Julie Mason (Houston Chronicle) on MSNBC-asked if Obama's op-ed about Iraq

[jenmito]

is about taking the lead on NOT Iraq, but the "war on terror" replied: "This 'shift strategy,' if we're calling it that, is really kind of brilliant on his part because he gets to shift focus, to provide a sort of alternate to Bush's policy, yet still appear muscular with the military. He still wants to be in there, he still wants to be in a fight, just a DIFFERENT fight. And that's part of his move towards the center. That's what we're seeing."

No-it's NOT part of ANY move towards the center. He's been saying Afghanistan, not Iraq, is the central front on the war on terror all along. But once again, the "move to the center" theme continues.

[ErinBerin84]

1. the one consistent theme I have seen from watching Julie Mason from the Houston Chronicle

on MSNBC is that she is COMPLETELY INEPT as a journalist. I remember her basically saying once that it was completely arrogant for Obama to be focusing his attacks on McCain (this was around April), because he was "casting himself as the presumptive nominee".

[jenmito]

3. That's a large club she belongs to...

MANY inept journalists.

[NattPang]

2. Here is her information.

E-mail: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

I want to correct her in an email.
Do we have some backup on
Obama's steadfastness to date on this?
I thought I saw some quotes from him from before somewhere.

[jenmito]

4. Thanks...

I'll email her now. You can google any speech or any debate when he talks about this. He's been saying this since his anti-Iraq war speech in 2002:

"I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.

So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president today. You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings..."

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Barack_Obama's_Iraq_Speech

[babylonsister]

8. Here's some info from a writer who doesn't think Obama has

changed his position at all, with Obama quotes...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6497939&mesg_id=6497939

[NattPang]

12. Thanks a lot.

I'm also sending her a list of
61 Flip Flops by McCain.
Comprehensive list here: http://www.alternet.org/election08/90956

[Richardo]

5. I read her column in the Chron, and she's usually pretty good actually

...but I've never seen her appearances on MSNBC - it sure sounds like she's parroting the conventional (un)wisdom. :eyes:

[jenmito]

6. I just emailed this to her:

Today you said, on MSNBC, "This 'shift strategy,' if we're calling it that, is really kind of brilliant on his part because he gets to shift focus, to provide a sort of alternate to Bush's policy, yet still appear muscular with the military. He still wants to be in there, he still wants to be in a fight, just a DIFFERENT fight. And that's part of his move towards the center. That's what we're seeing."

No-it's NOT part of ANY move towards the center. He's been saying Afghanistan, not Iraq, is the central front on the war on terror all along. But once again, the "move to the center" theme continues. Please stop contributing to that theme.

Why doesn't anyone in the media EVER talk about MCCAIN on THESE issues?:

1. Confused Shia and Sunni about 3 times

2. Voted against Veterans' rights many times

3. Jokes about bombing Iran and killing Iranians with cigarettes

4. Lied to a Veteran's face during a town hall meeting about his voting record

5. Told two different versions of what he told his captors in Vietnam depending on whom he was talking to

6. Flip-flopped on torture

7. Flip-flopped on how long troops should stay in Iraq


PLEASE stop painting Obama as someone who's flip-flopping or shifting to the center while ignoring everything McCain does.

[Richardo]

9. Good one!

I think you'll find that you get a response, too.

[jenmito]

10. Thanks...

I hope I do. I'll post it if I do.

[Pirate Smile]

7. This has always been his point. It was one of his main reasons for opposing the Iraq War.

[depakid]

11. How on earth you can characterize that as a "move to the center" is beyond me

You must somehow believe that progressives are weak and don't understand military strategy- on in other words- you've bought into the far right's irrational stereotypes.

[southern_belle]

13. I can't stand Julie Mason

She's as irritating as hell. :(

[karynnj]

14. The two who first proposed that shift in 2006

were Feingold and Kerry(not the Kerry/Feingold amendment on Iraq - this was later and seperate) - they introduced legislation to do that. (Kerry spoke of it in his Real Security speech on September 9, 2006 at Faneuil Hall. (In multimedia section (video) on JohnKerry.com.

That kind of tells you that unless Feingold and Kerry were center in 2006 - this is not towards the center - it is towards common sense.

[Windy]

15. She is not very bright. I've not been at all impressed with her commentary.

I think she's more enamored with being on television than she is about having a true grasp of the issues.