msnbc hit piece: 'Why Obama’s Iraq policy created a media tizzy'

[spanone]

WASHINGTON - When a candidate accuses the news media of making too much of one of his statements, you might suspect that he’s trying to tamp down a potentially damaging debate.

In a Fourth of July dust-up that many Americans may have missed while out shopping for charcoal briquettes, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told reporters over the holiday weekend they were making way too

much of his statement that he will “refine” his Iraq policy.

After he makes his upcoming trip to Iraq and takes a look at conditions there, he said on July 3, “I'm sure I'll have more information and (will) continue to refine my policy."

He said his intent was still to “begin withdrawing troops and having our combat troops out in 16 months.”

But “I would be a poor commander in chief if I didn't take facts on the ground into account," he noted.

Two days later, Obama was still complaining about the press coverage. “I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off with what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement.”

When is the next Democratic primary so that disgruntled anti-war voters can express any unhappiness they might feel about Obama’s “refining” his stand?

Too late to switch

Of course, that moment has passed. Now the Democrats have their nominee. It is improbable Sen. Hillary Clinton would allow her name to be placed into nomination at the Democratic convention next month as the out-of-Iraq-

now challenger to Obama.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25573237/

[AmyCamus]

1. MSNBC is pretty two-faced regarding Obama.

Olbermann's on Obama's side, at least.

[otohara]

9. Obama/Flip Flop 24/7 MSNBC

yesterday the TV was on MSNBC and I'm in here on the puter - in 30 minutes, I must have heard Obama and flip/flop 20 times each. It' their only Campaign Alert story.

[jody]

2. Obama shouldn't have said "'refine' his Iraq policy", he should have said "'CHANGE' his Iraq policy"

[NattPang]

3. He didn't mean change, and that is why he didn't say it.

It is so simple
the media and
the simple minded
should have understood.

Refine means tighten and
more detailed.

[ET Awful]

4. As anyone who heard the whole minute and a half of his comments instead of the 8 seconds the media

chose to broadcast over and over would know.

That entire sentence was prefaced by reiterating his longstanding policy of withdrawal, the "refine" was only in the context of getting input on how best to accomplish that goal.

[jody]

6. Words spoken by a politician mean nothing more or less than what spinmeisters can convince

the electorate they mean.

NOTE: I use "spinmeister" - a public relations person who tries to forestall negative publicity by publicizing a favorable interpretation of the words or actions of a company or political party or famous person.

Political spinmeisters are aided by legions of underlings who use every available trick including blogs on the internet to distribute propaganda for their candidate.

Have a great day, :hi:

[Vinca]

5. Rachel Madow covered this well on Olbermann last night. nt

[Bandit]

7. I hate the fact that6 he is running for "Commander in Chief" instead of President.

Not a lot to look forward to IMO..

[jody]

8. You point is subtle but extremely important. The next person in the Oval Office will be Commander

in Chief first and President second.

I say that because a military retreat from Iraq that is inevitable without turning loose the dogs of civil war will require a delicate blend of resources in the Departments of State and Defense.

Given the authority Bush has seized for the presidency aided by laws passed by a complacent congress, IMO it will be impossible for the next president to escape 100% blame for any military debacle in Iraq on his watch.

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48)