ABC correspondent John Berman used a report on Tuesday's "Good Morning America" to whine about the fact that Barack Obama has had to defend himself against serious charges. He opened the segment by commenting on a series of speeches the Democrat is giving that tout patriotism and lamented, "Well, you would think a man elected to the U.S. Senate, who is the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, would not feel a need to defend his love for America."
Berman's colleague, GMA co-host Robin Roberts, interviewed Obama surrogate General Wesley Clark and actually grilled him about his assertion that John McCain's Vietnam-era military service isn't a credential to be president. However, she credulously accepted the attempts by the Democratic nominee to disavow himself from the attack, saying, "...The McCain and Obama camps are divided on most things but they have agreed on one, that the comment by retired General Wesley Clark was out of line..."
On June 24, however, Roberts discussed remarks made by Charlie Black, an aide to Senator McCain, in which Mr. Black claimed that a terrorist attack would help the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. In this instance, she was far more cynical. Roberts speculated, "Almost immediately, we had apologies from McCain and Charlie Black, but is this the kind of thing that a campaign puts out there on purpose and then retracts?"
Reporter Berman also completely accepted the fact that Obama had nothing to do with the attacks by his surrogate. The correspondent parroted, "...The Obama campaign has completely disavowed Clark's comments." So, apparently, cynicism is only warranted when a Republican plays the political game of "good cop/bad cop."
And as far as Berman's shock that Obama has to face such tough questions, has the reporter forgotten that this is the same candidate who admitted to being "friendly" with a former member of a domestic terrorist group? Or that Obama's ex-pastor is a man who raged against the U.S. and urged God to "damn" America? Isn't it reasonable for Americans, especially given the limited amount of time voters have had to get to know the Illinois senator, to force the presidential contender to answer these hardball queries?
During his piece, Berman repeated talking points from Obama's speech on patriotism. The ABC reporter helpfully recounted that "Barack Obama wants you to know three things: One, he loves America." He then touted the fact that Obama "doesn't want to fight about [patriotism]," but "...He will fight about it if he has to."
ABC's graphic continued the "Obama as victim" theme. It read: "Patriot Games: Love of Country in Question."
A transcript of the John Berman piece, which aired at 7:02am, follows. A partial transcript of Roberts questions to Clark are also included:
DIANE SAWYER: But, let's begin right now. It is the race for '08 and the big debate about patriotism, history and credentials to be president. ABC's John Berman is here and has got more. John?
ABC graphic: Patriot Games: Love of Country in Question
JOHN BERMAN: Good morning, Diane. Well, you would think a man elected to the U.S. Senate, who is the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, would not feel a need to defend his love for America. But Barack Obama has devoted this week to what his campaign calls enduring American values, patriotism and later today, faith. Barack Obama wants you to know three things: One, he loves America.
SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: Patriotism starts as a gut instinct, a loyalty and love for country that's rooted in some of my earliest memories. For me, patriotism is always more than just loyalty to a place on a map or a certain kind of people. Instead, it's also loyalty to America's ideals, ideals for which anyone can sacrifice or defend. Or give their last full measure of devotion.
BERMAN: Two, he doesn't want to fight about it.
OBAMA: I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign.
BERMAN: Three, he will fight about it if he has to.
OBAMA: And I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine.
BERMAN: The Obama campaign is on the offense against the false internet rumors that say he's a Muslim or the false claim that he refuses to say the pledge. They even have a section on their website called "fight the smears." Still, the creator of ExposeObama.com is unimpressed.
FLOYD BROWN (President, Expose Obama website): On the Fourth of July, it's only appropriate to go around and say you're patriotic but I say look at the record.
BERMAN: Today Obama shifts his political offensive from patriotism to faith. It is an issue Democrats have shied away from. But not Obama.
JOHN GREEN (Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life): One of the ironies of the 2008 campaign is Senator Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, is much more comfortable talking about his faith and about values than the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain.
BERMAN: But in the Obama campaign's zeal for offense, some surrogates might be taking things too far, as evidenced by the controversial comments made by General Wesley Clark about John McCain's war record.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces as a prisoner of war. I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.
BERMAN: McCain was a prisoner of war for five and a half years after he was shot down and the Obama campaign has completely disavowed Clark's comments. If Obama wants to put the patriotism issue in the past another issue he might like see fade away? Bill Clinton. The two men finally spoke by telephone for 20 minutes. The Obama camp says it's excited to have Clinton campaign for them and there are reports they might even have dinner soon. Diane, Robin?
7:05am
ROBIN ROBERTS: And as you know, the McCain and Obama camps are divided on most things but they have agreed on one, that the comment by retired General Wesley Clark was out of line, a comment he is not backing down from. General Clark joins us now live from Little Rock, Arkansas, for a morning exclusive. General, thank you very much for joining us.
...
ROBERTS: Understand what you're saying, general, but someone who's had the experience that Senator McCain has had, if you're commander in chief and you're sending soldiers into war, having that kind of experience, isn't it better than having no experience at all in the military?
...
ROBERTS: General Clark, do you feel like you owe Senator McCain an apology?
...
ROBERTS: General, you have thought to be on the short list to be Senator Obama's running mate. Do you feel that you deserve to still be on that list?
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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Not to question Senator
July 1, 2008 - 12:44 ET by Chris NormanNot to question Senator Obama's love of country at all - perish the thought - but being a Senator and running for President doesn't necessarily show the same love of country as, say, volunteering to fight and die to defend it. It may show just a love of power and prestige.
it's being a Democrat that
July 1, 2008 - 13:37 ET by TruthMongerit's being a Democrat that makes one "feel the need"
it's not our fault they're traitors
they went to bat for Saddam, sound just like Al Queda, and applaud America haters from Cuba, NK, Venezuela, France
we don't force Dems to do this sh*t
Margaret Thatcher once
July 1, 2008 - 14:57 ET by motherbeltMargaret Thatcher once famously said
Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to say you are, you aren't.
I think it also applies if you substitute "patriotic" for "powerful."
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Yes, MB most of these people protest too...
July 1, 2008 - 16:31 ET by ThalpyYes, MB most of these people protest too much. Chris's points are right on as well. It's allegiance. Where is Obama's allegiance? I would suspect that it is with George Soros & Company, whoever they may be.
By the way, where in the job description...
July 1, 2008 - 16:37 ET by ThalpyBy the way, where in the job description of a talking head does it mention defending and advocating particular candidates?
Love of what country, Chris?
I guess what I'm saying is,
July 1, 2008 - 17:51 ET by Chris NormanI guess what I'm saying is, that while every last politican may well love this country, I question that their service is as altruistic, benevolent, and self-sacrificing as advertised. I'd wager that most of them strive for the power, priveleges, perks, and adoration that go with elected office.
Thank you, Chris.
July 2, 2008 - 14:47 ET by ThalpyThank you, Chris. I still think that some of our representatives' allegiance is a bit suspect.
Barry has to defend
July 1, 2008 - 13:06 ET by celatorBarry has to defend himself because of the completely phony public persona his handlers have created for him. That sounds off the alarm in my head. He ain't what he says he is.
Other reasons we have deep suspicions of Barry's intentions include: his mysterious and radical anti-American friends, the disgraceful behavior of the MSM who carry his water, worship him and who refuse to tell Barry's complete story.
Also, his wife's extremely odd views of America, the enthusiastic endorsements and support the world's most radical and anti-American dictators give him, his experience as a slumlord lawyer (Rezco), his inexperience in much of anything even remotely suggesting he is capable of being President, his not well publicized speech to a peace group a month or so ago (I heard part of it once on the radio) stating that he would stop all military R and D, cut the number of people in the military, stop production of weapons systems .
He plays a pretty good game of basketball, though. I give him that.
That enough for ya, Barry? You get it now?
After the attacks on McCain
July 1, 2008 - 13:17 ET by mattmAfter the attacks on McCain over military service & his peemptive strike against scrutiny on his own questionable patriotism, which are designed to cover for his own unqualifications, the BHO campaign will move-on (dot org?) to the next issue.
Maybe economics, energy, social services, whatever. They will attack McCain or somehow disparage (in a subtly accusatory way) any criticism of Obama's positions or lack of qualifications on any issue.
This is what you have to do when your candidate is an empty suit.
They'll pick one issue at a time....
July 1, 2008 - 13:49 ET by Prester John....if there is pushback they'll let it go and BHO will make a weak denunciation of the attack and it will be dropped; if it sticks and the MSM helps out, his surrogates will continue the attack until they decide it served its purpose then move on to another issue.
The BHO campaign will save any truly personal attacks and the Keating 5/S&L debacle for October, which of course the MSM will be more than happy to cover ad nauseam.
Strange
July 1, 2008 - 13:28 ET by KC MulvilleIf I understand this correctly, Obama is making these speeches about patriotism and faith because he feels the need to defend himself from all the right-wing rumors about him being unpatriotic, a Muslim, and so on.
And yet, where are all these rumors? Other than the mainstream media's assurances that we're being swamped by them, I personally haven't seen any. (And I'm a faithful member of the right-wing! You'd have thought I'd have heard of them!) I may have received a spam back in January that went right to my junk folder, but that's about it. And yet, according to this report ... "The Obama campaign is on the offense against the false internet rumors that say he's a Muslim or the false claim that he refuses to say the pledge."
OK, you might argue, they're all over right-wing blogs.
This is all so very strange. The only reasonable explanation I can think of is that the Obama campaign is trying to get free TV coverage. But why, and why now?
It strikes me as unreasonable for the candidate with the supposed 15-point lead to launch a major campaign against a couple emails and the right-wing blogs. Something doesn't add up.
I agree the timing seems a
July 1, 2008 - 14:48 ET by celatorI agree the timing seems a little puzzling. I don't quite get the flow or content of their unfolding strategy at this point in the game, either. They are making some strategic assumptions that are difficult to understand (in some cases). I'm searching for coherence, and I don't see it.
On the ridiculing of McCain's POW and military experience, I have a theory that one of Obama's tactics is to egg on McCain re his military experience until he has a huge temper tantrum on TV as he responds to their comments. Hence the daffy Clark comments. Really odd stuff, but no doubt approved by Obama.
The goal, I suppose, is to publically show McCain early on as a hot tempered character unsuitable for the Oval Office. I suspect McCain is well aware of this, hence his rather calm response.
But who really knows what they are up to at this point?
Goading McCain
July 1, 2008 - 15:09 ET by KC MulvilleGoading McCain into a tantrum? That's pretty devious, and I never thought of it. Good catch.
As I read through your
July 1, 2008 - 18:03 ET by celatorAs I read through your points, it strikes me that Barry's (and Michelle's) default world view is that they are victims. Oh, they love that word. It's been pounded into their heads for 40 years--in schools, in meetings, at church, etc. "You are a V I C T I M." Think of Wright's "sermons". Victimhood is the very core of all that Afro-Leninist believes.
And if they see no real evidence that the political opposition intends to make them victims, it makes them uncomfortable. Antsy. Nervous.
So they go on the "I am a victim" offense by planting the victimhood thought in the media, "don't you dare say I am not patriotic" or prepared for the job, or whatever. What they are really saying is, "Don't you EVER think for a second that I am not a victim."
Gets pretty cwazy.
Obama disavowed Clark's comments
July 1, 2008 - 14:45 ET by Bayshoreman"...and the Obama campaign has completely disavowed Clark's comments." Oh? I just checked Barry's website and cannot find any such disavowment. Can anyone post a link to either Obama or an "offical" Obama spokesperson that SPECIFICLY condems Clark's remarks by name?
We need to hear Barry himself at the podium saying "This is NOT the Wesley Clark that I have known and respected all these many years."
"....cause the Wesley Clark
July 1, 2008 - 14:47 ET by Ruths husband Ben"....cause the Wesley Clark I knew didn't have the Obama bus tire tracks all up and down his ass!"
“it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.” - Justice Antonin Scalia
Wesley oh Wesley
July 1, 2008 - 15:13 ET by okiehawk44Wesley Clark (USA, Ret.) was on the Iowa stage when Hillary got her @$$ handed her by the Messiah and the look on his face was priceless. He had that look of "oops, I chose the wrong horse again!" Of course he had, and part of Hillary's campaign debt payoff that the Messiah insisted on centers around the fact that she must convince most of her immediate supporters to throw themselves on the fire for the Messiah when called upon. Gen. Clark (he likes to be called General by everyone including his immediate family you know) is but one sacrificial lamb of many yet to come. The Messiah really wanted William Jefferson to be one too, but Hillary rescued him from that fate...but you never know, if down the road the Messiah needs that pound of flesh and all. Hail the Messiah! Hail the Messiah! Hail the Messiah! (it does get easier the more you do it)
Here Here..
July 2, 2008 - 02:45 ET by Sua Sponte 75Absolutely, the Obamamessiah should not have to put up with this, makes me ashamed at being a citizen of these 57 states of America.
(sarc off)
"You're either part of the solution or part of the problem"