There seems to be two battles going on between Camp Obama, and Hillary’s campaign. One’s over the issue of racism, and the other over the candidates’ records on Iraq. A sort of a he said - she said sort of thing. I’ve already covered the whole racism thing HERE and HERE, so tonight I thought we’d take a look at what’s happening between them re their records on Iraq.
Thing is, for a guy who’s claiming to have been opposed to the war in Iraq from day one and has actively opposed it ever since he came to the Senate, words are all we seem to have to go on here.
Hillary took him to task in her appearance on Meet the Press Yesterday – check it out...
Make the jump - there more...
Ok in all fairness I’ll post some of what Obama’s team have put up on his website (not all of it mind – I don’t want to step on any fair use toes here)...
FEBRUARY 2005
Obama Criticized Iraq War At Town Hall Meeting. The Pantagraph reported that during a town hall meeting, "Asked about the Iraq war, Obama said poor planning by the Bush administration has left Iraq woefully incapable of handling its own security. He expressed hope that more intensive training will be provided for Iraqi forces, saying such measures could allow most American troops to return home next year. While Obama said the recent Iraqi election is an encouraging sign for democracy, he questioned Bush's rationale for the Iraq invasion. 'I didn't see the weapons of mass destruction at the time, I didn't think there was an imminent threat from Saddam Hussein,' Obama said." [Pantagraph, 2/25/05]
MAY 2005
Obama Said Security In Iraq Was 'Horrible.' At a town hall meeting, "Obama described the security in Iraq as 'horrible.' He said U.S. troops should come home if the Iraqi government is functioning properly and the Iraqi troops are trained correctly. 'Our young men and women have been incredibly brave and effective in very difficult situations.'" [Chicago Daily Herald, 5/28/05]
OCTOBER 2005
Obama Said US Needed To Get Out Of Iraq "As Soon As We Can." In 2005, Obama said, "We should start phasing out our military presence in Iraq. We have to have a very credible, specific plan to stabilize the country as soon as we can and get out as soon as we can." [Rockford Register Star, 10/30/05]
Ok is anyone else noticing a pattern here? Seriously – if you look at the linked press release you’ll notice that every paragraph about Obama starts with him either saying something, criticizing someone or calling for something. He’s saying an awful lot but when push comes to shove – when they called the vote on any given funding bill or anything that would set a timetable, Obama failed to act on his words.
Don’t believe me? Check out this side-by-side comparison of his voting record & Hillary’s. There’s absolutely no daylight between them save for one vote. She opposed Casey’s confirmation and Obama? He voted with the Republicans in supporting the confirmation.
Now I’m not saying he’s any worse or any better than Hillary on this. But for a guy who’s saying he’s our champion re the anti-war effort, and given the fact that he’s been hammering away at Hillary on this issue – when you get right down to it all he’s got is that speech he gave 5 years ago.
Hillary’s camp came out with some information on Obama’s tenure in the Senate...
Obama Camp Keeps Making False Claims About Sen. Obama's Record on Troop Withdrawal
For the second time today, the Obama campaign has incorrectly claimed that Senator Obama has been pushing every year since 2002 for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. This is not true. Clinton National Security Director Lee Feinstein issued the following statement:
"Facts can be stubborn things, especially in the heat of campaign. The reality is that since 2004, Senator Obama explicitly called for keeping troops in Iraq and opposed a timeline for withdrawal, only changing his position when he became a candidate for the White House.
"Senator Clinton will end the war in Iraq the right way. She has put forward the most comprehensive plan to bring our troops home, swiftly and responsibly. She is the candidate best able to end the war and address the challenges that will inevitably arise as we bring our troops home."
Obama's record:
In 2004, Sen. Obama said he was willing to support more troops in Iraq, said withdrawal from Iraq would be 'a slap in the face' to the troops fighting there." "Democratic Senate candidate Barack Obama said Saturday he would be willing to send more soldiers to Iraq if it is part of a strategy that the president and military leaders believe will stabilize the country...'A quick withdrawal would add to the chaos there and make it 'an extraordinary hotbed of terrorist activity,' [Obama] said. It would also damage America's international prestige and amount to 'a slap in the face' to the troops fighting there, he said." [Christopher Wills, "Obama Willing To Support More Troops In Iraq," The Associated Press, 9/19/04]
In 2005, Sen. Obama said that 'U.S. forces are still a part of the solution.' "I believe that U.S. forces are still a part of the solution in Iraq...First and foremost, after the December 15 elections and during the course of next year, we need to focus our attention on how reduce the U.S. military footprint in Iraq. Notice that I say 'reduce,' and not 'fully withdraw.'" [Obama speech to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, 11/22/05]
In 2006, Sen. Obama opposed Sen. Kerry's amendment to withdraw troops, saying he opposed 'a precipitous withdrawal of troops.' Sen. Obama voted against an amendment by Senator Kerry requiring the president to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq in 2006 and have complete withdrawal by July 1, 2007. "But having visited Iraq, I am also acutely aware that a precipitous withdrawal of our troops, driven by congressional edict rather than the realities on the ground, will not undo the mistakes made by this administration. It could compound them...A hard and fast, arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field, and our diplomats in the region, insufficient flexibility" [2006 Vote # 181, S2766, 6/22/06; Obama Remarks, Congressional Record, 06/21/06]
Obama advisor Susan Rice on MSNBC:
"He's been a consistent critic of the war in Iraq, pushing every year since 2002 for a withdrawal of our forces." [10:08AM]
"Since he's been in the senate, he has called from his very first month in office for the withdrawal and redeployment of American forces. He's been absolutely consistent and for many years, Senator Clinton resisted any sort of timetable for the withdrawal of American forces. So the record speaks for itself." [12:15PM]
Here’s a clip of her on MSNBC...
This statement flies in the face of that TPMCafe comparison of the two records. And I'm sorry but did she really just try to contrast Obama's record on Iraq with Hillary's by saying she opposed timetables? Implying that he supported them? Is anybody going to all bull on this?
No?
Ok I will - that's bullsh#t lady.
And notice she said called for regarding Obama's record. Hmmmm... ya know last time I checked called for doesn’t translate into action. You actually have to VOTE for it in the Senate if you really, really, really want something to happen. Yeah I’ll give him credit for voting against a funding bill that didn’t include a time table last summer, and he’s on the right track with his plan to bring our troops home.
But here’s the thing you guys... he did all that – finally took some action after he tossed his hat in the ring in the presidential campaign. Before that, everything he’s done tells us he’s not the anti-war champion he’s claiming to be here. All he could do was call for, or say things, or criticize things, ideas or people.
But where’s the action????
Talk is cheap Senator. You talk a great game but when push comes to shove, you blew it. There is absolutely no difference between your voting record and Hillary’s so please stop claiming that there is.
The voters are smarter than you give them credit for Senator and we know the difference between words and action. And on this issue, you have not been a man of action.
U P D A T E
On a lighter note...
Ok here's one for all you fans of Hillary - enjoy!
Ok I just noticed how obnoxious that first screenshot is but the video's funny - take a look.
And one more reminder folks - Hillary needs our help if she's going to campaign in all of the 26 states coming up in the next three weeks. Help her out if you can by sending her some love. If you've got a crush on Hillary please...
CONTRIBUTE NOW!
Thanks.