Statement on Barack Obama's Canceled Troop Visits

[styersc]

Cut and paste from John McCain's Web Site: johnmccain.com ^

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Command Sergeant Major Craig Layton, USA (Ret.) -- who served as the Command Sergeant Major at Landstuhl -- issued the following statement on Barack Obama's cancelled visit to Ramstein and Landstuhl:

"Having spent two years as the Command Sergeant Major at Landstuhl Hospital, I am always grateful for the attention that facility receives from members of Congress. There is no more important work done by the United States Army than to care for those who have been wounded in the service our country. While Americans troops remain engaged in two hot wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a steady stream of casualties to the hospital, and a steady stream of visitors who wish to meet with those troops and thank them for their service.

"Senator Obama has explained his decision to cancel a scheduled visit there by blaming the military, which would not allow one of his political advisers to join him in a tour of the facility. Why Senator Obama felt he needed an adviser with him to visit U.S. troops is unclear, but if Senator Obama isn't comfortable meeting wounded American troops without his entourage, perhaps he does not have the experience necessary to serve as commander in chief."

Command Sergeant Major Craig Layton, USA (Ret.) was the Command Sergeant Major (senior enlisted soldier) at Landstuhl from 2003-2005 and has 31 years of active duty service. He was also the Task Force CSM twice in Kosovo while assigned in Germany from 1999-2005. He also served at the Brooke Army Medical Center and the Great Plains Regional Medical Command from 2005-2007.

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I had posted earlier that this was a blunder largely because the fall out was so very predictable. We (Dems) have been getting the "anti-American, anti-troop" BS for decades, you think we'd be better prepared.

[mwb970]

1. But how can you "prepare" to be lied about?

I can understand preparing responses for legitimate attacks. But once your opponent demonstrates that he will say anything - anything - to get elected it becomes hard to prepare a proper defense. After all, there is only one truth about a given scenario, but thousands of potential false versions.

[styersc]

2. The defense was simple.

Go alone to the hospital. Actually sneak in to the hospital so that when some industrious reporter stumbles on to the news, you can sheepishly respond that you wanted to see the troops without fanfare and that you'd prefer not to discuss privatge meetings with our wounded men and women.

I can promise you that there are campaign strategists kicking themselves right now.

[BlooInBloo]

5. DUers will bitch at Obama no matter WHAT he does. Rather like republicans.....

Just something to get used to.

[MidwestTransplant]

9. This was plainly forseeable. Its no secret they would lie about him.

He should have gone alone. They are desperate and this is all they have to go on.

Obama should run ads talking about how he had a much higher rating than McCain from he wounded vets org.

[TwilightGardener]

12. The whole thing was paid for with campaign funds. Even had he gone alone,

the trip would have been a campaign trip--there was no way for it suddenly to become a Senatorial visit on the taxpayer dime. He decided not to pursue it to avoid the impropriety. Tough call, but he put the troops first.

[JaneQPublic]

3. Even if he had gone in alone, the GOP would be howling

They would scream that he was using the wounded soldiers as props for his political campaign... that he disobeyed warnings from the Pentagon not to do so... that electioneering and politicking were prohibited on base.

As many said, he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

[styersc]

6. And that being the case he would be one of a thousand pol's who

have visted the troops instead of the one who backed out.

[JaneQPublic]

10. But he did visit the troops repeatedly on the first leg of his trip

When he was part of the Congressional Delegation.

As reported on Keith Olbermann, the Pentagon confirmed that they had warned Obama that it wouldn't be appropriate for him to visit troops in Germany as part of the campaign leg of his trip.

[nc4bo]

4. I particularly enjoy how all the mofos (x-gens, mclame, his surrogates, etc.)

consistently fail to address the FACT that Obama has visited several groups of injured soldiers in a variety of places; no cameras, no reporters and with barely any acknowledgement.

Yea, I know - as far as the rethugs are concerned, the word F**T is a 4-letter curse word.

[MaineDem]

7. Thank you for continuing to spread this

Lovely. :eyes:

[TwilightGardener]

8. This was laid to rest--it would have been inappropriate for him to go--

he made a difficult call, but the right call. The two old vets/Senators who were along with him on the CODEL agreed. 'Nuff said.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. Please! You're not slick! You have been underhanded in sliming Obama for months

now! The primaries are over. Your person lost. Stop smearing the presumptive nominee!

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

13. For all those criticizing Obama for this decision:

I suggest you send in your application to be Obama's campaign manager. You obviously have MUCH better judgment than those working for him now. If you had been with him at the time I'm quite certain it would have been just as obvious to you what the right decision was then, as it is to you now. :eyes:


Oh yeah: :sarcasm: