Obama: Trust Me To End The War (Iraq Speech)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Obama: Trust me to end the war
By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer
41 minutes ago

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Barack Obama suggested Wednesday that Hillary Clinton could not be trusted to end the Iraq war because she only started opposing it when she began her bid for president.

In a speech not far from North Carolina's Fort Bragg military base, the Democratic presidential hopeful told military families and local officials that the war has emboldened al-Qaida, the Taliban, Iran and North Korea.

"Ask yourself," Obama told the crowd, "Who do you trust to end a war: someone who opposed the war from the beginning, or someone who started opposing it when they started preparing a run for president?"

Obama used the five-year anniversary of the Iraq invasion to again cast himself as the only true anti-war candidate. He has criticized Clinton for voting to authorize the use of force against Iraq and pointed out he openly opposed the invasion as a state lawmaker.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_iraq

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This speech was at a community college at which I used to work. It was invitation-only, though. Wish I could have gone.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Well, I trust him completely. I do not trust her at all.

[OhioChick]

3. Agreed. nt

[papau]

2. I do not trust Obama

Obama based on my research appears to be on both sides - or no side - of any reasonably major item - but to the left of Hillary on votes that do not matter as nothing is going to pass. I see no ability to get anything through a legislature, and I dislike the compromises with the GOP, such as adding a tax break for corporations to a social spending bill to get a GOP sponsor. The nuclear bill turned out to be a tiny request for a study that was done annually anyway but which Bush had not pushed to publication - the bill telling State to do the study.

I need more than great speech making ability.

And I need to trust him - so far he has given a race speech today that was needed before SC - rather than his playing the race card to gin the black vote higher by having campaign persons say "supporters" of Hillary were not being controlled properly - or Hillary was a racist - because those supporters said something that could be stretched and bent so as to see the phrase used as "sensistive to blacks".

Then there's the lie about no NAFYA meeting with Canada - until a few days later a memo surfaces that describes the meeting as one of don't worry because we are lying to the American voter and will change nothing via any end of treaty threat (of course that allows for changes to be agreed on with out any threat - but that was not what Obama had been saying). Then the Kudlow CNBC show I watched as Obama's chief economics adviser said that Kudlow should not worry about the cost of Onama's proposed social programs because "we do not expect them to pass" (check the video and see the fellows grin as he says this). Then there is a debate when Hillary says she will get a 60 day study/plan development group of the JCS to get us out of Iraq as quickly as possible - most likely in 2 years - to which Obama says that "that is the difference - with me you are certain I will have us out in 16 months". Of course Ms Powers of the Obama campaign a while kater tells an EU newspaper that the 16 months is not firm and that a plan will be developed once he is in office - the Hillary position that he dumped on in the debate.

Hillary has the smarts and grit to pull off the changes I want - Obama wants to change the atmosphere and refers to his working with the GOP - which brings us back to adding corporate tax cuts to get little bills co-sponsored.

[TwilightGardener]

7. NAFTA--Hillary's camp was the one who was the target of the "wink wink"

assurance--it somehow morphed into an investigation/smear against Obama, Obama did NOT send an advisor to warn about NAFTA, and the "memo" that surfaced (when the Canadians went to Goolsbee) showed that the Canadians understood that Obama was telling them the same thing he was telling Ohio--that NAFTA will be reviewed and labor/environmental standards will be addressed for fairness. The "political positioning" part of the memo was not what Goolsbee said to them--it was mischaracterized, and the Canadian embassy agreed and apologized. It's over, it's been debunked, the Canadian government got itself into trouble by deliberately meddling in our election on an invented smear job, and Hillary has simply denied that she wink-winked, and no one ever investigated HER in the press. Let it go.

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. This is a completely bogus assessment.

[TwilightGardener]

12. Nope--completely factual, but the facts have a known anti-Hillary bias.

[papau]

21. A better word is that the fellows post is a lie - amazing that he thinks he can get away with it

[TomBall Democrat]

14. say what?

Man, I really tried to follow some sort of trail through that discourse.

But, frankly it didn't make sense.

Seemed to start out negative, lapse into a ramble through a rehash of a mistruth repeated for negative emphasis by a losing candidate, then peter out.

I smell a diehard Hillary supporter who can't stand that she's losing this race. Your journal supports my thought.

And if you want Hillary, fine - but please support it with logic.

How can we have a discussion based on fact if we resort to name calling.

Like Obama said, if we retire to our respective corners - nothing changes.

[papau]

22. Facts have this anti Obama bias that makes them hard to understand for Obama fans?

[TomBall Democrat]

26. You are not interested in a discussion

Name calling and distortion are old school.

To call those who disagree with fools, is a Bush tactic.

I am frankly ashamed and annoyed by Hillarites who do it.

Sorry to learn you're one of them.

[papau]

30. Try again - the post was clear - the put down on composition obvious - and false

[humbled_opinion]

25. Obama wants to end partisanship

He never said he would exclusively agree to the Rights idiotic proposals he will politely show them how wrong headed they are and we will move on with a more progressive govt.

Hillary will embolden the Republicans and they will start impeachment proceedings from day one.. If we couldn't get Bill we are gonna get Hill that is senseless yes but inevitable and there is way too much important business for the people than to have to deal with that crap.

[papau]

31. when has he persuaded anyone on the right to support a social service expansion bill?

[humbled_opinion]

40. Oh Please...

He is a junior Senator... Which bill would you have him seek capitualtion with the Repukes on?

[catgirl]

38. A little mixed up perhaps???

I think so!

Kick for Obama's good judgement and integrity.

[CANDO]

42. Let's go forward by.....living in the past......Vote for Hillary

Not my household. Two Pennsylvanians for Obama!

[hedgehog]

4. He was making too much sense! Both MSNBC and CNN cut away

to Hillary complaining about the Michigan primary (again) and then CNN screwed up their live on-line feed and dropped it before the speech was over! How soon before we can see the entire speech on Obama's site or You Tube?

[I Dreamtoomuch_2]

15. Try C-Span

I'm sure C-Span teevee will be airing it as well.

[hedgehog]

18. C-Span may re-run it later on, but they didn't run it live on 1 or 2.

On edit - I just added C-Span to my favorite sites.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Then why did he vote to fund the war?

He doesn't know what to do.

[TwilightGardener]

8. Why did she? Because you don't want to end a war by defunding.

Defunding is about the worst way to end a conflict, especially at the height of it, when we have the most troops in harm's way. It's simply a very risky last resort, and full of possible unintended consquences. So ask yourself, why didn't Hillary vote to defund?

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. In otherwords Obama has no balls.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Neither does: Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Carl Levin--

as well as Jim Webb and my own (Repub) Senator, Chuck Hagel--both against the Iraq war, both wounded Vietnam vets, both certainly have balls--they refuse to defund, because it's a bad idea.

[madmom]

16. I don't want to get into the Clinton vs Obama fray here, but I have a simple question

I have asked before and got no answer. You (meaning most Obama supporters) say that defunding the war is NOT the way to go because it would harm the troops, okay I'll give you that, but how come when early on (before campaigns started in earnest) Pelosi and Reid voted to fund the war and people on DU went ballistic, some calling for Pelosi's impeachment.There was even some congress critter (don't remember who) with a plan of how it could work. I'm asking this in all honestly because I can't see the difference. I'll admit I am/was a Clinton supporter, but I'm really setting on the fence right now because I don't want to vote for either of them at this time, so much so I told my SO I might, for the first time since I've been able to vote, sit this one out.

[nodehopper]

20. the funding vote wasn't about defunding--it was about forcing a timeline

it's intellectually dishonest to say that people who voted against it wanted to defund the war--they wanted to take away bush's card blanche for endless war. sadly, neither HC nor BO had the integrity to be on the right side of that issue.

[fascisthunter]

6. Obama... you Got My Vote!

You have a movement this country hasn't seen backing you up!

[Demeter]

13. Very Cautious, Very Smooth, Very Telling Speech

I wish I had the ability to channel my rage in such diplomatic style--but then, perhaps Obama doesn't rage. Lucky man, if so.

[WhiteTara]

17. sounds like "trust me - the rubber won't break"

and I'll love you in the morning.
yea yea yea

[nodehopper]

19. he sure voted to fund it without a timeline, just like she did

and I don't care about all that how it is politically important to show support for the troops blah blah. there were democrats in the house with a spine who tried to force a timeline, but they were undermined by nancy "what a disappointment she turned out to be" pelosi.

[DainBramaged]

23. I'm at work, can't wait till tonight to watch the speech

a fine "gift" for when I get home.

[Sadie5]

33. Hey there DainBramaged

The UAW doesn't support Obama, they are remaining neutral until the nominee is chosen. They endorse no particular candidate at this time so if you are trying to say the UAW supports O by using their logo then you need to take it down.THEY DO NOT SUPPORT OBAMA!!

[humbled_opinion]

24. Obama has the Courage that is needed to end this war.

That is the story that is overlooked. Clinton lacks any semblance of courage and conviction in her contorted and painful commitments to Iraq stating with the IWR through her approval of the surge and voting to sustain a war without end.

If America wants the war in Iraq over and the troops brought home not some Iraqi fake base that is attacked endlessly by Whoever... Lets be perfectly clear you must vote for Obama.

[lark]

28. Hope Obama doesn't start selling swamp land

My state will be filled up quite fast as there is no critical thinking by some Obama fans, just swooning.

[TomBall Democrat]

29. What a remarkable absence of critical thinking skills

you display.

Name calling is not debating.

It's just rude.

[humbled_opinion]

44. Swamp land well then you must

be from LA. Wasn't it nice how Bush treated you all down there during Katrina and Rita... Wasn't nice how Bush and the Republicans ignorned the plight of tens of thousands of the poor and underpriveleged in NOLA and allowed many to die.... Clinton was no better cohorting with the upper crust while the earthen levies crack and aged during her husbands administration....

So if Obama is selling swamp land it must be because thats all that is left after the destruction of infrastructure in the U.S. caused by the Bushes and Clintons..

There is only one serious candidate for the presidency and his name is Barrack Obama.

[jlake]

27. He'll say anything to win.

[DainBramaged]

34. I think Mrs. Clinton has said the same thing on many occasions

caveat emptor.

[BreweryYardRat]

32. Anyone who says "trust me" automatically raises my suspicions.

If he gets the White House and actually does pull us out, then I'll believe.

Edwards, on the other hand, I would have been prepared to believe in advance.

[Abacus]

35. I believe that was the AP's verbiage /nt

[skepticscott]

36. It's hard to trust anyone completely

who continues to call this a "war". An old Chinese proverb says "The beginning of wisdom is calling things by their right name". Every Democrat from Obama, Clinton, Pelosi and Reid on down should be calling the situation in Iraq what it is: an occupation. They should be calling it that every single time they refer to it, publicly or privately, in speech or in writing. The phrases "Iraq war" or "war in Iraq" should NEVER AGAIN escape any Democrat's lips. "The Iraq occupation" or the "The occupation of Iraq" should be the only way they ever refer to it. The Republicans have no trouble grasping the concept that if you repeat words often enough, if you hammer a message home often enough, eventually it takes root (how else did the idiotic phrase "war on terror" permeate the news media?). Why can the Democrats not comprehend this or carry it out?

[goodgd_yall]

39. I always referred to it as an occupation

But then as it dragged on and casualties increased, I started to think of it as a war. But I think you are correct that we should use the term "Occupation" so that it is clear what it really is.

[skepticscott]

41. There's nothing war-like about it

We are conducting no specific campaigns, with definable goals and objectives, we are capturing and securing no territory, the "enemy" seems to be whoever is shooting at us at the moment, and seems to change every few weeks, and we have no idea what "winning" will look like. We're just standing there with our finger in the dike, propping up a puppet government with virtually no popular support and no capability to accomplish anything of substance, building permanent military bases and making sure that Bush and Cheney's biggest supporters get their hands on as much of Iraq's oil as possible.

[goodgd_yall]

37. I trust them both to get the troops out.

How Clinton voted in the past has no bearing on my trust of whether she'd follow through on her campaign promise.

[Zhade]

43. I don't trust Clinton; she's a proven liar. Obama? We'll see.

All I can say is, you fucking BETTER end the war.