Obama Scrubs Visit to See Troops in Germany; Says “Inappropriate” Since Campaign Funding Euro Swing

[jefferson_dem]

This is so refreshing - Obama passes up a ready made photo op to do what's right. Total Respek, Future President! :patriot:

Obama Scrubs Visit to See Troops in Germany; Says “Inappropriate” Since Campaign Funding European Swing

July 24, 2008 1:38 PM

The German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting on line that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. has “cancelled a planned short visit to the Rammstein and Landstuhl U.S. military bases in the southwest German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The visits were planned for Friday.”

“Barack Obama will not be coming to us,” a spokesperson for the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl told Der Spiegel. “I don't know why.”

Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs told us in a statement, “During his trip as part of the CODEL to Afghanistan and Iraq, Senator Obama visited the combat support hospital in the Green Zone in Baghdad and had a number of other visits with the troops. For the second part of his trip, the senator wanted to visit the men and women at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to express his gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign.”

- jpt

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/obama-scrubs-vi.html

[KittyWampus]

1. we all know what the Republican smear-mongers will make out of that. But then, they'd do similar if

he HAD gone.

[Mz Pip]

2. Probably wise

It would be spun by his opponents as using a photo-op with wounded troops to score political points.

[KittyWampus]

4. glad you're giving that bib-pix of McCain proper exposure :-) And the Repubs will use this to say

he snubbed the troops. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

[Mz Pip]

7. I sent that composite

to someone who sent me this ridiculous composite of pics from over 30 years ago showing Obama dressed in a 'foreign' looking out fit next to John McCain FIGHTER PILOT. The caption was that anyone who thought of voting for Obama had their head up their ass.

I email back my composite with the caption "That was then. This is now."

This election isn't between a Black teenager and a 35 year old fighter pilot. It's between a statesman and a dottering old fool.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Obama visited Walter Reed without reporters or photographers

3 weeks ago? He Thought it was inappropriate.

I think this was a smart call by the campaign.

[speedoo]

3. I sorta get it.

Visiting the troops is never inappropriate, IMO. USING the troops, as * has done continuously, in a photo-op is always inappropriate.

On edit: once he's President, it will be more appropriate. So I think I get it now.

[TwilightGardener]

5. That was my thinking--that it would look inappropriate to use them

as campaign props, since the CODEL portion of the trip (the Senator part) was over.

[scheming daemons]

8. While I fully understand it.... he will get hammered for it.....

It will be considered a "gaffe".


The right will mis-portray it as a snub of our injured vets.


...and the media will play along.

[jezebel]

9. It's already started. ABC, Drudge, Politico and National Review are all trumpeting it. It's going to

get bad I suspect.

[lebkuchen]

12. No, since he went to Baghdad and Walter Reed.

Everyone will understand.

But I'd like Obama to understand that the military hospitals are notorious photo-ops. He should take a chance and head to deploying bases themselves, like those out in Schweinfurt. Those folks are in desperate need of the help Bush promised but didn't deliver on.

[glitch]

10. They'll be disappointed. But he can always visit them next year as President.

For now Condi can smirk to herself, "our petty little meaningless mission, accomplished" and next year she can muse, "I wonder if that vicious little ploy backfired?" (well, it's not like she's quick).

[lebkuchen]

11. Obama has responded to letters sent to him from IL soldiers in need

of the Senator's services.

I would have liked to see Obama at Conn/Ledward Barracks to talk to soldiers there who have deployed numerous times and will deploy again.

Maybe after the election....

[Robyn66]

13. I just hate that the supposed "PRO OBAMA" MSM will speak of

nothing else today. The usual jack asses will be crowing about his not visiting the troops. They were dying for some little crumb to use. Even though its stupid they are going to try and use it.

BUT, I think that any attacks are going to look juvenile and lame now.