Jim Lehrer moderated the first 2008 presidential debate, held on September 26. While intended to cover national security and foreign affairs, the U.S. financial crisis weighed heavily during the opening questions. Lehrer's attempt to encourage eye contact during the opening was somewhat futile.
Senator McCain hammered Senator Obama on earmarks and pork barrel spending. Obama chastised McCain's complicity during an orgy of spending under President Bush. "You voted for almost all of his budgets. To stand here and say that
after eight years you're going to lead on controlling spending and
balancing our tax cuts for middle-class families ... it's kind of hard
to swallow."
On foreign policy, McCain cited his reputation as a maverick, particularly when it came to banning torture. McCain touted his many foreign travels and relationship with foreign leaders, and claimed Obama's views on foreign policy to be naive.
Obama challenged McCain's effectiveness.
"Over the last eight years, this administration, along with Senator
McCain, has been solely focused on Iraq. That
has been their priority. That is where all their resources have gone. In
the meantime, Osama bin Laden is still out there. He is not captured.
He is not killed. Al Qaeda is resurgent."
By 12:22 a.m. on September 27, MTV News published a comprehensive debate report on their website. Spirited commentary ensued.
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Thursday
Obama Travels Abroad
On Thursday, July 17, 2008, Barack Obama departed Washington to begin a foreign tour of the Middle East and Europe. He first stopped in Kuwait and then continued to Afghanistan to visit U.S. troops. The trip was designed to highlight his foreign policy credentials.
Sunday
Over There
In late June 2008, the Obama campaign announced plans to travel overseas in mid-July, with visits to Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, France, Germany, and London. Initially, the stop in Berlin was to include a speech at the Brandenburg Gate, where U.S. Presidents Kennedy and Reagan gave memorable speeches. But the Berlin location was later changed to the Victory Column.
Early in July 2012, GOP candidate Mitt Romney announced plans for a foreign trip this summer to include stops in Israel and London, with consideration also given to Germany and Poland.
A recent US News & World Report article states that Romney has said he will "do the opposite" of Obama on Israel, but has not specified details. The article also quotes an Obama spokesman's reply: "Governor Romney has said he would do the opposite of what President Obama has done in our relations with Israel. Now he must specify how - does that mean he would reverse President Obama's policies of sending Israel the largest security assistance packages in history? Does it mean he would let Israel stand alone at the United Nations, or that he would stop funding the Iron Dome system? Does it mean he would abandon the coalition working together to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions?"
Early in July 2012, GOP candidate Mitt Romney announced plans for a foreign trip this summer to include stops in Israel and London, with consideration also given to Germany and Poland.
A recent US News & World Report article states that Romney has said he will "do the opposite" of Obama on Israel, but has not specified details. The article also quotes an Obama spokesman's reply: "Governor Romney has said he would do the opposite of what President Obama has done in our relations with Israel. Now he must specify how - does that mean he would reverse President Obama's policies of sending Israel the largest security assistance packages in history? Does it mean he would let Israel stand alone at the United Nations, or that he would stop funding the Iron Dome system? Does it mean he would abandon the coalition working together to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions?"
Tuesday
Inflexible? Too flexible?
During the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama’s National Co-Chair Claire McCaskill, on news shows, indicated that he would not change his course regarding the timing for Iraq troop withdrawal. John McCain's campaign roundly criticized the wisdom of that position considering conditions on the ground.
Obama told the news media in a June 3, 2008 press conference that his 16-month withdrawal timeline was always premised on information from commanders that troops could be withdrawn safely. He said he would continue to gather information to make certain those conditions still held. He reiterated that he would end the war.
RNC Spokesman Alex Conant offered a response: “There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience.
Obama went on to be elected president and ended the war in Iraq in 2011.
Obama told the news media in a June 3, 2008 press conference that his 16-month withdrawal timeline was always premised on information from commanders that troops could be withdrawn safely. He said he would continue to gather information to make certain those conditions still held. He reiterated that he would end the war.
RNC Spokesman Alex Conant offered a response: “There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience.
Obama went on to be elected president and ended the war in Iraq in 2011.
Sunday
Priorities
Today in 2008, Barack Obama said that Republicans "helped to engineer the distraction of the war in Iraq" when they could have been going after Osama bin Laden and others involved in 9-11.
Upon taking office in 2009, President Obama ordered national security forces to make the hunt for bin Laden a top priority. By the end of 2011, bin Laden was dead and the war in Iraq was over.
Upon taking office in 2009, President Obama ordered national security forces to make the hunt for bin Laden a top priority. By the end of 2011, bin Laden was dead and the war in Iraq was over.
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