a shame."

This is the 4th Pentagon clarification of the reason Obama could not visit the hospital. This is the most shameful. Now it was decided to put our heroes in the middle of what is clearly a political discussion and say the soldiers were disappointed.  "It's a shame."

It's a shame that the administration has sunk this low. It's a shame when the military has become the political arm of the Bush administration. It's a shame the George W. Bush is commander-in-chief.







Would these be the same pentagon people....
who gave us this war in Iraq?
Would these be the same pentagon people who set upa covert propoganda program...to have
retired generals push this war on Main Stream Media's shows with the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld talking points? So the American people would get behind this war?
uh huh...
so we should believe these "pentagon people" are telling us the truth now.....why?
This from the administration that told foreign service workers they were NOT PERMITTED to attend Obama's speech in Germany?  
And Rice contacted diplomats and told them not to assist Obama's ontourage at all.

Did McCain visit the troops when he was in Iraq?
I don't remember him saying he did...or seeing pics that he did.  Where is that story??????

Ahhh....never mind.

Is it even a story anymore?  Is MSN trying to stir the pot?  Can they beat a dead horse?  Tune in next time...same bat time...same bat channel!
Dirty rotten, filthy dirty skunks.

Just another example of people who wrap themselves in the flag, but don't have the least understanding of what it truly stands for! (Picture the bronze statue of several Marines, struggling to hoist the flag, during WWII).

How could McCain, Bush, Condi, and the Pentagon have actively engineered the disappointment of the wounded servicemen, and servicewoman for cheap, political gamesmanship?

I guess McCain sees his service in the military as exclusively worthy. I guess his heroism alone should be honored, lauded, and rewarded.

I despise the ugliness of neocon politicians.
Has he lost it? This is basically Obama's withdrawal plan - the one that McCain has been going nuts over for weeks. This will weaken McCain;s broader positions on the war.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Of course the Pentagon sh.ort-circuited Obama's visit. The Gop is running scared

McCains says leave Iraq with honor. What honor?  Amnesiac/Early Alzheimer’s candidate McCain honor means…
Honor thy neighbor as thyself! McCain probably doesn’t know this; being a warmonger.
Maliki and his people have said they want out. Nour-al-Maliki even said he feels “feels America’s continued presence is not tantamount to an admission of defeat; rather a victory of a severe blow inflicted on al-Qaeda and the militias”.
Chuck Todd spinning McCain’s interpretation of the surge and how he could win. Point the finger at McCain’s ineptness. McCain Anbar Awakening, Czechoslovakia, Iran/Pakistan borders, Viagra’s 10 sec confused pause etc. deserve more attention. McCain doesn't even know what day it is!
Give credit where it’s due. Commend Obama not as hubris or cocky like Andrea Mitchell did; rather explain his extreme honor, respect, dignity, pride, love of America (the country he was born in), and understanding what the face of America should be. You saw his prayer from the wall in Jerusalem. Obama is a good man, father, husband, Senator, and will be a great World leader with America’s interests at heart.  
Can’t you see that McCain has serious flaws, his policies, his temperament, his judgment, but most of all his gaffes. Are these gaffes due to diminished mental acuity or just expedient flip-flops or lies?

Chuck do you want to help elect a man with these questionable matters?
The liberal section of this blog has to remember that BHO is just playing to the anti-Bush crowd the world over, saying want the anti-Bush crowd wants to hear, leaning conservative, moderate and liberal.
I reject and do not believe any so-called justifications on the part of the Pentagon.  I know what they did, they know what they did and I place all blame on the Bush administration for the troops being disappointed.
Thats all right let them play there dirty games. President Obama will be taking that seat in Jan. he can visit the troops when ever he wants too.

Connie from Indiana
There goes that nasty Obama again. Playing by the rules just like the Michigan primary.
If only the Walmart Evita were the nominee, she wouldn't be stopped by no rules, just like the Michigan primary
GEE,THANKS for the info, I posted this three hours ago,but you guys decided not to post it. I'm glad you finally got this out.
What a crock! How can Obama justify not seeing the troops just because some of his supporters were not allowed on base; I am sure the gentlemen could survive a couple of hours apart. If this candidate was as supportive of the military as he claims he would have made visiting the troops the priority instead of running for World president. I find it insulting that a man who wants to be our president gives more praise and credit to the Sunnis and other Iraqi factions than he does to the American military. Furthermore, it is a shame that MSNBC will not even mention this slight to our military; Evidentially, "Yes we can" applies, as "Yes we cannot visit our wounded troops," and "Yes we cannot report it."
Do you sense coverup on the ground...It's a virus..and it's on the ground.....no it's evil that thinks they are to smarter to be seen as one...
Pull all their clearances and put them all on admin. leave until the U.S.Congress investigates this miss use of power..
Politizing an act of compassion and spirit of healing..
SHAME on THAT PERSON...!!!
All you who posted that story that he snubbed the wounded soliders in the hospital in Germany need to post an apology for reporting such without having the facts. The fact that MSNBC does not due the necessary due diligence before announcing, posting, letting pundits and analysis visiting or sitting report false storys to the detriment of the democratic candidate is a travesty.  Everyone that report this story owns a PUBLIC apology for not having the facts before they opened their mouth and told the world of this falsehood. I hope you all read the negative comments that surrounded this misinformation.  I am just applaud at the negative spin and mis reporting on Senator Obama vs the accolades and cover up giving to John McCain.  Oh but maybe I forget that Barack Obama may not be "ONE OF US" code language for what???? Will the real reporters and journalist please stand up.  This stuff being reported is just distasteful and morally wrong.  Make the truth the HEADLINE STORY.
One has to wonder if the commenters here can read?

Obama cancelled the visit because his campaign advisor former general got his panties in a nit. It's a snub to the troops to put one of your advisers first.

And Obama's campaign rather despicably has continued to imply that the Pentagon somehow said that Obama should not visit because it would be viewed as a cmmpaign event. The facts now show that this was an outright lie.
Does this mean that General Petraeus will not be allowed to visit the troops alongside McCain or Bush?
Interesting how the sniping begins immediately - and the only person not screaming is ... who? Obama.  His team didn't blame the Pentagon in the initial statement - and only went back and clarified after the McCain posse attacked.
 I can hardly wait until McCain and Obama are in the debates - and McCain can't remember where Iraq is at and Leiberman won't be next to him to give him his lines. Now - THERE is a photo op!
They sure don't want a retired general who's allied with Obama contaminating all those FOX SPEWS-fed boys.


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