Obama: McCain 'doesn't know what he's up against'
By BETH FOUHY – 21 hours ago
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A combative Barack Obama said Tuesday that Republican John McCain "doesn't know what he's up against" in this election and challenged his rival to stop questioning his character and patriotism.
Obama, campaigning in a state where he hopes to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to win in more than three decades, implored his supporters to fight for the presidency.
"Our job in this election is not just 'win,' although I'm a big believer in winning," Obama said during the rally. "I don't intend to lose this election. John McCain doesn't know what he's up against."
"He can talk all he wants about Britney (Spears) and Paris (Hilton), but I don't have time for that mess," Obama said.
His remarks carried forward a theme of feisty campaigning he debuted earlier in the day.
Addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Orlando, Fla., Obama reaffirmed his early opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and said the strategy of sending in 30,000 additional troops last year had not produced the political reconciliation necessary to achieve lasting peace in the country.
McCain supported the Iraq invasion and was an early champion of the surge.
"These are the judgments I've made and the policies that we have to debate, because we do have differences in this election," Obama told the veterans. "One of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can't disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Sen. McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America's national interest. Now, it's time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.
"Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country," Obama said to applause.
McCain stood before the same audience a day earlier and said Obama "tried to legislate failure" in the Iraq war and had put his ambition to be president above the interests of the United States. He said the Illinois senator did this by pushing for a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq and by voting in the Senate against a major appropriations bill to help fund the troop increase.
Responding to Obama's comments, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said: "Barack Obama has made it clear that unconditional withdrawal in Iraq is more important to him than victory in Iraq. That's not a criticism of his patriotism, that's a criticism of his judgment."
A decorated Vietnam war veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Arizona Sen. McCain has sharply questioned whether the 47-year-old Obama has the experience and character necessary to serve as commander in chief.
McCain also has spoken out strongly against Russia's invasion of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, using Obama's absence from the campaign trail during a Hawaiian vacation last week to take a hard line against the Russian government. His tough talk led some of Obama's foreign policy advisers to suggest McCain may have complicated the conflict.
Obama strongly condemned Russia's actions Tuesday but said U.S. involvement in Iraq had imperiled its ability to take a leadership role in the matter.
"We failed to head off this conflict and lost leverage in our ability to contain it because our leaders have been distracted, our resources overstretched, and our alliances frayed," Obama said.
The Illinois senator also praised Joe Biden, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman thought to be among the top contenders to be Obama's running mate, for calling for an additional $1 billion for reconstruction projects in Georgia.
LatinLover
Wow now hot shot tells mccain to becareful because he dosent know what he is up against. clearly this guy is arrogant and thinks his the . it seems that they didnt learn a thing from hillarys failure, when she became to arrogant and thought she was going to win it all. now we see obama doing the same. im going to laugh when president mccain moves the white house.
Clovis
I'm going to laugh too. Americans deserve McCain.
The17sss
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
Wow now hot shot tells mccain to becareful because he dosent know what he is up against. clearly this guy is arrogant and thinks his the . it seems that they didnt learn a thing from hillarys failure, when she became to arrogant and thought she was going to win it all. now we see obama doing the same. im going to laugh when president mccain moves the white house.
Quite comical indeed. What is John McCain's depth of experience in terms of fear? He was shot down and was a POW for 5 years. Obama's been coddled and living a charmed life having everyone tell him how special he is... and he actually believes it. But buyers remorse is setting in among the public as he dances around every issue in a convoluted manner and nuances to death every answer to serious questions he gets, when he actually gets them. He can't stand being criticized.
Krypton
Obama4dawin
hardcore trancer
Hey Latin wtf are you gonna do if Obama wins this election?will you move to Israel?I think you should to be honest you ll love it there.:)
Lebezniatnikov
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
Wow now hot shot tells mccain to becareful because he dosent know what he is up against. clearly this guy is arrogant and thinks his the . it seems that they didnt learn a thing from hillarys failure, when she became to arrogant and thought she was going to win it all. now we see obama doing the same. im going to laugh when president mccain moves the white house.
Learn to read what's in black and white and not make up stuff to fit between the lines.
Capitalizt
Latin, people like you make me ashamed and embarrassed to have ever considered myself a republican. Your blind love of the neocons makes me gag.
LatinLover
When president Mccain moves to the white house its going to be the happiest day in america. i forsee a gret president that will solve all of americas challenges. we should look forward for 4 years with peace with president mccain.
Krypton
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
When president Mccain moves to the white house its going to be the happiest day in america. i forsee a gret president that will solve all of americas challenges. we should look forward for 4 years with peace with president mccain.
Peace? Bull...
hardcore trancer
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
When president Mccain moves to the white house its going to be the happiest day in america. i forsee a gret president that will solve all of americas challenges. we should look forward for 4 years with peace with president mccain.
lol man you crack me up.:haha: :haha:
peace?solving "all" of American challenges?is he like a Jesus figure to you?:nervous:
I think people like you shouldnt be allowed to vote in the first place.
Clovis
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
When president Mccain moves to the white house its going to be the happiest day in america. i forsee a gret president that will solve all of americas challenges. we should look forward for 4 years with peace with president mccain.
