McCain: Obama Is All Ambition, Lacks Judgment To Be POTUS
ORLANDO, FL - In his speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention here today, John McCain defended his call for a Veterans' Care Access Card by saying that it was an "expansion" of the VA not a "privatization" as some have claimed.
"Let me make it clear," McCain said, "this card is not intended to either replace the VA or privatize veterans' health care, as some have wrongly charged. I believe the VA should always be there to provide top-quality care for our veterans. And I believe the VA should continue to provide broad-spectrum health care to eligible veterans, in addition to specialized care."
McCain predicted that Barack Obama would probably try attack him by politicizing this issue and "misrepresenting" his proposals as a form of privatization.
"I suppose from my opponent's vantage point, veterans concerns are just one more issue to be spun or worked to advantage," McCain said. "This would explain why he has also taken liberties with my position on the GI Bill."
"Behind all of these claims and positions by Senator Obama lies the ambition to be president," he added. "What's less apparent is the judgment to be commander-in-chief. And in matters of national security, good judgment will be at a premium in the term of the next president -- as we were all reminded 10 days ago by events in the nation of Georgia."
McCain has been a bit unclear on his veterans' health care plan. For months he has said that the VA is unprepared to handle the large numbers of wounded troops coming home from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Our Veterans' Administration is not equipped to care for the wounded as a result of this long war," McCain said last February in Seattle, WA. "I'm going to give every veteran a plastic card that needs a routine health care need and say take this plastic card to a health care provider or a doctor of your choice."
Today, McCain said that his plastic card is intended for any veteran with an "illness or injury incurred during their military service, and by those with low incomes." This is different from claiming that any veteran with a "routine healthcare need" could his card to visit the healthcare provider of their choice.
As late as last month, McCain told the National Forum on Disability Issues that the government needed to "relieve the burden on the VA from routine healthcare."
"There's gonna be large numbers of people who are afflicted, unfortunately with PTSD, and I believe we need to relieve the burden on the VA from routine healthcare," McCain said. "Put more of our assets in treating - the unique capabilities of the VA for the treatment of combat wounds, as you described them both seen and unseen. That means a veteran with a routine healthcare need, rather than go down to the VA and stand in line to stand in line to get an appointment to get an appointment, should be given a plastic card and say, if you have a routine healthcare need, take it wherever you want, to whatever doctor or healthcare provider and get the treatment you need. While we at the VA focus our attention, our care, and our love on these grievous wounds of war, both seen and unseen."
Encouraging veterans to go outside the VA for "routine healthcare needs" is not technically privatization, but encouraging the VA to "focus" their attention on "grievous wounds of war" might easily be interpreted as an effort to scale down the scope of care. And this is different than saying that his veterans' card is for healthcare concerns "incurred in war."
A spokesman for the campaign said that McCain has always considered his plan an "expansion of services" and that today's speech was an attempt to alleviate any confusion.
(NBC/NJ's ADAM AIGNER-TREWORGY)
Oh really?
Mr. McCain, didn't you have political ambitions when you returned from the war? Did not you cheat on your first wife because of your political ambitions? McCain was sleeping with a millionaire beauty queen while still married to his first wife, Carol McCain.
Its a joke when confused McCain talks about judgment.
It was McCain's horrible judgment which sent our young kids to die in a meat grinder called Iraq.
McCain is a war monger who had poor judgment about many things, whether it was his war mongering in Iraq or his cheating on his wife or his close association with lobbyists.
Obama got smashed by McCain at the Saddleback Civil Forum. McCain was presidentially clear and decisive while Obama was fumbling around in his mind, rambling and looking for creative ways to spin his ever-adapting points of view. I could care-less if Obama used Cocaine or if McCain left his 1st wife...one of them is ready and qualified to be President and the other may or may not be qualified to carry John McCains luggage.
I just wanted to pee my pants the way you hyphenated "care less".
Other than that, your post isn't worth squat, not even squashed squat. McCain had the questions. In case you still don't understand a simple declarative sentence in English: MC CAIN HAD THE QUESTIONS. Of course, he seemed clear and decisive. I bet he even had a big glass of Fibercon the night before.
I agree with Clint on one very important point. Barack got destroyed in the CNN "forum".
If he continues to talk and act like a Senator, he will lose and we will be subjected to four more years of Neoconservative rule (and all the War, greed, and incompetence that comes with it).
McCain is clearly a lying scumbag. None of his ads are true. They have all been proven to be filled with lies. He is clearly a Neoconservative. His campaign is run by, funded by, and organized by Neocons. These are the same people who brought us Iraq and the worst economy in almost two decades.
But policies, plans, and facts ASIDE -- b/c those apparently don't matter -- when McCain acts like a dictator who knows all the answers, the GOP eats it up.
Obama's giving 5 minute answers to basic questions will result in the most qualified -- and desperately needed -- candidate for President since Abraham Lincoln LOSING the election and permitting the further disintegration of the US economy, US standing in the world, preservation of civil liberties and the Constitutional system of government with 3 co-equal branches.
It WILL get better for Barack -- it has to -- but it won't happen without taking off the gloves and calling John McCain what he is: a LIAR and a Neoconservative.
I urge ALL Democrats to take this message directly to the Obama campaign. Please contact them through the Obama website and demand that Barack EXPLICITLY calls John McCain out for what he is: a liar and neocon.
Senator McCain clames in his speech that ""As president, I will do all that is in my power to ensure that those who serve today and those who have served in the past have access to the highest quality health, mental health and rehabilitative care in the world," McCain told the convention." His voting history on veterans affairs tell a completely different story -
*AWOL for May 22nd vote on GI Bill. Expressed opposition to bill saying "it was too generous to Veterans".
*Voted against Bill in September that would have mandated adequate rest for troops between combat deployments.
*Voted No on $1.5-billion increase for Veteran Medical services (money would have come from closing corporate tax loophole).
*Voted No on establishing a trust fund to bolster underfunded Veteran Hospitals.
*Voted No in May 2006 against $20-billion allotment for expanding Veteran Medical Facilities.
*Voted No in April 2006 to increase Veteran Outpatient care.
*Voted No in March 2004 another $1.8-billion reserve for Veteran Medical care (again funded by closing corporate tax loopholes).
Bottomline, McCain is more interested in taking care of big business then the men and women he wrongly sent to fight in Iraq.
McCain is not qualified to be a president because he will give the same old four more years of Bush.
McCain is only qualified to carry the luggage of BushCheney.
"McCain: Obama Is All Ambition"
WOW, talk about the POT calling the Kettle BLACK!!
At least Senator Obama didn't leave his crippled wife and marry a RICH BITTY so he could get elect Senator.
"McCain: Obama Is All Ambition"
WOW, talk about the POT calling the Kettle BLACK!!
At least Senator Obama didn't leave his crippled wife and marry a RICH BITTY so he could get elected Senator.
"McCain: Obama Is All Ambition"
WOW, talk about the POT calling the Kettle BLACK!!
At least Senator Obama didn't leave his crippled wife and marry a RICH BITTY so he could get elected Senator.
Whoa! I grossly underestimated this forums Distain for McCain! I hope that some of you are at least paid volunteers for the Obama campaign. My previous positing about how McCain smashed Obama at the Saddleback Civil Forum drew sharp criticism from many of you. The Royal King apparently wet himself which did not come as a surprise, and in the face of the recent realization that candidate Obama is weak and on a clear path to defeat, I understand his lack of urinary control.
Obama is revealing himself, and that is not good for the Dems. On the flipside, the more America knows about John McCain, the more they respect him and see him as the next American President. Part of the reason McCain is gaining ground is due to the simple fact that Americans prefer Victory to Defeat. Our optimism has made us the most successful and free society in the history of mankind. Please thank an American Soldier. Please thank John McCain.
Clint, you are right about the forum. Your mistake, like McCain's, is trying to explain yourself.
Americans do prefer Victory to Defeat and optimism to pessimism, but contrary to your spew, those ideas have no bearing what-so-ever on McCain's standing in this election. In fact, those reasons are precisely why a vast majority of Americans oppose the Iraq War and why people have flocked to Barack's message of HOPE and CHANGE.
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney haven't been victorious in a single thing in their Presidency and clearly do not operate with the slightest bit of optimism. John McCain, as a primary cheerleader of the Iraq War and the Bush economy, clearly represents more of the same neoconservative philosophy. So, you and the McCain supporters are obviously delusional if you think that Victory and Optimism have the slightest bit of relevance to the GOP.
The Obama campaign simply needs to be more forceful and aggressive with their rhetoric to put McCain -- a liar and a neoconservative -- in his proper place and to show Barack as the strong leader that he really is and will be.
Clint: "I hope some of you are at least paid volunteers for the Obama campaign." Setting aside the fact that volunteers can't be paid, I believe it was the McCain campaign that had to give people door prizes to get them to post their slime on message boards.
Hope you're well on your way to a McCain luggage tag!
Ethan, I believe that it is not too late for you. You’re clearly an intellectual person. However, the liberal media has convinced you that America is the problem as opposed to the truth, which is that you are privileged to be part of the greatest and most successful free society in the history of mankind. Ronald Reagan knew this well and talked about the important concept of Peace through Strength. People often base their concepts of conservatism on a single presidency. I will not be voting for George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, or even Carl Rove, for that matter, I will be voting for John McCain and here's why:
1. McCain is the most qualified to lead because he is far more knowledgeable in foreign affairs.
2. McCain is sincere and sticks to his principles even when they conflict with his own party (See torture, climate change etc.), whereas Obama is continuously working to adapt to the populous without any genuine feelings of his own. The only thing Obama truly knows is that he wants to be President.
3. McCain believes in America; that we can and will succeed in thwarting terror, completing the mission in Iraq and returning home with victory, while leaving an established democracy of free allies in the Middle East.
4. McCain believes that people should be entitled to keep the money they earn and be encouraged to earn more without guilt or penalty. Successful individuals and companies create American jobs and improve the economy, whereas, higher taxes cause companies and businesses to fail or leave the country, thereby hurting the economy.
If you think the economy is bad now, vote for Obama and then you might really know what a recession is!
Did McCain lift POW story from Russian novelist?
Some think so?
http://www.topix.net/news/2008-presidential-election/2008/08/did-mccain-lift-pow-story-from-russian-novelist
Attention Obama bloggers:
You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want John McCain on that wall. You need him there. He uses words like honor, code, loyalty...he uses those words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. He has neither the time nor the inclination to explain himself to lazy punks who rise and sleep under the blanket of the very freedom he provides, then questions the manner in which he provides it. He'd prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!
Clint. Thanks for taking my thoughts seriously and even for -gasp- listing the reasons why you support John McCain instead of just why you oppose Obama. Both are actually rare coming from GOPers on this site.
I won't respond to specific points but, suffice to say, your whole argument is shot because of the FACT that every single one of these neoconservative talking points has led us to the brink of total disaster. Iraq. Energy. Economy. War on Terror. Katrina. Politicization of every aspect of government. Etc.
Also, coincidentally (?) every single one of your four points were the GOP's reasons why we should elect George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Been there, done that. John McCain IS a neoconservative. His campaign is run by the same neocons and lobbyists (and neocon lobbyists) that have caused our country such disaster... If you honestly think that McCain would succeed where Bush has failed, you are deluded. It's the SAME PEOPLE!
Barack Obama is a very strong leader and a strong personality. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in the position of possibly becoming President.
But where he differs from the neocons is that he uses those strengths to represent the PEOPLE of the United States instead of the money interests.
NOBODY is more capable of returning American power to regular Americans and the Middle Class than Barack Obama.
Oh, and Clint? Re: recession... Nice try, but IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID (AGAIN).
Eth,
Agree to disagree. I started out supporting Obama. In part, due to the historical opportunity of having a black president. However, after seeing the Forum last weekend, I saw Obama for what he is -a celebrity windsock spouting catch phrases. I understand your feelings about the GOP, and the media created image of a group of fat white guys sitting around a table smoking cigars and preying on the common man, but I don't think McCain is or has ever been part of that club. I personally feel very happy to live in this blessed and courageous country. As bad as you think America is doing, remember it can always be worse. Hope and Change are good things, but how are they to be achieved? Obama doesn't have a clue. My guess is that he raises taxes and attempts to CHANGE the rich to the poor. The revenue and job generating corporations will CHANGE their operational headquarters to Mexico and the military goals in the Middle East will CHANGE from victory to defeat. So as "stupid" as it may be, the ECONOMY will be looking up in Mexico and China, but Americans will be left somewhat HOPE-less. McCain will win because McCain will DRILL. That's the real deal and I think you know it.
Clint,
What were some of the catch-phrases that Obama used that changed your mind?
Just curious.
>>>My guess is that he raises taxes and attempts to CHANGE the rich to the poor.
Your guess?
I take it the issue of taxes is a rather important one to you. So, if it is so important, don't you want to know where Barack Obama stands on the issue?
You don't seem like one of those GOPers who is willfully ignorant.
It's surprising that you would support one candidate over the other haphazardly without knowing the truth about both candidates.
While I understand moderate Republicans' concerns for Obama's economic plans, I think his plan is inordinately superior to continuing the Bush tax cuts that, as you know, disproportionately benefit the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
>>>McCain will win because McCain will DRILL. That's the real deal and I think you know it.
That is the real "deal" and yes, I do know it. The deal that locks McCain in -- irreparably -- with Bush and Cheney. It may win him some friends in the extreme Right, but it could just as easily cost him the election. I know that the national polls indicate support for OCS drilling, but state-by-state polls of states on the coasts are not nearly as favorable. I think VA is the only one that favors it. But the fact of the matter is that despite the national polling trend in support of OCS, Americans have supported renewable energy for far longer. It is the House GOP -- the same people who are on their Oil Strike -- who have limited the energy debate to JUST drilling, with no renewables legislation. McCain's support of a drilling-only vote further embeds him with the far Right. Point being, he embraces the drilling movement at his own political risk... Especially in moderate swing states with large potential for renewables (CO, OH, PA, IN, MT, etc).
Ethan, you have been informative. I like Obama, and if he is elected, I will be fine with it. My prediction, however, is that McCain wins. I know the Carl Roves of the Political arena are about to launch an all-out smear campaign against Obama, and it's going to be as ugly as you can imagine, drugs, racism, known affiliations, etc. I'm sure the Obama camp will fire back with the help of Moveon.org and the like, attacking McCain's credibility as a war hero and slur spewing coward who left his poor crippled wife for a rich and hot one, etc. but at the end of the day that stuff will wash itself out and the swing states will swing toward the man who they believe will help the economy. When gas prices go down, instead of up, people are more optimistic about the future. I think at the end of the day, Americans will say drill anwr drill off-shore and drill now! Which one of the candidates will the people believe in to get it done? A:McCain.
First of all, it's KARL Rove.
Secondly, if you want to align yourself with the candidate whose campaign casts such ugly and UNTRUE aspersions against a pre-eminently qualified American, be my guest. Obama WILL hit back hard, but on substance not like your candidate's pathetic, childish character assassination led by your buddy Karl and his henchmen.
Third, go ahead and put all of your eggs in the drilling basket. Fine with me. In fact, it would be the only intellectually honest thing for the GOP to do since you've obstructed renewables votes for 8+ years.
Re: "at the end of the day"
FACT:
When renewable energy is included in polling re: new energy/new drilling, WAY more people approve of renewables than approve of drilling.
solveclimate.com/blog/20080728/poll-truth-clean-energy-solutions-topple-drilling
www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/new-poll-shows-that-americans-prefer-clean-energy.html
www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/poll_renewable_energy_012208.html
So, good luck with the hard-right Drill Drill Drill. I hope you and the GOP keep it up.
It will lose you the election.
Here's another one:
www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/renewables_not_drilling.html
Shows quite clearly that renewables poll WAY higher than new drilling in 4 key swing states: CO, MI, WI, MN.
All of these polls are as of July or Aug '08 except the AWEA one from Jan '08.
Once again. Take your Karl and your Drilling and run with it. I hope you do b/c the end result will be an Obama Presidency, lower gas, lower heating oil, lower energy prices due to conservation and renewables.
And that will benefit everyone, especially the rural and urban poor people who need lower energy costs the most. So thanks again.
Alright Ethan,
McCain Drills his way to victory in OH, NM, and FL
Should have nominated Hillary.
That will be the sentiment over the days leading up to the election.
Obama takes NM barring a major disruption.
McCain can have OH and FL.
Obama wins with either CO or VA (which I think he'll win both).
But I think OH goes Obama after all with a late break.
Much to be decided yet. Obama has double the cash. We'll see, I guess.
How can you support drilldrilldrill when you know that even if we approve of drilling it'll take 7 years to see any oil, it will go on the world market not here, and once we exhaust reserves, THAT'S IT!!!
It boggles the mind that someone smart enough to even find their way to this blog cannot see those three key points -- or maybe you just don't care. Either way, it's really just sad and pathetic especially considering the long term consequences.
But again, I guess you don't care about the long term consequences. I hope you don't have children. B/c THEY will care. They will have no other choice, thanks to you.
McCain: "Obama is all ambition"
Sub-text of a racist comment. Clearly McCain also has the ambition to become President. His ambition is OK. He is a white man. Obama's ambition is wrong. He is a black man. What is obvious in all this is that the man who says that he wants to unify the country, is running a not too subtle racist campaign. And it may be working for him. The racists are coming out of the woodwork. Between them and the fundamentalist there may be enough votes from fanatics to steal a close election. Have we not been there before? Twice in two recent elections?