McCain Campaign Falsely Asserts That Obama "Changed His Mind" On Iraq

[Hope And Change]

McCain Campaign Falsely Asserts That Obama "Changed His Mind" On Iraq

By http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/profile/sargent">Greg Sargent - July 7, 2008, 11:50AM

The McCain campaign continues to push an outright falsehood: That Obama flip-flopped on Iraq.

On a conference call with reporters a few moments ago, a senior McCain surrogate, Steve Forbes, recited a litany of things that Obama has supposedly flip-flopped on, and said that Obama had "changed his mind" on troop withdrawals from Iraq.

This, of course, is false. All Obama http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/obama_suggests_he_may_refine_i.php">said on Friday was that he would "continue to refine" his Iraq policies -- and what's more, he http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/obama_reiterates_combat_troops.php">reiterated at a second presser that day that his 16-month withdrawal timetable was not subject to refinement.

The McCain campaign's efforts to work the flip-flop narrative into the dialog got a big assist from the http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/news_orgs_already_getting_it_w.php">truly awful reporting we already saw on Obama's comments. Nor are there any signs that the press will challenge the McCain camp's latest misrepresentation of what he said.

Will Obama ultimately shift his position on the timing of withdrawal? Anything is possible. But it just isn't true to say that Obama has "changed his mind" on Iraq.

Not that facts matter, of course.

Late Update: Here's the audio from the call:

http://blip.tv/file/get/Tpmtv-McCainCampaignConferenceCall458.wav">Click To Play

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/mccain_campaign_falsely_assert.php">Link

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. Randi is talking about this right now.

She played his unedited statement at the press conference, which was consistent with what he's been saying about Iraq for months. The MSM edited it, and then when Barack called another press conference to admonish them for it, they ran with that and accused him of flip flopping again.

This is why I am SO glad Obama didn't take the public financing. McCain having the media in his pocket is worth 100s of millions$ in campaign contributions. I am so tired of the lazy ass complicit press pushing his talking points.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Well, sure--the media is repeating his narratives and helping him

lie, why shouldn't he run with it?

[Triana]

3. Well, there it is. The big TURD from McSame and the source of all the rest...

...of the bullcrap that has been flung out in the past week or so from the GOP's propaganda machine (ie: lamestream media).

Pfft!