Obama hits McCain on al Qaeda gaffe
By Steve Benen Thursday Mar 20, 2008 11:00am
I know the two Democratic presidential candidates seem inclined to go after one another right now, but the more they criticize John McCain, the better it is for the party and our chances of winning in November.
At a news conference in Amman, McCain said Iran supported the Sunni group al Qaeda in Iraq, until he was corrected by a colleague. U.S. officials believe predominantly Shi'ite Iran has been backing Shi'ite extremists in Iraq, not al Qaeda in Iraq, a Sunni group.
It was the first stumble of note that McCain has made since clinching the Republican presidential nomination early this month, and Obama quickly pounced on it.
"Just yesterday, we heard Senator McCain confuse Sunni and Shi'ite, Iran and al Qaeda," Obama said.
"Maybe that is why he voted to go to war with a country that had no al Qaeda ties. Maybe that is why he completely fails to understand that the war in Iraq has done more to embolden America's enemies than any strategic choice that we have made in decades," the Illinois senator said.
When McCain gives them a golden opportunity — such as repeatedly screwing up the basics of Iraq, Iran, and al Qaeda -- it's important to take advantage.
Mark Kleiman added, "Given McCain's buffoonish performance in Jordan, wouldn't this be a good time for Hillary Clinton to say, 'Gee, I thought he was ready to be Commander-in-Chief, but it sure doesn't sound like it. The least we should expect from the President is some basic knowledge about who our enemies are.'"
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McCain hits back, "me and Al go way back"
This is a job well-done by Obama. Hammer McCain every time he makes stupid mistakes like this. If Obama made the same mistakes the headlines would all be questioning his "inexperience" instead of his senility or outright ignorance.
RHM
Feet to the fire!
Joe Lieberman's public correction of McIDontGiveaShiite may be the only positive thing he has ever done for the Democratic Party--and that was only inadvertantly
AP - 7 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton that her passport file was breached in 2007.
L.A. Confidential @ 5:
????????????????
What the F is going on here people?
L.A. Confidential @ 5:
just saw that. fucking ridiculous. i wonder how many millions of others' passports have been 'breached'.
"I know the two Democratic presidential candidates seem inclined to go after one another right now, but the more they criticize John McCain, the better it is for the party and our chances of winning in November."
Shouldn't that read, "The better it is for the country..."?
I think that it would be wonderful for Clinton to admit the mistake and now say that McCain isn't fit to be Commander-in-Chief. And do you know how I would celebrate such an admission by her? I'd get a ladder and climb up on the roof of my house and clean off the pig sh*t, because you know that there'd be some up there on that day.
Speaking of "basic knowledge of who are enemies are", why won't either of the Democratic candidates point a finger at any of this:
www.asecondlookatthesaudis.com
And then maybe at this, to drive the point home:
abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4228113&page=3
killthepoor @ 7:
in other news, i can't leave my house until at least sunday because i'm flooded in on all four sides. and with our dsl box entirely under water, i have no idea how my internet is still working.
killthepoor @ 7:
Don't worry, it was done by 3 low level contractors. Does anyone have a problem with that analogy now?
killthepoor @ 7:
Actually now I'm waiting for the McMSM to put out "Clinton passport files breached by former Obama staffers"
killthepoor @ 11:
Oh shit! That sucks!!! Your house ain't floodin is it?
And this passport thing...mayhap another nail in the GOP coffin?
Yes, Hillary, please give me at one scrap of evidence that I didn't waste my vote last month. Throw this back in McLame's face right now.
[grimly wishing I had either voted for Kucinich to make a point or just for Obama outright]
Not only do Obama and Hillary need to attack, but Howard Dean needs to unleash some Democratic attack dogs. What ever happened to Paul Hackett? It seems like any time the party gets somebody working for them with any rea balls, they just shut them up.
I like Obama's approach on this one and he needs to keep hitting him on it as this is McCain's apparent strong point. McCain is trying to make himself out to be some hardcore military genius which clearly he is not. Obama needs to link all of McCain's past screw ups regarding Iraq to show that McCain is in fact incompetent and a novice. With this screw up, McCain has proven that he doesn't even know the basics about who is associated to whom in Iraq. Without that knowledge, you will certainly lose.
Next, Obama would be wise to hammer McCain on the economy. McCain has no experience in this area and if Obama can, he can wipe the floor with McCain. There is after all, more to being a President than just talking tough.
If the contest for the White House followed the rules of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," John McCain would be going home empty-handed. At last four times in the past month, George W. Bush's would-be Republican successor sounded the alarm over a non-existent Al Qaeda-Iran alliance in Iraq. But for a lifeline from Joe Lieberman, McCain would have been booted off the stage by now.
For the details, see:
"Four Strikes and You're Out: McCain on Al Qaeda and Iran."
L.A. Confidential @ 6:
What exactly are the full ramifications of this sort of breach? What kind of info can be obtained? What kind of mischief can be created with the information?
Does Barak even know what an AK-47 is or looks like?
Coming from a Muslim with the middle name Hussein, it's hard to argue with his expertise.
wink
chris @ 20:
And this is relevant how, exactly?
killthepoor @ 7:
my knowledge of internal state dept rules and regs is not that extensive... but i seem to recall that a 'security alert' will only be issued if the passport data of people of certain standing (see rich, powerful) is breached. in other words, the little people (you, me, etc.) would never know, and there isn't a system in place to see if contractors or SD employees are checking out our data. so, to answer your question, i don't think your question is answerable, if that makes sense.
Obama should ignore Billary and keep hammering Mc-Inane.
If Clinton did that, she'd have to admit that her endorsement of McCain was wrong, and so was her Iraq vote. But, as we all know, she's too serious and experienced to admit that.
Hillary can't say that, or it would undermine her atrocious argument that Obama is the least qualified of the three candidates to be president. Let's not let what might be good for the country get in the way of a "scorched Earth" policy.
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 14:
my house will be fine. i'm on a hill. roads are blocked though. i live in eureka, mo by the way.
chris @ 20:
Do you even know who he is? Seeing that you can't spell his name, I'll bet there's a lot you don't know (about him).
chris @ 20:
OB's credibility is shot on this one: He called the "Prime Minister of Canada" the "President" of Canada". Duhh
Bonkers Hussein @ 19:
What I see is brazen right in peoples faces media and political manipulation and brainwashing. Notice how this is all targeted at the Dem race?
Divide and Conquer elevated to a High Art Form and people don't even see it.
Dark Dark Times we live in.
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 22:
This is what the enemy uses.. Barak is not in a position to speak on national security, he needs to stick to the social programs.
Yep Obama should take every oppurtunity every McCain fcuk up and use it against him. Especially to question McCains alledged foreign policy expertise.
McCain has made this repeatedly. Either it's intentional or its' not.
If it's intentional, it's downright Cheneyesque deceit and manipulation.
If it's not intentional, then you have to wonder -- three times! -- whether McCain is mentally competent to be taking any of those 3 a.m. calls.
Either of these disqualifies McCain for the job.
They also cast serious doubt on Hillary Clinton's judgment, once more, for suggesting that McCain has passed the Commander-in-Chief threshold.
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 22:
It doesn't have to be relevant for chris. He suffers from Tourettes Commenting Syndrome.
Too late, I'm afraid. Hillary's previous statement that only MCain and her can be a good CiC will be staring in future GOP 30 sec. ads attacking Obama.
RancidVenison @ 28:
Chris is a troll, who's unemployed, living at home and loves being abused by us.
Samson- @ 23:
They can read our emails, listen to our phone calls, access our bank and credit records without a warrant. They can invade our homes without informing us. They can detain us indefinitely without charge, render us to another country and torture us....
now... with this "gaffe" (and i am still in the camp that does NOT believe this was a gaffe)
this is a HUGE issue, imho.
i have seen the likes of joe 'the squint' scarborough and tucker 'where has my show gone' carlson poo-poo this supposed "gaffe." as if questioning mccain's claimed-expertise on foreign affairs is, somehow, beyond the pale. it is laughable to them that someone would call into question the amount of mccain's knowledge on international issues. and, to me, this is further indication that he is weak, and his journalistic allies are trying to shield him.
again, don't take the excuse that this was a "gaffe" seriously. it happened too many times, and it helps further one of his main policy goals: attacking iran.
of course, though, the media continues to rail about obama and pastor wright. my response to that is 'hagee-parsley-robertson'....
scruzman @ 29:
Getting the title of another leader wrong is one thing and is easily corrected. Not knowing who is backing who in a conflict area is dangerous especially if you are the that will be giving those same troops in that conflict area their orders.
The bar for "least we should expect" from a president has been lowered by a not insubstantial margin in the last eight years.
Arizona @ 33:
"...the more they criticize John McCain, the better it is for the party and our chances of winning in November."
No, If HRC doesn't go after Obama, then there is no November for her. Obama should stick to McCain.
chris @ 20:
Of course, everyone with Hussein for a middle, first or last name knows. Arabs are born with AK-47s in their hands ready for Jihad at a moment's notice. [/snark]
Here's Israel's version of The Onion trying to combat racial profiling among police in Israel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYuL6S4e64g
If I were running against McCain for Prez, I could run with an ad campaign of nothing but McCain clips and statements.
chris @ 20:
Given that Barak was a military commander, I'd say the odds are high. But given that Barak is a biblical figure, I'd say the odds are low. I guess I don't really know, but my post is still more useful than yours.
linky
Leslie @ 37:
I thought passport info was largely innocuous. What is it that they're looking for in there?
From a cnn email
"The State Department confirms John McCain's passport file was breached as well as Obama and Clinton's files."
Arizona @ 33:
Whoops, my comment [above] somehow got discombobulated. But I meant to reply that if McCain's comments are intentional, then why is Lieberman correcting him? Didn't Lieberman get the memo?
Ron @ 36:
no,no, love taking you to school....
Anyway, he can't attack McCain unless he has a solid plan of his own, I have a chance to hear him speak today but I don't know if I want to wait inline......
Blue Lensman @ 46:
35 years of experience?
Joe O. @ 39:
And hes also just as delusional/deceptive about the surge in Iraq as Bush. But of course not as esay to capitalize on because Americans and MSM are completly clueless on the situation in Iraq
pissed off patricia @ 47:
I WISH McCain would pick Condi for vp. She'd get eaten alive. Despite her 'accomplishments' her track record working for Bush has been one disaster after another.
Since Bush got into office, after 6 years of a constant flow of Americans leaving and settling in Thailand, the Thai government had to recently change it's laws for visitors. Where you used to be able to come for 90 days and then just go out of country (to say, Laos) and come back in for another visit. Now after 90 days you must leave Thailand for 90 days, unless you put an amount of money in a Thai Bank or show proof of solvency. In other words, no dead-beats.
Thing is, sooo many Americans are leaving America out of digust.
pissed off patricia @ 47:
A distraction a day keeps the lemmings away.
JTM @ 45:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buraq
MY post is more useful than yours.
Filthy Harry @ 44:
You cant hold McCain accountable for what he says or anyone else who endorses him. Hes white, hes a war-hero, hes old. Hes excused to say any crap he wants
Blue Lensman @ 34:
Or brain infarction.
O/T breaking news: The State Department confirms John McCain’s passport file was breached as well as Obama and Clinton's files
chris @ 49:
Boy, or girl, whichever applies, you're not educated enough to take me to school.
galmud @ 56:
Sorta like the oldest relative at the family thanksgiving dinner?
A-GREED! This gaffe and all the other McCain gaffes past and to come along with his obvious hypocrisy on his own positions needs to be highlighted at every opportunity. Gramps is already too old for what he is trying to undertake... And this gaffe? The least of it. It will only get worse from here and McCain as president is yet another trainwreck waiting to happen that this nation c.a.n.n.o.t. afford.. Not after eight years of Chimpy......JD
Dr. Matt @ 58:
Well all righty then, it must be a non-partisan breach fest! Nothing to see here!
chris @ 31:
So, you "think" knowing what an AK-47 looks like is equivalent to having knowledge of "national security" just proves you have NO IDEA what it takes to have knowledge of national security. Thanks for confirming this to everyone.
*sings*
You say Iraq, I say Iran.
You say al Qaeda, I say insurgent...
Lets call the whole thing off
*musical sting*
Maybe the whole idea here is to discredit the entire proccess of our political parties
and candidates. With the dollar tanking, Iran in the cross-hairs and an adiministration
hell bent on destroying our constitution and bill of rights, isn't the climate being
staged to usher in a change in the form of our government to a dictatorship?
I have a sickening feeling that by election time, we'll know.
Leslie @ 62:
Purely a coinkydink that this comes out now to "level the playing field" isn't it? And the BS just keeps on, keepin' on.
Leslie @ 62:
Fire Condi now. She's too busy buying shoes and politicizing her position. She's clearly incompetent like the rest of herr dubyah's administration.
☻Bangkok Bob☻ @ 53:
Just tell me how much I'm gonna have to deposit. And would you only have to visit Laos for a couple of days to get the reset?
chris @ 31:
chris @ 20:
John McCain apparently doesn't even know who the "enemy" is in Iraq or who is backing whom so the suggestion about which type of weapon they may or may not use is irrelevant. Besides, many Governments (including the Iraqi Government) issue that same weapon type to their forces. To go further, I have seen photos of fighters in Iraq carrying M16s and m249s. I suppose, that because they carry the same weapons that U.S. forces use that they are some how "on our side". Not likely and I would not be one to make that assumption.
ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 66:
That's my first reaction. I would like to see the "proof" before I pass judgment. Nonetheless, it's clear Condi is incompetent and should be fired.
Ron @ 59:
LOL!!! Chris? When the hell have you ever schooled anyone, ever? Any point you've tried to make, has been shot down with such things as facts, logic, and science...you need to accept the fact that your arguments are rubbish, at best.
Tell your GOP masters that you have failed miserably in your mission.
Dr. Matt @ 58:
Not to be too much of a conspiracy nut here but with Condi in charge, couldn't you see the following:
Condi: Hey, to make it look like were not specifically against Obama, lets say HRC's passport info was breached too!
20 min later
Condi: HEY! Lets say McCain's passport info was breached too so people ONLY think we're incompetent but not criminally corrupt!
Dr. Matt @ 67:
IF you can believe the latest "news alerts"........I say too convenient to suddenly announce all this.
Dr. Matt @ 67:
Exactly. But we knew that after 9/11 and she got promoted instead.
Leslie @ 62:
I wonder if that's really what happened or if the DoS is just trying to CIA (Cover it's A**) by claiming it was all non-partisan.
Samson- @ 38:
I was just thinking the same thing, Sam! All of this on McCain and all we keep hearing about is Obama being railed for someone else's comments. I listen to a lot of conservative talk radio (ad nauseum - emphasis on nauseum) and have not heard one peep about this from any of them. I'm sure when they feel they can't ignore it any more they will approach it in terms of "How can Obama have the audacity to question McCain on this issue? He's a war hero for God's sake!!!???"
Mcgaff meet Mcgrumpy
Dr. Matt @ 70:
Fired? She should never have been hired. For a woman that is supposedly so intelligent, she's a complete doofus.
Leslie @ 62:
Really? Or is the neo-con cabal even more insidious and evil than previously thought.
Let's keep our eyes on this folks. This may be just the tip of the stinkin iceberg.
Joe O. @ 69:
I thought black militants were the enemy (see the Fox/NBPP post for more info). Do they carry AK-47s?
chris @ 20:
Who cares? Is the president required to carry a weapon?
ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 78:
I completely agree. But, herr dubyah wanted a "yes-man/woman" and he got what he wanted. She did her damage, time to can her arse.
Blue Lensman @ 68:
If you Deposit 10k you can get a yearly VISA
chris @ 20:
I don't know, but I'm pretty sure he knows how to use teh Google.
L.A. Confidential @ 6:
My name is Hillary, and they've been doggone mean to me, too. I am now vying for the retroactive sympathy vote, lest Obama get all of it. Feel sorry for me. Feel really, really sorry for me! (Pffftpt to you, Obama!)
Gee screwing around with Hillary Clinton's passport file isn't news...(((((((TIL NOW))))))) gee does that mean that only obama has something to hide. Wonder if his trip to see auchi is recorded?
Fanon @ 81:
Chrissy is trying to look like a bad ass gun-toting reich-winger.
Fixed it so the media might pay attention.
☻Bangkok Bob☻ @ 83:
Guys, New Zealand is where it's at lol.
I wonder what their immigration policy is like.
chris @ 20:
You're comment is empty.
Dr. Matt @ 82:
I think he's been secretly "canning her arse" for awhile now. I certainly can understand why Laura is a drunk with all that is around her.
ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 88:
Now I picture Obama riding a giraffe carrying a lance.
Dr. Matt @ 82:
Have you ever tried canned arse? I hear it's better than canned beef.
chris @ 49:
Chris, If the couple of exchanges between Obama and McCain are any indication of their fall confrontations, McCain better get ready to get the dust kicked off of his wrinkled ass. McCain is so old, slow,absentminded, angry,not to mention a bit dumb to handle Obama. It'll almost seem unfair.
Yesterday, it was 3 low level contractors. Today, it was 3 trainees.
This is where Obama or Hillary will be able to do some real damage against McCain by making him look like he's too uninformed to be president. From what the talking heads say, McCain has habitually made these types of mistakes over the course of his career and there's no reason to believe he won't make any during the general election.
barbara @ 85:
Dr. Matt @ 87:
Time for a new moniker, chris . . chris "AK-47" troll
scruzman @ 29:
Trust me on this one. We're not worried about a future President (male or female) who's not been well briefed on the political structure of Canada. We're more concerned about Republican candidates who think they're the President of Canada.
Ron @ 95:
One would think after 8 years they would be better at damage control. Isn't there some kind SOP they're supposed to follow, like blame it on the new guy, or blame it on a computer error?
McDuff @ 89:
I've heard that NZ is real tough, they don't want riff-raff like you and me coming and staying.
BB, you don't happen to dabble in real estate, do you? ;)
Interesting. They are saying now that the same person breached McCain's and Obama's files.
McDuff @ 100:
I'm not the best on computer technology, but I know that they have ways to block access to certain files.
Ron @ 95:
Tomorrow it'll be 2 Iranian Islamic terrorists and a black guy.
Filthy Harry @ 72:
No such thing as coincidence in politics...this is BS spin, or like I said earlier, upthread...maybe the neo-cons are snooping on everyone, even one they planted as the repub contender.
Filthy Harry @ 104:
LOL.
Leslie @ 97:
Filthy Harry @ 104:
LOL! Thanks for the belly-laugh!
Blue Lensman @ 101:
You can't own here unless you marry a Thai and that aint happening. I just lease, $398 month, two bedroom home in gated community with pool.
Ron @ 106:
We might find out that al qaeda was involved too.
Filthy Harry @ 104:
lol
the Black guy also happens to be gay and he hates America. There! fixed!
Fanon @ 81:
Maybe Obama should start carryin one...with all these racist wingnuts pissin their pink panties because a black man with brains and integrity very possibly may be prez...and they can't stand it!
Filthy Harry @ 104:
Monday it will be a bunch of Democrat-Lib-Traitor-Commie-Tree Hugging-Socialists (did I forget any other descriptors?).
Richardson is giving a great speech while endorsing Obama.
Fanon @ 92:
Gotta watch out for those AlQaeda giraffes. They are viscious!! They have vests strapped on them with explosives attached!!! True story.
McDuff @ 111:
AND, the black guy who also happens to be gay, hates America, is a Xtian pastor, who converts white women to Islam. You heard it here first folks.
Dr. Matt @ 113:
Yes, teh blogosphere. Loofa boy hates him them blogs.
Dr. Matt @ 113:
Yeah, militant ,lesbian ,midget potheads! (I apologize if I offended any militant lesbian that are short of stature, who enjoy recreational use of marijuana)
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 116:
and doesn't wear a flag pin!!!
Fanon @ 119:
GASP!!! Dear GAWD!!! No FLAG PIN?!?! Truly SATAN his self!
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 112:
If he started carrying one reich-wingers would have a hissy fit for not carrying an American-made weapon.
Fanon @ 119:
It's all fun and games until someone doesn't wear a flag pin. That one just clinches it for me.
Dr. Hussein Matt @ 121:
I meant to say maybe Obama should start carrying a gun, not necesarily an AK...but yeah, damn right the reichwingnuts would spooge all over themselves over that, lol!!!
McCain's gaffes are on purpose, aren't they? Now aren't we supposed to be afraid of teh evil Iran? Even if we were 'afraid' of Iran, what does McCain think we can do about it? We have no more resources, no more troops and no more money. Are these people crazy?
McDuff @ 122:
LOL! Good one!
McDuff @ 122:
Well, like I always say, it's not a party until someone takes off their flag pin...or something like that
Dr. Hussein Matt @ 121:
maybe not american made... but definitely american provided (see, CIA distributing AK-47s worldwide).
anyhoo, anyone who has seen the A-team could identify an ak.
Fanon @ 124:
Not to worry, China will loan us billions more to wage yet another unjust war...
Samson- @ 127:
B.A. Barracus for Sec. of Defense!!! (That was Mr.T's name, right?)
McDuff @ 122:
I'm just appalled that they let these types of extremists into our state dept. without any background checks. They must of gotten a free pass from the religious law school down south.
Fanon @ 124:
yes: i think the gaffes are on purpose
yes: we are supposed to be just afraid enough of iran to go to war
go to war: is what mccain wants us to do. the details and the logistics are for some young whiiper-snapper.
yes: these people are crazy. fooooking crazy.
Fanon @ 126:
If I knew it was gonna be THAT kinda party...I'd have stuck my flag pin in the mashed potatoes!
Fanon @ 124:
In a word, yes.
C&L, I appreciate your helping to keep this story in the spotlight, but please stop calling it a gaffe! It's a lie!! Why won't someone in the press just say the words--he's lying!
Ron @ 130:
I'm still trying to figure out why they'd go into the passport files. I mean, what's in the files? Don't they just have your regular basic identifying information like name, DOB, address, soc # etc. What's so "interesting" about the passport files?
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 132:
Darling, it's always THAT kind of party. Otherwise, why go?
Samson and Ron
Thanks for verifying that I am not misunderstanding all of this.
Go figure….reich-wingers protecting corporations and not individuals.
McDuff @ 135:
They also have info on where you went, who you met with and perhaps lots of other things.
Fanon @ 126:
lol
Ron @ 138:
Well, your passport wouldn't contain information pertaining to who you met. However, who knows what type of additional information is contained within the digital passport files at the State Dept.
killthepoor @ 7:
Dude, welcome to Amerika. You can leave half your brain and all your civil liberties at the door, please. Oh, and pick up a gun and a bible and join the fuckin' party.
I wish I was surprised by this. Cundie probably won't even get fired for this. Hell, they will probably make her McBush's VP.
This is the most hilarious video ever. Obama is a Mack Daddy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU
"Shooter" Cheney will come out any minute now and blame Al-Quaeda operatives trained in Iran for rifling through those passport files.
abob @ 142:
No luck finding a job yet, abob?
killthepoor @ 11:
Well, my lunch is over. I gotta go train three low level newbie non-affiliated contractors who's names I shall not reveal.
14All @ 134:
I'm not sure gaffe is the right word but I don't believe it was a conscious lie. Didn't you see the pained look on the faces of LIEberman and Graham? How about the confused look on McVapid's face as LIEberman clued him in?
woops - left off my comment... so sorry your house is flooded - that absolutely sucks!! Will be thinking of you and hoping it all turns out okay.
McDuff @ 135:
You don't think someone accessing your SS# isn't bad enough? It also has your mailing address, lists of family members and a lot more. Too many nuts out there that shouldn't have that info.
McCains passport file was breached the same day in March that Obamas was. Hillary's was apparently breached in 2007. Hillary's breach occurred during a training exercise.
Since this was announced I have wondered why only 2 of the 3 were fired. They haven't explained that one yet. Coincidence maybe that the person that also accessed McCain's file, therefore leveling the playing field (as someone said above) wasn't fired. They do tend to take care of their own. Ok tinfoil hat off. I just can't help it. This admin has given me NO reason to trust them in any area.
killthepoor @ 11:
The water hasn't invaded the internet tubes yet.
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