Guys, in case you didn't catch it, McCain made a MAJOR gaffe today...

[Barack_America]

When he seemed to agree that his military plans required reinstating the draft.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x171907

Here it is discussed on Countdown:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x172025

His campaign has yet to either clarify or answer for this shocking admission.

John McCain must be made to clarify his statement regarding reinstating the draft!

This is a pivotal moment in the campaign, one that the McCain campaign and the MSM would like to let slide.

We can't let that happen.

Thanks for your consideration.

[MadMaddie]

1. It was major Gaff

I don't think the Vets across America missed it.

[opihimoimoi]

2. He is gonna say he mis spoke...and the Media gonna let him slide

fuck

[Barack_America]

3. We need to force them to ask him how he expects to man all of his proposed wars...

WITHOUT a draft.

[Beregond2]

5. And pay for them without major tax hikes.

[Barack_America]

9. Absolutely. That too. McCain wants to talk foreign policy judgment...

We'll talk foreign policy judgment. Because his is crap.

[Better Believe It]

12. Obama Needs To Do That

How bout some hard hitting commercials .... now!

McCain's wants a draft for all his wars, including the one planned against Russia!

[Barack_America]

16. Absolutely agree. This exposes the fundamental flaw of McCain's foreign policy "judgment"...

Obama should strike fast and strike hard.

And if the MSM is worth anything anymore they'll hold McCain's feet to the fire too.

[tridim]

4. He would have already clarified if that were the case.

It's crazy I know, politically crazy.. but I think he really does want a draft.

[Cosmocat]

32. He is bulletproof ...

I go here to vent like most, but people need to start wrapping their heads around the fact that, despite his saying something retarded every god darned day, there is going to be NO "game changing" gaffes on McCains part, because the media just is not going to hold the fire to him ...

Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran ... The Sturgis meltdown ...

There have been 100 different campaign enders that if it was BO or AMY D, the media would have evicerated them, but not even mentioned it, or just reported it straight that day and dropped it ...

They are NOT going to start now ...

[Barack_America]

41. I assure you, he is not.

Nothing punctures the bulletproof armor like the word, "draft".

If the media isn't going to push this, the campaign should.

[scheming daemons]

6. Make a commercial.... right fucking now...... showing this....

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

7. Or sit quietly on this until people are paying attention

and then hit McCain hard with this when he's not expecting it - maybe right after the repuke convention to take the wind out of his sails.

[Barack_America]

10. Nothing gets people's attention like the word "DRAFT"...

Hit him with it hard & hit him with it now.

[vaberella]

43. You're bloody right Kristi. n/t

[Better Believe It]

15. Or How Bout Waiting Even Later ....Like December!

Sitting quietly is not good or effective politics.

This should be a main point in Obama's acceptance speech and in hard hitting commercials NOW!

But will that happen? Not if he follows John Kerry's losing political strategy and follows the DLC method of campaigning.

And what if Obama supports renewing the draft?

[tomg]

35. Actually, the timing is

crucial. I would have the Dems do it during the Dem convention - present it as the statement of fact that it is - and really start in on it during the RNC, so that during the RNC, McNuts would have to spend time during the convention dealing with it. Just my take.

[Cha]

8. More pandering and saying anything

to get a vote..there'll be more.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

11. KO pounced on this

and seemingly couldn't believe that the Repuke spinmeisters hadn't corrected or clarified it. He said the Grampy had better explain himself.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. The thought of a Draft would put those Swiftboats off course!

A Draft would be the hurricane we have been waiting for!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. The thought of a Draft would put those Swiftboats off course!

A Draft would be the hurricane we have been waiting for!

[Barack_America]

17. It's a third rail, that's for sure. And McCain just grabbed it. nt

[Better Believe It]

18. Only If Obama Goes After McCain On This Now!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. Draft and Abramoff should bury McBush

[Pushed To The Left]

19. Just imagine how the anti-Obama idiots will feel if their kids get drafted

The talk radio nonsense and e-mail smears won't be so funny then, will they?

[AllentownJake]

21. Obama's campaign is on it

Every media appearence and televised campaign appearence is taped and monitored closely in Chicago.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Obama hitting him on this tommorow at his first event.

[Better Believe It]

22. And Obama Should Come Right Out And Indicate He Will Not Restore The Draft ....

if elected President.

Period.

No wishy, washy if's, and's or but's.

[AllentownJake]

23. I agree

[Barack_America]

24. It's made it to HuffPo...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/20/mccain-on-bringing-back-d_n_120178.html

Let's try to get it front-page there too.

[Jim Lane]

25. I agree with Keith's speculation that McCain just wasn't listening

McCain didn't say, "I think we need a draft." He said, "I don't disagree with anything you've said," but the most likely explanation is that his attention had wandered and he didn't realize she'd included the draft in her statement.

Of course, a President who can't concentrate for more than a minute at a time is, if anything, more terrifying than a President who wants to re-institute the draft.

I suspect that's why the campaign hasn't issued the clarifying statement that Keith thought would be natural. They're hoping the whole thing gets buried without their having to say, in effect, that McCain was just having a senior moment.

[Barack_America]

26. Yet if you watch the video, it appears he's listening...

At least enough to pause and allow her to finish her question. So I assume that he was listening then.

Regardless, if he wasn't listening to her and didn't mean to agree with her statement, his campaign should clarify the situation.

And the woman's question (which McCain then didn't answer) is valid; how does he plan to stay in Iraq, increase forces in Afghanistan, challenge Iran and keep Russia in check WITHOUT a draft?

This is his foreign policy plan, he needs to answer for the specifics.

[annabanana]

31. I wonder what treatment McCain got re PTSD? Or did he just

"walk it off"?

[Jim Lane]

52. Maybe his disability pension (currently $58,000 per year, tax-free) helped soothe his PTSD (n/t)

[Lilith Velkor]

54. That'd soothe mine real good. n/t

[Barack_America]

27. On Digg now...

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/McCain_Hints_at_Support_for_a_Military_Draft_in_America

[Barack_America]

28. Remember guys, there are only TWO OPTIONS HERE!

1. McCain heard the woman's statement about needing to reinstate the draft and simply agreed with it.

-OR-

2. McCain tuned out a veteran and mother of a soldier as she described for him the government's poor treatment of our vets and troops.


Which is it, Johnny? We need to make sure he's forced to answer that question!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

30. he should be asked that question

and he will try to weasel out of it

[Life Long Dem]

29. Draftees and more casualties?

No free passes.

[Vinca]

33. If the McBush campaign heard Obama utter those very same words

to the very same question because he hadn't really been paying attention, what would they do? Obama should get that tape in an ad and on the air ASAP. I expected McBush would have backtracked by this morning, but apparently he hasn't, so apparently he's considering a draft. After all, there aren't enough volunteers to "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" and Russia and whatever other country he plans to obliterate.

[tekisui]

34. Forget all the Veep battles. It's New Draft Mccain time!

knr!

[Barack_America]

39. Exactly.

Thanks!

:hi:

[Honeycombe8]

36. Media needs to pursue this. And Obama's campaign needs to use it. nt

[DailyGrind51]

37. He makes a "major gaffe" every time he gets up in the morning!

[lamp_shade]

38. Watch the last third of this video.

It's terrifying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

[Canuckistanian]

40. It's Wednesday

There's a major gaffe EVERY day.

[DemocracyInaction]

42. Stop defending him - Politics 101

Who cares if McCain meant it? You take the soundbite and you shove it up his ass sideways in an ad and you never stop it and you never let go. And you DO NOT BACK DOWN. That's how they have killed us over and over. JUST DO IT---it's called McCain is now on the defensive and it's not where he wants to be. If they don't make this into something that sounds like God shouting through a megaphone then they are going to seize on absolutely nothing and we might as well just pack it in and give McCain the Oval Office.

[Barack_America]

50. Absolutely. If the Obama campaign is unwilling, then VoteVets or some other organization...

needs to run with this, now!

If nothing else, to make him clarify the statement and describe how he would accomplish his foreign policy goals WITHOUT a draft (i.e. he can't).

[Heather MC]

44. I guess this is all apart of McSame's "All of the Above" Policies

[vaberella]

45. Send it to Obama...He needs to know. Axelrod will use this like the ultimate weapon!! n/t

[Better Believe It]

46. Has Obama Spoken Out Yet Against McCain's Draft Statement?

Please post it in this string or start a new one if and when that should actually happen.

Thank you.

[vaberella]

51. Not yet. I hope he does because this is unconscionable. n/t

[KaryninMiami]

47. Send it to the major networks and let's write some letters to newspapers

asking McCain to explain his statement about being ready to reinstate the draft. Otherwise, this story, like all of the other McShame gaffs, will simply fade into the limelight.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

48. Didn't he make some comments at Saddleback (moral failure question?)

that seemed to indicate that he felt disappointed that not enough people are willing to serve their country? I can't remember exactly what he said but the comments he made during the clip that they showed on CNN make me think that his comments about not disagreeing about a draft might not actually have been a "gaffe" and may, in fact, be how he really feels, although I'm sure he probably wouldn't come right out and say it. Given the state of the military and the problems that they've had recruiting (as evidenced by their increasingly "relaxed" admission standards) I don't know how else he (or anybody advocating MORE wars/conflicts) is going to get more fresh bodies without some kind of a draft. Of course, the sensible thing for any leader to do is to try to avoid starting wars, particularly UNNECESSARY ONES, in the first place but like Pat Buchanan argued (and I can't believe I'm paraphrasing him), I don't think McCain would be content to be anything other than a "war president" and he certainly doesn't seem to me to have any real zeal for domestic issues beyond doing or saying whatever he thinks he needs to be elected. In office, he would probably be too lazy to try to do anything other than continue Bush's domestic policies while he instead focuses his attention on how many new wars/conflicts he can start.

[ecstatic]

49. Furthermore, this IS NOT the time for some of us to say that's a good idea

For once, I hope everyone employs Politics 101 and stop with the overthinking BS that causes us to lose.

[Mz Pip]

53. If tree falls in the woods

does it make a sound?

If McCain makes a gaffe and it is ignored by MSM will anyone hear it?

McCain is a forest of falling trees that no one is around to hear.

[file83]

55. hey, Hey, HEY!!! Eeeeeeeasy on the old guy...

...he hadn't had his Metamucil when he said that.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

56. A gaffe is when you misspeak. That was no gaffe.

He will bring back the draft.