Obama Abroad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_John_McCain

Gun Control

Note: John McCain Does Not Own a Gun, nor does he have a High Approval Rating with Gun Owners. Yet Some of you Schmoes act as though, McCain is the "Great Gun Defender of America" when he's Not !

In a speech before the National Rifle Association in September 2007, McCain said "For more than two decades, I've opposed the efforts of the anti-gun crowd to ban guns, ban ammunition, ban magazines, and paint gun owners as some kind of fringe group; dangerous in 'modern' America. Some even call you 'extremists.

' My friends, gun owners are not extremists, you are the core of modern America."

McCain was a signatory of an amicus brief filed on behalf of 55 U.S. Senators, 250 Representatives and Vice-President Dick Cheney in support of the respondents in the Supreme Court case D.C. vs. Heller.

McCain has received fair to poor ratings on gun issues from the National Rifle Association, garnering a C+. According to a review by Gun Owners of America (GOA), "in 2001, McCain went from being a supporter of anti-gun bills to being a lead sponsor".

McCain's GOA rating went from a "C-" in 2000 to an "F-" in 2006.


Alcohol

McCain's family has close ties to Anheuser-Busch through its Hensley & Co. distributor.

McCain has recused himself from voting on bills before Congress dealing with Alcohol-Related Matters.


Offshore Drilling

In McCain's campaign for the presidency in 2000, he supported the federal ban on offshore drilling for oil.

In June 2008, McCain reversed his longstanding objection to offshore drilling. Stating that he had changed his views because of high gas prices and dependence on imports, he endorsed legislation that would give each coastal state the power to determine whether to allow offshore drilling.


ANWR

McCain has generally opposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but did vote in favor of preserving the budget for ANWR oil drilling

There is a lot of "trigger" language on this board, with Rev Wright etc, but one thing that has not been picked up on by the MSM is what I think is a critical flaw in the whole John McCain War Hero story that is at the core of his run for the white house. In his narrative about time in captivity, Mr McCain has always referred to using
the names of Green Bay Packers when asked about other names in his squadron. He has repeated this story in his book and as a big part of his stump and town hall presentations

Now just recently, he changed his story, while in Pennsylvania and said that he used the names of the Pittsburg Steelers Steel Curtain, a group that was not part of the Steelers while McCain was in Vietnam,

But most importantly, why would a man change what has became an iconinc story he and his campaign uses to signify his valor and heroic imrisonment? If something so pivotal to his story is subject to fanciful change for the sake of making political points, it diminishes the entire integrity of the claims. It calls into question the voracity of his claims and betrays all those who have honored him.

I son't trust him to tell the truth, and that is not something I think we should live with anymore. It would be a shame to find out his whole story was all made up of these little lies.

Let's see Obama triumph in Europe and then bring it home. The ultimate test: a practical idealist picks VEEP...Caroline here is my viiew in the so important VEEPSTAKES are you listening?
To win my state in Appalachia, and the Texans and the wild West in general, not to mention the recalcitrant Midwest: BILL RICHARDSON as VEEP.
Obama needs a second who can be attract both progressives and second amendment rights people like myself. (i am both progressive and a strong supporter of the right for citizens to bear arms).
Bill Richardson has a very high endorsement from the NRA. He also has candor, foreign policy experience, political savvy and brings cross--cultural constituents, including, presumably Latinos! But, his NRA endorsement is of great imporance to winning the working class consituency over.
The Obama on the ground campaign needs to forget trying to appeal to the Clintonistas that Adam Nagourney so coyly supports.
Use your strengths Obama campaign! Bolster your ticket with an admirable courageous and thoroughly popular guy in Bill Richardson who has all the down to earth and in-depth Washington experience that Obama needs to balance his own attractive,practical-idealistic and intelligent, fresh presence.
OBAMA-RICHARDSON 2008
(and I also like Nicky J. Rahall of West Virginia

This article gets it just about as right as it can, Senator McCain see a dark dangerous world which he would strike first and ask questions later. He sees the us as under seige, and in doing so, isolates us from the world with his dogmatic protectionist mindset. Senator Obama sees a world of possibilities if we pursue dignity as a common goal for all peoples, He uses this strategy to marginalize the radical elements on both sides. I agree, the writer wrote this with a pro Obama notions, because he is right to be excited about Senator Obama

I think this writer has it just about as right as it can get. McCain sees a dark dangerous world that he would strike first and ask questions later, and Senator Obama sees a world with great potential if dignity is the common goal. We have had enough fear, we need to have a proactive administration that attacks the real problems at home and abroad, poverty, hunger, dignity, health and education.

Thank you for this article! Everyone should read this. I have thought this about Obama for a long time. When will people figure out - he is one smart guy and the antithesis of naive.

It is clear you wrote this column with a pro-Obama agenda. Your column is intellectually shallow and biased. All positives about Obama and all negatives about McCain.

What say you about Obama's stated support for meeting and negotiating directly and unconditionally with the leaders of our greatest enemies? Do you see nothing wrong with that? What say you about his plans to deal with Iran, which would undo the hard work, pressure, and unit that the US and its European allies have developed during the years they have been negotiating with Iran. Why did you not call him out for being such a naive idealist as to think that he could convince them of their errors simply by talking to them?

Similarly, you make no mention about Obama's horribly wrong analysis of the Iraq situation in 2006 when he insisted that the surge would only make things worse and that the war was lost. His plan for an accelerated redeployment would have meant that TODAY we would have a failed Iraq with areas controlled by AQI and Iran, terrorist attacks planned from there, oil production offline or in the hands of AQI And Iran, an American defeat resonating through the world: destabilizing our middle eastern allies, discrediting our country, destroying its leadership position, and catalyzing the end of of American preeminence in the world (not to mention the genocide that would have occurred in Iraq). Instead, Bush and McCain's leadership on the issue led us to victory in Iraq and prevented the Democrats and Obama from forcing us into defeat. Also, say you nothing about Obama's politicization of the Iraq issue?

Regarding Pakistan, Obama has advocated increased American belligerance in tribal areas, without any deeper analysis. This would inflame public opinion in Pakistan, turning moderates against us and empowering the radicals that we so desperately need to keep away from power and the country's nuclear arsenal. If you are going to send people in, you don't advertise it and try to act tough. You send few in, very secretly, and with serious considerations for its implications on public opinion in that country.

On McCAin, why did you decline to mention that the G8 was originally conceived as a meeting of the top industrialized DEMOCRACIES. When Russia was added it did in fact act like a democracy. It is not a democracy any longer and China has never been and isnt a democracy at the moment. There are many other organizations or ways to integrate world leaders and communicate among governments.

Regarding the League of Democracies, the point would be to create a system that expands on our NATO alliance to enable us to take action on world issues when Russia and China use vetoes in the UN Security Council to block action through the UN. It is natural alliance building that will empower us and our close allies to side-step Chinese and Russian intransigence to take action on issues such as the genocide in Darfur, tyranny and oppression in Zimbabwe, nuke development in Iran, etc.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/07/08/john-mccain-battles-the-veterans/

This is McCain...

When confronted in his so called "Town Meetings" regarding his Veterans Voting Records and his so called Support from US Veterans organization.

It sums McCain up Oh So Perfectly, via his Own Evasive Actions, Diversions, Deceptions & Blatant LIES, regarding his Record.

Note: McCain did Crash 5 Planes. OK he did'nt Graduate Last in his Naval Class, But he Graduate (894) Out of 899 Naval Officers...

Still, McCain Graduated at the BOTTOM..Damn !!

Name a Succesful War McCain has Participated in ?

Name Any Military Strategies John McCain Concieved, Created and have Military Joint Cheifs of Staffs Implement in "Winning Wars"

Please by all means REVEAL these MYSTERY WAR WINNING MILITARY STRATEGIES to the rest of the FREE WORLD...PLEASE

Because John McCain said Recently "I Know How to Win Wars"

John McCain Devulged Classified Military information and he was used by the Viet Cong, to Denounce this Country and Support the Viet Nam Fight against the USA...Fact...

Wikipedia...Wikipedia...My Friends.

Most of John McCain's life .....

DID NOT INVOLVE WAR OR MCCAIN INVOLVEMENT IN MILITARY ACTION...FACE THE COLD HARD FACTS.

Does Newsweek even try to present an appearance of objectivity? Every article I read on the internet by that magazine looks like they're being paid to shill for Obama. They are so far into the tank that readers should discount literally every word they write!

Anybody who thinks they know what Obama's core principles are is mistaken. His only motivation is to get elected and he will say anything he feels is necessary at the time to meet that goal.

What Obama will do as President is really unknown. Our only clue is his 20 years with Reverend Wright and the Marxist based Black Liberation Theology. His relationship with Ayers reinforces that position. What we also know is Obama is influenced by opportunities for enrichment as his real estate deals with Rezko tell us.

Core principles like reform? Threw public financing under the bus.
Core principles like trade? Firmly against NAFTA, or maybe for free trade? What day is it?
Core principles like gun control? For the D.C. ban but agrees with the Supreme Court.
Core principles like honesty? Conceived during the Selma march...lie always said the surge would reduce violence...lie; never knew Reverend Wright's radical views...lie; would run an honorable campaign while his surrogates attack McCain's war record...not very honorable so many more

So who is Barack Obama? I don't know but I don't want to first find out while he is President.

beautifully written! thank you.

Comment: Im at a loss. First, McCain criticizes Obama for never having gone to the warzones, and now hes criticizing Obama for going over there? Mabey McCain should be focusing on his own solutions to our many problems while Obama is globetrotting around. Mabey McCain can come up with a economic plan that makes a little sense, or an energy policy that does more than put a smiley face on the crisis staring us down, or perhaps how to keep millions of illegal immigrants from coming to our country each year. If any of those are issues you care about, you know he doesnt have solutions for any of them. Not that Obama does.
Wake up people, they're both ok, neither is great, neither is the antichrist. Quit making more or less of them for your own gratification already.

"I really didn't love America until I was deprived of her company," McCain said in an interview with Fox News earlier this year.

Dude Obama praises H.W. Bush to try and under cut the republicans, wake up... In fact after reading your article, I think you are naïve. Also how do you know McCain is a pessimist? You write that but there is not way you can know that. In short that is not admissible in a court of law nor could anyone who really wants to make an informed decision consider hearsay like that to be of any value.

If you really want to look at something think about this. North Korea - nuclear weapons program being shut down, Insane Iraqi Dictator responsible for the deaths of 1m+ people removed from power and growing international pressure on crazy theocracy to stop them from developing Nuclear weapons. How did all that get done?

Those are things that actually happened not worthless words. You should focus on results more. Results are cool and they actually provide a way to make decisions and form opinions based on things that are real.

I don't believe him, but I guess we'll see.

The GOP has 2 modes..saber-rattling, or coddle. McCain will be more of the same divisiveness and absolutism that the Bush Admin is reknown for.I cannot fathom how a world leader can see the world in black and white, good v.s. evil in today's extremely complex geopolitical world. To do so shows a lacking of maturity, arrogance and a certai n level of stupidity that should be shunned by the voters in this election. Bush has been at best, criminally incompetent as a President. McBush has surrounded himself with the same ideologically driven neocons that has so thoroughly and completely devestated great power machinations that took a half century to forge. No!, The U.S., it;s people and indeed the rest of the world cannot afford another term from aother incompetent. Quite simply, McCain...McBush, whatever you to want to call this man, does not have the vision, nor does he possess the temperment to be Commander-In -Chief. He will be sent back to the Senate, where he can finish the rest of is political career.

Mr, Zakariea, gentle readers and loony ranting partisans - it is patently obvious that many people reacting to this article have little discrimination or discretion. Still -
If we give Mr. Zakaria's analysis of Obama's foreigh policy positions the benefit of the the doubt, he would hardy seem to be the type of 'eace-at-any-price candidate that his primary supporters supposed him to be. How do you explain that?
One more point - in light of his primary rhetoric regarcing Pakistan, one would think that of all the places he would visit in the Orient, that would be at the top of his list. Why do you suppose he didn't?