SPC Kate Norley speaks truth to Obama; Sens. Lieberman and Graham step down from Vets for Freedom
In case you haven’t yet seen the latest powerful ad from Vets for Freedom:
Senator Obama: When will you finally visit Iraq?
Vets for Freedom is releasing a second ad, featuring Iraq war veteran and Vets for Freedom member, Specialist Kate Norley. Kate, who served 16 months on the front lines as a combat medic, asks Senator Obama two simple, but powerful, questions:
1. Senator Obama, when will you finally decide to go back to Iraq, to see the progress first hand?
2. And when will you finally decide to meet one-on-one, unconditionally, with General Petraeus?
And now, wonder of wonders, Barack Obama is “considering” a trip to Iraq after scoffing at John McCain’s suggestion that they travel to the frontlines together.
Vets for Freedom is effective.
The Left doesn’t like effective, independent voices in the political arena.
As a result of the McCain camp’s self-imposed hamstringing, two US Senators who served on the VFF advisory board have stepped down:
Senators Joseph I. Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, prominent surrogates for Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign, stepped down Wednesday from their positions with an independent group that released a pair of Internet advertisements attacking Senator Barack Obama on Iraq.
Mr. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, and Mr. Graham, Republican of South Carolina, were both on the policy advisory board to the organization, Vets for Freedom, which on Wednesday released its second Web advertisement in less than a week attacking Mr. Obama.
The senators’ positions with the group, which describes itself as a grass-roots advocacy organization pushing for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan, seemed to place them in contravention of new conflict-of-interest rules released by Mr. McCain’s campaign that specifically prohibit anyone “with a McCain campaign title or position” from participating in a “527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate.”
After inquiries from reporters, the senators released a joint letter to Vets for Freedom on Wednesday saying they had requested a leave from their positions to come into compliance with the new policy.
“This is obviously something we’re working through,” said Brian Rogers, a spokesman for the McCain campaign. “This is the kind of thing that happens when you have the strictest possible policy on these issues.”
The new policy was meant to head off embarrassing questions about connections of members of the McCain campaign to special interests that run counter to Mr. McCain’s reformist reputation. But adhering to that standard has proved complicated.
Look for increased attacks on VFF. Send them your support.
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What are you saying? McCain and his surrogates are abandoning a group advocating victory in Iraq? I am Shocked!
Let them hate as long as they fear. Right now they fear the truth.
If you aren’t with them, you are wrong. I believe they have that written in their rule book in crayon somewhere.
What? Surely not. A politician that says one thing and does another? When did that start happening?
/sarcasm off
This won’t help Michelle Obama’s children.
Please give to this great organization. Even if it’s only 5 or 10 dollars. They need every cent they can get.
Should be sarc off after first statement.
Obama’s whole campaign is based on his magic judgment in his, “Dumb War,” speech in 2002. But does that judgment make the grade?
http://rotstar.blogspot.com/2008/05/does-judgment-make-grade.html
DKK
Is this a new strain of political correctness run amuk? I do not understand this new fear of free speech. Or this need to run-for-cover-with-your-tail-tucked-between-your-legs-where-your-BALLS-BELONG when someone states a position of intellectual check?
…but then again, it is against the Obamessiah!
It is going to be a long election.
Attack? They call this commercial an attack?
He is only being confronted with the truth of his own short-comings and asked to re-assess his position on a couple of key issues.
But I can see why the Senators might step down; they don’t want to upset their new boss. (Hill McBama)
Magic something, but apparently wrong.
Now it remains to be seen if this socialist can say he was wrong.
McCain still thinks the drive-by media will vote for him.
“Look for increased attacks on VFF.” From McAmnesty? It is incredible to think he may become president simply because his horrible policy making and infringement of freedoms is only less abhorrent than Barack’s horrible policy making and infringement of freedoms. Iraq just goes on the list of things that Obama is ignorant about along with geography, solemn American holidays, WWII history and the US Constitution.
great ad.
everyone knows he’d rather go to cuba to sleep in a comphy bed, eat his dainty food and feel like king tut.
Great ad! Obama should go back to Iraq. If he’s truly worried about his safety–after all Michelle said he could be shot just because he’s (sorta) black–the Army could let him drive around in an M1 tank. Of course, they’d have to modify a tanker’s helmet to accommodate his Dumbo ears.
As for Lieberman and Graham stepping down from VFF’s advisory board–much ado about nothing.
Some mis-statements in the ad:
“The Iraqi government has come together” — Major Sunni parties and some Shia are boycotting the government.
“Al Qaeda has been decimated”: There never was much and there still isn’t
“Come to Iraq and see”: visitors leave the Green zone only under heavy armed guard and don’t get to see much. Mostly they get powerpoint briefings inside the green zone that are equally available in the US.
“The surge worked”: what worked was paying Sunni militia not to attack the US. The US would be even harder to attack if they weren’t there.
I sent the McCain campaign an email awhile back urging him to challenge the winner of the Democratic Primary to a debate in Iraq with the troops asking the questions. You can go to this link where I posted the idea on another blog the same day I emailed the McCain camp.
LGM,
I would love to see your facts to back up your statements, but then again I don’t really expect to see you do it.
Truesoldier,
As a good liberal, lgm equates feelings with facts. It’s very convenient for them as they never have to produce proof, they just need an emotional belief to show the veracity of their claims.
lgm said:
According to NPR that’s true moron.
Al Qaeda is alive and well that’s why every major city in the Western World is in smoldering heaps.
Hillary said it’s much safer than the sniper fire she received while in Bosnia with Jesse Ventura and Arnols Schwartzenagger on a classified mission.
I have no reason to believe General Petraues is lying.
Little Girly Man, you don’t have to go to Iraq, others go in your stead. My husband’s back and he sees a BIG difference from when he left in 06. I don’t expect you to believe that though because you think he’s a killer and should rot in hell, right? You believe Olberdouche instead and the MSM before you’d believe someone who has been there and sees a difference albiet not fast enough for your little triatholon standards. I guess a little history lesson on the early governments of this country would be lost on such an “esteemed” academic as you belive yourself to be. A little appreciation instead of denigration would be nice from you and your fellow travelers to those who put themselves out there to serve instead of being called “killers” with your phrase “some say the Army is full of killers” garbage. It’s a sad fact of life that you have any influence over the young skulls full of mush. It’s really a tragedy.
So, exercising one’s right to free speech is now verbotten in the McCain camp?
I would dare say if this “policy” was enforced as written, McCain would be left with an organization populated by individuals incapable of forming an opinion or too timid to stand up and be heard. Leaders need not apply, but followers are welcome. Heck of a message to send. And it does not reflect well on Senators Leiberman and Graham when they fall meekly into line and willingly discard free speech as some meaningless piece of unwanted baggage.
A ride on the “Straight Talk Express” appears to be a one way ticket.
McCain’s new campaign theme song …
Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence” …
lgm - I’d hate for you let facts get in the way of your regurgitation of the MSM’s take on the Iraq war. They’ve even stopped their rhetoric because the success in Iraq has silenced them.
Does someone pull a string in your back that makes you spout little, liberal cliches?
B. Hussein “the appeaser” Obama(nation) doesn’t want to go to Iraq because he’s like 2 of the 3 monkeys - Hear no evil and see no evil. He’d lose a major pillar of his candidacy if saw and recognized the truth by actually going there.
And, you know this from firsthand experience or just more liberal talking points?
I know I’m not holding my breath waiting on such from him, TS.
It would appear to be his way for compensating for an apparent inferiority complex, terrig. I don’t think he can help himself.
Wow…That must have be worth a lot of McCain points for Lieberman and Graham..
Would that be cliChés he spouts?
NY Andy said (#18):
I assumed people followed this stuff, but one reliable source has headlines:
But the bigger picture is that Bushies have been declaring “Mission Accomplished” for years, each time with some new statistic. But Iraq still fails to have a functioning government or economy (oil and electricity production are below pre invasion levels). Bushies want to keep troops in Iraq because they fear all heck would break loose if we left. But Mission Accomplished means coming home having accomplished something.
What I got from the story is that Senators Lieberman and Graham had to step down so that Vets for Freedom could continue with this campaign. This is very effective and I hope it continues. The complications are because of McCain’s own campaign finance reform idiocy.
lgm just proved the point I was about to make: it won’t matter if BO goes to Iraq, because no matter what he actually sees there, he will lie/gaffe/misremember about the facts and spin it as a complete failure anyway, just like lgm. But he will say it really pretty in his dulcet tones, so we will all be mesmerized. Facts mean nothing to libs, and that is why they will never learn or change, regardless of the truth.
Even Al Qaeda says the surge is working. Their own captured statistics show sharp declines in terrorist activity. They are not defeated, but the terrorists will likely concentrate most of their activities in Pakistan or other more favorable places.
I understand the McCain strategy assuming that is what he plans. If his campaign has no visible connection to “Swiftboat” type attacks, it will be harder for the press and Democrats to smear his campaign with the same brush. Attacks on 527 and other groups will be vicious.
McCain will have deniability while reaping the benefits as he piously says what they do is wrong. If this is a strategy, his campaign had better not have any secret but traceable ties to 527 groups.
The ad is superb!
Here’s what the “freedom fighters” say about their losses:
________________________________________
Jim M,
Excellent analysis. McCain, and all that he represents is disagreeable to what conservatives truly hold dear. We’re screwed. There are no two ways about it.
LGM has no facts on this issue just the same as he has no facts to back up his allegations that abortion clinics are bombed daily. The guy has no credence at all. Speaking of boycotting the government his ilk pretty much boycotts this government here in the USA.
lgm - Mission Accomplished referred to the actual mission of the ship that the infamous banner was shown on. Of course, the liberal MSM changed the facts to suit their storyline.
And if one goes a bit further, the actual war itself was “Mission Accomplished” — in just 3 weeks.
What you are referring to is establishing an infrastructure and government within Iraq - even this country didn’t establish a good, stable government in 5 years. It’s especially hard when you have insurgents sniping and killing our troops as they try their best to accomplish this “second” mission. And it doesn’t help when the Democrats side with the insurgents by helping them by putting obstacles in the way of our troops with their rhetoric.
Despite successes, the liberals just love to move the goal posts down the field.
Liberals trully are mentally ill.
30:
I’m sorry. The eyewitness accounts of American soldiers and Al Qaeda’s statements will not be acceptable until they’ve been processed by lgm’s “reliable sources” on the University of Michigan faculty.
Debunk of LGM
Major factions have ended boycott
Here is an article at the BBC claiming that Al Qaeda is the greatest threat to America.
AS for people don’t get to see much of Iraq, all I can say is go to Michael Yon’s website for great coverage of Iraq.
And lastly for the surge working here you go.
Here is another link about LGM’s reliable source. Who would have thought that his reliable source would have been on Iraq panel of the Yearly KOS.
iamsaved …
You are correct …
U.S. Revolutionary War … 1775-1783
Declaration of Independence … 1776
First Continental Congress drafted the
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union … 1777 - fully ratified 1781
Second Continental Congress drafted the
United States Constitution … 1787 - fully ratified 1788
First President and first elected Congress took office … 1789
So … it took us more than one attempt before we came up with our Constitution and system of government … but the libs expect the Iraqis, a people with absolutely no experience at self-rule, to become a fully functioning government overnight …
Sorry folks … this is real life … not one of your instant gratification video games …
The thing that really gets me about LGM and his type is they will never listen to anyone who has been to iraq unless they repeat exactly what LGM wants to hear. The IVAW backstabbers are a tiny tiny minority of people who have actualy been to iraq.
Because that’s exactly what happened after we set forth a cease-fire, gave the region over to the Iraqis (before they were ready) and withdrew troops from Fallujah. The terrorists declared it a victory and more insurgents flocked to the region. We then had to go back in and finish what we started (i.e., Operation Phantom Fury). In summation - if we leave prematurely and based on history (what we know has happened in the past) why would anyone, who wants to see this war end (the right way!)pull our troops out only to have to return? You do recall the definition of insanity, correct?
PS. Nevermind the fact that your beloved Obama wants to keep residual/reactionary forces in the region. Idiot.
Texas Tiger
Now that’s funny!
Will LGM accept this source or is this source a “rabid bushie” as well?
Just enough to be effectively cut off and defeated in detail.
Contribution just sent to this worthy organization - willing to carry the water that the senator himself won’t.
What McCain is missing is “balance” which is why he relates so well with the left.
For that matter the left even listens to IVAW members who lied about being in IRaq.
Obama to Iraqis:
“I’ll visit Iran. You, not so much.”
Maybe Obama’s afraid a visit to Iraq will produce a couple more key endorsements, from say, Syria or Iran.
Or perhaps he is afraid he will not get there endorsements that he expects to come soon.
Is lgm from Michigan? That explains a lot of things. I lived there and couldn’t take the liberalism any more. They would tax you to breath the air there if they could. Talk about the back side of the moon. I heard that the govenor was in the hospital - getting her head removed from her …. well, you get the picture. Funny thing is - the loyal citizens think as Michigan is, so is the nation. Very sad and they wonder why thier economy is going to hell in a handbasket but they keep voting in those democrats. Move west young man - it’s a brighter here.
Good point sonofdy. I personally don’t agree with the junior Senator’s stance. In fact, I think it is one of the most stupid things I’ve heard Obie say in a long while… okay since his last gaffe but it doesn’t matter. Lgm only has the liberal agenda in mind.
Good, that RINO Graham has no business in an organization as classy as VFF.
I’m reading Bellavia’s book right now, house2house. Wow. Its very good. Also, he’s running for the House seat from his district in New York. I’ll be sending him money.
If McCain wants to win, he had better make some changes or obama is going to roll over him. McCain is going to need some sort of base.
On May 29th, 2008 at 8:21 am, lgm said:
LGM, according to your web site, you live in NYC; so I don’t see how you could possibly post something naive as this after experiencing the attacks of 9/11 in such an up close and personal manner.
I didn’t know Lieberman held an official position in the McCain campaign.
Remember this: Maverics dispise other maverics.
DBNinKY:
It wouldn’t surprise me if lgm ‘fessed up to being a “Truther.”
yeah I think we tried that once. It was called Beirut. Didn’t turn out real good for us, but I can understand the youngster not knowing about it since he was probably busy with all of that community service in Chicago or still in college.
#49
You know it’s (a little) different on the west side of the state (ie - not Ann Arbor or Detroit). If we can figure out how to trade/sell Detroit to Ohio or Canada, we’d be a red state. I would even agree to keep the Lions if it made the deal.
Juan Cole? Juan Cole is your “reliable source” lgm?
Thanks for the chuckle.
I’d expect something like this from Lindsey Graham, the VFF is too “Hot Button” for the likes of him…
Hey! we’re sorry we voted that putz in…you can bet that’ll change next election.
Why the hell is Graham still a senator from SC? This guys is the biggest squish in the GOP side of the senate. He apparently doesn’t have the guts to stand up to or for anything.
You folks in SC need to VOTE HIM OUT! He has a good challenger in the primary. Run his *ass out on a rail. He DESERVES it for being the biggest wuss in Congress.
And hey McCain, how’s that CFR McCain-Feingold working out for you, hmm? Idiot. He needs to repudiate it NOW.
Big Juan is making the same mistake G.W. did in 2001. Reaching out to the leaders of the Left. He’ll get hit in the face with the same olive branch. They don’t want friendship Juan, they want TOTAL CONTROL !
For all commenter’s above, just remember, LGM is not an American. Hes a Liberal. BIG difference.
Truesoldier said (#35):
That article from April was an announcement that the boycott would end. It didn’t. Much of the good news in Iraq is about things that are about to happen — but don’t — like the oil revenue law.
Iraq is so dangerous that Obama would not get to see it if he went there, just as McCain didn’t see anything. It’s just a photo-op.
Exactly what I want to hear is . . . political reconciliation that allows us to come home, safety that allows the 15% of Iraqis who are displaced (500,000 in Jordan) to return to their homes, stability that allows oil and electricity to be produced. Got any links?
Maybe Jesus Obama could take Bill Ayers along with him and they could discuss the good ol days when Billy Ayers (heirs) was making I.E.D.’s in Greenwich village.
Oh those good old days when Bill and Bernandine were blowing up Pentagons, NYPD offices and robbing armored cars.
Question to libs: Do you filthy freaks approve of Obama’s “friendly” relationship with DOMESTIC TERRORISTS?
Just askin!
Lgm, are you saying Al Qaeda is dangerous?
And we should leave?
You’re a blithering moron.
Yes lgm LINK HERE LGM
Face it, you want defeat in Iraq and ignore anything that does not suit you, including people who have actualy been there.
Do you promise, Bob? Cross your hear, hope to die and stick a needle in your eye that he will be gone next election cycle?
lgm= little girly man.
Why would Obama be afraid to go to Iraq?
Jesus Obama isn’t afraid of terrorists, some of his best friends are terrorists.
I guess it was ok for Jesus Obama’s (fill in blank here) Uncle? Grandfather? or typical white relative to fight for America, but Jesus Obama doesn’t have time. What with all the Rezko deals and the “PRESENT” votes, and the Piano lessons he has to pay for.
Lay off of Jesus Obama, he’s a busy man.
LGM, it has already been stated in an earlier posting that the things you are saying you want do not happen over night and did not happen overnight even for the fledgling democracy known as the United States. I know it is kind of hard for your “Reality TV” mind to comprehend that these things are not solved in a single season. As for the links, I am still waiting for your links to back up your statements (and using a guy who is in with the Daily KOS is not a reliable source).
Spo-con, McCain thinks he can stick his hand in the crocodile cage and come out with fingers intact. His ego allows him to believe that the MSM actually likes him. He’s deluded. Unfortunately he’s the less deluded of the 2 we have to choose from.
You can bet I’ll do my part…and I know I’m not the only SC Voter who feels the same way. If a election was held today, Graham would be back to chasing ambulances tomarrow.
LifeTrek (#7): Further to your remarks, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
So, Obama says, in his speech (that you kindly link): “The world would be better off without [Saddam]“. He then says, in essence, “Oppose the war needed to remove Saddam, and do it for those who want a more secure world.”
So those who want a more secure world are better off with Saddam in place.
Yet the world is a better place (ie. people are better off) without Saddam.
So a less secure world is a better world?
This, sadly, is a typical Obama speech. The non-sequiturs flow like water. I guess that’s why he appeals to liberals.
#59 You’re assuming Ohio wants Detroit. We’ve enough problems with th dems trying to gut conceal carry.
As to LGM, his mind’s made up, stop confusing him with facts
What’s an acceptable level lgm? Hear no progress. See no progress. Speak no progress.
When is he up for re-election?
It would be good to see him out of office and back chasing an ambulance whose driver knows how to apply the brakes abruptly at the most opportune time.
Joseph I. Lieberman and Lindsey Graham now if we could just get these 2 to take a leave from government we would be alot better off. McShame better be careful it has already been noted in this thread how the left was buddy buddy with GW and then went after him tooth and nail. I wonder if he will need a timeout after they start slamming him as Nov. draws closer?
As for lgm: He has shown time and time again that he knows not the truth nor will he except the fact of the truth. I am beginning to think he is Micheal Moore hiding in someones basement.LOL
I just contributed $100.00 to VFF. I challange any other vets here to do the same or atleast give what you can. I was told they will be running more ads and will push for victory not APPEASEMENT
Jim Geraghty has a great article about this subject here.
Here is a great quote from it:
This is incredible…McCain and friends is now abandoning his military brethren-again.
And he wants my vote???
Maybe he will have 1 or 2 votes this fall….
Well, if Lieberman and Graham have to leave the advisory board of the VFF, does that affect Obama’s advisor’s / supporters? Like Castro, Hamas, Chavez, A-jad, the Chinese military, the Russian military and the French?
It seems like evrytime a conservative voice gets heard (that wasn’t eliminated by McCain-Feingold), McCain justs runs and apologizes for them being there, like we’re an embarassment.
Wow, mission accomplished once again.
I’m trying to put a good spin on it, maybe, but perhaps Lieberman and Graham are stepping down to maintain the group’s tax-exempt, independent status, and I’m okay with that. It wouldn’t be necessary if it weren’t for the crappy rules McCain, et. al., put in place.
#70 Live…… hes right, don’t confuse LGM with FACTS. Thats a real buzz-kill.
#78, we ARE an embarassment to him ! We talk like real Americans and he runs to the nearest mic and says “their not with me ! I’m one of the GOOD GUYS” ! Very sad.
Take a deep breath. That’s not what he’s doing. VFF will be able to go after Obama with more vigor if they are more independent from the campaign. This is s a Good Thing.
Anyone else notice that McCain seemed to have more enthusiasm defeating the other Republicans for the nomination than he does for defeating the Democrat to win the election?
He was looking to beat his adversaries in the primary. Now he is just up against someone who is cut from the same cloth, in many regards.
Lieberman and Graham should have stuck with the Vets and ditched the McCain campaign.
The perception of “campaign independence” is really moot here as critics will make their charges false or not about them.
The issue is that the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party has once again hamstrung himself from winning an election by his past stupidity….I’m increasingly convinced that John McCain exists in this race solelyto put in Barack Obama as president.
No politician can be this nuts to do this to himself (hamstringing himself with his own stands and legislation).
DirkBelig has it right:
HMMM I would have thought that the head of the un citing progress in iraq would have been interesting to LGM but I guess not.
Johnny Mc (R) and L. Graham -nesty (R)
choose illegals over our fighting troops……HMMMMMMMMM
LESSER OF TWO EVILS _ANY___ONE?!!!!!!!!!!!
Christian Soldier, little girly man cannot wrap his head around any progress. He rejoices when things are going bad and is silent when they go good. He’s all for saying “some people say the troops are killers” because that is what he feels. I have a lot to say on that but it’s not worth getting banned over.
Not exactly. I bet their main concern is the fact that any criticism of Obama has a 80% chance of applying to McCain as well. The real embarrassment they are trying to prevent is the one that would occur if an independent conservative group were to criticise Obama on one of the many issues on which he and McCain are in agreement.
Questions liberals refuse to answer
Then why is the focus of military operations against the Madhi army growing? Why have attacks dropped?
http://news.sawf.org/Travel/4666.aspx
That is false. If by escorts you mean ambassadors and political leaders, yes, but they receive such protection no matter where they go, even in your beloved Europe and Canada.
Nice twist on information, though.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4362610
Yeah, because there is no strength in numbers, lgm. Actually, paying them really didn’t work, it just brought them more time to regroup and get weapons.
Then why are there assessments that the USA is safer because of the Iraq War?
Probably because it would give al quedia a base from which to launch attacks if we left.
I know you think that terrorists are freedom fighters, lgm, because they are opponents of Bush, and not because you believe in freedom.
Oil production is up to 2.4 (whatever units) and
libocrat said:
The 9/11 attacks proved that. The interesting thing is that after 6 years and half a Trillion (”a trillion is more than a billion, numbnuts.”) dollars, that ragtag group still is dangerous.
Either (as you say) AQ has been decimated in Iraq, or (as I say) they never had a significant presence there. Either way, it’s time to hunt for them somewhere else, like where they actually are, maybe.
You may feel that way, but saying so doesn’t advance the discussion.
Source Professor?
Aloha Guy, it’s Daily Kos, et. al all day, all the time. It’s his favorite places for sources.
Then why doesn’t he STAY there ?