The Blog World Showing Support for Barack Obama

This week Sen. John McCain’s campaign released a video montage of what they claimed was evidence of a love affair that the media has going on with Sen. Barack Obama. This of course is due to how much television and radio play has come from Obama’s trip to the Middle East and Europe. While a media throng has followed Obama halfway around the globe, one reporter greeted McCain’s airplane at a recent New Hampshire campaign stop.

I concede that the decision of the evening news anchors from CBS, NBC, and ABC to travel with Obama is questionable. But there is no way around the fact that his trip abroad is a newsworthy event.

McCain made a similar trip overseas while the Dems were still fighting it out for the nomination. If his strategists had it to do over again, I’m sure they would have waited until this summer’s lull to have their candidate hop across the Atlantic.

McCain and his party should blame themselves for their part in creating a story about Obama having NOT visited Iraq in quite sometime prior to this week. The GOP even had a running counter of exactly how many days it had been.

So if the Republicans thought it was a big deal that Obama hadn’t been to Iraq, how can they then tell Americans that is going there is not?

David Bauder of the associated press sums up the type of week it’s been for Obama.

Waging the image campaign overseas: Barack Obama has packed his overseas trip with presidential images: a helicopter ride over Iraq with the U.S. military commander; a visit to a Holocaust memorial; a meeting at Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s palace. He even found time to sink a three-point basketball shot before cheering U.S. soldiers.

McCain should learn from Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign that complaining about media bias is not a winning proposition. If he gives voters some fresh ideas, or at least stops getting so mixed up about what’s going on with the economy and abroad, maybe a little more attention will come his way. But for now, he and his folks should sit back and watch this momentum that they helped to create.

Photos from the New York Times.

CHICAGO, IL – (July 15), Senator Barack Obama will deliver a major speech on the war in Iraq and America’s national security priorities. Senator Obama will outline his strategy for addressing the most pressing threats facing America, which requires bringing the war to a responsible end, finishing the fight in Afghanistan, and pursuing our broader strategic objectives in the world.

Unlike Senator McCain, Senator Obama had the judgment to oppose the war before it began.  Senator Obama understood that the war would undermine our security by sapping the resources needed to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan and al-Qaeda across the globe.  As President, Senator Obama will consult with the generals on the ground on the tactics necessary to ensure the safe, responsible redeployment of American troops over 16 months.

“If offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration, regardless of the risks.  But most experts, even within the Bush Administration, concede it would do neither.  It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for thirty years.

Senator Obama believes Americans need real short-term relief, which is why he has proposed a second round of stimulus with energy rebates for working families. And over the long-term, Senator Obama understands that our national security and the survival of the planet demand a real strategy to break our dependence on foreign oil by developing clean, new sources of energy and by vastly improving the energy efficiency of our cars, trucks and our economy.  He is ready to lead such a transformation,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

By Friday Afternoon, I had resigned myself to the fact that my two week attempt to secure a visit to the Barack Obama campaign headquarters would not happen.  I would take my family down to Michgan Avenue for some Garrett’s popcorn and call it a vacation;

The trip had been just like I envisioned, museums, a trip to Wrigley, Chicago style deep dish pizza, Navy Pier, what more could a guy ask for.  I had made a pretty good push with the Obama people, but it just didn’t come through.  Then I get a call as I’m exiting for downtown.  The visit had been set in motion, but it wasn’t a reality yet.

Check back Tuesday for a recap.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/6obxbo

Obama to Hold Meetings with Working Group Members and Retired Flag Officers in Washington, DC Today

CHICAGO, IL – Senator Obama today announced the formation of his Senior Working Group on National Security, a group of advisors that he will consult on a regular basis between now and the election. Obama will meet with the group for the first time today in Washington, DC for a wide-ranging discussion of the immense challenges faced by the United States in the wake of the disastrous foreign policies of George Bush.

“Each individual here today has provided extraordinary service to our nation in the executive branch and Congress. Several have been advising my campaign for some time. We’re also honored to be joined by some of Senator Clinton’s senior advisors. In the months to come, we’ll be reaching out to others, as well as leaders in Congress,” Senator Obama said.

“The stakes in this election could not be higher. John McCain wants to continue George Bush’s foreign policy which has made us less safe, less respected, and less able to lead the world. It’s time to change course. It’s time to end the war in Iraq responsibly, refocus on Afghanistan and al Qaeda, and renew our global leadership so that we can tackle the huge challenges of the 21st century.”

Later today, he will also meet with a group of nearly 40 retired Admirals and Generals to discuss the state of our armed forces, and the challenges facing our military in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. This meeting is part of an ongoing dialogue between Senator Obama and current and former military officers of various ranks and views.

Senator Obama’s Senior Working Group on National Security includes:

• Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
• Senator David Boren, former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
• Secretary of State Warren Christopher
• Greg Craig, former director of the State Department Office of Policy Planning
• Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig
• Representative Lee Hamilton, former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
• Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder
• Dr. Tony Lake, former National Security Advisor
• Senator Sam Nunn, former Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• Secretary of Defense William Perry
• Dr. Susan Rice, former Assistant Secretary of State
• Representative Tim Roemer, 9/11 Commissioner
• Jim Steinberg, former Deputy National Security Advisor