Reason why Obama didn't visit injured troops.

I think it is clear that some missed the point. He was also advised he could visit, just not with the Media in tow. It says a great deal about character. Why would he not leave the press behind and visit out of respect for the sacrifice of the troops? Imagine if any other candidate did that because they could not get publicity for it?

No matter how you feel about Obama you have to admit that this brings his motives into question. Do we need a man in the White House who's primary motivation is that he is superior to those he serves? We have many examples in history of leaders with megalomania and they are not pretty. I want someone who accepts they are no better than "We the People" and that will serve us as an equal.

His attempt to emulate Kennedy and Reagan in Germany is a window into his personality. His wanting to speak at the Brandenburg Gate and having his aids request briefings reserved for Heads of State set off warning bells for me.

He is by no stretch of the imagination a Kennedy or a Reagan. His desire to weaken our military and his Carter style nonsense about doubling the tax on capital gains show he is the exact opposite. I don't want to live through another Carter.

Originally posted by sos37
WHOA ... BH knocked back into her place on more than one thread on the same day!

You really feel threatened by me, don't you.

Here's a source maybe you can relate to:

FOX News

Barack Obama was not prohibited from visiting U.S. troops at military facilities in Germany, but it would have been awkward.

That was the suggestion from both the Obama campaign and the military Friday, after the Illinois senator drew criticism from Republicans for canceling his scheduled visits while in Europe.
...
“Senator Obama made the decision that we were not going to have wounded men and women become involved in a campaign event or what would be perceived as a campaign event,” Gibbs said.

Now, feel free to think he "ignored the troops" because he couldn't take the press with him (as if he didn't have enough press already this week), but the truth is, it would have been awkward and the military agreed. He didn't want to cheapen the seriousness of wounded military with a "campaign stop".

Think about it people... What do you think he would rather have been reported in the news?

Obama Ignores Wounded Troops in Germany

or

Obama Visits Wounded Troops in Germany?

If it was really the press he was concerned, he would have visited them and let the second headline be. But he didn't want to make wounded soldiers part of the campaign part of his tour, so he took the chance, knowing full well, the vultures would attack him for it. But NOT taking advantage of the troops was more important to him.

I'm sorry y'all don't understand that.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Obama was warned not to make it a political event. He knows no other way, so of course it would have been awkward.

Senators visit our injured troops all the time. If they didn't, there would be no rules and regulations regarding Senatorial visits.

I don't think Obama thinks of himself as a junior Senator from Illinois, and being treated as such would be beneath him. Therefore no visit.

Once again, from BH's Source...

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told FOX News the Pentagon did not tell Obama he couldn’t visit, but explained that he would be under specific restrictions.

you have to do it with the restrictions that apply to any other candidate

Obama would not have been able to bring any of his campaign staff — only one Senate staffer and security. He also would not have been able to address the media or make any campaign-related statements.

Same Source
Emphasis Mine

Looks pretty clear to me...

Oh and one final comment from the source..

John McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said, “Barack Obama is wrong. It is never inappropriate to visit our men and women in the military.”

McCain’s Senate colleague Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., also took a shot at Obama.

“I noticed that Obama had plenty of time to shoot hoops … but he didn’t have the time to stop by (the Ramstein base),” he told FOX News.

Semper

Im sorry but the only traitors to this country and to the troops abroad are the ones who seem to support this war of oil, and thats what it is, a war for oil.

This whole "GOP for troops" BS has gone to far. 4000 lives lost to the far right's war for oil and you have the nerve to question those who intend to end it. Obama did his best to visit as many troops as possible, YOUR party and your candidate, McCain, prefers to continue killing off more troops for a war built on lies .

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


So which is it?

Is it an overseas tour to strengthen Obama's foreign affairs cred, as his campaign and the media have claimed?
Was it to gain the "on the ground feedback " of troops and leaders, (ours and theirs) to better gain a perspective on this war? (as he also claimed?)

Or was it a campaign event, as witnessed in Germany, (seriously, the audacity) and now described by you as a defense.

So visiting healthy soldiers is not a campaign event. You know, playing basketball with them helps him as a Senator, but no, it's not for pictures of him with smiling troops.

It's just the sick ones that he can't visit. That would be exploitation. Albeit one with a military photographer, and no sound bites.

Obama actually thinks he is already the leader of our country, and shows it by his actions.

But as you said BH, By any means necessary...(I've saved that quote from you)

C'mon, you know I'm right... Jason

Now, feel free to think he "ignored the troops" because he couldn't take the press with him (as if he didn't have enough press already this week), but the truth is, it would have been awkward and the military agreed. He didn't want to cheapen the seriousness of wounded military with a "campaign stop".

Its obvious that he could have gone, without the media and chose not to. Hes only interested if it can benefit him in some way.

[edit on 25-7-2008 by Dronetek]

hmmm now lets see

McCain argues that Obama has not been to Iraq, the rest of the middle east and Europe, I say fair enough, so he goes.

McCain then brags how his making an effort in the heartland of America and Obamas overseas, yet he was going on about that Obama never went overseas in the first place. They while Obama is in Germany, McCain visits a German restarant oh man what was that all about?

Then Obama visits troops and now I hear from righties scream at the fact he didnt go visit the wounded troops, yet I bet you that if he had done that, the righties would then scream his making the war look bad

Oh brother

Originally posted by southern_Guardian

Then Obama visits troops and now I hear from righties scream at the fact he didnt go visit the wounded troops, yet I bet you that if he had done that, the righties would then scream his making the war look bad

Sincerely visiting wounded troops can never be criticized. So I have no idea what you are talking about?

Sounds like Obama had planned to visit, but when informed that he would be treated like any other mere Senator, that is when something got thrown into the fan?

Originally posted by southern_Guardian
Im sorry but the only traitors to this country and to the troops abroad are the ones who seem to support this war of oil, and thats what it is, a war for oil.

This whole "GOP for troops" BS has gone to far. 4000 lives lost to the far right's war for oil and you have the nerve to question those who intend to end it. Obama did his best to visit as many troops as possible, YOUR party and your candidate, McCain, prefers to continue killing off more troops for a war built on lies

.

BS! Neither you nor obama give a damn about American troops! All you people care about spouting the same tired old rhetoric about this being an oil war. But I'll bet that doesn't stop you from keeping azz is warm during the winter and I bet you drive, and eat, and shop and live just as good as the rest of us off of that oil. Your motives are transparent! Give it up liberal!

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Exactly right BH.

Much like when Obama showed up for moral and physical support for the floods in Illinois. he bagged a few sand bags and still got blasted for showing up to help out.


Hate fest is the best word to describe posts like this.

No facts. Just feelings.

Originally posted by Andrew E. Wiggin
Much like when Obama showed up for moral and physical support for the floods in Illinois. he bagged a few sand bags and still got blasted for showing up to help out.

I don't like any politician doing that. If Obama went to the flood, chatted with people, offered support and a shoulder to cry on, I'd have more respect than the "sandbag filling" BS. Like his filling two sandbags actually did any good. I'd rather have had him there just to be a sympathic ear.

reply to post by jerico65


He was there as a shoulder to cry on

he did bag more than two sandbags.


Which is all much more than i can say for John McCain.


Its a point well made, and even backed up by yourself.

He was there for support. People like you blasted him for it.

If he had showed up in the injured troop wing, you would have said it was for a photo-op and nothing more.

Blind hate never did anyone any good, and posts like this are living proof


Thats just my 2 cents. And before Bush came along, it used to be a dollar.

Originally posted by Andrew E. Wiggin
He was there as a shoulder to cry on

he did bag more than two sandbags.

Which is all much more than i can say for John McCain.


Its a point well made, and even backed up by yourself.

He was there for support. People like you blasted him for it.

If he had showed up in the injured troop wing, you would have said it was for a photo-op and nothing more.

Blind hate never did anyone any good, and posts like this are living proof


Thats just my 2 cents. And before Bush came along, it used to be a dollar.

I don't care how many bags of sand he filled, it was a waste. It was a drop in the bucket. He could have showed up with a C17 filled with sand and it wouldn't have been enough.

If McCain showed up, I'd have dumped on him, too. Maybe he thought getting his picture taken with people that had just lost everything was a bit shallow and self-serving.

All that politicians do is a photo op. They thrive on it. I think Obama didn't go to the hospital is because he couldn't bring HIS press people along, just a military stills photographer. He couldn't control it, so he didn't want to do it. Like the military would set up some sort of prank or something to embarrass the guy. And remember, the military shot down a visit from McCains's wife, too. (If I were hit, I'd rather see her, with a cooler of beer.)

And my post is "blind hate"?? How is that??

Nope, sorry, I just save that for the enemy. Obama isn't worth the sweat off my nadsack.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic

Here's a source maybe you can relate to:

FOX News

You know its actually sad you had to make that disclosure...
Kinda like showing GWB the all picture menu at TGI Fridays???

Anyways... you guys are absolutely rediculous -- You would have spun it the converse way if O would have visited the wounded.

" That liberal #@$%^$# used are troops to benefit his campaign, how dare he! "

Next, John Mccain would charge on to the stage on his HOOVER ROUND scooter and protest Obamas actions by firing off his spent diaper at the liberal media section....

Originally posted by mental modulator
reply to post by Benevolent Heretic

" That liberal #@$%^$# used are troops to benefit his campaign, how dare he! "

Ahh, that is exactly what he was trying to do. The DOD knew it and they told him no.

Originally posted by mental modulator
reply to post by Benevolent Heretic

Next, John Mccain would charge on to the stage on his HOOVER ROUND scooter and protest Obamas actions by firing off his spent diaper at the liberal media section....

Quite another nice display of liberal bigotry...this time against a man for his age.

[edit on 25-7-2008 by LiquidMirage]

I suppose if Obama had spent any time in the U.S. military he would have known in the first place that military bases are off limits for political events.

[edit on 25-7-2008 by mental modulator]

Wow this is fun I sort of like acting like a conservative -- I feel the hate pulsing -- It feels good...

[edit on 25-7-2008 by mental modulator]