Obama’s Recent Attacks on John McCain Rely on Words Taken out of Context
September 16th, 2008 at 06:20pm Matt Margolis
It’s been only a few short days since Barack Obama accused the McCain campaign of taking his words out of context in order to use them against him.. It was an amusing claim from Barack Obama, since he has been guilty of such tactics for quite a while now.
But, one would think that in light of their criticism of John McCain, Obama’s campaign wouldn’t resort to the same tactics…
Wrong.
Today, the Obama campaign deliberately took the words of McCain advisor Carly Fiorina out of context in order to attack John McCain.
Barack Obama’s campaign was “deceitful” when it clipped part of an interview in which Republican Victory 2008 Chairwoman Carly Fiorina said John McCain was not qualified to be the head of a corporation, Fiorina said Tuesday.Earlier in the day, Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, appeared on MSNBC, where she said none of the candidates is qualified to run a major corporation, but that should not prevent them from running the country.
“I don’t think John McCain could run a major corporation. I don’t think Barack Obama could run a major corporation. I don’t think Joe Biden could run a major corporation. But on the other hand a major corporation is not the same as being the president or vice president of the United States,” Fiorina said.
“It is a fallacy to suggest that the country is like a company. So of course to run a business you have to have a lifetime of experience in business, but that’s not what Sarah Palin, John McCain, Joe Biden or Barack Obama are doing,” she said.
But the Obama campaign, pointing to a version of Fiorina’s statement that was clipped after the first sentence, berated McCain for not winning the trust of even his own supporters.
“When John McCain’s top economic adviser doesn’t think that he’s qualified to run a corporation — how on Earth can he run the largest economy in the world in the midst of a financial crisis?” Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement accompanying the shortened clip.
But, this isn’t the only recent example from the Obama campaign.
Karl Rove recently said that both the McCain campaign and the Obama have run ads that “don’t pass the 100% truth test,” but the Obama campaign latched onto the part where Rove had mentioned McCain first and distorted the criticism as solely against McCain.
So, really, I’m tired of Obama’s blatant lies and hypocrisy. That’s hardly change we can believe in.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008
35 Comments
1. BARRASSO | September 16th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
This blog is like a giant experiment in projection, the post before this one is a quote out of context against Obama, that he didn’t even say himself. You may want to check your souls for permanent stains.
2. Ricorun | September 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
“It is a fallacy to suggest that the country is like a company. So of course to run a business you have to have a lifetime of experience in business, but that’s not what Sarah Palin, John McCain, Joe Biden or Barack Obama are doing,” she said.
Yeah, that’s so much better than Obama’s version. Lol!
She is, of course, correct. And one could fill in her argument by adding that running a small town is different than running a city… and running a city is different than running a state… and running a small state is different than running a country… and running a small country is different than running a country that accounts for 20% or so of the world’s economy, not to mention one who is also the leader of the free world.
When you’re done shooting, Carly, check your feet.
3. 24 | September 16th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
“So, really, I’m tired of Obama’s blatant lies and hypocrisy.”
huh, but you’re ok the blatant lies of gramps and Piglin?
the conditioning really worked on you didn’t it
4. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Rico,
Don’t you find it odd that the last two Democratic Presidents were Governors of rather small states?
You might want to check your own feet.
Who is Rico?
5. Wellington | September 16th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
My absolute favorite comment is still:
Or this gem “taken out of context”:
6. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
gramps and Piglin? - 24
Classic example of juvenile liberal misogyny.
Well done
7. kmg | September 16th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Matt,
It would seem opinion is not with you:
“McCain has turned ugly. His dishonesty would be unacceptable in any politician, but McCain has always set his own bar higher than most. He has contempt for most of his colleagues for that very reason: They lie. He tells the truth. He internalizes the code of the McCains — his grandfather, his father: both admirals of the shining sea. He serves his country differently, that’s all — but just as honorably. No more, though.
“I am one of the journalists accused over the years of being in the tank for McCain. Guilty. Those doing the accusing usually attributed my feelings to McCain being accessible. This is the journalist-as-puppy school of thought: Give us a treat, and we will leap into a politician’s lap.
“Not so. What impressed me most about McCain was the effect he had on his audiences, particularly young people. When he talked about service to a cause greater than oneself, he struck a chord. He expressed his message in words, but he packaged it in the McCain story — that man, beaten to a pulp, who chose honor over freedom. This had nothing to do with access. It had to do with integrity.
“McCain has soiled all that. His opportunistic and irresponsible choice of Sarah Palin as his political heir — the person in whose hands he would leave the country — is a form of personal treason, a betrayal of all he once stood for. Palin, no matter what her other attributes, is shockingly unprepared to become president. McCain knows that. He means to win, which is all right; he means to win at all costs, which is not.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/15/AR2008091502406.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
8. 24 | September 16th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
neocon = troll
9. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Wellington,
I am surprised you’re not the campaign advisor to Obama. You have always bring such relevant topics to the table that are sure to win him the nomination.
Heckuva job welly.
10. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
24,
Brilliant. With wit like that, how can you guys lose, right?
11. 24 | September 16th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
neocon = troll
(don’t waste your time troll, post something relevant, or get the same response)
12. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
kmg,
Please list, side by side, and compare the resumes and accomplishments of Palin and Obama and then demonstrate, and prove to us how Obamas experience suits him for the Presidency, yet Palin’s does not suit her for the Vice Presidency.
I can’t wait to see how you’ll pull this off.
13. cam | September 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Why are you defending someone who ran HP into the ground?
Oh and Ricorun, nice quote, loving it.
neocon,
You might want to go to the dictionary. Misogyny? Is McCain a woman? Anyone could be called Piglin. There is no inherent refernce to her gender in that comment.
Now getting to context. John McCain continues to say the economic fundamentals are sound. If you want to see someone who is out of touch, look at McCain. Its time you Republicans admit you made a mistake in choosing McCain before he is foisted on the rest of us.
14. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
cam,
Do I need to school you again on the economy? Quick quiz, what percentage of the dow was lost Monday? How much of the dow was lost on black Friday 2007?
And who was 24 refering to when he said Piglin?
24,
Again you astound us all with your briliiant repartee.
15. 24 | September 16th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
neocon = troll
but I’ll take a shot at this one:
“list, side by side, and compare the resumes and accomplishments of Palin and Obama”
guess which is Obama and which isn’t
-3 years as a community organizer,
-first black President of the Harvard Law Review
-create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters
spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor
-8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people
-chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee
-4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees
-Attended 5 different small colleges before graduating
-Local weather girl,
-4 years on the city council
-6 years as the mayor of a town with less than -20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people
16. 24 | September 16th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
should have been “mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people”
sorry ’bout that
17. cam | September 16th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Neocon,
Oh, it was a little over 4%. What does that prove?
black Friday in 2007. Do you mean 1987?
I know it was black. Any day with Bush still in office has got to be considered black.
18. The Arctic Fox | September 16th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Ok, let’s punch holes in this.
First, that article quoted is from Fox News, the most conservative biased of all the stations.
Secondly, it’s not THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN that edited the footage, it’s MSNBC (assuming it was edited; but many interviews are so I’ll take it as a given that it was) - but you only have to watch people like Bill O’Reilly to see that he edits anything his crew films to say what he wants to say. So this is by no means unusual.
Thirdly, there is absolutely no need to edit the flip-flops and turnarounds John McCain and now Sarah Palin too has made, because you can play entire comments and they contradict directly previous entire comments.
So this entire entry is rooted around an unbiased source, is unbiased in its nature and doesn’t address the fact that while Obama has stretched things and has misrepresented things, McCain and Palin have OUTRIGHT LIED about some things.
19. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
What organization did Obama work for as a community organizer? And what specific accomplisments were realized?
While Obama was community organizing, Palin was infusing her small community with $40 million of infrastructure improvements as a two term mayor.
What specific pieces of legislation can you identify that Obama accomplished whil reaching acroos the aisle?
While Obama was serving as a state legislature and voting Present over 130 times, Palin was successfully confronting corruption in her own party, defeating an uncumbent Governor in the Primary, and then a popular former Governor in the primary, has run a budget surplus, confronted big oil and won, sending stipends to the people of Alaska and currently enjoys an 86% approval rating as the Cheif executive of the state that supplies over 20% of Americas energy needs.
What chief executive experience does Obama have? Remember, he’s the one running for President.
Also while Obama left his children for the campaign trail, Palin was busy tending to her five children. I don’t think Obama makes for a very good father. He’s too irresponsible. After he loses he’ll have more time though to father those two young girls, obviously Michelles would prefer to work outside of the home.
20. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Yes cam, 1987, my bad.
The point is that a 4% drop, followed by a 1% climb today, is hardly worth screaming that the worlds on fire. These “corrections” are necessary as much of this housing bubble was built on hyper inflated values and greed. Let the chips fall where they may.
And McCain is right, the foundations of the economy; inflation, jobless rate, and GDP are all in fairly good shape, in fact there was 3.3% growth in the second quarter. The main culprit to this downturn is the housing market, and as soon as all of the bad paper is exposed and accounted for, the sooner we recover, and there seems to be rush to lay it out all on the table by the end of the year. Consumer confidence is now the key; people need to realize that this is the time to invest, interest rates remain low and values in both stocks and real estate are, in some sectors, at all time lows. Now is the time to get in.
21. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Arctic,
Why are you so afraid of Palin?
And if Fox News is “the most conservative biased of all the stations.” then wouldn’t the fact that they have better ratings than MSNBC & CNN combined, and has been cited as being the “most fair” network by the Clinton’s, suggest that maybe you exaggerate a little bit?
Maybe just a little?
22. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Question:
Why would the Governor of Arkansas be qualifed to be President, but the Governor of Alaska is not qualified to be Vice President?
Is it the 1.4 million population difference?
23. kmg | September 16th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Arctic Fox,
I was going to go with the short answer:
Obama - Chosen by over 17 million people.
Palin - Chosen by one.
24. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Well with McCain currently enjoying a 2%-4% lead in the polls, depending on the poll, and 64% of those polled stating that Palin does have the right experience to be VP, I’d say you’re going to need a lot more than 17 million people. But that’s probably all you’ll get.
Sorry.
25. Ricorun | September 16th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
neocon: Don’t you find it odd that the last two Democratic Presidents were Governors of rather small states?
Oh Lordy. Is what you’re implying, even in the simplest case, supposed to be a plus for Palin? Maybe I’m missing something, but if not, I can’t believe you brought it up.
You might want to check your own feet.
The way things have gone the last month or so, perhaps we should all check our own feet. I mean my goodness, McCain built his campaign on responsibility, honor, integrity, and “straight talk”, and attacked Obama as an insubstantial “celebrity”. Then he picked Palin as his running mate. At the last minute, apparently without extensive vetting, and essentially no pre-warning. The information available to the press at her roll-out was this: nothing.
Who is Rico?
That question would matter a lot if McCain picked me for his running mate. He didn’t. He picked Palin. Thus, “Who is Palin?” matters a lot. She could be president of the most powerful nation in the world. That’s a big deal. I would hope people take it as seriously and objectively as they can. I agree with Carly Fiorina, no candidate’s experience qualifies them to become president. We need to examine the other qualities each of them bring to the table. And rather than keeping Palin cloistered, she more than the other three should be hitting the media circuit. I want to know the answer to the question: Who is Sarah Palin? And I find it unconscionable that others would not agree with me on that.
26. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Palin has an 86% approval rating from the people that know her, and of whom she governs. What can you glean from that?
And why would Carter’s and/or Clinton’s experience as small state Governors prepare them for the Presidency, but Palin’s experience does not? That’s a completely legitimate question that you just ran from.
I know very well who Palin is. She embodies the values, convictions, and passions that my family does, and most small families across this country do. The fact that sme talking head in the MSM can’t properly define it for you, says more about you, than it does Palin. Got it?
Why do you not understand small town, family oriented, middle class people?
27. The Arctic Fox | September 16th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Neocon,
Well, at least we know you watch Bill O’Reilly, who always gives the stats from his point of view.
Am I afraid of Sarah Palin? No. Of course, it would be MUCH easier for you if I was. Personally I think she’s the sacrificial politician who will end up being blamed for McCain’s defeat. It’ll all be down to how inexperienced she was, and nothing to do with him in the least.
MSNBC recently spoke about how innacurate Fox’s figures were, but they of course might be overstating their figures just as they were accusing Fox of understating them. Either way, it doesn’t change the conservative bias Fox has.
You also have to take into account that the biggest satellite television station in the United Kingdom is Sky, owned by Rupert Murdoch. It carries Fox News. Bill O’Reilly includes viewers there in his statistics. It refuses to carry MSNBC. So those figures are bound to be skewed
28. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
These are all from the same pool of voters Arctic.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/10/cable-news-ratings-for-tuesday-september-9/5040
29. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
That should have been “pool of viewers”
30. Ricorun | September 16th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
neocon: Palin has an 86% approval rating from the people that know her, and of whom she governs. What can you glean from that?
Remind me where Bush43 peaked, and what you glean from that. Also allow me to remind you who the presidential candidates are. In case you forgot, they are John McCain and Barack Obama.
And why would Carter’s and/or Clinton’s experience as small state Governors prepare them for the Presidency, but Palin’s experience does not? That’s a completely legitimate question that you just ran from.
I didn’t run from it, you did. Let me ask you specifically — do you think Carter and Clinton were effective presidents? That’s the first question. The second and more important one is (and this applies to all contenders to the presidency)… what factors are most important to you in deciding who to vote for? And how do you decide? Is it just general ideology? Or are other factors involved? If it’s the latter, what are they?
31. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Clinton was effective, Carter was a disaster. The point is both had very similar resumes to Palins and they were never questioned.
And you’re obviously very worried by Palin, and her small town values.
This is completely off topin, but it needs mentioning. The Democrats are playing the race card again, this time from a surrogate:
Sebelius: ‘Code Language’ Hindering Obama Campaign
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 7:30 PM
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that a belief among some voters that Democrat Barack Obama is different from them is hindering his campaign for president.
Asked at a brown-bag lunch at the local library why the campaign is neck-and-neck, Sebelius said “code language” raising doubts about Obama is invalid because his life experience “has a lot more to do with me and my family.”
“I think that the notion that, ‘By the way, have any of you noticed that Barack Obama is part African American?’ I think that is for a number of people difficult,” Sebelius said. “I think we need to talk about the fact that that is a real issue.”
32. Ricorun | September 16th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
And you’re obviously very worried by Palin, and her small town values.
What an interesting, albeit totally unsubstantiated, observation. Apart from that though, how do you define such values? That’s question 1. Question 2 is: given that the vast majority of people live in towns larger than, say, Wasilla, how easily do you think those values can be extrapolated to the national scene?
33. neocon | September 16th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Who is Sarah Palin? Rico wants to know. Can anyone explain to Rico, what a grounded, middle class, small town, family oriented, God fearing woman is like?
Being the President is all about convictions, values and morals, and Palin’s are all properly aligned.
Rico, you’re just like the MSM, clueless, and that ignorance of middle class America will cost you this election. In fact it already has.
Who is Sarah Palin? That question is so revealing and funny at the same time.
34. cam | September 17th, 2008 at 2:01 am
neocon,
I don’t see that the fundamentals are sound. Much of the economic boom of the past ten years or so has been based on the increase in equity that allowed people to use this new leverage for all kinds of things that they previously could not afford.
Now most of that leverage is gone and there is nothing that will take its place. Several years ago anyone who was being realistic could see that this boom in equity was not based on real demand and that it would eventually collapse.
Now regarding your candidate. You really need to get in sync. John says by fundamentals he meant the people of this country. And you, you have the audacity to equate fundamentals with economic indicators. So who’s got it right?
35. cam | September 17th, 2008 at 2:06 am
Yesterday and over a number of weeks Hoover, I mean McCain said the fundamentals of the economy are sound.