An Obama-kind-of-thing: Protect Your Funders - Dump the Troops

Fox News reports that Obama cut a visit to wounded U.S. troops in our military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.

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

A couple of commenters in the Fox reply thread turned the whole incident around and blamed it on the Pentagon. Here's one:

One, Obama was asked by the Pentagon not to visit the base because of security concerns and two, if Obama had visited the base you’d all be crying about him using our troops as campaign props. Obama can’t win with you no matter what he does. Believe me, we all get that. So please, stop all your crying, we already know you whiners (to borrow a word from McCain’s economic adviser) will never be satisfied.

Here's two:

Phrase of clarification: The Pentagon asked him not to stop by and visit the troops at the hospital because it would not be appropriate. So, they didn’t visit.

Please Fox, tell the whole story.

Well, I've been in search of evidence that our Pentagon would have security concerns about Obama visiting a base IN GERMANY! I found nothing. Here's what I did find: Washington Times: Obama scraps visit to wounded troops:

Obama had been planning to go to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany before a flight to Paris. Gibbs [Obama spokesperson] said the stop was canceled because Obama decided "it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign."

There you have it. Obama didn't want his campaign contributors paying for the visit AND the Pentagon denied cameras and media to the hospital. That's why he didn't go. No press - he's not spending his donor's money. I mean, the man has millions and millions, doesn't he? Protect those funders, make them happy - dump the troops. It's an Obama-kinda-thing. Permalink: http://maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com/2008/07/obama-kind-of-thing-protect-your.html Trackback URL for this entry: http://haloscan.com/tb/maggiesnotebook/3396425844003554085 Technorati Tags: Senator Barack Obama, U.S. Military, U.S. Troops, Wounded Warriors