Why Does Obama Keep Amending The 'Europe Travel' Story?

[wyldwolf]

Recently, I wrote about my own surprise that Barack Obama had not called together a policy or issue-oriented hearing in his role as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee/Subcommittee on Europe.

I followed this up with a piece that explored what various presidential candidates were reporting on their travel. Obama's campaign staff gave me a roster of travel that did not include any mention of Europe (other than the Ukraine).

His campaign sent a friendly note after my early essays amending the notes they sent me -- stating that he had been to London during a Moscow-focused trip in a delegation led by then Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar. I had already noted this because other press reports had discovered the London stop over and meeting with Blair.

But what was interesting is that I had reported what the press was saying that Obama had stopped in London "on the way back from Moscow." But the campaign staff told me that he stopped in London on the way to Moscow and Eastern Europe -- so I noted the discrepancy.

Now, Obama makes clear that he visited London on the way back from Moscow -- but also shared in an interview with the Iowa Independent this direct comment: "I've travelled through Europe extensively."

I had no idea that this issue would attract so much attention -- but it fell into a groove that the Obama campaign had apparently launched -- which was to emphasize "identity" over "experience."

As I've written before, I have applauded and criticized Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but trying to disparage experience as a campaign strategy left me disappointed.

I would just like to see the record set straight now.

Where did Barack Obama go in Europe and when?

And why has the hard-working campaign staff, many of whom are friends, been left to fight in the dark on this issue?

Why hasn't Obama given the campaign staff all that they need to respond to these experience and travel questions?

Let's just get the whole story straight now -- so that we can move on to other real debates about experience, policy proposals, and vision.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002614.php

On the way to Moscow or on the way back? Traveled through Europe "extensivally?" Are you sure, Barack?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Dude, Pakistan is blowing up and you're fussing about the stamps in Obama's passport?

Give it a rest, OK?

[Dems Will Win]

2. This is so weak.

Hillary won't sign the anti-torture pledge, she's going to use Powell and Bush I as ambassadors, she voted for the war because Condi told her that "Dick must have gotten confused" and the suthorization would be used to get inspectors back into Iraq -- and you're criticizing Barack for THIS?

All I can say is -- thanks!

[ClarkUSA]

3. ZING!

:thumbsup:

[ccpup]

9. Obama better have an answer

for the American People when they inevitably ask these questions. I mean, an answer better than "this is so weak".

And they -- along with the MSM and the repuglicans -- will ask a lot of questions about this lack of foreign policy experience.

[zulchzulu]

4. Obama has been to the Ukraine, among many other countries

The Ukraine uses the Euro and is considered the "heart of Europe".

No, it's not standing in line for the Eiffel Tower elevator, but it is indeed in Europe.

[ccpup]

5. the repuglicans and the MSM

are licking their greedy chops, waiting to tear into this and paint Obama in a permanent, mono-chromed hue of Doubt and Dishonesty should be he the Nominee. (think Kerry and the purple band-aids)

This race is too important to have head-slapping fuck-ups from a Not Ready For Prime-Time Campaign like this be made. Just come up with an excuse for him dropping the ball when it came to the Golden Opportunity the Dem Leadership gave him with this Chairmanship of the Subcommittee and his obvious mistake in choosing endless campaigning and fund-raising over, you know, work and then move on!

And saying "It's Biden's fault I didn't hold a meeting" -- although it may have some truth to it, perhaps -- won't go over well with the average American Voter.

[no name no slogan]

6. When you can't make a point, use excessive underlining

Seems to do the trick

[ccpup]

8. yes

that excessive underlining almost lulled me like a sheep into believing ... well, whatever it was they were trying to sell.

But then my sense of logic and reason returned and I was able to escape the fate of constantly reciting "hope and change, hope and change, hope and change, hope and change" :scared:

[MethuenProgressive]

7. C'mon. It's not like he was Chairman of the Foriegn Relations/Europe subcommitee,,,

...oh. Wait. He was! :rofl: