BARACK OBAMA

Why Was Obama's Visit to Landstuhl and Ramstein Canceled?

The argument I'm getting from some readers over Obama's is that "Bush was very busy putting kinks in Obama's trip. Bush banned State Department Officials from attending Obama's speech."

"Bush" didn't; the State Department decided, with no real precedent for these circumstances, that U.S. diplomatic employees should not be seen at the event lest it be construed as an endorsement. We can argue about whether that's too strict, but I don't think it's unreasonable to argue that if you're overseas on the government's dime, you probably shouldn't be showing up at partisan political rallies.

Anyway, once again in the campaign, we've got the left hand of the Obama campaign not knowing what the further left hand is doing.

"We learned from the Pentagon last night that the visit would be viewed instead as a campaign event," the adviser, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, said in a statement. "Senator Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors perveived as a campaign event when his visit was to show his appreciation for our troops and decided instead not to go."

This makes it sound like the Pentagon registered the objection. But the initial statement from Obama's spokesman didn't mention any objection from the Pentagon, and that Obama himself had decided it would be inappropriate.

Gibbs said the stop was canceled because Obama decided "it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign."

But most importantly, note this report from MSNBC:

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama's representatives were told, "he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers." In addition, Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama's visit."

The mention of the "no campaign officials" rule is interesting in light of yesterday's report, in which someone familiar with the situation told me that rule was the main sticking point in the cancellation of the trip.

Guess who was stationed at Ramstein Air Base from 1990 to 1992? And who also served as director of the Plans and Policy Directorate at U.S. European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany?

I had just noticed a kink in Horus' story. He said it was the Pentagon who decided against the trip. If he were honest, he would have added, "according to the Obama campaign".

It's clear to any rational human being that Barack Hussein Obama put a visit to wounded troops on his itinerary. At some point, Barack Hussein Obama decided those troops weren't worth this time, and felt more time with the Europeans were in order.

No doubt you'll suffer the ominous negative rating from Horus, and we'll have to sit through more excuses and escapes from facts and reality from Horus and his ilk.

HST-libertarian:

BARACK OBAMA

Why Was Obama's Visit to Landstuhl and Ramstein Canceled?

The argument I'm getting from some readers over Obama's is that "Bush was very busy putting kinks in Obama's trip. Bush banned State Department Officials from attending Obama's speech."

Note that I did NOT make that argument...FYI.

"Bush" didn't; the State Department decided, with no real precedent for these circumstances, that U.S. diplomatic employees should not be seen at the event lest it be construed as an endorsement. We can argue about whether that's too strict, but I don't think it's unreasonable to argue that if you're overseas on the government's dime, you probably shouldn't be showing up at partisan political rallies.

An abridgement of their rights, IMO. And suggestive of what the author has already denied, that the Bush Administration (of which the State Department is part, of course) was trying to play down the event as much as possible.

Anyway, once again in the campaign, we've got the left hand of the Obama campaign not knowing what the further left hand is doing.

"We learned from the Pentagon last night that the visit would be viewed instead as a campaign event," the adviser, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, said in a statement. "Senator Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors perveived as a campaign event when his visit was to show his appreciation for our troops and decided instead not to go."

This makes it sound like the Pentagon registered the objection. But the initial statement from Obama's spokesman didn't mention any objection from the Pentagon, and that Obama himself had decided it would be inappropriate.

Irrelevant. No reason why he should say so off the bat, probably wanted to avoid sounding like he was blaming the Pentagon. Only when these silly partisan attacks came did he feel the need to elaborate.

Gibbs said the stop was canceled because Obama decided "it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign."

But most importantly, note this report from MSNBC:

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama's representatives were told, "he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers." In addition, Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama's visit."

Hmm, nice unattributed quote there. I'm sure it's true, too...

The mention of the "no campaign officials" rule is interesting in light of yesterday's report, in which someone familiar with the situation told me that rule was the main sticking point in the cancellation of the trip.

Guess who was stationed at Ramstein Air Base from 1990 to 1992? And who also served as director of the Plans and Policy Directorate at U.S. European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany?

Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, current policy adviser to the Obama campaign.

And your point is....?

Link

--Senator Obama going through a Military Hospital, doing the same motions that ALL other politicians do....

Or,

--Senator Obama speaking in front of thousands of adoring European fans and sycophants?

Yes, it would have been nice for him to visit the troops, but that is not what this trip is about.

StanH:

I had just noticed a kink in Horus' story. He said it was the Pentagon who decided against the trip. If he were honest, he would have added, "according to the Obama campaign".

I said no such thing. I cited an Obama campaign statement that the Pentagon had opposed the trip. You feebly attempt to impugn my honesty, but I made it clear that I was citing a statement, and included the link. Again, you're lying, Stan.

It's clear to any rational human being that Barack Hussein Obama put a visit to wounded troops on his itinerary. At some point, Barack Hussein Obama decided those troops weren't worth this time, and felt more time with the Europeans were in order.

It's clear to me that that's NOTHING but partisan hogwash, and shows that you're not interested in the truth, but only in repeating the same old talking points. Again, dishonest.

No doubt you'll suffer the ominous negative rating from Horus, and we'll have to sit through more excuses and escapes from facts and reality from Horus and his ilk.

I do tend to give negative ratings to bad posts, and yours is certainly one. But then MOST of your posts are bad, aren't they, Stanley? Reality just isn't your strong suit.

Molehill regardless. The Grand Oil Party better have better plan.

McSames best bet was to hold the Rev. Wright stuff until October.... but too late now! LOL

This is the only source I can find which supports the reporting on MSNBC. They don't have it posted on their website yet. There are quotes directly attributed to Obama's campaign strategist Robert Gibbs.

<link>

Barack Obama's campaign issued a statement last night explaining that it canceled its planned visit to wounded American troops in Germany because the Department of Defense expressed concerns that it might appear overly political.

"We learned from the Pentagon last night that the visit would be viewed instead as a campaign event," said retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration, a top Obama military adviser. "Sen. Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors perceived as a campaign event when his visit was to show his appreciation for our troops and decided instead not to go.”

After the story first broke yesterday, Obama adviser Robert Gibbs made no mention of the role of the Department of Defense in their decision making.

"The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign," Gibbs said initially.

UPDATE: My colleague Carrie Budoff Brown, traveling with Obama, sends over more information from a briefing ofered by Gibbs:

Senior strategist Robert Gibbs said the visit to the military hospital in Germany had been in the works for about three weeks, with Gration serving as the campaign's contact with the Pentagon.

The Pentagon cleared the Obama plan to land at the base on either July 15 or 16, Gibbs said. The plane needed the clearance because of restrictions on landing nonmilitary aircraft there, he said.

But then on Wednesday, Gration told Obama aides that the Pentagon had informed him that the visit could be viewed as a campaign stop.

"They cited a regulation," Gibbs said of their point of contact, described as legislative affairs in the office of the secretary.

"We believed that based on the information we received that any presence, even his own and only his own, would get into a back and forth on whether his own presence was a campaign event," Gibbs said.

Obama decided on the flight Wednesday from Tel Aviv to Berlin not to visit the hospital.

Asked why he believed the Pentagon would clear the visit, then raised questions about it, Gibbs declined to speculate: "I don't know what to make of it."

Asked whether he thought the Pentagon set up the campaign for a political embarrassment, Gibbs said no.

HennaRinse:

This is the only source I can find which supports the reporting on MSNBC. They don't have it posted on their website yet. There are quotes directly attributed to Obama's campaign strategist Robert Gibbs.

<link>

Obama camp says Pentagon nixed troop visit

Barack Obama's campaign issued a statement last night explaining that it canceled its planned visit to wounded American troops in Germany because the Department of Defense expressed concerns that it might appear overly political.

"We learned from the Pentagon last night that the visit would be viewed instead as a campaign event," said retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration, a top Obama military adviser. "Sen. Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors perceived as a campaign event when his visit was to show his appreciation for our troops and decided instead not to go.”

After the story first broke yesterday, Obama adviser Robert Gibbs made no mention of the role of the Department of Defense in their decision making.

"The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign," Gibbs said initially.

UPDATE: My colleague Carrie Budoff Brown, traveling with Obama, sends over more information from a briefing ofered by Gibbs:

Senior strategist Robert Gibbs said the visit to the military hospital in Germany had been in the works for about three weeks, with Gration serving as the campaign's contact with the Pentagon.

The Pentagon cleared the Obama plan to land at the base on either July 15 or 16, Gibbs said. The plane needed the clearance because of restrictions on landing nonmilitary aircraft there, he said.

But then on Wednesday, Gration told Obama aides that the Pentagon had informed him that the visit could be viewed as a campaign stop.

"They cited a regulation," Gibbs said of their point of contact, described as legislative affairs in the office of the secretary.

"We believed that based on the information we received that any presence, even his own and only his own, would get into a back and forth on whether his own presence was a campaign event," Gibbs said.

Obama decided on the flight Wednesday from Tel Aviv to Berlin not to visit the hospital.

Asked why he believed the Pentagon would clear the visit, then raised questions about it, Gibbs declined to speculate: "I don't know what to make of it."

Asked whether he thought the Pentagon set up the campaign for a political embarrassment, Gibbs said no.

So you are using an Obama campaign official to rebut MSNBC and you think we should take you seriously? LOL...