Did Obama gaffe on the "Why did you schedule this on 9/11" question?

[wyldwolf]

Obama this morning raised what seemed like a relevant point: Was the Petraeus hearing scheduled today by the White House to draw some sort of tacit link between 9/11 and Iraq?

The answer, according to a Senate Democratic leadership aide who spoke on the condition on anonymity, is an emphatic "no."

The legislation requiring a report from the White House on the status of the war sets a September 15 deadline. "It made sense," the staffer said, to bring Petraeus to the Hill the week the report was due. And Rosh Hashannah begins Wednesday night.

"It had to be that Monday or that Tuesday, or the Tuesday and the Wednesday, because of the Jewish holiday," the staffer said.

So either way, 9/11. And the decision was made by Senate Democrats, not the White House.

Maybe that's why Biden was short with Obama.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0907/Obamas_scheduling_gripe.html

[underpants]

1. Actually it sucked all the air out of W's big day

As strange as it is to say it 9/11 is their trump card-they still take credit for it. Patraeus's testimony took all the attention away from Bush on the anniversary of the best thing that ever happened to him.

[tblue37]

121. And well they should "take credit for 9/11," since it happened

on their watch, and because their president deliberately ignored warnings about a possible hit by al-Quaida using planes as missiles. Besdies, they were glad it happened and have made use of it, so yeah, let them "take credit" for 9/11--i.e., all the blame.

[Dawgs]

2. WTF, Obama's not allowed to disagree with his own party?

[wyldwolf]

5. Sure he is, but he blamed the White House for trying to make a 9/11 / Iraq connection

[Ethelk2044]

7. and he was correct. The hearings should not have been held on 911

[wyldwolf]

10. He was incorrect. The White House did not schedule it to make a 9/11 Iraq connection

[Dawgs]

66. Where did he say the White House scheduled it?

His quote was, "I have to say that we should not have had this discussion on Sept. 11, or Sept. 10 or Sept. 12,"

It sounds to me like he's actually blaming Congress, which politico(and you) accuse him of not doing.

[Imagevision]

123. The White House did not schedule it to make a 9/11 Iraq connection? get a clue!!!!!

of course as always, spin the 9-11 whenever you can...! Iraq had so much to do with 9-11 attacks don't you know???

[H2O Man]

9. No.

Remember this: If Obama agrees, it is evidence that he is weak. If he disagrees, it is evidence that he is weak. And virtually every option in between is simply more overwhelming evidence that he is weak. That fact that you have to even ask is evidence that Obama is weak. The weather is evidence that Obama is weak, too, so don't even ask about the weather or anything else.

[wyldwolf]

11. He wasn't disagreeing with his own party because HE DID NOT KNOW his party made the decision

[H2O Man]

14. But I simply

agreeing with you. The fact that Obama thought that yesterday was 9/11 is proof he is weak. The color of his shoes was overwhelming evidence that he is not fit for us to consider for president. I think it is important that we come up with literally millions of these kind of reasons to discredit him, so that others here will not listen to his hypnotic (though weak) mantra about democracy.

[wyldwolf]

21. a silly reply to divert from Obama's gaffe? He did not even know his own party scheduled it!

[H2O Man]

33. September 10th thinking.

I think we might exploit political advantage by using the expression "September 10th thinking" when we speak of Obama. Just don't let his fans know that we are going to do it. We'll just kind of slip it in, in a clever manner. They won't know what hit them! And they'll turn on Obama rapidly, because no one wants a candidate that uses September 10th thinking, even if he is saying what so many people were thinking.

[Dawgs]

86. How do you know that?

When did Obama say he knew who scheduled the meetings?

[babylonsister]

20. You just cracked me up, my friend!

:rofl: Heaven knows, we cannot abide with someone that bloody weak!

[H2O Man]

23. Now you have

seen the light!

Obama is always using such September 10th thinking. He is dangerous. And weak.

[Ethelk2044]

3. No He did not

[wyldwolf]

6. Apparently he did.

[Ethelk2044]

13. He is correct the hearings should not have been held on 9/11

[wyldwolf]

15. He was incorrect as to the reason it was held on 9/11. Or is naive a better term?

[babylonsister]

4. No. It needed to be said. nt

[wyldwolf]

8. Even though it was false?

[Ethelk2044]

12. The hearings should have been held last week or after 9-11

9-/13 etc. People really do not think. They could have held the hearings last week and respected those who died on 9-11 this week, by holding a ceremony in the Senate.

[wyldwolf]

17. there was a Sept. 15th deadline. Obama - gaffed again!

[Ethelk2044]

25. Yes, but this week as more than one day 9-12 or 9113 or 9/14

over even last week. It was not mandatory to have the meetings this week. The meetings had to be held before the 9/15 deadline. Therefore they should have been held last week. It just goes to show the Senate does not think straight.

[wyldwolf]

35. Now I know you haven't really read the OP

It had to be Monday or Tuesday, or Tuesday and Wednesday, because of the Jewish holiday.

And Obama was a complete doofus for not even bothering to find out who scheduled it before making the absurd accusation that the white house wanted to make an Iraq / 9/11 connection.

[Ethelk2044]

36. It could have been last week.

[wyldwolf]

38. but naive "Not ready for prime time" Obama made a stupid accusation

and didn't even KNOW his own party scheduled it.

[Imagevision]

124. wyldwolf a typical Hillary Plant...

[babylonsister]

28. I was responding to what he said yesterday. There are many more

days before and after 9/11 that could have been used. A weekend day could have been used. Even a rainy day! Whomever made the decision erred imo. And I do recall weeks ago that 9/11 was to be a target date for Petraeus' testimony to pull on some heart strings.
It's now a done deal; Obama was smart by making his statement, because he demonstrated that one had nothing to do with the other (Iraq vs. 9/11) for those who were paying attention.

[wyldwolf]

37. ..but Obama gaffed / was naive / was out of the loop for accusing the white house

...and was then smacked by Biden.

Obama - the "Not ready for primetime" candidate.

[babylonsister]

42. In your opinion. And Biden's but what might his motives be?

:think: :freak:

[wyldwolf]

45. no, it is not my opinion that Obama THOUGHT the White house schedule it when they didn't

...that is the very definition of being naive and out of the loop.

[babylonsister]

47. You're like a rabid dog; loosen your jaw muscles - breathe! It does

wonders! I know better than to continue this 'coversation'. Bye.

[wyldwolf]

49. No, I just like debunking the spin. You only think that's being rabid

[Dawgs]

89. Where did he say he thought the White House scheduled it? WHERE wyldwolf?

Answer the Question!!!!

[Dawgs]

98. So, you don't know, yet you still call Obama naive and out of the loop?

[Imagevision]

125. wyldwolf , get over it...

[H2O Man]

40. But

if they did it earlier, it would have been evidence of September 10 thinking. You don't want to be associated with September 10 thinking, do you? Do you? Do you?

[babylonsister]

51. No, that would be intolerable. But we could have perhaps gone for

September 9th thinking? And September 13th would have definitely been out-bad luck, doncha know!

[H2O Man]

62. Obama asked a question.

We can not risk having a president who asks questions. That would be wrong. The mere fact that Obama asked a question should cause all Americans to reject him. I hope that all dead people roll over in their graves, to express displeasure at a democrat asking questions. America itself can look forward to being safe and comfortable in the grave, if we can only avoid asking questions.

ASnd here we though Obama was a clean man.

[babylonsister]

70. Yes, when questions arise, and people are rolling over in their

graves, that would make us all dirty eventually. I agree, ENOUGH with the questions! There should be a law! Can't have any dirty bones in those graves! And think about those that are cremated! What would their tortured souls be doing out in the ether? Too many questions that will make souls restless! Enough, I say!

(:spray: )

[William769]

16. It wasn't a gaffe.

It was a complete utter fuck-up. Par for the course for Obama though.

[Ethelk2044]

18. The fuck up was Hillary out there pushing for a WAR with Iraq in the first place

Because of her helping the push for the war over 3000 soldiers have died. THAT IS A REAL FUCK UP. It is not just Bush's war. IT is HER war as well. She was a spokes person for the war.

[wyldwolf]

24. The crutch of the left. Too bad no one's listening anymore. The IWR card is no longer effective

[Ethelk2044]

29. We will see when people go to the poll and pull the lever. It will matter to the voters.

[wyldwolf]

41. we see how important it is right now in current polling.

[William769]

46. Current polling doesn't mean didly squat right now to people in 2nd place.

And it sure as hell won't mean nothing when he falls to 3rd. :rofl:

[Ethelk2044]

55. You are right polling is not what matters. What matters when they pull the lever in the primary

election. Only a fool believes in polls. Remember 2004 Dean was leading in polls. There have been too many elections where people have been leading in polls and did not turn out to win.

[wyldwolf]

59. ..right. After they're sprinkled with magic obama dust and suddenly change their opinions.

:rofl:

[Imagevision]

126. Oprah if handled properly could easily sprinkle magic dust all over Obama

[wyldwolf]

19. well, I was being nice.

[William769]

30. I'm not nice with a bullshitter or a bullshitters supporters. NT.

[zabet]

27. I agree.

He thought he would gain points with that remark. He
might have if he had known who was actually responsible
for the scheduling.
It reminds me of people I used to work with in an
engineering group - the ones who would hear tid-bits
here and there of a new project and try to talk about
it like they know all about it. The creative art of
bullshitting and woolpulling at the same time.

[zulchzulu]

32. We can thank "experienced" politicians for giving Bush a free pass to war

You want to talk about a "complete utter fuck-up"?

Half a trillion dollars later, 5000+ troops dead, 20000+ injured and who knows how many Iraqis dead...let alone the eventual blowback... all thanks to the wisdom and depth of "experience"...

:crazy:

[Ethelk2044]

39. Those who think they have experience running on the coat tails of others to get that experience.

[Imagevision]

127. Just look at that long list of experience we're blessed with from Cheney & Rumsfeld, now

surely, even Obama doesn't have that kind of... experience?

[H2O Man]

34. September 10 thinking. n/t

[zulchzulu]

22. It's a "gaffe" if you are desperate

If you watch the video of Obama questioning Patraeus, it was good to see him take the General to task for all the lies he has been spewing ad nauseum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpfHNRJtNlM

[wyldwolf]

26. Even though he stupidly blamed the white house for something the Democrats did.

Obama is either naive or out of the loop.

[Ethelk2044]

31. He is neither. He is our Next President!

[wyldwolf]

43. President of the Illinois Rotary Club.

[William769]

48. I thought it was President of the book club of the Month?

:shrug:

[wyldwolf]

50. YES! The Oprah Book of the month club!

[Imagevision]

128. I just Obama is our next president...

[zulchzulu]

65. Seriously, what the hell are you talking about?

Obama blamed the President for the war...are you admitting that your "experienced" candidate, who voted for the war, is to blame?

Good for you....

[wyldwolf]

68. seriously, can you not read???

Obama blamed the White House for holding the hearings on 9/11 to make a 9/11 - Iraq connect. Only problem is the White House DID NOT do that. :rofl:

[zulchzulu]

73. Wow... I'd lay off the LSD if I was you

You're seeing things that don't exist again.

If it wasn't for your "experienced" candidate voting to give Bush a free ticket to do this goddamn war, there wouldn't have been a need for this hearing in the goddamn first place.

Anyone who voted to give Bush a free pass to go to Iraq doesn't deserve a vote in the primaries. Period.

[wyldwolf]

74. funny, coming from someone who gets talking points from Sean Hannity

[zulchzulu]

76. You continue to break DU rules... not surprising... n/t

[wyldwolf]

78. so it's mere coincidence you push the same talking points?

[zulchzulu]

84. You remind of some dog down the block that barks at shadows

It's not well liked either.

[wyldwolf]

87. you remind me of a chihuahua who barks at things he can't possibly take down.

It's not well liked either.

[zulchzulu]

90. Read the rules

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

"Do not publicly accuse another member of this message board of being a disruptor, conservative, Republican, FReeper, or troll, or do not otherwise imply they are not welcome on Democratic Underground."

Hopefully you will get suspended. Keep it up.

[wyldwolf]

99. I have, have you?

Do not post personal attacks or engage in name-calling against other individual members of this discussion board. Even very mild personal attacks are forbidden.

[oasis]

112. "...bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely

and therefore, war, less likely."--Sen. Hillary Clinton (D)NY.

[beaconess]

119. Before you accuse people of illiteracy, perhaps YOU should read what he actually said!

I have to say, and this hasn't been commented on, I think that we should not have had this discussion on 9/11 or 9/10 or 9/12. Because I think it perpetuates this notion that, somehow, the original decision to go into Iraq was directly related to the attacks on 9/11.

(I posted quote this further up, but think it merited repetition, since you have repeatedly accused him of saying something he didn't say!)

[beaconess]

118. You are completely mischaracterizing his comments-and claiming he said something he didn't say!

Exact quote:

"I have to say, and this hasn't been commented on, I think that we should not have had this discussion on 9/11 or 9/10 or 9/12. Because I think it perpetuates this notion that, somehow, the original decision to go into Iraq was directly related to the attacks on 9/11."

Nowhere in his comments did he say - or even suggest - that the hearing was set by the White House.

[rateyes]

44. No.

He made a good point.

[wyldwolf]

52. he made NO point

[rateyes]

54. I watched his questioning yesterday...

and, he's right. Holding that hearing on 9/11 helps perpetuate the notion that we are in Iraq because of 9/11. He's right about that. I'm not voting for Obama in the primaries, but I'm not going to criticize him for getting it right.

[wyldwolf]

56. so did I

And he's wrong. The White House did not schedule the hearing on 9/11 to make a 9/11-Iraq connection. In fact, the White House DID NOT scheduled the hearing at all. :shrug:

Naive. Out of the loop.

[rateyes]

58. The question was did he "gaffe"....

IMO, the answer is no. It doesn't matter who scheduled the hearing. 9.11 was the wrong day to do it.

[wyldwolf]

61. yes it was...

... because the REASON Obama cited for doing it that day turned out to be WRONG.

[beaconess]

120. Did you not bother to find out what Obama actually said before you decided to attack him for it . .

or do you KNOW that he didn't say what you're accusing him of but decided to lie about him, regardless?

[rateyes]

60. And, "naive" and "out of the loop"

are the absolutely wrong adjectives to describe me. :shrug:

[wyldwolf]

63. I didn't use those adjectives to describe you

:shrug:

[rateyes]

67. Then who did you use them to describe?

[wyldwolf]

69. Who is this thread about??

[rateyes]

75. So Obama is naive and out of the loop?

Again, I'm not supporting him in the primaries...but, those are the wrong adjectives to describe him, too. His whole presentation yesterday was on the mark. You have taken one assertion out of the whole presentation and are trying to hang it around his neck as a "gaffe." You aren't seeing the forest for the trees.

Why are you doing that?

[madrchsod]

53. oh my god obama is a mere mortal!

well since it`s a religious holiday i guess the our men and woman in iraq who are putting their lives on the line get to reschedule their missions because the senate had to reschedule around a holiday...

"send in the clowns"...oh... they are are ready here...

[H2O Man]

64. A Sept 10 thinker, he.

Asking questions is bad.

[autorank]

102. More than "mere mortal" - he's intellectually honest. n/t

[Adelante]

57. I think the larger point was made

There was no connection between 9/11 and the Iraq war and that's what I think is significant. Gaffe. Schmaffe.

[Dawgs]

71. When did Obama say the WHITE HOUSE scheduled it?

You keep saying it, but you have provided no link.

[Dawgs]

72. Who said "Why did you schedule this on 9/11"?

You put a quote in your original post, but who said it? It wasn't Obama.

[Colobo]

77. No, wyld. He did not. Now go back to bed.

[wyldwolf]

80. sure he did. Now put your head back into the sand.

[Colobo]

81. wyld, it was just a nightmare. He didn't gaffe. Now relax

and try to sleep.

[wyldwolf]

83. yeah, a nightmare for Obama. Now put your head back in the sand.

[Colobo]

97. Wyld, I care about you. Don't focus on things that never happened!

It's not good for your mental health. Relaxation is key.

[redqueen]

79. Yup.

He did.

It's not a big deal... but of course it'll be made into one.

[Dawgs]

88. No he did not. He said that "we" shouldn't have this hearing on Sep. 11th.

He never said 'White House".

[redqueen]

91. Well now I'm not sure if he asked the question or not.

That's what I get for taking the OP at face value.

Fucking spin machines.

[ripple]

82. He didn't ask that question. This is what he said:

"I think we should not have had this discussion on 9/11, or 9/10 or 9/12. Because I think it perpetuates this notion that somehow the original decision to go into Iraq was directly related to the attacks on 9/11."


So of course it wasn't a gaffe. He made an excellent point, no matter who made the decision to schedule the hearings this week.

Nice try, though.

[Dawgs]

85. Why do you refuse to answer my questions wyld? When did Obama say "White House" or "you schedule"?

You're answering everyone else, why not me?

[zulchzulu]

93. He's out of ammo and he's desperate to smear Obama at all costs

Instead of supporting a Democrat who took Patraeus to task, this person appears to care more for his preferred candidate over the mission to stop the war his candidate was a full participant in allowing.

[wyldwolf]

94. I'll bet you don't know all the proper uses of quote marks, do you?

One use for quotations marks is for talking about words. For example:

Be sure to use the word "determine" correctly.

Another use of quotation marks is to indicate something isn't quite what it seems or to summarize. For example:

Dawgs really has faith in that "fresh faced" candidate, Obama, even though he's losing his ass.



using the second mentioned usage, I indicated Obama's question is not what it seemed and I summarized the question.

:shrug:

Now, why would you assume everyone should use quotation marks in the manner you think they should be used in?

[Dawgs]

95. Bullshit. You used it as a quote of his words and now you're refusing to answer my question.

You are pathetic and desperate.

[wyldwolf]

96. you simply do not like my answer because you were not prepared for it.

[Dawgs]

100. No, you didn't answer my question. When did Obama say "White House"?

You used the "White House" excuse/response throughout this thread, yet you provide no proof of him ever saying it. Why wyld, why?

[Ethelk2044]

109. Desperation from Hillary Supporters

[H2O Man]

111. It was moments

after he rode in on the motorcycle, wearing the dark sun glasses. He shot his pistol either three or four times -- probably both -- and started chanting. It was scarey -- not the type of man we want for president at all.

Let's all take turns making things up, and saying Obama did them. Who needs Karl Rove, anyway?

[Mass]

92. Here is the quote - Where does it say White House?

The Politico has it wrong, apparently. Not the first time it happens. Not the first time that an Hillary supporter jumps on a RW rag to attack Obama as well.

http://rawstory.com//news/2007/Obama_Holding_Iraq_hearing_on_911_0911.html

"I think that we should not have had this discussion on 9/11, or 9/10 or 9/12, because I think it perpetuates this notion that somehow the original decision to go into Iraq was directly related to the attacks on 9/11," the Illinois Democrat said. "It is to suggest that if the American people and the Congress had understood then that after devoting $1 trillion -- which is what this thing optimistically will end up having cost -- thousands of American lives, the creation of an environment in which al Qaeda in Iraq could operate because it didn't exist prior to our invasion ... I think most people would have said, 'That's a bad deal.'"

[autorank]

101. Obama was totaly correct. More tin ear stuff from Congressional Dems.

This post is instructive. Don't automatically assume that the WH is the sole source for nasty stuff.

How obtuse and insensitive can you be to schedule this on 911. What world do they live in
to do such a thing?

[H2O Man]

110. Is this what

might politely be called a truth-telling disorder?

[autorank]

115. Truthettes!

You're correct for $800.00;)

[Clintonista2]

103. Yes, he did

It's all part of a larger pattern- Disorganization and assumptions that always come back to bite him in the end. Obama can not win in 2008.

[SaveElmer]

104. Yep it was...

Though probably not one that will harm him much...

One of three possibilities...

1. He assumed the White House scheduled the hearings...which shows he has no idea how Congress works...

2. He forgot Democrats were in the majority and thought the Republicans had scheduled the hearings...

3. Or he purposely blindsided his chairman and Presidential campaign rival in order to score some cheap political points...

or I guess he could just blame it on his staff again!!!

[ripple]

108. You're 0 for 3

Obama's statement was misrepresented (to put it mildly) by wylfwolf. He didn't ask a question at all, and he certainly didn't imply that the WH scheduled the hearings.

He merely lamented the fact that the hearings were occurring this week, because the timing only serves to perpetuate the false Iraq/911 link.

He's quite correct.

[Colobo]

105. Obama/Wyldwolf 08.

[AtomicKitten]

106. Gaffe? Hardly.

It means HRC and followers are miffed she didn't say it first.

[Forkboy]

107. Maybe you could try to be a little less desperate.

This is up there with your drunken ranting about FreeRepublic and Kumbaya a couple weeks ago.

[yodermon]

113. So Obama was criticizing Senate Dems leadership for scheduling it on 9/11.

So what?
It's a valid criticism, because, like he said, it reinforces into the RW narrative that 9/11 and the Iraq war are somehow related.

Do you think it was a good idea to have these hearings during 9/11 week?

[dugggy]

114. I still like Obama's ordering military attack on Pakistan

to capture/kill Osama. No one else has the balls
to do this effort to get rid of head of Al Qaeda.

I can not believe our so called ally, Pakistan,
can not arrest an international terrorist head
living in their own country. It is because they
DON"T want to. Not becausr they can't.

So, my hats off to Obama for talking unilateral
military action against Pakistan. Pakistan is
taking Billions of dollars in US aid and not
delivering the goods.

[killbotfactory]

116. If you can't attack Obama with facts

make shit up.

[ellacott]

117. They read stuff that is negative and never bother to fact check it

Nancy Pelosi also had an issue with the date chosen:


A new date for Petraeus' testimony? Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:06 PM by Mark Murray
Categories: White House, Congress, Security
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
The date of September 11 for the General Petraeus' testimony in the House does not sit well with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and she is asking that the date be moved from the anniversary of the attacks -- which Pelosi views as "a sacred day," according to sources in her office.

It has been reported that House Democratic leaders signed off of the 9/11 date, but that is not accurate. The Administration offered the 11th or the 12th, and no date was agreed upon, according to the same sources.

Problem: The only alternatives would be the 10th (a Monday) or the 12th (Wednesday). In the latter case, the hearing would have to be concluded before sundown and the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. The House will not be in on Thursday the 13th or Friday the 14th due to the holiday.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/22/328762.aspx

[illinoisprogressive]

122. Gee, it sounds like the repuke slime machine, but

most of the sliming here are supporters of a repuke, Hillary.