CNN

The McSame campaign is totally in reaction mode. Unable to shake the Bush legacy, caught in the middle of trying to appease the conservatives and maintain his phony "maverick" image, McSame can only attack Obama with weak jabs.

Senator McCain should be stoned for even having the hypocrisy to question Senator Obama's dedication to our Veterans and the troops.

Look at the voting records.

McCain is a sham and his supporter willfully blind to his callousness regarding our vets and common citizens. They are also blind to his apparent ineptitude and limited intellect.

John McCain is not fit to hold the office of President of The United States of America by even the wildest stretch. If this disorganized, visionless, and dim candidate is all we can have then repeal the 22nd amendment and just keep Bush, his level of competence and command of issues far exceeds Senator McCain's.

This campaign has made it perfectly clear why Bush defeated McCain in 2000. The Senator is dangerously incapable.

Another case where Obama can't win. If he went to the military hospital, the right would say it was just a photo op for the presidential campaign and he doesn't really care about the troops.
If he doesn't go, he is criticized as not caring about the troops.

Nobody seems to be talking directly about the issue, so here it is.
Obama was told by the Pentagon that he was welcome to visit the hospital, but that he could not bring the media with him. So, without the media along to photograph the event, Obama saw no political gain and cancelled. Period.

The Pentagon wouldn't have had a problem with Obama visiting and talking with the troops in the Hospital if he could have done it like most Congressman and Presidents have done in the past....without a throng of press, cameras and campagn staff. If he made the decision that there was no value in that, well that was his decision. I'm sure many of the troops would have liked to have seen him.

Yep, Obama went to Germany and made a speech. That sure qualifies him to be President. He can't start with zero experience in foreign affairs and expect that one trip checks off the box. It takes years to understand the issues , cultures, and people. Years Obama hasn't put in. Come back in 10 years, and maybe we could take you seriously. A free Rolling Stones concert would have drawn 200,000 people too. That doesn't mean Mick Jagger should be President.

Idiots. Say he shouldn't go and then complain when he doesn't. TYPICAL, but it won't work this time. Keep tryin'

The Pentagon shot back saying that they never told the Obama camp that it was inappropriate. ABC news has published the story...CNN is a little slow.

MCCAIN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

"the Pentagon did not explicitly say Obama should not visit the base, but was concerned with whether his capacity there would be one of a presidential candidate, not a senator.

"then Obama had determined it would be "inappropriate."

haha the whole thing was inappropriate. It was a campaign event. Period. Why else did he feel the need to "bolster his foreign experience"? If Barry was so concerned about it, then why didn't he go to Afghanistan and Pakistan (AS PLANNED) when he was on a REAL CODEL with Blayh in Jan 06? Instead Barry went to meet with Palestinians student and leaders and the Emir of Qatar (who by the way owns and operated Al-Jazeera the Arab network that receives Osama videos and airs American beheadings).

Curious isn't IT? Especially when he said Afghanistan was the reason why he SPOKE OUT OF NO CONSEQUENCE about going into Iraq. And why didn't he call any meetings regarding Afghanistan in the last two years?

HE WENT TO MAKE THE WORLD SEE HIM AS A FAUX LEADER AND FOR THE USA SEE HIM IN THE ROLE OF COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

Haha how does sinking a 3-pointer (eighth attempt) qualify him as C-in-C and lecturing Europeans qualify for anything except arrogance?

It was a campaign event. PERIOD. Wake up Barrybots. CODEL's don't take private planes (especially an official CAMPAIGN plane without an American flag.) or their official campaign staff.

And any human being - especially a potential C-in-C - intent on helping the plight of injured and maimed American men and women who are sacrificing their lives to keep his kids safe would never be stopped from seeing them. And just how do you think our courageous soldiers felt watching him speak to thousands of stranger without a vote instead of seeing them?

How much time and effort and cost (at the tax payers expense) did it take for Barry's security in his Berlin speech? Ridiculous. He could've visited them without the photo-op but what would have been the point?

Barry is a fraud. And each day he goes home and laughs at all the gullible Kool-Aid drinkers.

I know you won't post this.

Why is the oil spill in the gulf being covered up by the media? To protect mcCANE?

Casey Clark....

The current president is supposed to be focusing on the issues at home. He should be shining a spotlight on the many issues we face. The candidates are talking about 2009. GWB is the one at the helm right now.

The CNN Headline on your home page is very misleading. It says: "Pentegon Prohibits Obama Visit."

As you read the story, that is not the case at all. Obama didn't go visit the wounded soldiers because he couldn't take the press along for MORE photo ops.

CNN, and the rest of the MSM make me sick with your bias and it seems to be catching up-because your annointed one hasn't gained in the polls.

Obama didn't get his law degree in 7 days and he sure as hell isn't going to be an expert on foreign policy on a 7 day press/photo junket.

CNN WHERE IS MY POST???

Its obvious from most of these comments that most Americans are thoughtfull, sensible people, who can look beyond the color of a man's skin.
Some on the other hand, can't see nothing but "black".

Stop lying to yourselves, look beyond race to the real issues.
Your country is in a state of decline, be innovative and move in the right direction.

We are all rooting for you guys to get out of this slump, it affects us all one way or the other....most world currencies are pegged to the dollar!!!

CNN- Maybe if you did your headlines in an honest manner, not twisted and misleading you would get more intelligent responses.Honestly, CNN, I don't know what you're becoming.

Open your eyes, "this hardworking public servant Obama" he only when to this trip for the PHOTOS of HIMSELF to GIVE IT TO CNN, NYT TM, ETC ETC. he is only an empty PHOTOGRAPH on a trip.
With no experice on International world.
Photographs of his trip is not experiece for being president of the USA.

McCain long life experiece, a greait president to be!

Help us by contributing your images and text to TheObamaLibrary.com

Bad move barry. Always see our troops that are sacrificing their lives. Your Berlin speech could have been cancelled for all I am concerned. I saw more flags, bumper stickers, and campaign memorabilia to say you were campaigning there.

You could have visited the troops in private w/o cameras. I guess he always wants to have the spotlight.

Obama is an arrogant idiot. Plain and simple. He has no respect for anyone but himself.

People please, don't undue all the the good rep Obama just made with the rest of the world by acting like the ignorant fools they think we have been for the last 8 years.
Now listen carefully.
If Obama would've went to the visit the troops with no staff, naked and invisible, the press would've still been there.
Couple that with the vague (how many differing statements have we recieved from the Pentagon now since yesterday?) advice by the Pentagon, how can you question his decision?
He erred on the side of not politicizing the event of going to see the wounded troops.
Are all of you Obama haters really that daft?

What was he afraid he might have to actually touch someone? That is just plain rediculous. Our tax dollars and his campaign funds are both being used for this trip. He should have gone to visit our wounded veterans. This guy is showing his true colors more and more each day.

Bunch of high school sissies jealous about the Rising Super Star of the World... nothing else
OBAMA (2008 -16)

this administration,Mcliar, and the rest of you President Obama haters are PATHETIC

If the goal of Sen. Obama was to visit the troops without any campaing benefit, he could hae simply, quietly, and without press of campaign entourage taken his secret service detail and made a short, quiet, and meaningful visit. That he cancelled shows his goal was to have footage for a campaing add trying to depict what he is not – dediated to the militaryt and the work that they do – shame on him!

The Obamafest goes on but he's falling in the polls, now down to about 4% which is statistically insignificant.

What's happened is a great white backlash caused by CNN's and MSNBC's constant fawning over THE ONE. Keep it up boys and you'll put McCain in the White House.

Oops...I read it wrong. The Pentagon was quoted, quoted as saying that Obama's campaign is making things up. He was welcomed to visit the wounded troops but decided not to.

Again, McCain 08!

Obama stands for change. He is very creative in organising his campaign. He has been accused of not being able to cope with the world stage. He has shown you that he can. Oh, boy how presidential he looked! Very much at ease with World leaders! We no longer live in little villages. What happens in the World these days will affect us all. Obama knows that and that's why he had to introduce himself to the world. Leave the old ways behind people and look to the future. I am tired listening about the surge and the past! I like Mc Cain a lot but I find it very irresponsible of him to stand as a candidate for president. We need someone younger and who is IT smart. The country deserves the best especially in this hard time. Obama can achieve a lot for America with diplomacy! Others can only do it with bombs.

You can't win... If he visits, he ignored the pentagon and manipulated a senate trip to serve his campaigning purposes like a kniving politician would. If he doesn't, he ignores and hates our troops, is a cop-out elitist, and is a poor commander in chief. It doesn't matter what he does, the repubs are going to rail him for it either way. At least he's taking advice from the pentagon and not overstepping his bounds. right? That alone shows he'll be a better president than bush

God ! If only all the Obama-haters had scrutinize Bush like this before they voted for him a second time. Instead they are whining and crying that one of our senator and presidential candidate drew hundred thousands foreigner waving the american flag all around the world.
Shame on you, you dare calling yourselves patriots but you are along with Bush/McSame all but representing american values and ideas.

Nonsense. Obama should have fought to visit the troops. A short public statement of any Pentagon objection would have been sufficient to change their minds. But I think Obama was just as happy not to go.

Many people around the world, by Internet or Satellite have been and are watching the US canpaign for President as the US does have a lot of say in world politics. Because Barack Obama is so well spoken and thoughtful, other leaders are ready to listen to his opinions. Whether or not they agree has yet to be seen. I have watched and carefully listened to all three candidates and cannot believe those who say Obama is being favoured by the Press. Those of you who say that were not paying any attention to Glenn Beck, Fox News or even Cnn's Brown who's eyes lit up every time she latched on to anything negative she could dream up in regards to Obama. She seems to have cooled it to some extent. Barack Obama does not force those thousands of people who take the time to see him and no hired band would draw that crowd unless they were the Stones or such. You may be sure if he paid a visit to Canada he would get a different reception than McCain who sometimes smiles when it is not called for. As a Canadian we cannot vote but we can hope Americans make the right choice.

So, the US GOVERNMENT cares so much about the troops, that he stopped a Senator and Presidential Candidate from visiting them? What has this government come to? Were they afraid that it would help Obama out or what? This government is far too corrupt. Soon, Bush will sign an Executive Order delcaring that Obama cannot be seen on television or in-person for security reasons. NOT ON MY WATCH, WASHINGTON!!!

Obama '08!!!

Where is the crown???? King Obambi!

When Obama goes abroad people wave American flags when McBush goes abroad people waive protest banners. And this is what theGOP want for everyone to hate America it appears from criticizing Obama

Honorable call on Obama's part. I know "heroes" like John McCain think its Okay to get a photo-op in with wounded soldiers. McCain sent them to die for oil in the first place! How dare he criticize the man who would bring them home? McCain and Bush are just empty corporate shills.

At least Mr. Obama had the sense to abide by the pentagon's suggestion on this matter...

As to the people who STILL criticize Mr. Obama, I only have to say "did you criticize Mr. McCain's visits?"

Barack..you can't and wont please em all. Do what you think is Presidential...you are the next President of this country. Mr President!!!!

They were concerned Obama would expose the conditions these vets must live in compliments of McPhony voting against veterans all the time.

Now, in the last blog I commented on, people had an issue with Obama acting like he was already president, and he was accused of disrespecting the pentagon. Now, he is following pentagon orders and he still receives criticism. Then, some of you are drinking that same tired punch, I'm going to vote for McCain...... So...Who are you threatening. You're not threatening Obama because he will benefit from McCain's economic relief package for the rich.

Belle, if you have followed economic policies you would have understood that the policies supported by McCain have us in this economic turmoil that we are currently in. We are fighting this war on American tax dollars.... Hmmm... McCain cannot possibly balance the budget by implementing tax cuts for the rich.

If Barak wanted to show the voters that he could in fact command the world stage he has been hugely successful. 200,000 in Berlin. We need change in this country and we also need to act like a world leader. Barak is going to bring back the swagger that we once had in the US. He's willing to meet and listen to leaders of other countries. He's willing to be a moral leader. McCain is going to be out of political bullets very soon, he already wants to identify his VP to steal the spot light. What on earth will he have left this fall to grab the spot light. Barak Obama will be the next President of the United States. Most importantly, the view of the US will change over night. Thank God!

If he doesn't take the advice of the Pentagon, they blast him. If he takes the advice of the Pentagon, they blast him.
Sounds like you just can't make the Republicans happy no matter what you do. Maybe that's their problem; they're just an unhappy group. Wait until they lose in November; they'll be even less happy.

Jealousy is all!! All these people ranting about Obama's trip are tripping because Old Dead Eyes McCain couldn't get 2000 to attend a speech anywhere in the world. Wasn't he in Europe earlier this year without as much of wimper from anyone???

well i see the trolls are out in full force today. are these the talking points you picked up from mccain's website? ya know, the page that gives you tips on what to write about on message boards?

Obama will say and do anything to be president.... even pretend he is and take a workd tour...

Shameful and a clear display of an egomaniac...

Cant wait till he accepts his party's nomination... now that they found a stadium big enough for his ego.

NO Obama in 2008... we just cant afford another inexperienced president.

Here is the new name for the republicain candiate: McShame.... this guy is too old to get elected as president of the United Sates.

Write it down: Obama will be the next president of america. I am white but I like this guy.

ZOMG!!! obama hates the troops!!!

geez you sheeple are so G-U-L-L-I-B-L-E!!!!!!!!!!!

mccain in flames '08

OK CNN, I see that the media is not going to apologize for printing the untruth. But somehow the media has put the blame on the Obama Campaign, Everyone knows that Obama is not the President we need not be reminded. All of you are like Pres. Bush @1 said, "you are just jealous."

Strange how the white house and pentagon are trying to run something they are not even paying for.

You people have got tobe kidding me! It is quite clear that if Obama had gone you would have cried foul and claimed he was using the troops for political purposes when he decides that he doesn't want to make that impression and does not visit the hospital you cry foul. This is how Republicans and to some extent the Democrats have ruined the political process. Instead of talking substance we just look for things to hit the other guy with.

SO many people say the media is biased towards Obama. I certainly don't see it that way. He may get more coverage but 80% of it seems to always have a negative over or undertone. If they could critisize the way he breathes they would. (i.e. Is Obama taking too many big breathes robbing others of oxygen?) This is how stupid and petty the criticisms of this fantastic person have become. There is definately a double standard. The things McCain does and says would be intolerable if Obama did them.

obama obama obama we are kinda getting sick of all the coverage! You would think he was a KING> you guys have rolled out the red carpet for this candidate, the coverage is astonishing. I would be mad if I were Mccain.The bias is overwhelming and I dont want either of them! I will vote for HC cause this is just one big political photoshoot.

Another demonstration of bad judgment from Obama.

He could have arranged a low key visit with no Media but NOOOOOOOOOOO, with him everything has to be a publicity stunt.

to 57 States – Why do you have a problem with "proud army and navy mom?" I'm sure she has done more for our country than you could ever contribute. She has two kids serving our country; shouldn't she be concern about who our next President will be? Don't you think she should be concern about her kids being in Iraq for the next hundred years. Or, should she not be concern that we have a candidate who does not support an increase in military benefits, should ( her child becomes injured or kill (we pray no harm comes to them). You ask whether she has a job or not? What business is it of yours; I didn't see where she asked you for anything. You really pissed me off; you have no right to attack a mother who have two kids serving this nation. Actually, you sound like you have never served. Please, do us all a favor and stick to the subject of this article. You are entitled to your opinions about Senators Obama and McCain, however, you are not entitled to bash a military mother.

As for comments on the above subject, Senator Obama and his staff has run a brilliant campaign. Just imagine the strength of his administration once he becomes President of the United States!

I can hardly wait!!

Black 35 year old male for McCain July 25th, 2008 12:19 pm ET

Obama demanded a photo op with the wounded and the military declined. Pure and simple. Obama is following the same track as Hitler. The putsch will fail thought
_______________________

You are simply stupid sir. Simply stupid. Hitler???

Go on back to the big house and hang out there dude.

You know I'm sick of reading some of these blogs that bash BO on any and everything he does. McCain himself said that BO hasn't been to Iraq in years and encouraged that he go and when he goes over McCain is still bashing him because he thought Obama will "slip up" in some way, he can't have it both ways and as for Obama being treated like a rock star don't blame him for the media following behind him all the time. Obama has changed the way a lot of people including myself look at politics. This is the first time in my life that I have been so excited about an upcoming election and I'm 39 years old. I have a 19 year old daughter that will be voting for the very first time and she along with a lot of her college friends are excited about what Obama will and can do for us. McCain knows that he is in for a battle and the only way he think he can win is if he continues to bad mouth Obama every chance he gets, but it won't work!

I just do not understand why people become angry without even knowing the whole truth. The pentagon did not tell him not to go. They told him he could not make a circus of his visit. He could not bring the cameras and the press into the hospital. He chose not to go. It was his choice not there. He was just adviced not to campaign there. Why should he???? This isn't primetime this is real life. By the way why is he overseas anyway. We have so much here he can focus on. He acts as if he was the president already. Buddy do not get to ahead of yourself. Only god know what will happen in NOV 4th. Do not count your chickens before they have hatched.

Well that takes the wind right out of the sails, doesn't it. Watch the republicians spin that one......

This channel needs to be changed to ONN, Obama News Network.

No matter how much you try to force this beanstalk down my throat, I still won't swallow.

The best man for the job is in Chappaqua.

Dammed if he do dammed if he don’t if he would have gone he would have not doubt been accused of political posturing....

Hey he missed the visit to the POPE – don't all ROCK STARS visit the POPE – he is very arrogant – this was not a fact finding mission this ws a spot to sell americans he can handle foreign affairs – do not get me wrong I am voting for him – but just because I have to I am a dem – but I agree with the college kid statement – this ws a mistake – I am surprised the King – Cornated by the media and some actually calling the Messiah – He is prophetic – I really had an african american woman tell me that – ONLY HAS A FOUR POINT LEAD – okay now

I have heard the question asked many times and have yet to see anyone answer....but "Can any of you Obamabots name one accomplishment of the Senator" (besides being black)

Who in the Pentagon oppossed the trip. This is just the coverup. Well all Anti-Obama e-mails make sense......you crazii supporters of this guy was calling Hillary Clinton evertying but a child of God.....It hurst huh......whatever PUMA

This another case of "Be careful what you wish for". McBush thought by goading Obama into this trip he would succeed but that has miserably backfired. McBush has been sputtering all week...committing gaffes. Perhaps to become our next president he needs to purchase a copy of "Geography for Dummies" asap!

Based on political and personal blogs from the past 1+ years, THE PENTAGON SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OBAMA VISIT ANYWHERE.

Pray For him EVERYDAY.....

OBAMA 08/12

Based on political and personal blogs from the past 1+ years, THE PENTAGON SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OBAMA VISIT ANYWHERE.

Pray or him EVERYDAY.....

OBAMA 08/12

The real reason is the pentagon and coward George W Bush does not want the world's media following Obama reporting young servicemen and women missing limbs.

I dont know how Bush sleeps at night, seriously. He has caused so much pain and suffering around the world.

Will – you use the word "hard working" for the senator who missed the most votes as a state senator, and nearly the most as a US senator....you say he listened to the Pentagon. No, the Pentagon had no trouble with the visit IF he left the media behind. But since he couldn't have a photo op, Obama said to hell with the injured troops – if it won't help him get elected, why go see some people in a hospital.....

Obama is an empty suit who's utter lack of experience and ability is very much the same as our current president when he took office. Both Bush and Obama would say or do anything to be elected.

When it comes to principles, John McCain votes his conscience, often says things that are unpopular to his party, and is obviously willing to DIE for his country....Obama isn't even willing to visit hospitalized vets for his country....unless there is a camera there to capture the picture.......

Craig

This is the same pentagon that parked Army tanks and such outside the republican convention and said that was not political.

bush and mccain tied together again

Of course, they would have pilloried him if he'd gone. Absolutely. One word for this fake outrage: transparent.

John McCain is still trying to fire up his wingnut base.

"some of these Anti-Obama emails make no sense"

He is blatantly campaigning on this trip – he told reporters he wasn't – that is a lie. What part of that don't you follow?

Everyone here relizes that the obama campaign said this, right. Oh....I guess it's true then. The pentagon refused..right. I've been to LARMC. They have senators in there all the time visting troops. Just no cameras. Sorry, no photo op for Obama. I guess he'd rather go work out......pathetic.

Again here we go YOU BETTER GET TO KNOW THE LAWS PERTAINING TO ELECTIONS AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
yES THERE IS SUCH A THING AND OBAMA IS A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE SO HE HAS TO BE EXTRA CAREFULL OF ALL
OF THE LAWS..........................................THANK YOU

Proof positive that McCain is intent on criticizing whatever Sen. Obama does. He listened to the General and did not want to politicize a trip to a hospital as he was with his campaign people. What's wrong with that? Had he not respected the General's concerns, he would have been labeled arrogant and presumptious. Whatever, McCain. You have become a joke.

Policy for visiting Senators who are also in a campaign for office, as I understand it, is to not allow the senator to bring any of his campaign staff — only one Senate staffer and security. He also would not have been able to address the media or make any campaign-related statements. Now why would Sen. Obama not want to take that opportunity? Maybe it would not get him the media coverage that he has had with the rest of his visit in Europe. Thanking the troops is not a priority for the senator who wants to be their Commander and Chief.

The Pentagon did not want Mr. Obama to see the damage they have caused to our young men in women in this awful, god forsaking war. He is not ignoring our wounded, he was advised not to go. Also, the right-wingers are so hateful; there is just no pleasing the right; so why try. They've had 8 years and look at us now.

I've never read such hateful mail on these blogs. McCain attacks, his supporters attack, Bush, Rice and now the Pentagon has politized all of this. Obama was critizied for not going to Europe and the Middle East; now he's there and critized more. Only this year is a different year. Change is in the air, I can sense it.

Obama 08

Yep, find anything and everything to criticize Obama on. It doesn't matter that he visits wounded soliders and veterans in America, visited wounded troups in Iraq, and it certainly doesn't matter what the Pentagon advised Obama. Just criticize Obama anyway, right? McCain criticizes Obama for not going oversees, and when he goes, McCain and right wing radicals continue to criticize Obama. Truly pathetic. Stay the course Senator Obama. The majority of American people support you.

Obama 08

for all those who insist that "He could have gone without the press" are you kidding me or are you just stupid, in an media age like this when the president of the US is caught on a CELL PHONE video telling the audience that wall street is drunk, there are ALWAYS CAMERAS!! even when you think it is safe, what if he goes and a cell phone YOUTUBE vid comes out....you don't take the risk when you are in the public eye at this magnitued....everyone will have a problem with it saying he doesn't listen to advisers...just shut up and THINK.....

to "proud army and navy mom"

listen you moron, have you been paying attention??? He planned to visit them and was ORDERED by Bush and the Pentagon NOT TO GO!!!!

you can't hold this agains Obama....why do you think the trip was on his agenda in the first place. get a clue.

Barack is getting all the bad press possible. No one in power or seeking to replay the existing policies is interested in what Sen. Obama is cooking. They are totally turning up their noses.

Its hard to believe we have some many uneducated, senseless americans. I have people at work that will be voting for McCain. Needless to say I really wonder what they're thinking.

I'm shocked. How come so many americans want to continue the current policies? How come I'm missing the benefits of what the republicans are doing for these americans? I don't see it

If america elect John MaCain as president I have no problem he is a good person, but make sure to give abosolute majority to democrats in congress and I mean 67 vote in senate, and defeat all that special interest Republican senator.who still believe in deregulation and think that rise in oil price is supply and demand.

How low will the Bush pentagon and the McCain people stoop. Now they are playing politics with the men they injured. And to top it off – they cause the problem and then try to blame Obama. Typical of the way McCain works – it is always someone elses fault, whether it is Keating or His wifes drug use. The McCains never play fair, or honestly.

It's amazing, the man can do no right by some people. First, it's he doesn't understand the costs of war, he's inexperienced, blah blah blah. Then he makes an attempt to visit wounded soldiers and the Pentagon doesn't think it's a good idea. What better way to understand the human costs than to visit our troops. I swear, no matter what he does there will be someone on the side criticizing.

You libs are ignorant sometimes. He could have gone–the Pentagon said he couldn't turn it into a photo op. So Obama then decided not to go. Please learn the facts before spouting off.

The Pentagon is wrong on this call. If others can visit the troops, Barack Obama ought to be able to do so as well. Every politician who has made these trips has done it to promote a political agenda, or for fact finding in order to strengthen their political agendas-especially George Bush the most ardent photo op seeker next to Rumsfeld-remember him????? Chaney's long time friend and cohort in starting an Iraq war..

IT LOOKS LIKE MCBLAME DIDNT EVEN KNOW THE POLICIES THE WAY HE WAS BAD MOTHING OBAMA FOR NOT GOING.

ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK........THATS ALL HES GOOD FOR

MCCAIN NEEDS TO HAVE A REALITY CHECK

I want to puke. The Obama campaign must think the entire American public are total idiots if they think noone sees this as a political trip to bolster the impression that the senator has any international credibilty or experience. And the drive by media plays along with him. Why would a U.S. senator NOT want to visit a hospital if this was not, as purported, a political trip. Especially if he wanted to get the views of service men and woman so he could get a real world understanding.

If you are familiar with the "Left Behind" series, Obama, our citizen of the world,is being held out as the global savior....oh for pete sake...save me from this tripe from the Obama campaign

I want everyone to know even if Obama loses which i'm starting to believe more and more that he will lose because the ignorance of the people in this Country has been glorified and the intellect thrown under the bus, he has reminded us all of how a President could and should be, a statesman who is all inclusive, gives it to America straight, a World leader, a grasp of all issues not an expert but an keen understanding, humble and consistent. After all has been said and done we will have had a crash course in how to be a President and run a Country the right way.
America has been so "dumbed down" that they can't even see in the least what a great leader this man would be, America now thinks our leader should be "hawks" and "war mongers"..truly sad we were never like this before Bush 2.
This Country will get exactly what it deserves if they elect McCain. I dont care how much so called experience this man has, he is so unstable.

Obama had YEARS to visit all the troops abroad, he chose not to grace them with his rock star presence.

Now he wants to do nothing more than a photo-op & all the kool aid drinkers are blaming the pentagon's refusal on McCain.

That is what you call disrespect to our troops.

Obama's showing his true intentions. He decides not to visit our wounded troops after deeming that his trip would be construed as a tasteless political stunt.

Oshama could have quietly arranged a visit to our wounded heroes in the military hospitals.

Par for the course for another typical politician.

Dear Proud Army & Navy Mom:

Sen. Obama DID NOT ignore our Troops in Germany, he was not allowed to visit them, BECAUSE THE MILITARY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT HAVE A CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN THERE.

"Proud Army & Navy Mom" I have read your comments which are very insightful each day, please check your facts, before you choose to vote for McCain. I know that you have been supporting Obama, I hope that you will continue. There is a lot of misinformation in the media, be careful. And God bless your children for serving and may they be safe!

To all you PUMA, ex-HRC supporters/Obama haters.....all your lame arse excuses have been exhausted and you STLL have a problem with Obama?

The bottom line, however quietly kept, is this......racism is alive and well in the USA.......why don't you guys just take off the hooded sheets and get with the program.

OBAMA '08/,'12

McCain is a senile old fool!

McCain supporters (Rabid Pit Bulls). This is getting really ridiculous.
You posters saying you wont vote for Sen. Obama NOW aren't fooling anybody. You never would have. You know it. I know it. So cut it out.
It is BS. Have you apologized to your country yet for supporting Bush?
Has the GOP admitted they made a mistake in starting a war on GWB's lies? No you have not. No they have not. Will you participate in the destruction of your country to avoid apologizing? Yes you will.
There is a psychiatric condition called Megalomania.
What it means is: The need to make someone else feel small in order to make yourself feel big. It is a lack of self esteem issue.
It would seem that some GOPers have an incureable case of it.

"Pride goeth before the fall " and "The love of money is the root of all evil".
Still true after all these years.

Can you Obamabots not read (probably not considering), he COULD have done this, but he REFUSED when he was not allowed to bring his whole entourage as that is the PROTOCOL.

You people are so mesmerized that you can't do any research.

When he was denied his whole posse going with him, HE REFUSED TO DO IT.

TO 57 states

You are a flaming idiot. I am an executive secretary and quite wealthy. I am also a voice for some of the young men and ladies who are currently serving in the military, so your dumb behind can be free.

Liz your ignorance is showing. Obama has paid for advertising which is why you see his ad. It has nothing to do with shares of CNN. You should probably get a grip, do some research and THEN post comments! The Black in America special was in rememberence of MLK. It has been 40 years!

So now the McCain flacks want to criticize Obama for complying with the wishes of the Pentagon in canceling his visit.

If he had gone ahead with it, they would have criticized him for ignoring the views of the military. Hypocrisy? Yes! Predictable? Absolutely!

The really troubling thing is that the Pentagon is so politicized that they would seek to frustrate Obama's intentions. Does anyone seriously think that they would have done the same thing to McCain?

When Obama takes office, there will be A LOT of house-cleaning to be done. Maybe he should start with the senior military who have aided and abetted the crimes of the Bush administration.

You people at the pentagon are a bunch of liars. Don't make the suggestion if you really didn't care if Obama visited the service personel in Germany. He wasn't going to make a speech or to campaign he was going to see the wounded, this govt makes me sick.

Obama

Belle.....and if you actually believe McCain that he will balance the budget after the first term...then I got some really lush farmland in Alaska to sell you. Interested?

Bush – McCain's political mentor – is once again politicizing our American military and government in another desperate Republican/Rove attempt to hoodwink the American public.

What's worse is that the mainstream media goes along with it, publishing with objectionable and unfounded headlines before verifying the facts.

No Bush Third Term!

Casey
nobushthirdterm.com

The pentagon expressed concerns that the trip to the military base would be viewed as a campaign trip? The whole trip was a campaign trip. No one could doubt that. Did anyone see any other Senators on the trip making public speeches in these countries? Do senators typically invite that much media to travel with them abroad. The media is reporting that John McCain did not invite the number of reporters when he went on his non-campaign trip and nor do other senators when making these fact finding trips. Why did Obama? Only one reason. We have all witnessed how the media has apready appointed him president – his actions show he is believing it too.

RSR, you are a racist, prejudice IDIOT! You represent exactly the kind of backward thinking America is trying to rid itself of. I hope you get a clue before you die, or before you perpetrate your ignorant beliefs on the next generation. Obama is an American, who was born here. He has ethnic descent from abroad, but tell me who doesn't? Where are your ancestors from? Oh ya, wasn't the trip planned, and then changed because of the Pentagon's concerns? Maybe you should pick the actual culprit of the canceled trip, not the individual who put it on there itinerary. I can't believe people like you still exist. And, because of people like you, America is more ignorant and intolerant.

I will be so happy when this W administration is out, so we can have some normalcy to show what of the USA is all about. This is just another republican attempt to hide the truth from the American public

McBush should give a speech in Berlin next month in the same spot. How many people do you think will show up?

Well, its about time the office of President of the United States is respected once again around the world. God knows Bush is a complete joke and hated by people worldwide....and who can blame them. The lying piece of crap deceived everyone into starting an illegal war that has killed over 4,000 of our finest. John McCain?? Not even worth any further comment. Barack Obama is the only choice to return pride and respect to the office.

The Republicans, along with the White House tried everything to put stumbling blocks in Senator Obama's way this whole trip and none of it work. He looked absolutely Presidential. Even McCain's feeble attempts to throw jabs looked pathetic and desperate. George Bush Sr said all that needed to be said...he is jealous!!! Did anyone enjoy seeing McLoser squirm as he tried to get Bush Sr away from the camera as he talked favorably about Obama. That was soooooo hilarious!!!

It was McCain's idea for Obama to go to Iraq. Obama's trip was his political loss to make. If he was not well received in the world, he would have been proclaimed as too inexperienced to serve the country. If he became too cozy in Europe, he would have been considered a man too distant from our ideals.

He was walking a tightrope with the press watching him from every corner. This trip was likely to detriment his prospects if he made any substantial mistake. The logical approach is to deter on the safe side. Understandably, he tried to address the concerns of the pentagon with the hospital visit.

If he did go into that hospital, he would have direct contact with his electorate, defeating his point that it was not a political trip by definition. This would have put to question his bounds as a senator.

With all these potential pitfalls, I think Obama is doing well on his overseas trip. It was bold, ambitious, and some may argue presumptuous, but it I feel it is absolutely necessary to prove his abilities as a potential commander and chief.

A people get the kind of leadership they deserve. Present-day America with its arrogant, evil anti-human rights policies deserve the likes of Geoorge Bush and 4 more years of his clone Mccaine. We await another 4 more years of decline in American influence, power and moral authority around the world. We know that just like in 2004, their narrow mindedness will not allow them to do the right thing and restore their dignity and standing in the international community.

Judgement? Iraq/Pakistan border, Iran sending in Al Queida, the surge before the surge, the Sunni awakening, Czechoslovakia, cheating on his crippled wife with Cindy, not knowing Cindy had a drug problem for 2 years, not knowing Cindy had a pilot's license, hiring Phil Gramm as his top economic advisor, never learning how to use a computer, admitting to knowing nothing about the economy, saying his opponent wants to lose a war, locking up his own mother because she said she hates Mitt Romney because he is a mormon, calling Cindy a c*&^, telling other congressmen to shut the F^%$# up on the Senate floor, having a horrible temper. Judgment? This is just a small list of McCain's judgement. You decide.

CNN, remember how the Administration fired the Attorney’s who did not do their politically inspired bidding. I would be interested to find out if the present Administration pushed out Generals and Commanders who leaned Democrat?

This is what really happened. Obama got his clearance from the Pentagon to visit the base. He was only allowed to bring a couple of aides and no cameras. This has been military rule for since the beginning of time. Because no cameras were to be allowed his campaign swiftly cancelled the visit because it would be no use to them without pictures or footage. It had nothing to do with the Pentagon folks. It was only Obama's need to politicize the event which got in the way. By the way, Obama's speech in front of 200,000... Know how they got that many folks there??? 2 free rock concerts, free beer, and free food. They weren't there for Obama. Something the AP won't report truthfully. From the mouth of Obama are those famous studdered words "umm, umm, ah, "silence", then more um, duh, ah, ummm. If this clown doesn't read from a tele prompter he's rendered a person of average intelligence.
GOD HELP US....

the republicans are using my name to endorse Mcidiot. there's only one proud army and navy mom. And I am for Sen Obama 100%.

That's what the repugs do. Lowdown, underhanded creeps.

After selling out our country,as a prisoner of war, Mcshame should not be questioning anyones patriotisim

all you McCain fans are ignorant of the facts....

Bubba said,
Hasn't every other presidential candidate visited the troops? Why is it inappropriate for a black candidate?
------------------------------
What you should be asking is "WHY is it inappropriate now"?
"the campaign, received a call from Pentagon officials earlier in the week who expressed concern with the trip — specifically because Obama was heading there on his CAMPAIGN PLANE and CAMPAIGN STAFF would be accompanying him on the visit."
Making every reason something is done out to be racially motivated does not help Obama or his campaign. I am for Obama, but I am not black- and I DO think blacks in general blame everything on racial bias too frequently when none exists. I do not buy into your theory that the Pentagon expressing concern with the trip is racially motivated. When will Blacks ever get over it! They are not the only ones that have been mistreated or enslaved. They just want to make sure no one ever forgets that some ancestor they never knew had a hard life. boo hoo. They hold themselves back with trying to throw it in the faces of those who were never guilty of enslaving their ancestors and it just pisses whites off to have to listen to all this B.S. From where I stand- it is Blacks being racially biased against me and my kids. It is the Blacks getting handed benefits that don't exist for whites and still they bi-ch like a bunch of babies. GET OVER IT before it consumes you! What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger if you let it.

CNN I see that McShame is going to appear with Wolf today at 5:00pm. Are you folks going to edit the interview like CBS did to make McShame look good and not see his own FLIP-FLOPPING remarks. People go to CBS and look at the edited interview with McShame...Man what a racist company CBS. I hope CNN goes back to the way the used to report. Seems like they are now following FOX?FAUX News.

Dumbama is a disgrace.

Gorge Bush it trying to hide something. That is the reason why the Pentegon did not want Obama to visit the soldiers.

It is so obvious that the reason why the McCain supporting Pentagon didn't want photos of Senator Obama is either because if they show some of the military supporting Obama is weakens McCain or by far worse, the military has indeed become so political it wants to corrupt the election to maintain its war driven agenda. The latter is very scary.

Obama just can't win in this entire situation. If he had gone on this "fact finding" trip using American dollars, everybody would have said he was campaigning on the US money. He goes in a private plane, using his own money, and they tell him he shouldn't go to see the military hospital soldiers because that would be campaigning. If MCCain went to Germany and stopped in the military hospital, would that be campaigning? Or showing interest in our troops?

Its Obama's fault he didn't go, its Obama's fault when he goes, and he has to tread delicately or he appears to be campaigning. Yet he continues to say he is on this trip as a Senator, with two other Senators. Make up your minds, people.

McCain has criticized anything Obama has done. McCain has no campaign, just negatively commenting on what Obama does. We already have right-wing jerks like Hannity , Limbaugh and Fox news to do that. He's like a lost dog looking to follow Obama home. He's politics at it's worst. McCain thought Martin Luther King was unworthy of a holiday until he ran for president a second time (only politics). You are boring and you're like a wind-up doll who only has about 3 or 4 statements to say everytime your string is pulled. Do us all a favor and go away, we've already had two terms of incompetence. We don't want the equivalent of Bush as a flip-flopper.

The conservative talk radio hosts and bloggers, as well as McCain's spokesman Brian Rogers, are completely irrational when it comes to Barack Obama. They have a total hang-up with him and are not willing to give him or Michelle Obama the slightest benefit of the doubt on anything. It really makes me wonder about them, when they can't find it in themselves to concede even the smallest, most insignificant point on any issue, which in this case is the possibility that Obama canceled his visit out of consideration for wounded and resting troops.

They have a certain agenda, and they are interested only in pursuing that agenda, and not the truth. It is best to keep that in mind when listening to their words.

Pentagon is still manned by cronies of Bush and just they tried to stop the Obama-waves in Germany but it never work.

Is Pentagon run by some other country?

Wow, good thing Obama didn't take public financing, because clearly, John McCain has no qualms going against his word of running a clean campaign. For the past month he's had no problem staging a low blow attack campaign based on playing loose with the truth and outright lies...the "wavering express" continues.

Lola, you need some counseling girl. The fact is Hillary is not a viable candidate in this election. Thus your continued support of her as a person indicates a disconnection with reality. Get you stuff together and get back into school, the summer heat may have warped your brain a little.

They would not want the injured troops to greet Obama with cheers. We would actually see the condition of the troops there.

By the way has McCain ever gone to visit the troops at the hospital in Germany?
Be careful how you point fingers... there is always a few pointing right back at you.

Question...How much of the tax dollars have been spent on this overseas trip????? This is taking place in less than six months of voting. A Campaign trip, you bet. What has he said to Iran, and others acting or trying to act like a president. How much damage has he done???? Most of the news media is foreign owned here??? So you see only the best of their choice for a candidate...????? A lot of Questions need to be answered....

Looks to me that Obama has already done something positive.
Obama at his best effort trying to reunite us with europe and the Mid east. Bush and his cronies and policies have destroyed our reputationus not to mention the Iraqi's.
What has Mclame done for the Vets, but disregard their Gi Bill rights. If McLame went to to the Mid East the Pentagon would have paid the ticket ....
At lest Obama has listened, spoke with intelligence and held his head high with all this Repuke's bashing.

No suprise.. this shows exactly where Mr. Obama's priorities are.. He needed to workout in the gym; who cares about the troops... right?

Fact is he could have went and visited on his personal time without cameras.. How low can you go Obama?? Sleezy turncoat

The McCain campaign says it is never inappropriate to visit injured troops... gaurenteed if Obamae had gone to Lanstuhl, the same people would have been saying it was inappropriate to visit the troops as part of a campaign stop. Bottom line is the McCain campaign continues to worry more about what Obama is or is not doing than they are about real issues because they know they are losing. John McCain would rather attempt to find fault with his opponent than try to find solutions for the American people.

let me throw this in.....who cares that he upstages a lame-duck president......??

need some money to boost the economy....?

Heres an option, from this point on, any president that finishes his term with less than a 30% approval rating can take care of himself the rest of his life instead of burdening the taxpayers.......gw!!

To clarify, since many people don't seem to get it...

The Middle East part of Senator Obama's trip, was a congressional trip and Senators Obama, Hagel and Reed were traveling there as part of a US delegation.

In Europe, Senator Obama was traveling as a candidate and private citizen, not as part of a US delegation.

Yeah he couldn't visit there because he's black! Everything has a racist reason to you trolls. You can't get it through your head people just plain don't like him because he has no ethics and crappy policies. I think people would actually be more even handed if they thought the media wasn't trying to ram him down our throat.

"As a Hillary supporter, I received an envelope from Obama campaign last week asking for donation. All I did was send it back with a zero amount check."

I did the same thing with an envelope that I got asking for money to pay back Hillary.

TO BOBBIE

YOU ARE A VERY STUPID STUPID MAN! THE SAD THING IS THAT WE HAVE TO MANY PEOPLE LIKE YOU!

GO BARACK AND MICHELLE!!!

Wow "Antichrist", "Devil" you Raci--I mean anti Obama supportors are really laying it on thick. My god, Presi--I mean Senator Obama is visiting other countries to get a birds eye view on what we, the United States, needs to do get back the respect that we lost during the Bush Adminstration. And furthermore, if Bush had not majorly screwed so many things up, I don't care if Jesus Christ himself would have made a visit to Europe, Bush would still have the respect of the European community. But President Bush does not have the respect, and McCain cannot get either. Now when you see 200,000 people from another country who is at odds with the United States, waving the American Flag and not burning it, then that should tell you who they really respect. Face it, there will be a African American President, either in November or in 2012. The status quo will be no more, so get over it raci--I mean McCain supporters, and that goes for you Hilliary supporters also. Just laughable how stupid you look. There are way more of us that love Obama's projected direction than you who hate his skin.

Hail to the future Commabder and Cheif Barack Obama!

Now how does that taste?

These anti-Obama emails have got to stop!

We have to remember that Obama and McCain are both US Senators. As Senators, they go on fact-finding tours, meet heads of state, and make speeches. They do all these things on the taxpayer's tab. It is not unusual for a Senator to visit a hospital full of war wounded. Obama was going to do that until he was discouraged from it by the Pentagon. This was an area that policy is a gray area. As a Senator, he's probably have been allowed to do that. As a candidate, it wasn't so clear if she should. He had the good grace to not whine about the Pentagon policies, and just say "It was inappropriate, without saying who thought that (it was the Pentagon, not him).

McCain has delusions of self-grandeur. He challenged Obama to travel and see things for himself. Obama did that, and was overwhelmingly well received (you cannot deny that 230,000 Germans came to listen to his speech). I challenge McCain, if he's such a political mover and shaker, to take the same trip and draw the same crowds, and get the same level of attention from heads of state.

Political leaders around the world recognize one of their own. Obama is a natural leader. McCain is a natural whiner. if the Republicans want to win this one, they have got to get a real leader in there. McCain is going to get stomped.

To Lisa and PUMA
Why dont you just open your minds for once.Its time you get over the primary.Obama won it fair and square,but because of your prejudice you have even determined to even vote against your interest.One with God is a majority.Obama will be the next president of USA,get used to it.
OBAMA 08

Another example of Obama saying one thing and doing another to advance his political career. He lied and said that the speech in Berlin was not political but sends out e-mail for contributions and references the Berlin speech. Obama lies so much it will make one's head spin. He's worse than old Washington politicians. Could anyone blame the Pentagon for telling him to stay away from the troops in the hospital. He would have flashed the soldier's picture in one of his campaign ads or on his website to get contributions.

Texas trail dog thats one heck of a name. To bad you didnt learn to read while you were enjoying your cousins party favors. The pentagon only suggested that he not visit, it was his decision not to go. Only he can take credit for that decision. I forgot you cant read.

McCain CAN'T balance the budget because he wants to keep spending over 10 B per month in Iraq, while supposedly shifting more resources to Afganistan...

PLUS double-down the Bush tax cuts ONLY for the wealthy, cut corporate tax rates.

Belle you are just so wrong on this and just don't get it.

The Pentagon is as pathetic as McCain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It wasn't Obama or the rock bands that brought in the Germans – It was the free beer....

Obama '08!

This election boils down to a very simple decision – To choose hope and faith in America over fear. The McCain campaign consistently relies on fear mongering, offering no vision, no hope, and giving us little faith in their ability to solve the problems that are rapidly threatening the very existence of our country. It is time for vision, for hope, for faith, and for CHANGE! God bless Barack Obama!

Will, I think what makes sense is for Obama's campaign to purchase an inhabited island and start his own country. He already has his own presidential seal, media, and staff. Plus he just acquired tons of foreign policy expereince and looks great posing in front of large crowds. OR even better, he should move to Hollywood where he belongs.

McCain you are a disgrace and not fit to run my country!

carlo

JOHN McCAIN CRITIZED BARACK FOR MAKING A SPEECH ABROAD, ACCORDING TO McCAIN SPEECHES SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN AFTER ONE BECOMES PRESIDENT!

HOW UTTERLY INCREDIBLE IS THIS? McCAIN COMPLETELY FORGOT THAT HE GAVE A SPEECH IN OUR COUNTRY, CANADA.

I GUESS CANADA DOES NOT COUNT! DOES JOHN McCAIN THINK THAT CANADA IS PART OF THE USA??? NEWS FLASH TO McCAIN, CANADA IS PART OF THE REST OF THE WORLD! THIS MAN JUST KEEPS PUTTING HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH AT EVERY TURN!

proud army and navy mom July 25th, 2008 1:05 pm ET

After seeing the way he ignored our troops in Germany I am going to have to vote for McCain. having kids in the millitary I understand how disrespectful that was…
--------------------------------
You weren't going to vote for him anyway. He planned on going to visit them and it was scheduled for him to visit, but all of a sudden the Pentagon puts their two cents in and it was canceled. There's more to this story that's not being covered. I know that McCain and Pres Bush had to be behind this.

"Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters later Friday the Pentagon did not explicitly say Obama should not visit the base, but was concerned with whether his capacity there would be one of a presidential candidate, not a senator."

First of all, let's get this straight. You know as well as I know that this trip is a political one, is no secret. And quite frankly, I liked it! It was good, and it was well played out. But to say that his trip was not a political one, well I don't know what position he's applying for........

And by the way, when you have thousands and thousands of people in Berlin just to see my boy, then what do you call that??

This trip was a joke!!! Europeans and Middle-Easterners love Obama??? Good enough reasons to vote McCain!!!!

Hey Mcsame it's not that Obama did not want to visit the troops in germany, but that he listens to the generals about what is appropriate at the time.i guess Mscame wasn't listening.
you cant have it both ways Mcsame.

NO to McCain.
NO to 4 more years of the same
NO to trilion dollar surges

This is amazing! I'm so tired of the "us against them" opinion polls. I don't think any one of us (americans) like our lives being judged and under the microscope, yet we sure do like our opinions!!

McCains to short to be President

If you actually read the messages, the Pentagon did not say Obama could not visit the wounded in Landstuhl. They gave specific guidelines they provide to all visitors. Obama ultimately made the decision not to visit them – no tv cameras meant no visit to the troops. Instead of flying into Ramstein and visiting Landstuhl, Obama's campaign felt it was more important to fly to Berlin and give a speech to a couple hundred thousand Germans. It was a political decision he made, nothing more nothing less.

Obama could of visited them, But since he could not make a Publc show of it, he could not be bothered.

He is a patheticAmerican. A Pathetic person, a poor exncuse as a Christian.

He Shamed Himself and Has Shamed America.....................

Mcsame camp are filled with jealousy and envy and marvel at the way Obama conducted himself on the world stage.Obama very presidential.
OBAMA 08

I wish some people would read the news article before they start to spit hate that has nothing to do with the article. To RSR what does Africa have to do with this article. Why don't you go back to school.

My point exactly-WE REAP WHAT WE SOW! The sins that we committ are the very sins that punish us!

OMG, So many dullards drinking the kool-aid. We need a third party and throw all the other rats out!

@ Liz,
McCain can also purchase ad space on CNN. I suggest you donate $ for him to do that. Also, Obama cannot help it if what he is doing is newsworthy and more exciting than what McCain has going on. Also, HRC is out of the race, it is time to move on.

(All politics aside) To all of the Wounded Warriors and families out there; YOU"RE THE BEST!!! We are so proud of you. Our hearts go out to you and your families – THANK YOU for all you do for us. Come home soon!

Dear proud army and navy mom : The Pentagon told him not to go to the hospital. He respected their wishes, how is that dis-respect of the troops.

Stop putting the headline as "Pentagon stops Obama visit" Put it the way it is, he was informed that "election press" could not enter into the LARMC (Landsthul Army Regional Medical Center)! He wasn't banished but it wasn't going to be a photo op either. Stop the biased reporting and put the titles as they should be!

so he listens to the Pentagon who urges not to visit our wounded troops but he will not listen to and opposes a General's opinion of how our troops in Iraq should be allocated? Sounds like good judgement to me, NOT!

I can understand why the Pentagon wanted to discourage Obama's visit to the military hospital. These men know they are being injured and killed for immoral and Un-American reasons and Obama's stance on the war in Iraq could save their lives and those of many other troops. It is also understandable why many Americans don't want Obama's trip covered by the media. It's really not the fact that Obama is acting like he's already President, as McCain and his supporters claim. What is bothering McCain and McCain supporters is the fact that Obama appears very Presidential. In fact, he appears more Presidential than McCain could ever hope to appear.

because obama is not for this war and would like to bring the troops home as soon he could. thats why they don't want him there. he would be there with press. they would see first hand the damage which has been done to the lives of those wounded. their stories would have been brought back to the states. bad publicity for the military and republican party which if keeping the war effort going.

think people, he had been for the war and supported it full force, i doubt he would have been told not to go.

Your right borrowed money --WHO HAD THE POWER AND PLAN TO BORROW THE MONEY FROM CHINA?–WHO ARE THE ONES GOING TO PAY FOR IT??

For those of you who object to the speech in Berlin: The reason Obama spoke in Berlin is because our current leader (but thankfully, not for much longer) has irresponsibly squandered America's standing and credibility in the world, especially in Europe, and has left an impression that Americans generally share the cowboy, "my way or the highway" mentality. As a patriotic American who is dismayed over our current state of foreign and domestic affairs, I am very pleased (and proud) that Obama has begun to repair our image and heal relationships. Good for him, and better for us, at last.

CNN....Why does your headline say "Pentagon Opposed Visit"....that is not what the article says at all....it says they expressed "concern"....which means if Obama just agreed to go without the photographers there would have been no problem since it was campaigning.

But alas, if there is no camera present....it just isn't worth his time.

What a sad man to have leading our armed services. I can't wait till the troops remember this and turn their back on him.

Casey Clark please tell me how hard is it to up stage a idiot? Never mind because im talking to a idiot.

It is amazing how foolish some of you sound, it sounds like you do not understand politics, be it local or international. The trip to Iraq and Afghanistan was a congressional trip so he could meet with the troops, it was not part of his campaign. His trip to Europe is part of his campaign so he has to tread lightly and the Pentagon is correct in its concerns. Folks this is not hard to understand, all it takes is sitting down and considering the facts. I don’t remember all of you crying about McCain when he went to South America and Canada, I guess it is ok for him but not for Obama, a touch hypocritical don’t you think?

To proud army and navy mom...

Get a grip. Which of the present candidates is MORE likely to send your children and mine into harm's way? Which of the present candidates is MORE likely to gain the ear of our allies and former allies that Bush has alienated?

Obama hasn't disrespected your children or mine. He's likely to help save their lives. Please make up your own mind without input from the right wing hate machine.

And thank your children for their service!!

179 days till the end of the Bush administration.

Obama decided to cancel because the Pentagon said no camera crew, not that the whole canadate/senator issue was the problem. Obama couldn't use it as a press event to bolster his image, so he blew off the visit because the image was what it was all about.

Pat F, I believe the trip to Iraq and Afghanistan was part of an official Congressional delegation, but the European leg is financed by the campaign. That's why it was ok for him to visit soldiers in Iraq but not in Germany. And if Obama supporters are really such simpletons, why is he winning among more educated voters?

Make way for reason, intelligence, rationality, sensitivity and good judgement. It's been a long time coming. Go Obama!

Obama is acting like President even when he has not received that office yet.

I believe he will be elected because of his "rock star" status, but he is WAY too ahead of himself. Quite egotistical actually. Calm down Obama.

Jeff

He's darned if he does, and darned if he doesn't.

whatever, just another example of how everything seems to slide off this guy. he appears to have everyone brainwashed and has an excuse for everything and for some reason people are just buying into it.

All these anti-Obama msgs...shows they want more of the same. No freedom of speech, no supporting the troops (the Pentagon not wanting Obama to visit the troops, how unsupportive not to have them see Obama, affraid that they will like him) , want to support war, war and more war, for a 100 years...Listening to McCain complain. First he wants Obama to go and then complains that he is getting to much attention overseas. GOP is broken and can't stand the positive attention Obama is getting.

NO OBJECTIVE PERSON CAN THINK THAT SEN. OBAMA HAS DONE ANYTHING NEGATIVE BY TAKING HIS TRIP ABROAD...NO OBJECTIVE PERSON.

We need to turn off CNN and STOP purchasing their sponser's products until they realize that we are SICK and TIRED of the stupidity and "spin" they continue to push off on us.

CNN has become the most irresponsible channel on cable television. Your so called Anchors are simple minded, ESPECIALLY, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and now Tony. Rather than asking intelligent questions, they try so hard to be "News Personalities" in stead of journalists that they ask nonsense questions dripping with sarcasm and hostility. STOP YOU BUMBS!! JUST STOP!!!

Each soul will reap what we have sown. Whether you are a President or not! We are all mere mortals period! You receive also back what you yourself have given to others. Pray and be careful in what we give to others for it is the very same thing "you yourself " will receive back! For what we sow we will reap! That truth you can take to the bank!

I'm sorry but McCain and his supporters will jab at Obama no matter what he does. McCain made a big deal that Obama hadn't gone to Iraq recently. Obama goes overseas and McCain is now complaining that to much media coverage.

McCain complains that Obama didn't see the troops in Germany but I guarantee you that if Obama would have gone against the concerns of the Pentagon, McCain would have accused Obama of going only for aphoto op. SO WHATEVER MCCAIN!!! McCain keeps setting all these traps that keep failing.

Foreign relations is a part of American's issues. Obama is doing the right thing. McCain only wishes he could get 10,000 people in one place to support him......anywhere in the world.

First, the folks that said it wasn't Obama's idea to cancel the visit did not read the article.
"Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters later Friday the Pentagon did not explicitly say Obama should not visit the base, ..."Generally speaking, the military tries very hard not to get involved in political campaigns," he said. "Conducting a campaign speech for example on a military installation is not something that would be appropriate to do.""
So Obama cancels out of respect for the Pentagon's Wishes.

Second, McIdiot slams Obama for not having foreign cred, and then slams him for being in Europe, and not in America talking to Americans.

OK now, has anyone heard any of the foreign visitors stating disagreement with Obama? Do you not notice our Bushypoo attempting some of the same things Obama has promised to do?

Waving our flag with smiles and optimism is much better than waving our flag while it is on fire. You tell me who the world would rather have representing the USA!!!!!!!

In my opinion, Obama doesn't want to go anywhere and waste his time if he doesn't have the press with him. Didn't we all see him shooting baskets with the military?

To James from bk/LI:
Karl Rove is called the "architect" because of his campaign management you sad, ignorant sheep, not for his work as a White House aid. Keep pretending you know anything about politics.

Andrea Mitchell reported that Obama asked if he could go without the press. As he did in the green zone. AND THE PENTAGON STILL SAID NO. No reporters, no cameras, just Obama and the Pentagon said that a U.S. Senator could not show his gratitude for their sacrifices. How could any of you vote for a third Bush term after hearing this.

I think that most of us think that Sen. Obama must do as we say because after all We are White and he is Black so when we say that he is wrong for what he is doing and that he should have Hillary on his ticket and pay her bills also. and why the hell is he travling. and he is acting like the president already What we really mean is that he is black and we don't want him for our President. PLEASE just admit it . Thank you 3721A

Nothing but complaints against Obama. Shame on you haters. Give the man a chance, unless you prefer WAR WAR WAR McWar.

Obama '08!

Tx Trail Dog,

I think you have no brain. It actually looked better for Obama to say he didn't visit the troops instead of the Pentagon to ask a sitting Senator not to visit US troops in a hospital. Do you not see the problem with this?

Generation X,

You are so right. With the democrats in control you will see (and approve of) increased censorship of the press (in the name of "fairness") and reduced individual liberties ("in the name of equality").

Get ready for a dictatorship in America that you supported in your youth.

Personally, I blame Bill Gates. The success of the personal computer has dumbed down America to the point where a guy like Obama is actually considered presidential.

Does no one understand this article? Mr. Obama did not go visit the troops because he could not bring his circus media pool and use our troops as a political prop. The pentagon did not tell him "not" to go, only that they we concerned with his media frenzy circus.

I read somewhere recently that Obama has visited injured service members at Walter Reed with no cameras many times. So those who are saying he decided it wasn't worth his time just because he couldn't bring cameras are way off the mark. If he had gone the McCain campaign and the media would be hitting him for politicizing wounded soldiers. He can't win no matter what he does!

McCain is the last person to try to insinuate that Obama doesn't appreciate the troops, when he didn't even bother to show up for a vote on the Webb GI Bill....I guess it was more important for McCain to be campaigning!!!

Tsk. Tsk. Tell the truth CNN. Obama could have stopped to see our troops if he left the press outside. But no, he could leave the groupies out and miss a photo op now could he?

this is crazy..... McCain challenged Obama to take a trip abroad.... Obama takes the challenge and kills the competition now McCain and his followers hate. typical..... i wont bring race in this...... answer this what has ur presidential canidate talked about besides drilling for oil and war? in an already a bad global warming crisis. more oil drilling only help destroy the ecosystem. war.... im a veteran of the OEF campaign and i hope someone stops this issue. besides mc cain gonna die in two yrs anyway.... OBAMA 08

....because he did not want to make the troops part of a campaign event.

Soooo... he's saying that it was, in fact, a campaign?

Some of the responses show exactly why Obama needs to be President.

AMERICA IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP THE WORLD IS WATCHING. They thirst the change in America to stabalize the world. The last 8 years have been pure embarrasment.

Some of you like Lucy are totally mindless. Lucy I heard a guy on Bill Bennett's show this morning say the EXACT SAME THING YOU SAID, using almost the exact same words. The "anti-christ" huh?? I know for many of you, you have reasoned in your mind that the world MUST be coming to an end if a Black man has the highly probable chance of becoming president of the U.S.!

You guys have no original ideas. You only regurgitate what callers and hosts on right wing radio communicate to you on their crackpot shows.

Pititul. And sad...

McCain is opposed to the pentagon, and undermines national security.

Senator Obama's visit, speeches, and receptions brought glory to all American people. It feels good to know that America can once again be respected and held in awe by the rest of the world.

McCain's gaff is a shame on him and his campaign. I would not want to be represented abroad by a man who does not know the difference between the Shiite and the Sunnis, between Somalia and Sudan, between Chek and Slovakia. Not by a man whose campaign would wish a terrorist attack on America just so he can win, not by a man who will wish a whole people (the Iranians) dead with cigarette or bomb. Not by a man whose campaign considers all muslims as terrorists, not by a man whose campaign is full of lobbyist, not by a man whose campaign considers America as a 'nation of whinners', not by a computer illiterate, not by an economic illiterate nor a war monger

Say No to McShame/McBush, and yes to Obama

Obama is such a POSER and is SO into himSELF. He choose to work-out instead of visiting the troops because he couldn't bring cameras in there. This speaks to his true character (which is zero).

Seriously, some people on this blog of hate and slander need Jesus.

Obama 08-12

No matter what he does, he'll be criticized!!!!! Fortunately, he has excellant judgement and those who are with him in his trip have the same. Of course, Bush would be critical because Obama is succeeding as a citizen, where Bush couldn't succeed as a President. I think most foreign leaders can see right through Bush, as well as they can see the sincerity in Obama. He will be a great president and the US will again be a leader for all, not a dictator. As Bush said himself, "I'm the DECIDER!" Obama shows other countries that we will all go ahead, TOGETHER!!!!!

For jerry rubin

Not allowing photography of caskets at Dover was established by Clinton in 2000

I didn't hear anyone here who is criticizing Obama's trip say anything negative about McCain's trips to Mexico, Canada, and Colombia? So why would you criticize Obama for his trip. Also, McCain did give a speech in Mexico and Canada. Both speeches were attacks on Obama. Obama has said nothing negative about McCain or Bush while overseas.

THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS ONCE PROMISED A POSITIVE CAMPAIGN. I guess this week he has decided to go against his promise to the American people, just to get a little media coverage.

Where is the Honor in that?

I'm surprised anyone at the Pentagon "manned up" to admitting the conversation took place. That guy will soon be out of job. Too bad.

A highly successful and rewarding trip that the right wing is trying desperately to poke holes in. It's quite interesting that Obama insists on not bashing Bush or McCain while both continue to bash him.

What an enormously refreshing breath of fresh air he'll be as president!!

179 days till the end of the Bush administration.

Clearly the decision for Senator Obama, who is now traveling via his campaign plane and no longer as a member of a bi-partisan Congressional team, to not visit a military hospital was after discussion with the United States Military. This was a decision based on dialogue and mutual agreement. No one asked John McCain or his junior bird brains to insert their value judgments and bias spin. The decision was reached by those whose opinion matters. The decision was based on a matter of political protocol. If McCain and his goof-ups don't understand this BASIC CONCEPT, then McCain has no business running for President & to be the Commander In Chief. The depth of stupidity, disregard for protocol, and lack of understanding is cause for dismay.

time for all the cry baby McShameys to crawl back under their rocks... AND STAY THERE!

My own family who drank the Bush koolaid in recent years are tired of the awful after taste and heartburn it left. They have seen the errors of their ways and are now on board with Obama in 2008!

Nothing like redemption to lighten the soul!

Obama 08!

Senator Obama's visit, speeches, and receptions brought glory to all American people. It feels good to know that America call once again be respected and held in awe by the rest of the world.

McCain's gaff is a shame on him and his campaign. I would not want to be represented abroad by a man who does not know the difference between the Shiite and the Sunnis, between Somalia and Sudan, between Chek and Slovakia. Not by a man whose campaign would wish a terrorist attack on America just so he can win, not by a man who will wish a whole people (the Iranians) dead with cigarette or bomb. Not by a man whose campaign considers all muslims as terrorists, not by a man whose campaign is full of lobbyist, not by a man whose campaign considers America as a 'nation of whinners', not by a computer illiterate, not by an economic illiterate nor a war monger

Say No to McShame/McBush, and yes to Obama

Oh, yes, the military does not get involved in political campaigns. Just where DID the president give that "Mission Accomplished" speech and before what type of audience? And wasn't it during a re-election campaign? Oh, and didn't Dana Perino recently push blame for criticism of the banner and declaration onto the Navy, not the administration? Gosh, i get so confused.

Obama is right for not visiting the military hospital. it definitely SHOWS HOW JOHN McCAIN and HIS CAMPAIGN TEAM LACKS THE APPROPRIATE JUDGEMENT, CREDIBILITY TO LEAD THE UNITED STATES.
We need Men with CREDIBILITY like BARACK OBAMA

The AMERICAN PRESS should have gone, so we can see what the Pentagon is hiding.

DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!

WHY IS THIS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE?

How quickly we forget!

When Barack was in Iraq Condoleeza Rice sent specific ORDERS TO THE BIG CHIEFS IN IRAQ, THAT THEY WERE NOT TO HELP WITH BARACK'S VISIT TO IRAQ she went so far as to say.......IF HE NEEDS TO CHARTER A BUS TELL HIM WHERE TO GO TO DO SO, she very GRUDGINGLY told them that they were allowed some leeway in AIDING IN SECURITY FOR BARACK!

Why then is this such a SURPRISE TO ANYONE? If this had been a McCain tour, you better BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE HAD ALL THE MILITARY HELP THAT HE WANTED! This is the issue of DOUBLE STANDARDS IN ALL OF IT'S GLORY!

How about reporting some real political news for a change? Like John Edwards getting caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar at the hotel. Veeeery nice move...

Cross him off the list for any future public office.

Hey! this confirms that indeed every action he does/takes is politically motivated! So his trip is an electoral trip, his visits are just all for getting some more points, to have the world talk about him, to have some more CNNs around the globe to follow his "puppet" show...darn...as I said before, this makes me reconsider moving back to my banana republic....

Obama is likely a fine person and he certainly has charisma. He simply needs more experience. If you owned a large corporation would you promote an employee that had worked for you for just a few years or someone that had worked for you for over 20 years? This trip overseas seems a little "showy" to me, which also relates to immaturity.

It should be encouraging to those who Support Obama to see some of the idiotic comments on here about Obama from the right. Little they say has any basis in fact, and only is rooted in fear and the types of things Rush limbaugh and your KKK friends would tell you. Read a book, open your eyes to what this country has been turning into the last 8 years. Obama has a good chance of getting us back on track, back to sanity.

All people have to do is read the different sources out there to know that the Pentagon (and JM) put the kibosh on this hospital visit. Who does the Pentagon and SOS work for and answer to? The POTUS and CIC, Bush!

To deliberately ignore the not so veiled hint, which is actually protocol, would mean Obama would have indeed been in violation of this protocol! When he campaigned at Ft. Bragg, he had to hold the event NEAR the base, but not on the base. Only the POTUS is allowed on a military base, along with approved dignitaries/guests; candidates are not! And for those who thinks Obama could have gone anyway, he could not have even gotten on the base, much less the hospital, because he has no military ID card! If you don't know, don't judge!

When John M. went to Canada, Colombia and Mexico weren't these for political reasons? Especially since we either have NAFTA agreements with Canada and Mexico and JM wants one with Colombia? And wasn't the foreclosure, economic and other domestic crises going on then as well???? How hypocritical of JM and this gov't and media who constantly apply this double standard!!

Wake up folks, stop watching Fox (and the media in general) and start thinking for yourselves!!! JM & GOP are so jealous of Obama's success they can't stand it....this should be obvious even to a JM supporter!

and the woooooeeeerld will be as one!

what a lot of stupid nonsense. so now we know that barack's foreign policies will be formulated from beatles songs.

Republicans seem to have lost their minds. Someone commented that Obama is the anti-christ. Others seem to think that the world will end if Obama is president. Some have smoke flying out their ears over Obama's supposed "cockiness". Let's see, who else could be wrongly viewed as cocky; McCain, Bush, Martin Luther King Jr, John F Kennedy, Jesus. Some are offended by his "talking". I've got news for you. That's what a president does. War is one option. The other is diplomacy (talking). Giving speeches is what a president does. A true leader inspires the people to act. McCain only inspires hatred for Obama. McCain is a war hero, but guess who else is, every veteran in this country. He should be ashamed of using this for political gain.

Liz, your a simpleton. The link to the Obama site is on the CNN ticker page because the campaign PAID for it to be there. It is called advertising. It is a capitalistic concept called making money. CNN takes the money from Obama and puts the ad where the campaign has paid to have it posted. If McCrypt will stop taking free photo ops in the dairy aisle and pay for some advertising he would be on the CNN ticker page. Got it?

Casey – Perhaps you have not noticed in your narrow little mind, but there is someone at home and not touring Europe who is SUPPOSSED to be in control of the issues here. His name is George Bush, or HRH since he was appointed, not elected. Yeah, he is a winner there, please refer to your litany of issues and problems that you are now blaming Obama for avoiding. Guess who is now being held responsible for those actions, yep, McCrypt and the Republican crew, payback's a b*&^^!

Lola,

Keep paying off your loser candidate's debt and leave it at that. Or, you can vote for McCain and see what you get. I dare you.....

Obamas arrogance continues to ooze.

Will,

It's very clear.
Obama is on a campaign tour, not a Senatorial Fact Finding Mission. He should not be stumping in these countries. And since he's the "presumptive" nominee, it is presumptuous for him to be acting like the nominee, let alone like the President.

The military and State Dept have strict guidelines for the behavior of its members. The military cannot be seen as supporting a candidate...thats how coups happen. They also have no problem with Senators visiting. It's very clear and Obama could have done some research to find a solution that didn't involve "calling troops on the phone".

This is one more example of his lack of understanding and his apparent lack of interest in learning how things work. Rather he's happy to proselytize as long as people are wooed by him.
McCain could have done a better job of helping to educate his opponent, and handled his own comments better.

Barr '08

Republicans balancing the budget, good one. Name me a republican president that balanced a budget? McCain promised to balance the budget. You're naive enough to believe a politician's promise? I got a bridge for sale. I can let you have it for half price.

Some of you will find every reason not to like Sen. Obama. In this article we learned that the Pentagon advised him that it might not be a good idea to visit the troops since he had his political staff with him. Instead of Sen Obama bashing the Pentagon, it was initially reported that he didn't want it to look like a photo opt but we have sense learned the truth of this decision.

At first people bashed him for not going, now that we find out why he didn't go, you still bash him for not going and saying because it was for the troops he should have went anyway. All I can say is WOW.

The Obama campaign makes another excuse for the lemmings to believe.

I can't believe how ignorant all the Pro-Obama posters are here daily.

I can't believe anyone in their right mind would think that Obama is not for the troops. He was for Webb's bill to support the troops while the President and McCain were against it. McCain has voted against the troops on many pieces of pro troop legislation. Look at the history of his votes in Congress.

No doubt about it! If it was Senator McSame the Pentagon would have made every effort for a photo op!!

The McCain camp needs to make up their collective minds – first they complain that Obama is lacking in foreign policy knowledge and credentials. Now that Obama has spent an exhaustive week traveling the Mid-East and Europe talking with heads of state and citizens everywhere, they are complaining again. Have any of them really listened to, [and HEARD], what he says in his speeches? Seems to me, that as a United States Senator dealing with many of the issues of foreign policy [and, yes - though he downplays this - a candidate for the highest office in this country], it's highly appropriate to do exactly as he is doing, considering how this world continues to shrink. I would welcome the chance to see and hear Mr. McCain interact with world leaders and citizens of other countries – what they believe and have to say is very important and should not be ignored. It gets a bit tiresome always hearing edited versions of what someone "plans to do" or would "like to do" and never hear the "other side of the story".

"Obama is not gonna visit our wounded soldiers, he's too busy playin 'rock-star'. For his lack of love for America (he loves Africa) he shouldn't even be allowed in the same room as our hero's!"

comments like this remind me how Bush got elected!
If this person had read the story, they would have seen that the pentagon was not wanting him there, not the opposite.

Call him a rock star if you want, if that makes you feel any better, because if you knew what was going on you would see how great Obama is going to be for this Nation.

This was a no-win situation for the Obama campaign. If he went, he would have been vilified for exploiting the troops to benefit his campaign. Since he didn't go, he doesn't care about the troops. Stop this craziness!

Let's see, the Pentagon REQUESTED that Obama NOT visit the troops there, so he doesn't. McCain critisizes Obama (surprise surprise) for not wanting to visit the troops and some of the dummies posting here say Obama's an empty suit because he just wants photo ops and won't visit the troops. These people are so jealous of Obama, it's worse than grade school.

Although I plan on voting for McCain (due to certain platform issues), I'm very impressed by Obama's move. It shows that he reveres the sacrifice our troops have made. Nice to see a politician who values something above him or herself. My opinion of him has just improved. I'm beginning to feel this election will be a win win situation afterall.

"Let's see, in the United States we have: A housing slump, rising unemployment, rising gas prices, rising food costs, a slump in retail sales, a broken infrastructure nationwide, a healthcare crisis, homeless veterans, homeless children, an unstable stock market, failed banks, a mortgage crisis and so much more..."

Casey Clark, July 25th, 2008 12:08 pm ET
-----–

Casey,

Obama is a senator. We have a sitting president, under whose leadership all these things that you mentioned in your message happened. What is he doing about them?

I say if McCain wants more media time then give it to him. In about two days we all will be tired of his constant petty winning about Obama. He hasn't gone to Iraq. Oh, now he's in Iraq. He's wrong to make a speech before he's president (let just forget that a month ago McCain did the same thing). He didn't go visit the troops (I don't know who that was shooting hoops with the troops.) What's next? See. His shoes are untied. Is this the McCain who declared that personal attacks were not going to be apart of his campain? It doesn't get more personal that to state that a person would rather lose a war than lose an election. I'm not a McCain fan but if I were I would tell him to run his race and tell people why they should be voting for him rather than nit picking Obama's toothpaste.

Pentagon playing Bush/McCain politics again.

So far, everyone has missed the point. Obama couldn't score political points by visiting the troops and he decided his time would be better spent scoring political points in other ways. Obama didn't decide not to go because he was told not to go, he decided not to go because he couldn't bring his entourage, including the "in-the-bag" fawning media.

By the way, this is a huge, major gaffe on the part of Obama. Bigger than any gaffe that anyone was expecting. Who wants to take bets on whether or not the main stream media gives it any coverage. My only hope is that the Republicans make continuous hay out of it. You know, to score their political points to catch up to Obama's political points.

Did the Obama supporters even read the whole article? The Pentagon didn't tell him he couldn't go. It was the press wasn't allowed to go so Obama's campaign then decided to cancel the visit. Obama could still have gone without his adoring media.

Obama knows "5" one being China and also Japan and other countries "hold the morgage because of this unjust war that should of never never been waged in the first place" of the United States of America because McCain "Vote Yes" to an unjust war and McCain will not stop at nothing even if it bankrupts America or more killings is so so sad and McCain does not have the intellect that would of prevented it–just by voting NO !

Make up your mind America. First the hoopla about him not having foreign affairs experience and what he "should" or "better" do. Then the "need" for him to go overseas. Now that he's traveled there and seems to be doing "better than expected", as usual the negativity comes. It seems regardless of what Senator Obama does, be it right, wrong or indifferent, it will never be good enough for those bent on discrediting him no matter what he does.

Wow, people bringing out the anti-Christ argument on Obama now? I'm not a bible scholar, but I believe that the anti-Christ was supposed to be white and in addition everyone was supposed to love him, obviously that's not the case.

So a week of staged photo opps is supposed to make us forget Obama has essentially no foreign policy or military experience? Are American's really that stupid? Sadly, the answer seems to be "yes".

To Liz who asked why we don't hear the "native indians" complaining about their plight. As a Native American Indian living in this country, I can say that racism is alive and well. People of color are the ones that have to forgive the racists, the ignorance and the lack of understanding. We (non-whites) live everyday in a world that gives us a window into white America. We try to understand were you are coming from, we hear your views on TV. When do white people ever want to look into our window to see our experience from our perspective? I have had more of a reality check about race relations in the United States since I have been reading the comments on CNN: racism and ignorance are alive and well in America. I hope that whatever happens after this campaign season we as a country can begin to heal from all the racial discord that has come to light during this process.

"while at the same time insisting that Obama's trip is not a political one"

Is anyone buying this guy's press anymore?
WHAT kind of trip is it then?

Not sure that side-stepping the hospital makes this look like anything but a campaign trip. In fact, he's making this trip like he is the sitting President of the US . . . . a little too much arrogance here for my taste. In fact, between the "listening" trip abroad and his upcoming acceptance speech at a stadium he is working this campaign more like a rock concert star. I think a lot of substance is being lost in all the music! I guess that goes to show that with all the money he collected he is right in the spend mode. Even the Secret Service has had to ask for more protection money to cover this election - money that could be put to good use elsewhere I'm sure.

AWAITING MODERATION I'M SURE . . .

The Pentagon told BO that he could go....just without the 50 million news media too close for him to stop. It was HIS decision to not go to see the wounded American soldiers...with only a Military photographer. Shameful decision and behavior from someone who says they want to be the Commander and Chief. Actions speak louder than words!

Additionally, he also said that he had 'new insight' as a result of his trip – duh! That is what main stream America calls 'on-the-job' training and we need someone with more than training wheels to govern this Country.

I would like to commend Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Barack Obama (D-Illinois) for taking a fact finding trip to the Middle East. Europe and Asia. It is great to see these Senators taking a first hand look at tensions on the ground. We love you and thank you all again for sharing some of your trip.

The few Obama haters need to kick rocks. How about go and get ooold man McCain a walker or something. Lucy if anyone is an anti-Christ is Bush and McCain .

Earl, the Pentagon would not have allowed "McWar" to bring cameras with him, either. The difference between the Obamessiah and "McWar" is that "McWar" would gladly go and pay his respects WITHOUT the cameras. The Obamessiah has demonstrated that he would NOT.

the republicans sound more desparate every time they open their over privledged little mouths.

Sorry, poor clarity in previous post. I meant ME having served in the military....not Obama...

And with my military experience I make the following observation...

bama is SUPPOSED to be a senator FIRST, he should have visited the troops. THere is NO reason that he couldn't visit them without his campaign staff but with no cameras and a senate aide.
But of course that would rule out the photo-op and campaigh value.

Also the "100,000" people in Berlin did not show up for Obama, they showed up for a free concert by popular German artists...Obama was the lame close to the show.

Barr '08

McCain, your desperation is showing. What a freaking whiner! Same for his mindless supporters that have commented below. (ALL CAPS does not make your argument any better, dipsticks.)

I cannot wait until Obama is president. It's morning again in America, to quote the biggest hypocrite of them all.

Some of you just don't get it. The Pentagon said, "You can go, Obama, you just CAN'T HAVE CAMERAS WITH YOU". If he had WANTED to do it, he COULD have gone to visit the wounded troops without the photo op. And he COULD have talked about it afterward, and he would have gained the respect of most people. But he couldn't get his photo op, so he CHOSE not to go. And then he blamed the Pentagon.

The was precisely nothing that kept Senator Obama from visiting wounded soldiers in Germany. He still had a security detail with him which would have been allowed in the hospital with the Senator, and the Pentagon only balked at Obama bringing his campaign staff and the media.

Does the freshman senator require such hand-holding by his campaign staff that he is unable to meet with soldiers without direct supervision? Obviously.

Does he feel these soldiers aren't worth meeting with if they can't be turned into a photo op? Obviously.

Obama. Educated by the white man and now after he learned and did the right thing the American way he is hated more by them. All our lives we are told to stay in school and out of trouble and all doors will be open to you. Take care of your family and pay your bills and everything will be ok. Well we have a man in Obama that has done all of the above and he is hated by many Americans. WHY??? If he was White and the world had the same view of him as it does right now he would be the greatest man alive but just because he is black he is called every hate filled name in the book. They say "who does he think he is" and all sorts of things about him. In other words they are thinking doesn't that "N" know his place. I will answer thay for you and the answer is YES he does and his place is the place that he is in right now running for the office of the President Of the United States.

the pen did not refuse to allow Obama to visit the hospital in Landstuhl. they told him he could not bring his group of reporters and had to use a military photo taker. that was not good enough for our hero he needed 500 reporters to carry him into the hospital. too bad he could not drop his bull for one day. how ashamed he must be

frank la may

As far as the Pentagon is concerned, war is job security, Obama may a threat their live livelihoods.

Barack, what happened to that fake presidential seal you had. You could stick to the door of your plane. You are fake. You do not even know the history and georgraphy of Europe. You do not know what to say to these leaders. Your gimmicks cannot work in Europe.

Fly in a campaign plane, with full contingent of campaign advisers. Conclusion – the whole thing is a campaign stunt.

This is for those of you who question Sen. Obama's trip abroad. At first, I had the same thoughts. But, when you think about world leadership, and restoring America' image abroad, I think it was an excellent thing to do.

You see, after the damage that this current administration has done to our image abroad, our next commander-in-chief has to demonstrate that he is a world leader. I think it is a smart move on Sen. Obama' part to take such a trip and I am proud to see how well he was received among European leaders and citizens.

Anyone who knows a little bit about leadership, will know that a leader must confront and change the status quo; be creative; inspire and share vision; attract people to common purposes; encourage others to act; speak from the heart; shows that he cares and can make a difference; and lead by example. Sen. Obama demonstrated all these qualities. However, Sen. McCain hasn't come close to any of these leadership qualities during his campaign. The most he has done is to whine, complain, criticize everything good that Sen. Obama has done. Therefore, I give Sen. McCain an "F" for leadership qualities.

Remember, you cannot keep a good man down. Take notes Sen. McCain and stop being a complainer. Where is your creativity and what kind of change will you make?

Sen. Obama is in a race all by himself. He far exceeds Sen. McCain. Sen. Obama is popular because he is creative, exciting and everybody wants to see the next chapter. Think about it, just this week, he has done something, even our current president hasn't been able to do. Regardless of the reason for the trip, it is heartwarming to see how Sen. Obama was received abroad. Each time I view the pictures and listen to the speeches, my eyes tear up.

I hope those of you who question the trip abroad will have an open mind, think differently, and try to understand a different process. Most of the time, we are so use to a certain process, when change takes place so quickly and we don't understand it, we become resistance and critical. So, relax, and try to think a little differently.

Having served in the military, and since Obama is SUPPOSED to be a senator FIRST, he should have visited the troops. THere is NO reason that he couldn't visit them without his campaign staff but with no cameras and a senate aide.

Just goes to show his inexperience in making the right decision, and his lack of respect for the troops, AND that he's not really concerned about fulfilling the duties of a Senator. Why would he fulfill the duties of president when elected...because he says so? I think not...

Barr '08 for Freedom and Liberty...

Im glad someone in the media was forced to acknowledge that Obama is not the next president; he is running against John McCain to become the next president.

Why he is over in Europe instead of letting us know what he'll do for this country: I'll never understand. That's great that the socialist countries love him. The US is not a Socialist country.

Sen. Obama could have still visited the troops within DoD guidelines. However, he would have had to have done it in an "official capacity" as a sitting US Senator. That would have meant only 2-3 staff members, his Secret Service protection (by virtue of his candidacy), and - I'm sure this is the part that rankled him - no press. DoD photographers could be present, but not members of the general press. He could have flown down there on a chartered flight (not his campaign plane), and everything would have been kosher.

So, why didn't he still go? Probably because of that part about "no press."

At least that was in another country. The New York Times,our own , turns down McCain's essay. Against the constitution.

LISA; why did mccain give a sppech in canada like you said politics at its best hippocrite!!

So you mean to tell me that because the pentagon didn't want him to go visit the men and women who are putting their necks on the line for this country he didn't go.

WOW! This man wants to be commander and cheif, even if he was told not to go HE SHOULD HAVE GONE. He blew a HUGE oppertunity.

I DO NOT THINK TO MANY IN THE MILITARY THINK HIGHLEY OF HIM, OR AT LEAST NOT THE PEOPLE I AM STATIONED WITH.

Do you people think that France,Germany or England would elect a black man as their leader?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......they would not. Obama=the dumbing of America.

Please don't buy totally that the Pentagon asked Senator Obama not to visit military bases. The Pentagon will allow a senator to visit any base at any time, but not as a campaign event. In other words, Senator Obama can visit any base but cannot bring the media to document that visit. The same holds true for any Senator or Representative.

What? This was a "political" trip?
I am shocked and amazed. Who knew?
sigh. America has officially gone stupid.

How sad that the Republicans can only be negative. If Obama had visited the hospital they would have been critical and said he defied the Pentagon. When complied with the Pentagon wishes and did not go, they were critical. Give me a break. Clearly Obama is a leader who will help US dig out of the mess the current administration has but us in. Clearly our respect and influence will rise in the rest of the world if Obama is elected...and that is what the Republicans (I am a former Republican) can not stand so they do what all malcontempts do...they bad mouth those who have a solution. No more failure, No more McBush!

I hope all of Obama followers took the time to veiw all of the previous trips McCain has made overseas. Wow, this amazes me how CNN has helped puffed Obama up with coverage and I certainly hope CNN gives McCain fair coverage so all is fair. There are still alot of us swing voters out here that would like to see fair coverage. I want to see substance not mezmerizing speeches.

It absolutely amazes me how deaf dumb and blind some Americans are. Mr. Obama is a scary scary man, he has 143 days in the senate and he is being allowed to act like a rock star. The reason that he didn't visit the troops is because the Pentagon said that he couldn't use it as a campaign stop, but that he and a couple of his "advisors" could come in and that only military photogs could document it. The messiah didn't want that so he better dealt our soldiers. If the American people actually vote this man into office, I for one and I am sure that I am not alone will for the first time in my adult life will be ashamed to be an American. And you can bet your bottom dollar that I will become very bitter and cling to my guns and religion. Sen. McCain may be older, and you may think he is GWB jr., but the reality is that at least I can trust him to keep my country safe against the very people who adore BO, and that in my book says alot. I have lived through Jimma Carter and I watched Bill Clinton destroy our military. Americans might also remember that it is this democratic congress that is not doing their job and why in the world would you want to load up the congress and the white house with liberals? Scary stuff folks.

no wonder Obama opted out of public finance campaining now let him ask for $$ to pay for this grand standing if he doesn't ask Hillary he is going to loooz because this trip just xposed him for what he is all flash no follow thru.....

McCain camp has been looking pretty bad lately. Its funny how they think its soooooo bad that Obama is popular.

Don't drill in Anwar. WE don't want to hear another word form you about war. Do you understand?

I can't believe a couple of people in these comments called Obama the "anti-Christ" and said he loved Africa more than the US. No wonder the rest of the world thinks we're a bunch of fanatical war mongering Hummer driving idiots! It's about time someone like Obama, who can actually put an intelligible sentence together,represented this country.

proud army and navy mom July 25th, 2008 1:05 pm ET

After seeing the way he ignored our troops in Germany I am going to have to vote for McCain. having kids in the millitary I understand how disrespectful that was…
______________________________________

It is apparent you know little about John McCain's voting record on Veteran's issues and the G.I. Bill. A little bit of education goes a long way.

problem with Hessin Obama is, he thinks his already been selected 'not elected' to be president. I will not vote for him, McCain has served his country and is a true blue American, not sure what Hessin Obama is. Please will someone stop Hessin Obama before he buries us. CNN you should be ashamed for putting him where he is and not supporting a true American, Hillary Clinton, for President.

Hillary/McCain for President 2008

Hessin Obama is scary and should be stopped, NOW

and WHO CARES about the "donation link", the Repubs. are a scared bunch of whiners who know their number is up...they are so desperate!!!

OBAMA '08

By the time the change was over, more than a million people had taken to
>> boats, rafts, and inner tubes.
>>
>> You can call those who made it ashore
>> anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans. And now I'm back
>> to the beginning of my story.
>>
>> 'Luckily, we would never fall in America for a young leader who promised
>> change without asking, what change?
>>
>> How will you carry it out?
>>
>> What will it cost America?
>>
>> 'Would we?'

Plain and Simple, Obama would have been critisized either way by McCain- whether he visited troops or not visited the troops.

proud army and navy mom ;

Please re-read the article... it implicitly states.. he and one aide were scheduled. the pentagon called him and told him not to go. he listened to the pentagon.

There are so many people filled with envy. They are just so jealous of Barack Obama. They can't be happy if he visits the troops, Europe or if he addresses a big crowd,,, they can't be happy if he doesn't either. Just jealous. Unhappy when he goes and unhappy when he doesn't go.

Jealous people by the way,,, the biggest of them all is not McCain. It is Glenn Beck. He just criticizes and criticizes. Just like one of those women that can't get satisfaction. That's too much,,, or that's too little.

"That is crap, Obama is making it a political trip and he is making it a mockery of the process. He has NO foreign policy experience and he doesnt know anything of the military life. He is a high priced politician and lawyer who should be in the USA working for the American people instead of overseas making promises that he can never keep, Come on Obama, we see the smoke screen…"

Hey Rick- Obama didn't make any promises and if he hadn't have gone what would you say. What would you rather have experience or influence. Compare McCain- he has absolutely no influence and his experience will lead him to do exactly what GWB has done. He hasn't offered any details on how he will change the current course. There's a reason for that- he won't.

By the way, is it coincidence that in the span of two days
1) US Gov't employees were told they COULD NOT attend the speech in Berlin
2) the Pentagon calls the Obama campaign and says there are concerns over your visit?

Just asking, that's all.

Just like a GOP thug. You're going to suggest that he not go, and then criticize him for not going. Sounds like a set-up to me.

DEMOCRATS UNITE

CNN will never print this but at least the one person at CNN will read this and think...

"We told him he could visit Landstuhl (Regional Medical Center in western Germany) with his Senate staff, but not with his campaign staff," said Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Hibner.

Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, an adviser to Obama, said Obama had opted against the visit.

No Photo Op... No visit... It's good to be the Teflon King!

Question: If the Obama campaign is saying that he's european/middleeast trip is not a POLITICAL trip but some of look-see vacation then who is FOOTING the bill for the travel?

To be fair, McCain was charged by media with traveling on his wife's private jet for free then can we pose the same question to Obama? It would seem illegal if his contributors paid for a NON-political/campaign journey and IT better not be paid by my tax dollars on a plane that has the OBAMA FOR PREsIDENT emblem pinned up everywhere on the plane in plain sight!

SOMEONE answer that question for me.

Obama the used car salesman.This guy is the best at telling what you want to hear.Why dont the people who support him turn off the tv and read his voting record.If you guys are poor and need hand outs vote Obama.Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the object worship of the state. It will prescribe for every one where they are to work, what they are to work at, where they may go and what they may say. Socialism is an attack on the right to breathe freely. No socialist system can be established without a political police. They would have to fall back on some form of Gestapo, no doubt very humanely directed in the first instance.Total control is what Obama fans want him to have.He is a lawyer first thats why he speaks so well.Bush was not good on the war.But its so funny we have had a great economy the last 6 years.How short some of your memories are.You must have been living in your parents basement blaming everybody for your faliures.Obama will save you dont worry your messiah has arrived.If you lost your job im sorry but you should have saved for rainy days not waited for the gov to bail you out.

So the penagon prevented Obama from going to visit the troops so the republicans can spin an unpatriotic story out of it?

Limbaugh now thinks his dittoheads may be imprisoned some day.

'But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner's
>> guns went silent, the people's guns had been taken away.
>>
>> By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and
>> oppressed.
>>
>> By the time everyone received their free education, it was worth
>> nothing.
>>
>> By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now
>> working for him.
>>
>> By the time the change was finally implemented, Cuba had been knocked
>> down a couple of notches to Third-World status.

How many times in the past has Obama been oversees to visit our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the wounded in Germany?
Cricket, Cricket, Cricket, Cricket

Ivan, Chicago, Illinois July 25th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

I did not know that non-American citizen's where allowed to vote in our elections.
This trip by Obama, not withstanding Obama's protest, was and is a political tour.

______________________________

Of course it is a political tour. Do you have any idea just how many U.S. Citizens live abroad?

When Obama was asked not to go somewhere he had planned, he did what he was asked, not only this time but when the mid-west had all the flooding in the Spring. McCain was just the opposite, when told not to visit the flooded area because the law enforsement agencies were spread too thin, he went anyway.

The legnths by which the current admin. and the GOP will go to. First Bush limits the media exposure of the overseas trip, then Rice forbids any US foreign agency from helping the Obama camp while overseas, then Bush forbids government employees from going to the Berlin speech yesterday and forbids Obama from visiting our troops in the hospital.

oh...the only VP that will help McCain is Jesus...cause otherwise McCain aint got a prayer

Bushy, Micky and others disgrunted people can try to poke
Obama with jealousy.
But remember who is following who.-
Bushy follows Obama's foreign policy and Micky follows Berlin restaurant on the ground.
Both have some leftovers to eat from Obama's hands.
A weed can never understand the beauty. Thats is why we weed them out.

Griff: Only a worthless coward would write a post like that. Next time you are going to stoop so low, please use your real name and location.

Silence Dogood: You do understand that Ben Franklin was a liberal who hung out with Whigs when he was in England. The Whigs supported the American colonials and were largely intellectuals, writers, academics, and the like, while the rich and powerful were Torries. Sound familiar. Whig = Democrat. Torry = Republican. Franklin, Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Patrick Herny, Thomas Paine, and most of the other founders would be Democrats today.

Let's get real on Obama. He's just a man. Lot's of hype behind him. The only problem is that McCain is that much worse.

I have never seen a bigger egomaniac in my life. Obama acts like he is already the Supreme Commander of the Milky Way galaxy.

I hope you guys expose this imposter before it is too late.

See this is what happens when you are African-American and very well educated. People from "bumruck" Texas, West Virginia and Kentucky do not even understand how to read a book, you think they will understand Geneva Accords and foreign policy. John McCain, well look at the people he is targeting.......old white seniors who no nothing of but the old world, s oof course they will vote for McCain........he is a member of AARP like them. But Obama is just one amazing individual. To keep his maturity and no respond to the negative attacks by McBush and his henchmen, well he survived the Hillary attacks so he is strong......lol. but look at McCain, he proposed not a single new thing. Women, look at his voting record. Hispanics, lool at his voting record, do not look at race, look at his record on womens issues and abortion. look at his record on immigration reform.....gezzzz he wants all Hispanics gone from the country. Barack Obama brings the change that this country really needs. We are fighting a war that is a lie, we are fighting oil companies due to the Iraq war–energy costs............end this war and McBush is keeping the same tax cuts.

Think, people making 200k pay less taxes than someone making 70k, what in the hell. Bush tax cuts. So John McCain may be old and nice to seniors, but the country can not tolerate his ignorance on the economy and too keep up a war where over 4,100 men and women have dies over a lie. It is time to reverse 7.5 years of the Bush administration and John McCain is not the one.

It's time for Obama

If the Obama supporters would just stop whining, and quit calling the other candidate by childish names, people would take you a bit more seriously. When you say something like McBush or McShame it just makes me think you might not even be of age to vote, so what doea your opinion matter. Maybe ya'll are 13, and the media is pandering to a community that can even vote. That would be pretty ironic...

>> 'Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30 I
>> celebrate my independence day, and on July 4&! I celebrate America's.
>>
>> This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my
>> independence.
>>
>> 'On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba, and a few months later, I
>> was in the United States to stay.
>>
>> That I happened to arrive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day is just part
>> of the story, but I digress.
>>
>> 'I've thought a lot about the anniversary this year.
>>
>> The election-year rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what
>> transpired there. In the late 1950s, most Cubans thought
>>
>> Cuba needed a change, and they were right. So when a young leader came
>> along, every Cuban was at least receptive.

The Pentagon should have allowed Senator Obama to visit the troops in the hospital. They should have been allowed to take pictures so that the whole world could have seen what happens to our soldiers that have fought in battle. By the way my sister, brother, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, cousin, friend might have been in that hospital. What a cover-up Bush administration.

WAKE UP AMERICA; Why can't everyone see that Geo.Bush's administration is trying to sabotage Senator Obama's campaign. I am sure that John McSenile has ask for his help.The State Dept. was told not to help any candidate after McSenile made his trips to foreign countries, but before Obama's.The pentagon told Obama he could not visit the troops in the hospital in German.Why does the media keep going at Obama over these things. I think the media should find out the truth about the conduct of the government. OBAMA 08

Connie from Indiana

texastaildog, and all you other Sen. Obama haters, look at your chipmunk candidate. he would have been a BIG JOKE overseas waving his alligator hands and nobody would have gone to see him. you have your tail behind your legs. like an idioit. all you do is criticize instead give respect where respect is due. look at the economy and the condition it's in because of your stuart little president Bush, and chipmunk would be even worse cause all he knows about is WAR. all he would do in the white house is SLEEP.

I love reading these blogs, watching Fox news and listening to Cambell Brown and Anderson Cooper, just to see what people are mad at about Obama today. It's actually funny because, everyone thats anti-Obama really sounds jealous of him. They complained about him not going over seas, then complain about him going over seas. But one amazing thing that happened yesterday was, Bill O'Reilly actually defended and praised Obama. To all of the Obama haters, if McCain wins, what would you do to get through your day? I mean as of now, I never her anything about McCain policies, just his attacks on Obama. So if Obama is out of the news, what would you guys complain about then?

Anyone who thinks this not solely a campaign trip is a fool. Just curious, since when does a "listening trip", as Obama said it was, involve making speeches? As for taking small jabs at America in his speeches; that is disgraceful. Since Obama is a socialist, of course he will be popular in Europe. Since when do the American people let European opinions influence our elections anyway?

McCain is a jerk who doesn't know when to put a sock in it. I guess you would say "It is never ‘inappropriate’ to visit our men and women in the military," . But so why haven't you voted for any bills to help our veterans or our military in service (GI Bill and the like). But I guess that's a different story. Maybe that why yor received a failing score from our veterans and Senator Obama received a B+.

Obama did visit wounded troops in Iraq without the media finding out until later. He realized that this would not be possible in Germany and would result in a media circus so he cancelled. It's good to see a candidate who knows the meaning of the word "prudence."

McArsenic,

I just happen to be a man, please quit calling me "dear" and "sweetie".
I didn't vote for Bush, but I still think that Obama disrespected him and other high ranking politicians by giving a speech in Germany when he isn't even a president. There's something called protocal (a code of diplomatic etiquette). How will he be able to govern this country if he doesn't understand the concept?

Tom from 12:36, I think you're a little late to the party "my friend."
See, China already owns a lot of the US.

By the way, anyone remember the "Mission Accomplished" trip? Was that a political move in any way?

Also, does anyone remember the picture of Senator McCain with the Grahams about a month or so ago?
Did you then forget that Senator Obama met with Bill Graham's son and other religious leaders a MONTH BEFORE and did not take a picture?

It seems to me, if Obama really wanted to play this for political gain, he would've gone with very few people and then shared some "stories" when he got back to the press.
He could have decided against it because he wouldn't have the cameras. But his track record, at least with the religious leaders, doesn't prove out that point. And, I think he and his team are too smart to not have gone and then used the visit later if necessary.

MACAIN NEEDS TO GET A LIFE. ...HE HAS NOTHING TO SAY OR TO OFFER JUST WAITING FOR THAT LOW GRADE COMMENTS TO MAKE ABOUT ANY OF OBAMA' MOVES, SPEECHES OR ACTIONS....

Jim Miklaszewski gave the reason why Obama couldn't go to Landstuhl. “Political candidates, including the president, are not permitted to use military facilities as a campaign backdrop or anything that could be perceived as being part of a political campaign." Obama wanted to show respect for the military. HE WAS TOLD BY THE PENTAGON IT WOULD BE SEEN AS A POLITICAL EVENT. He visits military hospitals in the states all the time (unannounced so the press doesn't follow). He has tremendous respect for the military! MCCAIN WOULD HAVE TURNED IT INTO A POLITICAL EVENT if he would have gone!!! (just like he did with the Holocaust visit).

Obama is brining back respect and dignity to America. Something that Bush/McCain have destroyed.

Sounds like the military taking side in politics. Does anyone believe they would have stopped war hero JOhn Mc Cain from visiting the troops. This is dangerous when the military can tell a US Senator that he is not allowed to visit troops. Isn't this still a country where the military under the civilian authority. This just shows that under Bush and the rest of those republicans no law is safe from being broke or bent beyond repair.

TEXAS TRAIL DOG NEEDS A HOBBY AND A LIFE AND needs to express himself in lower case text. Sounds like mommy, the spouse or the "little woman" in his life just doesn't listen enough to him so he has to shout IN CAPS on the CNN blog.

Pope Barack Obama the 1st for Pres!

Obama and his staff are to be commended. The images, the interactions with world leaders, the crowds and Obama's speech in Berlin were all superb. The fact that Obama navigated the MSM without making a major gaffe is to be applauded. Honestly, the MSM seemed saddened that they could only report about the trip in a positive way.

Obama's international trip has taken the air out of the Republican attack machine, which said that Obama was inexperienced on foreign policy. The fact that Maliki and even the Bush administration are endorsing Obama's foreign policy approach is clear evidence that Obama is ready to lead our nation.

I was so proud of Obama this week. And I'm so proud of the goodwill he's created about America in other countries. The American flags being waved by Germans says it all.

America can return to its former glory if we elect Obama.

My vote is for McCain........No empty suit for me

Is Obama running for president or King? What arrogance. Even some European gov officials are saying that Obama gives a good speech but that's about it. No substance period. Wait till Obama announces his VP choice. He will loose a few more points in the polls when those poor diehard Hillary for VP supporters pack it in. The question for them is do they just sit out the election or actually vote for McCain.

So folks this is far from over…

To proud army and navy mom:

Thank you for saying what many reasonable people think. And, thank you to your family for their service to this country.

When did the Pentagon or any of the present day White House "YES" people ever care about ...wounded or well soldiers!!..They don't care if they get benefits or not!! What's wrong with a presidential candidate visiting with the afflicted...It will so nice when this current president vacants the big house......

McCain's and his camp's jealousy is bigger than the wounded troops' cheeriness.

He was told he could meet the troops but no photo ops. He couldn't get his photo taken with the troops so he canceled...great idea for commander in chief. You people blasting the Pentagon and McCain need to do your homework.

So why was he allowed to visit troops in Afganastan and Iraq?

oh brother! The flim flam man strikes again. NOBAMA!! NO!
Cynthia/Clemente instead...

some of these Anti-Obama emails make no sense. He's bad for listening to the pentagon, it's his fault he didn't visit the troops and his fault McCain took a shot at him for visiting. He shouldn't go overseas and yet he should go overseas to understand what's going abroad. Wow, some people will say anything no make this hardworking public servant look bad. For shame!

How many senators' trips abroad get covered like this one did? Yet you have Obama upstaging the President of the United States. I don't care HOW unpopular he is, he IS the sitting president.

His explanation: We need our allies to help foot the bills of the WAR in Afghanistan, so we can spend the money at home.

OBAMA...in CASE YOU DON"T KNOW, we are fighting both wars on BORROWED MONEY FROM CHINA. Help will only mean less borrowing, and does NOT solve ONE problem at home. McCain promises to balance the budget by the end of his first term. YOU do not.

Why should I vote for you?

Do the hospitalized troops not deserve to meet a presidential candidate the same as any other american citizen.Makes sense to me!!

To many of the posters in this thread:

Ya'll need to sit down and rest – keep this up and your going to burn out a bearing!

Just who was McCain visiting in Canada, Colombia and England? I don't believe these people vote in US elections.

And all those "fact-finding" trip McCain took to Iraq – no politics, right?

Everything a politician does is for POLITICIAL Gain!

McWar would have been in the hospital with camera crew just for a

photo op, just to tell them how he won all his wars.

Barak used common sense and didn't flaunt them because they were

wounded. (yes they are the result of the Republican's OIL WAR

WAKE UP MCWAR, he has farrrrrrrr more common sense than you

Why can't Obama go if McCain can go? The Pentagon has become politicized and that is very dangerous.

After seeing the way he ignored our troops in Germany I am going to have to vote for McCain. having kids in the millitary I understand how disrespectful that was...

When I was a little girl I looked up to the President of the USA with great respect and awe. Nobody ever said a disrespectful remark – or at least in public. But today, and for the past 10 years, they have been the subject of late night jokes and internet cartoons. How incredibly sad for everyone. It amazes me, but yet I am really not surprised at the comments written in this blog. Some many of you are blinded by your inablility to see the whole picture for whatever reason. It will take a lot of work, a lot of effort, and a lot of intelligence for the next President to bring honor and respect back to the office so Americans, and the citizens of the world, can once again look up to the President of the USA with great respect and awe.

@CNN, don't your owners get it!!! Obama will be the next President of the United States. The media can no longer lie and keep people in the dark regarding the truth. The internet is the new media source. Watch out CNN; Fox's News have already be served. LMAO

Some of your are ridiculous. Obama followed the advice of the Pentagon. He did not want to cause problems. You criticize him for doing that. If he had ignored the Pentagon, you would have criticized him for that too. Why don't you give him credit for something. Also, he could have criticized George W. Bush, but did not.

It is amazing how much hate the right wingers have for another American....it is shameful and pathetic in this 21st century!

Note: "The *Pentagon* expressed concerns it would be viewed as a campaign trip." Sen. Obama's capaign decided to not push the matter further. If he *had* decided to go, then McCain's people would've criticized him for using the visit as a political stunt, i.e. darned if he did, darned if he didn't. These people from the McCain campaign are really something else...

What is surprising about this? THIS is 'THE BUSH Administration' people. These guys politize everything. Crooks and Liars, that's there game. CNN should have researched the story before airing it. Afterall, are they not supposed to be 'The most Trusted....blah, blah,blah'.

Lou Dobbs was giggling on his show like an idiot about the new look of Obama's campaign plane, making fun of the "O" sign and the "Change You Can Believe In" slogan on the plane.

I would like to remind Lou Dobbs that there are no tax dollars involved in the plane – I know he goes to bed worried about 2 things; illegal aliens and tax dollars! The plane is all paid for by us, the proud small-donation supporters of Sen. Barack Obama. Have you sent Sen. Obama any donations Lou Dobbs? I didn't think so!

Obama/Biden '08
Obama/Anyonehechooses '08

Well whatever Obama did or not do it has certainly stirred things up around the world. Sure hope he can do it in the US should he become president.

Obama that was awful a total disgrace to our service men and woman.........I will now be voting for McCain i have truly come to my senses

"McCain The Vote"

Mike, Syracuse, NY Who do you think funded McCains trip? Better yet what do you think of McCain and his publicly financed campaign. Our tax dollars my friend. Obama has just as much right to go over there as McCain does. The difference is that the people in the crowd would be protestors instaed of supporters. Now I guess McCain can take down that dumb counter on his site that says how many days its been since Obama has been to Iraq.

RSR July 25th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

Exactly who do you think our hero's are (the fighting American citizens of all ethnic backround) as Barack is multi-ethnic
He loves (Africa) man get a real life, and come over to the side of the human race, please.

I glance over the comments every few days, and I've noticed that the same people always post. The same irrational "PUMAs" leave the same hateful comments on every post... how do you people find the time to leave these messages? Either you people are paid by the McCain camp to post on here, or you are just unemployed losers.

Who paid for this trip – is it a Senate junket or was it paid for by campaign dollars? If Obama's campaign paid for it, then he is using soldiers as props. Simple as pie – or it should be for the simpletons who support Obama.

The Democrats screamed bloody murder when GWB used a shot of him on Air Force One on 9/11 as a fund-raising piece, but it's now OK for Obama to use soldiers as a fund-raising prop? PICK A POSITION!

Critisizm is all that McCain and his camp have to run on. They have nothing much to bring to the table, and they know that.

the Pentagon hacks are worried about job security.

After seeing the way he ignored our troops in Germany I am going to have to vote for McCain. having kids in the millitary I understand how disrespectful that was

Who cares about the Pentagon or the Hexagon anyway. Thay are all corrupt. An institution who purchase a hammar tool for 800 bucks and authorizes an unjust war. Politcs from the president on down is a racket.

This is nonsense. He could have easily visited the troops but he didnt want to do that just like he disrespected them in Afghanistan. He is available however for speeches that can only be given after FREE rock concerts to attract the public. This is all a side show- the Obama show rolls on- the fairy tale continues. This man is a fake and the news media is giving him a free ride. The DNC spit on the Clintons for this fake prophet.!!! How sad that we have come to this. !1

B Hussein O is a disgrace. As a Senator, all he had to do was go privately (Without the acronym news people) to the hospital and say hello and express SOME sort of thankfulness fo rthe soldier's duties to our country.
What a shameful display of who he really is!!
Buy a New Yorker magazine for the real face.

Obama experience will get US ahead again in the world.
He is the man for the job; the best one. you get experience by doing a job with this say neither McCain or Obama have been president before so none of them have that experience. This nonsense that Obama has no experience need to stop because Mccain has none as well. United States of America for Barack Obama

Looks like we know who the Pentagram backs$$$.TRAIL DOG YOUR SPONSOR IS LOOKING FOR YOU.AA

This is pathetic at best for the GOP Administration.

Illinois Democrat Barack Obama, Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed and Nebraska Republican Chuck Hagel SENATORS visited Afghanistan and Iraq can we leave it at that. If they are to rant about the rest of his visit well and good, but this one is showing all kinds of GOP spin.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters later Friday the Pentagon did not explicitly say Obama should not visit the base, but was concerned with whether his capacity there would be one of a presidential candidate, not a senator.DAHHHHHHHHHHH......He is both and it should be Obama's decision to decide in what capacity he will be severing.......not the Pentagon.

"Generally speaking, the military tries very hard not to get involved in political campaigns," ........if that is true, then why does the Pentagon have policy for elections and presidental campaigning? Smoke is being blown here from boths ends.

This country has gone crazy. The dems are poised to elect a man with very little experience, all kinds of racist/radical connections, and policies that will wreck the country.

The portion of his trip that is to Europe is funded by his campaign (as opposed to the middle east portion of the trip that was funded by taxpayers as part of a "fact-finding" mission), so the Pentagon had every right to be concerned that he would use it for political purposes.

I'm sure the main problem was that he couldn't take his whole entourage of media groupies if he went. I'm sure if Obama and one or two other non-media types went there would have been no problem.

It was a campaign trip. If He truely wanted to visit the troops he would have been there several years ago.

The Bush administration plays politics with governemental departments? Is that why the justice department will not enforce the subpoena against Carl Rove? Why the foreign workers were not allowed to attend the speech even on their own time? hmmmmmmm....I think the media is really dropping the ball on this one...

The dude is a phoney
This trip is a joke
We dont need this clown

You all who call Obama the devil and bring religion into politics crack me up. You have no idea how foolish and back woods you sound.

It is sad when a govt representative is not allowed to visit a military hospital overseas to visit the men and women defending our country.

Has our political system become this ridiculous?

I hope all the morons who criticized him for not going now realize that when the Pentagon has concerns, at least he LISTENS!!! Obama did the right thing.

McCain campaign: Whiners.

Like the Bush administration hasn't already politicized the Pentagon and has used General Patraeus as a political pawn in military clothing.

I guess he shouldnt have put himself in that position in the first place. He put himself between a rock and a hard place by schedulling it. He still could have gone if he wouldnt have the press tag along, with the exception of the military public affairs officer and photographer. He would have done well to take that route.

Let's see. The trip is on his campaign plane. It was paid for by the campaign. The Berlin even was organized by campaign workers, who were there registering American voters. Video and pictures have been used for campaign fundraising. But it wasn't a political event? And Obamites believe this guy. What a crock!

proud army and navy mom states:
"Senator Obama cares about all American people even you filthy, lying haters who love to put him down for anything, true or not. I accepted his reasons without judgment. "

"know because you are either too undereducated or just plain filled with hate to do it. Judge not or ye might be judged."

Can't you even see your own hypocrisy in your two statements? You call those who criticize Obama 'lying haters' and then say 'judge not or ye might be judged' Well YOU have been judged and found to be certifiably insane! Please stop polluting the internet with your lunatic ravings.

Texas Trail Dog

You're SO played out.

I am military retired and sure wished he would have visited Landstuhl.The Pentagon should keep its nose out of it.So sad that the republicans are upset that his trip did so well.Over here in Germany the general public loved that he came and spoke.

If Obama WOULD have visited the hospital against Pentagon wishes you scumbags would have criticized him for that. He cant win for losing.

Obama, do what you want. Us intelligent folk support you. The racists will pick apart every move you make no matter what, anyway. Do you!

Obama '08

Why is it appropriate to criticize Senator McCain, call him"McShame", when he indeed valiantly served his country? Don't get me wrong I am not a supporter of his, but I think enough is enough from the Obama supporters deriding him like this. He is, at least, an honorable man.
If you don't like the way he runs his campaign, fine, don't attack him like this. You get very angry when someone suggests that Senator Obama is inept, unqualified or an egomaniac, which he is. What should truly disturb us all is that our next president will be as inept if not worse than our current one, chosen by inept, under-read people determined to elect a rock star and not a president. It should disturb us greatly that Senator Clinton lost the nomination due to you Obama supporters being determined to canonize his inability and ineffective nature just because you feel he is a superstar. So detremined are you that you allowed a woman, who is possibly the most qualified person ever to seek the office of president, to lose. So determined are you that you deride his honorable opponent at every turn, while casting a bling eye on Obama's political tactics. Wake up folks! Is this the America you really want?

This man is so wise and thoughtful
Can't wait to see him as my president.

Obama '08

This just goes to show be careful what you ask for. Remember the countdown to how many days obama had not been to Iraq. Now he is going to these places just as the republican did and now there so upset. did they ask for this.

Liz wrote: Everyday, also I am hearing and seeing reports on blacks in America. Are there no other race in this country who are having a hard time? What about the native Indians? We don't hear them complaining about their plight like how the black people are doing. What about a docmentary on "Whites in America? I am sure if that was done, we will hear the racist card being thrown out. We have to stop these kinds of programs which seem to increase the divide in the races. CNN is not helping by putting such programs on air.

Liz, be careful; you are sounding like an idiot and racist to boot! Why don't you get out of your head long enought to realize you sound completely ignorant and downright simple-minded...I feel sorry for you!

Obama speech was breath taking.He did a good job,speaking on all areas of life for everyone in the world.People just need to just listen and give him a chance.He did'nt get this far for nothing.It is God's will that he did.

McSame is toast.

The GOP can't handle the fact that Obama's trip has been such a success. Senator Obama is intelligent, confident, graceful, engaged, and is obviously enjoying himself, taking this opportunity to learn as much as he can. Soooo different than the current Pres.–and indeed, administration–we have right now. The GOP can't deal.

Obama will win in a landslide this Nov. !!

Sen. Obama should have been able to meet with the soldiers if he chose to. As a Senator win or lose he will still have to make policy choices that meeting with soldiers at various locations could give him more understanding, there treatment and attitudes may be different depending on there location, fact gathering is a good thing. Even though he did meet with hospitalized soldiers in the middle east

Such as there feeling on the GI Bill that Sen. McCain voted against, how do they feel. Happy that a fellow vet. let them down. I think not. But they should be asked. And the K-town area is a great area.

FOr those that are yelling that this is a campaign trip, I say so what? Did you think he was going on vacation?????

Oh, so now it wasn't that Obama didn't think it was "appropriate" to visit the troops in connection with a campaign, now it's the PENTAGON'S fault! Sorry, Big O, try again. Once he found out that he couldn't bring the cameras with him and he wouldn't have his photo op (boo hoo), he decided to diss the troops (usual for him). This doesn't sound like a "new" kind of politician who is going to bring "change", this sounds like the same ol', same ol' kind of politician who does whatever makes him look good.

Someone please wake me up when this idiotic Obamapalooza free marketing campaign is over. I've seen quite enough of this inexperienced empty suit and his adoring media throngs. BTW, did anyone bother to report that there were FREE concerts before AND after the Obamessiah gave his "landmark" speech in Berlin yesterday? That's one way to pack 'em in and make it look like they were all there to see him.

Hey, McSame can't keep that foot out of your mouth, my freind?

How about you change the title of your post.. .to something with ACTUAL fact like.

Obama and Pentagon spar on hospital

Not saying "Pentagon didn't want Obama There" – WHICH IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE.

Your liberal agenda is so forthright and in the face of your viewers its despicable.

There are many medical, military, personal and privacy issues that wounded soldiers must deal with while they recouperate. Certainly a media circus should not have to be one them.

McCain has to criticize the Obama trip, no matter what! Why is it "inappropriate" for Obama to visit Germany and Europe and draw huge cheering crowds and "appropriate" for McCain to visit Canada for a trip that nobody remembers!
It is just that McBush and their cronies are jealous of Obama's popularity abroad. I am sure if McCain were to visit Europe, nobody would care or listen and as far as President Bush is concerned, he cannot give a speech in Germany or anywhere in Europe without the threat of getting pelted by rotten tomatoes and stones and citizen Bush might even get citizen arrested in Europe for crimes against humanity.

How ironic, the Pentagon (pretty much all appointed by Bush) a Republican advises not to visit the military hospital, and then another Republican McShame, has his supporters condemn the action. Hipocrisy has another name. It is called Republican

Can this please STOP!!! There is nobody in this world (other than Jesus) who deserves this kind of hoopla and coverage.

Gagggggggggggggggggggg! I can't take it anymore. Stop the madness. It is like mad cow disease. A bunch of people brainwashed and not thinking for themselves... buying into this BS. Then they will die because they drank too much of the kool-aid.

I was reading comments on the other post about whether Obama should have gone to Europe. Some people said he should focus on domestic issues. Some people say he had no idea about foriegn policy. Others believe it's all words and no substance.

If Obama would not have gone people would suggest he has no experience and hasn't been to Iraq Afghanistan or Europe. But then he goes and they say he should be focused domestically. People who talked about the lack of substance- actions start with words

What exactly is McCain's foriegn policy- what is he offering the US and the world?? What is his plan? He wants to stay in Iraq- he wants to keep things the same- he wants to continue with a course that has gotten us where we are- the same plan that has gotten us no where.

Obama's trip highlights several important things- That if he is President of the US, when he speaks the world will listen. He didn't explain his positions, but rather that he will also listen and negotiate. He says to McCain you may talk about your experience, but I can demostrate influence. As Americans we should be proud of the way Obama represents us abroad. His trip demonstrates he is capable of handling world affairs. Comparatively speaking what is McCain offering- who will listen to him and will he listen to anyone else.

A lot of the criticisms are from people who don't seem to trust Obama. What are your choices? Trust Obama or trust McCain and the republicans. After the last 8 years I find it pretty difficult to trust McCain.

It is clear that the McCain camps entire strategy is to look at anything that transpires in the Obama campaign and scathingly condemn it reflexively.

Yesterday, I was amused by the McCain staffer's condemnation of Obama's line of being a "citizen of the world": it was almost as if they had their attack script written out beforehand, with a blank line in the middle, with the words "insert Obama gaffe here" in parentheses. And I guess the best they could come up with was his audacity to recognize that he is part of greater humanity.

If he had gone, McCain would have criticized. Not going, McCain criticizes. I hope the voters recognize how disgustingly two-faced McCain and his attack mongrels are.

It is one outrage, after another outrage, with this Bush administration. A United States Senator is denied the privilege of paying his respects to our American women and men in uniform, who have payed a great service to America. President Bush, for want of an agreeable audience, will not hesitate to use military audiences for political purposes, continuously !! I guess, his reasoning is probably, it can't get any worse, than it is already: so let's stiff the Democratic Presidential Candidate, U.S. Senator Obama !! His Presidency has, to quote Speaker Pelosi, been, a " dismal " failure. In the future, when referring to the Bush Administrations, the historians will refer to those years, as the ' Bush-whacking of America " !! Get thee back to Crawford, Mr. Dismal President !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

Per the Obama campaign:

Sen. Obama and one (1) campaign aide was scheduled to visit the hospital, not his entire entourage. And I'm sure the press would have followed him, so it was a good idea not to exploit the soldiers and use them as photo ops.

Show Sen. Obama won't do ANYTHING to win a campaign afterall huh Sen. McShame!

Obama will be the first candidate for president who is basically buying his victory in November.

Did all of you Obama-con drones stop reading half way through?

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters later Friday the Pentagon did not explicitly say Obama should not visit the base, but was concerned with whether his capacity there would be one of a presidential candidate, not a senator.

He could have gone as a senator but decided not to because he could not use it for his campaign.

Maybe you should learn to read the entire story not just what you think the entire story is before you start calling others nasty names. Oh I forgot, that's all the left can do.

What do you mean? This was a freakin campaign trip!!! I'm just suprised that big, obnoxious jet wasn't pimped out with spinner wheels and a booming sound system. Can you get anymore egotistical Crock Hussein NObama???

If Obama were white would this be an issue, I mean seriously. It seems as though everything GOOD is BAD when it comes to OBAMA and EVERYTHING BAD IS GOOD when it comes to MCCAIN'T (yeah I said it because JOHN McCAIN'T Win this election) (smile)

Obama' s speech in Berlin yesterday didn't excite me. I couldn't help but feel that some in that huge crowd might think it impudent for this man from another country to come in to tell them what to do, how to live their lives. I visited Berlin many times, before and after the wall came down, and these people will live their lives how they want without some american dude whipping them up.

They are not like some of these fools here that are falling head over heels in love with Obama for no other reason but that he has the gift of the gab. In fact.....some probably thought "only from America, again" at the end of the speech. We don't need another God.

CHANGE??????? BO – null null – otherwise known as Dr. NO!

"CHANGE"......What I Believe BO's Definition of Change Is!

C = COMMUNISM
H = HATRED
A = ABORTION
N = NEGATIVE
G = GREED
E = ELITISM

"Change" is fleeting! Positive and Negative – Good and Bad. Obama's self-serving "change" born from contempt and controversy, is like a wrecker destroying in a day or two, what it took noble builders – our founding fathers – years to construct.

The tale of the sinister scorpion, mirrors BO's blueprint of deceit.

The scorpion, a poor swimmer, asked the turtle to carry him across the river. "Are you mad?" exclaimed the turtle. "While swimming, you'll sting me and I'll drown."
Laughed the scorpion, "If I sting you, you would drown and I would go down with you. Where is the logic in that?"
"You're right. Hop on!" said the turtle.
Halfway across the river, the scorpion gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle resignedly asked, "You said there'd be no logic in stinging me. Why did you do it?"
"It has nothing to do with logic," the drowning scorpion replied. "IT'S JUST MY CHARACTER."

MORAL – “IT’S NOT WHAT I SAY, BUT WHAT I DO”

LOVE MY USA

To correct an above poster, Obama does NOT have the overwhelming support of the troops. That is also not the issue one way or the other.

What Obama's actions support is that he wanted it as a campaign moment, and that is clearly not within the guidelines. When informed it could be a visit without the campaign hullabaloo, Obama showed where his allegience lies. No surprise.

Its refreshing to see the world wave American flags when Obama comes around.

Maybe after he becomes President, I no longer have to worry about being killed going overseas when I have an american flag patch on my bag

I am on Obama supporter but I think he should have gone still, but make it a "quiet" affair without the cameras and the press. But that might be impossible to do.

We have sick and injury soldiers in the hospital that put their lives on the line and John McCain/Republicans are playing politics. Don’t blame Barack for your lackluster campaign, inability to speak, lacking skills of a commander in chief, high gas prices, bad economy, etc

Obama is asked not to go to the hospital by the right-wing, doesn't go, and then is castrated for not going by, guess who, the right-wing. God will we ever rid ourselves of these people? Oh, and by the way, crap news network, you are all traitors for not providing real news. You suck.

First – 200,000 people there to see Obama? - I don't think so, it was an annual outdoor rock concert that Obama appeared at. However, all you read in the press is that "200,000 showed up to hear Obama speak." Can you say "SPIN" and media bias?
Second – as someone already stated, Obama could have visited the base, but he was told he could NOT take the press corp for photo ops. Thus, he cancelled. This shows his true motivation. He doesn't care about the soliders, he only cares about getting his mug shot in the press. And you call this change???
Third – overwhelming support for Obama from the US troops? huh? You must not know many (if any) real soliders. They view this man for exactly what he is, an empty suit.

Those who have such negative thoughts about Obama will never like him just by the comments. They will always hate him even if Mccain is a fibber. They would rather have someone who will hurt us as a country from moving on to better things. Mccain will say anything and do anything and I think we need better. So for all that hate on Barack. When he is president and things start going better you will have to say thank you to the very man you love to hate.

Obama and Abomination? What's a real abomination is the disrespect that some people show in these blogs. I have no problem with people giving sensible and intelligent discussions as to why they don’t support Obama, but some of you must think you are still in grade school judging by the way you carry yourselves. Your ignorance and racism is showing.

What? No photos with the soldiers.

It was just one missed Obama drama!

Ditto – I agree with Casey Clark from 7/25 @ 12:08pm EST

Only can add...now OBAMA wants to provide health insurance for the illegial Aliens, while hardworking American small business owners can no longer afford the astronomical insurance premiums and have no insurance...but we MUST cover the illegal aliens...on top of all the crap mentioned in Casey's comment.

America is in Big Trouble.....

...

CNN's Poll of Polls even cherry picked a poll done by Merdock (owner Fox News) to make McSames numbers look better.

As a faithful reader I appriciate this report.

THANKS

CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and Fox should be sure to report on the petagon's advice. We need as much information as complete information as possible.

ok, now i'm convinced he's McMoron. if Obama would've gone to the hospital against the "concerns" of the pentagon, McMoron would've been all over that. Now that he didn't go, he's all over that.
i think it's fairly clear McCain goaded him to go overseas and was sure he would be a big flop. Now that he sees what a big hit he's making wherever he goes, he has to look for other reasons to condemn him. Maybe McDesperate would be a better moniker.

It is a very sad day and time when an American Senator/ and staff cannot visit wounded and sick American military members. It is also very sad to realize that a person running for the president, McCain, is sitting over in a corner crying like a spoiled brat – if he becomes president I feel very sorry for all of us. He does not know how to shop in a market, he divorced his first wife because she was no longer fit to be seen with him, and he has no personality – that would allow him to speak before 200,000 people in this country let along in Europe.

OBAMA 08

It is funny how McBush said it is never inappropriate to visit troops in a hospital, but I'm sure McBush's people and all the conservatives would have latched on to the idea that Obama only did this for campaign reasons ... How hypocritical the Republican party is.

Obama in '08 !!

As a black man I am please to see that Senator Obama has done so well on his trip abroad. Anyhow let us be honest with ourselves, neither he or Senator McCain are just ordinary politicians holding elected offices. They are both vying for the highest offfice in the United States of America. On the other hand, the military is to an independent and arms length institution free from the influence of politics or the use there-of by any person for personal political gains.

This has nothing to do with George Bush or anyone trying to block Senator Obama's path to visiting with the troops. Both he and Senator McCain will have plenty of opportunity to do so outside of a politcal campaign process.

My admonition is, people lets stop using race or anything else to discredit sound Judgment. Also, the Pentagon said it did not tell Senator Obama that he could not visit the base, Officials on record just thought it was not a good idea and as such the Senator concur and decided not to go. Based on the Pentegon's statement, he could go if he desired to. So yes it is his decision not to go.

Of course the visit would have been for campaign reasons and not Senator reasons, why do think he decided not to go. He didn't go because he wanted his campaign staff to join him, and when they couldn't go along he opts out. So what does that tell you, he had the opportunity to visit the troops as a caring concerned senator and didn't do it. What a fool. This guy is such a bafoon, my nich name for him is OPY.

Hmmm....seems like there were those who jumped the gun yesterday posting how Obama had no respect for the troops in Germany.

Had the spin cycle working in overtime.

Idiot trolls

Get real...He's a politician...He probably campaigns in his sleep, shaking his wifes hand mumbling I'd appreciate your vote.

you all twitched and moaned that he hasn't been to the mid-east.

now you are twitching and moaning because he has...

YOU can't have it both ways.

(stinking hypocrits)

What is all this idiotic talk of "antichrist"? Has anyone stopped to think about what kind of mental atrophy such a position indicates? I wish my fellow Americans would close their Bibles for one minute and use their brain.

Further, every politician has some kind of ego. How else can you stand in front of people and say, "I have the best ideas to fix our problems." McCain does this, Clinton did this, Obama does this. Heck, Bush did it, Bill did it, Bush Sr. did it, Reagan did it... If you don't project self-confidence, you won't even get out of the gate.

And for the record, I have no doubt that McCain or Bush had something to do with this not visiting the troop thing. They are conniving jerks, and we all know McCain would have visited the troops in Germany. The double standard chocked up to some pseudo-power of having served is offensive to me. McCain is exploiting his service, the service of others, and then turns around and votes against funding for our soldiers. Talk about anti-Christian.

Wake up, USA. We've become morons who rely on sound-bytes and slogans.

I EXPECTED some of the comments here criticizing Sen. Obama's trip. Its obvious that some people on the "right" are just plain jealous, that a Black man running for president of the United States would be so warmly welcomed abroad!

To Lisa and others: Why did he give the speech in Berlin? Why not? MCCAIN GAVE SPEECHES ON HIS RECENT TRIPS TO CANADA, COLUMBIA AND MEXICO........ HE DID NOT HAVE A HUGE CROWD, BUT HE DID SPEAK! WHY NOT SEN. OBAMA? HAVE WE NOW TAKEN AWAY OUR FREEDOM TO SPEAK?

Unlike some nay sayers, who refuse to listen, I listened carefully to the speech Sen. Obama gave. I did not hear anything that would offend anyone! If anything, his speech SHOWED US, AMERICANS, OF THE KIND OF FOREIGN POLICY WE WOULD HAVE UNDER A PRESIDENT OBAMA. WHICH WOULD BE A WELCOMED CHANGE....... FROM THE FAILURES OF BUSH/CHENEY!

LIKE IT OR NOT, WE DO LIVE IN A RATHER SMALL WORLD! WE ARE INDEED DEPENDENT ONE ANOTHER FOR OUR ECONOMIES AND OUR SECURITY....... WE NEED TO WAKE UP FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATION! WE CAN NOT ISOLATE OURSELVES IN OUR SMALL-MINDS. WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.

And AMEN, to DAN IN TEXAS! Well said! My husband and I make six figures, and under the Bush tax cut we have been getting a rather generous tax return! BUT..... I WILL GLADLY GIVE UP OUR NICE TAX BREAK IF WE COULD OFFER HEALTHCARE TO ALL AMERICANS. HEALTHCARE COSTS ARE THE NUMBER REASON FOR BANKRUPTCY IN OUR NATION....... IF THIS CONTINUES WE WILL NO LONGER BE THE WEALTHIEST NATION ON EARTH!

It's a shame that Mccain didn't receive the same criticisms when HE took a political trip overseas several months ago. But when Obama does the same, it's suddenly talked about in a negative light. There is disparity all around this situation.

Obama's campaign should be renamed "One Flew Over the Cocoos Nest". The inmates have taken over the democratic party.

The pentagons real concern was that Obama and his progressive supporters would spit on our wounded soldiers like they are doing in the streets of California..

For: Casey Clark July 25th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Let's see, in the United States we have: A housing slump, rising unemployment, rising gas prices, rising food costs, a slump in retail sales, a broken infrastructure nationwide, a healthcare crisis, homeless veterans, homeless children, an unstable stock market, failed banks, a mortgage crisis and so much more. While Obama is enjoying photo ops in the Middle East, who is addressing the problems back home? The Obama trip was supposed to be a fact finding mission. Instead, he upstaged our president and showed a level of arrogance that was incomprehensible. He can stand on the other end of a teleprompter, but he can't hold press conferences where he is asked more than one question at a time. Change has to come gradually with intelligence and humility. The spotlight needs to shine on the challenges of the American people not on Barack Obama
************************************************************* Why not ask Mr McCain??? He has been here all week doing NOTHING but bashing Mr Obama???

Tim...

did you really just cite the Weekly Standard as the source??

"really"???

Always something to hide w/this kind of a move. With all of the media following Senator Obama, this visit would have revealed alot more of what they are trying to hide about the percentage of the casualties and the wounded soldiers. And I agree w/a previous comment line----they are getting richer, no strike that, richer-----at the cost of American lives and taxpayers

I think it is interesting that the Pentagon gives a crap where and in what capacity Obama sees our military troops. I respect Obama for making the best decision he could given the circumstances.

McCain just makes me want to vomit. I have absolutely no respect for him at this point.

Obama is out shinning Bush and that's the problem.

Way to go President Obama

I guess for his trip to seem successful Barack needed to hangout in a cheese isle.

If we could send a message to Barack Obama and his campaign gurus, it would be "Hey, we're not stupid!" Those of us who've had numerous presidential campaigns under our belt, certainly know the difference between what is politics as usual, and what is not. One question we would have would be what does Obama and Mr. Gibbs, et al hope to achieve by campaigning in Germany, France, etc. We need to have this clarified. Did he get donations from them? If so, what will they get in return? Finally, John McCain is asking the same questions the American public is asking. When Obama goes to Germany and talks about America's short-comings and failures, somehow that seems to warrant asking questions.

Thanks as usual for allowing this venue to have our questions aired.

As a college student who has been following the election since way too long ago...(last summmer!) I personally feel that this trip was not the best option for Obama.
First, he's a US senator. (I'm a college student in CA, but from Springfield IL)
Secondly, he is not the president yet. Why is he making promises to foreign leaders when he is not even the president yet.
Thirdly, we have so many issues here in the US, why parade in a foreign land to prove that you can handle foreign relation issues. Worry about the homeland first, the major fallacy of the current administration. Anyway, how can a whirlwind tour of the world really teach a person about foreign problems and US involvement in the first place. The only way to truly know a foreign environment is to bleed and sweat among their people for a really long time.
Fourth, you need to focus on the US, German citizens cannot vote in November, and none of the promises can be fulfilled if McCain wins.
The latest CNN poll shows Obama barely over McCain....think about it

I am just concerned that if America picks Obama, we will fall into a trap of empty promises...so sad that Edwards was booted out. For a person who would rather argue about Rezko and Walmart and Reagan than the plight of the people...sad...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Haedh8BaMY4

Please Obama focus on AMERICA

To Dan TX. I am a Texan and will not vote for Hussein Obama even if he was the only one running. Our soldiers will not vote for him because he wants to cut the military and do away with our nuclear weapons......who is going to protect you when the Terrorist arrive in the USA and put their flag on the Capitol. You have 8 years with no events in the USA, but if Obama makes it to President....then heaven help you.

The Bush administration and Mccain are so childish. It's time for an adult in charge; the Obama Era can't come soon enough.

somethings never change. whatever Obama will do there are some who are only there to criticize. bush senior put it simple jealous thats all it is.

I keep hearing about McCain's influence over the Pentagon decision.

Has anybody asked the question about McCain's influence over the IOC's ban of Iraqi athletes from Beijing? After all, you have Mitt Romney, former IOC head himself, openly campaigning for McCain's VP slot, then the IOC decision "miraculously" comes out just after Maliki embraced Obama's timeline for withdrawal......

No evidence, but highly suspect.

CNN WHERE IS MY POST ?
BARACK THE VOTE !!!

McShame and McBush are truly comical...You can clearly see how afraid the republicans are. Way to go Obama, checkmate...

All of the McCain supporters are upset that President/Senator Obama is getting so much press. Jealous is all it is. McCain supporter stop winning. Accept the fact that Obama is going to be the next President.

Obama has the experience!

I wonder why he couldnt visit the wounded soldiers as a US sentaor with his official team. Will he go to places only when there are cameras and swooning media? and he says he loves america so much..pukes

Wake up america and think before you vote!

it does not matter what Obama does...

it does not matter what Obama says...

he will be criticized for it, LOUDLY....

RIGHT OR WRONG...TRUTH OR A LIE..... HE WILL BE CRITICIZED.

it is ALL they have......

Mike, Syracuse, NY

Ya mike so you could say he must be hiding something because he didn't bring press or they hate him so he left the press behind so no one would see.
SHUT UP ALREADY

I am appalled by all of the media coverage of Barack Obama. It seems to me that the media already had the coronation of this Junior Senator as the President.

That is crap, Obama is making it a political trip and he is making it a mockery of the process. He has NO foreign policy experience and he doesnt know anything of the military life. He is a high priced politician and lawyer who should be in the USA working for the American people instead of overseas making promises that he can never keep, Come on Obama, we see the smoke screen.......

Did the news media forget to mention that there were two live bands that are very popular in Germany, that Obama paid to proform before his speech. That way it makes it look like they all flocked there to see him... he did the same thing here in the US...paid bands to give free concerts so he would look good because of the large crowds.

The RIGHT thing to do would have been to visit the hospital without the reporters and without cameras.

Would that have been so hard? Would it have been impossible to tell the press to wait outside for an hour? For even a 1/2 hour?

Why won't anyone comment on this?

This is America, Capitalism works! We do not need a socialist movement in this country!

MORNING JOE AND ALL HIS NEOCON THUGGS ARE DISGUISTING.

"On Morning Joe today… Andrea Mitchell said something about John McCain having some influence over the Pentagon's decision if this is true it needs to come out."

She also laughed at the footage of a US tanker sinking after a misfired missle. Joe called her on it, asking her why she would laugh at such a thing. It was quite funny.

Correction OBAMA/ BIDEN 08
yes i know his name i went for the wrong letter...

WAKE UP!

gastoys, obama did not "talk down the usa." obama implied in his speech that the usa would need help fixing the situation in afghanistan and would need europe to lend its hands. it was a sure sign that obama was only interested in making sure that the american government will have funds freed up to take care of domestic issues. that doesn't sound anti-american at all.

Obama did a lot to repair America's image abroad with this trip. As Americans we should be grateful that someone has come along that has the political and oratorical skills to do this. The "cowboy" approach from the Bush administration has done much harm and there is much repair work still to be done. I'm afraid that a McCain presidency would only make things worse, if that's even possible. To attack Obama for this trip is extremely short sighted and politically motivated.

The trip was supposed to be a "fact finding" mission wasn't it? We've been able to listen to a lot of hot air from Mr. Obama (still devoid of substance) but I've yet to see or hear of one "fact" that his trip was to produce.

For the Obamaniacs: BHO couldn't visit the troops because he had to have his campaign staff (and journalists) in tow. IE, no photo op, no visit.

If anyone was trying to use the troops to their own advantage it was BHO! He could have visitedthe troops as a senator with a couple of senate aids, to raise morale for the troops. Instead BHO cancelled after the pentagon expressed concern over the appearance of it being a campaign event with campaign staffers and media in tow.

Yep, this is change/judgement we can believe in! BHO should be selling used cars.

I'm telling you... Obama could cure Cancer and Aids on the same day and find a solution to hunger, homelessness and global warming the next day,

and the corporate media would take the line of the republicans and state negatively;

WHY DID HE WAIT SO LONG TO DO THESE THINGS???

I am glad this was revealed because there are some that were seriously attacking Obama for not visiting......

What are their response to this?

To proud army and navy mom

Do you actually work, or are the "Typical Liberal" who sits at home all day with out a job blogging about how broke you are. We need to find you a job so you dont get as many free hand outs if hussein gets elected

Lies, lies and more lies. The "trip is not a political one", yea right. The Obama plane has his campgaign and website painted on the side.

Anyone who still believes in Obama is just plain uneducated.

So now the truth comes out. Pentagon probably was just playing politics, like State when it refused to allow rep's in Germany from attending Obama's speech.

Obama ended up speaking with wounded vets by phone, with no media in sight.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Has McCain visited there? Can he go there now?

The Pentagon should have stayed out of it. I'm sure the troops would have loved a visit from Obama!

UNBE-BLEEPING-LEAVABLE.

Why am I surprised that the media has found a way to not bash Obama for making the most un-American, un-patriotic trip imaginable?

This is disgusting.

Please, stop falling for the trap. Obama is bad for the world, bad for America.

McCain/Romney 08.

I guess you Obama fans love the fact that your 60.00 donation you took out of your grocery money helped pay for a free concert, speech, free beer and bratwurst for BM's German fans..it would have been nice if it was for American soldiers! Oh, well-send him another 10.00.

Nothing like having a liberal that things you"ve wasted your livilhood in Iraq visit you in the hosptial while you recover from war wounds..

What would have stopped him from visiting the troops WITHOUT any camera crews or his entourage of staffers? If he sincerely wished to honor the troops, he could have very easily done that without it appearing political.

Obama: "America is for sale"

leave McCain in the dust with his binky and his disgusted looks, its already as bad as lower case bush and his smerks.

Obama can't visit, but McCain acn, doble standar.

FOX NEWS think that the american people are stupid. I love how hannity always call karl rove the architec....Bush's administration is the worst ever and foxnews is still trying to give karl rove credit for creating this mess. Hannity is racist, i don't care what no one says. he keeps saying Obama is a community organizer would have done nothing, i wonder if he thinks that one of those wall street greedy bastard [enron CEO or tyco CEO) ARE better suited for the job than obama.

So many comments here are off the mark – Obama was not allowed to visit the troops with press but could have went to the hospital if he only agreed not to make it a photo opp. Obama didn't want to waste his time unless he could get the publicity.

I'm surprised at the negativity toward Obama from most of you... I guess what I dislike about all of this banter is that most of it comes off as ignorant. I would say that over 50 percent of the US voters are. We could have the perfect man stand before us as president and people would still find a way to stone him. I'm holding out hope... and that speech was fantastic btw... political or not it needed to be addressed.

Look. McCain campaign is getting knocked around. Volunteers complaining that they do more than paid staffers. Young republican voters on campus are mad because they say McCain doesn't speak to them like Obama speaks to young Democrats. McCain critizing Obama about foreign policy, yet he names countries that doen't even exist anymore. Small potatoes yes, but part of this process is to determine who would be better suited as President. For all the experience McCain supposedly has, it is not helping him at all. Also what is not helping Mccain is the sight of Obama speaking to 200,000 people at a rally in Germany, and all of them, are cheering. Mc Cain goes to a german resturant instead to talk about something he clearly knows nothing about, the economy. I don't think a hollywood writer could write a better script.

Texas Trail Dog! can't even read and comprehend the story.

If McCain had decided to go the Pentagon spokesman would be silent...except for the crikets.

It would be great if CNN could refrain from the rapidly spreading misuse of the word "political" to refer to "partisan" or "in the service of elections" - the political is that which concerns the polis qua polis, i.e. the community, city, country. In other words, I very much hope Obama's visits are political.

McCain and Bush-in-company are nothing but haters. The Neo-cons time is limited, because the whole world is yearning for change. And that is what Obama reperesents.

FUNDRAISING OR NOT... YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW .. THE MOMENT YOU BEGIN TO GANG UP ON BARACK... THE TALLER WE STAND BEHIND HIM.... THE MORE MONEY HE RAISES... KEEP COMPLAINING BECAUSE THAT MEANS HE'S DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

Tom
You Rep. asked him to go so shut up and have a little salt with that helping of humility

My God! After reading some of these comments, I am convinced we are a country filled to the brim with idiots! No wonder the world have no respect for us. SHAME ON US!

As quoted by CNN

Obama's arrival in Europe follows earlier stopovers in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinian territories. He says he is making the trip as a U.S. senator rather than a presidential contender.

What ? Are you kidding me ???

We will vote for Obama.And LUCY,he knows where you live.

Listen up people, I am an Obama supporter and would like nothing more than for him to be the next President. That being said, and you can quote me, OBAMA WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT! The powers that be will not allow that to happen, either through election rigging or (god forbid) ‘taking him out’.
The question is, when this happens, what will you people do? Will you be good little sheep or will you make a stand?

Can't you bloggers READ???? Go back to the article. The Obama camp stated that the pentagon advised against the hospital visit, but Pentagon spokesperson in writing stated they did not they merely gave the Obama camp guidelines for the vist and given the press corp wasn't allowed to accompany if Obama visited, I would imagine is why Obama declined. Do the math people. You can call McSame, McShame all you want but if you do a spell check after typing Obama's name it comes up to change it to Osama. Hmmm, conincidence, HE DOESN'T SUPPORT THE TROOPS PERIOD!!!

Don't you moderate on a first in first out basis?

CNN get it right....He could have gone he just wouldnt be able to bring the press and the campain staff. DoD states people running for President cant use the millitary for political show. However as a SENATOR ( I use the term loosely) he would be able to go just as any other CODEL.

Fact is when he found out pictures could only be taken by the millitary he dropped it.....If it does not benfit him and his run to rule the world he wants no part of it

One other thing: READ THE ARTICLE. The Pentagon told him they were concerned with him bringing his campaign to a military base. THEY NEVER SAID HE, HIMSELF, COULD NOT VISIT THE TROOPS. Faced with the decision to visit the troops without campaign staffers, which any true patriotic American would have certainly opted for, he chose to ignore the sacrifices of our soldiers for some final campaign photo-ops before his trip to France. What an utterly shameful man. He cares more about HIS campaing than the sacrifices of our troops.

Perhaps if he would have said he was going to sing bomb, Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran, they would have welcomed his visit.

If any one thinks that Senator Obama is an ordinary American citizen or politician, I will say please look up the word ordinary in your dictionary and stop trying to be naive. Lets look at the facts. (1)
Senator Obama is the Demotractic Party presidential nominee vying for the highest office in the United States. (2) No ordianry citizen of the United States would have Heads of States and the citizens of those respective States gushing in awe of them as it is toward the Senator. (3) Why were these trips not done before he received the party's nomination bid or even before he had stated his plan to contest in the party's presidential candidate nomination process.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against the Senator's world wind thros. I am against anything that may be an opportunity to capitalize on the military institutional appeal to the ordinary citizen for personal benefit as a politician.

I am therefore in agreement that Senator Obama nor his counterpart Senator John McCain should not visit any such institution while they are in the political campaign process. Neither at this time are ordinary citizen. Only one of the two will certainly become president of the United States of America should the good Lord God spare their lives till the inaugurartion day in January 2009. They can visit after this day and before they again announce their intention to contest in any subsequent electoral process for elected office. God bless America.

We have to understand that the world does not like America the way that they used to. If Obama will resurrect that love again why not. The president has elienated us from the rest of the world. It is time to take the lead again.

Of course Fox Noise chose to report that Obama chose to snub the wounded vets.

All he had to do was leave his press behind, they didnt tell him couldnt go he made that decision.

Texas Trail Dog!

You my friend, are an idoit!

Where is John McSame? He was the one who criticized Sen. Obama for not going there. We want an explanation for this McShame

Lisa.
"politics at it's best". So what? if Maccain had the chance he'll do the same. You people should stop being jealous. MacCain came to Euope, nobody even new. By the way, anytime Bush came to Europe he had to took cover from protesters's throwing tomatoes at him

I just noticed that CNN has an Obama ad for his campaign website. Don't you think this is being biased? I am not seeing an ad for McCain's campaign website. I would like to know if Obama owns shares in CNN why we have so much coverage on him. He or some of his campaign advisors must own shares in CNN because of the excessive coverage we get on him. I am not a McCain supporter but I know when the primaries were on, Obama received excessive coverage over my candidate Hillary Clinton. I feel if a network offers one thing to a candidate they should also do the same for the other candidates.

Everyday, also I am hearing and seeing reports on blacks in America. Are there no other race in this country who are having a hard time? What about the native Indians? We don't hear them complaining about their plight like how the black people are doing. What about a docmentary on "Whites in America? I am sure if that was done, we will hear the racist card being thrown out. We have to stop these kinds of programs which seem to increase the divide in the races. CNN is not helping by putting such programs on air.

Anyway, Clinton for president and I hope she gets what is rightfully hers .........the democratic nomination from Obama who was selected by the DNC and not elected by the voters.

This still makes absolutely no sense. Senator Obama travels to military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan for what we all know are political reasons. Yet, the Obama campaign claims the Pentagon didn't want Obama to visit sick and injured service members in Landstuhl because it would be looked upon as a political move? Something just doesn't jive. I think the bigger concern is they were concerned the Obama camp would make a circus out of it with an entourage of 3 network anchors, hundreds of media, and hundreds of volunteers trying to push all those that were there registered to vote.

Obama and the other 2 Senators could have always gone there by themselves, without the hundreds of cameras tagging behind. But, then there wouldn't have been a photo-op and that really negates the purpose of visiting injured service members.

@Casey
Instead, he upstaged our president and showed a level of arrogance that was incomprehensible.
______________________________________________________
sweetie...i hate to break it to you but chewed gum stuck under a table in a smoky lounge in an abandon building in a slum in Brazil (i have nothing against Brazil, love it there) can upstage YOUR President...it is so funny how one person can see arrogance where sane people see confidence. Obama showed that he can bridge the gap between us that your Bush has made. remember dear it was Mccain who went to Canada, Mexico and Columbia to auction our jobs...Obama went to the Middle East, Israel and Europe to mend the peace. just goes to show Obama does it Bigger and Better than McCain.

I think Senator Barack Obama did the right thing not going to the military base. Al though he will be criticised for not going by some. It appears that what ever Obama does he is dam if he do and dam if he don't. There is to much disinguenous,sour grapes jealously thrown unfairly at the Presidentia Candidate Barack Obama he is being ripped apart for no good reason . This is wrong , this is unamerican Anericans do not nit pick at each other. I am really disappointed at Presidential Candidate John McCain on the negative campaign he is running against Senator Obama. McCain well said he would not run a negative campaign he did, he lied. to us.

Thank goodness that only Americans can vote for the President of the US. Do we really want Europeans telling us what they want as President? It's not their choice. No Obama isn't having his picture taken at every stop and having the news anchors follow him around like lovesick pre-teens... This is his first 'world' tour. Translated: Obama's first campaign photo op not on US soil. Mc Same and Osoma (oops, I meant Obama) are the same old politics. Vote for what we know works, write in Reagan/Nixon for 2008!

Obama is inappropriate and an obamination to boot!

Obama would never put Petraeus in an ad because 1. Petraeus probably wouldn't let him. 2. Obama basically said Petraeus would fail. and 3. Obama no more supports the troops than Michael Moore does.

Lucy..we have people all over the world burning the American flag and the best you can do is call Obama the Anti-Christ. It's more like Bush is the anti-christ.

The world needs to start healing and we finally have a man "man enough" to take us in that direction. What's the problem?

I guess the Idiot Bush standing on the Aircraft carrier telling us that " Mission accomplished BS story, didn't have anything to do with politics....... Cough , Gag,

"200,000 and counting."

Looks like it was more around 140,000 people who showed up for the speech 60 – 80,000 people got counted because they where in the city that day and they counted people who left public buildings.

When you get the photo of when Obama was talking people say you can count around 90,000 people listening to him... when the music was playing a few more people around 120k where around the area..

I hope they are still counting because it sounds to me like a media lie like the one in Oregon which I was at because of the music and was counted as watching Obama even though I did not want to listen to him, but was there for the music.

So, does this kill the whole argument that Sean Hannity was trying to make last night on H&C? I tell you, the basis behind that guy's arguments are so simple....Let's see what he has to say tonight.

Obama 08

The Pentagon, McCain and Bush is up in Armys. McCain has visisted so many bases and wanted to do a joint Town Hall meeting with OBAMA at Fort Hood, now all of a sudden the Pentagon is worried. Give me a break, as an Army Officer on Active Duty, OBAMA has the overwhelming support of the ARMY, the AIR FORCE, vast Majority of the NAVY to include the Marines. It is time for CHANGE and only OBAMA will provide that CHANGE! The Pentagon need to relax a bit, because something might be perceived as campaigning don't mean it is. OBAMA should come back here and return in late OCTOBER on a Senatorial visit to those places, the Pentagon was scared that there would be so much Military Personnels showing up to see OBAMA.
GEORGE BUSH use the Military as his staple to the election in 2000 and again in 2004, McCain did it two months ago when he visited Marine bases all over, now the military has shown its choice for President and the WAR mongers in the Pentagon are running scared. YES, WE CAN AND WE WILL, I can't ait to see, HAGEL- POWELL and SINSEKI in an OBAMA administration running the PENTAGON.

OBAMA 2008/2012 OBAMA-KENNEDY!

Bet the Pentagon would have no problem with McCain going.

America Isoloted?

Lets get real, the world needs us, for that matter who cares what the French or Europe think of us? Where are they whenever catastrophe hits?

This is more of a Democratic ploy to be "liked".

Bush will be a prophet in given time, as he has stood up and took action against a dicatator who was snubbing his nose at us right after 9/11 and he took him out. Not saying the planning was perfect, but war never is. I somehow recall the US letting Japan take over island after island until we got our act together

I can only laugh when people say how presidential Obama is, as he is scripted like some pastor at a Baptist church, but if you say anything bad about him your a racist

...but, but McCAIN told me it was because Obama hates the troops!

Poor McSame...he's trying so hard to find a gaffe in Obama's brilliantly successful overseas trip (which he teased Obama for not taking, then whined when he took it). McCain's campaign has absolutely no message, no direction and no clue. It just whines about Obama all day.

Really? Because I have heard the Oentagon has denied they ever said that. It sounds like the media is trying to cover for Obama with this story.

A fundraising link, but not for making "donations" to the campaign??? Obama couldn't wait to start USING THIS PHONY PHOTO-OP BS to help his campaign, so when he made it political he knew he couldn't do it, his call, not the Pentagons.

HE DECIDED to not go because he was already making ads using the trip and he knew there would be a conflict noted. His CALL, NOT BUSH, NOT THE PENTAGON. He made the speech like he was just "regular folks", but the reality is that he is nothing but a "typical politician".

On Morning Joe today... Andrea Mitchell said something about John McCain having some influence over the Pentagon's decision if this is true it needs to come out.John McCain is starting to to run a very nasty campaign after saying he was going to run a clean campaign.You would think after the way he was treated by the Bush campaing during the 2000 election that he would act better than this,but I guess not.

It's so funny how CNN closes the comments to an article quickly when all the comments are negative towards McCain. They keep testing the waters to see if they can get a story that people will like about McCain. Good try CNN but it's not going to work – Not This Time!!!

By the way, the 200,000 who saw Obama in Germany were there because there were two free concerts. He's using the same gimmick in Germany that he uses here. Offer free stuff to people, show up and give a speech, and then say everyone came to here him talk.

Obama and his ways are what is wrong with the country. Beware of what you ask for.

Bush and McCain would have made an issue of Obama's visit, such is the smallness of the republican party.

McCain is nasty, and he's shown it in his despicable attacks.

It's so funny how CNN closes the comments to an article quickly when all the comments are negative towards McCain. They keep testing the waters to see if they can get a story that people will like about McCain. Good try CNN but it's not going to work – Not This Time!!!

I think Obama campaign doesn’t know what they are doing
Hillary please come back
Hillary 08 / Mc Cain 08

This whole trip is nothing but a campaign trip and is not appropriate. I believe it will backfire. I don't think most voters care how popular a candidate is in Europe or the middle east, Unless of course he can talk OPEC into pumping more oil. Oh thats right pumping more oil won't help cut the price. This man is a moron and don't call me a racist, Pellsoi and Reid are even bigger morons.

Texas Trail Dog is a no good dirty liar. Texas is going to elect Obama, pal. Texas Trail Dog needs to get ready to eat some trail dust.

The new analysis of the tax and health care plans for American families and businesses including income tax and capital gains taxes has been completed.

If you earn less than $200,000 a year, Obama's plan provides a higher income gain for you than McCain's plan. If you make between $200,000 and $600,000, both plans tax you about the same. If you make more than $600,000 you'll be paying about 8-9% higher taxes under the Obama plan.

So for all you making over $600,000 a year who think that the poor who can't afford bread should just eat cake – McCain's your man.

Give me a break. The McCain camp is really pathetic now.

If Barack had visited the troops, McCain would have asked why he didn't visit an orphanage.

When you think about it, you can't blame McCain for not commending Obama on a successful trip overseas. This is an election. What is McCain supposed to say? "Barack is obviously loved all over the world and I'm proud to call him my friend?

No matter what Obama does, he will be dissected and criticized.

America is a free country where one can express freely. However, when it comes to Presidential elections, America is used to traversing known lines of position on various issues. Anyone who is fresh and thinking different on the approaches on where we head is charged with heresy. It is indeed strange that a country proclaiming to be the incubator in democracy can not tolerate divergent views.

Obama will be trashed all the way to the end and who knows perhaps America will elect McCain in the "name of" experience, honesty, integrity and national pride!

Obama talks down the U.S.A to all the European American Haters and then did not have the decency to pay respects to our American troops who provided him the freedom in the first place.

First Read reports:

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 official said "We didn’t know why" the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. "He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him."

Ed Morrissey writes that "those same rules applied for the CODEL trip to Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Obama campaign’s line that he couldn’t visit troops on a leg of the trip "funded by the campaign" is crazy

Real simple there Biff. If you look at the media ABC, CBS, and NBC all tagging alone that would answer your question as to why WE think he has them in the bag. I mean, the media is as liberal as the Democratic Party or have you decided to over look that also?

A clear patter is emerging in America, driven by the conservatives, and bought into by the media. This guy is so impressive, and apears to be just what America needs to turn our country arpund. But ironically, the better he looks because of his mild temperament, his eloquence, his love of country, his wise take on america's problems..the better he looks, the more people seemed to be wondering....if he's too good to be true. No one wondered about such things when our great nation was blessed with similar figures such as JFK or Reagan.

I don't believe him. Obama lies – it is a campaign trip and everyone knows it. Just like when he was campaigning in federal buildings in DC. Both McCain and the Clintons were denied similar expose on federal property. Perhaps Saint Obama feels he is above the law.

Richard Nixon didn't think the rules applied to him either. Dick Cheney doesn't either. Nice moral company.

Ambitious empty suits make me nervous.

texas trail dog -

the pentagon did not cancel obama's trip for him. they advised him to cancel his trip. it's in the article above.

there shouldn't be anything wrong with obama stating the fact that he willed this non-visit

Lisa,

Apparently you do not comprehend what you read. Or, you see and hear what you want to. They did not advise him not to speak, only not to visit the wounded troops (for what ever sense that makes)!! You are determined to be negative when it comes to Senator Obama. Your negativaty will not prevail. He will be our (and yours like it or not) next PRESIDENT!!!

OBAMA '08 and '12

His trip must have been a success then.

Read what the German press said about Obama...
"The paper noted too that the speech had been intended less for the crowds gathered in Berlin's Tiergarten park than for "hesitant white voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Colorado and Virginia" and said that Obama had proved himself to be a clever tactician, capable of shifting positions to suit his audience.

"He wants to convince (voters) that the world will also listen to a black president... And there's one other thing one shouldn't forget when talking about Obama: He easily reworks even positions that have been written in stone and adjusts to new requirements."

He's a second "Slick Willy"! A chicken, or turkey, or whatever you want in your pot, or not.

Will Obama pay back the American people for his campaign trip?

You mean that email I got with a photo and video of Obama in Germany with

VOTE FOR OBAMA and DONATE NOW

with links to pages about his trip overseas was not a campaign email?

Obama made phone calls to wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Germany this morning, in lieu of a personal visit to the forces that was canceled by the Obama campaign.

Obama was expected to speak to a number of soldiers individually.

Very said that Bush blocked this event. Sour grapes because the troops would much rather see Obama than Bush.

What is so wrong with someone campaigning overseas? Especially in Obama's case, where his opponents question his ability to conduct foreign policy. I think this trip was an effective way to show how he would be received abroad. Obama hasn't had the advantage of 25 years in congress to build up foreign policy credibility, as John McCain has had. Senator McCain is coming off as a blow hard. If he wants to attract the same sort of media attention that Obama has had, maybe he should get tens or hundreds of thousands of people to come out and see him speak!

I listened to the Obama speech and I have to say.....the novelty has worn off. Again, much overinflated repeatition of generalizations that gives little substance to what the real call is. Its like a play in a theater more so then a call to action via motivation and real inspiration. Its one thing to be inspired by tones of voice and skills of speech delivery...its another thing to inspired people with an idea and mission that will initiate action once they go home.

The best sermons are those that live in actions and not only in words.

At what point in the 1950s did the Pentagon, CIA, etc become seats of power independent of the president and congress? It's bad enough that "elected" officials like Bush have secret agendas and secret governments, but just why do we tolerate the secret maneuverings (all political) of the Pentagon and the CIA?

Finally someone representing our country starts the process of reconciliation with the rest of the world after the damage done by Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" and the focus of this article is on The Pentagon's concern about Obama visiting with our wounded soldiers. How can you even go there after Bush's "Mission Accomplished" charade with it's pure political motivation.
For all you haters who support McCain, I hope the rest of us will not have to live through the outcome if you get your way. I cannot even imagine what this country will look like after McCain and his corporate cronie's, as well as the likes of Phil Gramm (his economic advisor) keep a strangle hold on power. But seriously...

The campaign cancelled the trip when he found out that the media was not allowed to go with, so no photo ops to use as a campaign backdrop.

What did Barrack do after that, he went shopping.

You left out a few important tidbits to this story to protect him.

Wow, this guy is such a phony! Any person with half a brain sees right through his lies. A visit to an army base would not do anything to bolster his campaign. That's why he chose not to go there. He does not care about the troops of our nation. He is a pandering, shameless man who will do anything to win the presidency. If anyone believes he went to Europe as a senator they are grossly mistaken. He flew there on his CAMPAIGN JET. Picture (shutters) this man as President, pandering to other countries while we struggle to maintain our unipolar position as the single world power. Yeah, we need Europeans giving us advice. God knows how successful they've been in governing their own people.

the republicans think the U.S military is their personal property and they attacked Obama because he choose not to visit the troops there in Germany, yet they played a political game by asking him not to...

it's the same as McSenile asking Obama to visit Iraq and then attacking him for going....and "whining" that Obama is getting too much press coverage because McSame got none while he was spouting gibberish on his trip to Canada.

it's sad that the John McBush & it's republican attack dogs do not have any ideas left to move america forward other than attack the next president of the United States – Barack Obama – THE VISIONARY LEADER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The pentagon had said that no media could be brought to the hospital and that this wasnt to be used as a campaign stunt, so Obama pulled out.

This man cant go anywhere without his enterage, its absolutely disgusting, he's not in touch with reality anymore.

Obama is definitely presidential material. He needs to stop power grabbing other leaders with that hand on their elbow or shoulder. Not necessary.

He's got my vote, though.

It is apparent you liberal people who are making these stupid comments have no idea what you are talking about. During these visits nobody is allowed any different protocol. If you are in the military or a civil service worker you can't even display a poster in your office for either canidate in a goverment facility during an election.

Obama is brilliant!!! Our standing in the world has gone up 100%. Thank you Barack Obama. This trip was more than any of your supporters could have hoped for!!! You keep amazing me! We know it was the Bush crew that stopped you from seeing the troops. You'll get a chance when your President!!! Peace is Patriotic!

This guy will politicize anything for self-gain!

To me he never going to be PRESIDENT. I and my family don't trust Obama. WE don't trust his judgment at all. When McCain flew mission,Obama was sitting around smoking pat and crack.

For me, the deciding factor is that the US taxpayers paid for his trip to the Middle East, as it was (at least ostensibly) related to his job as a Senator. Since there was no "job-related" purpose in his being in Germany, and his *campaign* paid for that portion of the trip, and it had a *political* purpose, it seems right and proper to me that he should not make a campaign stop on a US base. Plus, the new GI Bill he supported showed more support for the troops than any photo op could.

So far, everyone has missed the point. Obama couldn't score political points by visiting the troups and he decided his time would be better spent scoring political points in other ways. Obama didn't decide not to go because he was told not to go, he decided not to go because he couldn't bring his entourage, including the "in-the-bag" fawning media. It really is a shame that Obama and the democrats in general (there are many, many exceptions) do not appreciate or value the contributions of our troops. Their actions and their words over the past several years (if not decades) speak volumes about their utter lack of respect.

By the way, this is a huge, major gaffe on the part of Obama. Bigger than any gaffe that anyone was expecting. Who wants to take bets on whether or not the main stream media gives it any coverage. My only hope is that the Republicans make continuous hay out of it. You know, to score their political points to catch up to Obama's political points.

Gibbs said Obama is "comfortable with the decision" because he did not want to make the troops part of a campaign event.
______________________________________________________
a show of great respect and integrity from Obama....i doubt Mccain would have shown the same judgment, after his trip to the off shore oil site was canceled because of the hurricane AND THE OIL SPILL, he then opted to get a photo op in a local store...to view the eggs. please, that goes to show you that the economy and the price of milk are on;y an after thought to this man. if it weren't for the storm he would have been on that rig not in that store. Goes to show you America where is priorities are. i mean after all he does have all of those Lobbyist running his campaign

The Pentagon including Cheney Bush and McCain should be more concerned about the lives lost, trillions spent, and no bin Laden!

"The campaign insists it was not a fundraising e-mail." ...please folks a blind person could see through that. Citizens of Berlin holding American flags, etc where given to by the Obama campaign camp to make Obama look presidential.

Still not voting for him why? Because I am tired of the media shoving Obama down my throat instead of speaking of world issues, national and local issues confronting us as Citizens of the US. I'm tired of just hearing about black/white issues as this nation is made up of various ethnic groups.

CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc. if you are just going to complain about how much media coverage Obama has – STOP COVERING HIM.

Do not videotape, do not take photographs, do not interview him or ask him questions.

If you do any of those things, then stop saying he's getting too much coverage – BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES DOING IT!

What do you want him to do? Ban the press from having access? Would you like that instead? The media has become hypocritical in the extreme.

Dear Griff,

I'm afraid France is too late to shake hands with the devil. He's in the White House now. They can shake hands with our next POTUS, he's in their country now.

Obama 08

Obama demanded a photo op with the wounded and the military declined. Pure and simple. Obama is following the same track as Hitler. The putsch will fail thought.

I did not know that non-American citizen's where allowed to vote in our elections.
This trip by Obama, not withstanding Obama's protest, was and is a political tour.

Senator Obama cares about all American people even you filthy, lying haters who love to put him down for anything, true or not. I accepted his reasons without judgment.

Why not try giving our next president Obama the benefit of the doubt?

I know because you are either too undereducated or just plain filled with hate to do it. Judge not or ye might be judged.

If and when Senator Obama uses troops in campaign literature, as John McCain did a few months ago when he used a picture of him shaking hands with General Petraus ... IN ONE OF HIS FUNDRAISING efforts ....

THEN

the STONE CASTERS would be entitled to criticize Mr. Obama.

However, Mr. Obama will never repeat the error that Mr. McCain committed.

This report shows his team's sensitivity to these types of "GOTCHA" politics. They won't get it right 100% of the time but they sure are ahead of TEAM MCCAIN.

Yeah, because we know the Pentagon hasn't been filled with Bush lackies over the past 7 years. Please! Showing support for our troops with a visit isn't wrong! The Republicans will stoop lower and lower to win. Can we get to the election now so we can get these fools out of office and move on to finding solutions instead of spreading fear.

Logan Act should be enacted NOW!!!

McCain:
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....nobody listens to me. Stomp, stomp (raise fist in the air)...cry.

Tell me something new McSame.

If Obama couldn't take his dog and pony show to the troops, he would not see the troops! It's all about votes and raising money. His e-mail had a contribute sign on it.

Bush had the Pentagon to stop Obama from visiting the troops in Germany. The World loves Obama and nothing the Republicans, Bush/McCain and the media can do to stop the real Revolution.

All of you REPUGS who commented yesterday your reasons why Obama did not visit our troops.........Stock up on towels to wipe off the EGG off your faces............

We get it, there are a lot of people who did not want Barack to succeed on his first world tour. He did, get over it. Now they're trying to tarnish what everyone recognizes is the first step towards a new administration with a new President Obama.

McSame wishes he could get 200 people in a room, not to mention 200,000 and counting.

He does not have the world's attention and will never be an interesting person. Who wants to talk to someone who thinks the presidency is his right. No, never, not in America. He has to earn it. Arizonians may be duped, but we're not.

I also hate the way he smirks, looks at people with disdain, and laughs off important questions. He's a nobody with an interesting story in his past. Did I mention past, not present or future.

The McCain Campaign will somehow attack this as well.

CNN , I love the way you framed your headline on this article that pentagon had concerns with Obama's visit to see our wounded soldiers. The only concern that they posed was that he could not bring his staff and reporters in to make videos and to take their political snap shots. Like any other politician he could visit the wounded soldiers but his press corp could not attend and a army photographer would take still shots for him. So as usual the "OBAMA GOD" thought it was below him to meet the wounded soldiers if he could not make political hay out of it and make this self-centered appearance all about him "the great Black Messiah" this guy is a joke. What is 30 minutes of your time to give to wounded soldiers without the press kissing your backside. Tells you who this guys considers the most important and where the country will fit in with his priorities. Before you "OBAMA-NUTS" start trying to make excuses I am well aware of the policies of the army. I spent twenty years .

The entire trip was nothing but political campaigning. Obama needed to show he could spell foreign relations. The fact that tax dollars paid for part of it is a disgrace. If Obama had really cared about the wounded troops, he could have ditched his entourage and the press, and made a low key visit with no cameras. He only does things that are specticles though. Obama, image over substance 24/7.

The politicalization of the Military by the Bush Administration goes on

It was a good call on Obama's part to just cancel the trip. It looks like there was an attempt towards the end of his gaffe free tour to cook up a scandal. McCain has used any and every avenue to raise money here and abroad, not to mention his speech on foreign soil in Canada. Go ahead Obama haters, let the spin begin...

I'm glad they sent the email with the video of Senator Obama's speech, I want to hear it all. I didn't view it as a fundraising email at all. I appreciate his trying not to make things political, but most things are. I think Obama can speak where ever he wants, if they want him. The crowds in Germany proved that. I seriously don't believe Senator McCain would generate that type of crowd as a candidate, senator, president, or dressed as the easter bunny for that matter. He just doesn't generate that kind of response. Not his fault really, just the way it is.

News flash: Obama takes bus across Europe because Candy Crowley eats the campaign airplane – mistakes it for a gigantic duck!

All Campaign Emails have the Donate button. I'd imagine it's part of the template.

Non-Issue.

Clearly Obama will be criticized no matter what he does. So many people have made up their minds against him that they will find an aspect to criticize, no matter how overall positive a story can be. I really cannot understand those who say that the media is pushing Obama on us – I see the opposite. I see the media magnifying and exaggerating any negative aspect. Yes, Obama gets more coverage. But so much of it has a needlessly negative tone to it that it's not doing him any favors.

So France have to, "Shake hands with the Devil", to shake hands with the USA????

Rediculous. The Pentagon wouldn't have opposed McCain visiting. Talk about how rediculous Washington has become over the last 7 years. The list of corrupt practices is too long to list but nothing can get accomplished because of childish actions. Republicans blocked two bills today that would help lower gas prices immediately. One to regulator oil futures speculators who trade futures for the sole purpose of making money with no interest of buying oil and the other to release much needed oil supplies from the strategic oil reserve which has more supply than ever in history. Thank you so much for blocking these bills. We can now look forward to continue to pay outrageous prices at the pump because of your partisan child games.

This should shut up the whining McCrypt campaign that Obama did not visit the wounded in Germany, but no that would be factual, something McCrypt and crew seem determined to avoid.

Perhaps McCrypt should have a photo op in front of the Band-Aid section at the local CVS and reiterate, how Obama was WRONG for not visiting the troop hospital in Germany!

It's actually funny that he's dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't. MOST Americans will not feel disrespected by one of its most recognized citizens giving a mom and apple pie speech about cooperation and partnership.

John McCain spoke in Canada as a candidate and I could care less. The only problem is Barack is better at it, draws bigger crowds and makes a bigger impression than our existing president.

That is not his fault, but it does say something about the president.

After reading this garbage, someone please tell me again how the media is in the bag for Obama.

So.. the pentagon contacted him and expressed concern over his going to the troops. BUT DID NOT "EXPLICITLY" TELL HIM NOT TO GO?
(I call bulls#!t on this one)...

this is just like Bush telling Merkel he did not want Obama to speak where Kennedy and Reagan spoke, this is just like Condileeza Rice sending a memo to the country's leaders reminding them of protocol (the reason the one king actually gave obama a ride to the aiport himself), and this is like when the state department banned its employees from attending the speech.

anyone else see a pattern here?

This phony guy will say whatever people want to hear! As a Hillary supporter, I received an envelope from Obama campaign last week asking for donation. All I did was send it back with a zero amount check. Obama, you can win the hearts of foreign people but will never win millions of Hillary fans' heart and mind!

Oh...I get it now. Obama thought it was appropriate up and until the Pentagon expressed concern. THEN, he didn't think it was appropriate. He is so transparent! Everything for him is a photo-op.

Reporter: Senator, what do you think about so and so?

Obama: I haven't been outside yet, let me check which way the wind is blowing.

WHO COULD IMAGINE ' A KING'

THIS WHOLE THING IS A CAMPAIGN TRIP... Now stupid are you all, he would never have gone over on a trip unless it was for a gain.

"We do have certain policy guidelines for political campaigns and elections. And what is appropriate and what is not appropriate" – Obama's Berlin speech was not appropriate, he is not the president, he should not be meeting with leaders when he is not the president, what is he promising them, like he promises Americans...

Obama is a Jerk!

Obama is a Smart man and we would truly regret not voting for Him Obama 08

Per the Weekly Standard, Obama was told he could not visit and bring along his campaign staff and media, which would be inappropriate. It would not be inappropriate for him to visit and avoid the photo ops.

I guess we know where his priorities are.

Given the opportunity to visit American soldiers, I'm sure the Senator would have gone to visit them. If he had decided to ignore the Pentagon, that would have been news too.

This is sour grapes on the part of a candidate who got stuck in the cheese section of a grocery store. McCain is trying to capture the wave of a country that is excited about a new Obama Administration. It won't work, the trip was a success.

It's really infortunate that every move Barack Obama makes is being scrutinzed. I commend him for not giving in to all the negative comments he's had to endure. John McCain complained that Barack Obama hadn't visited Iraq in years but he had no idea that Barack would do it so big. McCain still doesn't know the magnitude of the man who has center stage. Barack Obama continues to show this country and the world that we are ready for him to be the next President of the United States. For the media to make light of this trip in case you're wondering what the voters in this country think about his world trip.... my hat is off to Barack for being so eloquent, stylish, knowledgable, intelligent and having the Judgement to lead this country the way it should be led.

THIS IS JUST WHAT I FIGURED. OBAMA TRYING TO CLAIM IT WAS HIS IDEA TO NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO VISIT THE WOUNDED GIS WHEN ALL ALONG THE PENTAGON HAD CANCELED THE VISIT FOR HIM. OBAMA, IS NOTHING BUT AN EMPTY SUIT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT HE THINKS THEY WANT TO HEAR JUST TO GET ELECTED. THIS IS A SHAME AND A DISGRACE THAT THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HAS CHOSE TO RUN FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND. THANKS DEAN, KENNEDY, KERRY, PELOSI(NO BRAINS), BYRD, RICHARDSON(LATINOS PAY ATTENTION HERE OBAMA MEANS YOU NO GOOD WILL.) WHAT IS AMERICA FALLING INTO??????

OBAMA IS NOTHING BUT A LIE.

"TRUTH" is not a four letter word.

Obama is already acting like president of the whole world - a little scary in my opinion. If he's not the anti-Christ, he sure acts like it. The guy is an egomaniac and cannot be trusted as he will say/do anything to get elected. Then what?

Andrea Mitchell pretty much said that McCain was behind this. Private citizens do not normally meet with mayors and world leaders. Why should Obama? Unless of course it is because he is a sitting Senator. Well then he should have visited the troops. He cannot have it both ways.

Obama is not gonna visit our wounded soldiers, he's too busy playin 'rock-star'. For his lack of love for America (he loves Africa) he shouldn't even be allowed in the same room as our hero's!

I bet if cry-baby McCain had planned like that there would have been no problem. There seems to be a double standard

pretty sad that a us senator cannot visit wounded troops,abroad.sounds more like a government that wants to control and manipulate the election ,using wounded soldiers who may have liked the 'moral' boost, while they are healing.this government needs to stop the fascist tactics of 'controlling'everything we do ,while they get rich.

Let's see, in the United States we have: A housing slump, rising unemployment, rising gas prices, rising food costs, a slump in retail sales, a broken infrastructure nationwide, a healthcare crisis, homeless veterans, homeless children, an unstable stock market, failed banks, a mortgage crisis and so much more. While Obama is enjoying photo ops in the Middle East, who is addressing the problems back home? The Obama trip was supposed to be a fact finding mission. Instead, he upstaged our president and showed a level of arrogance that was incomprehensible. He can stand on the other end of a teleprompter, but he can't hold press conferences where he is asked more than one question at a time. Change has to come gradually with intelligence and humility. The spotlight needs to shine on the challenges of the American people not on Barack Obama.

OBama is Shameless and his trip was laughable.

I believe they were concerned with the OVERWHELMING support Obama has among the troops. They wouldn't want that plastered all over the tube now would they. McCain is already losing big time.

Most Obama supporters absolutely understand this. The GOP is trying to poke holes into a fabulous trip abroad. Who can blame them, the trip was a success.

Obama 08

It may not have been appropriate maybe because GWB will not allow newspapers to show caskets coming home from Iraq. It may have lessened the 20+ percent that GWB has now.

Way to support the troops, Pentagon! Just like sending them out to battle with inadequate body armor...

Why did Obama give a speech in Berlin anyway? Politics at it's best!

America will be isolated as much as North Korea if we pick McSame for president. The world will see how stupid and ignorant we are if we do and the whole world wants a change and Obama is the one that can bring the world together to put that into effect. Many white Americans don't like the fact that a blackman has that much power or should I say is that likable by so many. White America just have a problem with that but the rest of the world is moving on people and they want the best person for the job even if he is green. The world is speaking America and we better learn how to listen.
McSame is old and as they say "sold in his ways" and the days of the "good ole boys" are done. Rush is wrong and he lies to you every day pushing his DOPEie thoughts into your heads and blinding you with his hate speach. Its time to move on past that crap.
Obama08

Good for him. I like a president that listens to others. He will be great!

Hasn't every other presidential candidate visited the troops? Why is it inappropriate for a black candidate? Oh yeah, because he isn't part of the Military-Industrial Complex.

And if McCain would have visited there?

It is SAD that the Mccain camp new that the pentagon asked him not to go and they still took a jab. Mccain is running scared and we need to fix our nation and all of the hoopla is not getting us any where. We are tired of the games.