Obama Fires Back at McCain

[Purveyor]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Sen. Barack Obama fired back at Sen. John McCain this morning after the Arizona Republican suggested Obama was unaware that al-Qaeda had been causing trouble in Iraq.

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Speaking to 7,000 voters at Ohio State University, Obama answered McCain's mocking tone with his own. "McCain thought that he could make a clever point by saying , "Well let me give you some news Barack, al-Qaeda IS in Iraq.' Like I wasn't reading the papers, like I didn't know what was going on. I said, 'well first of all I DO know that al-Qaeda is in Iraq , that's why I've said we should continue to strike al-Qaeda targets."

He was just getting warmed up. Obama's foreign policy bona fides, after all, would likely emerge as a prime Republican line of attack in the general election, should the Illinois senator become the Democratic nominee.

"I have some news for John McCain, and that is that there was no such thing as al-Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq," Obama said, as the crowd roared. "I've got some news for John McCain! He took us into a war along with George Bush that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged. They took their eye off the people who were responsible for 9/11, and that would be al-Qaeda in Afghanistan that is stronger now than at any time since 2001."

"I've been paying attention, John McCain," Obama continued, the cheers growing so loud that the audience could hardly make out the words. "That's the news. So John McCain may like to say he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell, but so far all he's done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq that's cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars...I respect John McCain but he's tied to the politics of the past -- we are about the policies of the future! Hes the party of yesterday -- we want to be the party of tomorrow."

---eoe---

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/27/obama_fires_back_at_mccain_1.html?hpid=topnews

[LaurenG]

1. Nice! Good for Obama

Thank you for the article as well.

[AtomicKitten]

2. And now for something completely different ..... the GE.

Go get 'em, Barack.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Sharp. He is sharp.

McCain will have to get used to this happening to him.

[FrenchieCat]

4. I just wish he would be allowed to concentrate on destroying the GOP nominee......

instead of having to fight on two fronts! :(

[WVRevy]

6. He won't have to for long..

...Hillary will be out of it by the end of next week, and we can focus on making sure McCain doesn't get any closer to the white house than the stink he got off humping Dubya's leg.

[Cha]

12. It's hurting hilary and Obama

can handle..experience for when he's the prez and has to deal with multi-fronts.

[Oleladylib]

5. "We should continue to strike Al Queda targets" sounds warlike..

Why are there mixed signals on war coming straight from Obama's words.."? Very disconcerting!

[Levgreee]

7. Al-queda is a sworn enemy to the US and much of the world

and attacking terrorists isn't the same as declaring a war.

Clinton, as well as 99% of people, believe Al-Queda needs to be dealt with.

[FrenchieCat]

8. 3,000 dead Americans appears to do that to folks running to lead

America. Does that really seem "disconcerting" to you? Seems like you'd want someone who's gonna make sure the building that you are in doesn't get blown up. Sounds like a rational plan to me? :shrug:

[KaptBunnyPants]

18. If the war was against Al Queda, I'd be pro-war too.

Bush and his cronies used 9/11 to wage war on people whom we had no cause to attack. That is why so many people hate this war. I respect pacifists, but they make up only a part of the anti-war movement. Some of us simply oppose the unrestrained use of force for the enrichment of the wealthy.

[psychopomp]

9. "Just getting warmed up"

Damned right! Give 'em hell, Barack!
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. Dear ? Senator McCain grrrrrrr!

I'm not sure if we are allowed to use the word pillock to describe someone but this old lady has had enough of Senator McCain's lies and misinformation.

Did you know Mr McCain that there weren't many Al Queada members in Iraq (probably about 2) until your stupid ignoramous administration decided to invade Iraq. Now Mr McCain (new found poodle of Bush), there are THOUSANDS of Al Queada in Iraq! Senator Obama has pointed this out to you but yet you fail to come out with the truth. As Senator Obama rightly pointed out your admistration should have been concentrating their efforts in Afghanistan catching Osama Bin Laden but no, you invaded Iraq! You say that you will go to the ends of the earth to catch Osama Bin Laden. I can't see you spending much time looking in caves in Afghanistan? You probably can't even climb many steps?

Your darling administration decided to ruin the lives of nearly 1 million innocent Iraqis and 4000+ American and allied troops for your pathetic greed to syphon off Iraq's oil. You are making me and millions of people MAD in this country you are leaving us and future generations in debt. This is totally unacceptable.

:grr:

[earthlover]

11. Hillary could never give McCain hell on Iraq like Obama

AFter all, she was on McCain's side on the war.

Best Hillary can do on Iraq is pray she will not be attacked as a flip-flopper on the issue.

I, too, cannot wait for the primaries to be over so Obama gets to focus all his attention on McCain!

It will be so much more fun.

Nominating Hillary would be depriving us of making mince meat of McCain on his hundred year war....

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

13. Awesome, Awesome Response. Go Obama!!!!!

[jenmito]

14. GLAD to give the 5th R!

Obama's GOOD!

[Martin Eden]

15. K&R for Barack

He NAILED McCain with that response, and he'll NAIL him in November:bounce:

[brer cat]

16. Excellent! K&R n/t

[EffieBlack]

17. Dayum!

So much for the "Obama won't fight back" argument.

Nice job.

[Doctor_J]

19. Well said

'"I have some news for John McCain, and that is that there was no such thing as al-Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq," Obama said, as the crowd roared. "I've got some news for John McCain! He took us into a war along with George Bush that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged. They took their eye off the people who were responsible for 9/11, and that would be al-Qaeda in Afghanistan that is stronger now than at any time since 2001."'

MUAHAHAHAHA. Talk to McCain like the doddering old fossil that he is.

[washingdem]

20. This Obama-McCain exchange shows why Obama was the right choice

He can draw clear contrasts. This is going to be one hell of a general election fight.

[Fly by night]

21. One editorial suggestion: "McCain is from the party of knuckle-dragging pre-history..."

[MzShellG]

22. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout...

We dont need to be attacking one another. The republicans are the REAL enemy. Let's keep our eyes on the ball, my fellow dems. Doesn't it feel great when we're fighting for a common goal?

[11 Bravo]

23. Nice. If he's going to be our candidate, he needs to nip McCain's bullshit in the bud.

Glad to see him punch back hard and immediately!

[bullwinkle428]

24. This is GREAT to hear - he's not even going to wait around until

the next day, to have meetings with his advisers on exactly how to "spin" the response to a personal attack on him - he just responds passionately by beating McCain over the head with facts! He gets major points from this still-uncommitted Democrat!