CNN Features Iraqi Troops Who Favor Democrats in Election

Photo of Matthew Balan.

CNN’s Kyra Phillips, currently in Iraq on assignment, apparently couldn’t any Iraqi troops who support the Republicans for the November election in the U.S. All of those featured in her report on Friday’s "Newsroom" program said glowing things about Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or the Democrats in general. Ahmed Mansour, one of the soldiers from Iraq’s Sixth Division that Philips interviewed, expressed his preference for Hillary Clinton. "The truth is I pay attention to Democratic Party -- even more, Hillary Clinton." When asked why he liked Hillary, he said, "Because I like her personality, because she's new. In America, you need something new, a new female president. We saw and lived under the Republican Party, under Bush. We would like to see what the Democrats have to offer."

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Phillips asked three other Iraqi soldiers about their take on the upcoming American election. Ali Saleh voiced his support for the Democrats in general. "Democrat is better than Republican. We are living under the Republicans. We know the situation. It's difficult under the Republicans." Ali Mohammed, when asked which candidate he was "paying attention to," his one word answer was "Clinton." As a follow-up, Phillips asked Mohammed that if he "had a chance to sit down with Hillary Clinton, what would you tell her you need in Iraq?" Mohammed’s answer: "I would ask her to help compose a book about democracy and send it to Iraqi politicians. It would help."

The final soldier featured by Phillips, Alaa Ahmed, said Obama is his favorite candidate. He further explained that Obama is "practical and loves to serve his country." Phillips then asked the "sit down" question to Ahmed concerning Obama. Ahmed’s response: "I would ask him to pay attention to the Middle East and the Iranian and American conflict that's happening on Iraqi land. That is affecting Iraq and needs to be addressed." Phillips then said to Ahmed, "There's been lots of talk about how Iran is affecting this war, funneling terrorists, weapons." Ahmed agreed. "Of course, we believe that. We have proof that the Iranians help the terrorists by giving them money, weapons, and many other things."

Phillips’ report, which first aired in the 9 am Eastern hour of the CNN program, and was replayed twice later in the afternoon , didn’t focus exclusively on the upcoming American elections. Phillips asked two other Iraqi soldiers questions, one about what he learned from American troops, and the other about how a "real democracy" would make his life better.

After the report was replayed about 20 minutes in the 3 pm Eastern hour, Phillips clarified that she has asked the Iraqi soldiers about the Republicans as well.

PHILLIPS: Now, just to be clear, I did ask each one of these soldiers, are you following any Republican candidates? Do you want to talk about John McCain? Do you -- would you want to see a Republican in office in the next -- in the upcoming election? And all of them said: No. We're living in a Republican war. We want to see change, and that means a Democrat.

And another interesting thing, too, a lot of them talked about Hillary Clinton and my producer, Isabel -- she's a female, she's Arab. She said, from a cultural standpoint, for her, it was very fascinating to see these Arab men talk so much about a female becoming president in the U.S.

"Newsroom" anchor responded to Phillips' closing remarks by echoing one of the major "themes" of the Democratic presidential campaign. "Ah, very interesting stuff. So, they would like to see a change, like a lot of people here in America are saying the same thing."

Earlier, after the report's original 9 am Eastern hour airing, Phillips, in a discussion with "Newsroom" anchor Tony Harris, went into a bit more detail about the Iraqi military's apparent support of the Democrats.

KYRA PHILLIPS: And, Tony, just to be clear, I did ask each one of these soldiers, are you following the Republicans? Is there a Republican candidate that you're interested in? Are you paying attention to John McCain? Within this group, at least within this group, nobody was for a Republican, and they were all paying attention to the Democrats. So it's pretty interesting.

TONY HARRIS: Yes. You think there might be a little bit of affinity there to John McCain, sort of soldier-to-soldier. But let me ask you, Kyra, did any of these soldiers tell you any personal stories about arresting terrorists?

PHILLIPS: Sure. And you know what, Tony, you actually made me think of something on the higher level. Some of the generals, who are working very close with U.S. troops that are on a higher level, they were very pro-Republican. Hey, the Republican Party, you know, they gave us this training. They helped, you know, create freedom for us. They were much more pro-Republican. So I probably should add that.

Just at least with these guys, these guys that are on the streets, okay, this is what they're telling me. And they're arresting the terrorists. They are the ones out there dealing with these terrorists. And I asked them about personal stories. The biggest frustration, Tony, is that they will arrest them, and there's no solid court system, judicial system. So they arrest them, they put them away, and a lot of them, they say, are let go. And so, that's very frustrating for them. They want the government to get a judicial system up and going so, these guys are arrested, put away, or put to death.

—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.


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Oh yeah, I almost forgot, minor point

... There were some people, you know, the "rich" "Power" people who liked the Republicans, it.. may....be... important...to...uh...add....that.. BUT,  The people who do all the work and are out on the street, THEY ALL support democrats.  

Re the Generals

ex-lib, I noticed that too. Just like real life, huh? The wealthy and powerful like the Republicans, the "working men" go Democrat. Or so they'd like us to believe.

You know, if that's really true, why is it all the wealthy Hollywood types are Liberals? 

one theory on Hollywood Libs

My guess is that the 'Hollywood types' process information via  their right side of their brain using emotions and feelings.

Those who process information via the left side of their brains use logic and analytical reasoning.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944

Rich Hollywood Types MB

can't figure out why their rich.

Either they can't accept the luck that brought them there and turn to drugs and achohol

Or They think it's all about them and become Democrats.

Plus, entertainers are people pleasers.  The only way to get ahead in that industry is to tell people what they want to hear constantly and not to offend anyone.  So in order to be that successful you have to learn the PC game and the go along to get along approach.

To be a conservative you have to learn to go against the grain and not follow the crowd.  Also a great cannard/irony of the MSM/Entertainment industry is that "They" are the rebels going against the "man" when in fact they have become the man they so hate.

Entertainment and the arts

Entertainment and the arts tend to attract more liberal people. 

OMG...Talk about

OMG...Talk about cherry-picked obvious bias for CNN...Kyra should get a gold star.

Hail to Hillary, hail to Obama, hail to the DNC.

Give me a friggin' break.

What nobody named Jones, Smith, Duke...just Arabs?

At least one slipped up about Iran being the enemy and aiding and abetting the enemy...but he is still voting for Obama.

These stations wonder why they lose ratings/viewers and are detested.

Clueless....nope, just agenda driven.

Just how in the hell dumb do they think we are out here?

Most people with a brain that works knows darn good and well that the majority of military vote republican.

CNN is beyond pathetic. 

What's in a name?

  • Ahmed Mansour

  • Ali Mohammed

  • Ali Saleh

  • Alaa Ahmed

If you saw these four names in any other context, what conclusion would you draw? Here are your choices:

  1. These are typical names you would find in the U.S. Military

  2. These four names are what you would expect to find if you selected any 4 dogtags out of any deployed battalion of U.S. soldiers

  3. This is a setup by CNN

CNN had to pour over lots and lots of names to come up with these 4 individuals. Who do they think they are kidding?

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

You read the same as I first did, but these are Iraqi Soldiers

These are Iraqi soldiers, but I wonder how many they spoke to and then cherry picked these 4, and, of course, we need to know what complete questions were asked?  The MSM loves to use ... in their statements and questions, so we really don't know full Questions & full Answers, just ...  Why didn't they ask the whole group of Iraqis, instead of just 4! 

You're right. Didn't

You're right. Didn't notice. Thanks.

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

Of course these 4 will now be allowed to vote in NOV Election

Of course these 4 will now be allowed to vote in NOV Election, along with the dead in Chicago, NJ, NY and Mich.  Maybe a few other places and also people in the south get to vote in all the polling places they can get to in that 1 day, etc., etc.

Because I like her

Because I like her personality, because she's new

Because she's NEW? Was this guy an American?? LOL

Tomorrow night they're going to feature soldiers who favor Republicans, right?

mb,

LOL.

Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!

OK, I goofed, he was NOT an

OK, I goofed, he was NOT an American.

Iraqi soldiers.
Exactly WHAT are they doing interviewing Iraqis about who they favor?
We need a female President? I wonder how he'd feel about a female Presideng in Iraq!

Jeez, the Dems will be trying to get them absentee ballots!

LOL1

MB, I already beat ya to that, they'll vote along with the dead,

MB, I already beat ya to that, they'll vote along with the dead, multiple times!  Would Hill have to wear a scarf?  Maybe we can make her do that here too!

LOL, pawpaw, I missed your

LOL, pawpaw, I missed your comment including that until just now..I didn't read them all before I wrote mine...

GMTA!

I bet the Al-Queda and

I bet the Al-Queda and Taliban soldiers would support the Democrat party also, as would Obama Bin Laden and Kim Jong Ill. And after Castro dies, he will probably be voting Democrat for years.

When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

Projection?

You left out the very end of Phillips initial report -

I'm Hillary Clinton. And I approved this add. 

what Kyra really wanted to say

Hey, the Republican Party, you know, they gave us this training. They helped, you know, create freedom for us. They were much more pro-Republican. So I probably should add that.

what Kyra really wanted to say:

So I should probably add that even though the thought of it makes me want to retch.

CNN, Al Jazeera, etc.

Which media organizations provide information to these Iraqi soldiers? If they are watching CNN , Al Jazeera and the BBC, that might explain the pro-Democratic responses.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944

so how many

welfare recipients in THIS country would like to see the Hillary win????

SOS,, screw the MSM.

Ali Saleh: "Democrat is

Ali Saleh: "Democrat is better than Republican. We are living under the Republicans. We know the situation. It's difficult under the Republicans."

Hey Ali, you think if the Democrats had been in power, they'd give two sh*ts about you and your country? How was life for you with Saddam in power, huh? As far as the dems are concerned, it was all rainbows and kite flying for Iraqis under Saddam. Do you concur with that?

Here's a news flash for you: Rebuilding a country after 40 years of rule by a sadistic dictator IS difficult. Sorry we can't waive our magic wand and make things better for you in 2 seconds, but neither could OUR founding fathers whose blood, sweat and tears over many many years gave us this great nation. 

 

Spot on

You nailed it!

Right, wait till they see

Rightthey want to see "what the Democrats have to offer." Did anyone tell them if they don't like what the Democrats offer, they can't go back? I wonder if they'll like it when the soldiers say "Our President has "ended " the war..we're outta here...goodbye and good luck!"

What's It Like to Live Under Democrats?!!

"We would like to see what the Democrats have to offer"?!!!

LOOK AT THE SOVIET UNION ... look at Jimmy Carter, look at Bill Clinton ... hell, LOOK AT ELIOT SPITZER.

NO MARINE ... no soldier worth his salt in the United States miltary votes anything BUT Republican.

Democrats are ANTI-MILITARY, ANTI-AMERICAN, PRO-F_G, PRO-TERRORIST, PRO-ATHEIST, ANTI-CHRISTIAN, ANTI-BIBLE, ANTI-GOD, ANTI-MORAL, and ANTI-ANYTHING-THAT-STANDS-ON-THE-TRUTH.

_____

There's only two kinds of soldier : SALTED and SALTLESS.

If you want to piss on the sacrifice of almost 4000 U.S. servicemen and undo everything they gave their lives for THEN VOTE DEMOCRAT and take your place beside Norville Chamberlain in the annals of history.

Two points

Ali Saleh voiced his support for the Democrats in general. "Democrat is better than Republican. We are living under the Republicans. We know the situation. It's difficult under the Republicans."

Ali, has it occurred to you that if the Dems get their way, you won't be "living under" them because the Americans will be pulled out?

Given the MSM's usual diligence, what are the odds that these guys aren't really Iraqi soldiers?

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

Worst case of media BS

Worst case of media BS since... the Spitzer (R) story!

The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy