Obama to Iraq . . . ? This scare anyone else . . ???

[defendandprotect]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080529/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_rdp

Obama considers Iraq visit amid GOP criticism

Obama considers Iraq visit amid GOP criticism 1 hour, 45 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama — increasingly under fire from John McCain as he appears poised to win the Democratic nomination — said he is considering a trip to Iraq but dismissed as a "political stunt" an invitation by the Republican candidate to make the visit together.

McCain and Obama have increasingly targeted each other as a November general election showdown between the two men seems inevitable. The discussion about Iraq, largely sidelined during the primary battle, is likely to factor prominently in the general election and Obama has rallied to counter McCain's criticism that he lacks foreign policy experience.

Obama, who is now just 44 delegates shy of the 2,026 needed to claim the nomination and drive rival Hillary Rodham Clinton out of the race, could win the White House nod as early as Sunday if he fares well in Puerto Rico's primary.

Puerto Rico's primary, the island's first in nearly three decades, has brought attention to a U.S. territory where residents cannot vote in the general election and largely do not identify with any mainland party.

But, with 55 delegates to be apportioned between him and Clinton, eyes are on the territory because Obama could theoretically clinch the nomination if he beats his rival. Clinton is counting on a victory to bolster her claim to have won the majority of popular votes based on a selective count of Democratic contests.

The Democrat, vying to become the U.S.'s first black president, told The New York Times that the possible trip would be to talk to the U.S. troops and commanders and not to "try to score political points or perform."

----------

Comment by D&P ---
Also put the final comments in BOLD because I don't think that's how any candidate should be described . . . color and gender should be incidental --- they're not there to be FIRST, they
are campaigning to be president ---

And --- don't like the term "black" --- I think we should give up these "black" and "white" descriptions ... though "people of color" is probably still OK ...
especially because I think it points us towards understanding "white" doesn't really exist.


???

[NightWatcher]

1. he should not give in to their pressure to go

[NNN0LHI]

5. It a sign of weakness for sure

At least thats how the Rethugs and media will portray his going.

Don

[ChazII]

10. Agreed.

Do not cave into pressure.

[LSK]

13. agreed

[marmar]

2. I must admit, I'm a little worried....

.... that some IED will tragically (and not at all intentionally :sarcasm:) go off.

[lame54]

3. He should borrow McCains flak jacket...

and his 100 soldiers and half a dozen helicopters
Then he can buy that $2 rug

[notadmblnd]

4. could they be trying to lure him there so they can have him killed

so it will be harder to get answers to he questions?

[ladjf]

6. He needs to stay in the U.S. for now.

[Saturday]

7. That's what I want...A President that does what the GOP tells him to do. nt

[blonndee]

15. You mean like authorizing an illegal invasion?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. I think the race mention was there

because it underscores how historic Obama's campaign is. Nothing else. It's a big deal, what he's doing, especially in a country as racist as these United States. And, to me, anyway, the term "people of color" smacks of a box of Crayolas, just too, too PC to exist.

If he goes, it would smack of caving to the taunts of McCain. I sure as hell don't have to go to Iraq to know it's a mess. Neither does Obama.

[defendandprotect]

12. Yes, it's "historic," but he's not running to be our first "black" president, IMO . . .

Obama is running to be president -- not something any different from what McCain or HRC are doing --
McCain isn't running to be the OLDEST president --- HRC isn't running to be first "female" president.

And, to me, anyway, the term "people of color" smacks of a box of Crayolas, just too, too PC to exist.

Here's the full name of the N.A.A.C.P. ---
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ---

As I said in my post, I HOPED it would make people consider how non-"white" they really are ---
"WHITE" people are not white --- check yourself against a piece of paper.
Everyone is really a person of color ---

We're just thinking about all this a little differently ---

But -- I also see the trip as baiting him ---

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. If you don't think

Obama's race isn't historic, your definition of "history" is far off the mark. Of course he's running to be President, and he happens to be half-black. Same with Hillary Clinton - she wants to be President, and she happens to be a woman.

Just as McCain is the oldest candidate for President.

You confuse what defines these people in their desires with what defines them in society. There's a difference in the categorization.

And, thank you for pointing out what NAACP stands for. I knew that, since I worked for them in the early seventies.

[defendandprotect]

20. QUOTE -- Yes, it's "historic," UNQUOTE . ..

As I said in my subject to you . . . "YES, Obama's race is historic" . . .

HOWEVER, he is not running to be our first "black" president --- he is running to be our president.

Is this too subtle for you?

Candidates are not defined as their color, age, or gender ---

They are simply candidates for president ---

Again, I think that "black" and "white" are terms we should all give up, especially in our
corporate-media.

If any "white" person actually thinks they are white . . . they are confused.



And . . .

when you worked for the NAACP, you thought "people of color was just too, too pc" . . . ???

[Tangerine LaBamba]

22. You're confused

You didn't read my post and you leapt to unwarranted conclusions. That's all right.

Now, since you want to insult me and my work history and my opinions, this exchange is over.

[defendandprotect]

26. Happily oblige ---

[Lerkfish]

9. Fear is the mind-killer

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. Love Dune!!

[wmbrew0206]

14. For those of you worried about Obama's safety, don't worry because

the Military will ensure that he is safe at all times for one reason more than any other.

The US Military takes more pride in being civilian controlled than almost anything else and they will not allow anything to happen that might appear as if they have somehow influenced the political process of the United States.

[yellerpup]

18. They don't control the mercenaries.

The Penguin does.

[defendandprotect]

23. As I recall, at some point when Bill Clinton was president something odd happened

with Air Force Once . . . something that had never happened before which I can't recall ---
Did they lose him on radar?

Since then we have largely privatized our military ---

[defendandprotect]

24. Maybe Obama should invite HRC and McCain to go with him....??

[cynatnite]

17. This is a no-win situation for him...

He'll get hit no matter which way he goes. If he goes sooner rather than later, he'll get hit. If he waits, they'll come after him.

IMO, I say go now and do the things that no other repuke does. Obama should go on a ride with some soldiers. Enlisted ones. Go see what they do from their perspective. Later on eat a few meals with them. Play some basketball. Then go see shopkeepers and other Iraqis.

If Obama is going to go, he needs to do the things that the other repukes have not done.

It will set him apart from the repukes and give him a far more unique perspective. It'll give him more credibility, IMO, and he won't get hit nearly as bad as he would be.

[greenbriar]

19. Maybe he should speak to Mary Tillman

before he goes

[Brigid]

21. Exactly.

I hope he doesn't go. :scared:

[Vinca]

25. If Obama does a multi-country tour, it's going to look very bad for McBush.

I'm betting Obama gets the rock star treatment everywhere he goes. The world already loves him.

[Stagecoach]

27. Of course the RW pundits wouldn't be able to contain themselves

They'd spin it around to say that the people giving him the rock star treatment are the terrorists. "This shows the terrorists would love for Barack Obama to become president." When in reality it would be the Iraqi citizens we helped liberated.