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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.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



McCain ad blasts Obama on Landstuhl

Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 12:55 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:

From NBC's Mark Murray and Louis Burgdorf
The McCain campaign yesterday unveiled its latest TV ad, which hits Obama for -- among other things -- cancelling a visit to meet with wounded US soldiers at Landstuhl. "He made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops," the ad goes. "Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras. John McCain is always there for our troops

(While Obama didn't visit with those US soldiers at Landstuhl, he did talk to some of them by phone.)

Politico wrote that the ad ran on Saturday Night Live in Denver, CO last night. And today, it will run in the DC market, as well as in Harrisburg, PA.

In response to the TV ad, the Obama campaign released a statement from Sen. Jack Reed (D), who accompanied Obama on his swing through Afghanistan and Iraq. “I was with Sen. Obama last week as we met privately with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Obama listened to their concerns and expressed his gratitude for their service without press or fanfare. He cares for our troops deeply and has worked hard to give them not only the resources they need, but also honor their service with a clearly defined mission and by providing them with the support they have earned when they come home."

Chuck Hagel (R), who also was on the overseas trip, said on CBS this morning that the McCain ad "was inappropriate." He said, "I think it would be totally inappropriate for [Obama], on a campaign trip, to go to a military hospital and use those soldiers as props... We saw troops everywhere we went on the congressional delegation. We went out of our way to see those troops. We wanted to see those troops."

And as one Obama aide points out to First Read, the footage the McCain TV ad uses when saying Obama went "to the gym but cancelled a visit with wounded troops" is when Obama was playing basketball with US troops in Kuwait. "It undermines the credibility of the ad" and proves that the ad is "nothing more than a political attack," the aide says.

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this ad is coming from a man who has voted againist every bill to increase healthcare and education benefits for the troop. Please McCain why did you vote aganst the gi bill. Why don't you answer that question?
Pitiful, just pitiful...

Hey everyone!  Look at me, Mr. McNasty...

He bullied Obama into the trip, and is now desperately trying to find something to WHINE about...  He continues to keep diggin that hole...
What a lying dog that McCain is.  Does he think that we are that stupid and uninformed???  It is obvious that he is a big phony with no principles about anything for this country.  I am mortified that I ever voted republican.  
Disgusting. Obama can't win no matter what he does. He cancels the trip under pressure of the Pentagon and because he doesn't want it to look like a cheap stunt. Of COURSE it's going to be twisted by McCain.
Would it have been too damn difficult for Tom Brokaw to say one positive thing to Sen. Obama?  I was so disgusted by the interview.  I miss Tim Russert.
I can't wait for Obama to hit back with his more damaging ad......."McCain using military experience for political gain, but when it came time to support the troops,(the GI Bill)the straight talk express derailed." This will backfire on McCain the same way Obama's int'l tour did?Priceless!!!!!!  
"And as one Obama aide points out to First Read, the footage the McCain TV ad uses when saying Obama went "to the gym but cancelled a visit with wounded troops" is when Obama was playing basketball with US troops in Kuwait. "It undermines the credibility of the ad" and proves that the ad is "nothing more than a political attack," the aide says.

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What is amazing to me is that the McCain campaign keeps showing inaccurate information in their ads. That seems unprofessional and clearly misleading to the public and sends a definite message to us—supporters of Barack Obama—that John McCain is so desparate to win the presidency that he will lie to make a point.

Does he really think we are stupid or blind? You tell me!





Had he visited them the McCain camp would have been tearing him up for using our wounded heroes as props and MSM would have been breathlessly reporting that.
Bottom line is that the Obama camp needs to stick to their campaign and not allow either his opponent or the salivating train wreck Press to steer it.
Good job Obama.
THE question of this campaign: Is Senator Barack Obama too risky?

Well, has anyone bothered to ask if Senator McCain may be too risky? To me that's the question. We know how intelligent Senator Obama is. We're just not getting that same impression of Senator McCain. At all. And I don't think any ad is going to change that. When he speaks we listen.  And it's not good what we're hearing. So if the journalists in this country believe Senator McCain is more than qualified to be president, then we're in trouble, again. If they want to ignore his bad temper, his age, his meanness, his gaffes, his pettiness, his general lack of knowledge of just about everything, then we're in trouble, again.

Did Senator Obama receive too much press? He never gets enough press. He's smarter than 99% of the journalists we see today. Which is another example of change we're seeing.

Back in 2000-2007, 99% of the media were smarter than Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Hannity, Limbaugh & the rest of the disgraced neo-cons. But the media allowed themselves to get hijacked.

People have gotten too suckered into the "fair and balance" Fox Propaganda spin. And other than a very few, no one has called them on their obvious state run news commentary. It's disgraceful that the Bush Administration got away with it.  Along with everything else they have gotten away with.  

Athena Jones' articles on Senator Barack trip oveseas were terrific. I thought her article especially on Senator Obama's Berlin speech was fabulous.

"Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras."  Huh?  Cameras weren't part of the campaign's plan, and the Pentagon's concerns didn't center on cameras.  

Spending thousands of dollars to snidely -- and falsely -- imply that your opponent won't visit wounded troops unless he can bring cameras is beneath the dignity of someone who wants to be President.
While McCain and the Grand Oil Party talk about Obama....Obama talks about the people. They focus on him, he focuses on us.
I guess that McCain did not see the hundreds of soldiers that were in that gym with Sen. Obama. I guess that missed Sen. Obama Talking with the soldiers and the glow of pride on their faces. I guess that he also missed that fact the Sen. Obama visited wounded troops in Iraq (without the press)I see that Sen. McCain's eyesight may just be failing just as his memory is. I am so disappointed with the Republicans and the cheap parlor tactics they use. It's beyond showing the differences but all about lowdown and dirty stunts. I would rather run through a den of hungry lions wearing pork chop underwear than to vote for John McCain.
Why is McCain so focused on trying to find any little gaffe Obama makes on his trip? Is that the way he is going to run his campaign. He sounds like a little 5 year old. "LOOK, he's doing this, he's doing that!" To which a parent would say, "Stop tattling". This is unreal.
John McCain's ad is nasty and distorted.  This is what we've had from the Bush Administration for eight years.  They've spent more time trying to make those they disagree with look evil than than they have making America strong.  We've gone downhill financially, and have lost our esteem in the eyes of the world.  Do we want four more years of name calling rather than policy via McCain or do we want a President concerned with the welfare of this country?  Barack Obama gets my vote.  
Looks like Barack Obama is taking the Hanna Montana track in trying to get to the White House.
The military really needs to lighten up. It is Barack's policy that if cameras are not allowed in to get a photo-op, then he's not showing up. The military really has way too many rules.
Used to watch Meet the Press (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 1:11 PM)

I think Tim would have been just as tough if not tougher. Brokaw has a high standard to meet and I think he knew that it would not do to give Barrak a powder puff interview. A good tough interview also gives Obama a chance to respond to these questions on what is arguably the highest integrity interview vehicle left in America. At least the McCain camp can't point to this MTP episode as evidence of pro Obama bias. Not while his gaffe with Couric lies on the floor of the CBS editing room.
Mistake upon mistake by Obama on this rock and role tour of his. He actually apologized to the Germans for the USs behavior? He apologized?!? Screw you Obama, the US may not get it entirely right all the time, but this country is an abcolute beacon for how other countries should be run. You want to apologize for something, apologize for the many years of the Democrats ignoring the terrorist threat in the world.
I really wanted to see John McCain beat George Bush back in 2000 for the GOP nomination.  That was a different John McCain.

This John McCain is finding new ways every day to become more and more of an @$$hole!!!
Todays Gallup Poll:

   - Obama 49%

   - Mccain 40%
Not that the National Barack Company (NBC) is in the tank for Obama, but lets have Barack on for the full hour of MTP. You know just to top things off for the Idiot from Illinois.
McCain is indeed just pitiful, IF he insist on running negative ads, the least he could do is ensure accuracy, unbelievable.  I thought I heard him say early in his campaign that he would refrain from negative ads....am I crazy or has he forgotten yet another thing?  McCain the OLD man needs to retire to AZ....we don't need someone else asleep at the helm......
McCain needs to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to supporting the troops - remember the GI Bill, Senator?
The McCain camp seems to have only contradictory attacks messages to spend their campaign funds. Who does this ad appeal to? Current polls show McCain having vast support of veterans so who is he trying to convince of what? The McCain campaign becomes more shameful every day.
Example of character"

Oil Industry Floods McCain With Cash After Offshore Drilling Reversal

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/26/AR2008072601891.html?nav=rss_politics
He Won't need the swift boat type adds, he's  pretty good at NASTY and UNFAIR all by himself
This is DISGUSTING and can't be allowed to go unanswered.
McBush is such a pathetic candidate.
Recommended by:prgsvmama26, loveendures, TNThorpe
One wonders if America can really be that stupid to vote for a man in the 1st stages of Alzeimers or dementia. He doesn't get historical events correct, he forgets he's been in foreign countries as a candidate, he opposed troop withdrawal and then supports it....the man is a LUNATIC and the Republicans should be ashamed . Just because he's a WHITE person is not a reason to vote for this pathetic person....

Obama Quietly Visits Wounded War Vets
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/28/politics/main4216681.shtml

Video: Obama Talks to Fox from London
http://thepage.time.com/video-obama-talks-to-fox-from-london/

About that gym visit cited in McCain's new ad
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/About_that_gym_visit_cited_in_McCains_new_ad.html

Pentagon prevents Obama from visiting troops in Germany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyXt2RsNShI&eurl

Senator Obama With U.S. Troops in Kuwait
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bimTBZPYvWM


Troops? McCain exposed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StvCkAFKu4w
What a lying dog that McCain is.  Does he think that we are that stupid and uninformed???  It is obvious that he is a big phony with no principles about anything for this country.  I am mortified that I ever voted republican.  
Seattle (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 1:07 PM)
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It's okay Seattle, you couldn't have known the mistake you were making when you voted Republican. The important thing is that you realized what a horrible mistake it was and would be again. For seeing the Republicans for what they are, I take my hat off to you. I just wish more of Republican voters would come around like you did.
Obama pretty much slammed McCain on every negative and derogatory point he's made this week.  Even included the fact that McCain flip-flopped on troop withdrawals on Iran.  McCain has now effectively co-opted every major Obama position on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Seems, the "naive", inexperienced junior Senator from Illinois was right all along.  Love to see the spin on how McCain magically came to the same positions Obama held for 2 years and made them his own.

Today McCain slammed Obama for cancelling a visit to meet with wounded US soldiers at Landstuhl. "He made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops,". "Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras.”

Besides being an outright lie the statement is outrageous.  The Pentagon called off the trip.  It took the Pentagon 4 tries to explain why.  

Obama has repeatedly said that regarding the hospital visit in Germany,” I was going to be accompanied by one of my advisers, a former military officer and we got notice from the Pentagon that he would be treated as a campaign person and it would therefore be perceived as political, because he had endorsed my candidacy but he wasn't on the Senate staff," Obama said, referring to Gen. Scott Gration, who had worked to organize the trip. He called off the trip as he did not want to make political fodder out of a trip to the wounded military in Germany. He deemed it “inappropriate”.  Obviously, McCain has no such qualms.

A former Lt. General in the US Army was being denied access to a military hospital to see wounded heroes.  A retired Lt. General. Obama chose the high road and cancelled the visit rather than embarrassing the U.S. military.

Question: Does this mean if General David H. Petraeus, had accompanied Obama he would not be allowed to see the wounded heroes as he is not a member of the Senators staff? Absurd!

Someone should ask the military arm of the Bush political campaign, the Pentagon, if a Petraeus visit would be allowed.  Some one should ask why the military is being used in such a shameful way.  Someone should make Bush accountable for these obscene acts of partisanship that has made us the laughing stock of the world and his presidency irrelevant.

Well, the vindictive, ill tempered McBush is really showing his stuff, loud and clear.
This is an ad from the person who promised a clean campaign, although he probably forgot about this just as he did the fact that the Czechoslovakia hasn't existed for the last 16 years. The fact that McCain voted against a VA bill that would have provided decent benefits to returning vets says much about which candidate cares about the troops. Besides which when have we EVER seen McCain or his mentor George W Bush visiting the troops when a press op wasn't planned? Just more doubletalk from the straight-talker.
Mistake upon mistake by Obama on this rock and role tour of his. He actually apologized to the Germans for the USs behavior? He apologized?!? Screw you Obama, the US may not get it entirely right all the time, but this country is an abcolute beacon for how other countries should be run. You want to apologize for something, apologize for the many years of the Democrats ignoring the terrorist threat in the world.
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We want other countries to apologize about the things they did wrong but we as the United States should not? I guess thats why we took forever to apologize about the theft of the land that belonged to the Native Americans? Why we had such a hard time apologizing for slavery? Apologizing about how we treated Japanese-Americans? How about taking your foot out of your mouth before you hurt yourself? Learn your history. Thank you SSG A. Williams US. Army Proud defender of America and it's interest foreign and domestic. And our way of life.
To "Never, Ever Apologize for Me Barry"  Are you like McCain?  Can't hear the actual words coming out of Sen Obama's mouth....He never apologized for the US, he said we've not been perfect.....actually, I would have loved if he apologized to the World for the Idiot we have in the White House, fortunately for us, he'll be returning to his Village soon....but not soon enough!
this ad might as well have been produced by the conservative version of "move on". OVER THE TOP UGLY.
I smell desperation & blood. This is similar to some of the attacks toward Obama in the primary. When the points of the attacks are so "out there", we know that Obama has election in the bag. The generously figured lady might as well warms up now.
8 years as president George Bush did not visit wounded soldiers at Landstuhl. 25 years as Senator John McCain forgot to visit the wounded solders in Landstuhl. If he went to Landstuhl, McCain would accuse him of exploiting our troops for his campaing, if he did not, he'd skewer him for insensitivity, and that after Obama visitied troops in so many different places.  Is McCain out of his mind to accuse Obama of treason - that Obama would rather lose a war than a political campaign?  What is wrong with this forgetful, angry old man?  The more I get to know McCain, I am not at all comfortable letting his fingers get anywhere close to the red button. Republican Senator Hagel, who accompanied Obama overseas and saw first hand what Obama did, has condemned John McCain for his accusation of Obama and for his attack ad.  Anyone who exploits brave US troops to gain political advantage, like what John McCain is now doing in his campaign to become President, is not worthy of that honor.
A Fox News Poll released Thursday found that Obama had slipped a few points and had a statistically insignificant edge over McCain, 41% to 40%.
"Not that the National Barack Company (NBC) is in the tank for Obama, but lets have Barack on for the full hour of MTP. You know just to top things off for the Idiot from Illinois."

Frank, John McCain couldn't hold up for an hour.  If he could keep from nodding off, he'd surely choke on his repetitious words about the surge.  You repukes just can't stand it that only one candidate can string together sensible lines and that he is black.    
My the obama group do not like bad things said about their guy - even when TRUE.  Obama is an Arrogant, Radical Fraud.  His entire campaign and this trip are one big staged show - his every move is for his own political gain.  He is not qualified to lead our country - I will not vote for him - and Millions of Americans feel the same way.
US military authorities did not tell Obama and his senate staff that they could not visit wounded military personnel at the Lanstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. They told Obama that he could not bring press or campaign staff. When he learned of the restrictions, Obama canceled the scheduled visit.

There is a military directive that states that any activities reasonably viewed as directly or indirectly associating the Defense Department with a partisan political activity are to be avoided. However, the military emphasized that it would accommodate Obama's traveling press and campaign staff at the passenger terminal at Ramstein Air Base, as well as Obama and his Senate staff visit to the hospital.

So the truth comes out. Obama wanted a photo op with wounded troops for campaign ads. The military wasn't biting. They do not allow the troops to be politicized in this way. So when Obama couldn't get his way, he bailed. It wasn't the wounded military personnel he cared about. True to form, it was Obama that Obama cared about.
Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.....
John McCain is not fit to be Commander in Chief.

Period.

He doesn't have the knowledge.

He doesn't have the temperment.

He doesn't have the class.

He is a fraud.
It seems that Senator Obama was in a double bind,catch-22 situation.Watch the Unity video when a  reporter asks him if by denying that he is, Senator Obama, a muslim, is he not, in fact, insulting the Muslims in the US? Politics as usual
You want to apologize for something, apologize for the many years of the Democrats ignoring the terrorist threat in the world.
Never, Ever Apologize for Me Barry (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 1:28 PM)
..............................................

It was President Clinton who tried to take out Bin Laden and his bases in the Sudan and Yemen in 1996.

It was the Clinton administration that caught, tried and imprisoned the first World Trade Center bombers.  They are stillin jail.

It was George W. Bush, Republican, who was President of the U.S. when the towers were hit.  It was over a year into his presidency.  It was his administration that ignored the intelligence reports from every allied intelligence group warning of it.

Who ignored the terroist threat? For God's sake do your homework!



One of the wonderful things about Barak Obama is that he has the mind to stay on point. He isn't pulled in by McCain's childish rhetoric, he answers questions intelligently and doesn't have to resort to cheap one liners to deflect criticism.  Even after that brutal trip of his, obviously bone tired, was able to hold his own as Brokaw tried futily to ruffle him. Obama is a man suited to run a country, and after 8 years of a buffoon and his court of theives in the White House, wouldn't someone with dignity in the Oval Office be a breath of fresh air?
McCain is trying the Bush tactic of making wisecracks when he has no intelligent answer, but he's not even  smart enough to do that effectively. He needs to go back to his playpen and visit hit teddy bear. He's been crying much too much.
Both candidates care about our country. This ad is a distraction from the serious problems facing the United States.
McCain is so out of touch.  WEll, what do you expect from a guy who graduated at the bottom of his class in college?  He ranks with George Bush for intelligence and we know where that has gotten America for 8 years.  It's time for a smart leader.  It's time for Obama and his brilliant wife.  I don't want her cookie recipe, I want health care, recovered status in the world and friends we don't bully and insult.
I think everyone with half a brain thought the same thing as Obama wasblowing off the wounded soldiers. The trip was a publicity stunt, much like everything else he does.

He is as phoney as a North Korean dollar bill.
What this whole campaign is really about, besides the Iraq war catastrophe that resulted in Bin Laden escaping in the Tora Bora Mountains trap - the troops we needed were in Iraq,  is Presidential Pardons.  If Obama wins, there won't be any for the republicans and their allies who gave us Iraq, and who are also destroying the middle class, stealing their homes and exporting their jobs for the wealth of the super-rich.  And when the first of the criminal elite which has destroyed our Republican party faces the gates of the Jailhouse, without a scooter libby pardon, they will sing.  And revelation of the scandal will go one, growing ever bigger.  

And ultimately the criminal branch of the republican party will face4e justice and get their due.  We can go back to a LEGITIMATE Republican party, and a legitimate 2 party system,  along with civil discourse, compromise on issues,  and put our country back together again, as "one nation under God.............".
I am really getting fed up with the media only showing the same McCain negative ads over and over giving him free press for those ads as a discussion point.  They never ask anyone in the McCain Campaign what happened to his vow to run a clean campaign.  I voted for McCain in the primary but I will vote for Obama in the general as I have decided that McCain has now become the risky one with his insistence that only he can be "right".  He never sees anyone else's point of view. Make him admit he has changed his mind on many, many policies.  The media is not in love with Obama when it scrutinizes his every word and action.  They only want you to think they ar.


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