Voters say McCain better suited to handle Iraq than Obama

[BridgeTheGap]

WASHINGTON (AP) — John McCain's stance on the war is unambiguous: He voted for it, supports the current enhanced U.S. troop presence in Iraq and vigorously opposes any timetable to withdraw.

The public's stance on the war is as equivocal as McCain's is not: A strong majority of Americans oppose it and believe it was wrong in the first place, but more find McCain better suited to handle Iraq than his Democratic presidential rival, Barack Obama.

"He's more experienced militarily," said Ann Burkes, a registered Democrat and retired third-grade teacher from Broken Arrow, Okla. "And I don't know if I agree with stay the course (policy) but I think the good probably outweighs the bad with him, experience wise."

Burkes illustrates the conflicted voter -- one who is as likely to be influenced by McCain's policy positions as by his personal biography as a former Navy pilot who spent five years in a North Vietnam prison.

http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-candidates-iraq

[liberal N proud]

1. Is that the voters who love war?

[fasttense]

2. Fortunately for the US, this presidential election is not about the war stupid.

It is about the economy.

I guess McBush can always pray for another 4,000 dead Americans and get the US another terrorist attack. Maybe the republicans can work a deal with the terrorists and get them to attack again much like Raygun did with the terrorists in Iran.

[jeff30997]

3. "handle Iraq "

If by that they mean death and destruction then McInsane is better suited to handle Iraq.

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. clear and unambiguous - Unfortunately many people may think clear, unambiguous and wrong

represents strength. While interpreting a plan that might sound a bit vague and uncertain as representing weakness.

Added to that are Sen. McCain's military credentials.

I can see how this may confuse the average voter - the vast majority of whom do not spend a great deal of time studying the matter.

[Juche]

5. heuristics

I think many voters assume that the republican is more likely to restrain spending, be stronger on national security and lower middle class taxes while the democrat is more likely to do a good job with healthcare, the economy, infrastructure and middle class wages.

Its not always true, but it is how alot of people look at the world.

There are going to be millions who vote for McCain because he is a republican and hence will 'balance the budget', which is laughable. But that is our democracy.

Until we become better citizens, we don't deserve better politicians.

[Peacetrain]

6. No one asked me.. I am a voter.. and the last thing

we need is Bush 3.. look at all the "experience
that that administration had and the mess they have gotten us into..

[treestar]

7. It's is a dumb assumption that 1960s war experience would be

of much help, but if they are against the war itself at the same time, it should be irrelevant.

And ask the same morans if they voted for Kerry - he had more war experience than * at the time.

[nevergiveup]

8. Ann Burkes likely voted

for Chimpy and will likely vote for McCain. I doubt there is much Obama can do to win such "conflicted" voters or Oklahoma for that matter.

[groovedaddy]

9. I guess the people that want more of the same will vote for this idiot

Takes one to know one!

[high density]

10. The voter isn't conflicted, the voter is misinformed

This is kind of why we need people like Wes Clark going after McCain in an almost daily fashion.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Yet, they are tied on who would better manage Iraq conflict in the latest LATimes/Bloomberg poll.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=agCTbSDJ83rc&refer=home

Iraq War

On the war, McCain has for the first time lost his advantage, according to the poll, even though there are reports that the situation in Iraq is improving. Voters are split on who would better manage the conflict, with two-thirds saying the U.S. should withdraw immediately or within a year, and only about one- third saying troops should stay ``as long as it takes,'' the position adopted by McCain. In the February survey, McCain led Obama on Iraq by 13 percentage points.

[goldcanyonaz]

12. The war wont be the big issue this election, it will be the economy

[demokatgurrl]

13. Good. Maybe Obama can make him Ambassador. nt

[cbc5g]

14. Better on Iraq? His callous decision to support war got 4000 troops killed over a pack of lies

[DFW]

15. McCain's good outweighs the bad?

That's like saying lung cancer outweighs bronchitis. If one follows this logic,
Obama's chances would have been greatly enhanced if he had been the victim of
an attempted lynching.

It's the future we're concerned with here, not the past, startling as that may be.

[BridgeTheGap]

16. Somebody must have their finger on the scale!

Or their head up their ass...

[Johonny]

17. Title doesn't follow the actual content

got no clue what it's based on. Basically it says people agree McCain has more military experience, but that his experience hasn't lead him to the same Iraqi solution as they want. Which is basically Obama's political position. Experience doesn't always help make the right decision. Hence the title of the article seems wrong.