(CNN) — Vets for Freedom, a group of Iraq and Afghan combat veterans, is urging Sen. Barack Obama to acknowledge success of the surge in Iraq in a new ad airing Wednesday.
“Senator Barack Obama credits the improvements in Iraq to anything but the surge,” says Sgt. Gabriel Herrera.
“But, I know the surge worked. I was there,” Travis Quinlan adds.
The “surge” refers to President Bush’s decision to send an additional 30,000 troops into Iraq beginning in January of 2007. The presumed Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, was a strong supporter of the president’s decision to send more troops to Iraq.
CNN Election Center: Where do the candidates stand on Iraq?
The 30-second spot, “I am the Surge,” will begin airing in Denver, the site Democratic National Convention. The Democrats’ theme Wednesday night is “Securing America’s Future,” and they plan a salute to the nation’s veterans that evening.
The featured vets urge Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, to follow the lead of fellow Sens. Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham and cite a resolution the pair put forth which recognizes the success of the surge overseas.
“So call Senator Obama,” Herrera says, “and tell him to support our success by supporting Senate Resolution 636.”
Vets for Freedom will spend $1.1 million dollars to run the ad for four weeks according to a press release. After airing for a week in Denver, the spot will run for a week in Minneapolis, Ohio, Michigan and Colorado.
From CNN Politics
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There is another vet organization that I actually donated to that is for Obama. I hope they respond to this ad. I'm so sick of these game's, he knows the surge worked, but he also knows it wasn't just the surge, it was the suni awakening which happened before the surge and everyone agree's to that. This is so stupid, they are playing game's, "oh you won't admit that this worked, naaa naaaaa." What bull...can't believe this is the intelligence factor they think the american people have...god I hope not....
Obama has given credit to our forces but says also the Suni uprising and other factros has also led to less violence...of course we should have never been there in the first place.
All the McSame forces seem to know is surge, surge, surge...McSames POW answer for every question like on Leno last night yet again and of course fear!!!!
Do these vets know that Obama voted with them more than McCain????
Hey guys,
What's the point of a "surge" in an unwarranted illegal war that can never ever be won? Thanks for doing a good job anyway.
GO OBAMA!!!
Can anyone say........"Swift Boat"??????????
Surge worked. No debate if looked at objectively.
I don't mind that some politicians were against it at the time. Open debate is a good thing. What concerns me is that one politician in particular now says he thinks it worked but that he is still against it. Huh?
When will McCain acknowledge his vote for the invasion of Iraq was a bad judgement call?
That's a better question.
There would be no need for a surge in the first place if McCain/Bush (I get confused on whom I speaking of at times) didn't authorize a war in Iraq.
WHO CARES ABOUT THE SURGE!!! WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER EVER INVADED IRAQ IN THE FIRST PLACE! End of story. I thought McCain just said "In the 21st centry, nations don't invade other nations"? What a crock.
Okay...the surge helped. Are you happy now?
527's should be illegal
Indeed the surge has worked as now Al Qaeda is now using women for bombing which means they are scarce to find the suicide bombers – their Iraq campaign has failed. Six soldiers died last month (is true six is still too many)...I can recall 120 in a month.
McCain said to bring in 30-50K more troops some 3 yrs ago as I recall distinctly.....so who is more intelligent when it comes to leadership? It is a no brainer.
I wish Colin Powell would of run as Obama knows he is not qualified to be Pres...and so does most of America. His age causes him to not want to admit the surge has worked – thats a red flag for those of us who have been around in this world. Selecting Biden also solidified to some of us his need for alot help as he's not there yet.
I think Obama should step aside "for the good of America".
Jack Carlson
Portland OR
When is John McCain and the Vets for Freedom going to admit that we should have never gotten into the Iraq war and we need a time line for successfully getting out of Iraq?
THE SURGE DIDN'T WORK.. DID WE WALK AWAY WITH A VICTORY...........
Bravo to Vets for Freedom, they see Obama as an empty suit who will cut military spending drastically. Obama has been wrong on the surge and he will be a disaster of a President if he's elected. He will turn our military into the peace corps
Sounds like more of the Swift Boat liars that they used on John Kerry. Only this time, it won't work.
a) If the surge "worked", then why are we still there?
b) If Bush and cronies claimed "Mission Accomplished" – what, 3 years ago? – then why are we still there?
c) If America's future is so secure, then why are we still there?
d) Didn't MCain sing ""bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran?"
Because big money Republicans like Cheney and McCain are making too much money on the war to bring our kids home. These men are war criminals, and should stand trial. McCain is one of them – he voted for the war and backed Bush on every issue 98% of the time.
Ok....let's stop hearing what we want to hear and hear what the man said. He said that the surge worked but he is not attributing it all to the surge. there were many other factors he said that helped. Get a grip people.
The surge had a two step mission. First, it had to bring increased security to the area. It did accomplish that, which the democrats acknowledge. However, the second part called for the Iraqi government to use that period of time to secure their government structures. That did NOT take place! Iraq has taken no steps in getting that country going on its own. So yes, our brave men and women did a terrific job. The Iraqi government failed in their end of the surge.
As for Vets, do they really support a man that voted against the single most inclusive bill for vets in American history? That is their choice I guess, but I just don't understand their logic.
Democrats you guys better come out swining in the next three days against McCain and Repubs, or it's over.
How can NOBAMA admit anything he doesn't understand and is in denial about? Talk about an empty suited idiot! The man is so self-absorbed. He doesn't appreciate what our troops are doing for freedom!!! DemocRATS should wake up.
WHo cares? He has better judgement than McCain, he knew WE SHOULDN'T HAVE INVADED IN THE FIRST PLACE!
In fact, why don't we surge in Iran and Russia? That should work! NOT!
Judgement over Experience!
Obama/Biden '08
I hope CNN will now do an article on Senator McCain (rotten) voting record on Veteran issues such as Veteran welfare, benefits, medical care and rehabilitation. But that would be asking too much – impartiality. That went out the window when CNN started whipping up the Puma thing and trying to cause trouble.
It's a pity – CNN used to be a good source of news with journalistic integrity. Now it's just lix FOX!
This is laughable, Obama has said the surge helped in reducing violence but he didn't use the language they were expecting. All they really want to hear is, "John McCain was right". Ain't gonna happen buddy.
James:
they are not hiding the message, they don't have one.....Pitiful, pitiful, pitiful...By the way....what is the change that they stand for...does anybody know?
We should not have been there in the first place. Yes you did what you had to do, but if it is what you say why do we still have 100000+ troops in I raq.
America work up, A soldier too but I do not share the sma line of thinking as you have sorry surge.
I am so sick about people talking about the surge! The surge would never have been necessary if the senseless war wasn't started in the first place.
The vets need to take a closer look on who they are attacking. Obama has always been their side and voted to supporting the Vets more than McCain did.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you!
There's really nothing one can do to reason with cult followers — excep to quietly and forcefully vote the other way!
Oh this is special, it seems people forget that Obama voted for the G.I Bill. And McCain was Missing in Action.
A resolution citing the success of "The Surge" (brand name)? That's the legislation Republicans are proposing?
If this isn't using the military for political purposes, I don't know what is. Of course, the American voter won't see it that way; they'll just shake their heads and complain that that uppity Muslim doesn't "support the troops" (also a brand name).
One million dollars for this.
If the surge has worked, why are we still over there? I thought the reason for the surge – the ultimate reason – was to get us out of that mess as fast as possible. When that happens, I'll agree that it worked.
I don't think that these vets know that Obama has voted in their favor a whole lot more than McCain has voted for their issues. The majority of people in service now are adamently for Obama.
James:
they are not hiding the message, they do not have one!...pitiful, pitiful, pitiful!....by the way, what are they going to change?...doe's anybody know?....
First off ... THE SURGE is/was NOT a surge. In more honest times it would rightly be called an "escalation" of troop levels in a war. The Bush administration has always had problems calling a spade a spade and apparently the media does as well! You know, like calling a time line in Iraq a time horizon!
It's too bad our gutless media continues to allow this corrupt and evil administration to label everything it does with some meaningless cloak of semantics! Shame on you ... now start doing your job!
These are not independent veterans in this ad. They are clearly Republicans with a motive to try to throw Obama off his message. As a veteran myself the surge has not accomplished all of it's objectives. Usually when something does not meet it's objectives it is referred to as unsuccessful.
So what these guys are really trying to say is let's change the definition of success. Hasn't George Bush already changed enough defintions to help out his failures?
I wonder if the same vets have asked McCain to acknowledge that he was wrong for wanting to go into Iraq in the first place? Also wonder if they asked McCain why his rating is so low in terms of helping vets as a senator and voting for bills that would allow for them to live better lives once they came back from the "surge"? Being a POW does not automatically qualify you as someone who takes care of vets.
My nephew and his comrades who are serving in the Marines tell me a different story. Panamanian McCain has done nothing for service men and women. They are offended that McCain hides behind his POW experience to make excuses for everything.
Panamanian McCain =
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (unresolved).
Dangerous, very dangerous for America!
Big deal !!! Please move on to more important things. The war in Iraq was based on a lie by Bush, Cheney, McCain etc. Let's talk about that as the truth of the situation/disaster in Iraq!!!
REALLY ..........THE SURGE WORKED? Then WHY are we still spending........... $1.38.......BILLION......A.......DAY......IN IRAQ?????
WHY did a suicide bomber kill THIRTY CIVILIANS ON SUNDAY?????
We, the People, are fed up with the whole "surge" thing!
THE POINT IS THAT WE HAD NO BUSINESS BEING IN IRAQ IN THE......... FIRST.....PLACE!
BUSH/CHENEY/MCCAIN........LIED........ TO GET US INTO IRAQ! WHY ARE WE NOT ........ALL...........FUMING ANGRY ABOUT OUR
PRESIDENT ..........LYING??????????????????????????????????
OVER A TRILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SPENT IN IRAQ, SO THAT BIG OIL.......WHICH WAS OUSTED BY SADDAM.........COULD GET INTO IRAQ AGAIN!
Ya and for every one they can dig up to support them 100 of us are against the belief that anything will change that country and there history of nonstop hate and violance.
Do yourself a favor everyone unhappy with CNN and FOX coverage, watch PBS to get unbias coverage. But you will never read this because bias news will moderate and shread
Yes who cares about the Surge. I agree we shoule have never ever Invaded Irac in the first place. McShame is at it any, but he gets very angry when someone hit him back hard like MaDonna with her ad. Did any you see the angry photo of John McShame and his message. He was very angry. Keep hitting McShame hard and watch and see his temper and gets really up set quickly. We do not need this type of person running the US – we will be in War for his whole term like Bush who have kept this country fighting one country after another.
Obama denouned the Ad, but McShame made a negative comment regarding Obama. McShame is a very old angry man who needs to retire.
these fools are so dilluted they think that coalition deaths rising from 38 a month to 78 a month means the surge is working. wake up.
It's hard to please everyone. My thoughts were that the first night was actually good. Why should DEMS act like republican's, they are not the same?
These vets are political surrogates for McShame. They are of no value. However, they do provide CNN/FOXNews with at least a ticker line to bash Obama. That's got to stand for something.
I'm in the military. I agree that the surge worked. We got things under control. Now Afghanistan is flaring up, and Iraq is quieting down. What we need to do is make the Iraqi Army and Police stand on their own and begin pulling the majority of the troops out. We could easily slide by with 2 or 3 Brigades, not 15. As far as the Iraq invasion. Uncalled for. We never found a thing to support there were WMD. The only thing Saddam was doing was laughing at us because we got slapped in the face on 9/11, and now we can't find the guy responcible. And as far as Iraq being a training ground for the terrorists, then why didn't we just go for the whole shooting match and invade Iran (I'm against that as well). But I am not undercutting the US military. Being a part of it, we are giving people a chance to live free. A thing we take for granted in the US. We definately invaded for the wrong reasons, but I believe now we stay for the right ones. To my brothers and sisters in uniform standing a wall to keep people free, good job and well done, come home when they are free.
Obama has ruined Dem party in the name of change.
Played race card.
These men have done more for this country than barrack has done his whole life. They did not fight for one race, like barrack has for balcks with his community organization they fought for americans.
Usually I think Carville is right on.
But I liked the fact the night was about Democrats and what we have to offer as opposed to expounding on the obvious—McCain is four more years of Bush disaster. I'm sure we'll get around to that soon.
It wasn't a wasted night at all, it was a reminder that we live in a great country that needs a tremendous amount of work and the Democratic Party is ready to lead us in the right (left?) direction.
This is baloney. Do they agree that invading Iraq was wrong in the first place? Including idiotic Mcwar. Go back to Iraq if you want.
Hey Vets.....who voted against giving you more benefits????? If you haven't kept up on the latest...MCCAIN....he really cares about the veterans doesn't he.....lol
Mccain want to say we won a war, but we lost much more. Family lost love ones and trillions of dollars.
He's worrying about the US pride over in another country instead of what's going on here. Like jobs lost and homes.
Unless you can set a date for withdrawal you cannot say the surge worked. The troops are still there so lets stop talking about it like it is something that is already done. The surge has improved the sittuation and is helping but it has not worked.
Tell the over 4,000 dead American soldiers how well the surge worked! If we hadn't been lied to and deceived, we would not have even been in Iraq in the first place, then there would have been no surge and all those brave Americans would still be alive. There was no good reason to be in Iraq. Period. If we follow the reasoning as put forth by the neocons, then why haven't we invaded North Korea, or Iran, or, for that matter, China or Russia. Their leaders have been responsible for a lot more deaths directly and indirectly, than Saddam ever was! There were only two reasons Bush got us into Iraq. The first was oil and corporate greed and the second was for him to clean up dad's dirty laundry.
The Surge "worked" to:
1) Allow the Iraqis more time to not to anything or reach any consensus, i.e., it was counterproductive;
2) Weaken strength level were they were actually needed in Afghanistan;
3) Waste many more billions of dollars; and
4) Expose even more U.S. troops to death and serious injury.
A verb and a noun and the Surge.
Obama supporters are emotionally dumb.
Do they know Teddy-Kennedy, Kerry, Edwards all voted for Iraq War ?
Failed judgement.
All these guys are now backing Obama, once again failed judgement
-
Here goes Karl Rove's Swift Boat attack again....
The surge has worked in Iraq. This is a bait and switch here people the soldiers worked their butts off to have to Surge be Successful only to be told the Can't leave yet. Success Without Reward.
No Mccain you will not draft my little son's into an illegal war!
Why is it so important to the McCain team that Sen. Obama gives his approval to the surge. It's like a little kid looking for approval from mommy or daddy. If you are so convinced that it worked then why do you so desperately needs his stamp of approval. As ususal is not about the country is about McCain. Anything to be in the spotlight and then they accuses Obama of being a rock star.
McWar is playing politics with our troops and vets. The surge did nothing but cause more money and no diplomatic solutions. Also didnt face the bench marks.
Obama also credited what it did on the ground which is common sense if you send more troops its going to decrease violence. But that should have been the original plan. Therefore I smell bad judgement here from the war mongers
The "surge" is a cover for a bunch of closet racists who cannot admit that a brillant black man stated in 2002 that starting a war with Iraq was a "DUMB WAR". Why is it that so many white Senators who do not have anybody related to them fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan want to put down Barack Obama for being right. If they would go back and read his Dumb War Speech, they would see that everything he said would happen in Iraq has happened.
I'm white and a proud supporter of Barack Obama.
Obama 08
Yes, let's acknowledge that stirring loss of 4200 American lives– and counting– for no good reason. Let's acknowledge the staggering waste of billions (BILLIONS!) of US taxpayer dollars while our infrastructure falls apart, our education system remains in disarray and while our economy tanks (and while meanwhile, Iraq builds up a nice SURPLUS from all that oil revenue).
Yeah, great job. And we can look forward to more such shortsighted failures of leadership with a McSame presidency.
Service members overseas are donating to Obama over McCain by a 6 to 1 margin.
Obama said the Surge and also other factors together work. I wish the Obama Camp make an ad asking Mcshame to admit that he and the Bush Adminstrative made a mistake in invaded the Iraq which casue the US trillion of dollar a year.
OK, for the last time. How has the surge worked? Violence is down because we are paying the sons of Iraqis to not attack us.
the troop level was at 160,000 at the end of 2006. They deployed some troops and brought the total down to about 130,000.
Then talk of one last effort before demanding that all the troops be brought home, a "surge" was suggested. So an addition 30,000 was sent back. Add people, this brought the number of boots on the ground back to the original 160,000! It was actual not a surge at all.
The sunni awakening and the 16 million dollars a month that we pay to the iraqs not to attack us is the reason why there is a reduction in violence. So once again, mcsenile is wrong.
obama does not listen to anybody 'cept for rezko,michel
Vets for Freedom: we Vets in Colorado do not need your fear/lies. Mccain has never been a supporter of Vets and the surge did not meet is stated goal. No one question that our military would not decrease the violence; but the goal was to start reconciliation between the different parties in Irag which has not happen ; therefore the surge has not worked.
Stop being a pone of this lying/fear Mccain/republicans.
People vote Democrats and Obama/Biden and we will get not only our country back but we will get our troops back as well.
We vets will not allow our country to be Swift boated again.
Oh please...go stuff your surge.
No Disrespect to the Vets of this country but to spend 1.1 million dollars for foolishness is crazy. Put that money to good use, like better healthcare coverage and housing for many vets who are homeless.
There would have been no need for the surge had people like McCain not so enthusiatically supported the illegal invasion of Iraq .
John McCain needs to acknowledge that the invasion of Iraq has made the Taliban and Al Queda stronger, emboldened Iran and made the United States a discredited and hollow voice throughout the world. These results of a war he still supports demonstrates a lack of judgment in a complex world he no longer understands.
The effectiveness of the surge will be decided on when the American service people have come home. Until then it is merely a premature "Mission Accomplished" sign by a desperate for recognition he does not deserve.
Vanessa, absolutely correct.
The bigger picture here is that McCain (and Hillary for that matter) need to admit that they were wrong in supporting the invasion.
People, mainly PUMAs, are complaining that BO picked Biden, who also voted in support of the invasion. However, Biden admitted and apologized for that vote a long time ago.
The "surge" only worked because it followed the Anbar Awakening and our payments (bribes) to the insurgents not to attack us. Ridiculous.
And when will some real in-depth reporting of the Georgia aggression take place. Timing was just way too convenient, IMO.
Who cares if the surge succeeded... what are we doing there in the first place????!!!!
There are lots of Vet groups for Obama. This fringe group does not represent the military.
Vets are angry with the republican party and McCain for VOTING AGAINST THE GI BILL. Republicans do not value the rank and file military.
McCain would like the war on Iraq to keep on forever, he is not for the Veterans, if he was he would have voted for their many issues. Why would the Vets support him, unless they just love war not peace. Obama has much better judgement than McCain and Bush any day and would make a much better President. With McCain we would be in constant wars, that's all he knows.
These "vets" spent 1.1 million on the ad yet many of their own go without coverage for post war medical problems, can't find work... yet this is what is important... interesting
Yes, we respect the Vets but have they considered the fact that John McCain voted against most of the things that will make the lives of vets better. Think and stop this partisanship. We salute you guys bt sometimes I feel you allow yourself to be used by the republican party. Sorry.
and the response the surge ad:
the father of a dead solider: my son was 20, he just turned 20, when he was killed in this illegal war.
a young mother with her baby; my son will never get to know how wonderful his father was because he died in this Bush/McCain debacle.
a grieving mother who lost her daughter in Iraq: Bush/Mccain keep talking about the "surge" but what they don't say is how i will never get to see my daughter again, how i wont ever get to spoil her children, or see my baby girl get married..or ...or hold her in my arms. Barack Obama was against this invasion from the start, Barack Obama has the right judgment, Barack Obama is the one who wants to get our boys and girls out of Iraq...while McCain whines about the surge.
this is Barack Obama and i approve this message.
This is nothing but stupidness . You should ask these vets why did Bush lie to them in putting our children in harms way for nothing by going to Iraq.
Why don't they ask about McCain not voting for the last VA benefits bill.
How about why McCain misunderstood the intelligence info and voted to go to Iraq.
barack listens to not one person 'CEPT himself, true arrogance
Did anyone notice that Obama didn't know what city he was in yesterday, he said he was in St. Louis and he was in KC! He had to be corrected by one of his daughters! Was this a senior moment? What if McCain had made a mistake like that??
The "Surge" was but ONE decision out of dozens over the course of 6 years. McCain has gotten every just about EVERYTHING else wrong!!! Obama got everything else correct.
If we're keeping score for who's gotten things right, then Obama has about a 12:1 lead over McCain.
IF THE SURGE IS WORKING, WHY ARE WE STILL THERE? MAKES NO SENSE
Yeah lets stay in Iraq now that it worked instead of bringing our forces to Afghan and the hills of pakistan like Obama has always said.
Nice try swiftboaters but NOT THIS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OBAMA/BIDEN All the Way!!!!!!!!
To all you Vets for Freedom and Conservative Former Marine – wow, talk about cutting your nose off to spit your ..... John Mccain has voted against every GI bill that has come across his desk, check the record yourself. Barack voted for the most recent one which john mccain voted against also. That's why the national group of Veterans is endorsing Obama. Betcha didn't know that, your too busy just trying not to like him.
Borg vs Obama will change everything.
Obama will never be President.
We demand that only Americans are President.
Why are the drivebye media not reporting this?
Borg is a Democrat and a American.
McCain 08
the surge certainly helped in iraq, temporarily. but the commander in afghanistan has desperately needed troops to fight the actual war on terror, as opposed to the one made up by bush and cheyney and mccain and rove. and he can't have them because they are mired in iraq doing the job that the iragis should be doing for themselves. mccain's threat to help georgia was an empty one, becuase we have no troops at all to send as part of any peacekeeping force that may be needed anywhere, as pointed out by the president of georgia himself, referring by name to mccain. so when are these johnny-one notes going to understand what obama meant when he said the commander in chief has to balance the needs of all of our areas of interest, not just one futile war in a country that wants us to go away? if mccain's experience had produced any wisdom, it might have been helpful – but obama has judgment, which is far more important.
hey cnn try opening up the comments for your good ole' boy carvilles piece that is leading on the front page....oh wait everyone will speak the truth about his bs...wouldnt want to hurt your new favorite antagonists feelings...i am losing more respect everyday, no wonder your ratings are going down you guys are more negative then either campaign!
Does anyone admit that the reason the Sunni stopped shooting at us is because we started paying their tribal leaders millions of dollars??? We are simply buying the lives of our soldiers by paying blood money to the Arab killers and that is what they call "victory"???
Sad indeed.
I'll admit that violence has come down to some degree, but if everything is going so well, should would we be talking about coming out in 2009 and not 3 years from now. By that time it will have been almost a decade. What is this, the Trojan War? The agenda for going in has totally changed and although some say pulling out may not help as far as money goes, but someone who struggles like other Americans, every bit helps. With that being said, the American people would like our tax money to go towards America to rebuild our economy, not someone else's. We're so far in debt, we need to sacrifice to save America. It time to bring the fight home for once.
he acknowledged the surge worked in a previous debate.
he said, obviously if you put an extra 20K highly trained americans in a situation, i can't do anything but help.
Surge here, surge there, and surge now. Oops, I'm not talking about Iraq. I'm talking about renewable energy plan, economic plan, bring job home type of surge that McWhine & his warmonger friends fail to understand.
Why do veterans support McCain? he has voted against nearly every measure that come to the Senate to make your lives better. he voted against pay increases for vets. he voted against better healthcare coverage for vets. ALL OF WHICH OBAMA SUPPORTED!!!! If the surge worked, then why are we still there? There is no win to this war, the Iraqi government wants us out, and we are wasting milions of dollars on a war that should have never been waged. OSAMA was not in IRAQ!!! Last time I checked it was him and not Sadam who attacked us on 9/11. Wasn't that what we were supposed to be going to war for?????
Over 4,000 dead and thousands of innoncent people in Iraq, for a unjust invasion of a country that did not attack us. How can that be a success. We need to get out and stop lying, we invaded Iraq for George Bush's and Cheney's Oil Dream. That's not successful, that criminal.
The political reconciliation still has not come about more than a year after the "surge". That was the reason for it, after all. However, if I stipulate that the military portion played a part in there being less violence....This also proves that they should have sent in more troops from the beginning and not disbanded the Iraqi Army. Ultimately, we should not have gone there AT ALL!!
Afterthought: Check out the video of McCain in the cheese aisle of a supermarket talking about surge/counterinsurgency. It's a hoot.
ASK MY HUSBAND WHO IS NOW IN IRAQ DID THE SURGE WORK?
I DON'T THINK SO...................
Don't forget Dems, Biden also voted to invade Iraq. Where is your outrage with him?
VETERANS SHOULD KNOW . OBAMA NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE MILITARY. HE WAS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IN ORDER TO FURTHER HIS POL;ITICAL AMBITIONS. HE NEVER TRIED TO ENLIST IN ANY BRANCH OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
HE NEVER EVEN JOINED OR ENLISTED IN ANY OF THE ARMED FORCES RESERVES WHO ARE OUR SECOND LINE OF FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. OBAMA KNOWS THAT OUR ARMED FORCES ARE OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AND IT AN HONOR TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY BY JOINING THE ACTUVE FORCES OR AT LEAST
THE RESERVES. HOW CAN OBAMA KNOW ABOUT BEING A VETERAN?
These veterans should confront McCain about why he has voted against the GI Bill and wants to slash the VA to pieces. McCain is a fraud and a false patriot.
I am a VET and I am for Obama.
Oh sure, the surge may be working, but we shouldn't have needed one in the first place. The war was, IS, illegal, and any "success" is just succeeding at violating international law.
Michelle Obama's speech may have sounded all to goody goody, but it merely reflects the ideas of her speech writers. She along with all other politicians will say whatever they want people to hear. Her comments in her senior thesis would lead us to believe that she feels the black race is being treated bad. Not to good of comments about the rest of the nation. She should be quiet and keep her mouth shut.
Awsome ad!!!!!!
There are times in all our lives where the right thing to say is I could not be happier to be proven wrong. For Obama this is one of them!
Hey CNN, headline should be Fake "Vets".
McCain's record of STIFFING Veterans is well known.
He turns his back on vets every chance he gets.
We remember!
This garbage that Obama was against the war and showed better judgment is garbage. He wasn't even in the U.S. senate when it started, so it is a moot point that he would have been against it. In 2004, go to youtube. Check out his interview where he says his position on Iraq is in line with Bush's. Guess that changed when Soros and Co gave him a few million bucks to run for Pres on an anti-war platform.
The surge worked WHY ARE WE STILL THERE SPENDING BILLONS OF DOLLARS WHY DID WE NOT LEAVE WHEN BUSH DECLARED MISSON ACCOMPLISHED??????????????????????????? OBAMA/BIDEN08
To Jack...You are an idiot and shuld be put away. Was it just Bush and Mccain who voted for the war??? NO stupid, over half of the congress had to approve it, including yur beloved DEMOCRATS. You will also have to put all the general and soldiers and anyone connected on trial. War crimes is all you can come up with? Youare a jerk, get over it.
Stupid, Stupid–what is the meaning of surge? Americans 're living in misery for the past seven years and morons 're talking about surge...will surge provide food and jobs for Americans? A war that was and still a failure, lies and mishandled–people 're still talking about surge–pathetic and stupid.........
Obama is the least qualified president in my lifetime. The thought of this guy commanding the military is heartbreaking.
August 26th, 2008 10:03 am ET
Over 4,000 dead American's and thousands of innoncent people in Iraq killed , for an unjust invasion of a country that did not attack us. How can that be a success. We need to get out and the Republifasicans need to stop lying to the American People. We invaded Iraq for George Bush's and Cheney's Oil Dream. That's not successful, that's criminal.
just a few points:
-the surge worked.
-we didn't invade iraq, we enforced the UN's numerous resolutions.
-Bush didn't lie; saddam lied. He led the world to believe he had WMD. We called his bluff – he lost.
-obama can say all he wants that he didnt support Iraq war – fact is, he had NO VOTE b/c he hasn't been in senate long enough.
- face reality people, you're a citizen of the absolute most powerful nation ever on the planet. We don't have to regain our hope, respect, or stature.
Why don't McCain try admitting that the war was wrong?
Over 4,000 dead American's and thousands of innoncent people in Iraq killed , for an unjust invasion of a country that did not attack us. How can that be a success. We need to get out and the Republifasicans need to stop lying to the American People. We invaded Iraq for George Bush's and Cheney's Oil Dream. That's not successful, that's criminal.
Ohhhh, McWarmonger wants what he wants. Sound familiar?
Obama wants more benefits for the vets coming home with missing limbs and brain injuries.
Obama wants our lives to be better than they are right now.
Obama wants our reputation back internationally.
Do you want more wars (unlimited to hear him speak) with McWarmonger?
We each have a choice.
Obama/Biden '08
Obama is so cocky he will never admit he was wrong.
Hillary 08
With all due respect to our veterans, I'm one myself, I agree with Sen. Obama in regards to the Iraq War and the surge. First and foremost I agree with Sen. Obama that the war should have never been waged in the first place. Secondly, I don't understand how people expect someone to make policy on a position they stood against from the very beginning. That's like asking a mother from M.A.D.D to vote in accordance with approving underage drinking. Also, the surge was only an emergence of about 2000 additional troops and not th 30,000 the Republicans are suggesting.
The issue is not about the surge, it's the war. We should not have been there in the first place. The number of lives lost, those injured, money spent, families that are suffering beyond comfort because they lost their loved ones or have returned injured mentally and physically. That is the problem. We are spending money in a country that we could be using to build the infrastructure of this great country. Dishing out money like we don't need it here. Come on. The surge is not the point. I hope we can get back our money from those people.
CNN now is the time for your channel to lay it out in the open the voting records of Mcsame and Obama when it comes to the military. Cos it looks here that "vets for freedom" think McSame is on their side. He has never been. He voted against all that is good for the better life a military family need. Pls let the world know McSame voting record in the senate on military issues. PLS PLS PLS
Oh me, oh my! Who cares what the wife has to say? She didn't have a first-lady look about her. How very unprofessional to dress to casual. This whole convention is big dog and pony show. Fakers, all of them.
It is too bad that people do not understand military tactics or their own candidate’s short comings. The Dem heroes "Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and yes "The One" Obama will not admit the success of the surge or thank our troops for the work "WE" have done. I think my mouth would hit the floor if Obama let us know where he stood on a single issue and stuck with it, without changing his mind every 5 seconds.
This trio is one of the most destructive forces on the planet. If they had their way they would dismantle the military and use the remains as planters. In some ways I wish Obama would win. That way the sheep will finally have their eyes forced open and see what you should have long realized. It is a shame it will take this level for people to be educated.
Fire away people I know what is coming!
Surge? You've got to be kidding me? WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. You repuglicans are disgusting and the same ones that are spouting this idiotic rhetoric have not lost a son or daughter to this senseless war. How do you people sleep at night?
Jim, true the Sunni Awakening started before the surge. However if you look at US casualty figures month by month (I did, you can google them), you will see that they kept going up. The month after the first surge troops started arriving casualties started to fall, and have been falling ever since. So the influence of the Awakening is debatable, but the fact that the surge worked is not.
We should have never been there in the first place!
Geez! I'm tired of hearing about "the surge' and how it's worked to perfection! It's common sense to say that "in a police state adding more police will lower violence!", wow that's groundbreaking news there! Common sense tells you if you added 25% more police anywhere crime would go down. The real question is why isn't Iraq stepping up and taking control of their own country? Why is it we're going broke on this war while the Iraqi gov. has a surplus of oil revenue approaching $79 billion!
A Noun, The Surge and POW.
Does anyone actually think that talking to voters about the war is going to help McCain and hurt Obama?
THIS IS A BIG JOKE . YOU BREAK MY CAR AND HELP ME FIX IT THEN YOU WANT THANKS AND PAYMENT. THIS THE SAME TYPE OF STUPIDITY THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE . TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT IS MINDLESS. MORONS.
OBAMA......08
get your head out of your butt , yes it work , but now lets get the troops home.
Let me guess....McWar is paying them money to stir the pot about the
Surge.....give me a break....are you ever a bunch of bitter people
Don't lump all veterans together please. I am a veteran and would never support McCain. What I want to know is why is the senate wasting time with a Resolution that says the Surge worked, do we really need to waste time on that just so people can use the vote against other people. These grown ups are so childish.
If i was barack obama i would do more to tie iraq into the economy.....Gas average was 1.39 before we went to iraq.... It is now 4 dollars a gallon....we are giving 200 million to the sons of liberty in iraq which is ...more!
John nice comment. I hope Obama camp read these comments.
After the Convention Obama camp have to hit back with bricks. Very great comment.
2008 is Mc Cain year
Hillary 2012 / Mc Cain 2008
Hey, Conservative Former Marine–
Current Marine here.
Just from an objective spending standpoint, Obama has actually voted to increase the benefits and pay of the Marines more than John McCain. John McCain has pushed for greater funding for the war, Obama has voted for more money for the war-fighter (the individual Marines).
I'm not saying vote for Obama. but from a purely objective level, Obama has actually increased the funding for the people fighting the war, even though he believes we should be out of Iraq. So yes, he'd cut funding...but that happens whenever you end a war. The important question in my mind is whether the people who fight the wars are taken care of.
Intereting stat– do you know under who's watch the largest pay raise for enlisted service members has seen in the past 20 years happened? Bill Clinton. Conservaties typically vote for more money to the military, less money/benefits to the actual people in the military.
Despite what he'd have us believe now (and heaven knows he's changed his story more times than anyone can count) Obama is ON RECORD saying that had he been in office at the time HE TOO WOULD HAVE VOTED TO GO TO WAR! Despite what he says about opposing the war, he has voted IN FAVOR of every single defense spending bill since taking office. So my question, is who are we to believe?
Tony August 26th, 2008 9:42 am ET
Can anyone say…….."Swift Boat"??????????
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I hope you and others keep saying it b/c that will backfire on you so fast. These are guys that are there and have been there. They are expressing views. Go ahead and bash them. That makes more people vote for McCain everytime you do.
Over 4,100 dead in Iraq.
Over 1,000 dead from the surger.
Over 47,000,000 without health insurance.
More Americans living in poverty than ever before.
And all we get is – the surge worked, drill here drill now, and the hell with real Americans who are suffering.
Now that is the real McCain (whoops sorry – he was a POW)
Do those veterans with all the respect acknowledge that the war in Iraq was and is a mistake?
Does Mc Cain acknowledge that it was and is a mistake?
What about all those who lost there in a war Iraq.
They also has to acknoledge something?
So at the end of the day I will ask those veterans acknowledge what?
The "Surge" came too late to achieve what it really could have achieved. Don't forget that immediately following the fall of Baghdad Rumsfeld began pulling troops out of Baghdad, and Iraq in general. The GOP wanted to keep the promise of a short war, "just like Kuwait". Remember?
Congressional Democrats, including curiously McCain, Biden and Obama, objected and pointed out that more troops were needed to consolidate gains. That political stance continued until 2006 when Democrats began calling for a pullout, to end the war.
Now the Republicans wanted to bring in more troops, which they named like everything else they own, "The Surge". How much more effective could the Surge have been had troops been brought in as soon as Baghdad fell instead of removing them? The Surge was 5 years too late folks. How many lives could have been saved?
Look, there is no argument. You can be a closed minded dem if you choose, but, that doesn't change the fact (and History) that MANY DEMS wanted to abort the surge and move forward with a full pull out. They were wrong. And being a dem, and acknowledging this shows you are healthy and understand your party is not always right.
Obama wanted a full pullout. Even during the Primaries he was demanding a full pull out.
The surge worked, and now, Obama himself is no longer demanding a full pullout. And just a reminder, Obama was saying months before ALL troops out within months.
He cannot say that anymore. So, Obama can hum and hah and try to make something sound more supportive of his ideas, BUT HE WAS WRONG!!!!!
There is no harm in being wrong. We all are wrong sometimes. I am still voting for Obama, but, COME ON. Grow a set, and admit you were incorrect. Actually, that is a good slogan. You can use it if you want!! : )
Who cares about the freakin surge! Bring our troops home already! Iraq doesn't want us there any more! Instead of preaching for resolution, and wanting to hear a politician agree to a surge that shouldn't have taken place in the first place because of an ill advised war , you need to be thinking about getting home to your families as soon as possible instead of being used as a puppet for some political party! Your families need you and you're playing politics! We know you all did a hell of a job over there, but Obama's on your side more often than McCain is! Wake up! And come HOME!
I HAVE TO QUESTION THE AUTHOR OF THIS AD. . .MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE IN SUPPORT OF SENATOR OBAMA.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE 'MCCAIN CAMP', DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST.
ENOUGH OF MCCAIN/BUSH TACTICS!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08-'12
CNN: Do your job: who are these vets; how many do they represent; how did they rasie the money for their ad; are they servicemen and women or people of higher ranks??
McCain's hollow threats to Russia are a resuly of him supporting the invasion in Iraq as well as the chaos in Afghanistan!
McCain lacks the judgment and temperment to be Commander in Chief and should immediately release the 90% of his military records.
Or better yet, you could be a bunch of selfish people and just leave Iraq and who cares if it falls apart, not our problem right? So long as we're ok, that's all that matters right?
Good News! the RNC is running out of steam and ideas !!!
Now the re-United dems will tear them apart.Bring it on, now !
POST THIS CNN
here comes another flip flop probably beginning with i have always believed yada yada yada and people actually believe this man
These are NOT objective veterans. They are Republican veterans.
Why don’t they ask the most important question of the Iraq war. Why did Bush, Cheney & McCAIN vote for this immoral war? Please ask Why doesn’t McCain admit that voting for this unwarranted war was the biggest make he made AND that he must apologize to the American & Iraq people, including you veterans
How about them apples?
We went to Iraq to protect America's future. The soldiers there respect the job they are doing and anyone saying something different disrespects them, their fallen friends and our country.
Have some respect for America and our soldiers.
Of course most Obama supporters have no idea what it means to wear the uniform and serve this country.
Oh, and McCain voted for our troops EVERY time. Obama was on vacation most of the time and didn't even cast his vote.
How many times does the man have to acknowledge that the surge made strides toward the security in Iraq? Why is it nobody's listening? It's really confusing. I've heard him address that on many occasions. Yes, the surge has had a definite effect in Iraq, but if the truth is important aren't there other mitigating facts that also contributed to the success?
For example, didn't this government pay the Sunni's $300 each to turn their allegiance to the United States and the millitia laying down their weapons? Those as well is a determining factor that made a great difference.
Furthermore, surge or no surge, we have invaded another country without provocation. We are occupying a sovereign nation based on lies. That is the greatest admission that needs to be pointed out here, not whether or not the surge was successful.
There weren’t any WMD's and there was no Al Qaeda in Iraq, those were flat out lies. We are in Iraq under false pretenses.
Now that's the TRUTH......
Nobama is a hard head and won't comply. We don't need this clown America, get off the hope dope and see reality.
Thank you, finally some recognition in the media of how the majority of veterans really feel on the war. I've spoken to numerous veterans who served in Fallujah during some of its darkest hours and I can tell you that every single one of them echoes this sentiment. They are not "fake" vets in anyway just because they go against your opinion.
Obama will never give credit to the inroads the "surge" accomplished, because to do so he would have to give recognition to the President and Senator McCain that their plan of adding additional troops worked. For those who keep harping on Senator McCain's vote for going into Iraq in the first place let me direct you to the votes of Senators Clinton and Biden. See a difference? And if Senator Biden had his way in splitting Iraq into three distinct territorial bodies as he wanted previously, we would be fighting on many more fronts then we are now. Finally, Senator McCain will leave Iraq when the people there have a chance to establish democracy without bullets and bombs flying around them. 4,200 precious American lives have been lost from a volunteer Army over 5 years, but let us not forget over 70,000 American lives were lost in Viet Nam in a shorter time span and we left there with the sour taste of defeat in our months. I'm with Senator McCain; never again!
Vets For Freedom ?. They're going to spend 1.1 million on an ad to try and get Sen. Obama to say the surge worked ?. Isn't it obvious who is backing this ad ?.
Shouldn't the Vets For Freedom be putting the money to better use?. Such as helping the service members that are in need when they return home to find they aren't gettin the proper medical care their government should be providing. There is a long list of things they could do to help other vets. It's a shame they are going to let McBush use them this way
Screw the vets. They need to keep drinking at their VFWs and American Legions and stay out of the way of constructive change in an America in which they have no place.
Yes Mr. Herrera the surge did work. Thanks to President Bush and John McCain we have over 4,200 Americans dead. And to think that we did all this for a successful surge.
Maybe they should spend 1.1 million helping returning injured soldiers instead of wasting it on nonsense like this.
These ads won't work this time. What a waste of money when so many vets need help.
Obama/Biden '08
I have it on good authority that Hillary and Bill will take over the convention tonight. The delegates are voting her in and Nobama out. Bye Bye nobama, too bad for you.
This stuff really speaks to the Republican's continued insult to the intelligence of the average American. You can't blame them, this stuff worked last time.
Let's see if the American people will allow the Republican's to swiftboat the country 2 times in a row. Wake up America.
McCain has a built in advantage with the miliary because he is ex-military. Obama is receiving more donations from servicemen than McCain. That should tell you something.
A Congressional Resolution on the success of a strategy? Was there one when Clinton bombed Kosovo? Will there be one about the overall disaster that invading Iraq in the first place has been?
Ok, lets get the reply atack ad up pointing out all of what the otheres have said and discredit this asap!
SWIFT BOAT! SWIFT BOAT! SWIFT BOAT! SWIFT BOAT!
It really is ashame that so many Americans are apathetic, lazy, whiny and just plain IGNORANT.
Anyone want a re-fill of their Kool-AId?
4000+ dead U.S. Troops and who knows how many with disabilities and PTSD which, would have NEVER been the case if the powers-that-be didn't invade a country which we had NO BUSINESS BEING IN, in the first place.
The blood of those dead are on the hands of those who insisted on sending the troops into Iraq and on those who insisted that we stay.
Doug, I guarantee some of us with boys over care a LOT about the surge. I didn't want us there and I would almost agree with you that the whole thing is borderline illegal, but my son feels he is doing something good over there and a self-righteous blowhard is not what we need right now. We must win or get out. This back and forth, partisan garbage is what has hurt us all along.
I've always wondered why McCain is for sending more troops, spending more money on military equipment but is against giving our troops health care and an education once they come back...
Oh yeah... I believes that if we make our troops too intelligent, they won't go back to war!
"The Surge" has become a brand name, owned by McCain, just like "Support the Troops" and now "POW."
YOu BO supporters makek me SICK! We are tallking about our men and girls who are there and thantks to the surge they will be coming home...... The BO supporters better pray every night if he gets elected.
Dem. gone repub.
NORA, FLORIDA August 26th, 2008 9:58 am ET
No Disrespect to the Vets of this country but to spend 1.1 million dollars for foolishness is crazy. Put that money to good use, like better healthcare coverage and housing for many vets who are homeless
I guess the same could be said about the 4 day event in denver, I wonder how much that is costing, and how many mouths could have been fed with it. Instead in true Dem fashion Obama will just start a global poverty tax to "feed the poor."
Yawning......You will always find those for and against any cause. Let's see what the next attack against Obama will be.
Veterans spending over a million on political advertising. That's a lot of money for the average enlisted person or group of them.
What's wrong with that picture?
Oh by the way. Quit asking why are we there in the first place! We are there; deal with it. Whinning about the fact we should have never been there in the first place isn't going to solve the problem.
And for those of you that think McCain should be tried as a war criminal for supporting it I guess you won't mind seeing Hillary and Joe standing next to him as defendents since they voted for it as well!!
Glad to see that the Bush Administration is adopting Obama's foreign policy objectives. Withdrawal from Iraq, redeployment to Afganistan, diplomatic solutions to the Iran issue.
Face it, Obama is much smarter and has better judgment that McCain ever will. Fear and intimidation has worked for the Republicans in the past, but it won't work this time.
Sure the surge worked, but you can add 130 thousand police officers to a city in the US and crime will go down, then what, do you really think that when they are removed from Iraq the insurgents won’t continue their activities? Do we really want to use our military as police while we pay the enormous bill? It makes no sense!
Obama said one of America' greatest failings that he told the Rev. Rick Warren at Saddleback church was that "we still don't abide by that basic precept of Matthew: that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me." I can't believe I agree with him on something, you are proving it with every word.
The entire campaign of McCains is based on him being a POW and a surge in an illegal war. The whole world is laughing at how ridiculous this tired old man appears and how his answer to everything is a recollection of being a POW.
It's clear the citizens of the U.S. have a distinct choice in this election and that choice is to regress back to the 50's & 60's or emerge into the 21st century with the rest of the modern societies in the world.
As far as experience is concerned just what good experiences has John McCain given Americans over the decades he has been a Washington insider? Experience is only counts if it's a good experience and if it was not so good then the old adage of "YOU CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A PIG'S EAR" will apply.
Know the facts "Do they know Teddy-Kennedy, Kerry, Edwards all voted for Iraq War ?"
Know the facts, you have convinced me. I won't be voting for Kennedy, Kerry, or Edwards for President in the 2008 election.
I will be voting for Obama though.
Congratulations on convincing me.
How has the "surge" worked? Its as if nobody remembers the indented purpose of the "surge". It was a strategy that was supposed to quell violence so the Iraqi government could strengthen itself. There was at one point diplomatic milestone that they were hoping to achieve by reducing violence. There was also a timeline to achieve them. By adding more solider of course we reduced violence but the strategy has not worked if there has been no diplomatic progress.
Fear again....
What is the purpose of this war????
There are sooo many bad people governing nations.. How abt wage a war on all of them with our tax $??
ignorant people....
The Democrat leadership voted for the war in Iraq. But, once the troops got there and the going got tough, the Democrats immediately started undermining their mission and American foreign policy by rewriting history and reverting to the baby-killer rhetoric of the Vietnam era. It's no wonder that some of the veterans are using a 527 to amplify their voices. Saddam is gone. Our troops positively verified that Iraq does not have WMDs. Our troops removed a festering enemy from the world stage in a dangerous era. They also worked hard to develop a relationship with the Sunnis and enable the "awakening" movement that has also helped put Al Queda in Iraq on the defensive.
McCain got that "boots on the ground" are important to victory when everyone else was talking about defeat. Yes, America could have used better intelligence and made better choices in the region. But, suffering a defeat at the hands of ANY Middle Eastern or Muslim foe is the worst and most dangerous decision that America could ever make. Iraq will be on it's own soon and they'll make their own decisions. But, they'd never have had the chance without the help of America's military.
This idiot Sgt. Gabriel Herrera does not represent our troops, Obama did acknowledge how successful and courges our troops were, but the big picture this war is wrong and not worthy to die for, our troops should be spending their precious time in Afganistan as obama sujested, that is the war that count, that is the place where the bad guy live. People listent to this wise and great leader he is looking 50 years ahead. Yes we can with President Obama.
If democrats were at all interested in "Securing America's Future" they wouldn’t have nominated this arrogant egomaniac to be the democratic nominee.
Hey Obama-blivions, don't forget it's the Bush/McCain/Clinton/BIDEN war in Iraq.
Please! The surge did not work alone! The US is paying our enemies to behave and not attack our troops! The almighty dollar works, not the surge!
These Veterans need to wise up. The listen to the GOP rhetoric but don't bother to notice that the GOP, including McCain, have voted consistently against veterans benefits. The President sent them to a war based on deceit, inadequately equipped, and has failed to provide adequate health care for them on their return.
President Bush refused to send the number of troops needed right from the beginning. It's no surprise that sending more soldiers would make a difference on the ground but has it actually achieved anything to change the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people or the political stability? Veterans should take a closer look. We still haven't captured or killed those who actually attacked us on 9/11!
I notice that negative ads about Obama race to the top of the ticker but whenever someone puts out one about McCain CNN reluctantly puts it in the middle or towards to bottom of the ticker. Don't believe me? Watch. The ad that Obama released yestarday hitting McCain on the economy debuted around the bottom of the ticker and quickly fell off. CNN = McCain's campaign arm.
What does Obama know about the military, other than what he sees on paper? He never served, never been an active participant in an AOR, never been to a military funeral. Pointed, what does Obama know about the military?
I would certianly hope the surge is working being that it was also an enormous SURGE in our money being spent there!
I am so sick of this!!
Okay....
Fact: McCain receives low marks from MOST veterans groups
Fact: Obama receives higher marks from MOST veterans groups
Fact: U.S. Military stationed overseas are donating to Obama at a rate 6 times higher than for McCain.
Fact: Obama voted for the New G.I. Bill, while McCain avoided the vote entirely – apparently not willing to take a real stand one way or the other.
Fact: McCain has not voted for 6 of the 7 funding bills over the last year. Obama has voted in favor of 3 of those seven bills.
Fact: Obama supported reasonable time between deployments, McCain did not.
If we had followed Obama's judgment, we would have saved hundreds of billions of dollars, 4,200 American lives, countless Iraqi lives, and avoided the destruction of Iraq and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. We would have more money to combat terrorism and would have focused on Afghanistan and Al Qaeda, not on Saddam Hussein and Iraqi oil.
But then if you can find a few vets and fund an ad, you can say anything, even make a pseudo draft dodger (W) look more patriotic than a bona-fide war hero (Kerry).
The McCain camp, like the Bush campaign of 2004, know no shame!
Wow! Throw enough cops on the street and I bet crime would come down in my neighborhood too, along with the cops being safer, If this surge was such a good idea, why didn't we do it, when we first got there. Oh yeah.... it wasn't about people, it was bout showing off our shock and awe. I am glad it is working enuff to get us out. We should start withdrawing as soon as we can.
In the meantime, since he was smart enough not to allow comment. I would like to state that Jack Cafferty is an effete hack. I don't think I have ever seen a less professional 'commentator' in CNN's stable.
It appears the Democratic party supports vets–but doesn't respect their ability to express an intellectual viewpoint.
I bet those U.S. fighter pilots who were fired at with S. Husseins surface to air missiles from the ceasefire of Gulf-1 until the recent invasion of Iraq also appreciate us taking the initiative.
Mccain Just Wants Obama To Say He Was Right . . . . Its Not Going To Happen!
I admire all who have gone to Iraq, although I am so sad that they went on this mistaken mission and so many lost their lives.
If McCain is elected you can count on seeing a lot more blood shed, he is so war infused/minded that he yearns to constantly do battle. He was a pow, okay, that was30+ years ago, he was part of a lost war and he cannot get over it.
Your loyalties lie in the wrong place.
McCain is a very bad joke.
"Vets For Freedom" is a GOP front group formed in 2006 to help defeat Democratic opponents. Many of its staffers are also staffers for the McCain campaign, as well as other Republican politicians.
no this time it don t work
obama 08
Thought the Republicans weren't going to air negative ads in Denver this week? Didn't take them long to change their tune, did it?
I use to think that CNN was a equally critical and positive of both Obama and McCain but lately it seems CNN has joined the ranks of Fox News and in the tank for McCain. I guess David Gergen and James Carville will be the next Hannity and Hannity.
boycott cnn
Both of these candidates are just plain scary for the future of our country- NO , we should not have gone to Iraq to begin with- especially with the real battle in Afganistan- the Iraq's now say for the latest agreement all US troops must be out before 2011-it's their country- what are both of these candidates going to do- both have no answers- yes, violence is down overall but how can we ever consider this any kind of success when most Iraq's dont feel safe to leave their home, high unemployment, women forced to wear veils , women's rights much less now than even under Saddam, lack of basic medical care , lack of reliable electricity , etc etc etc etc- that country is a total mess and Bush and Cheney need to be held accountable for that-
I am a Viet Nam Vet 69-70 and I am voting for Obama. I don't want McCain to send my grandchildren into a war as useless as the one I was in or a war like Iraq that never should have been started in the first place. OKay the surge worked but it was only one piece of the big picture. Some of you guys are getting sucked in by McCain's use of his P.O.W. status as a political weapon. I don't hear him mentioning the 58,260 names on the Viet nam Wall that sacrificed far more than he did.
Perfect, make him get off of his high horse make believe fantasy, and admit to the facts. He still doesn't have a clue, and never will.
Obama will not admit to anything Good someone else does.
He wants it to seem, that his idea to withdraw is the Reason America is withdrawing.
Does he care about our vets, our service members, our wounded Heroes.......... NO
Obama Only Cares about Obama and winning.
We need a Veteran for Presdent that supports his troops in battle;likes the American flag.We nee McGovern for President.He can't be bought out ;told not to run like Hillary.
This is laughable, Obama has said the surge helped in reducing violence but he didn't use the language they were expecting. All they really want to hear is, "John McCain was right". Ain't gonna happen buddy
That right and ain't gonna happen becasue if we didn't invade Iraq there would be no need for the Surge. When is McCain going to admit it was bad judgement to invade Iraq in the first place. Yes, I hope the Obama camp point out his voting recording for the vets.
For an illegal war waged by Bush/Cheney and supported by Hillary.
Anybody ready for the Second American Revolution yet? Isn't it time to do away with our current system of electing our leaders? Yes, it is. If Americans really paid attention to what was going on, they would be marching in Washington and removing all of these politicians and trying them for treason for their actions.
apparently these vets don't want benefits when they are done with their careers or injured. McCain cares far less for vets than Obama.
2004 all over again. Will America fall for it?
I see some people here are still thinking that Hillary and Bill are taking over Obama tonight. One guy even has it on 'good authority". Please be sensible enough to not come back on here after the roll call is finished and Obama makes his acceptance speech on Thursday
what was accomplished in the quote
unquote surge?
What the difference between a resolution acknowledging the surge work versus one acknowledging the war was not necessary. Or what about a resolution that says the American people want their political leaders to get to work on the real issues. Help fix a healthcare system that allow millions of working people to go bankrupt because of health issues. Let's have a million dollar ad about that.
Nice to see McBush has two words in his vocabulary SURGE-POW. Yet he would not support to new vets benefit package. He gets 100% disability! But does not support the vets-just war. The Iraq war was a republican/BUSH conspiracy! If Obama was the president we would have gone after Bin Lauden and had intense diplomatic relations with Russia before things got out of had. He would have respected the use of our troops and we would not be in debt over our ears.
It is ashame that some Vets refuse to adknowledge that McCain was wrong on voting for the Iraq war, do they not understand that we lost over 4000 thousand of our military brothers and sisters due McCains poor judgement. It was Obama who defended the welfare of our troops by voting against the stupid war. Obviously the Vets that are for McCain served in a different military than what I served in, the troops welfare always comes first. PERIOD!
If we can get McBush to admit that he was wrong about going into Iraq in the first place, that he was lied to by Bush and his cronies, then I might listen to his whining about the surge working. There shouldn't have been a war, there shouldn't have been a surge, we shouldn't have spent all this money and killed all these people – US soldiers and the many, many civilians...
Swift Boat anyone? The right wing needs to be more creative.
SURGE WORKED, THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO STAY IN IRAQ, IN CASE IT FAILS AGAIN.
How much did they pay some of those teenagers to appear on this AD?
I served 8 years in the U.S. Military (got out in 2007) and I have never seen anybody that young who cares about the surge or the success of our military in Iriq. All the young kids care about is their rotation of duty. they wanna be out of Iriq. So, STOP TWISTING THE TRUTH.
They need to come out hard promoting Obama and discrediting McSame and his lies. DO NOT fall for swift- boating. Repukes play dirty, you play dirtier. We just talking about the future of America. Do not let McBush continue Bushs' ways 4 more years.
Hey surge vets!
How are you enjoying that GI benefits bill? You know the one that McCain REFUSED to vote yes to? He must be so grateful for your service to our country.
The surge in pay-offs and bribes to the Sunni's worked...huge sums of American Taxpayer's dollars going to bribe Sunni insurgents...and also allow them to buy weapons...we funded and armed insurgents and terrorist...and paid them not to fight...that's what worked...and that's what will fall apart and is falling apart now and the surge will fail as it was destined to from the start...
I AM a Veteran and I support Barack Obama.
McCain is no friend of ours. He's great at finding ways to get into wars, he's great at flip-flopping on TORTURE, and terrible at supporting Vets after they come back.
Obama supports the Vets. McCain doesn't.
NO to McCain. YES to Obama!
What a story!!!! How many verterans actually took aim at Obama?
How many hundreds of Veterans are for Obama? Thousands.
Please it is of ultimate importance that you stop "soundbiting"
your CNN stories.
I was feeling like it was maybe true that last nights "first night"
conventions was "wasted' until Kennedy's and Michelle spoke.
Then later in the evening, I watched the real coverage, with no
speaker being cut off by cameras and then the coverage became
all about Wolf and others Cnn commentatory. The real coverage
with no interuptions on stage was on C-Span. What a difference
in the messages ALL of the speakers had. It became clear that
too much that was happening on stage was cut off by CNN.
Larry King negative show with Ben Stein and Reagan IMMEDIATELY
after the Positive Convention was a JOKE. Terrible Coverage for
what should have been a positive night for all Democrats. CNN
stole their/our thunder.
James Carville's negative comments about Michelle were atrocious.Michelle was absolutely beautiful and delivered a
perfect speech.
Everyone knows that Rumsfeld short changed the troops from the beginning. The surge was actually the additional troops that were needed all along. If you were there, you should know this.
Of course the surge is working. We're paying the capricious warlords millions of dollars to not shoot at us.
I guess you can consider it has worked IF you call bribing one faction
of muslims NOT to kill the other with american tax payers money!!!
I say get the troops out, they are burn out from repeated tours and their familes are paying the price !
If the muslims do not have enough respect for one another than to kill
each other well so be it!!
Lets not forget it was an ilegal war based on false proganda and BIG
OIL for BUSH Cheney and McBush
I'm a disabled Iraq war vet for Obama.
A noun a verb, the surge, POW! Is that all there is Sen McCain?
McCain has PTSD and the media knows it but will not report on it. Come on CNN. Do your job.
This is just another Swithboat attack. Some old neocon games. It will not work this time.
I thought the military was not supposed to be used for political purposes.
I was part of the surge too. We were briefed if we did an outstanding job it will give room for political gains and the likelyhood of us going back will decrease. We did everything we were suppose to do but it didnt help. I feel like I went back over tehre for nothing, I wish I could meet the soldiers in this video. I bet the never left the wire. Overall the surge did not work!!! The military always completed our missions
if this "veterans" group wanted to actually HELP the troops, they should have used the money to get the troops ARMOR and SUPPLIES so they don't GET KILLED!
what a joke.
The analysis I have heard is that it was not as much the surge as the putting local militias on the payroll that brought about the declines in violence. What happens when the money runs out?
THE SURGE WORKED??? SO WHERE IS THE VICTORY???
POST......THIS.............
So why don't you report on the Vietnam Veterans and Iraq veterans who are campaigning AGAINST McCain...they have been ever since primaries. Their website is good. But then, we ALL know CNN doesn't report news...just does McCain's work for free.
I am surprise that McCain seems to get so much traction on the idea of the working of the surge. The fact that we were there and are still there in large numbers is drowned out by this constant drum beat.
Do we want to, or better yet do they want us there forever? Do we want our families to get some relief from the burden of fighting?
We need to move toward progress and what is better for all.
Another Swift boat attempt to discredit a democrat. I hope they don't take this one lying down. It is time for Democrats to stand up strong against the Republican attacks.
How can I acknowledge the success of a mistake? This is what I was say if I were the democratic presumptive nominee.
man, I wonder how many people bashing these vets are vets themselves.
The surge worked! Why can't Obama admit it? We have had a President for 8 years who refused to admit he was wrong. Do we need another?
As a former US soldier, this soldier only knows the Military aspect of the surge. I suggest this soldier look at the surge from all sides, not just a combat one. huahhh
Of course a surge will work for a litttle time. But like Obama said it takes political works too. If one group don't agree to come together on certain issues, it will be right back at fighting!! You can't solve a political issue entirely with just fighting!!
If Obama thought it worked, he should have said Yes, instead of coming up with some wishy-washy answers?
The tribal uprising and suni partnership WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF NOT FOR THE SURGE.
Cnn,
I wish you will let us comment about James Carsville comments!! He is so negative.
More swift boat politics.Why do you think that the majority of the military is for Obama?They would like to be thought of as more than just sand bags to stop bullets. When the GOP says work hard and you can be rich like me, well don`t you think these guy`s work hard? There just dieing to make you rich. READ MY LIPS NO MORE WAR!!!
great the surge worked...the war is over...the troops can come home!
Oh great, it's 2004 all over again with the manipulable sheep falling for the Republican terror machine.
STOP SCARING AMERICANS INTO AGREEING WITH YOUR AGENDA!
Have the American Standards fallen so low that sending more troops to quell violence which George Bush and John McCain so senselessly started now a definition of success?
Pathetic!
You know, if you send enough troops in the beginning, the mission is easier to accomplished......and if you need additional troops.......just send them......but please get off this kick of of the word "surge,".....please.......
Our troops are 6 to 1 for Obama. Yeah, the surge for Obama is working.
This should be a fair trade
McWar admit that it was wrong to go into Iraq for oil
Obama admits the surge worked.
No surprise that Senator Obama is taking this position. Remember he was also claiming the Russian military stopped fighting because he "Asked Them To" as well????????????????????????????
Sure it worked, PAYOFF MONEY ALWAYS WORKS.Some of these people were given more money a week than we make in a month.Where do you think all that missing cash went.Things will get ugly as soon as they use all that money to buy new supplies.
Just another Swift Boat group tactic.
Veterens should think long and hard before trying to tear down Obama. Afterall, John McCain voted against increasing veterens benefits "because there'd be less incentive to stay in the military"
Republican veterans: "Boo!"
Scared yet?
The surge DIDN'T work. It quelled the violence but DID NOT bring the political reconciliation. The surge was a complete FAILURE.
Who cares if the surge worked? The point is, we shouldn't have been there in the first place. Obama is losing focus by not driving this point home.
If it is working we are we losing so many live and the debt keeps getting higher each day. If the legislature was fully aware of the success then why don't they take their retirement funds and use it to fund the surge?
Do these veterans know McCain voted against the bill expanding benefits for veterans?
Yes the surge worked if you can recognize and admit that we should not have been there in first place.
I wonder how McBush found some veterans he could buy off to say nasty things about Obama? Sounds suspiciously like the way Bush swift boated John Kerry, doesn't it?
This surge talk is ridiculous. If you rob my house should I pat you on the back because you wiped your feet first? We should not have been in Iraq in the first place. Any veteran who bothers to read the record also knows that Sen. Obama has supported service members and veterans more than Sen. McCain on pay, health care, housing, and education.
I'm so sick of these toy solders playing this political game. Are you solders or are you running for office. I’m mean seriously some of these guys are just plain dumb if they think they are the ones keeping the violence under control. NO. The money our government is paying these terrorist is keeping the violence down. They act like just because they have been over there they know every thing that’s going on when in fact our whole country is being played like fools by the Republicans and there fake war on terror in Iraq. Yeah there may be some soldiers over there for McCain but most of them want to come home so that’s why they support Barrak. All of these soldiers for McCain are so quick to jump on the bandwagon on how Barrak is not giving all the credit to the surge but what did they have to say when McCain wanted to keep the war going for as long as he could maybe even 100 years and now that the Iraqi people have wanted us out of there country NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN McCain supports a withdrawal date. HE IS So Fake and so are these so called veterans for McCain. Of course they support McCain they are out of harms way now. But people like my brother are still over there. You fake vets need to get over yourselves and stop pushing this political BULL, and if you think the surge is so great why don’t you go back over there and fight so that my love ones can come home. I will pray for you.
These vets for freedom are smucks. I'm sure they all have good paying jobs, good health care benifits and have the community support of the republican community at thier side. What is amazing is that if one is so pro kill the bad guy, why is it that we have over 7000 Americans 6 feet under and Bid Ladin free. Bush has had at least 7 years and more than 150,000 military personel with a united international community to begin with. Vets for freedom if they are so politically concerned about what is good and what is right, why are they so new on the sceen. What they are now are Black Water employees.
Independent Latino for Obama:
You sir are an idiot. Has the surge worked...absolutely..I would rather see us spending money on the war in Iraq to attempt to put some stabilizing effect in the Middle East than to spend it on burying folks from another attack on American soil. Since our courageous troops has gone to Afghanistan and Iraq how many planes have been flown into buildings in the U.S.? I agree Bush has made some decisions I did not like, but our government was originally founded for common defense against our enemies and that is what we are accomplishing. I want to get out of Iraq, I want our soldiers back home, everyone does. We have to stay and finish the job. God Bless the greatest country on earth ( even though some think we are mean).
I guess those veterans making the commerical already have their benefits and are not worrying about the one that are serving in the military currently. Wow, how selfish.
Three of my family members have been killed in this war. So you tell me if it's working. I my eyes, I just cant see it when I visit my cousins graves. All of whom were under the age of 25.
Why is the media making Obama look like world leader the max people to his rally has been around 70000 + look at this link below a new party formed in india the guy as 1 million + people come to see him now thats a world leader ....what you think folks...
http://www.ibnlive.com/photogallery/933-12.html#view_start
The surge reduced the rate at which Americans are dying on foreign soil. Americans are still dying in on foreign soil. If that is success then pat yourself on the back. The point is that when America has lost so much, do you stil think you're winning?
How many more did they see die because of the surge?
First of all, it's stupid to let the Republican propaganda machin hijack the English language AGAIN. "Surge" is a brand name for what the Republicans don't want to call what it is, an escalation. "Troop surge" is a sickening euphemism.
Obama has repeatedly acknowledged that a troop escalation has yielded a tactical advantage, and McCain ignores those acknowledgments to hang on to his excuse for beating that drum. McCain further lectures us about the fragility of progress, ignoring the obvious implication that "fragility" means that the escalation has yielded ONLY tactical advantage, not strategic progress.
You could say McCain's half right about the war: escalation wins battles. What he denies is that the escalation hasn't settled anything, that it hasn't worked strategically. Anything but the facts, ma'am, ANYTHING BUT THE FACTS.
THE TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOTS ARE THE ONES WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR OUR GREAT COUNTRY. MCCAIN WAS IN THE FRONT LINES AS A FIGHTER PILOT AND THEN ENDURED 5 YEARS AS A POW. IT IS IN HIS FAMILY' TRADITION TO JOIN THE ARMED FORCES IN DEFENCE OF OUR COUNTRY. HE EVEN HAS A SON SERVING IN IRAQ. MCCAIN ALSO HAS MORE EXPERIENCE AND JUDGEMENT TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF. COMPARE ALL THIS WITH OBAMA'S CREDENTIALS AND YOU HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT
NOT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. OF COURSE IF YOU THINK PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR OUR GREAT COUNTRY
MEANS NOTHING TO YOU, YOU ARE PROBABLY AN IMMIGRANT
AND DONT YET KNOW WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT AND THAT AMERICANS ARE PATRIOTIC .
The vets of the surge deserve credit for what they did, but this article makes it sound like all those who died and fought before and after the surge were not as important. My daughter served in Iraq, I have an investment in this war also. And I am glad that there are a lot of veteran's for Obama – she is one of them. She sees the "big picture" that includes ALL of the factors that resulted in the progress that has been made. Plus Obama is in favor of reasonable withdrawal with a deadline. Iraq wants that and even Bush/Rice are starting that conversation.
Freedoom is not free. Obama wants to make forced servitdue, against the constitution. Not help others to be free. He wants to provide the world everything and americans pay for it per his push for more money to the U.N. Health care for the illegals ? It looks like anti-american liberal leftist??? Tax and spend???
Republicans like John McCain measures what works by the number of U.S. soldiers that weren't killed in Iraq. I detest anyone who uses the blood of soldiers as a measure of success. One American soldiers life is one too many and remember we have lost over 4,000 American men and women and still counting. Have we forgotten our soldiers died in a war that was based on lies and failures of the Bush administration and McCain. Now Bush is agreeing to a timetable that McCain doesn't want and it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. McCain has nothing going for himself but to attempt to keep a war going and that isn't going to help our economy.
umm? Should we burn house, so we can say water put out house? Or just not burn house? What to do? What to do?
Thank goodness for the demise of the Democratic party. Because of the splintering, and bad blood we have been able to increase our numbers by the thousands. 2008 will be the year of the Green Party. Dems and Repubs are past tense now.
THE G.I BILL WORKED !!!
These people need to hear the WHOLE context of Baracks answer in regards to the surge. He has never said it did not work, he has said there are additional events that occurred to supplement it's success. By the way if it were so successful why don't we have 10,000 to 20,000 fewer troops in there than before the surge. The last I heard we still have not reduce troop levels below what we had in Iraq before the surge began. This smoke and mirror definition of SUCCESS is an insult to all of us.
We won't fall for these tactics from Democrats OR Republicans.
We loved Ron Paul's ideals of limited government...Now we will vote for Bob Barr because he is the only candidate in a political party that stands for what we do. Limited government: individual rights (be gay or not), abortion (have one or not –but don't let the government get involved.), lower taxes, get out of Iraq and Afghanistan–and for that matter Japan, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait....! Only Barr is campaigning on these issues.
the others have a messed up mish-mash of conflicting messages.
How can dems say "hands off my body" then force government programs for healthcare, welfare...?
How can repubs say "limited government" then occupy most of the countries on the planet? with you and I footing the bill?
Go Libertarians!!
The recent gains in Iraq, whether caused by surge or not, show that in fact the Iraq operation WAS the right way to go. Huge gamble on the part of Bush, in which he defied half his nation, and the rest of the world, to give a real shocking wake-up call to the Arab world post 9-11. And now, guess what, his gamble and his faith in the ability of the US military to pull it off, has succeeded.
Bush can now retire from office knowing that he did the right thing, and that he made the world a very significantly safer place for the future. And that the liberal's gloom and doomsaying was wrong, wrong, wrong!
That's the REAL message that Democrats and liberals are so terribly unwilling to face, and so therefore so afraid of.
Just this week Gen. Petreaus acknowledged that the Sunni Awakening had a greater significance and started before the surge! The surge still has not rectified the political conditions in Iraq! Yet when will these vet groups condemn our ever going to war!
yawn
we have to have a resolution that pat's ourselves on the back???
Funny how this "resolution" comes just before the elections and is sponsored by Lieberman and Graham, two fixtures on John McCain's backside constently. If anyone actually listened to Senator Obamas comments about the surge, he certainly DOES acknowledge the impact of the surge ALONG with many other factors.
The sad part is that the surge has been successful, much in part by the $$ we have been giving to the militias NOT to attack us. Sounds like paying the mob for protection. stop the gravy trainin and see how quickly the violence will surge..
Impeach Bush and Cheney, they both lied. Don't deny it. What about Scott McClellan the once-upon-a-time Press Secretary, is he lying about the liars?
CNN, why is this story at the top of your politics page? Is it really the top story of the day? Please start earning the moniker you've given yourselves. Try BEING the best news team in the business. Make the tough calls. What would Murrow say?
Saint Obama refuses to face reality once again.....Imagine that
As a 29 year navy vet, I can tell you that the military and vets will vote 85 percent for McCain. Why? Because we were successful in Iraq because of the surge and McCain is a big reason why the surge was put in place. McCain had the courage to support the surge and he will reap the benefit of such courage.
I don't know how ANY vet could be for McCain. Republicans are happy to send them to war, then act like they've never heard of them when the return home and need help. This isn't about the surge – it's about vets being able to live normal, healthy lives after war. And so far, that doesn't happen often enough.
If the surge worked, why are we still there, getting more troops blown up daily? And if these vets support McCain, why has McCain consistently voted to cut their pay and benefits? John McCain only TALKS about supporting our troops; when it comes time to actually DO something to back those words up, he falls short every single time. If people will actually look into McCain's record instead of just listening to his rhetoric, they'll find out who's really an empty suit in this race.
To all those who are blaming McCain for his vote to "invade" Iraq, you need to start adding your VP noms name in the mix. Biden voted for it to. Change you can't believe in.
Do you trust Obama, McCain or the vets that were in Iraq. If you say the vets then you also trust McCain.
They should have used the $1.1 million to help their fellow veterans with their rehab.
What a waste of money. They should know better.