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DEL.ICIO.USObama on faith-based programs, gun rights, and Iraq: ‘I’m not flip-flopping’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When he wasn’t talking about the economy this morning, Democratic presidential presumptive Barack Obama was rebuffing Republican charges of flip-flopping.
Obama told the crowd at McEachern High School that he’d long been in favor of involving people of faith in politics and in government programs — so long as they respect the line between church and state.
And yes, he did endorse the U.S. Supreme Court decision last month that declared firearm ownership to be an individual right. “I also recognize that we need to make sure we have decent controls over the use of illegal firearms in our county. Those two positions aren’t contradictory,” he said.
But Obama saved his biggest explanation for the war in Iraq. Listen to his comment on the topic here.
Obama’s grip on the Democratic base can be attributed in part to his opposition to the war from the start.
But, he emphasized:
“I have also consistently said that once we were in, we had to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in. You’ve got to make sure that our troops are safe. You’ve got to make sure the country doesn’t collapse.
“And so what I’ve called for is a phased withdrawal, a phased redeployment, that is not precipitous and is responsible, get our combat troops out at a pace of one or two brigades a month. At that point, we would have our combat troops out in about 16 months.
“Now, assuming I take office in January, then that means we would still have our troops there for about two more years from now. There’s nothing rushed about that. At that point we will have been there for seven years. So when I hear John McCain saying we can’t surrender…Nobody’s talking about surrender. We’re talking about common-sense. We can’t be there forever.”
The Obama speech in Cobb was broadcast live by CNN. And Republicans quickly charged that Obama said something “dramatically different” a week ago in an interview with the Military Times:
“If current trends continue and we’re in a position where we continue to see reductions in violence and stabilizations and continue to see some improvements on the part of the Iraqi army and Iraqi police, then you know my hope would be that we could draw down in a deliberate fashion in consultation with the Iraqi government, at a pace that is determined in consultation with General Petraeus and the other commanders on the ground and it strikes me that that’s something we can begin relatively soon after inauguration.
“If on the other hand you’ve got a deteriorating situation for some reason then that’s going to have to be taken into account.”
Below is a YouTube link to a substantive portion of the Military Times interview, which includes the quotes cited by the GOP above. You’ll note that the opening phraseology tracks very closely to what Obama said in Cobb.
Comments
By backfromiraq
July 8, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
The Chameleon is at it again. He Changes from; muslim to christian black to white gun control to not leave Iraq immediately to phased withdrawal But we can be sure of one change - more taxes!!
By RW (the oravaginal)
July 8, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
How much tax can McCain raise cain with by raising McTaxes when McCain raises cain by raising the Cain Tax?
McCain can raise as much cain by raising McTaxes as he can when he raises the Cain Tax and raises cain by raising Mctaxes.
By gttim
July 8, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
The Carpet Bagger Report has a list of 61, yes 61- count them, McCain flip flops. Google it. I don’t think the GOP and McCain want to try the flip flop garbage again. McCain has never met a position he could not waffle on.
By Copyleft
July 8, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
So, any opinion that isn’t boiled down to simplest black-or-white sound bytes is intolerable to the unwashed masses, huh?
Not surprising. What’s next—griping that Obama won’t declare whether light is a wave or a particle? “Make up your mind, flip-flopper!”
snicker.
By Churchill
July 8, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
I saw this coming. He’s a big lib running to the center during the general election. This is what the successful libs always do. They know that they cannot run a national campaign on their lib agenda, and try to become more mainstream in order to win. When Liberalism is put in front of the entire nation, liberalism is always rejected. Look at Mondull, Dukakis, or Kerry. The only reason that Bill won (Perot aside) was beacuse he presented himself as a centrist. Peace.
VIVA MCCAIN
By Former Democrat
July 8, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
This was a great photo op. Over 80% of the audience was African-American, while those behind the podium suggested a more across the board appeal than is real for this campaign.
Obama will not win Georgia, nor the country, just because he wages a racist campaign where he have large back audiences.
He is just too liberal for most folk, including southern white democrats. He is the most liberal senator in DC and that is all the democrats can come up with this year.
Proud to support McCain. Let’s put a real experienced leader in the White House, not the least prepared candidate the Dem’s could come up with.
By Crystal
July 8, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
He not flip-flopping. He is straight out fibbing. Obama will say anything to get elected. Nobama 08.
By tom ga hunter
July 8, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
By Churchill …Good to see you back in action,, did your mother take her computer back, so you didn’t have a way to be silly..The voters are screwed in this election, McCain is no better than Obama, luckly real Conservatives have Bob Barr as a not perfect alternative.
By Churchill
July 8, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
A vote for Barr is a vote for Obama. You idiot third party types will hand this thing over to the libs if you have your way. Stupid, really. Tom, from you I expect nothing less.
By old91A10
July 8, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
The Democratic Cabal (Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Dean) is more dangerous than having McCain as President with strong Democratic majorities under the Dome.
By old91A10
July 8, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
The Democratic Cabal (Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Dean) is more dangerous than having McCain as President with strong Democratic majorities under the Dome.
By patch
July 8, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
The crowd was 90% African American. A fact that you will never see in the media. They talk about the big crowds. But, is he a real draw for everyone or just AA?
By tom ga hunter
July 8, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
By Churchill ………I passed the 8th grade without having to go to summer school..When are you going to get Civics in school?? Bet that will be a hoot in Clayton County..
By tom ga hunter
July 8, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
patch …….did you see Churchill there?? Bet he was on stage.
By Rev Al Sharpton
July 8, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
I guess we now know that Obama is black enough. I had my doubts for a while there. Ya know, his moms was a white interloper.
By tom ga hunter
July 8, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
old91A10 …….what’s a 91?? I was a 31.
By Churchill
July 8, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Tom, will you ever grow up? No one believes you. We all know that you are a crazy Ru Paul type with a grudge. Like I said earlier, I expect nothing less than childish tripe from you and your fellow Ru Paul supporters. Peace.
By tom ga hunter
July 8, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
By Churchill ……too bad you aren’t 21,, I’d take you out for a drink & some adult entertainment..Think what you have to look foward to…Did you give Johnnie your milk money?
By old91A10
July 8, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
(tom ga hunter) in 60’s it was corpsman mos — probably still the same — what’s yours?
By Jason
July 8, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
I remember when “flip-flopping” was otherwise known as re-evaluating one’s position based on credible new information…
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”
By Churchill
July 8, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Funny Obama supporter story. My wife owns a Interior design firm. This woman walks into her store and asks for the “person with the McCain sticker on her car.” My wife tells the woman that it is her car and asks if there is a problem. The woman then calls my wife a racist, and insits on speaking with the manager. My wife informed the “lady” that she was the owner, and that she would be happy to discuss the matter further, if the “lady” would refrain from using insulting language. The woman, a “repected” professor at a local black university, calls Mrs. Churchill a rich, white b!tch and storms out. I told her she should have offered the woman a McCain sticker. Mrs. Churchill tells me that the back of the woman’s car, a Prius no less, was covered in Obama 08 stickers. She said, “you know, I just the love the tolerance of those on the left.” I am so proud of my wife. Peace.
VIVA MCCAIN*
By tom ga hunter
July 8, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
old91A10 ………I ran a radio net work in the central high lands ‘march’68-june’69.
By Sam1234
July 8, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Obama has used his underage daughter in a campaign media video. She and her family are discussing Angelina Jolie, a hero of this Obama preteen, and Obama’s pants? How disgusting!!!! Has Obama solicited the support of Vernon Jones yet?
By Reverand WhiteChoc
July 8, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
Funny story I walked into Churchy’s wife’s design store she was on her knees giving as good as she got from some born again Christian homey she had Mccain knee pads and the brother was wearing a UGA sweatshirt it was so beautiful to see the carefree act of love
By Crystal
July 8, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
Rev. WhiteChoc has demonstrated the group mentality of the left. I am not a Feminazi, but this is too far even for libs. Keep your nastiness to your self, sir. You a re a wretched person that I find offensive. You low level beings remain at the bottom for a reason.
By Fannie
July 8, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
What do you bet that Rev White Chocolate is an Obama supporter. Great story, Church. Rev. Choc’s response confirms its moral.
By Rarl Kove
July 8, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
Rev. WhiteChoc would probably be Obama’s Health Secretary. Liberals out of control are the most useful doncha think, Fannie?
By Copyleft
July 8, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
Rev. WhiteCoc. is pure filth. I hope he is not an Obama supporter, but given the context I wager he is. Obama does not need that kind of support. By the way Churchie, I think your wife handled the situation with class. You should be proud.
By PacificGatePost
July 9, 2008 12:22 AM | Link to this
AMERICA HAS EXPECTATIONS,
Obama’s impossible road ahead:
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/07/why-obama-will-win-but-cant-deliver.html
By Mrs. Churchill
July 9, 2008 7:14 AM | Link to this
Some tips from your favorite conservative decorator, shag carpet is in this year especially if it matches the drapes.
By Ga Values
July 9, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
By Churchill …How old are you?? How many grades have you flunked?? Be happy your mom isn’t a racist..