The Germany stop was different from Iraq...

[dkf]

Hagel explained on Face the Nation that the senatorial trip ended in Jordan, so up until then all the visits with GIs were part of the fact finding mission. But once they left Jordan, Obama's campaign took over all expenses, making it a Political trip.

So that is the difference between the earlier stops and the Germany stop.

Hagel said that if Obama had visited with the troops, he would have considered that political PR and he thinks Obama called it right.

I'm glad he explained, because I didn't realize it until he did.

[cliffordu]

1. McCain and his idiot campaign know this too, and yet see fit to use it...

The stink of desperation is getting funnier by the day.

[dkf]

2. Yes, but I haven't seen it here either.

I was rather surprised when Hagel explained it because I thought we catch a lot of the angles on these boards.

Then again, maybe I missed those threads.

[cliffordu]

5. Someone touched on this earlier today - I just thought the whole thing was

a little specious - Who in the hell running for president would snub wounded troops??


The thing that got me was the speed with which McCain's idiots were up with the story/commercial.....

Particularly in light of Rice telling the embassies not to help Obama, and forbidding the staff from going to the rallies.....


I just love the fact that the bounce might put Obama over what tweety calls the psychological edge of 50%.

[glowing]

7. I think the "story" of the McCain campaign pulling some strings at the Pentagon

to tell Obama not to go to see the injured troops and the commercial timing make perfect sense. I'm sure they had the thing ready to go almost 2 weeks ago. Yes, and the whole.. "nobody from the embassy can go" thing was a bit over the top as well. It makes them look like they are running scared.

[trotsky]

8. What they really knew was that it was a win-win situation for McLame.

Obama doesn't visit the troops? Bash him for not supporting them.
Obama does visit the troops? Bash him for using them as a political photo-op.

It was going to happen either way.

[TwilightGardener]

3. That was a very important point, and I'm glad he took the

time to explain it. I don't think many voters are aware of why Obama can't just pop in and visit troops wherever he happens to be.

[VolcanoJen]

4. I thought Hagel did a smashing job as an Obama surrogate today.

He called McCain out on his slurs on Obama's patriotism. Loved it. His vigor in defending Obama surprised me, to be honest.

[dkf]

6. But he also did it in a bipartisan way and elevated it above politics.

I thought he looked very dignified and honorable. He put McCain to shame.