When Obama Returns, He Needs One on Each Arm

[DemocracyInaction]

Suggestion to the Obama campaign to avoid a trap McCain is trying to pull on Obama.

When he returns from this trip, he needs to have a sit-down, Q & A press conference (shirtsleeves rolled up, collar open) with Hagel and Reed sitting next to him. It not only gives depth but, more importantly, it gives McCain a target he can't hit.

Reportedly, McCain wants to force Obama to admit that the surge is a huge success, and, thus McCain was correct and had to force Obama to go to the region to figure it out because Obama's such "a inexperienced child", blah, blah. Obama maintains that the surge was only one part of it--the other two being the Iraqi forces and "peace" between waring religious factions (which is probably 90% of it anyway!). If Hagel and Reed say the same, then once again McCain is out in La-La Land all by himself. This also deflects the vampires from screeching that Obama is "playing president"---he would be just one of three guys who went, looked, listened and made intelligent observations. In a word--DO NOT put Obama out there by himself or the winger media whores are going to do McCain's bidding and make these labels stick.

[senseandsensibility]

1. Apparently he already said the surge wasn't working

just a few minutes ago in his live press conference. I didn't see it, but there's a thread about it in this forum. Good suggestions though.

[DemocracyInaction]

2. Sense - I just read that

Yeeees! Just saw it on the thread about his press conference. As usual, the goddamn press ignored Reed and Hagel and want to just focus on him so they can do the "aren't you trying to play president" or "admit, you little bastard, that McCain was right about the surge"!! That's why I'd like to see them all sitting side by side and tossing questions around so the media can't ignore the other two bolstering Obama's obserations!

[crankychatter]

3. He brought up the paid for Sunni stand down and the Shi'ite cease fire

as primary co-contributing factors, possibly more significant than the "surge" itself

then he addressed solutions to the Bush fuck-ups, Sunni amnesty and employment issues, incorporation into the power base of the Central Government, sharing the windfall from increased oil prices to the various provinces, for economic development... all that

It's been a source of frustration for me to watch our elected Dems avoid more specific criticism of Bush's management and their responsibility to informing the public and their constituents

All the focus has been "the surge," and "is it working," without any reference to the complexities on the ground

Gobama

edited to add: He also mentioned the Shi'ah ethnic cleansing in the city of Baghdad... man they NEVER talk about it.

I love that guy

[DemocracyInaction]

4. cranky - I agree

Our Dems could do a better job of dispensing info - but, alas the goddamn media wouldn't cover it. When you watch something like the BBC news, what a contrast in information dispensing. They would NEVER handle anything as serious as this war with nothing but reiterating talking points, and "Hollywood" type sensational headlines. They actually dig and report. I learned more from them in one broadcast than the whole 5 years of spew coming from this propaganda machine called "American journalism". Somebody should invade and liberate US!